Policy In Australia Research Articles

Public health policy for temporary seasonal workers with chronic hepatitis B in high-income countries: A comparative analysis.

This study examines Australia's Hepatitis B public health policies with a focus on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme seasonal workers as a priority population. The aim is to evaluate if Australia's Hepatitis B public health policies adequately address health disparities and equitable access to health care for seasonal workers as a priority population. We draw comparisons with the public health policies of New Zealand and Canada, to understand how these nations approach similar health concerns among their temporary seasonal workers. A health policy analysis was conducted on the public health Hepatitis B policies in Australia and then compared with those in Canada and New Zealand. Due to the nature of the study question, the review had a major focus on grey literature. The search was undertaken in two stages, including (1) Google search engine and (2) targeted websites. Basic document data was produced in descriptive summaries. Any data either explicitly or inexplicitly relating to the elimination of hepatitis B or equity towards the inclusion of seasonal workers was produced as analytical summaries through multiple revisions. Nineteen documents were identified, predominantly from Australia. Although Hepatitis B public health policies emphasised testing and awareness in priority populations, specifically mentioning seasonal workers as a priority population was absent in all three countries. The study underscores the exclusion of temporary seasonal workers in public health policies and strategies as a human rights issue, conflicting with principles of equity and equitable access to health care. Despite acknowledging challenges for temporary visa holders, policies lack specific provisions for seasonal workers. Addressing this gap is crucial for health equity and inclusive health systems. SO WHAT?: Our findings highlight the need to prioritise equity for temporary seasonal workers to achieve hepatitis B elimination goals by 2030. Exclusion from public health policies is a human rights concern, impacting access to quality health care. This study advocates for inclusive policies explicitly recognising temporary seasonal workers as a priority population, aligning with international human rights commitments to health care for all.

Decarbonising the Australian Economy Introduction

AbstractFor most of the last 15 years, Australia policy on climate change has been decidedly underwhelming, leaving us behind where we need to be to fulfil our obligations under the Paris Accord. But there are encouraging signs at present that there is an emerging consensus—amongst captains of industry, different levels of government, policy‐makers and everyday Australians—that we can achieve our ambitions to live in a world that is far less reliant on carbon.

Access and Injustice: An Intersectionality-informed Analysis of Victorian Mental Health Policy in Australia

Access and Injustice: An Intersectionality-informed Analysis of Victorian Mental Health Policy in Australia

Governance of artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia

AbstractGovernance of artificial intelligence (AI) has not achieved global participation. The primary state‐led instrument focusing specifically on the global governance of artificial intelligence is the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). Although GPAI aims for broad international participation, the only GPAI member from Southeast Asia is Singapore. GPAI's imbalanced global participation, restrictive membership process, and limited translations are potential barriers to Southeast Asian participation. However, a comparative policy analysis suggests that GPAI members and nonmembers in Southeast Asia have AI governance policies which are largely compatible, despite key differences. This study uses quantitative topic‐modeling and qualitative content analysis to compare the AI governance policies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam with the policies of Australia and Singapore, as reference GPAI members. The policies of GPAI, Australia, and Singapore emphasise the function of ethics while the policies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam emphasise the function of human capital development. State‐led, global AI governance efforts could attract more Southeast Asian participation by further emphasising human capital development and deemphasising the function of ethics. GPAI could increase the likelihood of Southeast Asian participation by decreasing its emphasis on political systems, allowing intergovernmental organisations to join, and recruiting all G20 members.

Challenges and Opportunities for a Local Government Implementing a Human Rights Policy in Australia

This article considers how a human rights culture in urban policymaking fits within wider theories of human rights cities. Specifically, it considers practical ways to bring together what local government officers consider the most important initiatives to enhance human rights in the city, and which initiatives are feasible to implement in the context of complex urban governance structures. It argues that principles of leadership, accountability, and operational capability are all integral to the successful implementation of a human rights approach in the city. This account is informed by empirical data from a research project undertaken in a city council located in Melbourne, Australia. This study used a mixed-methods approach combining conversations, focus groups, and a co-designed workshop with local government officers working in various departments in the city, local politicians, and community representatives. The workshop collected ideas on how to work successfully towards the implementation of a human rights policy in the city council and to understand how obstacles to implementation can be overcome by changing the culture in the organisation. The findings show that a lack of leadership, an overreliance on quantitative monitoring, and diffused operational capability hamper the implementation of a local human rights culture in this local government council. Recommendations are for councillors and CEOs in local governments to take a stronger leadership role and for residents to be more involved in the co-design of human rights initiatives in the community.

Recommendations of the Queensland children's gender service external evaluation and their implications for health policy in Australia.

