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This paper draws on my experiences as a doctoral student undertaking a project to examine the professional adaptation of Asian immigrant teachers in Australia. Using a reflexive narrative approach, I examine how my position influenced my access to participants, the understanding of their contexts, and the nature of my relationship and interaction with the participants. The paper discusses the tensions that resulted from my insider-outsider positions and how they shaped my qualitative study's research process and outcomes. I conclude with recommendations for researchers to carefully consider the possible influence of their positionality in any research setting and its implications for informing future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actual accounts of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since colonization remain largely misunderstood and misrepresented within Australian education systems and the broader social consciousness. Culturally sensitive practice and ethnic diversity are challenging topics to teach social work students when truth-telling is absent. Social workers need to develop an understanding of intergenerational trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, critically reflect on perpetuated stereotypes, and confront internalized beliefs about peoples of diverse ethnic and cultural identities in preparation to work respectfully with Indigenous communities. A course focused on building students' knowledge and skills for culturally responsive practice is described in this paper, along with suggestions for enhancing teaching and learning. The paper argues for the importance of truth-telling about Australia's continuing racism in social work education to create cultural safety for service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper explores the mental health and wellbeing outcomes of a massed community choir program in Australia. Methods: This study employed a mixed methods approach. Data were collected via a survey of choir participants (N = 305), four qualitative interviews and focus groups with facilitators and participants (N = 22), and two workshops with organising staff (N = 5). Questions were derived from a co-designed program logic, and data were triangulated and analysed thematically. Results: Participants reported feeling a sense of connectedness (psychological), but also experiencing connection (social) with their fellow singers. Psychological outcomes included the sensations of affect, arousal, and affirmation. Social outcomes included experiencing belonging, inclusion, and sharing. These positive psycho- social experiences promoted positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes in the large group of participating singers. Conclusions: This paper addresses gaps in our understanding about the mental health and wellbeing outcomes fostered by community choirs at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the 'future' methods literature by exploring the methodological potentials of material methods in qualitative research on young women's imagined futures. Existing research has demonstrated how producing knowledge about imagined futures remains a challenge, often leading to abstract or generic accounts of such futures. Arguing for a double focus on materiality as method and the materiality of methods, this paper extends material methods to innovatively study futures. By considering the narratives about imagined futures generated with and by 'future materials' brought by participants to an interview, the paper demonstrates that this approach is productive for gaining insights that go beyond generic accounts. That is, via the materiality of the objects, specific imagined futures become 'within reach' for participants, with the object serving as an anchor for these future narratives. Empirically the paper draws on data from a longitudinal qualitative study of young women's imagined futures in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. A clinical model for its cause is lacking. Defining a cause based clinical model and a framework of understanding back pain in terms of peripheral structural and central functional pain is essential for optimal management. We describe the results of the largest published audit of 41 chronic low back pain patients, receiving outpatient sublingual ketamine therapy for defined central functional pain along with conventional peripheral structural pain management. Our clinical model assigns Movement Dysfunction as the primary cause for low back pain symptoms and restores it with Movement Therapy focused rehabilitation which is also defined. Patients were derived from a tertiary single neurosurgical specialist practice in Brisbane Australia over a three year period. Severe pain and disability measurements more than halved and only 13% of patients ceased ketamine prematurely due to predominantly non-sinister side effects common to all pharmaceutical therapies. All other surveyed metrics of utility were highly favourable in this challenging cohort of chronic back pain patients biased to poor outcomes. Outpatient ketamine maintains high efficacy and safety used in conjunction with a unique clinical model that describes chronic low back pain. This paper builds on our previous publications that describe the disease of movement dysfunction as an integral factor to the development of a cause based clinical model for the condition of chronic low back pain symptoms. Our clinical application of this model, applying the necessary dual approach of controlling symptoms arising from peripheral structural pain and central functional pain in conjunction with elimination of root causation has shown favourable outcomes in patients with high levels of pain and disability based on their tertiary referral origin and high Oswestry Disability Scores. Removing chronic low back pain from its position as one of the world's leading causes of pain and disability is more likely if the rehabilitation industry can replicate and test treatment algorithms based around established clinical models of disease which is the important subject of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to explore the implications of the increasing range of sporting opportunities for girls and young females on traditional female sports such as netball. This paper emerged from a larger investigation and provided a qualitative descriptive account of the implications for netball based on individual interview and focus group data with 27 female participants (players, coaches, and administrators) in Australia. A reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken, leading to the development of four major themes: 'being a cross-coder', 'team size matters', 'wavering attraction', and 'pathway aspirations. Pathways and opportunities that may impact on how netball clubs engage with the contemporary female sporting landscape are presented. Despite the growing number of other sporting opportunities available to girls and young females, support for netball among its participants remains stable. However, the netball community will need to respond to changing cultural, personal, and organisational forces if they are to sustain strong female participation into the future. Possible implications for coaches, clubs and associations and potential avenues forward are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth-led peer-support initiatives appear well placed to dismantle conventional binaries of youth-adult, as they hold promise as models able to perceive youth outside the role of service recipients. Drawing on ethnographic research at an Australian youth program that included interviews with young people, young and adult volunteers, and staff, this paper investigates the role young people play in determining, creating, and applying change processes for their peers. Through the mechanisms of "cultivating relatability," "establishing a culture of support," and "role-modeling alternative pathways," new possibilities and hope were created. At the core of peer-support efforts was an attempt to increase social integration and a commitment to notions of equality and respect as well as the eradication of unequal power relations between adults and young people. The dual phenomenon of being both the recipient of peer support and facilitators of change processes for others has novel implications for youth programs that work with young people to enhance processes of empowerment and agency and promote positive youth outcomes. Such an approach to working with young people as engaged partners, which gives them a voice and, in particular, asserts the rights of young people to be involved in transforming and recreating their situations, creates opportunities that may both extend the reach and deepen the impact of youth services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common depictions of buying and selling illicit drugs online centre on how drug market actors engage in dark web drug cryptomarkets, but the supply of illicit drugs also takes place in 'plain site' on the surface web. Drawing on netnographic observations and qualitative interviews with hard-to-reach buyers and vendors (n = 20), this paper explores LeafedOut, a specific, popular surface web platform, that provides a conduit for local cannabis exchanges. We found that the platform enabled easy access and supply at the local level but increased some specific risks to those involved. Actors neutralised the