Adoption In Australia Research Articles

Efficacy of albumin use in decompensated cirrhosis and real‐world adoption in Australia

AbstractThe current treatment approach to patients with liver cirrhosis relies on the individual management of complications. Consequently, there is an unmet need for an overall therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary prevention of complications. The clinical potential of long‐term albumin infusions supported by recent clinical trials has expanded its indications and holds promise to transform the management and secondary prevention of cirrhosis‐related complications. This renewed interest in albumin comes with inherent controversies, compounding challenges and pressing need for rigorous evaluation of its clinical potential to capitalize on its therapeutic breakthroughs. Australia is among a few countries worldwide to adopt outpatient human albumin infusion. Here, we summarize currently available evidence of the potential benefits of human albumin for the management of multiple liver cirrhosis‐related complications and discuss key challenges for wide application of long‐term albumin administration strategy in Australian clinical practice. Australian Gastroenterological week (AGW), organised by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA), was held between 9‐11 September 2022. A panel of hepatologists, advanced liver nurses and one haematologist, were invited to a roundtable meeting to discuss the use of long‐term albumin infusions for liver cirrhosis. management in Australia. In this review, we summarise the proceedings of this meeting in context of the current literature.

Nudge or mandate: an exploration into the constraints of volumetric modular construction in Australia

PurposeTo incentivize innovation, support competitiveness, lower skill scarcities, and alleviate the housing affordability difficulty, proponents underscore the pertinence of embracing contemporary construction methodologies, with particular emphasis on volumetric modular construction (VMC) as a sustainable paradigm for production and consumption. However, construction industry stakeholders in Australia have encountered profound challenges in adopting VMC, as its adoption remains significantly low. Therefore, this study investigated the constraints that hinder VMC in the Australian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study used qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews as a core approach to glean professional experts' perspectives and insights, along with Pareto and mean index score analyses.FindingsThe study identified 77 reported and validated VMC constraints by professionals, categorizing them into eight categories: cultural, economic, knowledge, market, regulatory, stakeholder, supply chain, and technological. The mean index score analysis reveals stakeholder (µ = 9.67) constraints are the most significant, followed by cultural (µ = 9.62) and regulatory (µ = 9.11) constraints. Pareto analysis revealed 25 of the 77 constraints as ‘vital few” among different categories. This study presented causal relationships and mitigation strategies for VMC constraints, followed by an argument on whether VMC adoption in Australia requires a nudge or mandate.Practical implicationsThis study offers guidance for efficient resource allocation, aiding management and government policy formulation. It's also valuable for global audiences, especially countries transitioning to modular construction.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to identify VMC constraints and delineate them into different categories in Australia, identify their causal interrelationships, and deliver countermeasures to overcome them.

Achieving stable and sustainable Mungbean yields in Australia via optimal sowing dates

ContextAs a rainfed, short-season crop, mungbean is a particularly attractive summer rotation option for Australian farmers, but the rate of mungbean adoption in Australia is low due to its high yield instability. A lack of research conducted on modern mungbean in Australia has hindered farmers’ ability to understand how to best manage the crop and close the yield gap. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to provide recommendations for optimal sowing windows (balancing maximum yield potential with minimum risk—i.e. instability and crop failure). MethodsWe simulated 60 years of growing mungbean at 180 different sowing times, four different initial soil water levels and at seven sites across Queensland and New South Wales using the new Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator Next Generation (APSIM NextGen) Mungbean model. We then calculated the impact of sowing date on mungbean water use efficiency and on the soil water deficit for the subsequent crop in the rotation. ResultsHigher initial soil water levels decreased risk (instability and failure) at all sites. Arid sites with high evaporative demand had optimal sowing windows later (February) in the growing season. More temperate sites yielded better with higher levels of stability when sown between November and January. Sowing in September/October is not recommended in any site as it coincided with low yield stability and water use efficiency. Not all sites had a clear optimal sowing window. We conclude, therefore, that in some environments, sowing time can only marginally reduce risks in growing mungbean. ConclusionsWe identified optimal sowing window that can reduce risks of a failed crop by 20 % and increase stability without losing yield potential. The timing of the optimal sowing window for a given site appears to be influenced by avoiding periods with high evaporative demand during the reproductive phase. ImplicationsModelling has been critical for exploring the trade-offs between maximizing and stabilizing mungbean yields over a wide range of environments and growing seasons to determine the optimal sowing windows across the main growing environments in Australia.

