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While research on online tests in higher education is steadily growing, there is little evidence in the literature of the use of learning management systems (LMS), such as Blackboard™, as rich sources of data on online tests practices. This paper reports on an investigation that used data from Blackboard™ LMS to gain insight into the purpose for and practice of online tests at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Business School in Australia. Focussing on curriculum and pedagogical practices, the paper identifies indications of good practice as well as potential issues related to curriculum mapping, including possible misalignment between learning outcomes and online tests. It also affirms the versatility of using data from LMSs in the study of e-assessment in general and online tests in particular.

One cohort that has not been given extended attention in the period during which transition takes place is academically high-performing students. This research study uniquely synthesises some of these key factors by investigating how students in mixed-ability, seventh-grade classrooms across Australia, Peru, Scotland, South Korea, Spain and Vietnam regard a hypothetical, academically able peer. The fictitious student's intellectual ability, positive social traits and popularity varied across the six countries involved in this study, and were observed according to the gender of the perceiver. More specifically, the perceived popularity of a high-performing boy or girl was reported differently among the country groups. In Scotland, for example, the authors uncovered a potential risk to female social status arising from peer reactions to her academic achievement. Yet in Vietnam, female study participants maintained a positive perception of both hypothetical students, regardless of gender. The results of this study are discussed herein.

This cross-national scenario based study examined fourth-grade students' perceptions of high-performing classmates in terms of their expected intellectual abilities, positive social qualities and popularity among their peers across seven countries. The overall results show that high academic achievements predominantly lead to positive expectations within the peer group. However, pronounced differences were found between the countries. The results indicated that students from Spanish-speaking countries viewed their potential high-performing peers most favorably, followed by students from Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany. The least favorable expectations, but by no means negative attitude, were exhibited by students from the two East-Asian countries Korea and Vietnam. In contrast, the respondents' gender and the gender of the hypothetical successful classmates had less influence on student perceptions of high-performers. These findings have implications for the educational provision of high performing students in different cross-national contexts.

This study explores how secondary school students perceive high-performing potential classmates. A total of 1,794 seventh- and 10th-grade students from five countries completed a questionnaire measuring their expectations of hypothetical male and female high-performing classmates in three categories: intellectual ability, positive social qualities, and popularity. Across the five countries represented in this study, analyses of variance indicated that students did not report negative attitudes toward the three potential characteristics of a hypothetical gifted peer. Vietnamese students in particular reported more positive observations about the hypothetical classmate than their Australian, Peruvian, South Korean, and Spanish counterparts. Differing cross-national attitudes toward high-performing peers and the implications therein are discussed.

This paper presents a professional learning (PL) model that emerged from the authors' involvement with PL processes in several rural and remote schools in the state of Tasmania. As is the case for rural areas generally, young people in rural areas of Tasmania have lower retention rates to Year 12 and lower participation rates in higher education than their urban peers. Schools in these regions typically have less experienced staff, higher staff turnover and reduced access to professional networks compared with urban schools. Four case studies are presented to illustrate the experiences that lead to the partnership model of PL and the authors' insights into the nature of collaborative partnerships in rural contexts are discussed The study makes a contribution to understanding of the development of effective PL partnerships in rural schools as well as contributing to broader debates about the nature of partnership between teachers and facilitators of PL. (Contains 2 figures and 1 footnote.)

Previous empirical studies have yielded inconclusive results about peer perceptions of academically high performing students. The purpose of this study was to investigate students' perceptions of the intellectual ability, positive social qualities, and popularity of a hypothetical new high performing classmate. Participants were 1060 Vietnamese, South Korean, British, Australian, Peruvian, and Spanish boys and girls in 10th grade. The results revealed that the perceptions of academically high performing classmates differed by country group. Positive perceptions of intellectual ability and social qualities were commonly found in all countries except the two Asian countries (Vietnam and South Korea), where the students reported more neutral views of high performers. In conclusion, it is argued that there is no evidence for possible iatrogenic effects of gifted education programs aiming at high achievements.

Tasmania, one of the first locations to have communities connected to the national broadband network (NBN), provided the context within which to ask significant questions about the implications of the NBN for all levels and sectors of education. This paper reports findings from a research project that developed innovative methodology to explore the issues with 21 respondents categorised as "leaders" in the field of information and communication technology in education. The aim of the research was to conduct an audit of actual and planned implementation of new technologies in classroom teaching through in-depth interviews, to assess challenges faced in implementation and to facilitate dialogue between leaders in disparate education areas through provision of forums online and face-to-face. In this way the action research both contributed to an understanding of issues and acted as a change agent in stimulating the sharing of new approaches to what turned out to be a set of highly complex "wicked" problems. Resulting models using a causal layered approach demonstrate that whereas the NBN did not become the immediate solution to connectivity for these leaders, it provided the motivation to consider what a connected educational environment could be like. (Contains 4 tables, 3 figures, and 1 footnote.)

