Commitments to improve food environments in Western Australia: A review of local government public health plans

Objective: Food environments are significant drivers of obesity and diet-related diseases, making them key targets for interventions that support healthier food choices. The role of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is pivotal in shaping community food environments. However, the specific intervention commitments of these authorities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify Western Australian (WA) LGA commitments to improve food environments, as specified in their Local Public Health Plans (LPHPs). Methods: Between July and October 2023, all WA LGA (n = 139) websites were reviewed to identify publicly available LPHPs. All commitments relating to food environments were identified, summarised and thematically analysed using a document analysis methodology. Results: Thirty-five percent of LGAs (n = 48) had publicly available LPHPs. Within these LPHPs, there were 11 food environment-related focus areas containing a total of 412 commitments. All LPHPs addressed at least two focus areas; the most prevalent being alcohol reduction (n = 44; 92%), food quality and safety (n = 43; 90%) and healthy food/drink policy or provision in LGA settings (n = 37; 77%). Overall, the commitments within each focus area lacked clarity and a clear strategy for how they would be achieved and evaluated. Conclusion: It is commendable that WA LGAs are committed to enhancing food environments through their LPHPs. For their efforts to be successful, ensuring LPHPs are well-informed, adequately resourced and supported is essential. So What? Without increased support for LGAs to deliver on their LPHP commitments, food environment advancements may be limited. Future research should assess the implementation of LGA LPHP commitments and subsequent impacts

Floor talk | Searching for my work – PhD work in progress

Searching for My Work is a research residency that unfolds through material experimentation and artistic inquiry, focusing on the intersections of identity, memory, and decolonial feminist perspectives. This project explores how personal and collective histories are preserved, embodied, and reinterpreted through mixed-media processes. Working between photography, cyanotypes, textiles, and archival materials, I investigate the ways in which cultural heritage and gendered experiences are inscribed onto the body and space. My process is slow and layered, embracing the act of making as a means of reflection and discovery. By engaging with fabric, light-sensitive prints, and material residues, I trace connections between past and present, absence and presence, visibility and erasure. Rather than presenting a final exhibition, this residency transforms Spectrum into an evolving workspace—an active site where research takes form through artistic practice. The space will reveal how material choices, processual methods, and conceptual frameworks shape the work’s development. Through this approach, Searching for My Work invites audiences to engage with the fluid, iterative nature of art-making, positioning the act of searching itself as a critical mode of inquiry

The generality of psychosocial safety climate theory—A fundamental element for global worker well-being: Evidence from four nations

Occupational health and safety researchers and policymakers often rely on organisational theories and evidence to provide valuable information for effective policy making and understanding. Yet, most traditional and contemporary organisational theories are developed within a single nation, often in high-income countries. Therefore, cross-national validation is required for generalisable worldwide use. The current study focuses on an antecedent to workplace health and safety, that is, the psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and aims to investigate if PSC is an etic (i.e., universally applicable) or emic (i.e., nationally/context specific) theory. Across nations, we investigate the construct meaning of PSC by testing PSC measurement invariance and the invariance of a nomological network of PSC relationships, (1) PSC to co-worker to work engagement (PSC extended Job-Demands Resources (JD-R) motivational pathway), (2) PSC to co-worker support to psychological distress (PSC extended JD-R health erosion pathway), and (3) the moderation of PSC on the co-worker to outcomes relationship. A total of 5854 employees from four nations (Australia = 1198, New Zealand = 2029, Malaysia = 575, Japan = 2052) participated in the study. Multi-group structural equation modelling suggested that there was measurement invariance in a four-factor PSC model across the four samples. Findings from multigroup analyses support both the PSC extended motivational and health erosion pathways across nations, as well as the moderation effect of PSC in the Australian and Japanese samples. Together, the results largely support the etic nature of PSC construct and theory, with a few national nuances

Optimization of size and siting of distributed generation in unbalanced distribution systems: A literature review

Renewable energy sources (RES) are essential for meeting the rising global electricity demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from conventional generation. As traditional systems approach capacity saturation, the integration of RES into power grids becomes increasingly vital. However, the intermittent and variable nature of RES introduces significant technical, economic, and operational challenges. This review focuses on the optimal planning and integration of distributed generation in unbalanced distribution systems, which more accurately reflect real-world power network conditions. Emphasis is placed on siting and sizing strategies aimed at enhancing voltage stability, minimizing power losses, and reducing system costs and emissions. The review presents a comprehensive synthesis of advanced optimization methods, including metaheuristic algorithms and artificial intelligence based approaches, and evaluates multi-objective formulations that address technical, economic, and environmental performance criteria. Key research gaps are identified, notably the limited application of machine learning and reinforcement learning for adaptive control and the inadequate incorporation of policy, regulatory, and uncertainty factors into existing models. By addressing these challenges, this review consolidates the current state of research and outlines future directions for developing intelligent, policy-aware, and data-driven optimization frameworks to support the reliable and sustainable integration of RES in unbalanced distribution networks

Shared power, shared future: Navigating technology, ownership, and equity in community battery storage

