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"Do you think I ever learn English?" : experiences of limited technology access among Middle Eastern refugee mothers in regional Australia
No full textPurpose
The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and challenges of Middle Eastern refugee mothers in using technology for language learning in regional Australian context.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative research design and used a narrative enquiry technique to understand participants’ experiences of language acquisition with limited access to technology in new resettlement setting.
Findings
The findings presented in this paper were derived from a qualitative investigation conducted on a sample of 21 refugee mothers from Middle Eastern countries. The research aimed to explore the role of a language education programme on their integration within the regional Australian context. Participants discussed a variety of aspects of their everyday lives within their new resettlement context while offering insights on the language education programme and its impacts on their educational progress. The theme “lack of access/use of technology in English language learning” emerged from the narratives. This paper draws on selected interview data from the participants.
Originality/value
This study fills the gap in the literature on Middle Eastern refugees in regional Australia by exploring how lack/limited technology access can impact language acquisition of women from under-represented contexts
Communicating as Professionals
No full textArchee’s Communicating as Professionals explains key communication concepts and effective strategies that students will use to communicate in their professional lives, no matter what career they ultimately choose. Its broad relevance is achieved through the variety of case studies, exhibits and chapter opening scenarios relating to many disciplines. This market-leading text covers modern communication theory as well as essential practical skills such as active listening, verbal and non-verbal communication and negotiation
Could "Lehman Sisters" reduce bank risk-taking? : international evidence
No full textResearch question/issue: Since the global financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, board gender diversity has attracted growing attention among academia and policy makers. The “Lehman Sisters” hypothesis argues for more female representation on bank director boards based on the stereotyped gender gap in risk preference, which has been widely supported by empirical studies on nonfinancial firms. However, due to the constraint of data unavailability, empirical research on board gender diversity and bank risk-taking is relatively scarce and mostly confined to individual developed markets with inconclusive findings. In this paper, we examine the impact of board gender diversity on bank risk-taking using a large hand-collected dataset covering 480 commercial banks across 18 developed and 21 developing countries over the period 2007–2016. Research findings/insights: We find that lower bank risk-taking is associated with greater board gender diversity, supporting the “Lehman Sisters” hypothesis in the international context; however, this effect is significantly weakened in countries with more hostile perception toward working women. We also confirm the critical threshold of three female directors to play a significant role in reducing bank risk-taking, providing novel international evidence in support of the critical mass theory from the banking sector. Theoretical/academic implications: Our findings help to reconcile existing contradictory empirical evidence from different countries by highlighting the importance of cultural effects. Practitioner/policy implications: We provide the first international empirical evidence in support of the policies aimed to promote representation of women on director boards, particularly in the banking sector. We confirm that a critical mass number of female directors on a bank board is important to avoid the tokenism problem. In countries with less support toward working women, policy makers also need to work on improving the overall working environment for women in order to achieve the expected outcome
A technical protocol for 3D observation and documentation of human decomposition
No full textThe changes that occur to the human body after death reflect a multitude of complex biological processes, which can be impacted by a collection of variables that are not yet fully understood. Typically, information is obtained through in-situ examination and/or 2D data collection, which may restrict the availability of data and prevent collection of valuable information. To address this gap, the aim of this paper is to present a protocol for 3D data collection of human decomposition in outdoor environments. The specific objectives include presenting an approach and framework using wildlife cameras and performing 3D observation of a decomposing body. The method includes the design and construction of a walk-in cage including five frames holding 31 cameras, installed at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research. Preliminary trials completed on one subject in Zurich and various objects provided promising results through the generation of a 3D model. Comparing the wildlife cameras 3D model with a high-quality 3D model showed only minor discrepancies. This approach will be used in a study designed to improve our understanding of the human decomposition process to ultimately assist investigators with PMI estimations and to help reconstruct the sequence of events and time of death
Tracing FIFA's "flagship women's competition" and its use of legacy from 1991 to 2023
No full textThis chapter examines how legacy emerged as a prominent theme throughout the competitive bid process for the 2023 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup (FWWC). The bid process for this event –the most recent FIFA Women's World Cup award – required all potential (co-)hosts to submit preliminary legacy proposals as part of their official bids. All nations bidding to (co-)host the event were evaluated by FIFA on their women's football development strategies and post-tournament legacy programs, including not only how such strategies might raise the profile of women's football in their respective regions but how they might contribute to improving opportunities for women in society more broadly. Despite the centrality of legacy to recent bid processes, in this chapter we explore how this has not always been the case. As we illustrate, the importance of legacy in FWWC bidding and evaluation is a relatively new phenomenon
