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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes a critical posthumanist orientation to social work as an approach to address the impediments to care experienced by interspecies families. Secondly, it challenges the anthropocentric assumptions that underpin this exclusion of nonhuman family members in human services disciplines such as social work. Design/methodology/approach: This article presents primary data from a qualitative study into social work and other human services practice in the family violence and homelessness sectors in the state of Victoria, Australia. Findings: Social workers undertook companion animal-inclusive practice to counter vulnerability to interspecies families caused by gender- and species-based violence, and by homelessness. Gender- and species-based violence was exacerbated by a lack of refuge options, and contributed to women considering their companion animals to be their children. The vulnerability that homelessness brought upon interspecies families was amplified by stigma within and external to social work and related professions, and the impediment that experiences of homelessness had on being able to provide care for their nonhuman family members. These factors shaped practice with interspecies families. Scope for future practice was also identified. Research limitations/implications: The research findings can be used to inform policy change that includes consideration of nonhuman family members, as well as critical posthuman program design in social work education. Originality/value: Companion animal-inclusive practice with interspecies families in social work is an under researched area, and there is little empirical data available on the nature of this work in Australia. This paper addresses this gap by centring social workers' own accounts of practice. This paper has scope to contribute to education in social work and other welfare fields, with the potential to empower students to challenge assumptions about social work being solely focused on human-centred concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of k-networks in knowledge creation, as existing literature argues that network structure does not provide sufficient explanation per se. This paper proposed diversity as an important construct to explain knowledge creation in SMEs' k-networks. Design/methodology/approach -- First, by reviewing the literature, this paper proposes a hypothesis that predicts a positive association of content and knowledge creation. Then, focusing on patent co-authorship networks of the biotechnology industry in Victoria, this research used an explanatory multiple case study approach to test the formulated hypothesis. Findings -- By introducing new constructs, the results provide more insight on the positive association of knowledge content and knowledge creation. Based on the emergent constructs, rival hypotheses are also developed for further research. Originality/value -- Beyond the role of network structure, which has dominated the knowledge network literature, this research highlights how other factors like knowledge diversity are needed to be consider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; Career programmes within secondary school curriculum can impact on a young person|!|#39;s sense of direction and meaning in life. The purpose of this paper is to report on an evaluation that was conducted in 2009 of the careers programmes in one secondary college in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; The research team utilised a multi-method approach collecting 273 surveys and undertaking both focus groups and interviews, ensuring the voices of young people were at the centre of the work. Findings |!|#8211; Innovative careers and transition programmes create opportunities for young people to plan for their future. Similarly the absence of established careers programmes can compound the disadvantage that some students experience. The findings evidence how important it is for schools to support inclusive classrooms that enable young people to make informed decisions about their career pathways. Research limitations/implications |!|#8211; The research findings were used to form a model of good practice and highlight the transformational impact of career and transition programmes for young people. The current research explores student knowledge, confidence, attitudes and perceptions while they are still at school. A longitudinal study, tracking these same young people as they progress to tertiary education and/or employment, would enable more definitive evidence on actual transitions and the actual outcomes experienced by young people. Originality/value |!|#8211; This paper is of value to the education sector as it looks to respond to the need to develop a more seamless approach to young people making successful transitions to further education and/or employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to investigate the regulator|!|#39;s attempt at redesigning the patient care process (PCP) |!|#8211; a core business process in public hospitals |!|#8211; by introducing dichotomous process performance indicators as an innovative management tool intended to align the State health care policy with the everyday management of operations at a hospital ward. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; The paper presents an ethnographic case study of redesigning the PCP according to the strategy originating outside the organization. The study employs competing theories that represent alternative epistemological and ontological views of the world in order to produce a tentative explanation of why the intended redesign of the PCP has not fully eventuated. Observational data and opportunistic interviewing are used to answer the research question of whether and how the information and operational flows on the ward were affected by introduction of process performance indicators. A business process redesign framework was employed for data analysis since it better reflects the objectives of the State-wide initiative and offers a convenient tool in dealing with data complexity. Findings |!