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Many rural communities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, have poor-quality water supplies. The lack of a palatable alternative increases the risk of the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, a significant contributor to adverse health outcomes. This disproportionately effects Aboriginal people living in these towns, who are also profoundly affected by the social determinants of health. Therefore, examining health inequalities linked to water access is important. This study investigated the availability of drinking water fountains in rural and remote communities in NSW. Telephone interviewer-assisted surveys were conducted with 32 representatives from local government councils or Local Aboriginal Land Councils in NSW from communities with a population of <5000 and an Aboriginal population of at least 3%. The results were analysed descriptively. Towns and communities with a higher population of Aboriginal people and lower median weekly income were less likely to have access to free refrigerated and filtered water within the community or at local schools compared with towns and communities with a lower Aboriginal population and higher median weekly income. The availability of free, clean and refrigerated water in rural and remote communities is critical to reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the promotion of water as the preferred drink. Limited access to free, clean and refreshing tap water can increase reliance on sugar-sweetened beverages. This study found that access to clean, refrigerated and filtered drinking water is more likely in larger communities with a lower proportion of Aboriginal people, indicating that Aboriginal people living in smaller communities have their socioeconomic disadvantage compounded, potentially increasing reliance on sugar-sweetened beverages and widening the health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Health promotion initiatives must take into consideration access to clean and refreshing tap water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-cultural context of populations has a significant effect on health outcomes across every stage of life. In Australia, South Asian migrants have a comparatively higher incidence of chronic disease and less use of health services. Often overlooked are community views of health, cultural traits and belief systems. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence health perception and practice of South Asian migrants. The study used a mixed method approach with both a survey and interviews. A total of 62 participants between the age of 18 and 64 years were surveyed and 14 participants completed interviews. Data were analysed descriptively and thematically. South Asians share a common perception and practice around health and illness. This paper highlights two key findings. First, these groups take a broad view of health encompassing physical, mental, emotional, social and economic aspects of life. Second, these cultural groups do not seek medical help as their first choice, but have a high level of trust in family for providing health advice and share a belief in the effectiveness of home remedies for managing health conditions. Participants shared their expectation that the Australian health system should consider their socio-cultural construct to make services culturally safe and engaging to enhance service utilisation. South Asian migrants share diverse characteristics and have comparatively higher risks to chronic diseases with lower utilisation of health services. We explored various socio-cultural factors that influence their perception and practice to access health services. Their preference to seek health information from families and use of home remedies to manage illness are critical to the health system to consider while designing relevant policies, care models and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On November 8, 2019 a dense feather of smoke was detached from the coasts of Australia due to the intense fires that affected the region. These layers of smoke were dragged by the winds to South America, arriving to the Argentine territory on November 14 and remaining in suspension for a day. In this work, the optical properties of suspended aerosol with satellite information and measurements from terrestrial are analyzed. The Angstrom coefficient is calculated and the type of aerosols present is classified. High values of aerosol optical thickness of 0,25 on average for 440 nm and Angstrom coefficients of 1,2 evidence the presence of smoke in the local atmosphere

Numerous faunistic and ecological studies have been conducted throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean to assess its biodiversity. Despite the abundance of research, studies on the species that inhabit the Indo-Pacific are still necessary due to its extent and high species richness. The major species richness of the genus Okenia Menke, 1830 (Nudibranchia, Goniodorididae) is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, including 38 of 60 valid species. Nevertheless, this number does not represent the real biodiversity, since at least 20 more species are already reported in field-guides as undescribed species belonging to this genus. The systematics of the genus Okenia are still unclear since it has been the subject of only a few and incomplete studies. In the present paper, we describe five new Okenia species from the coastlines of Japan, Mozambique and Australia: Okenia aurorapapillata sp. nov., Okenia elisae sp. nov., Okenia nakanoae sp. nov., Okenia siderata sp. nov. and Okenia tenuifibrata sp. nov. Moreover, anatomical details not previously described of Okenia atkinsonorum , Okenia barnardi , Okenia cf. echinata , Okenia hallucigenia , Okenia hiroi , Okenia japonica , Okenia pellucida , Okenia pilosa and Okenia rhinorma are provided. New partial sequences of standard markers (COI , 16S rRNA and H3) were obtained and a phylogenetic analysis that included all species with available data was performed. ZOOBANK urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:28AE2536-A264–4194–8AE3-C430620572E7 Currently, the largest number of known Okenia species are inhabiting the Indo-Pacific. However, ~20 species are still reported as undescribed in field-guides to this genus. In the present paper, we obtain new DNA sequences for Okenia species and study their evolutionary relationships. Moreover, we describe five new Okenia species from the coastlines of Japan, Mozambique and Australia: Okenia aurorapapillata sp. nov., Okenia elisae sp. nov., Okenia nakanae sp. nov., Okenia siderata sp. nov. and Okenia tenuifibrata sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nawarla Gabarnmang is a major rock art site of northern Australia. Occupied by people for some 50,000 years, it contains an exceptional deposit of stone artefacts including one of the oldest ground-edge stone axes in the world (35,500 years) and an extensively decorated ceiling with close to 1 400 paintings in multiple panels and with numerous superpositions. The earliest evidence of art dates to 27,000­–26,000 years ago—an excavated broken piece of painted rock—with the most recent art dating to the late 19th-early 20th century. The site’s interdisciplinary study has shed information on the decorated panels, and from the excavations a robust cultural chronology has been revealed. Archaeomorphology has allowed us to understand the history of the site’s wall and ceiling configurations, surfaces on which the art is found: under its vast overhang, multiple ceiling and more that 50 rock pillars are found. Their study showed that the site’s morphology was crafted by people: it is, in effect, an architectural construct. Archaeomorphological research has enabled the recovery of human actions underlying the site that we see today.

