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Whilst online learning has gained rapid momentum, the development of online technology and practices that support the delivery of online courses with a large research component has been slow. In 2017, the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, Australia, developed a potentially scalable and transferable online research portal. This is an all-in-one platform that is designed to facilitate and support online research and research supervision, for supervisors and students. The research portal has evolved to currently provide research and research supervision support to over 700 online psychology students at the university. This paper describes the development, implementation and impact of the research portal and presents data from a preliminary evaluation of its usability and user satisfaction. Both research students and supervisors from the fully online fourth-year Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced program at Monash University participated in a series of focus groups, individual usability testing sessions, and surveys, and reported favourably on the research portal's research supervisor and supervisee user satisfaction and usability. Qualitative and quantitative feedback provided useful information supporting research portal improvement and expansion possibilities, allowing an increasingly valuable contribution to online research supervision, research and research teaching.

A disconnect from environments has largely dominated educational discourse and policy. Attention to place and environment in education has gained momentum recently through several relational theories. Application of these theories in education notes the materiality and relationality of pedagogy, though often without specificity as to what the pedagogy is -- how it is enacted and what guides such pedagogy. For pedagogical direction in enlivening learning with environments, this paper looks to the potential of ecological psychology theories of affordances and developing specificity via perception and action with environments. To illustrate such, we offer reflections on the pedagogical gap from a teacher education project that attunes preservice teachers to the potential for learning by engaging with spaces produced for children by artists. We then look closely to the pedagogical practices of an artist working with children in a primary school maker space-oriented program. Inspired by ideas from ecological psychology, we identify four pedagogical principles in practices of responsive learning with environments and suggest these as a possible pedagogical framework for eliciting embodied, emplaced, relational, and integrated learning with environments.

Research on attitudes towards asexual people is a relatively new focus within the discipline of psychology, and to date has not been a topic of focus in the Australian context. This study focused on Australian undergraduate psychology students, and their attitudes towards asexual people. The study recruited 231 participants from undergraduate psychology programmes to complete an online survey assessing their attitudes towards asexual people, bias against single people, and gender ideologies. In addition, participants rated how comfortable and confident they felt about working with asexual people within mental health settings in the future. Participants who reported greater endorsement of traditional gender role ideology, and negative bias against singles, also reported greater levels of anti-asexual bias. Participants who hoped to pursue a career in psychology reported lower levels of anti-asexual bias and less negative attitudes towards single people, and reported moderate levels of both comfort in working with asexual people in the future, and capacity to provide safe care to asexual people in the future. Drawing on these findings, the paper concludes by discussing areas that require ongoing attention in the study of anti-asexual bias, and makes recommendations for the training of psychology students and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that the number of children and young people needing care keeps rising and fewer people are becoming foster carers, efforts to support carers and workers in foster caring are essential. This paper considers the experiences of carers and foster care agency workers involved in Australia's piloting of the Mockingbird Family. With a view understanding experience, data were collected via focus groups with carers and agency workers (n = 20) involved in piloting, implementation and evaluation. Deductive analysis applied the theory of experience to generate understanding of experience, as both intrinsic and extrinsic dimensions to capture strengths in the Mockingbird Family's foster caring networks. These dimensions of experience included collective passions of carers and workers; experiential change over time; collective experiences as a moving force; and experiences as transformational. Understanding of experience associated with the perceived strengths of the Mockingbird Family, including strategies to promote strong professional relationships between carers and workers, is an important element in strengthening environments of children and young people in care. Safe and stable environments are crucial for wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether personal psychological resources safeguard hospital nurses against adverse workplace consequences, particularly job burnout and the desire to leave the profession. Background: Nursing research has extensively documented the adverse effects of job burnout and staff turnover. With the current nursing shortage, it is imperative to identify resources and strategies that can mitigate adverse workplace outcomes. However, the role of personal psychological resources, or psychological capital, in aiding nurses to perform effectively in their work environment remains relatively unexplored. Study design and methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The survey assessed nurses' experienced burnout (MBI-HSS), psychological capital (PCQ-24), and intentions to leave nursing. Hospital nurses (n= 258) from six states of Australia responded to an online anonymous survey between June and November 2022. Results: Respondents indicated a high degree of experienced burnout: 68.6% experienced high emotional exhaustion, 31.8% had high depersonalisation, and 31.8% had low personal accomplishment. Additionally, 38.8% had high intentions to leave the profession. Emotional exhaustion (p<.001, b=.56) and personal accomplishment (p=.006, b=-.15) were