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A healthy environment is an important precondition for the enjoyment of human rights. When framed in this way, environmental protection serves human interests rather than being an end in itself. Recognition of this relationship is evident in the European Convention on Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the jurisprudence of their associated judicial bodies. However, we question whether the European or African human rights frameworks might be capable of delivering a demonstrable benefit for environmental protection. Through an examination of two cases (Dubetska v Ukraine and SERAC v Nigeria), we argue that both frameworks benefit the environment to the extent they seek to secure optimal living conditions for humans. However, the regimes are designed for the promotion of human, not environmental, well-being and consequently are largely ill-equipped to address broader environmental challenges like climate change, pollution or biodiversity loss in a way that leads to lasting environmental protection, despite these complex environmental problems continuing to threaten human rights. Accordingly, our analysis highlights the need for other appropriate legal mechanisms for individuals and communities to advocate for their environmental rights and obtain a suitable remedy when their human rights are impacted by environmental degradation.

Objective: With little research investigating older Australians' experience of companion animal (pet) ownership or wildlife encounters, this paper focuses on the value of animals in their lives. Methods: Three online focus groups explored 103 older adults' lived experience of home and community, with this paper focused on interactions with animals—companion animals and wildlife. Results: Most (60%) had at least one pet, which brought love and joy into their lives. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes: pets as family; challenges of pet ownership; and connection to everyday wildlife and nature. Conclusions: In addition to valuing companion animals (typically cats and dogs), this research is among the first to show that some older people also develop ongoing relationships with local Australian wildlife, such as kookaburras, kangaroos, lizards and birds, which raises the possibility that fostering connections with wildlife may enhance well-being.

Parks are often linked to physical activity for youth provided by park equipment and amenities. Yet, urban green spaces and parks can also afford important opportunities for young people to develop a sense of community identity and be socially engaged. Spending more time in green spaces can significantly impact the satisfaction and well-being of park users. In this respect, the attractiveness of parks to youth is an important factor to support socially cohesive behaviors. Differences in park preferences and user needs are important, particularly since research often seeks to understand where park users of all ages spend their time, how physically and socially active they are and with whom, rather than directly measuring their social network. Hence, parks as sustainable community facilities should promote social interactions among youth, and between youth and adults, which can lead to cohesive behaviors integrated into a social setting. In order for park settings to be favored by youth, they must afford a range of activities for youth and meet their needs. To investigate which youth needs can be met in parks to promote future age-friendly parks design, this research aims to determine: • How youth perceive and understand social engagement in parks? • Which characteristics of parks most effectively afford youth-to-youth and youth-to-adult interactions? This research employs a youth-friendly approach that includes the visual data collection method using an online photo-choice tool with youth to explore their preferences for park amenities and spaces and understand their social activities in those spaces. A total of 180 youth (aged 9–17) from Moreton Bay Region, Brisbane, Australia were recruited to participate in this research. Participants were shown 32 photos of local park scenes, (photos were displayed in groups of 4, on 8 separate screens) and asked to select one photo scene (of the 4) that would attract them to the park and briefly indicate the reason for their cho

Parks are often linked to physical activity for youth provided by park equipment and amenities. Yet, urban green spaces and parks can also afford important opportunities for young people to develop a sense of community identity and be socially engaged. Spending more time in green spaces can significantly impact the satisfaction and well-being of park users. In this respect, the attractiveness of parks to youth is an important factor to support socially cohesive behaviors. Differences in park preferences and user needs are important, particularly since research often seeks to understand where park users of all ages spend their time, how physically and socially active they are and with whom, rather than directly measuring their social network. Hence, parks as sustainable community facilities should promote social interactions among youth, and between youth and adults, which can lead to cohesive behaviors integrated into a social setting. In order for park settings to be favored by youth, they must afford a range of activities for youth and meet their needs. To investigate which youth needs can be met in parks to promote future age-friendly parks design, this research aims to determine: • How youth perceive and understand social engagement in parks? • Which characteristics of parks most effectively afford youth-to-youth and youth-to-adult interactions? This research employs a youth-friendly approach that includes the visual data collection method using an online photo-choice tool with youth to explore their preferences for park amenities and spaces and understand their social activities in those spaces. A total of 180 youth (aged 9–17) from Moreton Bay Region, Brisbane, Australia were recruited to participate in this research. Participants were shown 32 photos of local park scenes, (photos were displayed in groups of 4, on 8 separate screens) and asked to select one photo scene (of the 4) that would attract them to the park and briefly indicate the reason for their cho