Este artigo tem o propósito de apresentar resultados de investigação cujo objetivo foi identificar eventuais contribuições da experiência de avaliação da educação infantil australiana para a análise de iniciativas da mesma natureza, em curso no Brasil. Tem como base análise documental e informações coletadas in loco, quando da realização de estágio de pesquisa no exterior, na Graduate School of Education da Universidade de Melbourne, Austrália, em 2016. Os resultados do estudo evidenciam que o desenho avaliativo australiano reflete a preocupação com dimensões da qualidade consideradas fundamentais pela legislação e documentos norteadores da educação infantil no Brasil, ainda que os contextos social e educacional de ambos os países sejam bem diferentes. Ademais, indicam a importância da articulação e colaboração entre entes federados para a implantação de políticas voltadas para a primeira infância.

This study assessed Australian clinical practice guidelines for life-limiting index conditions for the extent to which they acknowledged comorbidities and framed management recommendations within the context of older age and reduced life expectancy. A comprehensive search identified current, evidence-based Australian guidelines for chronic life-limiting conditions directed at general practitioners. Guideline content was analysed qualitatively before comorbidity acknowledgements were quantified using a 17-item checklist. Full guidelines were quality appraised using AGREE-II. Ten documents covering chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, cancer pain, dementia and palliative care in aged care were identified. Most guidelines addressed one 'comorbid' condition and prompted clinicians to consider patient quality of life and personal preferences. Fewer addressed burden of treatment and half suggested modifying treatments to account for limited life expectancy, age or time horizon to benefit. Half warned of potential adverse drug interactions. Guidelines were of moderate to very high quality. Guidelines naturally prioritised their index condition, directing attention to only the most common comorbidities. However, there may be scope to include more condition-agnostic guidance on multimorbidity management. This might be modelled on the 'guiding principles' approach now emerging internationally from organisations such as the American Geriatrics Society in response to increasing multimorbidity prevalence and evidence limitations. General practitioners provide frontline care for a growing number of patients with multimorbidity, which may involve a life-limiting, progressive condition. Most guidelines for life-limiting conditions acknowledge comorbidity; however, there may be missed opportunities to warn clinicians on the potential for inappropriate polypharmacy, drug–drug interactions, and guideline-imposed treatment burden. Guidelines might consider incorporating 'guiding principles' of multimorbidity care and reframing management in the context of reduced life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia (and arguably in many other countries) parent involvement in their child’s learning is dominated by Western notions of learning, education, pedagogy and knowledge. We discuss the application of a critical anthropology of education angle to these dominant discourses and methodological resources that encourage us to be in the field, to take time, and to, with critical reflexivity, listen and learn. We describe how we worked to create an Aboriginal Guided approach and drew on Aboriginal Research Protocols to maintain a steady and sharp emphasis on our practice as researchers.