significant predictors of turnover intentions. Higher psychological capital was significantly associated with lower emotional exhaustion (p<.001, b=-.42), lower depersonalisation (p<.001, b=-.29), higher personal accomplishment (p<.001, b=.60), and lower turnover intentions (p<.001, b=.44). Discussion: Much of the nursing burnout and intent to leave literature focuses on negative rather than positive aspects of the work environment. Positive responses to workplace stimuli promote positive attitudes such as empowerment, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment that have a tangible impact on personal and occupational wellbeing. This may explain why nurses with stronger personal psychological resources experienced less burnout and voiced fewer intentions to leave the profession. Conclusion: The health and wellbeing of nurses should be a priority for healthcare organisations; the working conditions nurses face in Australian hospitals cause many to be negatively impacted by work stress. Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice: Nurses would benefit from initiatives to enhance their psychological resources. Targeted interventions to develop psychological capital should be examined in a nursing population. This can change policy, thereby benefitting the healthcare system. What is already known about the topic? • Australia is currently facing a shortage of qualified nurses. • Hospital nurses often experience job burnout and high levels of turnover due to the challenging nature of their work environment. • Personal psychological resources have been linked to positive workplace outcomes, such as job satisfaction and organisational commitment, in various settings. What this paper adds: • It demonstrates that nurses possessing greater personal psychological resources experience lower levels of burnout and are less likely to consider leaving the profession. • The paper suggests that implementing targeted interventions designed to enhance nurses' personal psychological resources could be a viable approach for mitigating burnout and turnover intentions (TI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors is understood to be higher among migrants than for people born in host nations, little is known about the dementia risk profile of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. This systematic review examines published literature to understand what is currently reported about 12 identified modifiable risk factors for dementia among migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers residing in Australia. Three literature databases (PubMed/CINAHL/MEDLINE) were systematically searched to find articles reporting excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, lack of education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and limited social contact in Australia's migrant, refugee and asylum seeker population samples. Papers were systematically reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 763 studies were found, of which 676 articles were excluded, and 79 articles remained. Despite wide variability in study design, size and purpose, the prevalence and correlates of modifiable risk factors of dementia appears markedly different among the studied samples. Compared with Australian-born participants, migrant samples had a higher prevalence of depression, social isolation, physical inactivity and diabetes mellitus. Insufficient information or conflicting evidence prevented inference about prevalence and correlates for the remaining dementia risk factors. A better understanding of the prevalence and correlates of modifiable dementia risk factors is needed in Australia's migrant, refugee and asylum seeker populations. This information, together with a deeper understanding of the contextual and cultural contributing factors affecting people who arrive in Australia through differing pathways is needed before preventive interventions can be realistically targeted and sensitively implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado growers in Australia are currently experiencing long wait times for orchard-ready plants, limiting productivity and profitability. Tissue culture technology represents a faster and more efficient process of producing plants, offering a solution. However, the development of new growing technology comes with the inherent risk of industry nonacceptance and limited uptake, a costly problem for both innovators and industry. This study explored factors related to technology acceptance by the intended end-users of tissue culture technology within the avocado industry in Australia. The study provides key insights into the overall industry sentiment towards uptake and adoption of tissue-culture technology. An online survey was conducted with participants from the Australian avocado industry and demonstrated perceptions of tissue culture technology were generally positive and that, with appropriate extension services, adoption is predicted to be high across industry users. This paper contributes to the behavioural science of technology adoption by exploring perceived use and likely uptake prior to the broad extension strategies of a new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the change in telemental health service volume that resulted from the introduction of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers in 2020 for services provided by psychologists and psychiatrists in Australia for a 3-year period, from January 2019 to December 2021. Methods: Quarterly MBS activity and cost data for mental health services provided by consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychologists between January 2019 and December 2021 were extracted from the MBS statistics website. Data were grouped by profession and delivery mode (in-person, telephone or videoconference) and reported using activity counts. Descriptive analysis and interrupted time-series regression analysis were conducted. Specific descriptive explorations were also conducted for psychiatrists, including: new client consultations, review or general consultations, and group consultations. Results: The delivery of mental health services by telehealth (telemental health) during the pandemic has increased (P < 0.0001). When the pandemic started in March 2020, telemental health services provided by psychiatrists and psychologists increased from a combined 1–2% per quarter to 29% videoconference and 20% telephone in quarter two 2020. After the onset of the pandemic, videoconference remained the primary form of telehealth for these professions. However, the telephone accounted