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

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

We surveyed New Zealand parents of autistic children to identify their perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing support services, including the influence of a family's level of financial resourcing. A total of 173 completed surveys were analysed. Service pathway factors were the greatest barrier experienced by participants, whereas facilitators related to providers tended to be most helpful. Lower family income was associated with a higher number of reported barriers. Both lower family income and having a child who identified their gender as non-binary were predictive of rating the extent of barriers higher. Parents of younger or of non-speaking autistic children on average reported a greater number of facilitators. Implications of these results for support service delivery and potential areas for future research are discussed. Parents might have problems in getting support services for their autistic child due to certain barriers. However, there might also be things that can ease or facilitate parents' access to support services. In this study, New Zealand parents were asked about their experiences in getting support services for their autistic child. We also looked at differences in reported barriers and facilitators based on several demographic factors with a focus on family level of financial resourcing. A total of 173 parents completed a survey. The results suggested that parents experienced several barriers, particularly related to service pathways. Facilitators were also experienced, predominantly related to providers. Financial resourcing predicted the number of parent-reported barriers. Both lower level of family financial resourcing and having a non-binary child predicted parents' rating of the extent of barriers. Child age and level of speech were predictors for reports of experiencing a higher number of facilitators, with parents of younger children or of non-speaking autistic children reporting a greater number of facilitators. We discuss how these results may be useful to support service delivery and identify areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile phone–based smoking cessation interventions (mCessation) are an established evidence-based intervention designed to support smokers to quit. Evidence of impact to date is modestly positive but skewed in favor of high-resourced countries, with less evidence of value added to low-resourced settings. Takore i te Kai Ava'ava, a text message–based smoking cessation program, was delivered to smokers living on the island of Rarotonga in 2019. Eighty-eight smokers consented to take part. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire about current smoking behavior and previous quit attempts; follow-up measures at 2 months assess quit attempts feedback on the program. Thirty-two people completed the follow-up interviews; 10 (31%) had not smoked in the past 7 days, 23 (72%) reported a serious quit attempt, and 29 (91%) felt the program was effective for the Cook Islands. Takore i te Kai Ava'ava was deemed to be highly acceptable and potentially cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to explore whether New Zealand occupational therapists’ recommendations for chronic low back pain are predicted by their fear avoidance beliefs. Method: In an online survey, 63 therapists rated the strength of recommendation on a four-point Likert scale (for each of: home help, equipment provision, and environmental modification) for a case study of low back pain, and completed two questionnaires about fear avoidance beliefs. The strength of recommendation (definitely not, not likely, likely, definitely yes) was analysed as an ordinal scale response variable, with important predictors each of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Tool and the Health Care Providers Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale. Potential confounding variables were: age, years in practice or pain practice, and receipt of extra pain education. The main response variable was the probability of recommending home help. Analysis was by proportional odds regression. Findings: 54/63 (85.7%) of the surveys had complete data. The adjusted odds ratio, per point higher on the fear avoidance belief scales, for therapists who were more likely to recommend home help was 1.19 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.35), p = 0.005 for the Fear Avoidance Belief Tool and 1.16 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.29), p = 0.006 for Health Care Providers Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale. This is consistent with those with greater fear avoidance beliefs being more likely to recommend home help. Conclusion: Occupational therapists’ fear avoidance beliefs are associated with treatment recommendations that lessen activity or movement demands. These beliefs are potentially unhelpful and may reinforce avoidance behaviour in patients with chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decrease in physical activity time in and out of school increases the need for active commuting. School travel plan programs have been used internationally to increase active commuting in elementary school children. However, little research has been conducted in the reliability and validity of travel survey instruments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability and validity of the Hands-Up survey to assess active commuting to school from a random sample of children within the Auckland region, New Zealand. Test–retest reliability and criterion validity of travel modes were determined in 118 elementary school children in the Auckland region. The survey tool consisted of one question on commuting to school. Test–retest reliability and validity were evaluated using kappa coefficients. The level of agreement between the children’s responses (κ = .96, 95% confidence interval = 0.92-1.00) and between children’s and parents’ (κ = .91, 95% confidence interval = 0.85-0.98) were almost perfect. The Hands-Up survey is a valid and reliable tool to determine travel mode to school among elementary school children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]