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Nature positive farm dams
No full textFarm dams are a ubiquitous feature in agricultural landscapes worldwide, functioning as a major source of water for livestock or crop irrigation. Their number is increasing rapidly, often dominating the cumulative surface area of inland waters. Unmanaged farm dams are sources of pollution and pests, whereas sustainably managed farm dams serve as multifunctional assets, supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and more. Currently, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively assess the impacts of unmanaged farm dams and the benefits of well-managed dams across various domains, including farm productivity and environmental sustainability. To fill this gap, we reviewed the scientific literature to analyse the current knowledge on farm dam management. Farm dam studies (N = 310) constituted 0.1 % of the literature compared to studies on lakes and reservoirs. Nations with high agricultural production are leading farm dam research, especially the USA (26.5 %) and Australia (21.6 %). Hydrology and ecology (63 %) dominate the literature, whereas environment regulation, agriculture, economy, engineering, and social aspects are less represented. Nature positive management can increase the productivity of these assets while minimising their negative impacts. Some examples include limiting livestock access through fencing, enhancing vegetation cover through revegetation, introducing floating wetlands, low-flow bypass devices, and generating renewable energy using floating solar panels and micro-hydro pumps. Integrating carbon or biodiversity crediting for direct and indirect ecosystem services associated with nature positive farm dams is a promising solution for reducing the costs of sustainable farm dam management.</p
Geographies of Loneliness: Understanding the Spatiality of Feeling Disconnected
No full textLoneliness increasingly features in public discourse as a pressing health issue. Loneliness manifests as a feeling of being separate, distanced or isolated, and it is therefore a profoundly spatial phenomenon. Yet, engagement with experiences of loneliness has been sporadic in the discipline of geography. This paper develops the concept of loneliness geographically as a way to research the places, relationships, routines, infrastructures and mobilities that deepen or soften experiences of loneliness. In pulling together isolated strands of inquiry within and beyond human geography, it highlights three avenues of spatial inquiry into loneliness that will strengthen research efforts in this field: the structural and political causes of emotions; the spatial and temporal dimensions of social infrastructures; and the affordances of differently situated social relationships. A geographical approach to the study of loneliness as a feeling of connection that is situated in place offers social scientists new avenues for understanding how loneliness is enabled and experienced, and how it might be prevented and abated.</p
Voices From The Margins Research Project Report
No full textKey research themes and issues of social connectedness, emotional wellbeing, and access to services, important to the RMIT PlaceLab initiative, led to the collaborative project Voices From The Margins with academics from RMIT’s School of Global, Urban and Social Studies including Assoc. Professor Robyn Martin and Dr. Sonia Martin. Voices From The Margins examines the experiences of international students during and post?Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown period and presents recommendations from international students to improve their wellbeing and lived experience in Melbourne. The global pandemic highlighted the difficulties faced by Melbourne’s international student population and the damaging impact commodification has had on their experience of Melbourne. The better practical support offered to international students by countries such as New Zealand and Canada in response to the pandemic has put a spotlight on Australia’s competitiveness to attract and retain international students. While the research recognises the contribution of international students to the Victorian economy, it aims to understand the lived experiences and improve the wellbeing of international students so their social and cultural contributions to education providers and the city can be maximised in a post-COVID Melbourne.</p
Creatives, Communities & Economies Research Project Report
No full textWe considered three key research themes and issues: 1. Social Enterprise & Humanitarian 2. Creativity & Design Thinking 3. Commercial, Creative & Cultural Value Creation & Capture The above key research themes and issues, all important to the RMIT PlaceLab initiative, led to the collaborative project Creatives, Communities & Economies with academics from RMIT’s School of Art including Associate Professor Grace McQuilten, Associate Professor Marnie Badham, Dr Alison Bennett and Dr Alan Hill. Creatives, Communities & Economies is an exploration of how creative practitioners are responding to the ongoing challenges facing the arts through hybrid and digital approaches. It explores what working life for creatives is like in Brunswick, and how creative practices might evolve sustainably beyond existing economic and social models. This includes new methods for artists working in community contexts, new working models for photographers, and how creative social enterprises activate communities, artists and economies for social change. The research recognises the economic crisis facing the arts nationally and locally, in key creative districts such as Brunswick, while federal, state and local governments have positioned new forms of economic sustainability as a priority. Creatives, Communities & Economies tests new models of economic organising and showcases emerging research in this field relevant and applicable to the local creative community of Brunswick.Creatives, Communities, & Economies (CCE) is an exploration of how creative practitioners are responding to the ongoing challenges facing the arts through hybrid and digital approaches.</p
The Crewe Murders: Inside New Zealand’s Most Infamous Cold Case, Kirsty Johnston and James Hollings (2023)
No full textReview of: The Crewe Murders: Inside New Zealand’s Most Infamous Cold Case, Kirsty Johnston and James Hollings (2023)