for approximately a third of the telehealth activity after the new item numbers were introduced. Conclusion: Telemental health services are more likely to be conducted by videoconference than by telephone. The observed increase in telehealth service activity confirms how crucial appropriate funding models are to the sustainability of telehealth services in Australia. The growth in telehealth was used to support people with mental health conditions in Australia. What is known about the topic? Psychologists and psychiatrists were among the earliest adopters and were assigned some of the first telehealth item numbers on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. What does this paper add? The delivery of mental health services by telehealth during the pandemic has increased. Telemental health services are more likely to be done by videoconference in psychiatry and psychology than by other professions. What are the implications for practitioners? The observed increase in telehealth service activity confirms how crucial appropriate funding models are to the sustainability of telehealth services in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional team athletes experience a range of mental health problems, both sports and non-sports related. However, there is limited information available for those charged with responsibility for managing these mental health conditions, particularly within the context of professional sporting clubs. This paper reports on consensus findings from a study of club doctors, who are primary care providers for professional team athletes within a specific code, the Australian Football League (AFL). Drawing on findings from a systematic literature search, a two-round Delphi procedure was used to develop a consensus on best practice for managing mental health conditions for club doctors as primary care providers for professional team athletes. Participants in this study were current and former club doctors employed in professional AFL clubs across Australia, with 28 doctors participating across two survey rounds. Overall, 77 statements were presented, with 50 endorsed as essential or important by ≥ 80% of the participants across the two rounds. Primary themes across nine domains include: (1) Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Activities; (2) Screening; (3) Engaging External Specialists; (4) Duty of Care; (5) Treatment: Assessment, Treatment and Case Coordination; (6) Communication; (7) Confidentiality; (8) Sleep Management and (9) Substance Use Management. This study is the first to offer club doctors working in professional team settings consensus guidelines for the management of mental health conditions, and the opportunity for greater clarification and consistency in role delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

New technologies have afforded increased access to genetic testing providing valuable information for individuals and those biologically related. However, the management of such information is challenging for psychologists given the ethical issues that may arise. This paper aims to review the utility of existing ethical standards and current legislation for psychologists when encountering genetic information. Current legislation and guidelines involved in the management of genetic information applicable for psychologists is critically reviewed in light of relevant ethical principles. While knowledge of information that has arisen from genetic testing may guide psychological therapy, intervention, and education, psychologists have a responsibility to uphold their ethical obligations in order to meet the needs of their clients and their families and to prevent harm. Outside the domain of ethically approved human research, and specific guidance for trained genetic counsellors in Australia, ethical guidance on the management of human genetic information is not readily available for psychologists. Technological advances can be expected to continue to present epistemic dilemmas about the use of genetic material. The implications for future psychological practice is discussed. : What is already known about this topic: (1) Increased access to genetic testing can provide valuable information for individuals and those biologically related. (2) Genetic testing poses new and significant challenges for psychologists, especially in respect to the ethical issues that can occur. (3) Given that findings from genetic testing may guide therapy goals, interventions, and psychoeducation, psychologists have a responsibility to uphold ethical obligations in order to meet the needs of their clients and their families and to prevent harm. Yet, clear guidelines for ethical obligations regarding the handling of genetic testing are not readily available. What this topic adds: (1) Within the framework of current legislation, the four core ethical standards of beneficence, autonomy, justice, and non-maleficence work together with the APS Code of Ethics and ethical guidelines for psychologists. (2) While the use of genetic information has the potential to affect whole communities, it should be used in such a way that maintains ethical principles, meeting the needs of the individual and family. (3) It is important that ethical guidelines for genetic information in the field of psychology remain cohesive to meet the needs of rapid technological advances and changing legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study developed a proposed set of person‐centred quality indicators (PC‐QIs) for services that assess older adults' care and support needs to determine their eligibility to receive government‐funded aged care services in Australia. Individual proposed PC‐QIs amenability for change within current organizational structures were explored. Barriers and opportunities to adapt service elements of the aged care assessment service to better align with the intent of the proposed PC‐QIs were identified. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted over five phases. A scoping review identified domains of quality for aged care services as perceived by older adults. Service elements of an aged care assessment service were mapped alongside quality domains informing key attributes of each quality domain. Self‐determination theory was used to formulate each proposed PC‐QI to align with key attributes and quality domains. Consultation with a consumer group enabled revision of the proposed PC‐QIs. A focus group with clinicians evaluated the amenability of each proposed PC‐QI for change and identified barriers and opportunities to better align service elements with older adults' perceptions of quality. Results were informed by qualitative and quantitative data from a structured focus group. Focus group discussions were audio recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach by two independent researchers. Results: Twenty‐four proposed PC‐QIs were developed. Refinement to descriptors of the proposed PC‐QIs were made by the consumer group (n = 18) and all were affirmed as being amenable to change by aged care assessors. Barriers in meeting the intent of the proposed PC‐QIs were identified across five domains including: health care staff knowledge (18.7%; n = 3); clear communication (31%; n = 5); person‐centred approach (18.7%; n = 3); respect for client (18.7%; n = 3); and collaborative partnership with client (12%; n = 2). Participants made 21 recommendations. Of the five service elements in delivering an aged care assessment service, barriers in meeting the intent of the proposed PC‐QIs were identified at the intake and booking of an assessment and during the assessment. Conclusions: Recommendations identified provide assessment services guidance on ways to adapt service elements to better align with older adults' perceptions of quality. Patient and Public Contribution: Patients and carers were involved as collaborators in this project at the protocol stage which included participating in discussions regarding the refining and modification of the protocol, refinement of the proposed PC‐QIs, data collection forms and supplementary information for participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous economic and social disruption devastating people's livelihoods and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended people engage in enjoyable activities such as videogames, helping them relax during difficult life situations. Using Self-Determination Theory as a lens, this interview study (N = 11) examined how people's videogame behaviours were influenced by life context, and their impact on wellbeing during COVID-19. Findings established that videogames were a compensatory response to the stressors of the pandemic. Playing videogames satisfied participants' needs for social connection, serving as a coping mechanism to distract them for a short time; following an initial prioritisation of gaming and spike in gaming hours, many returned to their regular gaming behaviours. This study contributes to the games for health literature, identifying the effects of videogames on wellbeing, and provides much needed knowledge for health practitioners and families on how videogames are used and their impact on players' wellbeing during the pandemic as a societal stressful life event. The findings have clinical and policy implications both to identify a positive tool, and to dispel negative stigmas surrounding videogames. [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]

Not all drivers living with dementia need to cease driving upon diagnosis. However, early planning for driving retirement is recommended. To guide and support decisions and early planning for driving retirement, there is a need for person-centered resources. This study aimed to test the effects of a dementia and driving decision aid for drivers living with dementia. The primary outcome measured was decisional conflict. Secondary outcome measures were dementia knowledge, decision, satisfaction with decision, booklet use, and booklet acceptability. A parallel-group quasi-experimental study was conducted in Australia and New Zealand. Twenty drivers living with dementia were recruited from the community. Participants self-nominated after responding to media articles promoting the study and were allocated into an intervention or comparison group by the research assistant. The intervention group reviewed the dementia and driving decision aid booklet. Telephone interviews were conducted over three data collection time points at: baseline, 1 week, and 3 months. The intervention and comparison groups each comprised ten participants. Decisional conflict, knowledge, and satisfaction with decision significantly improved in the intervention group following use of the decision aid, however the differences were not significantly greater than the control group. Booklet acceptability levels were high. The dementia and driving decision aid is an acceptable, person-centered intervention enabling individuals living with dementia to be central to decisions about driving retirement. The findings are relevant for primary care in Australia and New Zealand and applicable to the growing number of drivers living with dementia in car-dependent societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in the field of psychotherapy have included a diversification in Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBTs), often referred to as the "third wave", yet relatively little is known about their coverage in Australian postgraduate clinical psychology training. Data were gathered to study the relationships between training program theoretical orientation, therapies covered, and factors determining the coverage of therapies. Responses to a semi-structured interview of 28 Directors of Clinical Training (DCT) or equivalent of Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) approved clinical psychology training programs (representing 72% of all accredited programs) were examined. Behaviour and cognitive theories were identified as dominant in programs. Coverage of Beck's CBT was not correlated with other CBTs, and the number of therapies covered did not distinguish integrative (64.3%) from non-integrative programs. In an examination of the factors guiding the adoption of insight orientated therapies (i.e., Cognitive Analytic Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Humanistic Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Process Experiential/Emotion-Focused Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Existential Therapy), the focus of clinical research, and student interest emerged as significant predictors (β = −.16, SE =.06, p <.05, 95% Boot CI [−.27, −.03]). Beck's CBT, and its undergirding theories emerged as dominant and was not associated with coverage of more recent CBTs, suggesting that there is opportunity to diversify therapies covered considering their evidence base. What is already known about this topic: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has evolved and now includes therapies focused on acceptance, dialectical thinking, and mindfulness. Australian clinical psychologists predominantly self-identify a CBT theoretical orientation. Previous surveys of clinical training programs indicate a primary