Over the past fifty years, domestic regulators have turned to standards developed by private organizations as a means of complying with international law commitments to eliminate barriers to trade. What impact does this phenomenon of parallel incorporation, in which regulators in different countries incorporate the same private standards, have on domestic administrative law and public law? Through a case study of US and Australian regulators' adoption of the same standards in aviation, the article exposes how parallel incorporation exacerbates existing accountability deficits of administration, contributes to the hollowing out of public capacity to review these incorporations, defies conventional understandings of delegation, and breaches basic understanding of rulemaking processes in both the United States and Australia. Using conventional administrative processes to implement solutions compelled by international commitments strains and transforms these processes. In this context, trade law imperatives result in accommodations from domestic public law not the reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a larger multi‐site translational research project this study explored patient and staff experiences, perspectives, and recommendations in relation to a mental health liaison nursing (MHLN) team established in the emergency department (ED) of a metropolitan hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a sample of ED patients (n = 26), ED nurses (n = 10), ED consultants (n = 9), and members of the consultation–liaison psychiatry team (n = 5). Data were analysed thematically. Patients emphasized the numerous therapeutic qualities of the MHLN role, the promptness with which they were seen and the value of follow‐up. Privacy was identified as important, and some negative experiences were reported. Staff identified that the MHLN team are able to respond to a variety of ED presentations in a timely manner. There was recognition that the MHLN team needs to be integrated within the ED as a specialist resource that builds ED capacity. Consistent staffing of the MHLN team with designated clinicians was also considered essential. Integrating a nurse practitioner‐led MHLN team within the ED has demonstrated multiple benefits for patients, ED staff, and overall service provision. Incorporating a specialist mental health nursing service within the ED builds confidence in ED clinicians. Members of the psychiatry team also acknowledge the value of aligning the clinical governance of the MHLN team within the ED and the reduced workload this model of care has on their service provision to ED, freeing them up to concentrate on their broader general hospital role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing number of studies indicate that sensationalist reporting of suicide is associated with increases in suicide rates, but in the light of some negative findings, the issue has remained controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best current evidence on the association between celebrity suicide stories and subsequent suicides. Methods: Literature searches of six data sources (Medline, Psychlit, Communication Abstracts, Education Resources Information Center, Dissertation Abstracts and Australian Public Affairs Database (APAIS)) were conducted. Studies were included if they (1) adopted an ecological design, (2) focused on celebrity suicide, (3) had completed suicide as outcome variable, (4) analysed suicide rates across all suicide methods, (5) used data from after World War II and (6) satisfied basic quality criteria. Results: 10 studies with totally 98 suicides by celebrities met the criteria. The pooled estimate indicated a change in suicide rates (suicides per 100 000 population) of 0.26 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.43) in the month after a celebrity suicide. There was substantial heterogeneity between studies, which was explained by the type of celebrity (entertainment elite vs others) and the region of study, as indicated by mixed-effects meta-regression. The region-of-study--specific effect of reporting a suicide by an entertainment celebrity was 0.64 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.73) in North America, 0.58 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.68) in Asia, 0.36 (95% CI -0.10 to 0.61) in Australia and 0.68 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.85) in Europe. There was no indication of publication bias. Conclusions: Reports on celebrity suicide are associated with increases in suicides. Study region and celebrity type appear to have an impact on the effect size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of a research project that investigated strategies to address the workforce crisis currently threatening the provision of health and residential care services to Australia's rapidly ageing population. Underpinning this project's development was the need to understand why, in the face of high levels of sustained mature age unemployment (and under-employment) and the urgent need for staff in residential and community aged care, mature aged people do not consider, or are unable to undertake, further education and training to gain the necessary skills to work in this particular area.This descriptive and exploratory study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Informed by a critical review of the literature, data were collected from interviews with four participants (aged 40 years or older) as they undertook specific education and training in aged care services, and from a survey of 145 randomly selected mature aged unemployed (and under-employed) persons. The survey and specific education and training program were located in South Australia.Findings from this study suggest that, for the mature aged unemployed person, age represents the single most significant barrier to obtaining paid employment. Evidence also exists to suggest a positive relationship between ageing and a person's willingness to undertake formal education, and/or to consider the work of caring for older people as a reasonable career option. However, the extent to which other factors such as health, time spent in unemployment (or under-employment), type of qualification, and the psychological impact of being unemployed might have had an effect remains unclear.This study challenges us to rethink how we value ageing, mature aged unemployment, mature aged education and aged care work. The findings have implications for the future of mature aged job seekers and the provision of adequate staffing for residential and community aged care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaevola aemula R.Br. (fanflower), an ornamental plant native to Australia, produces stunted growth when fertilized with high concentrations of P. To determine optimum P concentration, rooted cuttings were transplanted into 15 cm standard pots and grown with a water soluble fertilizer, where P concentrations were 0, 14.5, 29.0, 43.5, 58.0, 72.5, 87.0 mg⋅L-1 and all plants received 200 mg⋅L-1 N and 166 mg⋅L-1 K. Shoot growth and flowering data were taken every 21 days until the experiment was terminated after 84 days. Shoot length, number and dry weight, and leaf size were reduced significantly at P concentrations higher than 14.5 mg⋅L-1 with severe reduction at P levels higher than 43.5 mg⋅L-1. Number of flowers per plant was not affected by P concentrations in the range of 0 to 43.5 mg⋅L-1, but decreased significantly at P levels higher than 43.5 mg⋅L-1. Medium pH decreased with increase in P rate due to the acidic nature of the P fertilizer. When P was applied in every irrigation, the optimum concentration was 14.5 mg⋅L-1 or less. P greater than 43.5 mg⋅L-1 was detrimental to vegetative growth and flowering, possibly due to above optimum P or to medium acidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo discurre sobre la detención comunitaria para solicitantes de asilo y de inmigrantes en Australia. Las autoras comentan sobre las condiciones experimentadas por estos grupos, especialmente los con menores, así como la falta de consideración por sus derechos humanos y civiles. Se presentan algunas alternativas a la detención tradicional, las cuales incluyen la detención comunitaria mientras que esperan el proceso de inmigración del gobierno.

