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Postsecular spirituality in Australian young adult fiction
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 263-277.Chapter 1. Introduction : a whisper in the mind -- Chapter 2. The authoritative word : organised religion in Australian YA fiction -- Chapter 3. Right here, right now : spiritual quests in realistic YA fiction -- Chapter 4. The realm of the marvellou : spiritual quests in speculative YA fiction -- Chapter 5. The ineffable in-between : spiritual quests in multimodal texts -- Chapter 6. Crossing thresholds : death and afterlife beliefs in YA fiction -- Chapter 7. Nature and supernature : science, faith, nature and culture in YA fiction -- Chapter 8. Gendered bodies, gendered souls? -- Chapter 9. Conclusion : a shy hope in the heart.Spirituality has been described by some international authors and critics as ‘the last taboo’ in young adult literature. It is not therefore surprising that in Australia, a country often perceived as resolutely secular, spirituality is rarely an explicit theme in children’s and young adult fiction. This thesis offers a postsecular understanding of expressions of young adult spirituality in late twentieth and early twenty-first century Australian novels. Postsecularism, a contested concept which emerged in the late twentieth century, is positively interpreted by many critics as the development of a respectful dialogue between secular and religious viewpoints since the ‘return of the religious’ in contemporary Western cultures. This thesis takes a postsecular dialogic approach to the analysis of a range of contemporary Australian young adult novels. The study is informed by a number of literary and sociocultural theories and predominantly draws on Bakhtin’s concept of the dialogic struggle between authoritative and internally persuasive discourses, leading to the process of a subject’s ideological becoming (Bakhtin 1981, 342-348).The textual analysis centres on a diverse selection of Australian novels published from the late 1980s until the current time, with a focus on twenty-first century texts. The discussion begins with a brief examination of texts that engage with traditional religious discourses and moves on to more tacit portrayals of the modern spiritual quest in realistic, speculative and multimodal genres. The final chapters investigate the discrete topics of afterlife beliefs, the relationship between spirituality, science and ecology, and the gendering of spiritualities. I argue that in recent Australian young adult fiction spirituality is expressed more implicitly than explicitly – in the words of Manning Clark (1985, 77) “a whisper in the mind and a shy hope in the heart” - but that this representation is starting to reflect the emergent postsecular turn in many Western cultures. This trend thus reveals a previously concealed awareness of the interrelationship of spiritual and secular discourses that embraces possibilities of spiritual and ideological becoming in characters and readers leading, as Bakhtin proclaimed, to “ever newer ways to mean” (Bakhtin 1981, 346).Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (277 pages) colour illustration
Role of resistance vasculature in the development and maintenance of hypertension in chronic kidney disease
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 197-253.Chapter 1. Literature review -- Chapter 2. Methodology -- Chapter 3. Mesenteric artery remodelling in CKD -- Chapter 4. AT1 receptor blockade and resistance arteries in CKD -- Chapter 5. CCB treatment and resistance arteries in CKD -- Chapter 6. Resistance artery endothelial dysfunction in CKD -- Chapter 7. Final discussion -- Chapter 8. References.Hypertension is a significant complication among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, resulting in higher mortality rates in these patients than renal disease itself. The process of cardiovascular damage starts very early during progression in well-defined CKD, long before the renal treatment stage is reached (Vanholder et al., 2005), thus making kidney disease the most common “secondary” form of hypertension (Cohen and Townsend, 2009, Ross and Banerjee, 2013). Resistance arteries play a particularly important role in the maintenance of hypertension in these CKD patients (Li et al., 1997, Paisley et al., 2009), as they are the main contributors to total peripheral resistance (TPR) (Beevers et al., 2001, Mulvany et al., 1978, Mulvany and Halpern, 1977). Although it is well-established that alterations in resistance arteries are likely to contribute to increased cardiovascular risk and act as a substrate for end-organ damage (Schiffrin, 2012), resistance artery alterations are still poorly understood in the CKD-mediated hypertensive state, and hence were the focus of this thesis.To investigate the effects of CKD on the resistance vasculature as part of the overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) state, we employed an established rat model of CKD-mediated hypertension, the Lewis polycystic kidney (LPK) rat. In a series of four studies, we sought to examine alterations in resistance artery structure, function and biomechanical properties, in association with disease progression. In addition, we investigated the effects of treatment (AT1 receptor antagonism and calcium channel blockade) on the resistance vasculature.In study 1, we explored temporal changes in LPK resistance artery structure, function and biomechanical properties, in association with hypertension and renal disease progression. We investigated three time-points: 6 weeks of age, where LPKs are hypertensive and have gross derangement of the kidney cortex and medulla; 12 weeks of age, where LPKs demonstrate signs of renal dysfunction in addition to hypertension and increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA); and 18 weeks, where LPK have marked renal disease and still present with hypertension and elevated SNA (Phillips et al., 2007). These experiments revealed that alterations in the vasculature tended to emerge after the 