perceived risks of drug supply over this surface web platform through the broader societal normalisation of cannabis use/supply, adopting encrypted messaging applications to cover 'digital traces', and developing various methods to establish trust with an exchange partner (e.g. review systems, sending selfies with drug paraphernalia, selectively choosing meet-up locations). This paper expands our understanding of the growing number of online illicit drug markets by shifting attention from dark web cryptomarkets to the much more widely accessed surface/clear web. Theoretical implications for the study of trust and risk in online illicit drug market exchanges are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency situations such as pandemics typically widen inequities, and Australian children and young people with disability already face significant inequities in the education system. In this paper we draw on survey data from over 700 respondents exploring education experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families reported being left behind, finding it difficult to access education remotely, and that this was having a significant impact on wellbeing and mental health. We find that of all support offered by schools, social supports have a stronger association with learner engagement than educational interventions. This finding indicates the importance of social and emotional supports in learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted education for most learners; There is good evidence to suggest this impact is felt more keenly by students with disability, because there is disability discrimination in the Australian education system; This paper reports survey responses from over 700 families of students with disability exploring the impact of COVID-19 on education; Many families report being left behind and that students found it difficult to learn away from the school campus, which for many students and families led to poorer wellbeing and mental health; Our results suggest that supporting students to have social contact with peers made the biggest impact on students with disability feeling engaged with learning during this time. This shows it is important for teachers and schools to pay attention to social as well as educational aspects of school life when thinking about how to educate students with disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of children's consistency of word production allow identification of speech sound disorder. Inconsistent errors are reported for two groups of children: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) due to difficulty with the motoric precision and consistency of speech movements; and inconsistent phonological disorder (IPD) attributed to impaired phonological planning. This paper describes the inconsistent productions of children with IPD in comparison to typically developing children. In two studies of suspected SSD (N = 135), 22 children pronounced ≥40% of 25 words inconsistently on three repeated trials. No participant had symptoms of CAS. They were monolingual and spoke Australian- or Irish-English. Assessment determined the proportions of words said consistently (i.e. the same across productions: all correct or with the same error) or inconsistently (i.e. differently across productions: at least one correct and one error or different errors in productions). Qualitative analyses examined error types and explored the effect of target words' characteristics on inconsistency. Children with IPD produced 52% of words with different errors. While 56% of all phoneme errors were developmental (age appropriate or delayed), atypical errors typified inconsistency: default sounds and word structure errors. Words with more phonemes, syllables and consonant clusters were vulnerable to inconsistency, but their frequency of occurrence had no effect. TD children and those with IPD had different quantitative and qualitative error profiles, confirming IPD as a diagnostic category of SSD. Qualitative analyses supported the hypothesised deficit in phonological planning of words' production for children with IPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, like many high-income countries, food insecurity is associated with increased risks of chronic diseases, sub-optimal development outcomes in children, and mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. Food insecure households employ a range of strategies, including the use of food charity, to help alleviate hunger and meet cost of living pressures. The aim of this paper is to investigate the lived experience of food insecurity for welfare-dependent households, and to examine these experiences within a structural violence framework. Structural violence investigations seek to understand the distal causal factors that can help explain poor health patterns and inequities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with customers (n = 78) of food pantries, soup kitchens, and community development programs (June 2018 to January 2019) in the state of Victoria, Australia. Thematic analysis established evidence of controlling, demeaning and depriving practices in the interactions between the participants and the services and staff at national welfare providers and food charities. The same providers and charities nominally set up to address the exact situations in which participants found themselves. The findings of this study suggest that food and social services are an on-the-ground setting through which structural violence is enacted and experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the environmental, interpersonal, and personal outcomes of music performance in a hospital oncology setting. An original, qualitative research study examined the impact of live music for staff, patients, and carers. Data were collected using a multi-method approach of observations and semi-structured interviews and were analysed using inductive and theory-driven theming that was shaped by a determinants of health framework. The research found that live music promoted stronger relationships and calmer environments, among other environmental, social and individual outcomes. Improved communication between staff through the creation of a more supportive environment was a pertinent finding of the research. No negative effects were reported. We discuss research findings in the context of relevant literature and suggest recommendations for future hospital-based live music programs. Results of this study indicate that live music interventions impacted individual, interpersonal, social and environment factors that led to health and wellbeing outcomes for participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with a disability continue to experience barriers to service engagement such as mistrust of government services, lack of culturally appropriate support, marginalisation and disempowerment. This meta-synthesis reviews current literature regarding these experiences to explain why services are underutilised. Methods: The meta-synthesis was conducted using a meta-ethnographic approach to synthesise existing studies into new interpretive knowledge. The approach was supported by a search using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Ten original research papers utilising a qualitative methodology were extracted. Synthesis of the articles revealed four concepts that were developed into a conceptual model. These include:1) History Matters; 2) Cultural Understanding of Disability Care; 3) Limitations to Current Service Provision; and 4) Delivery of Effective Services. Conclusions: Disability services do not adequately consider the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People or communicate in a culturally appropriate manner. There are expectations that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People acknowledge their disability in alignment with western definitions of disability in order to access services. More work is needed to align disability services with culturally appropriate support to provide better health outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability continue to experience barriers to service engagement which must be addressed. An essential gap that must be filled in providing disability services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the acknowledgment of culture as a resolute influence on all client interactions with providers. A cultural model of disability may better align with the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than current medical and social models used in healthcare. Disability services need to align better with culturally appropriate support to provide better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mothering and motherhood can be a very challenging experience in the 21st century, where cultural pressures, on the one hand, and health experts' regular parenting surveillance, on the other, continue to influence mothering decisions and practices. The socially constructed "good mother" discourses and associated pressures/influences can be amplified for vulnerable mothers who may feel marginalized from or judged by the broader society. This article presents findings from a study that involved interviews with ten young mothers and 12 staff working at a leading family welfare agency supporting young parents in Melbourne, Australia. The study examined how digital technology could promote a sense of agency for vulnerable mothers as well as barriers and enablers of