A new Australian genus of Orthotylini, Xasmasoma , gen. nov. is described, with 12 new included species: X. acuminatus , sp. nov., X. agana , sp. nov., X. carrollae , sp. nov., X. celiae , sp. nov., X. chamelaucieaphila , sp. nov., X. mareeba , sp. nov., X. mimae , sp. nov., X. mungallala , sp. nov., X. nillinghoo , sp. nov., X. schuhi , sp. nov., X. silveirae , sp. nov. and X. woodstocki , sp. nov. These species were analysed phylogenetically using 25 morphology-based characters and molecular alignments (COI , 16S , 18S and 28S ; 2096 base pairs), with the genus found to be monophyletic based on molecular, morphological and combined analyses. An analysis of host plant associations demonstrated no pattern of co-divergence and limited phylogenetic conservatism, aside from two subclades with respective Calytrix and Myrtaceae preferences. The biogeographic analysis revealed a south-western (South-west Interzone, Western Desert) area relationship, which is in distinction to the orthotyline genus Naranjakotta. The taxonomic component includes an identification key to species and diagnostic characters are illustrated, with detailed documentation of the male genitalia, and the genus uniquely possesses tile-like texture on the apex of the apophysis of the left paramere, and a single endosomal spicule. This paper documents the systematics of a new genus of orthotyline plant bugs, Xasmasoma , and the description of twelve new species. This further demonstrates the hyperdiversity of the family Miridae in Australia, and the biogeographic and host plant drivers of Xasmasoma diversification. The work provides the first molecular sequences of the Australian Orthotylini which corroborate the phylogenetic signal of the male genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumption associated with domestic hot water supply services correspond to a significant portion of the total energy consumption of the urban water cycle. The objective of this study is to analyse the performance of domestic water heaters in the three largest cities of Australia (i.e. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). The performance of systems was investigated undertaking a multi-parametric analysis, in which energy efficiency indicators (i.e. energy intensity and power peaks) were combined with level of service indicators (i.e. compliance rate with minimum temperature thresholds for end use points and hot water tanks). The operation of water heaters was modelled using the software EnergyPlus. Results demonstrate the need for a more holistic approach for the design and assessment of domestic water heaters taking into account not only the technology type to heat water, but also site specific aspects.

The strategic importance of relationship style contracting is recognised in the construction industry. Both public and private sector clients are stipulating more integrated and collaborative forms of procurement. Despite relationship and integrated contractual arrangement being available for some time, it is clear that construction firms have been slow to adopt them. Hence it is timely to examine how social exchanges, via unwritten agreement and behaviours, are being nurtured in construction projects. This paper adopted the concept of Psychological Contracts (PC) to describe unwritten agreement and behaviours. A conceptual model of the PC is developed and validated using the results from a questionnaire survey administered to construction professionals in Australia. The results uncovered the relationships that existed amongst relational conditions and relational benefits, the PC and the partners’ satisfaction. The results show that all the hypotheses in the conceptual model of the PC are supported, suggesting the PC model is important and may have an effect on project performance and relationship quality among contracting parties. A validated model of the PC in construction was then developed based on the correlations among each component. The managerial implications are that past relationships and relationship characteristics should be taken into account in the selection of procurement partners and the promise of future resources, support and tangible relational outcomes are also vital. It is important for contracting parties to pay attention to unwritten agreements (the PC) and behaviours when managing construction projects.

The aim of the study was to quantify clinical pharmacists’ workload in Australia. Specific objectives were to perform a direct observation of the pattern of clinical activities in two acute hospitals and compare that with previously documented self-reported patterns. We were also interested in identifying what records kept by pharmacists would capture all the activities they perform.Methods: An observer recorded the activities of clinical pharmacists on six separate days in the medical and surgical wards of two Melbourne metropolitan hospitals. We examined resultant data to determine suitable records by which clinical pharmacists could capture all the activities they perform. To compare the observed pattern of clinical activities with those earlier self-reported by pharmacists, we categorised our data using the Pharmacy Activity Codes present in the penultimate version of the ICD-10-AM classification system.Results: The observer recorded the performance of 807 workload ‘events’, representing 28 separate types of activities. When compressed into the Pharmacy Activity Codes formerly used in the ICD-10-AM classification system, the pattern of activities identified by direct observation matched that which had previously been self-reported by pharmacists. The majority of the activities performed could be captured by completion of a Pharmaceutical Care Plan and by recording pharmacists’ interventions to a database. The remaining activities may be recorded for departmental workload purposes in a simple template format.Conclusion: The pattern of clinical pharmacist activity at the two hospitals was confirmed by direct observation as similar to that previously reported in other Australian hospitals. A Pharmaceutical Care Plan, a database for intervention recording and a simple workload template provide the means to record all activities that clinical pharmacists perform.

Green roofs have potential to improve the social and environmental performance of detached housing in Australia, yet often they are overlooked due to prohibitive capital cost and a range of other perceptions that are difficult to quantify. A classic evaluation problem is invoked that must balance short and long term benefits. Using two distinct designs of the same floor area, green roof and traditional housing prototypes are analysed to determine the relative ‘breakeven’ point when long-term benefits become feasible. It is discovered that green roofs are unlikely to be viable in their own right, but when coupled with an overall design strategy of long life (durability), loose fit (adaptability) and low energy (sustainability) they can deliver least cost (affordability) over time as well as unlock valuable social and environmental rewards. This outcome can be realised within 25% of a home’s expected design life of at least one hundred years. The results demonstrate that residential green roofs, when integrated as part of a holistic approach, can be both individually and collectively justified on key economic, social and environmental criteria, and are therefore able to claim a valuable contribution towards wider sustainable development goals.