6 week time-point in LPK, and that older age was associated with negative outcomes. Older LPK resistance arteries underwent structural alterations which were characterised by eutrophic and hypertrophic inward remodelling at established and severe renal disease time points, respectively, and these structural alterations were significantly associated with the hypertension. Stiffness was increased in 6 and 18 week LPK, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was evident in 12 and 18 week LPK. These findings suggested that in CKD-mediated hypertension, multiple effects on resistance arteries are seen, which result in the activation of compensatory mechanisms: structural mechanisms eventually become maladaptive, thus exacerbating the disease, while functional mechanisms involve endothelial dysfunction, impairing vasorelaxation. Thus, study 1 revealed that impairments in the LPK vasculature arise at as early as 6 weeks, and generally worsen as hypertension pursues and with progression to marked renal disease.Study 2 aimed to ameliorate the deleterious alterations in the vasculature found in study 1, via treatment with an angiotensin type 1 (AT₁) receptor antagonist, valsartan, to block the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II). Chronic treatment performed from 4-18 weeks of age reduced hypertension, improved collagen-elastin ratios and structural vascular remodelling outcomes. In addition, LPK treated with valsartan exhibited vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation responses that were comparable to Lewis controls, and demonstrated improved stiffness and compliance properties. Thus, study 2’s findings highlighted the important contribution of Ang II and AT₁ receptors to resistance artery structural, functional and biomechanical propertiesSimilar to study 2, study 3 also aimed to ameliorate the deleterious alterations in vasculature found in study 1. However, in addition to this, study 3 aimed to further investigate whether valsartan’s effectiveness was due to the specific blockade of Ang II’s effects, or because of the resultant reduction of blood pressure. Hence, study 3 involved treatment of LPK rats with amlodipine to block the effects of voltage-dependent L-type Ca²⁺ channels (LTCCs), and therefore result in an antihypertensive effect without directly affecting Ang II signalling. Similar to valsartan outcomes, chronic treatment with amlodipine performed from 4-18 weeks of age reduced hypertension, improved collagen-elastin ratios, improved structural vascular remodelling outcomes, and normalised dysfunctional vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation responses in LPK. However, relative to valsartan, the effectiveness of amlodipine in normalising these parameters was to a lesser extent. In addition, amlodipine was unable to improve stiffness and compliance properties in LPK rats.In study 4, we investigated myogenic tone and endothelial dysfunction, examining sensitivity to endothelial-derived constricting and relaxing factors. In addition, because endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be receptor-specific, we investigated the effect of different agonists on endothelial responses. Study 4 revealed increased myogenic tone and vasoconstriction to Ang II in LPK rats, along with endothelial dysfunction that correlated with the degree of renal impairment, regardless of the agonist used (bradykinin, BK; or aceylcholine, ACh).Collectively, these studies showed that hypertension and renal impairment in a rat model of CKD are associated with alterations in the mesenteric resistance arteries, and that pharmacological treatments are able to mitigate the majority of these observed changes. These modifications of structural, functional and biomechanical resistance artery properties serve to protect end-organs by mediating pressure changes; however, with the persistence of both hypertension and renal dysfunction, these changes can ultimately lead to further exacerbation of these disease states. Overall, these studies provide a better understanding of the pathological resistance vasculature consequences in the CVD and CKD states, and thus help to direct pharmacological targets for more effective therapeutic outcomes.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xxix, 253 pages) graphs, table
Evaluation of the efficacy of stormwater treatment devices for reducing water borne ecological and human health risks
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 177-210.Chapter 1. General introduction -- Chapter 2. Freshwater toxicity and pollutant reduction in urban stormwater flowing through a constructed wetland -- Chapter 3. Freshwater toxicity and pollutant reduction in urban stormwater flowing through a field bioretention basin -- Chapter 4. In situ assessment of stormwater wetlands using structural and functional indicators of ecological health -- Chapter 5. Sublethal toxicity of untreated and treated stormwater Zn concentrations on the foraging behaviour of Paratya australiensis (Decapoda:Atyidae) -- Chapter 6. Evaluation of indicator bacteria reduction and immature mosquito presence in stormwater treatment devices -- Chapter 7. General discussion.Stormwater runoff is widely recognised as a primary source of pollution and cause of negative ecological effects in urban river networks. In an effort to mitigate the degradation of receiving waters, tertiary stormwater treatment devices, such as constructed wetlands and bioretention systems, are increasingly being retrofitted to urban catchments at a considerable cost as part of the Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) strategy. These devices reduce the direct connection of impervious areas to receiving waterways and have the potential to combine natural biological, chemical and physical processes to treat urban stormwater runoff. However, there has been relatively limited field validation of their benefits, particularly under Australian conditions and in terms of improving ecological health, despite their increasing popularity as part of urban water policies