University of the Sunshine Coast
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Teachers are tightrope walkers, they simultaneously balance academic agendas and student wellbeing
No full textThis paper has three parts. First, findings from recent survey research show how school teachers balance performance improvement agendas and student wellbeing concerns. Second, in response to these survey findings, this paper describes the startup initiative of the Teachers of Australia social media campaign, which is designed to champion the teaching profession. Third, preliminary interview data from the Teachers of Australia project is presented to show how teachers balance academic agendas and student wellbeing. Mixed methods survey research conducted among 177 primary and secondary school teachers revealed that although teachers value student well-being initiatives, they are experiencing very real tensions dealing with student mental health concerns and academic performance targets. One teacher described this tension to be like “tightrope walking between two pitching ships in storm.” Survey findings also revealed that teachers often take it upon themselves “check in” with students, prioritising wellbeing to support academic performance, showing that they play a critical role in helping students strike a balance between these competing imperatives. Yet, current assessment driven federal reform initiatives where standardised data is published have resulted in a name-and-shame comparison culture, which has contributed to an erosion of respect for the profession. With mental health concerns on the rise amongst young people in Australia, the role of the teacher has never been so important. Teachers are a critical contact point for young people, and their work needs to be appreciated. In response to these survey findings, the University of the Sunshine Coast launched a social media campaign to champion the great work that teachers do. By putting faces and stories to the profession, this campaign aims to generate a groundswell of good news that answers the teacher-blame that dominates mainstream press. Additionally, using phenomenological and narrative inquiry methods, we are interviewing teachers to listen to their experiences and stories of how they strike the balance between academics and wellbeing. Findings from qualitative data analysis point to vital social, emotional and cultural competencies needed to strike this balance well
Adding ‘values’ to transition pedagogy: embedding institutional commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, diverse communities and environmental sustainability in a compulsory first-year transition course at a regional university
No full textAs teachers in a first year, whole of university, compulsory course we are committed to supporting students in transitioning to university life, developing skills for academic communication, and exploring disciplinary identities
Communicative Dimensions of Neoliberalism, Globalization, and Militarism
No full textThis chapter articulates a communicative perspective on the security-related terms of neoliberalism, globalisation, and militarism. Specifically, it adopts a Dramatistic approach informed by Kenneth Burke that moves beyond a mere description of the terms as concepts to emphasise their workings upon the social world as politically organised action. The chapter treats those key terms as characters who act upon the world in contradictory yet overlapping ways. In critical terms, a perspective grounded in action implies a moral assessment of the terms and their effects. I conclude that all three are threats to human security at every level unless their humanistic motives are understood and counterbalanced by communicative efforts aimed at mitigating moral deficiencies in public discourse
Effect of concentric and eccentric hamstring training on sprint recovery, strength and muscle architecture in inexperienced athletes
No full textObjectives: To investigate whether five-weeks of concentric (CON) or eccentric (ECC) hamstring strength training have different effects on recovery from sprint running, eccentric strength and architecture of the biceps femoris long head (BFLH). Design: Cohort study. Methods: Thirty males (age, 22.8 ± 4.1 y; height, 180.1 ± 6.4 cm; weight, 85.2 ± 14.6 kg) were allocated into either a CON or ECC group, both performing nine sessions of resistance training. Prior to and immediately after the five-week intervention, each participant’s BFLH fascicle length (FL), pennation angle (PA), muscle thickness (MT), peak isometric KF torque and Nordic eccentric strength were assessed. Post-intervention, participants performed two timed sprint sessions (10 × 80 m) 48 h apart. Blood samples and passive KF torques were collected before, immediately after, 24 h and 48 h after the first sprint session. Results: After five-weeks of strength-training, fascicles lengthened in the ECC (p < 0.001; d = 2.0) and shortened in the CON group (p < 0.001; d = 0.92), while PA decreased for the ECC (p = 0.001; d = 0.52) and increased in the CON group (p < 0.001; d = 1.69). Nordic eccentric strength improved in both ECC (p < 0.001; d = 1.49) and CON (p < 0.001; d = 0.95) groups. No between-group differences were observed in peak isometric strength (p = 0.480), passive KF torques (p = 0.807), sprint performance decrements between sprint sessions (p = 0.317) and creatine kinase (p = 0.818). Conclusions: Despite inducing significant differences in BFLH muscle architecture, there were no significant between group differences in sprint performance decrements across two sprint sessions
Lessons learnt from the implementation of same-day discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention
No full textBackground: Change in healthcare organisations is constant and requires adequate resources for effective implementation. Same-day discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention has been found to be no different from the patients who stayed overnight after procedure; however, its uptake remains low. Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify what factors helped or hindered the implementation of same-day discharge. Methods: This interpretive study was conducted in a cardiac catheterisation suite of an Australian tertiary hospital between June and December 2016. Semistructured individual interviews with 26 healthcare professionals were conducted to explore the factors that influenced the implementation. A deductive approach to content analysis was guided by the theoretical domains framework. Findings: Five domains, including beliefs about consequences, professional role and identity, resources, behaviour regulation, and optimism, were identified which were strongly related to the factors that impacted the implementation. The findings showed that participants believed same-day discharge benefits while also concerning about its safety and holding different opinions on eligibility criteria. The findings also showed that participants’ involvement in the change process varied with no clear roles and responsibilities and that their understanding about same-day discharge evidence and the guideline also differed. Lack of dedicated resources was also identified as the hindrance to the implementation. Behaviour regulation domain depicted how communication was managed and how the care for same-day discharge patients was improved. Despite several issues identified, participants were optimistic with achievement. Discussion and conclusion: This study has provided valuable insight into the factors that influenced the implementation, which will inform policymakers when designing interventions for future improvement. Plan for change and involvement of all stakeholders along with dedicated resources including time, people, and change management expertise are essential if hospitals want to see the success of change
The prevalence, incidence, and associated factors of pressure injuries among immobile inpatients: A multicentre, cross-sectional, exploratory descriptive study in China
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, incidence, and the associated factors of pressure injuries (PIs) among immobile hospitalised patients in China. Being immobile during hospitalisation put these patients at a higher risk of PIs. There is little literature about pressure injury (PI) prevalence or PI incidence in immobile hospitalised patients in hospitals in China. This was a multicentre, cross‐sectional, exploratory descriptive study. A total of 23 985 immobile patients were recruited from 25 general hospitals in six provinces of China from November 1, 2015 to March 18, 2016. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, physical assessment information, and treatment and nursing care measures. The PI period prevalence was 3.38%, and the PI cumulative incidence was 1.23%. Most PIs (84.03%) were Stage 1 or Stage 2. A total of 48.22% of PIs occurred in the sacrum or heel region. In the multivariate analysis, the following factors were associated with higher PI prevalence: age, gender, length of immobility, type of hospital, modified Braden Scale score, urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, low serum albumin, the usage of fixation or restraint devices, and patient's discharge diagnosis (lower limb fracture, malnutrition, and spinal cord injury). PI prevalence for immobile hospitalised patients in the study was lower than those reported in literature. However, because of the large population in China, the number of patients who suffer with PIs can be very high. The relating factors of higher PI prevalence identified in this study were consistent with current literature. Patients with a higher number of these associated factors should be monitored more closely, and preventative measures should be taken to prevent PI occurrence in high‐risk populations
Dependence on Cross-Pollination in Macadamia and Challenges for Orchard Management
No full textCross-pollination is essential for the reproduction of self-incompatible plants and it improves the yield and fruit quality of some self-compatible plants. Cross-pollination of clonal horticultural crops is achieved only when pollen from one cultivar reaches the stigma of another cultivar. We quantified self- and cross-fertilisation rates in macadamia nuts (Macadamia integrifolia, M. tetraphylla and hybrids) that were harvested at different distances from a cross-pollen source in two different plantation designs (mixed blocks of multiple cultivars vs. pure blocks of a single cultivar). We also estimated the distance of effective pollen movement, evaluated how different pollen parents affect nut quality, and assessed whether distance from a cross-pollen source affected the number of nuts harvested. We found that almost all nuts resulted from cross-pollination in both plantation designs, with almost all nuts being cross-pollinated even at 23 rows from another cultivar. However, most pollen did not travel far, and nearby cultivars were usually the pollen parent. Cross-pollination increased nut mass and changed the nutritional quality of the nut. The number of nuts harvested decreased with increasing distance from a cross-pollen source in large pure blocks, but not in mixed blocks. Dependence on cross-pollination coupled with low distances of pollen movement may cause suboptimal fruit set. Our results suggest that fruit set in macadamia plantations comprised of large single-cultivar blocks is limited and that plantations can benefit from closer interplanting of different cultivar
Development of fluvial terraces during the Holocene along the Memuro River, western Tokachi, Hokkaido
No full textNo abstract available
Environmental and geographical education through field excursion of local geomorphology by focusing on ‘shapes of the land’
No full textNo abstract available.Language: Japanes
‘Uncle Sam’s Letterbag’: Children’s involvement in newspaper propaganda in the First World War
No full text'This paper draws on letters published weekly in ‘Uncle Sam’s Corner’, in Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin and Central Queensland Herald between 1915 and 1918 to explore the role of journalists in disseminating popular narratives during the First World War. Through the children’s own words their understanding of unfolding events is exposed as is the role of journalist ‘Uncle Sam’ in shaping children’s wartime responses. Using his adjoining children’s corner and the responses given to the children’s letters, Uncle Sam inculcates the values of duty, service and sacrifice; the qualities demanded of the Empire’s civilians in wartime to aid military success. An examination of a specific children’s column reveals how media can overtly manipulate public perceptions to shape dominant societal narratives and highlights how children unwittingly participate in wartime propaganda.