Western Queensland Research Articles

Towards culturally appropriate assessment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional well-being.

Identification of need for specialist assessment and the use of relevant cultural information to inform mental health assessment and care are two key factors in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access to and experience of mental health care. This paper describes the Here and Now Aboriginal Assessment tool (HANAA) and the Cultural Information Gathering Tool (CIGT), two instruments developed to be used respectively by non-mental health clinicians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workers. Following widespread consultations and feedback, two independent groups of mental health clinicians based in Western Australia and Queensland were involved in developing the HANAA and CIGT. Both the HANAA and CIGT fill unmet needs in terms of instruments that can be used by non-specialists working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Preliminary use of the HANAA and CIGT suggests that they are well received, easy to deploy and effective instruments that promote cultural security and communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

O20.1 The challenges of diversity: hiv-1 subtype distribution and transmission networks within the australian molecular epidemiology network-hiv 2005–2012

Introduction Rates of new HIV diagnoses are increasing in Australia, with evidence of an increasing proportion of non-B subtypes reflecting a growing impact of sexual networks, migration and travel. This present study aims to further define HIV-1 subtype diversity and investigate HIV-1 transmission networks within Australia. Methods The Australian Molecular Epidemiology Network (AMEN) HIV collaborating sites in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and Western Sydney, provided baseline HIV-1 partial pol sequence, age and gender information for a total of 4929 patients during 2005–2012. HIV-1 phylogenetic analyses utilised MEGA V6, with a stringent classification of transmission clusters (bootstrap ≥98%, genetic distance ≤1.5%). Results HIV-1 B subtype represented 74.9% of 4929 sequences (WA 59.3%, SA 68.6%, W Syd 75.2%, Vic 75.7%, Qld 82.3%), with a greater proportion of clusters compared to non-B subtypes (27.6% vs 22.4% of sequences, p = 0.003), larger cluster size (36.0% with >2 sequences vs 24.8% of non-B clusters, p = 0.03) and more male-only groups (90%). The largest cluster comprised 29 B subtype sequences from Vic + WA (age range 23–70 years). HIV-1 subtype C networks (38 groups) included more female/male groups (73.6%) and a smaller proportion of groups >2 (16%), while CRF01_AE networks (44 groups) included 59.1% male-only groups, with groups >2 accounting for 22.7%. Conclusion This nationwide study of HIV-1 sequences involving 4929 patients’ highlights the increasing diversity of HIV-1 subtypes within the Australian epidemic, as well as differences in transmission networks within Australia that are associated with these HIV-1 subtypes. These findings provide epidemiological insights not readily available using standard surveillance methods and can inform the development of effective strategies for prevention of new HIV-1 diagnoses across Australian state boundaries. Disclosure of interest statement None declared.

P13.06 Knowledge translation: development of a sexual health clinical audit tool to enhance adherence to evidence-based guidelines

Introduction Sexually transmitted infections remain a significant public health issue for Indigenous Australians. Reasons for the high burden of disease include lack of access to quality care particularly in rural and remote Australia. Commissioned by the ABCD National Research Partnership, this project aimed to develop an audit tool to be used within a continuous quality improvement approach to enhance adherence to best-practice guidelines and improve the quality of Indigenous primary sexual health services. Methods The process of development of the tool involved engagement of a range of stakeholders including clinical experts, quality improvement practitioners and researchers; identification and review of best practice guidelines; development of key indicators that reflect quality of care; generation of audit items and questions; and construction of the tool, protocol and report. The tool was piloted in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. Results The sexual health tool includes indicators that cover the basic elements of sexual health care including risk assessment, investigations, treatment, contact tracing and follow up. The protocol guides the use of the tool and the tailored report assists in identification of gaps, goal setting and planning of actions for improvement. Important elements of tool development are broad end user engagement, multidisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional consultation, effective leadership, sufficient resources and consensus building around selection of key elements of sexual health care. Conclusion The tool, which reflects the best practice for Indigenous primary sexual healthcare, is now available to Indigenous primary health care services through the National Centre for Quality Improvement in Indigenous Primary Health Care (One21seventy). Used in conjunction with the systems assessment tool, the tool will be used to identify evidence-practice gaps, determine systems–related facilitators and barriers to quality care enhance the quality of sexual health care delivered to, and ultimately reduce the burden of STIs among, Indigenous Australians. Disclosure of interest statement Barbara Nattabi is supported by an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship #1072777. Development of the tool was supported by the Lowitja Institute. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.