The article highlights the implementation of community detention for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors in Australia. It shows the response of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to the proposal of community detention advocates and prompted by the deteriorating health crisis in immigration detention facilities. It discusses the challenges encountered in the implementation of community detention such a shortfall in services and the complexity of the New Model of Care.

Providing effective mental health care in Emergency Departments (ED) is a fundamental expectation, as EDs increasingly become the first point of contact with health services for people in mental distress. As part of a larger multi-site translational research project this study explored the experiences, perspectives and recommendations of mental health liaison nurses (MHLN) employed in the EDs of two rural hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants identified numerous benefits associated with embedding the MHLNs within the ED team. Some challenges associated with changing thinking and practice were recognised and recommendations for improving ED mental health care provided.

Background: As part of a larger multi-site translational research project this study explored patient and staff experiences, perspectives and recommendations in relation to a mental health liaison nursing (MHLN) service implemented in the emergency department (ED) of two rural hospitals in New South Wales, Australia., Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted across the two sites with a sample of ED patients (n = 32), ED nurses (n = 14), ED medical officers (n = 11) and psychiatrists (n = 3). Data were analysed thematically., Findings: Patients highlighted the therapeutic benefits of the MHLNs, particularly being listened to and understood. Patients appreciated being seen promptly and having effective follow-up. Some negative experiences were encountered. Staff recognized that embedding the new model of care in the ED impacted positively on ED culture and practice. A nurse practitioner position as clinical lead instituted at one site made the most substantial contribution to integrating mental health care within the ED. Room for improvement was also noted., Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that an ED-based model of MHLN care developed in a metropolitan setting was successfully translated to two rural EDs. While translating a model of care from one context to another is not without its challenges, adherence to the key principles of this model of MHLN care was associated with the most positive outcome., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This multi-site study aimed to give voice to the views and experiences of security staff in assisting with the response to the growing number of people with mental health, drug health and behavioural problems attending EDs., Methods: Explorative qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews were conducted with security staff (n = 26) working in three different emergency settings across New South Wales, Australia. The data were analysed thematically., Results: Participants recognised that long waiting times in the ED 'guarding' patients frequently accounted for escalating behaviour and increased the likelihood of restrictive interventions. Security staff expressed concerns about safety and were uncomfortable with a sense of uncertainty regarding their legal position. They voiced frustration over limited communication and lack of information provided by clinical staff on patient background, and the coordination of incidents and ongoing patient care. There was a perception that security staff are not treated with respect and their input was not valued., Conclusion: Expecting non-clinicians to undertake a clinical role (often under stressful circumstances involving close patient contact) places security staff and patients in a precarious position. Greater clarity regarding the role of security staff and information that allows them to adequately and safely undertake their work is required. If security staff are expected to participate in patient care then access to relevant information and the ability to document their activities and patient interactions should be provided. The vital support role that security staff perform needs to be valued and respected., (© 2020 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.)

Objective: To evaluate a two-tiered trauma activation protocol in a major trauma referral hospital in Australia., Methods: A prospective study performed over a 12-month period of all consecutive trauma activations in a major trauma referral hospital. The triage tool assigned patients into two tiers of trauma activation. The full trauma activation was initiated where physiological or anatomical criteria were present. These patients were assessed by a multispecialty trauma team. A consult trauma activation was initiated where only mechanism of injury criteria was present. These patients were assessed by the Emergency Department Registrar and Surgical Registrar. The primary endpoint was major trauma outcome defined as either injury severity score (ISS) greater than 15, requirement for High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit (HDU/ICU) admission, need for urgent operative intervention, or in hospital mortality., Results: Of 1144 trauma activations, 468 (41%) were full trauma and 676 (59%) were consult trauma activations. The full trauma activation group had a significantly higher proportion of the major trauma outcome (34% vs. 5%, p<0.01) and all 18 patients (2%) who died were in the full trauma activation group. Sensitivity of the triage tool for the major trauma outcome was 83%, specificity was 68%, undertriage was 3% and overtriage was 27%., Conclusions: The two-tiered trauma activation protocol is effective in identifying patients with major trauma from those with minor trauma. There were no deaths in undertriaged patients., ((c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)