accessing digital knowledge and online parenting support. In addition, the study explored how technology could assist community organizations' staff in helping their clients better. This paper argues that, overall, digital technologies can positively influence the experience of mothering and can empower vulnerable mothers by increasing their access to various sources of support. Furthermore, our findings suggest that technology can enhance community and family service providers' practice, opening possibilities for a more supportive relationship with clients by empowering them and increasing agency over their situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a critical survivor-driven study exploring how Australian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTQA+) adults attempt recovery from religious Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts (SOGIECE), and what supports they find useful in this process. The study privileged the critical communal lens of self-titled survivors of perspectives through its reference group, and applied Bronfenbrenner's psycho-social lens, in an effort to ensure research used by psychologists was for and with survivors rather than on them. Qualitative data on SOGIECE survivor experiences and perspectives was collected using two focus groups and interviews including a total of 35 Australian SOGIECE survivors aged 18+ years. Findings suggested that post-SOGIECE recoveries were more successful if survivors experience three provisions: people who are affirming with whom to be freely themselves – especially health and mental health practitioners, family and friends, and survivor support groups; considerable time and internal motivation to enable support to be effective; and conflicting aspects of identities and beliefs are reconciled in ways that foreground survivors' autonomy in their reconstruction. SOGIECE survivors need recovery plans that consider complexities at all levels of their ecology of development; and diversify their exposure to affirming supports and ideas at all levels. Mental health practitioners should be especially careful to foreground survivors' autonomy in therapies, recalling that they likely experienced past abusive therapies/therapy dynamics. Key Points What is already known about this topic: People exposed to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts (SOGIECE) are at increased risk for many mental health conditions. People exposed to SOGIECE are at increased risk of self-harm and suicide. SOGIECE survivors need distinct treatment considerations distinguishing 'pathology' from SOGIECE's 'negative effects', and challenging past social conformity-drives. What this topic adds: SOGIECE survivors need community (re)building aid in their recovery confluent with their own faith goals and avoiding conformity with therapists' (faith-negative/faith-positive) ideals. SOGIECE survivors need considerable time and different phases in recovery processes, to do developmental work discussing and reconciling dualities in identities, beliefs and social (re)engagements. Support approaches and resources closely aligned to SOGIECE survivors' presented identities were emphasised for the initial recovery decision-making, these could later vary more across treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA+) Australians are vulnerable to religion-based attempts to change or suppress their sexuality and/or gender identity, including conversion ideology messaging in school-based sex education. Conversion bans are currently being debated across the country. This paper reports on a critical survivor-driven study which retrospectively explored Australian LGBTQA+ youth exposure to conversion practices both within and outside of education settings. It privileges the perspectives of self-titled 'survivors' of conversion ideology and practices through the use of a reference group and constructivist grounded theory. Qualitative data were collected 20 from Australian LGBTQA+ conversion ideology and/or practice survivors aged 18 years and over, using focus groups and 35 individual interviews between 2016 and 2020. In conversion-promoting religious contexts including education institutions and groups, messages concerning sexuality and gender changed as individuals grew older and were drawn into more/enclosed settings in which core conversion messages of LGBTQA+ 'brokenness' were prevalent. While individuals progressed through the conversion experience in different ways, their experience was characterised by the absence of any form of affirming LGBTQA+ education – enabling conversion itself to become their LGBTQA+ (mis)information source. School policy addressing conversion, alongside enhanced provision of affirmative age-appropriate gender and sexuality education, may mediate this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape of cancer is changing, with earlier detection and the emergence of new treatment options signalling the potential reconfiguration of cancer (for some) as a chronic condition. Cancer is increasingly experienced in terms of chronicity, incorporating both ongoing episodes of acute treatment alongside the long-term management of disease, symptoms, and side effects. This emphasis refocuses attention toward living-with, as well as beyond, cancer. Yet, how cancer chronicity is understood and experienced by both patients and healthcare professionals remains underexplored. While sociological scholarship has critically analysed how chronic illness has been positioned as a problem of/for the person and/or the healthcare system, less attention has been paid to instances like cancer, where chronicity might be viewed as reflective of forms of success (e.g. through the deferral of mortality even in the absence of 'cure'). In this paper we draw on qualitative interview data from a large study of cancer survivorship including patients, their family carers and health professionals, across two Australian hospitals. We critically analyse the dimensions of chronicity in the cancer sphere, understanding cancer-as-chronicity as producing a particular form of subjectivity, shaped by the everyday management and experience of treatment, impairment, symptoms, and side-effects. We posit that constructions of cancer as chronic, and associated imperatives linked to longevity, commitment, and resilience, are placing new demands on patients, family carers, and professionals alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to one third of adults who receive mental health services in Australia are parents. Psychologists in private practice are one of the largest groups within the Australian mental health workforce who support parents experiencing mental ill-health. Parents have specific support needs relating to their parenting role and "treatment as usual" may not address their integrated parenting and mental health concerns. The service experiences of parents in this setting have not been studied. This qualitative study addresses this knowledge gap through investigation of the experiences of Australian mothers who received support from a psychologist in private practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 mothers and interviews were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three overarching themes were identified in relation to (i) participants' need to feel understood and heard as a parent, (ii) their need for a nonjudgmental therapeutic space and (iii) their desire for practical parental support from psychologists. These findings corroborate the value of family-focused practices when supporting parents with a mental health condition. The results include ways in which family-focused practices have been incorporated by clinicians in private practice settings which may have application in other mental health service contexts. What is already known about this topic: Psychologists in private practice make up a substantial group within the Australian mental health workforce who support parents with a mental health condition. Parents who receive mental health care in tertiary mental health settings report a lack of dedicated parenting support and resources. Family-focused practices are effective in supporting parenting and recovery for parents with a mental health condition who receive mental health care in tertiary mental health settings. What this paper adds: Psychologists who support parents in private practice should collaborate with their clients to identify which aspects of their parenting may be relevant to the therapeutic work and provide targeted support for parenting difficulties. Most participants expected that their psychologist would provide targeted support for parenting difficulties, and they felt disappointed when this did not occur. The lived experiences of parents with mental ill-health in private practice psychology services are highlighted, addressing a key knowledge gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people with severe and complex depression experience substantial social connectedness difficulties. The aim of this qualitative study was to evaluate the role of social connectedness in a novel group therapy (Relate) for youth living with severe and complex depression from clinicians' perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 clinicians practicing at Orygen's Youth Mood Clinic in Melbourne. Eight of the 11 clinicians were female, with the sample aged 30–42 years (M = 34 years, SD = 3.6 years) and having an average 4.5 years clinical experience at Orygen. Four