Australian Location Research Articles

Experiences of primary health care nurses advancing their careers in a remote Western Australian location.

The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of primary health care (PHC) nurses advancing their careers in a remote location in Western Australia. The study was conducted in PHC organisations in one remote location in northern Western Australia. Six registered nurses working in four PHC organisations participated in the study. All were registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Participants were all female, and five had child carer responsibilities. They had worked in the region for between 8 months and 10 years. The design was based on a qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology involving in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Participants faced challenges advancing their careers given the limited employment opportunities and need to balance their professional ambitions with family needs. Participants had limited capacity to support each other's learning and felt poorly supported by employers to undertake professional development not directly related to their role. Participants were not well engaged with professional associations beyond undertaking online professional development activities provided with membership. Accessing professional development was difficult given a lack of time, limited access to local learning activities and a consequent need to travel, which was challenging. Despite the challenges they faced, most nurses remained passionate about their remote nursing roles and enjoyed the lifestyle. Remote PHC nurses face a range of challenges, some of which can be overcome by improved availability of local professional development and better support from employers and professional associations.

Management of tropical hand infections in a remote centre: a case report

We present a case of a severe hand infection over the thenar eminence in a remote Australian location. He had an excellent outcome following debridement and delayed primary closure with a split thickness skin graft.

Greenhouse gas abatement on southern Australian grains farms: Biophysical potential and financial impacts

The agricultural sector generates a substantial proportion of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Changes to agricultural practices can provide GHG abatement by maintaining or increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stored in soils or vegetation, or by decreasing N2O emissions. However, it can be difficult to identify practices that achieve net abatement because practices that increase SOC stocks may also increase N2O emissions from the soil. This study simulated the net on-farm GHG abatement and gross margins for a range of management scenarios on two grain farms from the western and southern grain growing regions of Australia using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) model. The soils and practices selected for the study were typical of these regions. Increased cropping intensity consistently provided emissions reductions for all site-soil combinations. The practice of replacing uncropped or unmanaged pasture fallows with a winter legume crop was the only one of nine scenarios to decrease GHG emissions and increase gross margins relative to baseline practice at both locations over the 100-year simulation period. The greatest abatement was obtained by combining this practice with an additional summer legume crop grown for a short period as green manure. However, adding the summer legume decreased farm gross margins because the summer crop used soil moisture otherwise available to the following cash crop, thus reducing yield and revenue. Annual N2O emissions from the soil were an order of magnitude lower from sandy-well-drained soils at the Western Australian location (Dalwallinu) than at the other location (Wimmera) with clay soil, highlighting the importance of interactions between climate and soil properties in determining appropriate GHG abatement practices. Thus, greatest abatement at Dalwallinu was obtained from maintaining or increasing SOC, but managing both N2O emissions and SOC storage were important for providing abatement at Wimmera.

Net-Geners’ perceptions of engagement through online videos

This paper provides a contextual overview of Net Generation students at a rural university in a tropical Australian location. It then provides a discussion based on the interview responses of 11 students studying either Education or Psychology in relation to their perceptions concerning the contribution that digital videos make to their engagement with subjects. It was concluded that the students perceive that digital videos can make a substantial contribution to subject engagement if the videos are relevant, concise and interesting, and are supplemented with effective pedagogy and classroom interaction and discussion.

Estimates of a Cultural Consumption Price Index by Australian Region

We propose a method to construct a price index of cultural consumption in geographic space. The index — the CCPI — is calculated from a standardised cultural consumption basket purchased by a representative consumer over 30 locations in Australia, using 2010 price data. We use a full cost method (direct plus indirect cost) to estimate the index value of the cultural consumption basket; highlighting the extent that price differences by Australian location are accounted for by larger indirect costs (particularly travel) in consumption. The CCPI thus offers an empirical estimate of variation in the real cost of cultural consumption throughout Australia, based on existing investments and technologies with uniform preference. We find that the smaller cities of Perth and Adelaide have the lowest index value, with the larger cities of Sydney and Melbourne next. Regional centres have index values that range between 20 percent and 100 percent higher, and remote towns scored considerably higher again. We then recalculate the index based on non-linear per capita scaling, which shifts the index away from major cities and toward evidently productive smaller cultural centres including Byron Bay and Fremantle.