Clinicians’ perceptions of “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS) protocols to improve patient safety in surgery: a national survey from Australia

BackgroundSurgical patients are at risk of postoperative complications, which may lead to increased morbidity, mortality, hospital length-of-stay and healthcare costs. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) protocols are evidence-based and have demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing complications and associated consequences. However, their adoption in Australia has been limited and the reason for this is unclear. This study aimed to describe clinicians’ perceptions of ERAS protocols in Australia.MethodsA national online survey of anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses was undertaken. Invitations to participate were distributed via emails from professional colleges. The 30-item survey captured respondent characteristics, ERAS perceptions, beliefs, education and learning preferences and future planning considerations. The final question was open-ended for elaboration of perceptions of ERAS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and compare group differences across disciplines relative to perceptions of ERAS.ResultsThe sample included 178 responses (116 nurses, 65.2%; 36 surgeons, 20.2%; 26 anaesthetists, 14.6%) across six states and two territories. More than half (n = 104; 58.8%) had used ERAS protocols in patient care, and most perceived they were ‘very knowledgeable’ (n = 24; 13.6%) or ‘knowledgeable’ (n = 71; 40.3%) of ERAS. However, fewer nurses had cared for a patient using ERAS (p <.01) and nurses reported lower levels of knowledge (p <.001) than their medical counterparts. Most respondents agreed ERAS protocols improved patient care and financial efficiency and were a reasonable time investment (overall Md 3–5), but nurses generally recorded lower levels of agreement (p.013 to < 0.001). Lack of information was the greatest barrier to ERAS knowledge (n = 97; 62.6%), while seminars/lectures from international and national leaders were the preferred learning method (n = 59; 41.3%). Most supported broad implementation of ERAS (n = 130; 87.8%).ConclusionThere is a need to promote ERAS and provide education, which may be nuanced based on the results, to improve implementation in Australia. Nurses particularly need to be engaged in ERAS protocols given their significant presence throughout the surgical journey. There is also a need to co-design implementation strategies with stakeholders that target identified facilitators and barriers, including lack of support from senior administration, managers and clinicians and resource constraints.

Factors influencing green energy consumer behaviour in Australia

This research explores the factors influencing green energy consumer behaviour in Australia by examining Australian consumers' attitudes towards green energy from the Green Perceived Value (GPV) perspective, which integrates functional, emotional, conditional, and social dimensions. The data was collected through a survey of 380 participants on Amazon Mechanical Turk. This study employs factor analysis and structural equation modelling to report positive attitudes towards green energy. The positive perception is notably centred on its practical benefits, superior quality, and environmental advantages. These findings suggest that marketing strategies should highlight green energy's functional and environmental benefits to encourage consumer adoption. The study underscores the necessity of targeted educational campaigns aimed at younger demographics through digital media and the importance of emphasising green energy's economic and environmental benefits. Also, it recommends leveraging social and emotional value messaging and fostering community engagement to enhance the attractiveness of green energy solutions. Contributing to the discourse on green energy adoption in Australia, this research advocates for inclusive policies that ensure the accessibility and affordability of green energy for a diverse demographic spectrum. It calls for expanded research to further explore the GPV dimensions and include potential consumers in different cultural contexts. It offers a comprehensive framework to support strategies for increasing green energy adoption that are aligned with sustainability objectives.

The impacts of sustainable design practices and cross laminated timber structures on acoustic design

More projects in Australia are prioritizing sustainable design practices throughout their building life cycle. Environmental Sustainable Design (ESD) rating tools such as WELL, Green Star, and the Living Building Challenge (LBC) have existed for a decade or more, with some receiving wide adoption in Australia. These rating tools require the assessment of the ingredients, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and embodied carbon of the materials specified on the project. In addition, cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings are becoming a more attractive development option due to lower embodied carbon, a reduction in the structural requirements of the foundations, and an increased speed of construction. These sustainable practices are reviewed using a recent project example that combines these recent developments in sustainability: a commercial office fitout in a hybrid steel and cross-laminated timber structure that is targeting WELL Platinum and the Living Building Challenge. The challenges of specifying materials to meet sustainability targets, potential gaps in available products, and the acoustic design challenges of achieving high levels of sound insulation in cross-laminated timber structures are discussed. With a better understanding of sustainable design practices, acoustic designers can improve sustainability outcomes on all projects.