Revision of the genus Hydroides (Annelida: Serpulidae) from Australia.

Hydroides Gunnerus, 1768 is the largest and one of the economically most important genera of calcareous tubeworms (Serpulidae, Annelida) that includes a number of notorious fouling and bioinvading species. Although the representatives of the genus are typically found in shallow waters of tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, the species composition of the genus in Australia has never been revised. We conducted the first detailed regional taxonomic revision of Hydroides species based both on the historical collections from Australian museums (Australian Museum, Museum Victoria, South Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Queensland Museum, and Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory) and newly collected material from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. In total, 25 species are currently considered valid in Australia, including three new species: H. amri n. sp. from NSW, SA, and Vic (previously referred to as H. cf. brachyacantha), as well as H. glasbyi n. sp. and H. qiui n. sp., both from NT, and two new records of H. furcifera and H. multispinosa for Australia. We have synonymised H. spiratubus with H. albiceps, and H. spiculitubus with H. tambalagamensis in this study. The status of the taxon H. cf. recta remains undecided. An identification key and diagnoses accompanied by original high-quality photographs for all species recorded in Australia are provided. Application of molecular genetics is needed to resolve the status of some problematic species.

Development of a technique for quarantining Great Artesian Basin springs from colonisation by the invasive fish Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki)

SummaryA species recovery project for the endangered fish Red‐finned Blue‐eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis) commenced in 2009 at Edgbaston Reserve in central western Queensland. To date, the project has included relocations and control of alien Eastern Gambusia (henceforth Gambusia, Gambusia holbrooki), using the piscicide rotenone. Preventing Gambusia colonising springs where Red‐finned Blue‐eye occur or have been relocated is crucial to the success of the project. As such, this study tested the use of porous silt fences that were installed around five springs from 2012. Results indicate that silt fencing is a suitable barrier material and that provided installed silt fences are serviced regularly, the material is an effective method of quarantining populations of endangered species in isolated aquatic environments. Four of the five installed fences were effective, and maintenance consisted of small repairs at regular intervals (quarterly) followed by replacement after 2 years. As such, silt fencing may have wider application in the conservation of endangered fish and other organisms, particularly in areas where isolated waterbodies occur and where their size renders exclusion fencing a practical recovery action.

Where do they all come from? Animal movement immediately following a hummock grassland fire.

A fire through hummock grassland in Western Queensland adjacent to a gas pipeline trench resulted in a 650% increase in the number of animals that were recovered from the trench in the seven days following the fire compared to the seven days prior. Those lizard species that shelter within spinifex or grass clumps, such as Tiliqua multifasciata, Ctenotus leonhardii, C. pantherinus, Lialis burtonis and Strophurus elderi had the largest increases, and the mammals Pseudomys desertor and Planigale tenuirostris showed similar increases. Species that typically shelter in burrows or ground cracks showed a decline in numbers recorded following the fire. Seven days after the fire event 91 animals were removed from the last 3km of open trench. However, no animals were ever observed moving across the burnt areas during the day. So where they came from and when they travelled remains unanswered.

'Something that makes us ponder'

When considering the question of reading provision in remote regions, Australian historians have tended to focus on the challenge of distributing books and other reading matter affordably across vast and sparsely populated areas. In the back-blocks of Western Queensland between the wars, however, the problem of distribution had been addressed with some success: by mail orders to metropolitan book retailers, subsidised postal rates, local Schools of Arts libraries, the Workers’ Educational Association and, above all, the efficient operations of the Queensland Bush Book Club, which performed extraordinary feats of remote distribution throughout the interwar period.

A new species of the lichen genus Monerolechia (Ascomycota, Physciaceae) from Australia

Monerolechia norstictica Elix from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland is described as new to science. In addition, the new combinations Monerolechia californica (H.Magn.) Elix and M. glomerulans (Müll.Arg.) Elix are made and a key is provided for the three species which occur in Australia.