To review the evaluation process and the implications for Australian health policy of the 2024 external clinical service evaluation of the Queensland Children's Gender Service (QCGS) and its recommendations. Failing to perform a systematic review of the relevant literature, and adhering to discredited and ideologically based guidelines, the Review made recommendations lacking evidentiary support that have major implications for Queensland and other Australian health services. The evaluation report's recommendations reveal eight areas of concern about the clinic's functioning.

Cutting the Gordian knot of the education ‘crisis’ with teacher testing. A blunt instrument that crushes marginalised pre-service teachers

ABSTRACT This paper offers a brief yet evocative glimpse into marginalised pre-service teachers’ (PST) experiences of teacher testing in Australia’s High-stakes Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). Utilising Critical Disability Theory (CDT)in particular, Goodley’s (2016) concept of neoliberal-ableism, we problematise teacher testing as a gatekeeping tool for students undertaking teacher education. The article highlights how neoliberal education policies in Australia have disempowered and turned away talented and empathetic future teachers. By illuminating their embodied experiences of stress and anxiety, we interrogate neoliberal discourses of power and how teacher testing is used as a blunt instrument to solve complex problems and funnel public funding to private corporations. As part of a larger longitudinal research project, we offer four narrative portraits giving voice to vulnerable PSTs who have become unwitting victims of the high-stakes test juggernaut. This article focuses on five emergent themes from the research: (a) the embodied impact of stress and anxiety on test-takers, (b) withholding of information regarding testing processes and support, (c) the lack of differentiation available to PSTs (d) impacts of edu-businesses and the business of education on vulnerable participants and (e) a passion for differentiation.

Cybersecurity: Putting Indigenous Peoples First

ABSTRACTDespite rising awareness of the critical importance of Indigenous data sovereignty principles for the empowerment of Indigenous communities, there is minimal evidence of any engagement from cybersecurity policy makers or researchers to actualise these goals. This paper reports preliminary findings from the first phase of a more extensive research programme investigating cybersecurity in relation to Indigenous communities, which analysed national cybersecurity policies in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Australia as the Destination for Study Abroad: International Students’ Mobility

International students have become one of the main populations in Australian universities. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many international students decided to go to other countries and regions for their higher education due to the border control policies in Australia. Based on the social cognitive career and motivation theory, this study explored the motivations and reasons why Chinese postgraduate international students decided to return to Australia after the Australian government officially re-opened the border for on-campus and face-to-face education and why Chinese postgraduate international students decided to study in Australia instead of other countries, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the general inductive approach with semi-structured interviews, focus group activities, and member-checking interviews, 20 Chinese postgraduate international students’ stories were captured. The findings indicated that financial, academic, and personal considerations are significant in the participants’ decision-making processes. The results will fill the research gaps and become a reference in international student mobilities, decisions, and decision-making processes of international students, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Australian university environment.

Australian foreign policy, the media and responses to mass atrocities

ABSTRACT This paper begins to put together a thus-far missing picture of the dynamics between Australian public opinion, media and foreign policy responses to genocide and other mass atrocities, in the Asia-Pacific and further afield. It examines key factors likely to influence these relationships, focusing on the role and significance of normative-ideational imperatives, such as Australian values and notions of ‘good international citizenship’ in Australia's foreign policymaking. To assess the centrality of these imperatives for the public and their implications for foreign policy, an exploratory study is conducted of Australian mainstream media's coverage of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar during 2016–2017. The findings point to striking normative omissions in the media's coverage and public and official deliberations over Australia's policy responses to the crisis. The essay discusses potential explanations for these omissions and highlights themes for further research arising from the study. These relate to the influence of political party bipartisanship on Australia's foreign policies, the importance of middle powers cooperation for international atrocity prevention, and the extent to which a focus on refugee intake and humanitarian aid might have substituted for discussions of more direct ways Australia could assist in halting the violence itself.

Exploring affordable housing policy in federal states: social housing and housing allowances in Australia, Austria, Canada, and Germany

ABSTRACT In federal states, constituent units play an important role in affordable housing policy. Nevertheless, insights into affordable housing policy in federations are lacking. To lay the grounds for future research about an increasingly salient policy field, this research note explores the degree of de/centralization in affordable housing policy in Australia, Austria, Canada, and Germany, focusing on the two main policy instruments: social housing and the housing allowance. The research note develops an analytical framework that allows the examination of the relative significance of the federal government and the constituent units, and it applies this framework to the four countries. The research note highlights that legislative authority often does not fully capture the degree of de/centralization. Governments’ decision to provide a policy instrument, the relative importance of policy instruments, the provision of conditional grants, and the existence of a functional division of powers must also be considered.