Current sustainability frameworks and tools to assess and track social and environmental impacts of textile and apparel (such as life cycle analysis) along the chain, although important, provide a narrow focus on metrics (such as a reduction in inputs) or on economic value. This paper proposes a tailored method which combines value chain thinking with qualitative value mapping techniques to identify what sustainable value means and to whom, who benefits both in and beyond the chain (such as wider society, the environment, local communities), as well as opportunities to create sustainable value in the future. Results from interviews with stakeholders of a single connected cotton value chain demonstrate that this approach can identify sustainable value propositions specific to different actors in the chain, temperature-test whether stakeholders are willing to pay a premium price for sustainability efforts, and identify novel sustainable value opportunities that disrupt the chain. In addition to extending knowledge around sustainability in the textile and apparel industry, our contribution also lies in the development of a tailored tool which can be adapted and used for other value chains.

Master-planned communities around the world are developed and purposefully planned to address housing sustainability and community connectivity; they often have a distinctive look, and appeal to a particular customer base desiring a strong, utopian-esque community. However, the lived experience of new residents joining master-planned communities has not been explored. This paper examines the lived experience of new residents within an emerging Australian master-planned estate, and reports on the first two stages of a longitudinal study focusing on the results of an online forum. This unique study presents real-life findings on a culturally diverse community. The findings reveal how the purposeful development of community identity in the early stages of the MPCommunity has not led to satisfactory levels of social infrastructure or social connectedness for the pioneering residents. The physical and social environment, as interpreted by residents against the developers’ imagined vision and marketing testimonies, has not been entirely satisfactory. Infrastructure issues—such as transport, and access to daily activities such as shopping, work, and school—were points of frustration and dissatisfaction. The findings provide insight into the challenges and opportunities for residents in a developing MPC, and further our understanding of the specific factors that inform us as to how social infrastructure can best encourage and support connection within existing and future MPC developments.

The Sri Lankan apparel industry is currently in transition from apparel assembly to manufacturing original designs as a value addition. Design teams work closely with Western brands, buyers and designers to offer advanced creative and technical design services. The purpose of this article is to investigate how Sri Lankan designers acquire personal, high-value fashion knowledge and design skills in this crucial time of industry transition. The study adopts a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 fashion design and product development professionals in the industry. Based on an inductive thematic analysis, the study finds that Sri Lankan designers’ acquisition of high-value fashion knowledge and skills comes primarily through their self-directed learning. This study proposes the Designers’ Self-Directed Learning Cycle to illustrate how designers’ learning happens and is applied in their professional practice. The findings are significant in understanding the designers’ practice in the export-oriented apparel value chain.

The retirement village industry in Australia has been accommodating an increasing number of residents in recent decades. However, a thorough understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the industry remains largely unknown, which prevents a better prediction of its future growth. This study incorporates system dynamics thinking into residents’ relocation decisions and aims to develop a causal loop diagram to have a full understanding of the complex interactions of variables affecting their relocation, which in turn determines the future growth pattern of the industry. Based on thematic analysis using literature review and interview data, five primary causal loops are identified, including the positive reinforcing loops of word-of-mouth effect and new-supply effect, and three negative balancing loops of the move-out effect, price effect and home-village distance effect. Of these five causal loops, the most dominant ones in determining the system behaviour are the word-of-mouth (reinforcing) and home-village distance (balancing) effects. The causal loop diagram provides a better understanding of the underlying structure of the retirement village industry and will help guide the industry and policy makers in formulating strategies to create a more ageing-friendly living environment for seniors in Australia