Influence of neural network training parameters on short-term wind forecasting

This paper investigates factors which can affect the accuracy of short-term wind speed prediction when done over long periods spanning different seasons. Two types of neural networks (NNs) are used to forecast power generated via specific horizontal axis wind turbines. Meteorological data used are for a specific Western Australian location. Results reveal that seasonal variations affect the prediction accuracy of the wind resource, but the magnitude of this influence strongly depends on the details of the NN deployed. Factors investigated include the span of the time series needed to initially train the networks, the temporal resolution of these data, the length of training pattern within the overall span which is used to implement the predictions and whether the inclusion of solar irradiance data can appreciably affect wind speed prediction accuracy. There appears to be a relatively complex relationship between these factors and the accuracy of wind speed prediction via NNs. Predicting wind speed based on NNs trained using wind speed and solar irradiance data also increases the prediction accuracy of wind power generated, as can the type of network selected.

How green is my menu?

In the fight against childhood obesity, the school setting is key in helping children learn to make healthy food choices. A school’s role in delivering healthy eating messages can educate and influence the wider community. However, the healthy eating message can be directly undermined by the food being sold to children on a daily basis. The Parents’ Jury worked with Monash University and VicHealth to review school canteen menus. The snapshot study was designed to ascertain whether schools are adhering to prescribed state and territory nutrition guidelines. A fourth year Monash dietetics and nutrition student undertook a sample of 263 menus from across Australia (representing approximately 4% of all government schools). This work was undertaken under the supervision of Monash University, VicHealth and The Parents’ Jury. Menus were found online and were from 2011 or 2012. This ensured they were current and subject to policy and guidelines. To reflect Australian population levels and location, rural and metropolitan, primary and secondary schools were considered. Each menu was analysed in accordance with relevant state guidelines and the traffic light system of food categorisation. The study found a very low rate of compliance across the country, with the exception of Western Australia, which had more than double the rate of compliance than any other state or territory. It is our belief and contention this can be attributed in part to government involvement in school nutrition. This is the only state to have a compliance system. The results formed the basis of an advocacy campaign directed at governments across Australia.

The population genetic structure of the waratah anemone (Actinia tenebrosa) around New Zealand

The genetic structure of populations is often shaped by the reproductive system and larval properties of the species. The waratah anemone (Actinia tenebrosa) reproduces through both asexual clones, which have very short-distance dispersal, and sexual larvae, which are believed to disperse much greater distances. The impact of this mixed strategy on the New Zealand population structure of Actinia tenebrosa was investigated using microsatellite markers. The analysis incorporated 24 sampling locations from around New Zealand and one Australian location, using four microsatellite markers, n = 420. We observed low connectivity and high genetic differentiation between all locations sampled, with a distinct pattern of isolation by distance. The most distinct grouping of locations sampled was the north-east of the North Island from Cape Reinga to East Cape, which was identified by SAMOVA and STRUCTURE analyses as being moderately diverged from the remainder of the country. A tentative correlation was observed between genetic clustering and biogeographic regionalisation, where the distribution of a number of genetic clusters matched previously defined biogeographic regions. Within each location sampled, large numbers of clones were present and a latitudinal cline was observed in the relative contribution of asexually and sexually generated recruits, with an increase in asexual recruits on the South Island's east coast.

A new layout optimization technique for interferometric arrays, applied to the Murchison Widefield Array

Antenna layout is an important design consideration for radio interferometers because it determines the quality of the snapshot point spread function (PSF, or array beam). This is particularly true for experiments targeting the 21 cm Epoch of Reionization signal as the quality of the foreground subtraction depends directly on the spatial dynamic range and thus the smoothness of the baseline distribution. Nearly all sites have constraints on where antennas can be placed---even at the remote Australian location of the MWA (Murchison Widefield Array) there are rock outcrops, flood zones, heritages areas, emergency runways and trees. These exclusion areas can introduce spatial structure into the baseline distribution that enhance the PSF sidelobes and reduce the angular dynamic range. In this paper we present a new method of constrained antenna placement that reduces the spatial structure in the baseline distribution. This method not only outperforms random placement algorithms that avoid exclusion zones, but surprisingly outperforms random placement algorithms without constraints to provide what we believe are the smoothest constrained baseline distributions developed to date. We use our new algorithm to determine antenna placements for the originally planned MWA, and present the antenna locations, baseline distribution, and snapshot PSF for this array choice.

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: experiences in northern regional Australia

Objectives: This study aims to explore in depth the experience of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from the perspective of people with the condition in northern regional Australia. Methods: Qualitative research design was employed. Data was obtained from eight participants from a health service for chronic illness using semi-structured interviews to capture participants' diverse experiences. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed using a computer software programme. Data was coded and analyzed thematically. Results: Participant narratives illustrated the severe functional impairments and subsequent psychosocial consequences of this disease. In relation to the participants' experience of COPD, six major themes were identified. These were: emotional wellbeing, physical experience, knowledge and understanding, social relationships, external factors, and experience of intervention in relation to their COPD. Conclusions: This study provides a depth of insight into the day to day experience of people with COPD in a northern Australian location. Findings highlight the importance of the effect that climate, anxiety, and patient education have on participation in daily life and indicate a need for further research into these factors.