Approaches to Identifying health disparities by ethnicity using linked Australian Census data

BackgroundEthnicity is not collected routinely in Australian health data. Ancestry data is collected in the Census which is now linked to health data. We aimed to develop an approach to using ancestry data to examine health disparities. MethodsAn expert panel was formed with representatives from the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and researchers. The work was also informed by a community panel and yarning circles led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics. We analysed 2016 Census data linked to death registrations for 2016-2021 in 20.9 million people and compared how different approaches to categorising ethnicity impacted on detection of health inequalities between groups. ResultsWe developed the following approach: (1) Recategorise those reporting Australian only or New Zealand only ancestry from the Oceania to the European category; (2) For those reporting two ancestries: prioritise ethnic minority over national identities (e.g. Australian) and for the remainder create multiethnic groups based on the combined ancestries; (3) First analyse data at the maximum level of granularity, but then collapse up granularity where no disparities are identified to simplify results and messaging. Analysis of mortality data demonstrated that these approaches improved identification of ethnic mortality inequalities. DiscussionWe developed a set of principles to use Australian Census Ancestry data to identify health disparities by ethnicity. The recommendations facilitate harnessing valuable Census data to identify important health disparities and better inform future health policy in Australia.

Has a dedicated biodiversity offsets policy improved the environmental and social compensation outcomes of development in Australia?

AbstractBiodiversity offsets are used worldwide to provide environmental compensation for the impacts of development and to meet the goals of sustainable development. Australia has embraced the use of offsets and its offset methodologies have been used as models by other jurisdictions. However, the maturity of offset requirements in Australia is unknown. To understand this, development referrals submitted under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) between October 2011 and September 2017 were reviewed to determine if offset requirements in Australia were improving in complexity, transparency and/or environmental outcomes (termed maturity) over time. Despite the implementation of dedicated policy in Australia in 2012, our analysis showed that offset requirements were not on a trajectory towards improvement (maturity) over the 6-year period examined. There was no evidence to suggest the type of offsets required and compensation for impacts to specific species and habitats increased in complexity over time. The level of detail included for offset requirements, mandatory commencement dates and requirements for ecological outcomes similarly did not increase over time. Consequently, dedicated legislation for offsets is recommended to remedy these omissions and enable effective functionality for biodiversity offsets through the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services.

Comparative analysis of school food policies in Australian jurisdictions: Insights for more effective policy action.

School food policies in Australia have the potential to positively impact healthy eating in schools. While the policies are reviewed regularly, it is unknown if revised school food policies have incorporated the recommendations from a 2020 review of nutrition policies in publicly funded institutions. This review aims to examine the current state of Australian school food policy environment, including national-level guidelines, food safety, allergy, and anaphylaxis management policies. School food policy documents were identified by searching the federal government, and Departments of Health and Education websites of Australian jurisdictions. The L'Abbé framework for monitoring and evaluation of nutrition policies guided the data analysis. Eleven policies/guidelines from Australian national and state/territory governments were reviewed in 2023. Four state/territory policies had major updates since 2020. The consistency of nutrition standards improved across five jurisdictions, although a common nutrient classification system would have allowed better comparison. Implementation guides/tools and supporting resources were provided in all policies although their comprehensiveness varied. Policy monitoring and evaluation guide/tools, and local food procurement were incorporated in two additional policies. School principals were responsible for policy implementation and schools for independent compliance monitoring. Continued improvement in monitoring and evaluation plans, policy review timelines, and support systems for schools is needed to enhance implementation and impact of school food policies. External stakeholder support may help school leadership in more effective policy implementation. SO WHAT?: Limited progress in incorporating recommendations into current school food policies calls for additional support and strategies to enhance policy implementation and monitoring.

Recognition of Prior Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

The aims of this research are to describe recent, global, empirical understandings of the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and to synthesise and extant knowledge in a way that assists stakeholders in uplifting the transitions to education, employment, or training. RPL matters are particularly important to current sector policy initiatives as reforms to the Australian government’s approach to widening participation in higher education have helped in the development of the 2021 National Microcredentials Framework to define, standardise and consolidate RPL for Australian citizens. Furthermore, the recent 2024 Australian Universities Accord Final Report highlights the importance of RPL to facilitate lifelong learning. A systematic review guided by the PRISMA and PICO frameworks identified 65 articles published between 2013-2023, that empirically examined RPL. Using manual thematic analysis, 17 core themes were organised into five meta-themes: 1) the benefits of RPL; 2) the challenges of RPL; 3) RPL processes; 4) institutional processes; and 5) national RPL policy. This article provides timely insights to shape the future RPL research agenda as well as RPL practice and policy in Australia and beyond.