Parks are often linked to physical activity for youth provided by park equipment and amenities. Yet, urban green spaces and parks can also afford important opportunities for young people to develop a sense of community, identity and be socially engaged. Spending more time in green spaces can significantly impact the satisfaction and well-being of park users. In this respect, the attractiveness of parks to youth is an important factor to support socially cohesive behaviours. Differences in park preferences and user needs are important, particularly since research often seeks to understand where park users of all ages spend their time and with whom, rather than directly measuring their social network. Hence, parks as sustainable community facilities should promote social interactions among youth, and between youth and adults, which can lead to cohesive behaviours integrated into a social setting. In order for park settings to become favoured by youth, they must afford a range of opportunities for youth activities. This research proposes a youth-friendly participatory-approach that includes a multi-day workshop with youth to explore their social interactions in parks in greater depth. Using drawings, freehand mapping, and discussions using aerial photos of local parks can help us understand how youth use parks, and how they relate to other park users.

In January 2007, the Premier of Queensland, Australia, made the controversial decision to introduce recycled water into South East Queensland’s (SEQ’s) drinking supply, igniting significant community debate. Using a Toowoombabased antirecycling weblog (blog) as a case study, this paper examines the discourse produced in relation to the water recycling proposal as a means to understand how bloggers’ risk dialogues were shaped. Using the Public Acceptability of Controversial Technologies (PACT) framework as a conceptual guide, this paper demonstrates how the political and institutional context played a significant role in influencing people’s position in relation to water recycling technologies. Specifically, through the construction of a David and Goliath-type battle between the ‘ordinary resident’ versus the ‘authorities’ (local council, government and experts), bloggers created a context whereby pro-recycling could be equated with pro-Goliath. Overall, the analysis highlights the salience of context in shaping risk dialogues about controversial technologies.

Triple bottom line (TBL) reports, outlining the economic, environmental and social impact of organisations, are increasingly viewed as a business requirement. Unfortunately, with no one established standard against which to evaluate or assess the social dimension, current social reporting is often disparagingly described as a public relations exercise with limited accountability, consistency or comparability. Global sustainability frameworks, whilst providing a valuable outline, do not provide quantifiable indicators or specific questions that enable the measurement and comparability of social impacts. The lack of valid, comparable and quantifiable social indicators diminishes the importance and value of the social dimension, with businesses able to make vague and unsubstantiated comments about their social value and impact. This article outlines the development of a generic TBL social impact framework and questionnaire designed to quantify an organisation’s social impact. Based on valid pre-existing measures appropriate for organisations in the industrialised world, the proposed framework and questionnaire offers a comparable and objective social impact assessment tool for organisations. The aim is to prompt informed debate and discussion about current organisational social impact reporting, whilst providing organisations with a tool which enables the identification, quantification, and comparability of social impact reporting.

This article investigates the physical, leisure and social activities reported by older Australian men, aged 75 years and over, living either in the community (n=56) or a independent living unit in a retirement village (n=57) in South-East Queensland. Compared to their community-dwelling peers, residents participated in almost twice as many leisure activities each week (3.63 vs. 2.80) and were significantly more likely to go walking (73% vs. 37%), with most walking daily (52% vs. 19%). Neither self-rated health, contact with friends, loneliness, nor participation in other leisure (e.g., reading, woodwork), social (e.g., cards) or physical (e.g., swimming, dancing, bowling) activities differed as a function of residential locality, although when the contact with friends measure included interactions with co-residents, residents reported significantly more social interactions (3.61 vs. 1.28). These findings suggest that residential locality may affect older men’s physical, mental and social wellbeing, with retirement village residents reporting greater participation in leisure, social and physical activities than their community-dwelling peers. Given the scarcity of research comparing the lifestyles of older people living in the community and retirement villages, the findings highlight the need to further investigate issues of housing, activity and wellbeing among older men, who are too often invisible in ageing research.