Pharmacists in Australian general practice: Discussion of the findings of an evaluation from 2016 to 2021

AbstractPharmacists embedded in general practice can improve medicines optimisation and patient safety, but Australia has been slower to adopt and fund this model than other comparable countries. Over the last decade there have been various local programs integrating pharmacists in general practice across Australia. This article summarises the results of an evaluation in Canberra from 2016–2021. Pharmacists predominantly conducted clinical activities, including medication reviews and clinical audits. General practitioner (GP) acceptance and implementation of medication review recommendations was high (75%). General practice pharmacists were able to achieve positive clinical outcomes in asthma and smoking cessation. Surveys and interviews identified that the general practice pharmacist role was welcomed by patients, GPs, and other healthcare professionals. Patient satisfaction was very high, with patients supporting the expansion of this pharmacy service. Collaboration between the pharmacists and other healthcare professionals was high. Some pharmacists left employment in general practice after less than a year. Introducing a clear job description could be beneficial in retaining pharmacists, improving trust and working relationships, and enhancing collaboration. The majority of clinical activities conducted by the pharmacists had the potential to improve patient care and decrease healthcare costs. Apart from healthcare savings, benefit–cost ratios of income generated and costs reduced by pharmacists when compared to salaries suggested that pharmacists may be cost‐beneficial in some scenarios. Absence of funding for this model of care remains a barrier to wider adoption in Australia and needs addressing. This study was approved by the University of Canberra Human Research Ethics Committee (Project number: 15–235) and funded under the Primary Health Network Program (Grant number: 25097479).

Adoption of the digitalised last planner system in infrastructure projects: an Australian case study

Purpose Infrastructure projects are complex, task-based endeavours; the reliability of project schedules is often low, as delays occur. As a result, the infrastructure sector is constantly searching for innovative practices that might improve project performance. This study aims to pursue one research question: what are the benefits and challenges to last planner system (LPS) implementation in Australia’s infrastructure industry? It addresses this question through an examination of two rail infrastructure projects in Victoria, Australia. Design/methodology/approach The state of Victoria in Australia provides an excellent context for this study. The study was set in one of the programme alliances which was contracted to carry out five level-crossing removal projects. This study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including surveys, interviews and site visits. The authors collected 43 valid survey responses. Additionally, 19 participants from the alliance programme’s two projects (Projects A and B) took part in the interviews. Extensive empirical evidence has been triangulated to achieve the research goals. Findings The findings show through the questionnaire survey that the greatest benefits that digital LPS brings are primarily associated with process improvement and social benefits. The interview results acknowledged that the roll-out of digital LPS had a positive impact on schedules, cost, occupational health and safety (OHS) and quality performance. The research also noted a few challenges in the introduction of digital LPS. Overall, the finding presents strong evidence that the introduction of digital LPS has been a clear success in the case company. Originality/value This is the first piece of research to fill this major gap in the LPS literature by exploring the issue of digital LPS adoption in Australia’s infrastructure sector. This study has thus laid the foundation for future work on LPS research in the Australian context. The authors are optimistic that this exploratory work will generate interest across other alliances, and perhaps extend into Australia’s construction sector.

Fire Incidents, Trends, and Risk Mitigation Framework of Electrical Vehicle Cars in Australia

Electric Vehicles (EVs) offer a promising solution to reduce the environmental impact compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, EV adoption in Australia has been hindered by concerns over fire safety. This study aims to comprehensively analyse EV fire risks and trends in Australia, including those related to charging stations and lithium-ion batteries. The research utilises secondary data from various reputable sources to develop statistical forecasting models, which estimate that Australia will have approximately 1.73 million EVs by 2030 and 15.8 million by 2050. The study reveals an average EV fire frequency of six fires per million EVs in Australia, aligning with the global average. Consequently, Australia is expected to experience 9 to 10 EV fire incidents annually in 2030, 37 to 42 EV fire incidents annually in 2040, and 84 to 95 EV fire incidents annually in 2050. To address these risks, an EV fire risk control framework is considered to identify and recommend appropriate measures for life safety, lithium-ion batteries, charging, EV handling, and EV locations. This research provides vital evidence for regulators, policymakers, and the fire industry to effectively manage EV fire risks and enhance preparedness for the growing EV market in Australia.

Perceived Opportunities and Challenges of Autonomous Demand-Responsive Transit Use: What Are the Socio-Demographic Predictors?