focus on traditional CBT. What this topic adds: Data on the extent to which diverse theories are included in Australian clinical psychology programs. Data on the extent to which various therapies, including third wave CBTs are included in Australian clinical psychology programs. Data on the factors guiding the adoption of therapies in Australian clinical psychology programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many people with mental health problems utilise a range of complementary medicine (CM) practitioners, products, and practices. Psychologists are likely to consult with clients who are seeking and using CM, in some form, as part of their wider mental health treatment. The aim of this research is to determine how much, and in what ways, Australian psychologists recommend CM products and/or practices, and/or initiate referrals to CM practitioners as part of their clinical practice and to explore if these behaviours have any association with the characteristics of the psychologist or their wider practice. Methods: Survey data was collected from psychologists in clinical practice who self-selected to participate between February and April 2021. Participation in the study was via an online 79-item questionnaire exploring core aspects of CM engagement in psychology clinical practice. Results: Amongst the 202 psychologists who completed the survey, mind/body approaches (90.5%) were the most recommended CM and cultural/spiritual approaches the least recommended CM (7.5%). Participants also reported referring to CM practitioners with naturopaths the most common focus of their referrals (57.9%) and cultural and spiritual practitioners the least common focus of their referrals (6.69%). Our analysis shows the demographic and practice characteristics of a psychologist are generally not predictors of a psychologist's engagement with CM in their clinical practice. Conclusions: Substantial numbers of psychologists recommend CM products and practices and/or refer clients to CM practitioners. Alongside subjecting CM interventions for mental health to an evidence-base assessment, the broader discipline of psychology needs to also consider psychologist engagement with CM in clinical practice in order to help ensure cultural-sensitivity, client safety and client choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite research demonstrating the poor mental health outcomes of transgender young people within the secondary school environment, little is known about the experiences of psychologists working in school counselling with this population. To address this gap, the current study explored the experiences of psychologists working with transgender young people in a school counselling context. Seven psychologists in Australia completed individual semi-structured interviews and the data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four superordinate themes were identified: affirming agency within transgender young people, perceived competency and transgender knowledge, expectations and surprises, and challenges during counselling. The findings demonstrated the importance of school psychologists promoting and celebrating the positioning of transgender young people within society, adopting a queer lens in their work with this population, being informed and knowledgeable regarding transgender issues, and managing the various challenges associated with this work. Practical implications for school psychologists include the need to engage with transgender training and education, helping transgender young people link-in with trans-inclusive services, as well as "queering" both the counselling space and the school environment. Future researchers should further explore the experiences of school psychologists and mental health professionals across different contexts, settings, and levels of practical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is well established that women experience significant gendered oppressions when accessing mental health services, research exploring the impacts of involuntary mental health services is frequently conducted without attending specifically to gender. This article reports on a qualitative study that explored women's experiences of compulsory mental health treatment in Australia. In-depth interviews revealed substantial gendered harms experienced by women within involuntary mental health treatment settings. Themes identified were: involuntary treatment replicates the dynamics and tactics of gendered violence; treatment involves profound deprivation and losses, with potential implications across the lifecourse; mental health services disrupt and undermine mothering; and recovery is found outside of coercive mental health systems. The study reveals the heightened harms experienced by women within involuntary mental health contexts, as well as women's strategic resistances to psychiatric oppression. It demonstrates the relevance of a conceptual lens that is attuned to gender, in order to develop a deeper understanding of women's experiences of intersecting oppressions within involuntary mental health settings. Implications include the need for alliance-building across feminist and critical mental health movements, and the need for a much more robust engagement by the social work profession in challenging the widespread acceptance of involuntary mental health treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges and strategies of support coordinators tasked with connecting National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with allied health services in Tasmania, a largely rural and island state of Australia. Twenty-five registered support coordinators currently supporting Tasmanian NDIS participants participated in semi-structured interviews, with interview data coded and thematically analysed. Support coordinators unanimously reported difficulties connecting NDIS participants to allied health services, with a lack of registered allied health providers and providers with specialist skills and experience with complex disabilities. Support coordinators reported lengthy waiting lists for NDIS participants and compromised service quality, which in some cases led to a loss of participant functioning and future funding. Building positive relationships with allied health providers and persistence were perceived as critical to facilitate allied health service access, as was leaving no stone unturned and looking beyond the island for allied health services. Support coordinators play a critical role in connecting NDIS participants to available services through aggressively canvassing local allied health providers, as well as harnessing interstate allied health provider capacity through novel means. Broad workforce strategies are needed to recruit and retain allied health professionals to the Tasmanian NDIS registered provider market. Policy development is also needed to ensure quality and effective support coordination for NDIS participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex traumatic experiences, such as childhood sexual and physical abuse, occur in approximately 13% of the Australian population and are more common in women. Despite the prevalence of complex trauma and the need for evidence‐based services for survivors, no studies have explored treatment‐related experiences of women with complex trauma in Australia. The aim of the current study was to identify barriers and facilitators to treatment seeking and engagement amongst women who have experienced complex trauma in Australia. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 women with complex trauma histories who presented to a university outpatient psychology clinic. Content analysis was used to identify common barriers and facilitators to mental health treatment seeking and engagement amongst these women. Participants faced three key barriers when seeking treatment and engaging in mental health services: systemic issues, dissatisfaction with treatment and intrapersonal barriers (e.g. fear of the healthcare system). Appropriate support from supportive, committed health care workers was a facilitator to engagement and access. Findings from this study suggest that the mental health system in Australia may not be meeting the needs of women with complex trauma histories. Increasing access to affordable, trauma‐informed care and bolstering providers' knowledge of complex trauma, may enable some of the barriers identified by participants to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although clinical guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) as the first-line treatment for insomnia, many people with insomnia do not have access to CBTi and are prescribed sedative-hypnotic medicines by medical health professionals. Psychologists have training in CBT and may be well placed to deliver behavioural therapy for insomnia. However, the current treatment of insomnia, amount of sleep-specific training and knowledge of CBTi among Australian psychologists remains unknown. This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with Australian psychologists. Interviews included case study scenarios to provide an in-depth exploration of psychologists' knowledge and skills in the management of insomnia. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes. Twenty-six psychologists participated in this study. Four themes were identified in the data: 1) Sleep is important but rarely a treatment priority; 2) Confusion about funding pathways discourages treatment of insomnia; 3) A variety of approaches are used in the management of insomnia; 4) Psychologists with experience in CBTi are rare. Most Australian psychologists are not well equipped to manage insomnia effectively with CBTi. Along with other primary health care professionals, psychologists need training in the delivery of evidence-based insomnia treatment. What is already known about this topic: The recommended treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) but most people with insomnia do not receive this treatment The most common treatments for insomnia are sedative hypnotic medications and sleep hygiene education Most people with insomnia are not referred to a psychologist. What this topic adds: Most psychologists and other primary care professionals lack specific knowledge and training in insomnia and CBTi Insomnia is often regarded as a secondary problem and clients are not usually referred to psychologists for treatment of insomnia Psychologists use a range of treatments for insomnia, most common are sleep hygiene and relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ross Henry Day was an Australian experimental psychologist well known for his research on visual illusions and for his critical role in the establishment of experimental psychology in Australia. This role began with his creation of Australia's first department of experimental psychology at Monash University in 1965. He also played a leading role in the formation of the Australian Psychological Society in 1966, and in the introduction to Australia of the study of human factors in engineering and ergonomics. He was the first psychologist to be elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Ross Henry Day was an experimental psychologist well known for his research on visual illusions and for his critical role in the establishment of experimental psychology in Australia. He created Australia's first department of experimental psychology at Monash University in 1965, played a leading role in the formation of the Australian Psychological Society in 1966, and took a leading role in the study of human factors in engineering and ergonomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the often-complex psycho-social factors that influence sport participation is important to increase the number of individuals with a physical impairment participating in sport, and simultaneously enhancing social inclusion and community engagement. The present study examined the sporting experiences of ten high-performing Australian athletes with a physical impairment from grassroots to elite-level. The interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed for data synthesis. Drawing on the theory of self-determination and the social model of disability, the results highlighted increases in wellbeing including improved fitness, social interaction and self-confidence. The athletes identified primary school and high school as highly influential environments in establishing their interest in sport, with these settings also considered as fruitful platforms to support an inclusive culture and education on disability and sport amongst the wider community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the American Psychological Association Taskforce on Indigenous Psychology acknowledges, fidelity to the inalienable right to self‐determination is the ethical foundation of Indigenous psychology. The task of decolonizing psychology is not only about divesting from Eurocentric paradigms that have controlled and limited Indigenous wellbeing, but producing new paradigms founded on Indigenous knowledges. The Indigenous paradigm of social and emotional wellbeing is both a new therapeutic practice and theory of wellbeing. As