and strategies.The overarching aim of this research was to assess the efficacy of tertiary stormwater treatment devices retrofitted to urban catchments in Sydney, Australia,to improve water quality, and reduce potential risk of harm to ecological and human health. This was achieved by: 1) assessing the water quality improvement capacity of tertiary stormwater treatment devices; 2) assessing the toxicity of untreated and treated stormwater to freshwater biota using single-species toxicity tests in the laboratory with algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), a crustacean [Ceriodaphnia dubia] and fish embryos [Melanotaenia duboulayi]), and in situ with shrimp (Paratya australiensis); 3) assessing the influence of untreated and treated stormwater upon higher-levels of biological organisation (i.e. community and ecosystem responses) and 4) assessing the potential of constructed stormwater wetlands to provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.Chapter 2 demonstrated the ability of a constructed wetland to reduce the majority of stormwater pollutants tested across three storm events and the toxicity of stormwater to freshwater biota across two storm events. However, the potential risk of stormwater to stimulate primary production remained following treatment. In Chapter 3, evaluation of a retrofitted bioretention basin across six storm events revealed that it had little impact on the majority of influent pollutant concentrations. Leaching of several analytes from the system occurred consistently and the toxicity of stormwater to freshwater biota was not always reduced. Chapter 4 highlighted that a larger-sized (with respect to the contributing catchment area) constructed wetland treated stormwater to a standard that enabled good improvements in ecological health at the wetland outlet, evidenced by its ability to support consistently high survival of P. australiensis, the presence of sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa, and reduced rates of organic decomposition. By contrast, two other wetlands that were smaller with respect to catchment area and had design constraints had a reduced capacity to achieve the same ecological improvements. Chapter 5 indicated that stormwater Zn concentrations reflective of those found in treated stormwater from a constructed wetland reinstated normal foraging behaviour in shrimp, indicating that the treatment of metal contaminants in stormwater can have discernible ecological benefits. Chapter 6 highlighted the variability of tertiary stormwater treatment systems (one bioretention basin and three constructed wetlands) to reduce indicator bacteria, particularly enterococci. Median outflow concentrations generally exceeded public health criteria for primary and secondary contact. Public health risks were further substantiated by the occurrence of immature mosquito larvae at all surface flow systems. Correlation analysis indicated that the higher nutrient concentrations in the inlet zone in comparison to the outlet zone provided conditions that were more conducive to mosquito larvae production.The empirical evidence generated from this study has important implications for the assessment and design of future stormwater treatment systems as well as the pursuit of WSUD strategies where the primary goal is to protect and rehabilitate urban waterways. Despite some beneficial outcomes evident in the chemical and ecological analyses, the overall results presented in this thesis suggest that stormwater treatment devices are far from a panacea for the adverse impacts of urbanisation on river networks. Indeed, the data suggest that it may not be possible to treat stormwater to prescribed levels (such as those set out in national water quality guidelines). It is clear that appropriate design of treatment systems is paramount and further research and subsequent design modifications is needed if the goal of improving the condition of urban waterways using stormwater treatment devices is to be achieved. This study has also demonstrated the importance of using a combination of chemical analysis and biological measures to provide an integrative assessment of any subsequent water quality improvements, and how this approach is necessary to quantify the benefits of tertiary stormwater treatment devices and to confirm if they function as planned.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vi, 274 pages) colour illustration
Autism in the classroom: a conversation-analytic study of lesson beginnings in special education
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 292-307.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Greetings in lesson beginnings -- Chapter 5. Topic talk in lesson beginnings -- Chapter 6. Task incipiency and compliance in lesson beginnings -- Chapter 7. Discussion and conclusions.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a large number of children. It is characterised by deficits in social communication, and fixated interests and repetitive behaviours. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have empirically explored how the deficits associated with ASD affect everyday communication, and participation in life activities. This study continues in this tradition, and explores how a group of children with ASD engage in classroom interactions. The primary data set of this study is audio and video recordings of classroom interactions involving three Year 5/6 students aged 11-12 years, and two of their teachers in a special education centre. Conversation analysis (CA) is employed to describe the organisation of lesson beginnings in these interactions. The analyses describe how children and teachers collaborate in this activity, and document a number of recurrent courses of action, including greetings, topic talk, and occasioning of task incipiency. This study demonstrates that greetings in lesson beginnings formalise orientation between the teachers and students. Topic talk in lesson beginnings provides an opportunity to undertake talk unrelated to the lesson, and is a significant