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Canine Support Programs (CSPs) are a potential solution to growing university student support demands. While current studies focus on the impacts of CSPs, there is limited understanding of the views and expectations of tertiary students about CSPs. This study explored the perceptions and preferences of students in an Australian regional university about CSPs. A questionnaire with multiple choice and open‐ended questions surveyed residential students' perspectives about CSP. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical tests and thematic analysis for open responses. Majority (98%) of participants (sample n= 48) would support a CSP on campus. Frequent, small‐group interactions of ≥15 min involving physical contact were preferred. Dog disposition, welfare‐trained handlers, and veterinary certification were important aspects of program safety. Participants strongly agreed a CSP would improve mental health and well‐being, relieve stress, reduce feelings of homesickness, provide support, comfort, and enable social interactions. There is strong support among the study population for CSP to be established on campus. This study supports earlier research that CSP has benefit potential for new, stressed, and/or students who love dogs. The preferences of students should inform program design to enhance utility and impact. This aligns with Health Promoting Universities and College's Okanagan Charter principle of ‘engaging student voices’. More institutional awareness and support for CSPs will be necessary for integration. This study reveals the need for tailored and creative student support beyond traditional offerings including those that focus on student well‐being and social initiatives. CSPs can be utilised as an advocate, enabler, and medium for mental health promotion action and well‐being support for tertiary students; thereby, contributing to the ‘Health Promoting University’ agenda in Australia. It also reinforces the need for a Health in All Policies approach to be incorporated into our tertiary education sector. Future actions should focus on improving institutional awareness, support, and sector implementation.

BackgroundGlobally, drowning is a leading cause of injury-related harm, which is heavily impacted by environmental conditions. In Australia, fatal unintentional drowning peaks in summer, yet the impact of prolonged periods of hot weather (heatwave) on fatal drowning has not previously been explored.MethodsUsing a case-crossover approach, we examined the difference in drowning risk between heatwave and non-heatwave days for the Australian state of Queensland from 2010 to 2019. Heatwave data, measured by the excess heat factor, were acquired from the Bureau of Meteorology. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated by sex, age of drowning decedent, category of drowning incident (International Classification of Diseases−10 codes) and heatwave severity. Excess drowning mortality during heatwaves was also calculated.ResultsAnalyses reveal increased fatal drowning risk during heatwave for males (IRR 1.22, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.61), people aged 65+ years (IRR 1.36, 95% CI 0.83 to 2.24), unintentional drowning (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.69) and during severe heatwaves (IRR 1.26, 95% CI0.88 to 1.82). There were 13 excess drowning deaths due to heatwave over the study period.DiscussionThe findings confirm an increased risk of fatal drowning during heatwaves. With increased likelihood and severity of heatwaves, this information should be used to inform drowning prevention, in particular the timing of public awareness campaigns and patrolling of supervised aquatic locations.ConclusionsWater safety and patrolling organisations, as well as first responders, need to prepare for more drowning deaths during heatwave conditions. In addition, drowning prevention education ahead of heatwaves is needed for recreational swimmers, and older people, particularly those with comorbidities which may be further exacerbated by a heatwave.

Nurses and midwives are well placed to support the one-in-four Australian women who experience an unintended pregnancy. However, these clinicians may not possess the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality unintended pregnancy prevention and care (UPPC). Research is needed to evaluate the coverage of this topic in the entry to practice nursing and midwifery curricula.

This article discusses the risks of extreme heat during outdoor sporting events and provides recommendations for reducing heat-related health risks. The consequences of heat exposure can range from dehydration to heatstroke and even death. The article highlights the need for event organizers to take extra care for athletes, officials, spectators, and volunteers. It also emphasizes the importance of planning, mitigation strategies, medical support, policy development, education, and research to address heat-related challenges. The article provides practical tips for spectators to reduce heat-related risks and calls for event organizers to have heat policies in place. [Extracted from the article]

Cycling participation rates in Australia and Queensland remain low. Rural residents typically do not have distinct cycling infrastructure available for use. Investigating current cycling participation and barriers to cycling engagement will inform future work to promote cycling engagement. Data were collected through the inclusion of cycling‐related questions in the 2012 Queensland Social Survey. The majority of the sample had not cycled in the previous 12 months (66%; n = 831). Significantly more rural residents reported not cycling due to environmental concerns (P < 0.05) and preferring other modes of transport or exercise (P< 0.01). Rural cyclists (31.4%; n = 113) had higher levels of cycling engagement in the previous week (41.6% to 32.6% urban; χ2= 7.83; n = 420; P< 0.05) but lower cycling durations than urban cyclists (41.6% rural residents cycling for 30+ minutes vs 57.4% urban residents; χ2= 8.25; n = 418; P< 0.01). Rural cycling engagement was independently associated with being male (OR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.40‐3.91); sufficient physical activity engagement (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.10‐3.15); and having children at place of residence (1‐2 children: OR = 3.21; 95% CI = 1.88‐5.49; 3+ children: OR = 3.01; 95% CI = 1.17‐7.75). One‐third of all adults cycled in the previous 12 months irrespective of location; however reasons for not cycling varied by urban/rural location. Results indicate that environmental factors appear to be inhibiting cycling participation in rural areas. Advocating for government commitment for infrastructure development to support safe cycling across Queensland including outside of metropolitan areas is required. This research explores self‐reported cycling engagement amongst a sample of urban and rural dwelling Queenslanders. Differences in cycling exposure and reasons for lack of engagement offer insights into what may encourage greater cycling participation.

Drowning risk increased during low-intensity heatwaves and was higher still during severe heatwaves, but dropped back a little during extreme heatwaves, though the risk remained higher than usual. While risk rises from 17% during low-intensity heatwaves to 26% during severe heatwaves, risk of drowning reduced to just 9% during extreme heatwaves (the highest intensity). This means we compared the 248 non-heatwave drowning deaths and 603,892 non-heatwave days, with the 92 heatwave drowning deaths occurring on 191,420 heatwave days. [Extracted from the article]

Disruptive markings are common in animal patterns and can provide camouflage benefits by concealing the body's true edges and/or by breaking the surface of the body into multiple depth planes. Disruptive patterns that are accentuated by high contrast borders are most likely to provide false depth cues to enhance camouflage, but studies to date have used visual detection models or humans as predators. We presented three-dimensional-printed moth-like targets to wild bird predators to determine whether: (1) three-dimensional prey with disrupted body surfaces have higher survival than three-dimensional prey with continuous surfaces, (2) two-dimensional prey with disruptive patterns or enhanced edge markings have higher survival than non-patterned two-dimensional prey. We found a survival benefit for three-dimensional prey with disrupted surfaces, and a significant effect of mean wing luminance. There was no evidence that false depth cues provided the same protective benefits as physical surface disruption in three-dimensional prey, perhaps because our treatments did not mimic the complexity of patterns found in natural animal markings. Our findings indicate that disruption of surface continuity is an important strategy for concealing a three-dimensional body shape.

Yet this hasn't been an easy task: the COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional strain on employee mental health and well-being levels, with correlated levels of higher burnout. The nonprofit sector in Australia faces a high rate of burnout, but employers can reduce the problem by improving workplace mental health and establishing the right support structures. [Extracted from the article]