This research explores the tenets of safety leadership within the Australian construction environment. The scope of this research aims to establish a universal definition of safety leadership and how it differs from other leadership disciplines. The literature review into this topic was governed by the parent disciplines of Safety and Leadership. Gaps were identified in the literature that indicated safety leadership is not a well-defined concept and much of the work into safety leadership has been borrowed from other schools of leadership. An exploratory research methodology was utilised which rooted the research into the post-positivist methodology. There were twenty interviews conducted for this research, with participants coming from various leadership positions across multiple construction projects around Australia. Findings detailed a saturation of data that allowed for an empirical definition towards safety leadership to be established. As a person’s scope of responsibility increases, their view of safety leadership becomes synonymous with leadership; although differences do exist. These differences were attributed to the importance of demonstrating safety and working within the legal framework of Australian construction projects. It is proposed that this research offers a substantial contribution to knowledge, based upon a well-defined definition into safety leadership.

Dykes and other vertical bodies can act as aquicludes within bodies of karst rock. These partitions separate isolated bodies of solublerock called compartments. Speleogenetically each compartment will behave as a small impounded-karst until the partition becomesbreached. Breaches through partitions, portals, allow water, air and biota including humans to pass between sections of caves thatwere originally isolated.

Saltmarsh-dwelling grapsid crabs release free-swimming larvae (i.e. zoeae) into ebbing tides during spring-tide cycles that inundate saltmarshes, where initial inundation is a cue for larval release on subsequent inundations. In a saltmarsh environment, crab zoeae are the main food for fish (including the glassfish, Ambassis jacksoniensis), which 'fast' at other times. This saltmarsh-feeding model was tested by obtaining glassfish from near saltmarshes in a reasonably unmodified tributary of a large temperate estuary on flood and ebb tides during the night in two spring-tide events in austral autumn of 2009. Glassfish fed only on ebbing tides, with stomachs being similarly full on both spring-tide events. Thalassinid larvae (including Trypaea australiensis) dominated the dietary volumes, especially on the night before saltmarsh inundation, presumably being released during inundation of intertidal mud and sand habitats. Although glassfish progressively 'switched' to feeding on greater volumes of crab zoeae (presumably released after inundation of a saltmarsh) over both spring-tide cycles, such zoeal contributions never exceeded those of thalassinid larvae. The above differences highlight that, although ebb tides trigger feeding by glassfish, this ambassid focuses on different prey in a reasonably unmodified environment. The ability of glassfish to switch prey, and thus accommodate environmental differences, helps explain their high abundance in estuaries of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short, A.D., Bracs, M.A., Turner, I.L., 2014, Beach oscillation and rotation: local and regional response on three beaches in southeast Australia. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 70, pp. 712-717, ISSN 0749-0208. Six years of monthly subaerial surveys across three embayed beaches in southeast Australia located 270 km apart are utilized to compare the response of the beaches at the local and regional scale. The three beaches (Narrabeen, Moruya and Pedro) are exposed to a similar deep water wave climate (Hs ~1.5 m, T~10 s), identical tides (spring range 1.6 m) and have similar lengths (~3 km), easterly orientation and medium to fine sand. Over the six years all three beaches had synchronous oscillation and rotation, though at different magnitudes. The lower energy Moruya beach undergoes greater beach oscillation (up to 100 m) and rotation than the higher energy Narrabeen and Pedro. The results highlight the regional scale of synchronous beach response, as well as have implication for our understanding of sediment transport and shoreline stability in relation to beach state, with the lower energy beach having a more dynamic shoreline. Furthermore the six years of data is insufficient to detect longer term trends observed at Narrabeen since 1976. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of digital identity on commercial transactions, with a focus on mistake in contract when an individual’s digital identity is misused by another person. The article asserts that digital identity is emerging as a distinct new legal concept in the USA and Australia, as both countries move to fully digitalize government transactions. In both countries, these new schemes are being introduced without fanfare, through subtle, gradual change. These schemes are significant because they establish one identity, initially for use in transactions with government, but with the long-term consequence of also extending to transactions with the private sector. The implications of this change, and the nature and functions of the set of information that constitutes an individual’s identity for transactions, are examined. The analysis reveals that digital identity, in this context, consists of two sets of information. The primary set of information constitutes an individual’s transactional identity. As its name suggests, this is the identity required for transactions. Transaction identity is a defined set of information that typically consists of full name, date of birth, gender and identifying information such as a signature and/or a unique number. The article analyses the legal nature and functions of transaction identity in the context of commercial transactions. The article considers the central question of who, or what, is the legal person in the transaction, that is, who or what enters into legal relations. The analysis presents some intriguing results in relation to contract and mistaken identity. The article discusses the implications for the USA and Australia because of their notable similarities in terms of the type of scheme, strategy for implementation and legal system. However, the