key themes were identified by codebook thematic analysis. The first theme pertained to clients' difficulties with social engagement, which impacted their attendance of Relate, but were addressed by the intervention. In the second theme, clinicians identified Relate as providing a safe space. In the third theme, clinicians identified opportunities for positive relational experiences. In the fourth theme, clinicians observed social and clinical improvements in Relate clients, but marked recovery did not always occur after attending. Findings provide initial support for the continuation of Relate. Recommendations for future iterations of Relate include refining the intake criteria for referring clients to Relate and potentially lengthening the program's duration. What is already known about this topic: Group interpersonal therapy is an effective intervention for depression and interpersonal functioning in young people. Few studies have evaluated treatments for young people with severe and complex depression and high suicide risk. Few studies have evaluated group programs within early intervention services. What this paper adds: A relationally-focussed group therapy could improve social connectedness and interpersonal functioning for youth living with severe and complex depression. The Relate group emphasises a safe environment for sharing and social risk-taking, providing opportunities for positive relational experiences with similar others which might be particularly useful for youth with complex social difficulties. Identified issues with engagement suggest clients could benefit from an explicit rationale for how their participation in the group benefits their depression treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disproportionately high numbers of Aboriginal young people access residential alcohol and other drug programs in Australia. While demand is high, these programs often have low numbers of Aboriginal staff. Residential programs, however, generally offer supports that reflect features of Aboriginal health care – holistic, group-based, connected to local communities, and addressing determinants of health. The qualitative research outlined in this paper was a collaboration between a mainstream residential therapeutic community program and two Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, and Aboriginal young people and researchers, with Aboriginal research leadership. It used an Aboriginal healing framework to understand the experiences of 12 young Aboriginal people in the program, triangulated with 19 key informant interviews. This provided an opportunity to understand how Indigenous knowledge about healing related to mainstream programs and the experiences of Aboriginal young people. This moves beyond individualist and deficit-focused conceptions of youth alcohol and drug use and centres Aboriginal cultures as healing. Findings point to the need for critically self-reflective mainstream organisations, a larger Aboriginal workforce with leadership roles, partnerships with Aboriginal Elders and organisations, and an investment in Aboriginal community-controlled alcohol and other drug services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amendments to various state laws have made it easier for cisgendered lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women to access Australian fertility clinics. When women conceive through clinics, they generally use intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF). IUI is cheaper and requires less invasive medical intervention than IVF. A recent survey found that almost 60% of Australian cisgendered LBQ women who conceived with clinical assistance did so using IVF, despite most presenting to clinics without a diagnosis of infertility and seeking donor sperm only. In this paper, based on 20 interviews with Australian clinicians who treat LBQ patients seeking pregnancy, we explore potential explanations for why over half of LBQ women using Australian fertility clinics to conceive used IVF rather than IUI. A 'perfect storm' of factors appears to converge in this tendency. Although some LBQ women are purposefully choosing IVF to achieve biological relatedness for two mothers, other pressures toward high intervention conceptions include the distinction between 'social' and 'clinical' infertility by Medicare (the Australian national health insurance scheme), the relative profitability of IVF procedures and issues with the supply and quality of donor sperm. Accessing sperm from clinics appears to set some Australian women without male partners on a potentially unnecessary path to a high intervention and costly conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Australian Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Sexual health problems can be pertinent to psychological function/diagnosis and psychologists are key players in treatment and education regarding sexual health. Despite this, little evidence exists to determine if sexual dysfunction is explored during routine client intake interviews, when the client does not present with relationship difficulties, or from a specialist referral for sexual dysfunction. We aimed to explore psychologists' decision-making around questioning of client sexual functioning through the lens of the Dual-Processing Model. Method: This qualitative study assessed 16 registered psychologists working within Australia who answered an online questionnaire around their beliefs and clinical experiences of sexual health practice. Results: Data was analysed using thematic analysis, revealing multiple themes favouring sexual health investigation. Main themes included risk management, relevance to clinical presentations, scope of practice, positive beliefs about asking, and competency beliefs. Primary barriers against sexual health investigation included perceived incompetence, organisational constraints, concerns around damaging rapport, sexual health not being relevant to the client's needs, and perceptions around unethical practice. Conclusions: This paper challenged the applicability of the Dual Processing Model to psychological decision-making, and suggested personal biases influence Australian psychologists' sexual health questioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When unpaid female carers consider whether to pursue higher education (HE), they frequently experience decision-making uncertainties which stem from the structural and cultural challenges associated with their roles as carers. Reflexivity is a critical part of decision-making, as it empowers individuals to mediate between the present and future within the structural and cultural conditions which impact and guide their actions. To investigate the reflexive deliberation processes unpaid female carers engage in as part of their HE decision-making processes, this study analysed data from an in-depth, qualitative Australian study with 15 unpaid female carers who were considering higher education. Dialogic processes including narrative interviews and a card sort activity made visible the array of mental activities involved in reflexive decision-making by carers. Considering the more and less productive types of reflexive inner conversations which had been identified enabled participants to reflexively adjust the efficacy of some of their decision-making processes. This study contributes to the reflective and career counselling literature by theorising the cognitively and emotionally complex personal and structural demands of HE decision-making. By conceptualising reflexive decision-making anew, unpaid female carers and HE institutions can better identify and address the structural and cultural conditions which may be influencing their HE decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Healthcare staff are on the frontline during disasters despite any personal adversity and vicarious trauma they may be experiencing. Wellness Warrior training is a post-disaster intervention developed in response to the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires to support staff in a rural hospital located on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Method: This study explored the experiences and perspectives of 18 healthcare staff who were trained to provide emotional and peer support to their colleagues in the aftermath of a crisis. All the Wellness Warriors participated in semi-structured interviews between March and April 2020. Data were analysed using the reflexive thematic approach. Results: Healthcare staff reported developing interpersonal skills around deep listening and connecting with others which allowed for hearing the core of their colleagues' concerns. The training also helped staff to feel differently about work and restored their faith in healthcare leadership. Conclusion: Wellness Warrior training provided staff with knowledge and skills to support their colleagues in the aftermath of a natural disaster and later during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, these findings suggest that peer support programs such as Wellness Warriors could be one way healthcare organisations can attempt to alleviate the psychological impact of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patient self-advocacy is valued and promoted; however, it may not be readily accessible to all. This analysis examines the experiences of women in Australia who had cardiac disease in pregnancy or the first year postpartum through the lenses of self-advocacy and gender, specifically seeking to