the exploration of the domains of SEWB has shown, findings from the National Empowerment Project indicate that strengthening a connection to culture is identified as of highest importance to the flourishing of Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. Wellbeing in Abya Yala (the Americas) is conceived as Sumak Kawsay or Buen Vivir and Māori constructs of wellbeing as Hauora. These transnational wellbeing conceptualizations can be situated within a larger global health movement, which is centered on strengthening Indigenous cultures of wellbeing, and sustainable planet–people relationships. Indigenous community psychologies are not anthropocentric and are centered on the sacredness of nature, the cultivation of spirituality, and accountability to maintain harmonious ecosystem relationships. Indigenous community psychologies from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Mexico are brought in plurilogue envisioning international solidarity networks that engage communities, activists, and committed student generations. Highlights: Indigenous community psychologies constitute global movements forging transnational solidaritiesIndigenous psychologies are not anthropocentric and promote holistic wellbeing.Embodied examples of Indigenous community psychologies trace hopeful pathways toward decoloniality.Transnational collaborations among Indigenous psychologists create innovative pedagogies.The inalienable right to self‐determination is the ethical foundation of Indigenous psychologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing skills to critically evaluate and conduct research is central to psychology training programmes. The fundamental importance of scientific evidence to the practice and progression of psychology as a discipline is reflected in the "Scientist-Practitioner" model, to which psychologists adhere. However, to fully realise the potential benefits of the Scientist-Practitioner model for psychological practice and client outcomes, its implementation needs to occur in a bi-directional way. That is, psychologists need to be actively engaged in both a critical analysis of literature to inform clinical practice, as well as using their clinical expertise to develop, inform, and lead research activities to contribute to the evidence-base. Unfortunately, psychologists employed in public health settings are rarely able to utilise their research skills to contribute to the evidence-base. In this Commentary, we critically examine literature regarding barriers and facilitators to psychologists employed in clinical roles engaging in research activities. We argue that enabling more practising psychologists to lead research could facilitate significant benefits to individuals (both the psychologists and their clients) and organisations. We then describe the strategies developed and implemented by a local psychology research committee to drive improvements and address obstacles to psychology-led research in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a retrospective study that critically examines the development of a responsive parent–child program from conceptualisation to pilot implementation. The development of the Play to Connect program was a continuation of research translation work of the Let's Start parenting program which was delivered in remote Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory, Australia from 2005–2016. The impetus for the Play to Connect program came from the community need for parenting support that could be delivered by local Aboriginal workers living in the community. The aim was to bring research and community together through the co-creation of contextually relevant knowledge directly useful for local Aboriginal facilitators. Embedded in a dynamic cycle of planning, delivery, observation and reflection, the team of local Aboriginal staff and visiting practitioners designed and piloted an innovative, user-friendly and adaptable parent–child program which was underpinned by the evaluation findings of an existing program, drawing on the framework of play therapy. The 2.5 year long process of development brought about action and change for the local Aboriginal staff. They valued the co-creation of the program and resources and reported increased knowledge of child development and confidence to deliver family support in their community. This study shows that the development of Play to Connect was more than "tailoring" a parenting program – it was a way of creating sustainable support around a program to increase the chances of continuity of implementation and successful community engagement and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Develop and implement a Communication Enhanced Environment model and explore its effect on language activities for patients early after stroke. Method and design: Before-and-after pilot study. Setting: An acute/slow stream rehabilitation and a rehabilitation ward in a private hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Participants: Fourteen patients recruited within 21 days of stroke. Seven recruited during the before-phase (control group: patients with aphasia = 3, patients without aphasia = 4) and seven recruited in the after-phase (intervention group: patients with aphasia = 4, patients without aphasia = 3). Intervention: The intervention group exposed to a Communication Enhanced Environment model had access to equipment, resources, planned social activities and trained communication partners. Both groups received usual stroke care. Data collection: Hospital site champions monitored the availability of the intervention. Behavioural mapping completed during the first minute of each 5-minute interval over 12 hours (between 7 am and 7 pm) determined patient engagement in language activities. Results: Seventy-one percent of the Communication Enhanced Environment model was available to the intervention group who engaged in higher, but not significant (95% CI), levels of language activities (600 of 816 observation time points, 73%) than the control group (551 of 835 observation time points, 66%). Unforeseen reorganisation of the acute ward occurred during the study. Conclusions: Implementation of a Communication Enhanced Environment model was feasible in this specific setting and may potentially influence patients' engagement in language activities. The unforeseen contextual challenges that occurred during the study period demonstrate the challenging nature of the hospital environment and will be useful in future research planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy loss and neonatal death are recognized