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This paper seeks to bridge a gap in Australian art histories by examining the contribution of Northern Queensland to the Australian arts narrative. The story of the visual arts in Australia is often written from the perspective of the southern states, and the story of Queensland art is often written from the perspective of its capital, Brisbane. This is despite the early depiction of the rich flora and fauna of Far North Queensland recognised in early surveys. In examining the history of the arts from the north however, key themes emerge that characterise and challenge understandings of the visual arts in Queensland. By exploring the work of artist Clem Forbes (1938-1997) and sculptor Tom Risley (1947-2010) this paper suggests that the contribution made by artists living and working in Northern Queensland can throw light on what is distinct about the north as a vision of Australian art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we developed a score-based credibility assessment model which assesses the credibility of text and map-based VGI. We proposed parameters for assessing the credibility of VGI such as distance, hazard, and clustering. Then, the model was created based on the above-mentioned parameters, and the credibility scores of reports were computed. Furthermore, we categorized the reports into high-credible and low-credible categories, and accuracy of the model was determined by comparing the model's output with the real situation. To assess the credibility of VGI, we made use of reports from the Ushahidi project in Brisbane, Australia, which was hit by a severe flood in 2013 as our first dataset. Besides the aforementioned parameters, we examined the distance between the location of the user and location of the incident as a parameter for the credibility assessment of VGI. For doing so, in a case study, we developed a VGI-based website to collect data for the analysis. Results show that our model which was created by spatial clustering and flood hazard parameters can categorize the credibility classes with 92.6% accuracy. In addition, in the second study area, the credibility model using the proximity of the volunteer to the incident site parameter can assess the credibility classes of VGI with 90% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with mental health problems, learning difficulties and poor literacy and numeracy are at risk of social exclusion, including homelessness. They are often disconnected from the formal education systems, with few opportunities for education and employment. Academic research has demonstrated a link between literacy and numeracy and social connectedness, however the pathways to enact this are not well understood. This paper presents insights into how a community based adult literacy program in Brisbane, Australia provides a successful model of socially inclusive learning. The paper is based on a 12-month action research project conducted by the Queensland University of Technology in conjunction with Anglicare Southern Queensland 2013-2014. The methodology for the project was qualitative in nature, involving participant observation of lessons, and semi-structured interviews with former and present students, volunteer tutors and the teacher. The central research focus was how literacy education can act as an instrument of social connection to the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research project described in this paper was designed to explore the potential of a wiki to facilitate collaboration and to reduce the isolation of postgraduate students enrolled in a professional doctoral program at a Queensland university. It was also intended to foster a community of practice for reviewing and commenting on one another's work despite the small number of students and their disparate topics. The students were interviewed and surveyed at the beginning and during the face-to-face sessions of the course and their wikis were examined over the year to monitor, analyse and evaluate the extent to which the agency of the technology (wiki) mediated their development of scholarly skills. The study showed that students paradoxically eschewed use of the structured wiki and formed their own informal networks. This paper will contend that this paradox arose from a mismatch between the agency of technology and its intended purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opening of Brisbane's new Gallery of Modern Art in December 2006 reflects the substantial growth of the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) in both size and status over the last two decades. The Gallery has been recognised nationally and internationally for its leading role in the presentation of the Asia-Pacific Triennials of Contemporary Art, and its significant collection of art from the region will hold a prominent place in the expanded institution. Twenty years ago, however, the Gallery seemed an unlikely candidate to concentrate on such work, so what are the reasons for this dramatic change? This paper examines how QAG's decision to focus on the geo-cultural category of 'Asia-Pacific' art created a distinctive grouping which enabled the Gallery to distinguish itself from other institutions. It also considers the implications for artists in being represented within this curatorial classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]