Despite well-publicised health and social benefits of physical activity, like their younger counterparts, the majority of older people tend to lead relatively sedentary lives. This cross-sectional study investigates the impact of residential locality, specifically whether older adults live in their own home in the community (n=374) or in independent living units in retirement villages (n=323), on participation in the leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) of walking, swimming, dancing and lawn bowls. The survey illustrates that, despite being older and in poorer health, retirement village residents report greater frequency of participation in the LTPA of walking, dancing and lawn bowls than older Australians living in the community. As encouraging physical activity is a global public health priority, these findings suggest that a priority for future research is to investigate how and why the social and physical environment of retirement communities might foster LTPA among older adults.

This article explores the extent to which socio-demographic characteristics influence knowledge, trust, risk perception and acceptance of an emerging scientific technology, carbon sequestration or carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is positioned as a solution to the greenhouse gas problem. An online survey of 1273 Australian adults highlights the general public’s lack of knowledge about CCS and willingness to engage and learn. Compared to men, women were less accepting of CCS and more concerned about safety, risk and effectiveness. Those with a higher education were more aware of the greenhouse gas debate and supportive of CCS, whilst younger Australians were more trusting of information providers to “tell the truth” about CCS. By identifying key attitudes, expectations and fears of specific sub-groups towards CCS, this research provides an initial basis for developing effective public policy and community engagement, risk communication and education strategies for this emerging technology in Australia

Learning is an important aspect of active ageing, yet older people are not often included in discussions of the issue. Older people vary in their need, desire, and ability to learn, and this is evident in the context of technology. The focus of the data analysis for this paper was on determining the place of learning and technology in active ageing. The paper describes results from 2,645 respondents aged from 50 to 74þ years, in Australia, to a 178-item variable postal survey. The survey measured aspects of learning;, work; social, spiritual and emotional status; health; vision; home; life events; and demographics. There was also an open-ended question about being actively engaged in life. Ordinal regression analysis showed that interest in learning, keeping up to date, valuing communication, being younger, and being male are predictors of learning about technology. The results are at variance with an earlier analysis of our data which showed that women are generally more interested in learning. The open statements contained mentions of learning about technology for the purposes of communication, learning, family links, keeping up to date, enjoyment, staying mentally alert, and just using the computer. These results are discussed in terms of the subtle but important differences between needing and wanting to learn about technology and the opportunities for such learning by older people.

Women’s fear of violence can impact negatively on their active participation in life. An ageing survey conducted with 2620 Australian respondents aged 50 to 90 years examined aspects of work, learning, social, spiritual and emotional status, health, vision, home, life events, demographics, and asked an open ended question about what being actively engaged in life meant. Ordinal regression was carried out on two dependent variables: wanting and needing to learn to discourage violence. Analyses found that as women’s age increased, those on lower incomes were more likely than others to say they needed to learn how to discourage violence against them. This paper investigates the variables associated with the findings - transport, finances, news media, home safety, and reduced social interactions. Results highlight the importance of understanding women’s fear in the context of personal and social issues, and the need to provide learning opportunities to improve safety and social engagement.

Mixed-tenure developments, such as master-planned communities and urban villages, often presuppose that the design will build community and enhance social capital, thus mitigating the negative social impacts of suburban sprawl. However, research highlights the difficulties associated with creating community within such developments, citing demographic mix and service provision as both positive and negative elements. This paper explores the extent to which social capital exists in a planned, mixed-tenure development, from the perspective of residents living in low to medium-density dwellings in the estate. The results from a quantitative study examining sustainable community development on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Australia, suggest that planned mixed–tenure developments have an equal a chance of providing options for demographically diverse stakeholders as any other kind of development including the traditional suburban format. Outcomes such as increased levels of social capital appear to depend upon the combination of residents and their inclinations towards individual or altruistic benefits for their families, neighbourhoods, or communities. Inevitably, it seems that no amount of planning can provide a formula that will be effective in all instances

The Centre for Subtropical Design has reviewed the Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy and Implementation Strategy provided by South Bank Corporation by gathering a team of QUT experts to comment on the full range of sustainability aspects covered by the policy. The Centre has prepared this submission to assist South Bank Corporation to finalise an ESD policy and implementation strategy which will create a truely sustainble, prosperous, and liveable urban parkland precinct.