The adoption of autonomous demand-responsive transit (ADRT) to support regular public transport has the potential to enhance sustainable mobility. There is a dearth of research on the socio-demographic characteristics associated with perceived opportunities and challenges regarding ADRT adoption in Australia. In this research, we fill this knowledge gap by determining socio-demographic predictors of perceptions and attitudes towards ADRT, specifically autonomous shuttle buses (ASBs), among adult residents of South East Queensland. This study incorporates a review of prior global studies, a stated preference survey distributed across the case study region, and descriptive and logistic regression analysis. We found that the main perceived opportunity of ASBs is reduced congestion/emissions, while the primary anticipated challenge relates to unreliable technology. Fully employed respondents are likely to be more familiar with autonomous vehicles. Females and those from lower-income households are less likely to have ridden in an autonomous vehicle. Males, those who are younger, have high employment, hail from higher-income households, and with no driver’s licence are all more favourable towards ASBs. Males, those with high employment, and without driver’s licence are likely to be more concerned about traffic accidents when using ASBs. Less-educated respondents and those living in peri-urban areas are likely to be more concerned about fares. Insights are drawn from the current study to inform policymakers to consider key challenges (e.g., trust issues) and target groups (particularly females) in planning public communication strategies to enhance receptiveness to ADRT.

Assessing the impact of battery storage on Australian electricity markets

This paper empirically examines the impacts of grid-scale battery storage facilities on the frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) market that is used by energy market operators to maintain the frequency of the system within the normal operating band. Using a staggered introduction of grid-scale batteries in two Australian states, our difference-in-differences analysis shows that grid-scale batteries can significantly lower overall FCAS costs. We further show that the reduced FCAS costs are accentuated by the battery storage capacity, and that their impacts are most pronounced in reducing the costs of short-term FCAS markets (such as the regulation and 6-second services). These FCAS markets typically displace more expensive fossil-fuel participation. Given the large scale of both battery and renewable adoption in Australia, our results have policy implications for global energy markets.

Role of Topical Anaesthesia in Pain Management of Farm Animals, a Changing Paradigm.

Simple SummaryImproved on-farm animal welfare is increasingly expected by consumers of livestock products, yet motivating farmers to adopt practice changes is challenging, with many presuming increased regulations are required. Husbandry procedures are routinely conducted in livestock production globally, mostly without analgesia, despite recognition they cause pain. Similarly, debilitating transboundary viral infections, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), occur in numerous countries, with affected animals often treated with antimicrobial preparations and infrequently with pain relief, despite obvious suffering. A commercially available, farmer-applied spray-on topical anaesthetic formulation (TAF), containing two topical anaesthetics, an antiseptic and adrenalin in a gel matrix (Tri-Solfen®, Medical Ethics, Australia), provides almost instant pain relief when applied to wounds and lesions incurred during husbandry procedures and FMD infections, respectively, with field trials demonstrating that pain and suffering are markedly reduced. Additional benefits occur when the TAF is used with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), with parenteral and oral applications increasingly available. As the TAF hastens healing rates, improves animal demeanour and provides antisepsis, the requirement for antimicrobials to manage risk of secondary bacterial infections is diminished, offering antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) stewardship. As pain management improves recovery rates, it enhances farmer animal health and welfare attitudes and increases livestock productivity and efficiency.Field evidence indicates that livestock producers are motivated by access to products that readily deliver pain management during husbandry interventions and, more recently, viral epidermal infectious diseases, including FMD. There has been impressive adoption in Australia of a farmer-applied spray-on topical anaesthetic wound formulation (TAF; Tri-Solfen®, Medical Ethics, Australia), initially for managing pain of the breech modification ‘mulesing’ procedure that reduces susceptibility of sheep to flystrike. Over 120 million lambs have now received pain relief and cattle producers have commenced using the TAF for a range of husbandry procedures. This product has demonstrated efficacy for surgical castration and tail docking of lambs, surgical castration and dehorning of calves, surgical castration of piglets, debridement of lesions of the hoof for lame cattle and, importantly, treatment of clinical FMD lesions, including decubitus ulcerations occurring from prolonged recumbency. Multimodal use of an NSAID for improved pain management is advocated, particularly meloxicam, available by prescription from veterinarians for injection and as an oral formulation (Ilium Buccalgesic®, Troy Laboratories, Australia), with current work assessing the potential for prolonged delivery in molasses blocks. Increased use of TAF with NSAIDs significantly reduces pain and suffering in livestock, with enhanced healing of FMD lesions, reduced viral loads from Orf infections in lambs and diminished necessity of ‘antibiotic cover’, assisting antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) stewardship.