aspect of student participation. Finally, when teachers occasion task incipiency, they move the lesson beginnings towards lesson tasks, and exert their deontic authority. These findings reveal how lesson beginnings are systematically constructed through specific social actions, and are oriented to by the participants. Such insights could be used to structure teacher reflection and examine their interactional implications, vis-à-vis the students’ idiosyncratic interactional competencies. This study also highlights the communicative opportunities provided for in lesson beginnings, particularly spates of topic talk, during which the students undertake various complex actions in order to achieve their interactional agenda. Lastly, this study contributes to conversation-analytic research by describing how children with ASD interact in class, and more specifically emphasising their communication strengths as well as abilities.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (325 pages) illustration
Implanted wireless sensing for monitoring joint replacements
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 47-51.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Proposed system -- 4. Future work -- 5. Conclusion.Post-operative failures of joint replacement can only be detected by MRI after 50 microns of displaced positioning. Surgeons need to be alerted of failure earlier, while this displacement is as small as 10 microns.This document details the specifications of an implanted wireless sensor system, which utilises cylindrical wireless, externally powered sensors implanted within orthopaedic knee replacements, to monitor health complications over time. The wireless sensor uses an electromagnetic wave to measure the distance from the sensor to the bottom plate of the knee replacement. This distance is monitored regularly via an external reader device which reports the data and any complications to the clinician. This system allows wireless, non-invasive monitoring of the health of the implant, to eliminate the need for invasive procedures such as surgery. This initial implementation is designed specifically for knee replacements, but can be applied in the future for other joint replacements.This document will support the development of a prototype for the implanted wireless sensor system, along with further testing and final implementation.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xvi, 51 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
A virtual emotional freedom practitioner to deliver physical and emotional therapy
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 54-58.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Results -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- Chapter 6. Conclusion.The role of virtual humans in a range of health scenarios, including therapy and counselling, is being explored as a substitute for human therapists and counsellors. This research study investigates the potential benefits of a virtual practitioner to deliver the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is a kind of psychological acupressure technique to optimize emotional and physical health. Importantly, our study compares two different types of virtual therapists; one that exhibits empathic behaviour and another that delivers the therapy in a neutral manner. Our experimental design, consisting of one within-subjects factor (empathic/neutral therapist) and one between-subjects factor (order), measured the differences in emotional outcomes and sense of rapport. Our evaluation with 63 participants showed benefits for both virtual therapists. While both therapists achieved the same level of rapport, when order was taken into account, the empathic agent received higher ratings for sense of rapport in the second interaction. We conclude that with increased tailoring, the empathic agent would create a stronger sense of rapport than the neutral agent. It remains an open question whether increased tailoring and more empathic behaviours, would result in significant improvements in the emotional benefits delivered by an empathic agent over a neutral and less tailored agent.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 69 pages) colour illustration
‘Voice’ without voice: a case study of three Australian childcare centres
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 71-76.CHapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Research methodology -- Chapter 4. Organizational context -- Chapter 5. Findings -- Chapter 6. Discussion -- Chapter 7. Conclusion and future research.There is an abundance of research available on employee voice. However, much of this research focuses on large organizations and there is little research on voice in small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). This study, therefore, explores what employee voice looks like in SMEs, and how different factors affect voice and its outcomes in SMEs. The study utilized semi-structured interviews in three childcare centres – one large and two small – in Sydney, Australia. The research found that context – organizational as well as industrial – affects the definition, perception and effectiveness of voice. It also highlighted that factors such as social support, emotional attachment, scope and breadth of voice, and trust among peers and managers/supervisors were crucial in shaping the definition and perception of voice in SMEs. These factors in turn affected outcomes of voice such as relationship between managers/supervisors and employees, employees‟ intention to quit, forms of voice utilized, employee participation in decision making and effective embeddedness of voice. The study found that the unitary stance of employees and managers/supervisors in SMEs regarding the definition and perception of voice challenges the practice of voice as indicated by the literature. The evidence suggests that exploring the role of context and factors affecting voice in different contexts is important in order to bridge the gap in voice literature.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xi, 96 pages) table
