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Articulating the complexities of relational wellbeing can be challenging at the best of times, and even more complex during periods of heightened stress and uncertainty. Taking inspiration from feminist materialisms and recent writings on material methods, we explore the potential of object interviews to reveal the material-discursive dimensions of women's experiences of wellbeing during the pandemic. In this paper we describe our research process conducting object interviews with 38 women living in Aotearoa New Zealand from a range of socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. We explore the potential and challenges of object interviews for surfacing new ways of knowing (theoretically, methodologically, and cross-culturally) wellbeing beyond human-oriented health, medical and social-constructionist models, and towards more multidimensional and relational understandings. This paper offers our reflections and learnings about the process of re-turning object interviews and the potential of such approaches for evoking complex ways of knowing wellbeing during and beyond pandemic times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existing literature on sexuality and intimacy in residential care tends to focus on either the question of rights, or the value of autonomy. Where the literature does reference values other than autonomy, such values are considered in the context of being a guide to whether or not a resident is autonomous, rather than being important values in their own right. Objective: This paper draws on qualitative data gathered as part of a larger study in order to inform practice on how care workers respond to intimacy issues that arise with residents with dementia and to inform a general ethics of sex and sexuality, demonstrating that an approach which permits value pluralism can be appropriate in certain contexts. Research Design: The qualitative data referred to in this paper was gathered from semi-structured interviews undertaken as part of a larger mixed-method research project. The interview text was analysed using Thorne's methodological approach, interpretive description. Participants and research context: The qualitative arm of the project consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted between October 2018 and October 2019 with participants (staff, residents and family members) recruited from 35 residential care homes in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ethical Considerations: Participation was informed, voluntary and written consent was gained before interviews. The project was approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Committee (Northern), number NOR 18/25. Findings: Analysis of the scenarios presented in this paper shows that decision-making around sexual intimacy involving people with dementia in a residential care setting is complex and requires recognizing and weighing the different values that may be a in play. Conclusion: A focus on safety and consent to the exclusion of other values which matter morally in this context is a mistake which prevents care workers from providing appropriately person-centred care to residents, as policies which focus on the goal of care allow space for critical examination of issues which are likely to be highly context-sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The following research paper seeks to explore how post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) are undertaken in the nine health jurisdictions across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and investigate if the process can be strengthened to better inform healthcare design and investment. Background: Healthcare expenditure in both nations is increasing, and the rigorous evaluation of healthcare facilities can provide evidence to improve their return on investment. A POE is a research method used to undertake this analysis, usually 12 months after a facility has been occupied. There is limited information available about how POEs are undertaken in each jurisdiction, and there has never been research conducted to understand these processes across the region. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with participants from the government health organization in each jurisdiction to collect qualitative data regarding various aspects of POE processes and barriers to undertaking POEs. Results: Only five of the nine jurisdictions undertake POEs on healthcare facilities (with varied frequencies), and there is no standardized framework in use. However, every jurisdiction does undertake a "benefits realization" process. There is limited involvement of external consultants in POEs or benefits realization processes. POE benchmarks should be established at project commencement, and POE results should then inform future projects. Top-down support is required for POEs to occur. Conclusions: The primary conclusion is that strengthening any evaluation process requires a nuanced approach in each jurisdiction to account for their unique context and challenges. Regular rigorous evaluations are required to feed results into the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines and encourage innovative facility design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive experiences for all children are foundational to New Zealand early childhood education, yet teacher beliefs and practices related to identification and referral processes may be delaying access to important early intervention support for children with disabilities. To better understand teachers' perspectives, past and present, this article details the findings from two studies conducted 14 years apart. Through comparison of findings from the work of Aspden and Baxter, this article explores teachers' beliefs and experiences related to identification and referral practices. In the original 2003 study, 50 early childhood teachers completed a paper-based postal survey, whereas in the 2017 replication, 78 early childhood teachers completed an online survey. Persistent concerns about teacher engagement with identification and referral processes were evident both past and present, particularly in relation to perceived parental reaction and beliefs about the adequacy of service provisions. Furthermore, the data revealed tensions between embracing a strengths-based approach and the need to identify children's disabilities. The findings provide insight into referral practices in the New Zealand early childhood context and suggest the need for ongoing teacher consultation in relation to policy and practice, the development of more formal referral policies and procedures, as well as enhanced professional support and development that targets teachers' need for knowledge of and connection with specialist agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on the findings of the qualitative phase of a New Zealand longitudinal study on vulnerable young people’s transitions to adulthood. The young people were aged between 12 and 17 years at the time of the first interview. The paper focuses on one key finding, how youth enact agency through their relationships with significant others: families, social workers, teachers and care workers. These youth had experienced sustained exposure to harm including abuse, violence, addictions, disengagement from school and mental health issues. The qualitative interviews focused on young people’s experiences with services (child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and education support services) their key transitions, and the strategies they used to locate support and resources. The thematic analysis of the interviews indicated that a search for agency was a central motif in young people’s experiences. This was reflected in three thematic clusters: making sense of the world, having a voice and acting on the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]