as distressing experiences for parents and other family members. However, no research has specifically addressed the experiences of grandfathers. This study aimed to understand grandfathers' grief experiences, and to identify supports they provide, receive, and desire following the loss of a grandchild in pregnancy or the neonatal period. Semi-structured interviews with 10 Australian grandfathers were analyzed, applying principles of thematic analysis. Three themes related to grief and three themes related to support were identified. Findings indicated that grandfathers expressed grief in a range of ways, and emotional expressiveness did not reflect the extent of their grief. Grandfathers typically provided extensive support to their child and family; however, few supports were available to help grandfathers. Recognition and validation of grandfathers' grief, early access to information, and guidance to a variety of supports including written materials, peer and professional support, is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in young people aged 15–25 years attending a tertiary specialist health centre for adolescents and young adults in Brisbane. Aims: To describe the impact of IBD on psychosocial well‐being in young people and to compare well‐being in the IBD cohort to well‐being among young people with other chronic conditions, with a view to identifying characteristics and challenges unique to those with IBD. Methods: Young people with IBD provided demographic information and psychosocial data through a cross‐sectional self‐report survey. Psychosocial data included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, World Health Organisation Well‐being Index, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Short Quality of Life Questionnaire for IBD, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2 and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Results: Surveys were collected from 51 young people with IBD and compared with surveys from 210 young people with juvenile rheumatic disease (n = 31), phenylketonuria (n = 21), cystic fibrosis (n = 33), renal transplants (n = 14) and craniomaxillofacial conditions (n = 111). On the psychosocial domains, 41% of young people with IBD had poor well‐being and 37% were at risk of depression. When assessed against the comparison group, young people with IBD reported higher depressive symptoms (P = 0.04), worse illness perceptions (P < 0.01) and lower internal locus of control (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychosocial comorbidities within integrated pathways of care is crucial in adolescents and young adults with IBD and likely to improve the course of IBD and their overall health and well‐being. Interventions aimed at enhancing self‐efficacy and increasing public awareness are also likely to be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay outlines the contribution that Australia-based scholars have made to aesthetic politics: the exploration of creative and interdisciplinary approaches to International Relations. The struggle to legitimise aesthetic insights is indicative of a larger challenge: how academic disciplines discipline thought in ways that constrains innovative scholarly contributions and their potential to address concrete political problems. The essay advances an argument in favour of seeing beyond the discipline of International Relations. The international is not some higher-order realm that is separate from the rest of the social and political world. The most pressing challenges, from terrorism to climate change, are too complex to be understood as uniquely international phenomena. They implicate the local as much as the global, the psychological as much as the institutional and the relational as much as the structural. Finding practical and policy-relevant solutions to complex transnational problems requires insights from fields as diverse as psychology, neuroscience, literature, demography art and economics, to name just a few. Needed, then, is greater acceptance and support for creative approaches that can understand and address political challenges from multiple parallel perspectives and without having to adhere to preconceived disciplinary conventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to understand patients' perceived importance of clinic- and clinician-related factors and contextual characteristics that shape the importance ratings for factors patients consider when accessing oral health care. This study was conducted at Griffith University Dental Clinic, Gold Coast, Australia. Patients answered a self-administered questionnaire on demographics and perceived need for attendance, which constituted the explanatory variables. In the second part of the questionnaire, patients were asked to rate the importance of 17 items related to the provision and quality of oral health services using a five-point scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the dimensionality of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 298 patients. The importance of some of the clinician-related factors, such as 'concern for patients' and 'access to specialist care', were associated with sex, age and employment status. EFA revealed a two-factor structure, which consisted of items related to clinician characteristics and clinic environment characteristics. Female participants had higher importance scores for clinic environment characteristics (mean (±s.d.) 38.00 ± 4.86 vs 35.45 ± 6.30; P < 0.05) and clinician characteristics (32.39 ± 2.85 vs 31.33 ± 3.39; P < 0.05) than male participants. In conclusion, various clinician- and clinic-related aspects were considered important for the provision and quality of oral health services, with the importance of these factors associated with some contextual characteristics. Application of Andersen's behavioural model of health services use provided a framework that offers important insights into patient beliefs and perceptions towards oral health services and can serve as a baseline for future studies in dental clinics across Australia. It is important to assess patient-rated importance of factors related to the provision of oral health services and contextual characteristics that determine the ratings of importance so that the utilisation of oral health services can be improved. This study explored the contextual characteristics that determine a patient's importance ratings for clinic- and clinician-related factors. The findings provide future directions for changes to improve the delivery and utilisation of oral health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]