This exploratory study investigates the impact of residence on the social networks reported by very old (75 years+) single and widowed men who live alone, either in the community (n=26) or an independent living unit in a retirement village (n=24). With research suggesting that older men living alone are most at risk for experiencing social isolation, this study investigates whether living in a retirement village, surrounded by same-age peers, might ameliorate loneliness by facilitating social interactions. Participants living in the community and retirement villages reported their overall loneliness, contact with friends and their satisfaction with that contact. The results indicated that, regardless of residence, older men living alone report minimal levels of telephone and face-to-face contact with friends. However, when contact with other residents is included, compared to their peers in the community, older men living alone in retirement villages reported twice the number of social interactions. Additionally, although not a statistically significant difference, older men living alone in the community reported greater loneliness and were less satisfied with the amount of contact they had with friends than retirement village residents. With researchers repeatedly linking social interactions with better mental and physical health, the finding that living in a retirement village fosters social interactions suggests that where older people chose to live may positively affect their overall wellbeing. Given the scarcity of published research comparing life in a retirement village with life at home in the community, the findings of this exploratory study highlight the need to further research issues of ageing among older men.

In the past, people with an intellectual disability were not expected to outlive their parents and few survived to old age. Today, things are different for this cohort of older adults. Today the size of this cohort is increasing and its members are generally experiencing longevity, leaving disability and aged care sectors grappling with the implications of these changes (Ansello and Janicki, 2000; Bigby, 2004; Haveman, 2004). Many older adults with lifelong intellectual disability have either spent much of their lives within the confines of institutional living or they have spent a lifetime being sheltered by very protective parents. Irrespective of which background they have experienced, many are now at crossroads in their lives where decisions about their future are being considered. This paper explores issues around independence with a particular focus on barriers to achievement, as identified in a recent focus group involving older people with intellectual disability, carers and service providers in Brisbane, Australia. Service provision and elderly parents are identified as two significant barriers to older people with lifelong intellectual disability experiencing more choice and freedom in their lives

Minimising the impact of domestic housing on the environment is an important focus for planners and designers of sustainable homes, however little is known about how consumers interact with and view sustainable housing design. With research indicating consumer reluctance towards the uptake of sustainable or "smart housing", this project was designed to monitor the day-to-day experiences of living in a Smart House. Research House in Rockhampton, Queensland has been a living laboratory over two years (2002-2004), called "home" by two adults. They shared their experiences of living in a smart house, interacting daily with sustainable housing design. This paper investigates the functional aspects of adaptation to living in smart housing. The focus is on resident's satisfaction with the design and physical layout of the house, specifically the surface design, airflow, natural lighting, access, security and spaciousness. Findings from this study contribute to evaluations of the impact of eco-friendly housing, providing consumer feedback and perceptions of smart house design after prolonged firsthand experience.