Grazing impacts on the susceptibility of rangelands to wind erosion: The effects of stocking rate, stocking strategy and land condition

Abstract An estimated 110 Mt of dust is eroded by wind from the Australian land surface each year, most of which originates from the arid and semi-arid rangelands. Livestock production is thought to increase the susceptibility of the rangelands to wind erosion by reducing vegetation cover and modifying surface soil stability. However, research is yet to quantify the impacts of grazing land management on the erodibility of the Australian rangelands, or determine how these impacts vary among land types and over time. We present a simulation analysis that links a pasture growth and animal production model (GRASP) to the Australian Land Erodibility Model (AUSLEM) to evaluate the impacts of stocking rate, stocking strategy and land condition on the erodibility of four land types in western Queensland, Australia. Our results show that declining land condition, over stocking, and using inflexible stocking strategies have potential to increase land erodibility and amplify accelerated soil erosion. However, land erodibility responses to grazing are complex and influenced by land type sensitivities to different grazing strategies and local climate characteristics. Our simulations show that land types which are more resilient to livestock grazing tend to be least susceptible to accelerated wind erosion. Increases in land erodibility are found to occur most often during climatic transitions when vegetation cover is most sensitive to grazing pressure. However, grazing effects are limited during extreme wet and dry periods when the influence of climate on vegetation cover is strongest. Our research provides the opportunity to estimate the effects of different land management practices across a range of land types, and provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of accelerated erosion resulting from pastoral activities. The approach could help further assessment of land erodibility at a broader scale notably if combined with wind erosion models.

Up the creek with a paddle; avian flight distances from canoes versus walkers

Disturbance of birds by human activities is increasing and is of conservation concern. Little is known of the flight initiation distances (FID) of birds to recreational canoeing, although this activity is common and can occur in wetland areas inaccessible to vehicle or pedestrian traffic. We compared the FID evoked by a walker with that evoked by a canoe for 13 birds in wetlands in north–western Queensland. Canoes evoked shorter FIDs compared with walkers (means ± 95 % confidence intervals; 32.9 ± 7.6 m and 47.5 ± 7.4 m, respectively). These data could be used to establish buffers or codes of conduct for canoeists in wetlands in arid northern Australia, especially when water levels are low.

A field investigation into a suspected outbreak of pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis in horses in western Queensland

A disease outbreak investigation was conducted in western Queensland to investigate a rare suspected outbreak of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxicosis in horses. Thirty five of 132 horses depastured on five properties on the Mitchell grass plains of western Queensland died in the first six months of 2010. Clinical–pathological findings were consistent with PA toxicosis. A local variety of Crotalaria medicaginea was the only hepatotoxic plant found growing on affected properties. Pathology reports and departure and arrival dates of two brood mares provided evidence of a pre wet season exposure period. All five affected properties experienced a very dry spring and early summer preceded by a large summer wet season. The outbreak was characterised as a point epidemic with a sudden peak of deaths in March followed by mortalities steadily declining until the end of June. The estimated morbidity (serum IGG>50IU/L) rate was 76%. Average crude mortality was 27% but higher in young horses (67%) and brood mares (44%). Logistic regression analysis showed that young horses and brood mares and those grazing denuded pastures in December were most strongly associated with dying whereas those fed hay and/or grain based supplements were less likely to die. This is the first detailed study of an outbreak of PA toxicosis in central western Queensland and the first to provide evidence that environmental determinants were associated with mortality, that the critical exposure period was towards the end of the dry season, that supplementary feeding is protective and that denuded pastures and the horses physiological protein requirement are risk factors.

Brain Tumours and Prophylactic Antiepileptic Drug Prescribing Patterns by Neurosurgeons Practising in Australasia

Prescribing patterns amongst practising Australasian neurosurgeons regarding the use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with newly diagnosed intrinsic brain tumours are not well established. This study aimed to determine the rate of prophylactic AED prescribing in this clinical context and to determine if there were some particular factors that influenced prescribers in their decision. A survey was conducted, and of the 91 respondents, 23 (25.3%) prescribed prophylactic AEDs. No neurosurgeons practising in New Zealand prescribed, whereas within Australian states/territories, prescribing was most common in Western Australia (3/4, 75.0%) and Queensland (8/18, 44.4%) and less common in the Australian Capital Territory (0/2, 0.0%) and South Australia (1/7, 14.3%). The most commonly prescribed first-line AED was phenytoin (n = 15, 68.2%) followed by levetiracetam (n = 5, 22.7%). The duration of prescription varied from 1 week to 6 months, with 6 weeks chosen by most prescribers (n = 7, 35%). Important factors that influence the decision to prescribe include tumour location and a history of previous seizure/s, whereas the presence of oedema or haemorrhage and patients’ age do not seem to be major influences amongst prescribers.