analysis has wider application to other jurisdictions. The emergence of a concept of digital identity has implications for countries with formal national identity schemes, as well as for those establishing schemes through gradual change such as those now being out in place in Australia and the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Ferdinand Mueller (later von Mueller), Government Botanist of Victoria, opposed Darwin's theories when On the origin of species was published, there has been little detailed study of the nature of Mueller's opposition from 1860, when he received a presentation copy of Origin, to his death in 1896. Analysis of Mueller's correspondence and publications shows that he remained a theist and misunderstood key aspects of Darwin's theory. However, Mueller did come to accept that natural selection could operate within a species, although never accepting it could produce speciation. Despite these differences he retained a cordial relationship with Darwin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to advise the Library sector about the existence of a new approach to internal communications, in the form of an intranet which delivers "fresh news daily", similar in format to a major online newspaper. Design/methodology/approach — In 2007, and prior to the launch of its redeveloped intranet, the State Library of Victoria revolutionised its internal communications with the introduction of The Fridge — a new, online, daily news service. A small icon — in the shape of a fridge — was posted on the desktop of every Library staff member. Findings — Today, The Fridge has become a widely used and highly trusted Library tool. It has demonstrated an enhanced commitment to "real-time" employee communication through the ability to deliver fresh news and important information daily. It has demonstrably increased morale, productivity, performance and retention of valued staff, and has played a key role in quantifiably lifting the operating "climate" of the workplace. It has helped to build a stronger workplace community. Research implications — Because of its "real-time" capabilities, The Fridge is used as an internal market research tool. It has been used to gauge employee opinions and feelings on a range of subjects, the responses to which can be fed back within hours. Practical implications — Recent Fridge research has asked staff for their opinions on a range of topics, including their favoured subjects for future articles. The Fridge is used daily by the CEO and Executive to pass on critically important information about the organization, thus avoiding the dreaded "everyone" e-mails. The Fridge is also used to post daily updates on current events and "What's on" activities. Originality/value — This paper introduces a revolutionary and unique new approach in internal communications to Libraries, with the ability to transform internal communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a significant period of strong economic and jobs growth nationally, there is well-established evidence in Australia that the proceeds of this growth have not been shared equally, either between places or between individuals. Empirically, it is well known that particular socioeconomic groups have a higher risk of unemployment and it has become equally well established that there are particular geographic patterns of labour market disadvantage that suggest that local geographic context is also important. What is not well understood are the ways in which phenomena at the geographic level are associated with individual-level characteristics and other social contexts in ways that negatively impact on a range of social outcomes, including unemployment. The present paper specifically addresses this issue by using a multi-scalar approach and using survey data from the Housing, Income and Labour Force Dynamics Australia (HILDA) survey and aggregate level census data to model unemployment risk. The paper argues that to better understand unemployment and to add to sound policy development, approaches that incorporate a variety of contexts, including the impact of local geographies, are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the traditional measures of the degree to which crime patterns change over space and time have limitations. In particular most are unable to determine any change in spatial crime pattern within an areal unit. Usually studies measure the change in crime levels in contiguous areas (expressed as discrete sub-divisions of a study area), but this can become problematic due to difficulties such as the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). This paper describes a technique developed to allow researchers to examine intra-study region changes in crime patterns between two time periods without the need to aggregate crime counts to within-city areal boundaries. The method presented uses a random point nearest neighbor test combined with a Monte Carlo simulation. The process resolves problems of patterning and the MAUP that are common with a number of spatial displacement and pattern movement studies. This technique is demonstrated with example data from a city-wide police burglary crackdown in the Australian capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chan DKY, Cordato D, Karr M, Ong B, Lei H, Liu J, Hung WT. Prevalence of Parkinson's disease in Sydney.Acta Neurol Scand 2004 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2004.00348.x©Blackwell Munksgaard 2004.To examine the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Bankstown, Sydney, using the same methodology as a previous study in Randwick, Sydney, Australia (1998–1999).Twenty census districts (CDs) for the Bankstown local government area were randomly selected. Research personnel door-knocked every household within the CDs to locate people aged≥55 years. A structured questionnaire (containing four screening questions for PD) was administered to those agreeing to participate. Screened positive participants were invited to come for a clinical examination. This is a continuation of the previous study and data have been combined.Combining data for Bankstown and Randwick gave 1028 participants; crude prevalence, 780 per 100,000 (CI: 546–1077). In Bankstown, there were 501 participants aged≥55 years (response rate 70%); 135 were screened positive with 101 (74.8%) agreeing to a clinical examination. The prevalence of PD in the Bankstown community was 3.4% (17 of 