Side-channel attacks on elliptic curve cryptosystems based on machine learning techniques
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 117-128.1. Introduction -- 2. Overview of side-channel cryptananlysis -- 3. Elliptic-curve cryptosystem implementation -- 4. Pre-processing stage -- 5. Support-vector machine as a side-channel classifier -- 6. Neural networks as side-channel information classifiers -- 7. Thesis conclusion and recommendations for future work.This thesis presents a promising approach to Side-channel attacks on the cryptosystems based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). This approach is based on machine learning analysis in characterisation of side-channel information. The original contribution of this thesis is to verify the performance of machine-learning techniques in terms of neural networks (NN), support vector machines (SVM) and principal component analysis (PCA). In this project, PCA is used as a powerful algorithm in the preprocessing stage to decrease the computational complexity of the input dataset, while SVM and NN are utilised as efficient multi-class classiffiers to recognise and classify different patterns of side-channel information.In order to investigate the proposed method, an experiment based on the power consumption and electromagnetic emission of an field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of ECC was conducted. Regarding our experimental results based on an FPGA implementation of ECC, PCA can be used as a strong preprocessing stage to reduce the signal-noise ratio, data-set dimension and algorithm complexity. In addition, after verifying the performance of different techniques and specifications such as kernel functions, neural-network architect and parameters, we inferred that the most efficient machine-learning techniques for side-channel information characterisation are LVQ neural network (with a number of hidden layers between 90 and 100), and SVM with Gaussian RBF kernel function with parameter p value of 5 and 50 for CS and M-SVM2 SVM models respectively with about 80 to 85 % accuracy.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xxii, 128 pages) illustrations (some colour
Fading at fifty
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 229-259.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Findings : organisational perspective on career management for older academics -- Chapter 5. Findings : individualal perspective on career management for older academics -- Chapter 6. Conclusions and implications.Within Australian universities 42% of academics are aged 50 and over, which suggests that universities face an unprecedented human resource challenge with the potential retirement of large numbers of their academic workforce. For sustainability reasons, it is imperative to understand how the future career plans of this age cohort are incorporated into university HRM strategies, policies and programs. This study explored the perceptions of career management for Australian academics aged in their 50s from both organisational and individual perspectives, and contributes to the much-needed research on universities’ responses to their ageing academic workforce.This qualitative two-phase study purposely incorporated different university types and academic discipline groups to capture the diversity of Australian universities. Phase 1 analysed publicly available institutional HRM policy documents from 16 Australian universities and Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) audit reports for the period 2006–2009 for 21 Australian universities. The findings of Phase 1 informed Phase 2, which consisted of semi-structured interviews (n=52) with academics aged in their 50s, with academics holding university management positions, and with administrative staff in senior university HR positions. Data analysis drew on several theoretical frameworks: Miles and Snow’s strategy typology, the Resource-Based View of the Firm and the psychological contract.Contrary to the forecast of an ageing academic “time-bomb”, this study found that the majority of academics had no intentions of retiring. Some of these academics were categorised as “Fifty and Flourishing”, meaning that they wished to continue working as they are highly motivated, strongly committed and passionate about their academic pursuits. Others, also not planning to retire, categorised as “Fiftyand Financially Focussed”, were seeking to accumulate more superannuation in order to have enough money to retire. Those academics who planned to or were strongly considering retirement were categorised into three groups: “Fifty and Flexible” – academics who had the financial incentives of superannuation and pursuit of leisure activities influencing their intentions; “Fifty and Fit” – academics whose plans to continue working or retire depended on their health; and “Fifty and Frustrated” – academics whose intentions were influenced by their perceptions of the unsatisfactory state of their working environment.`This study also found that older academics’ perceptions about promotion and performance management were predominantly negative, and many felt constrained by non-supportive university management and leadership. Specific concerns about promotion were related to perceptions of limited opportunities, flawed promotion processes, and lack of career development support. Among the academic participants there were overwhelming feelings of dissatisfaction, coupled with cynicism and anger towards the purpose, process and role of university management in performance management systems. Many older academics felt that they were invisible to university management.Both the document analysis and the interview findings indicated that academics aged in their 50s were “not on the radar” of university management. Universities’ actions to date on career management for their older academics failed to recognise the different facets of academic careers and instead were reactive, designed to respond to short-term needs, and lacked an organisational