This study investigated generational differences and similarities in social capital, environmental attitudes and behaviours in an affluent Australian community, comparing the Civic Generation (60 years+) with the independent youth of today, the "Generation X-ers" (18-30 years). Interest in social capital, an indicator of community wellbeing succinctly defined as social connectedness, has grown exponentially as researchers link social capital with the success of environmental and sustainable initiatives. Environmental researchers, struggling to encourage individuals and communities to adopt environmentally sustainable behaviours, believe that by fostering social capital, people will be encouraged to act at a community level to preserve the natural environment. Unfortunately, social capital has steadily declined as the Civic Generation has been replaced by generations less involved in the community, creating communities of isolated residents. This study is the first to explicitly test these assumptions, comparing social capital, environmental attitudes and everyday water-usage reported by the youngest and oldest Australian citizens. Unexpectedly, Generation X-ers reported the highest level of social capital, with both generations displaying reasonably high levels of environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviours. The implications and limitations of these unexpected findings are discussed in detail, with the results suggesting that the resurgence of social capital in our research, led by the Generation X-ers, bodes well for both the natural environment and the community.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: HIGHLAND PARK, A COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUALS The overarching aim of this research was to examine the social and ecological factors impacting on water quality and usage, specifically focusing on the social dimensions that impact on a community’s ability to initiate and implement sustainable environmental practices. Recent research has suggested that social capital, broadly defined as the social connectedness of a community, fosters vibrant, sustainable and healthy communities that are more likely to work collaboratively together to solve community issues. However, to date, few organisations have studied how both the social and ecological components of neighbourhoods might influence a community’s ability to adopt sustainable environmental practices. This study is unique, bringing together local and state governments, educational institutions, engineers and social scientists in a collaboration that aims to understand the best way to engage with communities and increase environmentally sustainable behaviours. The social scientists concentrated on aspects of communities, such as the effect of housing type and human activity on water pollution and conservation, whilst our partners studied the ecological component, specifically the impact of manmade pollutants on waterways and the protection of urban water resources. The challenge faced by urban planners today is how best to engage, encourage and empower communities so that they will implement and maintain environmentally sustainable behaviours. Thus, the long term goal of this research collaboration, combining both the social and ecological perspectives, is to gain a better understanding of a community, identifying how the council can foster greater resident engagement. The ideal outcome would be for communities to be highly engaged with local governments and work collaboratively with them to formulate local solutions for local problems. This report focuses on the social science component, with researchers

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) is an intriguing construct that allows social scientists and psychologists to examine fundamental questions about how individuals are connected and committed to and influenced by the local residents who reside in a particular locality. In this study, initially exploration of sense of community within the chosen locality and population revealed that a ‘sense of community’ (SOC) not only included social bonding aspects but was also related to the bonds people developed with the natural environment. The data reveals that feelings of attachment to the natural landscape proved equally, if not more important than social bonds between residents in the development of a SOC. An extensive body of literature exists that has explored the nature and complexities of people’s emotional experience and relationships to place. The most common concepts are sense of place, place attachment, place identity and place dependence. While these concepts are broadly defined and discussed in theory, much research has concentrated on the notion of the home, limiting our understanding of this multi-faceted phenomenon. This paper intends to demonstrate the need to incorporate the full scale of human place related experiences that enable people to develop feelings of place attachment (PA) and incorporate these feelings into a cognitive structure representing their PSOC. 2

Purpose: A qualitative study was conducted in Brisbane, Queensland to explore the lived experiences of sixteen older carers who each provide care for a family member with chronic mental illness. The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the lived experiences of these carers and their perceptions of how caring for a mentally ill family member has affected their sense of well-being. Methodology: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. Findings: Many carers perceived that their experiences of caring for a mentally-ill family member have had a significant impact upon their physical and emotional well-being, and most felt that they had lost control of their lives and often, their home environment as well. The findings suggest that many of the participants experience physical abuse, verbal abuse, depression, failing health and social isolation. Recommendations: A case management strategy, inclusive of risk management processes, is suggested as one means of supporting this vulnerable group of carers.

The New Basics reform of the Queensland Education sector has identified its central goal as enhanced student outcomes for ‘New Times’. Research on this reform (Adkins et al, forthcoming) has identified the role of communities as an important factor in schools’ capacity to deliver this outcome. This paper provides a foundation for research into issues regarding the role of community for school reform oriented to the needs of students in the New Economy. Its central purpose is to critique extant theory in order to generate questions about how themes in education reform discourse may be re-contextualised in the context of school practice. First, it reviews the role of ‘community’ in discourses on the Knowledge Economy and ‘New Times’. Second, it examines the way ‘community’ is conceptualised in the context of Education Queensland’s New Basics reform. Third, the paper will consider some "paradoxes" that may arise when this new conceptualisation of ‘community’ is applied in the practical implementation of education reform.