elaborate on the contexts, impacts, barriers, and women's responses to the barriers to self-advocacy. Method: A qualitative study design was used. Twenty-five women participated in semistructured in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of findings generated the following themes: 1) Silent dream scream, 2) Easier said than done, 3) Crazy-making, and 4) Concentric circles of advocacy. Regardless of women's personal attributes, knowledge and experience, self-advocating for their health was complex and difficult and had negative cardiac and psychological outcomes. Conclusion: While the women encountered significant barriers to self-advocating, they were resilient and ultimately developed strategies to be heard and to advocate on their own behalf and that of other women. Findings can be used to identify ways to support women to selfadvocate and to provide adequately resourced and culturally safe environments to enable healthcare professionals to provide person-centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Social work programs in the Global North are increasingly engaged in international student exchange with countries in the Indo-Pacific that belong to the Global South. However, there is a paucity of literature exploring the experiences of the institutions that host these exchanges. This article reports on the findings of a qualitative project that sought host institutions' perspectives on the value of student exchanges. The findings indicate a perception that some mutual benefit and reciprocity can be established in international exchange but that disparity in resourcing, absence of opportunities for hosts to travel to Australia, and the privileged status of knowledge produced in the Global North maintains an inequity between exchange partners. These findings highlight the need for steps that can be taken toward reciprocity while demonstrating the impact power imbalance can have on the nature of Global South–North student exchange programs. IMPLICATIONS Research has shown that student exchange programs between the Global North and the Global South are often underpinned and shaped by a significant power imbalance in favour of the Global North. Findings show that Australian (Global North) knowledge is privileged over knowledge that is Indigenous to the host country and that financial constraints prevent host organisations from equal participation in programs. A form of reciprocity can be established whereby organisations in the Global South can access benefits associated with the programs, without sending their own students on exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflective practice and critical reflection are considered crucial to learning and practising social work. Based on qualitative analysis of interviews with Australian social work practitioners, students, and academics this article offers a description of the strong normative role reflective practice plays in contemporary social work practice. The research was conducted as part of a larger interpretive study into how reflective practice is understood in social work education and practice in Australia. The research found that reflective practice is considered as central to the development of practice wisdom, accountability, and the development of self-awareness. The article discusses the normative role reflective practice plays for social worker agency. The article also outlines the formative role social theory plays in the development of critical reflection. IMPLICATIONS Reflective practice and critical reflection can be viewed as important and distinct capabilities in professional social work practice. Reflective practice is an important foundation for the emergence of practitioner agency. As critical reflection is more likely to develop in social workers who have had the opportunity to learn social theory, it is important to ensure social theory is included in foundational social work curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how engagement with social media leads women to adopt diet and exercise practices. We base our analysis on qualitative research, including surveys and in-depth interviews, with thirty (30) Australian women aged 18-35 years between April and August 2021. Our findings reveal how healthism discourse on social media, namely Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, underpin the adoption of diet and exercise practices by enhancing experiences of digital intimacy, repeat messages and personal testimonials from other women, and supporting new routines during COVID-19 lockdowns. This article contributes to health marketing literature by providing critical knowledge about women's experiences that prompt and shape complex ideologies of health that are often masked through diet and exercise practices on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful ageing-in-place is dependent on the design and features of the home. In some cases, home modifications or relocation may be required. Accessible, affordable, age-friendly housing for older adults is required to encourage forward planning. To understand the views of middle and older aged adults and individuals with older relatives, about home safety, ageing in place and housing accessibility. A qualitative descriptive approach, using reflexive thematic analysis was used. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 16 participants, comprising eight middle- older aged people and eight individuals with older relatives. Seven themes were identified. Most participants accepted the ageing process and could recognise home environment hazards and potential future housing needs. Others were determined to remain independent at home and resistant to making future changes until necessary. Participants were interested in obtaining more information about how to improve home safety or services to support ageing-in-place. Most older adults are open to conversations about planning for ageing-in-place and would like further information on home safety and home modifications. Educational forums and tools (such as flyers or checklists) which assist older people to plan future housing needs are recommended. Many older people are living in homes that present hazards and limited accessibility as they age. Earlier planning could lead to home modifications which will improve the capacity to age in place. Action to provide earlier education is needed as the population ages and suitable housing for older people is limited. Decision-making around home safety among the ageing population can be compromised by lack of awareness, inadequate access to information and the sudden onset of age-related changes. An education guide or tool to support forward planning and housing decisions may improve early awareness among the ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Written clinical reflection is frequently used in speech-language pathology training programs to develop student clinical skills. The aim of this study was to explore speech-language pathology students' perceptions towards written clinical reflection. Method: Seventy-two undergraduate speech-language pathology students completed an online survey. An observational research design was undertaken. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. Inductive content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. Result: Speech-language pathology students reported that written clinical reflections are useful but also wanted to explore alternative ways to reflect. Most students used written clinical reflection to focus on self-improvement of clinical skills and a small number of students used reflection to consider stakeholders' points of view. Students wanted more guidance and feedback on written clinical reflections. Conclusion: The results indicate that written clinical reflection is a useful learning tool. To facilitate the development of reflection skills in speech-language pathology students, it is important to explicitly teach clinical reflection in university curricula and to receive guidance from professional practice educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy eating (HE) and physical activity (PA) are essential for children's health and well-being. Innovative approaches, informed by formative research, are crucial to promoting these behaviors. Experiential learning, involving active, hands-on approaches, may be an effective way to encourage healthy behaviors in children. Children's museums could contribute to health education by providing a variety of educational opportunities. To inform the design of an experiential learning Healthy Living program for children at an Australian children's museum. A qualitative study involving focus group discussions with 23 caregivers and in-depth interviews with 6 staff were conducted to explore perceptions of caregivers and staff working in an Australian children's museum (Discovery Space) relating to potentially effective experiential learning strategies for promoting children's healthy behaviors. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed in NVivo 12. Key considerations for promoting HE and PA children through experiential learning activities include involving caregivers, engaging children through processes such as providing choice and stimulating curiosity, and selecting appropriate activity types such as simple, engaging, fun, hands-on, sensory play, and music-based activities. Experiential learning activities that address these key considerations can promote HE and PA in children and should be studied in future studies. Competencies and sub-competencies in two areas of responsibility, (I) Assessment of Needs and Capacity and (V) Advocacy, were addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is minimal understanding of how people with mild stroke experience health services. With recent acknowledgement of the difficulties this population faces, it is imperative that their views are sought on services required to meet their needs. This study aimed to answer the question: 'How do people with mild stroke perceive their experience of stroke-related healthcare services?'. Qualitative investigation using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five participants were interviewed at 1-, 3-, and 6- months post discharge. Three themes were identified that reflected the 'essence' of healthcare service experiences: 1) The difficult diagnosis, 2) Standard care: good but not good enough, and 3) A journey better not done alone. It was clear that people with mild stroke and health professionals experienced difficulty linking symptoms to stroke. Following hospital discharge, issues relating to service coordination, information provision, and secondary prevention were identified. A formal support person appeared to increase participants' feelings of support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aphasia Language Impairment and Functioning Therapy (LIFT) program is one example of an Intensive and Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) developed in a research setting. This ICAP has shown promising improvements in naming, communication participation and communication-related quality of life, and is ready for translation into health services. However, there are challenges to implementing ICAPs into clinical services, including delivering high treatment doses with existing staffing, and providing a cohort model where patients start and finish concurrently. No Australian studies have investigated local clinicians' or clinical stakeholders' perspectives on translating the Aphasia LIFT program into existing health services. It is vital to understand the clinical context in which implementation is intended so that a theory-informed implementation intervention can be tailored to address identified barriers. This study aimed to identify potential barriers and facilitators to implementing Aphasia LIFT into existing healthcare services from the perspectives of clinical stakeholders and experienced LIFT clinicians, and develop a theory-informed implementation intervention for Aphasia LIFT, tailored to the intended implementation context. This study comprised two distinct phases. In phase 1, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical stakeholders (n = 13) and Aphasia LIFT clinicians (n = 5) to identify key barriers and facilitators to Aphasia LIFT implementation. Interviews were informed by the Theoretical Domain Framework and data analysed using content analysis. In phase 2, barriers were mapped to behaviour change techniques and implementation strategies using two mapping approaches, leading to the development of the implementation intervention. Combined clinical stakeholder and Aphasia LIFT clinician perspectives revealed six main barriers: 'patient-level factors', 'environmental context and resources', 'beliefs about capabilities', 'the Aphasia LIFT innovation', 'knowledge', and 'skills'. Key implementation barriers included a perceived lack of flexibility of the Aphasia LIFT program's structure, and an overall lack of confidence that the program could be feasibly delivered within a constrained healthcare environment. An implementation intervention was subsequently designed that incorporated six components: (i) Executive, leadership and stakeholder support, (ii) Allocation of clinical staff, (iii) Interactive education and training program, (iv) Resource procurement and provision, (v) Ongoing implementation support, and (vi) Consumer engagement and promotion. The context-specific barriers and facilitators identified in this study informed the development of a tailored implementation intervention to facilitate translation of the Aphasia LIFT ICAP into clinical services. This implementation intervention will be evaluated in a future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redeployment of healthcare workers is one of the strategies that has been successfully used to manage increased workload and shortage of staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about how best to do this in the pandemic and beyond. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of haemodialysis nurses who were redeployed across five haemodialysis units affiliated with a large metropolitan teaching hospital in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative design utilizing a hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenology approach. Interviews were conducted in March 2022 among nurses who had been redeployed to other haemodialysis units during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 16). Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed independently by two researchers following specific steps of hermeneutic phenomenological analysis. Five themes were derived from the analyses. These were: (1) Nurses' immediate reaction; (2) Barriers to redeployment; (3) Benefits of redeployment; (4) Local and organisational support and (5) Opportunities for improvement. Redeployment of nurses across different haemodialysis units is associated with personal and organisational benefits and number of barriers that need to be addressed. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of redeployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic on haemodialysis nurses and other healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the important role volunteers play in Australian society, the current study examined the relationship between different motivations for volunteering and different outcomes experienced by animal welfare volunteers. An anonymous, self-report questionnaire was completed online by 278 volunteers (84.53% female; Mage = 45.19 years, SD = 18.13) of a large state-wide animal welfare organisation. A latent profile analysis was conducted with data collected using the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI), and interpreted alongside a thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Three groups of participants were identified, characterised by different prominent motivations to volunteer: personal values (values-driven group); personal values and personal growth (personal-gain group); and personal values, personal growth, and career-related factors (experience-oriented group). Values-driven volunteers experienced both pleasure and stress from the enactment of values-driven behaviour, and experienced increased opportunity for socialisation. Personal-gain volunteers experienced increased opportunity for socialisation and increased sense of purpose. Experience-oriented volunteers derived pleasure from enacting personal values, and increased opportunity to gain experience in animal-care. Motivations for volunteering are complex and multifaceted. The current findings highlight how motivationally congruent volunteering behaviours can be associated with a range of positive outcomes for volunteers. What is already known about this topic: Volunteering is associated with positive physical and mental health outcomes. Australian volunteers are heterogenous in terms of demographics and motivations for volunteering. Mixed-method analyses can produced nuanced understandings of complex topics. What this topic adds: Volunteers have complex and multifaceted motivations for volunteering. Volunteering behaviours are associated with positive outcomes when these behaviours are congruent with motivations to volunteer. Volunteers may experience a range of positive social, psychological and practical outcomes when they engage in motivationally congruent volunteering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM; "kink") are frequently pathologized as derivatives of abuse. Although the link is unsubstantiated, some kink-identified people who happen to be survivors of trauma may engage in kink, or trauma play, to heal from, cope with, and transform childhood abuse or adolescent maltreatment. The present study sought a thematic model (Braun & Clarke, Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101, 2006) of trauma recovery through kink using a critical realist, inductive approach to inquiry. Participants were eligible if they had experienced early abuse, were adults, and practiced kink. Six superordinate themes were generated from semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from five countries: cultural context of healing (e.g. using BDSM norms and previous therapy to reframe kink and trauma), restructuring the self-concept (e.g. strengthening internal characteristics which had been harmed or distorted), liberation through relationship (e.g. learning to be valued by intimate others), reclaiming power (e.g. setting and maintaining personal boundaries), repurposing behaviors (e.g. engaging in aspects of prolonged exposure), and redefining pain (e.g. transcending painful memories through masochism). Notably, participants only reported retraumatizing experiences prior to learning about the structural safeguards of BDSM. Research and clinical implications are discussed by drawing on general models of trauma recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational therapy