501) (95% CI: 1.98–5.43) for those aged≥55 years; crude prevalence 776 per 100,000 (CI: 452–1241).The combined results of two Sydney studies appear to indicate that Sydney has one of the highest prevalence estimates of PD in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of spatially nested assemblages of Rhytidoponera operational taxonomic units (OTU5) (Formicidae Hymenoptera) from Sturt National Park, New South Wales, Australia, were examined for patterns of dispersion in multivariate morphological space. Morphological overdispersion within an assemblage, relative to a null model, is hypothesized to be a result of the structuring influence of interspecific competition. We compared up to 45 observed assemblages, from across multiple spatial scales, to two null models. Meta-analysis of the null model analyses indicated a general trend to morphological overdispersion particularly so at restricted scales. Larger scale assemblages wets over dispersed relative to only one of the two null models, which we tentatively interpret as being indicative of different competition-driven mechanisms operating at different spatial scales. We also demonstrate that the observed assemblages represent a larger number of species groups than expected by chance, and that this pattern of phylogenetic overdispersion is closely related to the observed morphological patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A marina was constructed in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in close proximity to coral reefs that could be damaged by excess turbidity generated during construction. Since there was uncertainty about both the fate of suspended sediments and their effect on corals, initial water quality constraints were set very conservatively. In order to better understand the movement of suspended sediment during construction, a numerical model study was commissioned using three-dimensional, numerical, hydrodynamic, and Lagrangian particle tracking models. The study was successful in: (1) increasing the understanding of and reducing the uncertainty of sediment dispersal patterns under a range of common forcing conditions; (2) testing the variation in suspended sediment concentrations over sensitive areas for two different outfall locations; (3) offering evidence that a good choice in outfall locations will reduce the threat to corals; and importantly (4) presenting the results in a way that enhanced understanding by nontechnical reef managers. This final result was achieved by creating movies of sediment movement that clearly demonstrated the complex hydrodynamic processes involved with near-coastal water currents. Specific model results showed: (1) that a more seaward outfall increases effluent dispersal away from sensitive areas; (2) the highest concentrations of effluent over sensitive sites occur during no wind and neap tide conditions; and (3) prevailing southeast winds advect effluent offshore, away from sensitive sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Merrimerriwa Formation of the Devonian Mulga Downs Group of western New South Wales (NSW), Australia, contains locally rich, dissociated fish remains dominated by an endemic placoderm, Wuttagoonaspis, an aberrant arthrodire whose relationships are still uncertain. The Wuttagoonaspis fauna of western NSW is now believed to be early Eifelian in age. Associated with Wuttagoonaspis in NSW are various actinolepid and phlyctaeniid arthrodires which include a new taxon, Mulgaspis gen. nov., described here. Mulgaspis shares many characters with Early Devonian phlyctaeniid arthodires such as Dicksonosteus and Aretolepis, and other characters with the cosmopolitan Late Devonian arthrodiran genus, Groenlandaspis. Mulgaspis gen. nov., interpreted here as a member of the Groenlandaspididae, provides a morphological link between Early Devonian phlyctaeniid arthrodires and Groenlandaspis sensu stricto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'internal reserve' distinguished world's best practice for the early garden suburb movement. These 'hidden' spaces were designed for a variety of reasons: to encourage the formation of community, promote safe play for children, offer sites for small-scale agricultural pursuits, address topographic and drainage constraints, and facilitate conservation of natural features. They were a feature of progressive plans for British icon developments such as Hampstead Garden Suburb. As these plans travelled globally, however, the purpose of the internal reserve was less clear than their spatial form, and most languished as undistinguished, left-over spaces. The historical origins, development and demise of the internal reserve are surveyed, with a focus on the Australian experience against an Anglo-American backdrop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Subculture" has been an important conceptual and methodological tool in the ethnographic study of drug use and drug-related harm, particularly heavy drug use among marginalized populations. When researching those whose drug use is less all-consuming, however, this concept does not serve us so well. What term or terms might provide a better framework for the investigation of more intermittent drug use? I explore this question through attention to material gathered during three years of ethnographic research with drug users in Perth, Western Australia. I characterize my units of analysis as social "scenes" oriented around sets of practices. These scenes are located on urban "pathways." Drug ethnographers need to reorient themselves, no longer seeking to describe and analyze nonnative subcultural values, beliefs and behaviors but rather focusing on the diverse nature of some drug scenes and their constitutive practices. It may be time to retire "subculture" in the study of certain contexts of drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lantana camara, a woody shrub originating in south and central America, is among the most widespread and troublesome exotic weeds of the old-world tropics. It invades pasture, crops and native ecosystems, causing substantial economic losses and environmental degradation. In Australia alone, L. camara is currently estimated to cover c. 40 000 km2 . In glasshouse studies we demonstrate that L. camara requires cross-pollination to set fruit, and that honeybee visits result in effective pollination. Field studies carried out in Queensland, Australia, suggest that fruit set is limited by