|#8211; Introduction of the process performance indicators did not result in redesigning of the PCP as intended by health care authorities. Out of four process performance indicators, only one was consistently implemented, which merely produced a duplication of the previously collected information, therefore adding no value to the PCP. On a theoretical level, the results indicate that the emergent theory rather than the rational agent theory demonstrated a greater fidelity to the empirical observations. Originality/value |!|#8211; The paper assessed the feasibility of using innovative dichotomous process performance indicators as a tool for redesigning the business process at the ward level, in order to achieve macro-level policy objectives. The failure to successfully implement a top-down universal approach to redesigning business processes in health care is likely to reflect a lack of appreciation of emergent rationality that characterizes essential aspects of the PCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Rather than emphasising the earlier disadvantages that Corrections Victoria (CV) Australia, the world's first acquired brain injury (ABI) program, has experienced, this paper aims to highlight how this clinical position has improved best practice outcomes and solutions for offenders in the Victorian forensic system.Design/methodology/approach - Over the past three years, CV Australia has made a commitment towards better meeting the needs of offenders with a disability. Specific research has been undertaken to identify the prevalence of acquired brain injury among Victoria's male and female population. This world-first research for CV by its research partners, arbias Ltd and La Trobe University, has identified new challenges particularly evidence concerning the large-prisoner cohort with acquired brain injury.Findings - The acquired brain injury clinician within CV is a new position, an innovative service for prisoners and offenders with an ABI in the North West Metropolitan Region, Melbourne. What has emerged in the first 18 months of the ABI program is the presence of co-morbidities, including mental health and substance use issues in addition to the prisoner/offender's cognitive impairment. This complex profile confirms the need for a specialist response. The role of the clinician is multi-functional, including consultation, capacity building, information, education, intervention planning and staff training.Practical implications - The practical implications of this case study include a treatment plan; however, there are issues with implementing this approach as it requires a long-term commitment from the correctional services system.Originality/value - In recent months, a number of strategies have been implemented to better support the prisoners who have cognitive impairment. Success of these strategies can make lasting changes to not only the offenders, but also CV staff. The CV staff noted that while resources (time spent) have been heavily invested in the individual learning, this has been an effective strategy. This case study highlights how CV is responding to the research into prisoners/offenders with an acquired brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently arrived older refugees in resettlement countries are a particularly vulnerable population who face many risks to their health and well-being, and many challenges in accessing services. This paper reports on a project undertaken in Victoria, Australia to explore the needs of older people from 14 recently arrived refugee communities, and the barriers to their receiving health and aged care. Findings from consultations with community workers and service providers highlight the key issues of isolation, family conflict and mental illness affecting older refugees, and point to ways in which policy-makers and service providers can better respond to these small but deserving communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to share the authors' initial insights into tourism industry capacity building via flexibly delivered online skilling and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach - An online research survey approach was employed, involving a sample of 64 micro tourism operators. Findings - The paper finds that the major benefits perceived by operators across the pilot region, were the time saving aspects demonstrated in the smart form concept. Operators were also drawn in by the best practise examples and direct links to the online resources to bring and keep them up to date with industry information and developments. Research limitations/implications - The data presented in this paper represent initial findings of the pilot project. The project has since been completed. Practical implications - The model used for the pilot in this paper has been adopted by the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria and is now being considered for national rollout across Australia. The model is a practical and replicable capacity building model for micro tourism operators anywhere. Originality/value - The paper adopts a collaborative learning network approach to micro business capacity building and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the implementation of recent changes to Victorian food safety legislation with particular reference to the implications for the food service industry. The research findings reported in this paper are based on a major food safety management audit undertaken for the Victorian Auditor General's Office. The components of the audit on which this paper is based, involved a quantitative survey of all 79 of the Victorian local councils, in-depth qualitative audits of 12 of these councils selected across the range of councils, from central business district to urban, suburban and rural locations, and a telephone survey of 219 food businesses within these 12 councils. Concludes that to improve food safety awareness among operators, local councils need to pay attention to the provision of effective education and training programs, to the timely review of food safety programs, and to have a risk-based approach to inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that explored the values that local government senior managers assume in their day-to-day relationship with elected officials. Historical association of the levels of government in Australia with the Westminster system of government; Influences of the values that local government senior officers in Victoria assume; Discussion of the questionnaire survey that provide quantitative overview of senior officer values.