competency standards provide an evidence-base to inform clinical best practice, however it is not known whether education about competency standards will increase occupational therapists' adherence to their use. To investigate if education about the 'Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors' leads to increased adherence to the competency standards in the clinical practice of occupational therapy driver assessors. A mixed methods multiple case study design was used to evaluate 5 occupational therapy driver assessors' adherence to the competency standards. An audit of 25 client files and interviews were conducted to evaluate practice against the competency standards prior to an education session, followed by an audit of a further 25 files, interview and feedback after education. Qualitative and quantitative analyses suggest that education about the 'Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors' was associated with increased adherence to the competency standards in clinical practice. The results also support the use of competency standards in clinical practice. Competency standards can be used to inform and guide clinical practice, and individualised education and feedback of practice against the competency standards can increase occupational therapists' adherence to these standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is building evidence that oesophageal screening (OS) should be considered a critical component of videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). This study surveyed Australian speech-language pathologists (SLPs) regarding current practices and perceptions of OS in VFSS. A 16–24 item online survey was distributed to Australian SLPs via relevant email forums. One response per site was requested. Survey questions explored experience and training in VFSS, skill and confidence with OS, OS protocol use, and pathways following OS. One hundred and one SLPs across all Australian states and territories responded, with 70% (n = 69/99) from metropolitan hospitals and 74% (n = 75/101) having more than five years' VFSS experience. While 69% (n = 70/101) of SLPs conducted OS, only half (n = 35/70) conducted OS routinely, and only 4% (n = 3/70) always used published OS protocols. Barriers to OS, for some participants, were concerns about scope of practice and confidence. This study confirms higher levels of OS in Australia compared to similar international surveys and provides rich data on the Australian context. Prescriptive clinical guidelines for OS, consensus regarding a preferred OS protocol, and specific OS training may clarify SLP scope of practice and improve SLP confidence and standardisation in OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely speech-language pathology (SLP) involvement with dysphagic patients in the Emergency Department (ED) may improve patient outcomes. This study utilised qualitative interviews to understand current models and explore factors which have influenced establishment and current dysphagia service provision in Australian EDs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from 12 acute hospital facilities with a SLP ED service. Interview transcripts were analysed using plain content analysis to identify key themes. Sub-analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) model was undertaken for facilities with more "expanded" models (n = 4). SLP ED service models ranged from referral-only services, to models with referral-only and proactive SLP-led screening procedures (classified as "expanded"). Patient-related factors, the ED setting, SLP service factors and perceptions of dysphagia management were key themes reported to impact service delivery. With expanded models, 14 CFIR constructs (innovation source, external policy and incentives, networks and communications, stakeholders and relative priority) were identified as facilitators, while four constructs (adaptability, cost, compatibility, available resources) were barriers to services. There are service-specific issues with providing SLP care within the ED. Factors related to the unique ED environment must be considered by SLP departments when establishing/optimising dysphagia management within the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore stressors among young university students. Twenty-nine 18- to 25-year-old university students. Four focus group discussions (n = 29) were conducted to explore mental health and stressors among domestic and international university students. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis to identify emerging themes and relationships. Five primary stressors emerged from the data: Balance, Interpersonal Relationships, Future Prospects, Performance Pressure and Financial Issues and Employment. Although many distinct relationships were identified between themes, "Balance" affected and influenced most other stressors. Five stressors were identified, most of which related to a lack of balance and time-management. Too many competing commitments and difficulty prioritizing were key influences. Interventions and policy to address stressors in students may reduce student psychological stress. Universities can provide support for students to prioritize commitments, provide flexible study opportunities and offer financial guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although allied health services are important adjuncts to medical care for people with myasthenia gravis (MG), the underutilisation of these services is not well understood within the Australian context. It is critical to explore patients' perceptions to develop services that meet consumer needs. This study, therefore, sought to obtain insight into MG patients' perspectives and experiences, in addition to the outcomes, of accessing allied health services. Thirteen Australian adults with MG participated in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis was conducted inductively using thematic content analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) missed opportunities and unmet care needs were common, due to frequent patient–provider communication breakdowns and a lack of referral protocols, (2) personal factors – patient self-advocacy influenced their perceived need, with some lacking confidence to seek help, (3) perceived benefit and health provider capacities – most valued allied health despite differing perceptions of health professionals' attitudes, skills, and willingness to learn, and (4) a resultant fragmentation of care between services was universal. Findings highlighted a need for clear referral pathways, coordinated multidisciplinary care, improved access to community-based services and education for allied health professionals about MG. Adults with myasthenia gravis (MG) report a lack of referral pathways to allied health services, leading to unmet needs and fragmented care. Although there is a perceived benefit to allied health care, experiences are impacted by health provider capacity and attitudes. There needs to be an overall shift towards multidisciplinary care for people with MG, and the development of clear referral pathways. Specific education about MG should be available for allied health professionals to improve their knowledge and skills in treating this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recognition of the broader relational aspects of viral infections, family support is considered important when someone is diagnosed with a blood-borne virus (BBV), such as HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV). However, families' own support needs are often not a priority in service provision within the BBV sector. In this article, we draw on qualitative interviews with 20 key informants working in various professional capacities in health, social policy, care and advocacy sectors in Australia, and explore their experiences and perspectives on family inclusivity in their services. Overall, key informants acknowledged the diversity of what constitutes family, and consistently viewed family engagement as beneficial to both diagnosed individuals and the wider familial networks affected by a diagnosis. However, prioritising individual care in support services presented barriers to engaging families, which are further complicated by the role of stigma in shaping the social realities of living with a BBV. Increasing understanding in service provision settings that serodiscordance can be a family experience has the potential to widen this analytic lens to consider the support needs of families in their own right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore health professionals' acceptance of the guidelines for acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD), and to identify barriers and facilitators to adherence. Qualitative descriptive study involving focus group discussions among health professionals who treat people with WAD in primary and secondary care settings in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Twenty-eight health professionals (physiotherapists = 19; chiropractors = 6; osteopaths = 3) participated in six semi-structured focus group discussions that were held in independent offices in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia between September and December 2015. Discussions were audio recorded and verbatim, de-identified transcripts produced. Thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive approach to identify commonly held beliefs. Acceptance of guideline recommendations appeared to be influenced by