The impact of seasonality on tourism and hospitality operations in the alpine region of New South Wales, Australia

Despite the recognized importance of seasonality for tourism businesses, there has been a distinct lack of studies undertaken in the past that discuss the impact of seasonality on alpine accommodation resorts, and more specifically that focus on an Australian location. The main purpose of this study was to examine whether or not the Australian alpine accommodation providers and ski operations have been significantly impacted by the issue of seasonality and to determine more specifically, had there been industry pressure placed on them to become all season operations? For this study, a total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers of hospitality businesses located in the sub-alpine region of Jindabyne, and nearby alpine areas of Perisher and Thredbo in New South Wales, Australia. Study results indicated that the majority of managers acknowledged the fact that there has been an increase in the number of summer visitors each year which has pressured them to make changes to their operations. They conceded that such activity has served to reinforce a ‘stand alone’ mindset which was still prevalent amongst the majority of the managers in the region.

The Longer Term Functional Impact of a Traumatic Hand Injury on People Living in a Regional Metropolitan Australian Location

Aims: This article describes a study exploring the longer term functional impact of a traumatic hand injury on people residing in a regional metropolitan Australian location. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional retrospective survey was sent to adult patients who received treatment for a traumatic hand injury from the occupational therapy clinic at a regional Australian hospital, 1-4 years post injury (n=498). The Upper Extremity Functional Index was included in the survey. Findings: Over 90% of respondents reported having ongoing residual difficulties. Participants indicated that the most affected areas were work and leisure. Almost half the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the exercises ‘hurt too much to do’ (46%) and that they ‘did not have enough time’ to do exercises (34.5%). Conclusions: This study emphasized notable longer term impact of a traumatic hand injury on people residing in a metropolitan Australian location; especially in the areas of work and leisure. Findings indicate the need for some change in the delivery of rehabilitation programmes in an Australian regional metropolitan context. Holistic consideration of factors which may influence outcomes will improve rehabilitation programmes and, in turn, overall quality of life for individuals who sustain a traumatic hand injury.

Keryn Christiansen: a household name in microbiology

There are good and bad points to living in the world's most isolated city. For Keryn Christiansen, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Royal Perth Hospital, Perth has been a fantastic place to raise her family and has provided a unique opportunity to study staphylococcal epidemiology in a remote Australian location. It has also left her feeling at times professionally isolated, yet inspired her to take on a range of national and international roles that have made her a household name in microbiology.

‘Once I became a pensioner I became a nobody – a non-entity’: The story of one woman’s experience of the health care system

This article highlights one socially isolated older person’s experiences of ageing in a large metropolitan Australian location and the problems she encounters in attempting to access appropriate and timely health care. As society moves into a phase of rapid demographic ageing, this personal account provides health professionals with an in-depth insight into what it can be like to live in social isolation as one ages and needs ever increasing health care. Win is part of a larger study investigating difficulties encountered by socially isolated older people in accessing health care needs, and preferred her real name to be used for this article. All other names used are fictitious to preserve anonymity.

Queer Bisexuality: Perceptions of Bisexual Existence, Distinctions, and Challenges

The locatedness of this article falls lightly on such “places” as geography, nationality, and local politics; although it is written in Western Australia it is less especially Australian than it is especially queer. The article is located within the privileged space of queer theory making, and it privileges real and abstract locations. If a physical Western Australian location offers regional specificities to an analysis of bisexuality—for example, how Western Australian and Australian Federal Law regulates legal issues of sexuality—the author does not aim to catalogue them. Instead, the author illuminates an epistemology of bisexuality that theorizes “the interstitial.” It is the in-between knowledge spaces of sexuality that are drawn on to inform the analysis, gesturing towards the conceptual ground of nonnormative sex, gender, and queer lived experience. Foremost, this article is about queerness, about the “thinking space” that queerness provides. It is from this conceptual location (“mildly flavored” as West Australian) that a spotlight on bisexuality is cast. The word queer in this article refers to a specific conceptualisation of nonnormativity that is to do with a political and social sensibility; here, it is not a substitute for the words gay or lesbian.