pollinator abundance, and that the main pollinator of L. camara throughout a substantial portion of its Australian range appears to be the honeybee, Apis mellifera. Seed set was strongly correlated with honeybee abundance, and at many sites, particularly in southern Queensland, honeybees were the only recorded flower visitors. Of 63 sites that were visited, seed set was highest at five sites where only honeybees were present. Hives are frequently stationed within and adjacent to areas such as National Parks that are threatened by this noxious weed. Management of honeybee populations may provide a powerful tool for cost-effective control of L. camara that has previously been overlooked. We suggest that there are probably many other weeds, both in Australia and elsewhere, that benefit from honeybee pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bivariate profit model is used to predict the choice of an economics major in a sample of first-year, undergraduate business students. The paper examines the statistical significance of a number of student-related characteristics on the likelihood of choosing an economics major, along with the role of student personality and perceptions of the profession. Factors analysed include secondary studies in economics, accounting and business, grade point average and attendance pattern, along with perceptions of the economics profession arrayed along dimensions of interest, independence, structure and precision. It would appear that the primary influences on the selection of a major in economics comprise student personality and level of interest in the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper uses ethnographic data from an Australian university to explore constructs of "otherness" focusing on women in lower-level university work. The work of these women, who hold both academic and non-academic staffpositions, takes place in the spatial and symbolic locale we call the "ivory basement" Poststructural feminism provides the basis for an examination of the contradictions and subtle&s of their identity work as they respond to the pressures of restructuring and managerialism. Faced with a request from these women for certain aspects of their relational work to remain unseen, unrecognised and unspoken, this study assents to that request and focuses instead on options for how poststructural feminism might elaborate their identity work stories. The paper is concerned with the tensions between women's own struggle with being positioned as "other" and poststructural feminist theorizing of the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on reflections around the following three broad questions: "Can management be taught or do management educators simply teach those who are or wish to become managers?". "Can management educators and scholars become effective managers?"; "Can managers become effective management educators and scholars?". The roles of management educators in Australia include those employed in staff development in organizations, management consultants and academic staff in business schools and management departments of universities. This paper focuses on management education in universities in Australia, where educators may be academic discipline experts, teachers who have come into management department, or managers who have moved into academia. They may teach management theory, explore the links between theory and practice, focus on the development of assessable competencies, or all of these. Regarding current challenges facing management education, are we avoiding changes necessary in tertiary education or resisting the erosion of important educational values and standards? Considering the future of management education, both locally and globally, what part can universities play? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new economy brought with it a new approach to designing business models. Not too many years ago the familiar organisation structure was dominated by a traditional view of managers that was based on asset ownership and vertical organisation structures. The prevalent view was that ownership enhanced control and profit margins. More recently flexibility, co-operation and collaboration have become important features for success. The success of organisations such as Dell and the move by some of the largest corporations in the world towards a model within which assets are managed rather than owned has led to significant changes not only in structure, but also in attitudes and managerial behaviour. As a result the "new business model" has five common attributes, the firm should: be cash flow driven; focus on return on investment; function with distributed (leveraged) assets or low capital intensity; do so with a single minded view on core assets and distinctive capabilities; and develop competitive advantage by relevant positioning within its industry value chain. Reviews these developments, using the Australian wine industry as an example of the new business model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws upon Australian fieldwork to trace the changing notions of a good death held by hospice and palliative care practitioners. Palliative care practitioners search for an ideology to inform their practice within the context of a complex society for which there is no one good death. Social demographics, the multicultural nature of society and institutional constraints frame the experience of dying in complex ways, while contemporary social responses to dying reflect the uncertainties held by many Australians. Despite the fragmentation evident within contemporary Australian society, the hospice movement in Australia and in other Western contexts has sought to reintroduce a ritual for dying. The good death ideology of the original hospice movement proposed a manner of dying in which open communication and acceptance of death were actively encouraged. The hospice model of a good death, however, has become increasingly inappropriate in the current climate of patient autonomy and consumer choice. The practice of palliative care, a holistic form of care for dying people, which follows the individualistic ethic of choice, has emerged from and replaced the original hospice movement. Consequently, the good death of the original hospice movement has been abandoned in favor of a philosophy of a 'good enough' death. However, what may appear a compromise informed by ethical practice masks a return