Enduring Familial Relationships and Identity Preservation Make Simple Adoption the Preferred Permanency Option for Children in Out-of-Home Care

ABSTRACT Large numbers of children in Australia are in long-term out-of-home care (OOHC). Legal frameworks available for their care are long-term foster care, guardianship, and plenary adoption. Views of individuals with OOHC or adoption experience on these legal frameworks were explored via an online survey. A legal framework called simple adoption, which makes children legal members of adoptive families without legally excising them from birth families, was also considered. The respondents (N = 1019) evaluated aspects of these frameworks as strengths or weaknesses from which scores were calculated. Overall, simple adoption had the highest strength score, followed by plenary adoption, guardianship, and long-term foster care. The highest weakness score was for long-term foster care, followed by guardianship, plenary adoption, and simple adoption. That simple adoption enabled enduring familial relationships between children and their adoptive families while retaining legal identity and legal connection with birth families contributed to its favourable evaluation. IMPLICATIONS The legal severance of children from birth families and the supplanting of legal identity that occurs in plenary adoption makes this form of adoption unacceptable to many. Simple adoption, allowing for children to be full legal members of both their adoptive and birth families and preserving legal identity, makes it attractive to individuals with a variety of experience backgrounds. An exploration of legislative reform to allow for simple adoption in Australia should be undertaken.

Evaluating the Field Performance of Permeable Concrete Pavers

The benefits of using permeable interlocking concrete pavement systems (PICPs) have not translated into widespread adoption in Australia, where their uptake has been slow. This paper communicates the actual performance of PICPs installed in the field by providing evidence of their long-term efficiency. There are currently no Australian standards for design, specification and installation of PICPs. In this study, field measurements were conducted to determine the infiltration capacity of PICPs in Sydney and Wollongong, New South Wales, applying the single ring infiltrometer test (SRIT) and the stormwater infiltration field test (SWIFT). A strong correlation was found between the results of the two tests in a previous study, which was verified in this study. The long-term performance of PICPs is demonstrated by their high infiltration rates (ranging from 125 mm/h to 25,000 mm/h) measured in this study at field sites under a diverse range of conditions. The influences of conditions such as age of installation, slope and tree cover on infiltration rates were explored.

Trauma-informed training and education for professionals in Australia: a scoping review

PurposeTrauma-informed care and practice (TICP) has gained international attention since the mid-1990s, but its recent adoption in Australia has been met with various barriers, including a lack of training and education opportunities to enhance professional knowledge and practice. This paper aims to identify and further understand what is occurring in TICP training and education for health and human service professionals in Australia; specifically, what is known about TICP content and training strategies being used.Design/methodology/approachA scoping methodology was used to undertake a systematic search of the literature to identify and map the scope and nature of research activity on TICP training and education for professionals in Australia. Based on the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, removal of duplications, abstract review and full-text screening, six studies met the inclusion criteria for content analysis in this review.FindingsThe studies showed that TICP training and education was occurring predominantly in the Australian health sector for nursing professionals and improved knowledge, confidence to respond to disclosures of trauma and approaches to care. Training was commonly delivered through one-day workshops and brief Web-based approaches. The findings suggested that there is a need for consensus on TICP content to ensure that fidelity to the principles of TICP is promoted in unique workplace settings and for ongoing commitment by relevant stakeholders and funding bodies.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review exploring what is happening across disciplines and sectors for trauma-informed education. The findings have implications for clinicians, professionals, educators and researchers.

Prospects for habitat management to suppress vegetable pests in Australia

AbstractHabitat management is an ecologically based approach to suppress pest densities, utilising properties of non‐crop vegetation to improve the impact of natural enemies or to directly affect pest behaviour. Research in this approach has escalated dramatically this century, extending to uptake in some crops, but adoption in Australia has been lower than overseas. Here, we address the need of the Australian vegetable sector to reduce reliance on insecticides by assessing the scope for habitat management in brassica (Brassicaceae), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) (Asteraceae), capsicum (Capsicum annuum) (Solanaceae), carrot (Daucus carota) (Apiaceae), French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (Fabaceae) and sweetcorn (Zea mays) (Poaceae) crops. Each crop is of major economic importance, and together, they represent contrasting botanical families and production systems that are associated with different arthropod complexes. We review studies of habitat management that are based on provision of shelter, nectar, alternative prey or pollen for natural enemies (top‐down effects) or changing pest behaviour (bottom‐up effects) through intercropping or trap crops. The likely utility of these approaches under Australian conditions is assessed, and recommendations are made to promote adoption and for adaptive research. Nectar‐ and pollen‐providing plants, such as alyssum (Lobularia maritima) (Brassicaceae), offer strong potential to promote natural enemies in multiple crops whilst trap crops, especially yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) (Brassicaceae), have more targeted utility against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the most serious pest of brassicas. Opportunities for intercrops and banker plant species are also identified. Our recommendations serve as a platform for researchers and for farmer‐led studies to help realise the full potential of habitat management approaches in Australian vegetable production systems.