The impact of smart materials on structural vibration control
No full textThe future development of smart materials in the areas, such as self-tuning vibrating energy harvesting devices, self-sustainable networks, and earthquake protection devices, is of significant importance. With the great potential to develop smart structures, smart material includes shape memory alloy, piezoelectric, magnetorheological (MR) and electrorheological (ER) materials, which possess stimulus responses. Accordingly, smart materials can be regarded as promising candidates for adaptive device development for structural vibration mitigation application. In this chapter, the smart material classification and potential applications are reviewed first. Then, a case study is conducted to comprehensively illustrate application of MR material-based semi-active control device in structural seismic protection. Finally, the challenges and future work on this topic are briefly analysed and discussed
University students' experiences with non-first language as the medium of instruction : a mixed method study
No full textStudents from Asian countries form the largest group of mobile international students in Western anglophone countries. Despite research on the mobility experiences of international students to anglophone and non-anglophone countries, there are limited cross-comparative, mixed-method studies exploring the experiences of host language acquisition and usage and how these impact on academic performance and shapes social connectedness. This study contributes further understanding by exploring language acquisition experiences of international university students in Taiwan and Australia, where the language of instruction is not their native language. In the two universities studied, usage levels (general usage, speaking, reading, listening and writing) differed and depended on situational and contextual needs. Those studying in Australia consistently reported higher mean scores of host language usage across three of the five components: listening, reading and writing. Written communication was perceived to be a challenge for both groups during interviews. Overall, students preferred face-to-face classroom learning and highly valued peer support. Information communication and technology use was common in supporting vocabulary and pronunciation. We discuss how the findings of our study inform the types of academic learning support needed, and how these differed, depending on the host language, and student background
A new hope? : FIFA 2.0, FIFA Women's Football Strategy, and event bidding for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
No full textThe FIFA Women’s World CupTM 2023 (FWWC23) bidding process was the first major women’s football tournament awarded following FIFA’s landmark reform package known as FIFA 2.0: The Vision for the Future. This paper interrogates the conjunctural politics of the FWWC23 competitive bid process, exploring the unique ways in which FIFA shapes, influences, and controls event bidding for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Based on an analysis of official documents, bid books, and news media coverage connected to the FWWC23 bid process, this paper presents how varying FIFA-based narratives and tactics shaped the winning Australia and New Zealand bid. Based on our analysis, four key points of discussion emerged in relation to the ways in which FIFA 2.0 shaped, and was shaped by, FWWC23 event bidding: the formation of bid “products”; the governance of the bid “process”; the politics of bid “positioning”; and the advancement of FIFA “priorities”
The marketing and branding of indigeneity in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 : marketing Maori
No full textThe Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) chose to use te reo Māori and First Nations languages and symbolism in their branding and marketing of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup (2023 FWWC). This chapter explores what meaningful legacy the incorporation of Indigeneity in the tournament will have for Māori in their relationship with the game of football and the governing bodies of the sport in Aotearoa. By examining the content of various national sports organisations (NSOs), we trace the incorporation of Māori concepts, predicated on the Treaty of Waitangi, into the guiding principles of the NSOs, while contrasting this with access to and participation in the game. We end by looking forward to the 2026 tournament and ask if FIFA will continue its commitment to Indigenous peoples in the game
Naturopaths' approach to care of women with infertility : a cross-sectional survey
No full textIntroduction: Infertility affects approximately one in six couples of reproductive age. Many women use traditional, complementary and integrative medicine to improve their chances of conceiving. While there is evidence of the use of naturopathy by women attempting to conceive, there is no evidence of the way that naturopaths approach and manage their treatment. This study aims to describe how naturopaths manage female infertility, including their approaches, clinical decisions, knowledge sources, and safety considerations in providing naturopathic care. Methods: Naturopaths in Australia or New Zealand, routinely treating female reproductive health concerns and practicing for at least two years were invited to complete an online survey through their professional naturopathic associations. Results: Data from 45 respondents were included. Women seeking preconception health and fertility promotion were frequently seen by 53 % and 44 % of the naturopaths, respectively. The naturopaths’ clinical management approaches for infertility were wide-ranging and extended beyond fertility. They reported prioritising peer-reviewed journal articles in guiding clinical decisions, collaborating with health practitioners (mostly general practitioners) and reporting adverse events. Most naturopaths (95 %) utilised multiple treatment strategies, recommending dietary and lifestyle modifications and a combination of ingestible substances. Conclusions: The naturopathic approach to management of women with infertility is holistic, considering physical, emotional, and environmental factors and promoting natural healing mechanisms. Greater knowledge of scientific methods for clinical decision-making and improved awareness of adverse event reporting would enhance naturopathic care. Additionally, evaluating the effectiveness of naturopathic treatment would improve safety, inform the profession, and clarify the role of naturopathy within a multidisciplinary approach to infertility