factors related to the guideline itself, practitioner and practice characteristics, and patient-related factors. Specifically, acceptance was hindered by conflicting belief systems, ambiguity in guideline recommendations, and patient characteristics and expectations. Practitioners demonstrated a positive attitude towards the use of the guidelines in general; however, in some cases, acceptance of key recommendations appeared selective. Future guideline revision and implementation might focus on explaining the underlying principles of the guidelines, providing more detailed recommendations, and involving strategies that challenge inconsistent beliefs and promote informed decision-making. Selective acceptance of guideline recommendations in favour of those not requiring practice change may present a challenge for the implementation of evidence-based practice in the management of whiplash. Participants demonstrated variable, sometimes polar attitudes to guideline key messages and recommendations. Guideline developers need to focus more strongly on changing practitioner beliefs and attitudes, as well as better explaining the underlying principles of the guidelines, and providing more detailed recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents of children with hearing loss (HL) often navigate an unfamiliar and uncertain path. This qualitative study investigated the nature of parental uncertainty: (1) immediately after a child's HL was identified; (2) prior to primary school entry; and (3) during primary school. Open-ended questions in online surveys were completed by participants (N = 61) with: (a) personal experience as a parent of a child with HL (n = 35); (b) professional experience with children who have HL (n = 19); or (c) a combination of both parental and professional experience (n = 7). Six major themes were abstracted using thematic analysis, including uncertainty about: (1) the Pervasive Impact of HL, (2) the Nature and Causes of HL, (3) Developmental Impacts, (4) Family Life, (5) Family Decision-Making, and (6) Education and Support Services. The salience of these depended on the stage in time following identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health funding provisions supported by governments are pivotal for families accessing independent speech-language pathology services in Australia. Little is known of the facilitators and barriers that exist for accessing public funding for speech-language pathology services through independent providers. This study aimed to investigate and describe the perceptions of speech-language pathologists in accessing public funding models (PFMs) for children and young persons with communication and swallowing needs within Australian independent practice. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with twenty independent speech-language pathologists who had experience of PFMs in Australia. Digitally recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis. Data analysis revealed five superordinate and eighteen subordinate themes. The five superordinate themes were: (a) accessibility in securing funding provisions; (b) time as a commodity; (c) incongruence between funding provisions and speech-language pathology evidence; (d) trust as a multifaceted quality; and (e) consequences of PFMs. This original and timely research offers perceptive descriptions of the multifaceted facilitators and barriers for families seeking to access public funding for independent speech-language pathology services in Australia. Research findings illuminate challenges for the speech-language pathology profession. Accessibility to funding was identified as a major issue. Research findings suggest that current funding provisions do not align with the dosage required for evidence-based speech-language pathology management. Further, this research has highlighted the need for funding to be equitable, acceptable to stakeholders, and for services to be delivered in an efficient and sustainable manner. Future research is recommended to understand which Australian PFMs: (a) facilitate consumer access to speech-language pathology services; (b) enrich consumer experiences; and (c) align with scientific evidence to promote optimal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Help seeking for domestic violence is complex and multifaceted, and settling in a new country might make the help-seeking process more challenging and complicated. This study explored the barriers to seeking help for domestic violence, specifically experienced by Afghan women after settling in Australia. The study involved 21 semistructured interviews with newly arrived Afghan women. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and the data were analysed thematically. The barriers Afghan women experienced were embodied in cultural norms to stay in marital relationships, demands to preserve the family's reputation, personal circumstances, and women's experiences with, and perspectives on, available services. The findings suggest that policy and practice should recognise those barriers and respond to them in a culturally appropriate way. IMPLICATIONS Domestic violence services' procedures and processes should be developed based on an understanding of multiple layers of oppression and barriers to seeking help for migrant women. Service providers should apply an intersectional lens along with antioppressive perspectives to address barriers to domestic violence services women experience at different levels. Social workers in domestic violence services need relevant training to provide culturally appropriate services to migrant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children seeking asylum face occupational deprivation and human rights violations. No research has investigated how occupational therapists work with child asylum seekers. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists promotes the Canadian Model of Client-Centred Enablement (CMCE) for occupational therapists working to promote human rights. This research investigates use of CMCE skills to investigate skills occupational therapists use when working with child asylum seekers in Australian immigration detention. Interpretive description guided this investigation and purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 occupational therapists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analysed. Occupational multi-level responsiveness, an overarching practice skill, involved keying into individual, family and socio-political levels to respond to occupational injustices. A wide array of practice skills extending beyond the CMCE framework were used in a nuanced and interwoven manner spanning multiple levels. Occupational multi-level responsiveness described occupational therapists working across macro-, meso- and micro-levels. Understanding and enacting occupational multi-level responsiveness may support occupational therapists to plan and implement effective strategies when tackling occupational injustices. The skills identified may be applicable to other complex socio-political fields of practice. More research is needed. Further research should also investigate the occupational experiences of children seeking asylum. Occupational therapists working with child asylum seekers in Australia take a multi-level approach, responding to individuals, families and socio-political structures. A three pronged approach to implementation of the occupational therapy practice process could support multi-level responsiveness to enhance practice that addresses occupational injustices. CMCE skills are not exhaustive and therapists discussed using other skills beyond those listed in the CMCE. Additional skills reflected humility and efforts towards more equal relationships between therapists and clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare models have incorporated self-management approaches to facilitate increased patient responsibility for chronic condition management. As aphasia is a chronic condition, self-management may be beneficial for people with aphasia; however, the possible impacts of the language disorder on self-management must be acknowledged and addressed. Speech-language pathologists would likely be principal providers of self-management support; therefore, their perspectives should be sought when considering development of aphasia self-management approaches. This study aims to explore speech-language pathologist perspectives of aphasia self-management. In-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 speech-language pathologists in Australia. Interview data analysed using qualitative content analysis. Aphasia self-management was viewed as a person- and family-centred approach enabling comprehensive long-term care for people with aphasia and promoting control, responsibility, and independence. Speech-language pathologists were seen to have a substantial role providing self-management support and consultation, and training was required to expand this role. Communication partners and peer support were highly valued. Personal and environmental factors may influence successful aphasia self-management. Differences between aphasia self-management and chronic condition self-management were considered. Self-management could facilitate long-term sustainable aphasia management. Aphasia self-management approaches should factor in how to maximise communication partner and peer support. Aphasia-friendly self-management resources are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]