Impacts on nontarget avian species from aerial meat baiting for feral pigs

SummaryBait containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is widely used for the routine control of feral pigs in Australia. In Queensland, meat baits are popular in western and northern pastoral areas where they are readily accepted by feral pigs and can be distributed aerially. Field studies have indicated some levels of interference and consumption of baits by nontarget species and, based on toxicity data and the 1080 content of baits, many nontarget species (particularly birds and varanids) are potentially at risk through primary poisoning. While occasional deaths of species have been recorded, it remains unclear whether the level of mortality is sufficient to threaten the viability or ecological function of species. A series of field trials at Culgoa National Park in south‐western Queensland was conducted to determine the effect of broadscale aerial baiting (1.7 baits per km2) on the density of nontarget avian species that may consume baits. Counts of susceptible bird species were conducted prior to and following aerial baiting, and on three nearby unbaited properties, in May and November 2011, and May 2012. A sample of baits was monitored with remote cameras in the November 2011 and May 2012 trials. Over the three baiting campaigns, there was no evidence of a population‐level decline among the seven avian nontarget species that were monitored. Thirty per cent and 15% of baits monitored by remote cameras in the November 2011 and May 2012 trials were sampled by birds, varanids or other reptiles. These results support the continued use of 1080 meat baits for feral pig management in western Queensland and similar environs.

Where Are Children and Young People in Environmental Education Research?

In 1984, theAustralian Journal of Environmental Educationcommenced. At that time I was 6 years old, in my first year of primary school at Tieri State School in Central Western Queensland. I knew nothing of theAustralian Journal of Environmental Education(AJEE), or environmental education for that matter (at least not in a formal sense). In many respects, I was perhaps part of the intended audience (the future generation). As was the case with many children of my generation (Generation X, on the cusp of Generation Y), environmental education at school was largely incidental. Having grown up in a mining town (from 1983 to 1991), environmental conservation was certainly not a welcomed perspective. All the same though, my childhood was free, untamed and unsupervised in the Australian bush. It was thatpastimeorplaytimewhere my environmental consciousness began its emergence.

Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and Predicted Breeding Values in Strawberry

Fusarium wilt of strawberry, incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof), is a major disease of the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) worldwide. An increase in disease outbreaks of the pathogen in Western Australia and Queensland plus the search for alternative disease management strategies place emphasis on the development of resistant cultivars. In response, a partial incomplete diallel cross involving four parents was performed for use in glasshouse resistance screenings. The resulting progeny were evaluated for their susceptibility to Fof. Best-performing progeny and suitability of progenies as parents were determined using data from disease severity ratings and analyzed using a linear mixed model incorporating a pedigree to produce best linear unbiased predictions of breeding values. Variation in disease response, ranging from highly susceptible to resistant, indicates a quantitative effect. The estimate of the narrow-sense heritability was 0.49 ± 0.04 (se), suggesting the population should be responsive to phenotypic recurrent selection. Several progeny genotypes have predicted breeding values higher than any of the parents. Knowledge of Fof resistance derived from this study can help select best parents for future crosses for the development of new strawberry cultivars with Fof resistance.

Climate, Winter Chill, and Decision-making in Sweet Cherry Production

Growers naturally adapt and manage production for unpredictable and variable seasonal climates; however, the projected changes in climate introduce a new concern with increased variability in the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events and sustained changes in temperature. This study addresses the complexity of providing clear winter chill information in a form that facilitates grower assimilation and application of that information, ultimately to assist decision-making around variety selection and management. This study established the chill requirement for two commonly grown sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties: ‘Kordia’ and ‘Sweetheart’, and explored the uniformity of bud burst in each. It was found that varieties required different chill hours and that ‘Sweetheart’ reached mean time to, and maximum total bud burst, faster than ‘Kordia’, but no subsequent impact on uniformity of maturity at harvest. There was no significant difference in uniformity of burst between the two varieties. The results obtained by matching chill accumulation to tree phenology showed that cherry-producing regions in Australia will experience sufficient chill to support the production of the variety ‘Sweetheart’ with an increase in mean winter temperature of 1 °C. Regions in Western Australia and Queensland will become marginal, or not suitable, for ‘Kordia’.