“Absolutely it was not safe”: Indigenous LGBTIQSB+ experiences of education in Australia

Indigenous LGBTIQSB+ individuals occupy a unique intersection of identities that inform their lived experiences and the ways in which they navigate colonial settler educational institutions. Despite a considerable body of evidence demonstrating the importance of inclusion, educational policies in Australia remain outdated. These policies are frequently informed by a deficit approach that justifies the absence of Indigenous and gender/sexuality diverse content within school curricula. This further acts to shore up discriminatory practices and policies. Using interviews and workshops held with young Indigenous LGTBIQSB+ people, this article reports on the ways participants experienced educational institutional settings. First, participants reported on the kinds of policies and curriculum content that discriminated against and marginalised them, as well as highlighting some positive aspects of school and university. Participants also revealed the potentialities for Indigenous and LGBTIQSB+ inclusivity that could be facilitated within educational spaces. The article demonstrates the need for safer and more inclusive educational environments, which could be achieved through the decentring of settler knowledges and heteronormativity, transforming educational spaces at an institutional level to facilitate safety at interpersonal and collective levels.

What can we learn from disability policy to advance our understanding of how to operationalise intersectionality in Australian policy frameworks?

AbstractIntersectional theory recognises inequity is rarely the result of one social identity; social identities, and their interaction with context and power relations, offer some protective factors, while marginalises others. Taking an intersectional approach to social policy has the potential to provide deeper insights in terms of identifying and responding to needs, and understanding the impact of policies and specific interventions for diverse people. While Australian social policies, such as national strategies, are beginning to recognise inequity is likely to be higher for some social identities than others, a recent review of Australian policy and how it responds to people with disability suggests policies do not yet appear to take an intersectional approach. Drawing on this review, we discuss the challenges in operationalising intersectionality, explore how they may be overcome, and identify considerations for scholars and future research opportunities to advance our understanding of how to operationalise intersectionality in social policy in Australia. We suggest intersectionality requires a broader cultural shift across society and professions to recognise people have multiple identities, statuses, and life circumstances, and the way they interact with the context and power relations affects how they experience life.Points for practitioners Intersectionality recognises the interaction between social identities, context, and power relations. The research note aims to advance our understanding of how to operationalise intersectionality in Australian social policy. This note builds on a review of Australian policy frameworks and whether they take an intersectional approach to addressing disability. The research note identifies considerations for researchers and research opportunities. A broader cultural shift across society is required to recognise how different factors affect how people experience life.

Tensions undermining equitable school funding: insights from Australia

ABSTRACT School funding policy in Australia not only promotes educational equity in some ways but also creates substantial between-school resource inequalities due to its embrace of market ideologies. School funding policies are designed to promote school choice and competition, based on the assumption that they are both a right and an effective lever for improving educational outcomes. School funding is used to create an educational marketplace with varying ‘price points’, leading to the acceptance of a two-tiered system of basic provision via the public sector and enhanced provision for those willing to pay via the private sector. Political commitment to making school funding more equitable has been largely absent. Marketisation is the mechanism by which schooling maintains its capacity to reproduce social inequality without evoking class-based discourse or anxiety.

호주의 불법 마약 관련 법과 통제정책:한국과의 간략한 비교

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Australian drug laws, highlighting the evolution of laws from the late 19th century to the present, and comparing them with South Korean drug policies. It begins by exploring the historical context of Australian drug laws, highlighting the shift from minimal intervention in the late 19th century, characterized by the widespread use of drugs like opium and morphine, to more stringent drug control policies in the early 20th century. This change was influenced by international developments and domestic concerns, notably racial prejudices and the rise of international drug conventions. The paper then delves into the legal frameworks governing drug offences in Australia, explaining the interplay of federal and state laws. It outlines the specific provisions and penalties, with an emphasis on the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cth) and the definitions of serious drugs. A detailed examination of drug offences under Federal law is provided, including distribution, production, import-export and possession offences, along with their respective penalties. Furthermore, the paper discusses the enforcement and prosecution of drug laws in Australia, detailing the roles of law enforcement agencies, the prosecution process, and the judiciary's role in interpreting and applying these laws. It also highlights the shift in Australian drug policy towards harm reduction and public health approaches. This section includes case studies of harm reduction initiatives in Australia. A notable aspect of the paper is the comparison between Australian and South Korean drug laws, elucidating their similarities and differences. While both countries adopt a strict stance on illicit drugs and have similar drug classification systems, they differ in their approach to personal use and possession, harm reduction focus, legal status of cannabis, and cultural perceptions of drug use. The paper concludes by emphasizing the complexity of drug legislation and policy in Australia, shaped by international conventions and domestic priorities. It notes that Australian drug laws strike a balance between prohibition, control, and public health, providing valuable insights for international audiences. The paper also recognizes the dynamic nature of Australian drug law, suggesting that its evolution could significantly influence global drug policy, especially with emerging challenges like synthetic drugs and online drug trafficking.

Living evidence syntheses: the emerging opportunity to increase evidence-informed health policy in Australia.

Living evidence syntheses: the emerging opportunity to increase evidence-informed health policy in Australia.