Massey University Press, 320 pp.,
ISBN-13 978-1-99101-647-8, p/bk, AUD 45
ESBN 978-1-99101-661-4, e-book, AUD 35</p
Exploring Circular Economy Practices in School Uniforms: A Study on Parental Perspectives from Australia
No full textThe global school uniform industry, primarily driven by linear production models, significantly contributes to textile waste and environmental degradation. In Australia, over 2000 tons of school uniforms are discarded annually, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. This study explores the integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles into school uniform systems through a case study of a private school in Victoria. Using a thematic approach, the research involved a parent survey with 106 participants and a focus group with 6 parents. The study identified financial, logistical, and socio-cultural factors influencing uniform consumption and disposal behaviors. Affordability emerged as the primary motivator for adopting second-hand uniforms (86%). However, barriers such as limited sizing, hygiene concerns, quality, and social stigma hinder wider adoption. Parents also expressed dissatisfaction with the current uniform design, material breathability, and durability, particularly in warmer climates. Despite increased awareness of sustainability (61% cited environmental concerns), actionable engagement remains low due to a lack of transparency and infrastructure. The study proposes a replicable circular uniform framework based on stakeholder co-design, reverse logistics, and curriculum-based sustainability education. These findings offer practical implications for policymakers, educators, and manufacturers aiming to reduce textile waste and promote CE adoption within the education sector.</p
Urban rewilding to combat global biodiversity decline
No full textRapid urbanization is contributing to unprecedented biodiversity decline worldwide. Despite biodiversity loss being more pronounced in cities, traditional conservation efforts such as establishing large, protected areas and restoring native vegetation are largely undertaken far from urban landscapes. More proactive approaches, such as rewilding, have garnered momentum as a conservation process but remain underused in cities. In the present article, focusing on active faunal reintroductions, we explore urban rewilding as a process to restore ecological functions and enhance ecosystem resilience. Through a systematic literature review, we assess the varied aims, challenges, and definitions of success in rewilding efforts in urban contexts. Moreover, we define the unique opportunities and benefits urban rewilding presents for reconnecting people with nature, fostering community engagement, and enhancing cultural connections. Finally, we identify future research areas, including the need for long-term studies on ecological impacts, developing species selection frameworks, and exploring sociocultural dimensions of urban rewilding.</p
Best practices for blockchain-driven digital transformation in cross-industry settings
No full textDigital transformation (DT) is complex and uncertain, particularly within traditional industries. Distributed ledger technology, such as blockchain, has driven DT across many global sectors. Despite its transformative potential, scaling blockchain solutions beyond pilot projects often fails due to technical, organisational and environmental barriers. Many failures stem from ineffective collaboration and strategic misalignment among ecosystem partners rather than from technology. This study examines collaborative processes and enabling capabilities required for successful DT by focusing on a longitudinal case study from Finland (2019–2023). The case follows a cross-industry, blockchain-driven DT initiative that achieved scale despite transitioning from private blockchain to centralised technologies after market entry. While the role of blockchain in this success has been documented (Saari et al., 2024), the ecosystem collaboration mechanisms and strategies for tackling challenges remain unclear. Using the technology–organisation–environment (TOE) framework, this paper analyses how DT unfolded across these contexts, identifying best practice strategies and enabling capabilities. The study draws on 35 interviews with key stakeholders and thematic content analysis to identify critical scaling enablers. Our findings reveal that scaling blockchain-driven DT in cross-industry settings requires 1) industry-level mindset and shared vision, 2) formalised collaboration and public–private partnerships, 3) governance structure with a sustainable business model and funding, 4) complementary ecosystem roles and an early-stage champion, 5) stakeholder training and support and 6) flexibility in technology and agile implementation. These elements show that trust and strategic alignment can emerge even among direct competitors, offering valuable insights for enterprises exploring blockchain innovation in business-to-business contexts.</p
How Good are Parklets?_Colour Figures from Chapter 3
No full textColour Figures from Chapter 3 of 'How Good are Parklets?'</p
Progress in research on tourists with mental disorders: A critical review and the way forward
No full textThe global rise in mental disorders presents new challenges for tourism, an industry inadequately prepared to accommodate tourists with such conditions. Despite increasing scholarly interest in recent years, the study of tourists with mental disorders remains fragmented and underdeveloped. This work critically reviews 38 academic papers on this focal subject, published from 2004 to 2024, employing systematic narrative analysis. It identifies ten themes that map out the existing research across three stakeholder groups: tourists and caregivers, tourism providers, and governments and third parties. The literature synthesis offers an insightful and comprehensive overview of the current state of scientific knowledge in the field. Subsequently, an Inclusive Tourism Management Model is established, integrating the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, delineating challenges, and recommending strategies to ensure accessible and enriching tourism experiences for these tourists. Upon unveiling research gaps, this work proposes 13 research questions to guide theoretical, practical, and methodological advancements.</p