to routine medical practices and a hierarchy of care which prioritises the physical management of symptoms. It appears that while palliative care practitioners may often fail in their facilitation of a good death for their patients, they can be proactive in alleviating their patients' pain and physical discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, the backpacker industry is a dynamic, rapidly expanding and diversifying market. While government and academic research on international backpacker travelers has tended to concentrate on the economic advantages of this market segment, local council reports and highly publicized media incidents indicate that the increasing numbers of the backpacker travelers are causing significant social tensions within local communities. Conflicts have emerged, particularly over the changing identities of places and the production of landscape and locality as tourist commodities. One of the key aims of this paper is to understand the transformation of localities as a consequence of backpacker tourism, and to explore the consumption of difference, the signs of authenticity, and place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most challenging effects of globalization in tourism is the need to manage an increasingly culturally diverse workforce and market In response to this need there has been a steady increase in the attention paid by tourism researchers to the influence of culture on visitor and employee motivations, decisions, and evaluations. However, conducting cross- cultural research has it owns challenges and a number of issues have been raised with regard to the methods and conceptual foundations of this research. This paper addresses several of these issues including the need to critically examine simplistic distinctions such as can be found in many discussions of Western versus Asian cultures, the need to explore the relative contribution of culture versus other variables, and the need to question methods developed from Western theories. This paper reports on a comparison of Japanese, Chinese, United Kingdom and United States tourists surveyed on commercial tourism operations to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The results failed to support an East-West distinction, more differences were found between the Japanese and Chinese samples than between these two groups and the other national cultural groups studied. In addition, the analyses revealed that the different cultural groups responded to travel benefits questions in distinctive ways and culture was a significant influence on overall satisfaction when compared to the other variables. Some implications are drawn for cross-cultural approaches in tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multi-method case study examined the roles, functions, capabilities, job satisfaction, strengths, weaknesses and skill gaps of frontline team leaders working on the shopfloor in the Australian automobile industry. The study was conducted in a large automobile manufacturing company employing 4,500 employees and rated as one of the top 22 organisations at Australia according to net revenue. Extensive data were gathered through two surveys involving 121 frontline team leaders and semi-structured interviews with 100 team leaders, 100 group leaders, and 30 general forepersons. The findings showed that there have been relatively few theoretical and practical efforts to specify the functional requirements of frontline leaders who occupy the first level enjoy point of leadership positions and hence career progression it the automobile industry. The study Proposes a definition for frontline leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalisation has seen diverse cultures becoming increasingly entwined and interdependent as business organisations operate in a borderless world. When organisations operate internationally they often find that countries differ in what is considered wrong or right. The objectives of the research were to identify cross-cultural ethical dilemmas confronting Australian managers, and explore the strategies they utilise in dealing with those dilemmas in their international operations. The study raises the questions of whose ethics should be applied, and whether a set of universal ethical norms should be or can be developed. The discussion emanating from such questions also raises important issues for the training and ongoing management of employees undertaking business in the international environment. A total of 70 Australian managers from the mating textile and information technology industries participated in this research representing a cross-section of Australian industry groups from the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors undertaking business in the international arena. The research utilised a conceptual framework that emerged from the moral philosophies represented in the international business arena. The research utilised a conceptual framework that emerged from the moral philosophies represented in the international business arena, namely ethical relativism (Bowie 1996; Kohls & Buffer 1994; Bowie & Duska 1990; Dobson 1990) imperialism (GopallShnan 2001; Donaldson 1996b; De George 1993) and universalism (Beauchamp & Bowie 2001; Donaldson 1996b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported studies on call centers emphasize efficiency and control, with possible implications for service priorities, customer orientation and service quality. However, there is little empirical research to test assumptions from the customer's perspective. This study aimed to establish whether customers expected (predicted) low levels of service from a call center, how this level compared to the minimum level they considered adequate, and whether the perceived customer orientation of the call center was related to service quality expectations. Data were collected in Australia from two sources: end consumers (n = 289) of an insurance provider, and business customers (n = 325) of a bank. Key findings were similar for both samples. First, customers had very high levels of adequate (minimum) expectations, and adequate expectations behaved independently from predicted (forecast) expectations. Second, customer orientation was associated with predicted expectations but not adequate expectations. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research and managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]