Adult children provide various kinds of support to their parents, including involvement in decision-making processes when significant issues arise. The purpose of this research was to investigate the involvement and influence of family members on the decision to relocate to a retirement village by independent older adults. Thirty older adults living in retirement villages in Queensland Australia, were interviewed, as were thirty nominated adult children. The results suggest that whilst adult children play a significant role in the relocation to a retirement village by the older adult, the actual decision to move is made independently by the parent. Independent older adults are predicably seeking to remain independent. Thus the decision to move seems to have been made quite independently. However the results indicate that adult children provide significant instrumental support to the older adult in the investigation process and suggest that adult children are the primary reference for assistance.

Currently there is wide spread support for the notion that communities need to create social capital if they want to remain sustainable. Research reveals the importance of engaging communities in collective action in an appropriate manner and of understanding the essence of every community. Each community is unique and will hold different perspectives and approaches to community problems, so behaviour change tools need to engage people at the grass roots level.----- The purpose of the study is to investigate the connection between high levels of privacy and social capital. The Highland Park study was undertaken to investigate the concept of sustainable communities within an ecological and social context exploring factors that may impact on water quality in neighbourhoods with medium to low-density housing. This paper discusses a proportion of the data gathered in the first phase of the study. The methodology was developed with reference to McKenzie’s (2001) community based marketing model, which involves working with the local community to identify barriers to sustainable behaviour. The first phase of the study utilised a focus group methodology and participant volunteers were drawn from the Highland Park catchment area at the Gold Coast.----- Privacy is an important human need and residents appeared to engage in a high degree of privacy behaviours in order to achieve their desired level of social interaction. Analysis revealed the importance of privacy in neighbourhood characteristics; in acts of neighbouring (social capital); in the degree of interactions with neighbours and what residents liked about their current home. However, the preliminary data suggested a possible connection between high levels of privacy and decreased social capital.

Remember, as teenagers, the absolute necessity and importance of getting our driver’s licence. That little piece of plastic meant that we had independence, freedom and status! This importance does not diminish as we grow older, in fact, we do all that we can to retain our licence. The aim of this research is to investigate whether the cessation of driving in later life leads to a reduction of independence of older adults. The participants are 26 individuals over the age of 70 years living in the Brisbane metropolitan area, about half of whom are current drivers, with the remaining having surrendered their licence in the recent past. The respondents participated in in-depth telephone interviews. Preliminary investigations of the data reveal that older drivers insist that the cessation of driving would result in the reduction of their independence, convenience, and mobility. However, further investigation involving ex-drivers directly challenges these strongly held assumptions. Clearly the process of relinquishing a driver’s licence represented a struggle for the ex-drivers, but this struggle resulted in their ability to maintain their desired life style through the use of alternative transport. This process of struggle may represent another of life’s rites of passage.

For most young adults, obtaining a drivers licence represents an important step towards achieving independence. The correlation between driving and independence appears to strengthen as we grow older, so that we do all we can to retain our licence. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether the cessation of driving in later life leads to a reduction of perceived independence of older adults. Design and methods: The respondents are 26 individuals over the age of 70 years living in the Brisbane, Australia metropolitan area. Half of these are current drivers with the remainder having surrendered their licence within the past two years. Semi-structured, qualitative, telephone interviews were used to gather data. Results: the data reveal that older drivers insist that the cessation of driving would result in the loss of their independence and reduce their ability to conduct activities in the community. However, the stories of ex-drivers directly challenge these strongly held assumptions. The ex-drivers report that relinquishing their drivers licence was a struggle, but this struggle concluded in them re-defining their use of transport in order to maintain their desired life style. Implications: We argue that this process of struggle represents another of life’s rites of passage which may not lead to a loss of independence.