Foliar herbicide control of sticky florestina (Florestina tripteris DC.)

Sticky florestina (Florestina tripteris DC.) is an annual exotic weed that has become naturalised near the townships of Tambo and Barcaldine in central western Queensland, Australia. Three experiments conducted near Barcaldine identified foliar herbicides effective in killing sticky florestina plants and in providing residual activity to reduce recruitment from the soil seed bank. An initial chemical screening experiment evaluated the efficacy of 28 herbicide treatments. The most promising herbicides were then further evaluated in two response-rate experiments. Overall, 2,4-D/picloram, aminopyralid/fluroxypyr, clopyralid, metsulfuron-methyl and triclopyr/picloram proved to be the most effective selective herbicides. Two of these, metsulfuron-methyl at 18 g active ingredient (a.i) ha–1 and 2,4-D + picloram at 900 g a.i. ha–1 + 225 g a.i. ha–1 have now been included in a minor use permit (PER11920) with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of sticky florestina in pasture, stock route, roadside and non-crop situations using both spot and boom-spray applications (APVMA 2010). The permit also allows the use of 2,4-D amine for the control of seedlings only.

Remote area exploration—challenges and solutions

In Australia, onshore oil and gas exploration is increasingly focusing on prospects in remote areas. While working in a remote area avoids many of the constraints and obstacles facing onshore development, it also presents a unique set of challenges such as logistics and mobilisation and the efficient delivery of required environmental surveys, cultural heritage management, and stakeholder and landholder engagement. The absence of integration between technical and subsurface-program planning and supporting functions such as approvals, native title and cultural heritage, and stakeholder engagement can substantially increase the risk of delays and cost overruns. Clear forward planning of short- and medium-term exploration activities can identify opportunities for cost savings and schedule efficiencies. Drawing examples from two unconventional oil and gas exploration programs in remote western Queensland, the extended abstract discusses some of the key challenges to working in a remote area including safety, the importance of early engagement with stakeholders and ways to manage some of the key risks to project schedules and delivery. Highlighting some of the innovative approaches to securing regulatory approval used by AMEC in securing approvals for seismic campaigns and drilling programs, the author examines the interaction between the subsurface program and the approvals required to allow subsurface activities to happen.

What general practitioners said about the palliative care case conference in residential aged care: An Australian perspective. Part 1

ObjectiveTo examine the views of general practitioners on providing a palliative approach in residential aged care and in particular their experiences with the palliative care case conference.BackgroundThe national project sought to implement and evaluate a comprehensive evidence-based palliative approach in residential aged care.MethodsA purposive sample of 11 general practitioners (GPs) across Western Australia (2), South Australia (6), and Queensland (3) participated in face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to generate the core categories.ResultsThe evaluation by the GPs of the palliative care case conference in residential aged care is explained through three core themes: people, place, and performance. Understanding what GPs say about the people involved and the place in which they work, namely the residential aged care facility, can purposefully inform practice and policy. What GPs say about the performance or ‘doing’ a palliative care case conference is provided in Part II of this two part series.ConclusionThe views of GPs, on providing a palliative approach in residential aged care facilitates, offer a critical reflection on current practices and systems.

What general practitioners said about the palliative care case conference in residential aged care: An Australian perspective. Part 2

ObjectiveTo examine the views of general practitioners (GPs) on providing a palliative approach in residential aged care and in particular their experiences with the palliative care case conference.BackgroundThe national project sought to implement and evaluate a comprehensive evidence-based palliative approach in residential aged care.MethodsA purposive sample of 11 GPs across Western Australia (2), South Australia (6) and Queensland (3) participated in face-to face, semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to generate the core categories.ResultsThe evaluation by the GPs of the palliative care case conference in residential aged care is explained through three core themes: people, place, and performance. Understanding what GPs say about the performance or ‘doing’ a palliative care case conference can purposefully inform practice and policy. What GPs say about the people involved and the place in which they work, namely the residential aged care facility, is provided in Part I of this two part series.ConclusionThe views of GPs, on providing a palliative approach in residential aged care facilitates, offer a critical reflection on current practices and systems.