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Achieving success in post-graduate studies: A qualitative exploration of staff experiences transitioning from traditional to block mode delivery in an Australian university
Full text linkResponding to student demand for flexibility in the delivery of classes as well as the potential barriers and enabling factors supporting student success, universities have introduced distinctive educational models, including replacing the standard 12-week, sequential delivery of units of study with 4- or 8-week blocks of one or two units at a time (Block Model). Most Block Model delivery and evaluation has been at the undergraduate level. The aim of this study was to investigate, via individual interviews, university staff experiences of teaching the Block Model at the postgraduate level. Staff affirmed that the Block Model resulted in high levels of engagement in teaching and learning; effective learning management systems; and up-to-date, engaging, and problem-based module design. However, staff also recognised the timetabling of units for students who were employed or had family commitments, and the cognitive burden carried by time-poor staff
Associations between neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and psychological distress among Australian adults: Longitudinal analysis of the HILDA survey (2007-2021)
No full textBackground: Mental disorders contribute substantially to the global burden of disease. The neighbourhood socioeconomic environment is a key determinant of mental health, even after accounting for individual-level socioeconomic factors. However, few longitudinal studies have examined this relationship. This study examined longitudinal associations between neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and psychological distress from three perspectives: overall associations, trends over time and changing neighbourhood exposures. Methods: Data were from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey wave 7 (2007) to wave 21 (2021), a nationally representative household-based cohort study, including 109 604 observations. Mental health was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), analysed as a continuous variable, score range 10-50. Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage was measured using derived spatially and temporally consistent census-based data, analysed in quintiles. Multilevel and fixed effects linear regression models were used. Results: Psychological distress increased with neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage, with K10 scores 1.35 points higher (95% CI 1.14 to 1.55) in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods compared with the least. However, the rate of change in distress over time did not vary by neighbourhood disadvantage. An association was observed between changes in disadvantage and changes in psychological distress for the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Conclusion: The findings from nationally representative longitudinal data show that individuals living in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods consistently experienced higher psychological distress compared with those in less disadvantaged neighbourhoods. These inequalities remained stable over time, and limited evidence of change suggests that the association may reflect persistent differences between individuals living in different neighbourhoods
A journey, not a destination: Emerging professional identities of community work & youth work students
No full textSampling perception-action couplings from competition create representative basketball shooting tasks: A replication and extension of Gorman and Maloney (2016)
No full textValidation of the Cognition Scale of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Toddlers
Full text linkBackground/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Cognition Scale of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Toddlers (HKCAS-T) including its measurement properties, concurrent validity, and reliability. Methods: Participants included 282 children aged 18 to 41 months. These children were assessed on the HKCAS-T and the Cognitive Scale in the Cognitive Battery of the Merrill-Palmer-Revised Scales of Development (M-P-R). For test–retest reliability, 41 children were reassessed four weeks after the initial assessment. Results: Rasch analysis supported the unidimensionality of the HKCAS-T Cognition Scale. The scale differentiated among children of different ages, with older children achieving higher scores. The HKCAS-T Cognition Scale scores also correlated positively with the Cognitive Scale scores in the Cognitive Battery of the M-P-R. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were both 0.98. Conclusions: The Cognition Scale of the HKCAS-T demonstrated strong psychometric properties and shows promise as an assessment tool for toddlers
Flexible grant schemes: a systematic scoping review
Full text linkBackground: Governments can take a range of approaches to funding public health initiatives. One way is through grant-making to other organisations to support the delivery of programs, projects, services, or activities. There is a growing interest in non-traditional approaches to grant-making, including flexible grant schemes. While there is no universally accepted definition of flexible grant schemes, they are commonly understood as granting models that are, unlike traditional granting models, designed to be adaptable to the needs of grantees by allowing them more flexibility in the use of funds, project timelines or objectives. Interest in flexible grant schemes is, in part, a response to criticisms of traditional granting models that are often deemed inadequate to support multi-sectoral and place-based responses to complex public health problems. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no attempts to map the available evidence on flexible grant schemes. Therefore, this systematic scoping review aimed to explore the literature on flexible grant schemes, interpretations of flexibility across the grant schemes, the extent to which and how grant schemes have been evaluated, and key factors associated with the perceived success of grant schemes. Methods: A systematic search of academic and grey literature was conducted through eight databases. We followed a widely used five-phase methodological framework for scoping reviews and utilised PRISMA-ScR Checklist to enhance the methodological rigour of the review. Results: Out of 10,368 screened documents, 38 publications met the inclusion criteria. Fourteen of the 38 publications were related to public health, and 28 were published after 2010. We found a lack of clarity and consistency in the interpretation of flexibility in the included studies. Three dominant, interrelated themes were identified: adaptation, autonomy, and coordination. Five publications were self-described as evaluations, a range of service-level or infrastructure outcomes were examined, and findings were generally positive. Seven factors were identified as being associated with the perceived success of flexible grant schemes: collaboration and partnership building, staff capacity, clear and effective communication, alignment among diverse stakeholders, uncertainty, accountability, and administrative burdens. Conclusion: We found that the number of publications on flexible grant schemes has substantially increased since 2010. Although interest in flexible grant schemes has increased, there is a lack of clarity and inconsistent interpretations of ‘flexibility’. We suggest greater clarity in grant guidelines to improve communication and alignment across grantees and funders. The capacity of grantees and funders to implement and administer flexible grant schemes was identified as critical to their success, suggesting that investment in capacity development is needed. Finally, there are few published evaluations of flexible grant schemes, and robust evaluations are needed to determine their effectiveness and advance the evidence base. Clinical trial number: Not applicable
A narrative review of gated communities and the transformative social impact in Middle Eastern Cities
Full text linkThe rise of gated communities in the Middle East is vastly spreading, driven by socioeconomic fluctuations and a desire for exclusivity. This article aims to contribute to the scholarly debates on the socio-spatial impacts of gated communities by presenting a narrative review that synthesises findings from peer-reviewed articles in the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The study suggests that residents of gated communities benefit from positive attributes, including security, lifestyle, and exclusivity. However, negative influences, including segregation and separation, extend beyond the walls, impacting the surrounding communities. This article argues that the spread of gated communities represents a trend of luxury and exclusivity for affluent individuals, largely driven by developers. It concludes that while gated communities offer several positive attributes, these benefits are limited to a specific group residing within their walls. Planners and policymakers are encouraged to leverage these benefits and incorporate them in future designs