Timber and Multi-Storey Buildings: Industry Perceptions of Adoption in Australia

The use of Engineered Wood Systems (EWS) as structural alternatives or complements of traditional materials, such as steel and concrete, is of growing interest and acceptance in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Gathering evidence from the Australian context, this paper proposes a roadmap for the adoption of EWS as the primary structural materials of medium-rise buildings, with the scope of increasing levels of public awareness about the potential and current shortcomings of these building technologies. A nation-wide survey with stakeholders at the forefront of adoption in structural design, construction, and property development, indicates that the demand for timber in multi-storey projects has promising prospects of growth, but faces circumstantial industry-wide hurdles in the short to medium term. Awareness of benefits and inclination towards more use of timber among designers are positive factors that provide a promising base for further adoption. The translation of positive front-end design attitudes into adoption, however, requires holistic long-term investment efforts with industry-wide education. The pathway to innovation for timber in multi-storey projects needs to grow beyond mere promotional strategies of its benefits, seeking to expand technical knowledge through education and reaching out beyond a group of already committed and knowledgeable stakeholders at the forefront of adoption.

A proposed governance model for the adoption of geoparks in Australia

PurposeGood governance is crucial in establishing and managing geoparks and is a requirement by UNESCO if global status is to be achieved. Australia has three levels of government, government agencies and not for profit organisations that can assist in the reintroduction of geoparks to Australia. This paper examines a range of governance models used by UNESCO Global Geoparks. Design/methodology/approach: This paper explores mechanisms that could be applied in the reintroduction of geoparks into Australia and considers how future geoparks might be managed. The suggested model is based on a review of existing UNESCO Global Geopark governance and their management structures. Findings: This paper reviews the opportunities for engaging with Australian organisational stakeholders to support geoparks and proposes a model that would be suitable for adoption in Australia. Originality/value: This paper examines a range of governance models applied to geopark development. It reviews the opportunities for engaging with Australian organisational stakeholders to support geoparks and proposes a model that would be suitable for adoption in Australia. Such an account has not previously been undertaken nor a satisfactory model proposed for the Australian situation. This is the first time that a comprehensive model for geopark governance has been proposed for Australia.

Clicks or Bricks? Online Shopping Adoption in Australia

Purpose: This research identifies and ranks the decision factors associated with online shopping adoption in Australia. Design/Methodology/Approach: Primary data for this study was collected with self-administered questionnaires and analysed using EFA and logit regression.Findings: The following factors, ranked in order of importance, influence online shopping behaviour in Australia: perceived risk, service quality, website factors, brand image, product variety and Australian product loyalty. The findings also show that demographic characteristics also influence the probability that Australian consumers will shop online. Originality/value: This is the first empirical study in which the decision factors influencing Australian consumers’ decisions to shop online are examined. The research contributes to the empirical literature on online shopping from a theoretical perspective as the modelling framework can be used to analyse online shopping behaviour in different cultural settings. Longitudinal studies based on the modelling framework can also be undertaken to identify emerging decision factors and to track the changes in importance of the current factors. The results will also enable retailers to make informed decisions on their existing or future shopping channels.

Rural Proofing Policies for Health: Barriers to Policy Transfer for Australia

A ‘rural proofing’ framework, which offers assessment of the potential impacts of policies on rural and remote communities, has been advocated for by state governments and interest groups throughout Australia. It is argued that rural proofing can be used to redress health inequities between urban and rural and remote communities. While implementation of rural proofing in some countries shows promising results, there are many social and spatial contexts that should be considered prior to its adoption in Australia. Rural proofing is not the best option for rural health policy in Australia. It has been imported from communities where the urban/rural divide is minimal. It is based on a rigid urban/rural binary model that targets disparity rather than accommodating the diversity of rural communities. Rural proofing concentrates on tick-the-box activities, where rural communities are not sufficiently consulted. There is no unified federal ministry in Australia with responsibility for rural and remote affairs. Considering potential shortcomings of rural proofing for health policies, it is imperative for Australia to have a specific rural health policy at both federal and state levels.