Gambling Among Offenders: Results From an Australian Survey

This article outlines the results of a recent Australian survey of gambling, problem gambling, and gambling-related crimes among offenders. The research found that 34% of participant offenders had some form of gambling problem. This figure is 18 times higher than that found in the general population in the same Australian location. Many problem gamblers identified in the survey had not sought help for gambling and felt they didn't have a problem or were in control of their gambling. In addition, many survey participants said that their gambling was not problematic despite some admissions that they had committed gambling-related crimes. A significant implication of this study follows that offenders with gambling problems need to be offered therapeutic services while in the correctional system to reduce the prevalence of gambling problems and the commission of gambling-related offences.

The prevalence and production of turf-forming algae on a temperate subtidal coast

M. Copertino, S.D. Connell and A. Cheshire. 2005. The prevalence and production of turf-forming algae on a temperate subtidal coast. Phycologia 44: 241–248.This study shows that canopy-forming algae, composed mainly of fucoids and the kelp Ecklonia radiata (both Phaeophycea), dominated space on South Australian coasts relative to turf-forming algae. However, where canopy-forming algae are absent turf-forming algae are the primary occupiers of space (~ 70%). On some reefs where canopy-forming algae are restricted in spatial extent, turfs can occupy as much as 40% of reefs. Turf-forming algae are an abundant component of algal assemblages, but relatively little is known about their contribution to the primary productivity on temperate reefs, relative to canopy-forming species. This study reveals that net productivity rates of turfs at one South Australian location were very high across depths (1.3–2.9 g C m−2 day−1 or 23.2–88.0 mg C g ash-free dry weight−1 day−1), comparable to the values discovered on tropical reefs. Although turf-forming algae are much more productive than canopy-forming algae on a biomass basis, the annual net production per area is two to seven times lower for turfs than for canopy-forming algae. However, if negligible exudation rates are assumed for turfs (up to 1%), the biomass of carbon produced by turf algae represents 44–71% of the carbon incorporated into biomass of kelps. Taken together, these results suggest that while canopy-forming algae can be correctly assumed to be the major source of total carbon produced on temperate reefs, the contribution of turf-forming algae may be substantial to the biomass production and turnover on South Australian reefs.

Nutrients increase epiphyte loads: broad-scale observations and an experimental assessment

There is a global trend towards elevated nutrients in coastal waters, especially on human-dominated coasts. We assessed local- to regional-scale relationships between the abundance of epiphytic algae on kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and nutrient concentrations across much of the temperate coast of Australia, thus assessing the spatial scales over which nutrients may affect benthic assemblages. We tested the hypotheses that (1) percentage cover of epiphytic algae would be greater in areas with higher water nutrient concentrations, and (2) that an experimental enhancement of nutrient concentrations on an oligotrophic coast, to match more eutrophic coasts, would cause an increase in percentage cover of epiphytic algae to match those in more nutrient rich waters. Percentage cover of epiphytes was most extensive around the coast of Sydney, the study location with the greatest concentration of coastal chlorophyll a (a proxy for water nutrient concentration). Elevation of nitrate concentrations at a South Australian location caused an increase in percentage cover of epiphytes that was comparable to percentage covers observed around Sydney’s coastline. This result was achieved despite our inability to match nutrient concentrations observed around Sydney (<5% of Sydney concentrations), suggesting that increases to nutrient concentrations may have disproportionately larger effects in oligotrophic waters.

Changes in cyanoprokaryote populations, Microcystis morphology, and microcystin concentrations in Lake Elphinstone (Central Queensland, Australia).

Lake Elphinstone is a tropical inland water body in the far north of the Fitzroy Catchment in Central Queensland, Australia, and has experienced recurrent toxic cyanoprokaryote blooms since 1997. This article reports on an examination of the environmental conditions of the lake and the concurrent cyanoprokaryote species together with their toxicity. The lake was sampled three times during periods of high cyanoprokaryote cell concentrations. Successive changes in the dominant Microcystis species were accompanied by variation in the concentration of the hepatotoxin microcystin. Environmental parameters recorded during dominance by both the highly toxic species Microcystis panniformis and the nontoxic M. botrys are provided. Nutrient status, temperature, and light conditions were associated with species change within the blooms. Variation of microcystin concentrations coincided with speciation change (i.e., morphological variation) within the blooms. Also discussed is the environmental impact of toxin production by M. panniformis with respect to influence on cell division, energy states, and toxin photodegradation. Lake Elphinstone is the first Australian location reported to have M. panniformis.

Dingoes, development and death in an Australian tourist location

Dingoes, development and death in an Australian tourist location