strategic focus on either workforce planning or the career needs of older academics. Notably, senior management academics interviewed did not perceive older academics to be a valuable resource and, consequently, largely ignored them in their planning processes. These negative perceptions of older academics also suggested ageist and discriminatory attitudes, including a misconception of age and productivity, and a narrow and stereotypical view about age and career stage. In contrast, middle-level management expressed their desire to be proactive in supporting and utilising their older academic workforce, but a perceived lack of budgetary flexibility and control impeded their capacity to do so.Overall, this study highlighted that the university’s role in career management for older academics was limited and ineffective. The central recommendation from this study is for universities to re-think a “one size fits all” approach to career management, and recognise the competitive advantage they would achieve by proactively leveraging the highly specialised advanced knowledge and experience of their older academic workforce.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xviii, 269 pages
Sustaining collaborative partnerships in an ICT-based community service organisation to empower children in orphanages: perspectives from multiple stakeholders
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 261-273.Chapter One. Overview of the study -- Chapter Two. Community service organisations in a Malaysian context -- Chapter Three. Sustaining collaborative partnership : a review of the literature -- Chapter Four. Research design and methodology -- Chapter Five. The drivers of change and transformation of the collaborative partnership in a longstanding community service organisation -- Chapter Six. Challenges of maintaining collaborative partnership in a longstanding community service organisation -- Chapter Seven. Discussion and conclusion.This thesis aims to discover, from the perspective of multiple stakeholders, how collaborative partnership survives over the long-term. This aim is addressed through a case study of a community service organisation focussing on ICT use by orphanage communities in the developing country of Malaysia. This case study will identify factors that influence the development and sustainability of collaborative partnerships. A wide-ranging literature exists around collaborative partnerships with multiple stakeholders, especially between profit making organisations and government. While research on collaborative partnerships between non-profit organisations is emerging, this work is most established in developed countries such as the USA and UK, with little written about community based service organisations outside Europe and the US. This thesis addresses this gap.Beginning as a community group initiative in April 1998 and later developing into non-profit service organisation, CyberCare, the organisation which is the focus of this case study, worked collaboratively towards a vision of bridging the digital divide and improving the lives of the children in orphanages. Many collaborative partnerships begin as small scale and grow progressively larger. In contrast, this partnership rapidly became a nationwide e-community project with strong support from government and major corporations. Under the umbrella of a non-profit service organisation group, CyberCare has linked children in 90 orphanages throughout the country online and came to be perceived as one of the successful e-community projects in the country. However, in the process, this collaboration faced challenges that required it to reduce scale and find ways to survive. These decisions included becoming independent, in 2009, from a network of well-established service organisations.This study identifies drivers of change in collaborative partnerships, and maps stakeholders’ perspectives on challenges across collaborative partnership. A qualitative case study design is used in this research, using the methods of document review, participant observation of two programmes, and interviews with 58 participants from seven stakeholder groups: the community service organisation; government; corporations; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); orphanage administrators; volunteers; and children. The data collected were analysed and triangulated with the aid of NVIVO, qualitative analysis software.While the existing literature on collaborative partnerships stresses the importance of a shared vision at the foundation of a project, this research suggests that sustainable partnerships may be grounded on objectives shared by pairs of partners, rather than agreement across all partnerships. Equally, the case study suggests that pragmatic rather than strategic motives are drivers for the establishment of and direction of partnerships. Much of the literature also studies collaboration from a managerial perspective which deals specifically with governance issues rather than a whole of community perspective which considers the views of multiple stakeholders.The findings of this thesis provide a rich evidence base reflecting the challenges and benefits of collaborative partnership and divergent understandings of key concepts including partnership, sustainability, achievement, and volunteering. Financial, human resources, and time management emerge as the crucial challenges in sustaining the community efforts, leading to tensions between community organisations and business or government funders. This thesis also makes a contribution to academic accounts of the role of information technology in community development, by tracing the changing understandings within the collaborative partnership of the links between personal development, ICT skills, and community service. The evolution of this collaborative partnership emphasises the possibility of transformation within such relationships, and suggests mechanisms for sustaining partnerships during such transformations.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xx, 334 pages