Community Battery Storage Systems (CBS) are gaining traction as a shared energy solution to support the growing integration of rooftop solar and electric vehicles. Operating at the neighborhood scale, CBS offers benefits such as grid flexibility, enhanced self-consumption, and cost optimization. This review provides a multidimensional synthesis of CBS developments, examining technical design, ownership structures, regulatory conditions, and community engagement. By analyzing pilot projects and demonstration trials, the paper identifies recurring challenges – including inconsistent tariff structures, limited financial viability, and unclear market roles – that constrain scalability. It also highlights emerging strategies such as Local Use of Service (LUoS) tariffs and cooperative ownership models aimed at improving economic feasibility and social acceptance. The review frames CBS not only as an infrastructure solution but as a socially embedded innovation shaped by policy, trust, and equitable access. Advancing CBS deployment will require clearer regulatory definitions, data-driven assessment of business models, and increased stakeholder collaboration to realize its role in decentralized energy transitions

Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census

Introduction: This paper reports the key findings of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census. This is the first census since the COVID-19 pandemic and questions have been updated to assess the impact on RANZCR trainees and fellows. This report focuses on the analysis of respondents from Australia, New Zealand and overseas members, with a separate paper to follow focusing exclusively on New Zealand respondents. Method: The census was conducted in mid-late 2022 with many questions repeated from previous censuses. New questions were asked about theranostics, working remotely, hypofractionation and the impact of COVID-19 on work practices. Results: The census was sent to 591 radiation oncologists with an overall response rate of 52%. Almost half of respondents (n = 94/210; 45%) indicated that COVID-19 had no impact on the uptake of hypofractionation. Hypofractionation was most used by respondents in breast and prostate treatment (n = 134/200; 67% and n = 112/194; 58% respectively). Five respondents (n = 5/270; 2%) currently practise in theranostics, with the majority treating thyroid cancers within the public sector. Just under half (n = 81/167; 49%) of invited trainees responded. The majority felt that COVID-19 had a negative impact on their training. There has been a decrease in the number of new fellows seeking to complete further fellowships. Employment remains at very high levels for new fellows (\u3e 98%). Conclusion: The impact of COVID-19 on local practices and workloads was not as significant as seen overseas. There continues to be an increasing trend of radiation oncologists working in the private sector. The lack of indigenous representation within our profession continues to be an area that needs further attention

Integrative supportive care trial to enhance physical activity in malignant pleural effusion—Protocol for the ISC-TEAM/AMPLE-5 randomised controlled trial

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) heralds advanced cancer with poor patient outcomes. High symptom burden of weight loss, fatigue, breathlessness, distress, and anxiety leaves many patients unable to participate in desired activities of daily life and is associated with poor outcomes. Freedom from symptoms and maintaining daily activities are the key wishes of patients and carers. For the best outcome, accessible services aimed at prevention and management of malnutrition, care of psychological well-being, and support for increasing physical activity are required. Methods: The Integrative Supportive Care Trial to Enhance physical Activity in Malignant pleural effusion (ISC-TEAM) study is a two-armed, parallel group randomised controlled trial. Participants (n = 100) diagnosed with MPE will be randomly assigned to receive standard clinical care or integrative supportive care. Integrative supportive care will entail an individualised multidisciplinary program of dietetics, exercise physiology, and psychological input over 12 weeks. Participants will receive telehealth consultations with each discipline at week 1, week 4, and week 8. The primary outcome is device-assessed daily physical activity (steps/day). Secondary outcomes include quality of life, malnutrition risk, psychopathology, symptoms, physical activity profile, and program acceptability and compliance. Discussion: This randomised trial will evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary supportive care program in MPE aimed at improving participants ability to engage in physical activities. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12624000038594; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=386529&isReview=true

How climate for green initiatives drives eco-innovative and citizenship behaviours: The role of green engagement and green values

Purpose This study proposes and tests the nexus between climate for green initiatives, green innovative behaviour, organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment, green work engagement, and individual green values. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted the explanatory research design, where data were gathered from 374 star-rated frontline employees at two different waves within a one-month interval. The data retrieved from the respondents were analysed using descriptive and inferential (partial least squares structural equation modelling) statistics. Findings The study revealed that a climate for green initiatives positively and significantly relates to green innovative behaviour and organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment. Also, the results revealed that green work engagement mediates the said relationships. In addition, individual green values significantly moderate the nexus between climate for green initiatives and organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment, but do not moderate the nexus between a climate for green initiatives and green innovative behaviour. Practical implications Managers should cultivate a strong green climate and actively engage employees in sustainability efforts, as doing so drives pro-environmental behaviours, especially among those with strong green values. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this study presents a pioneering investigation into the behavioural dynamics underpinning employee green behaviours, as well as brings to bear original insights that challenge the conventional wisdom and existing assumptions in the hospitality industry literature

Mining waste in asphalt pavements: A critical review of waste rock and tailings applications

This paper presents a critical and comprehensive review of the application of mining waste, specifically waste rock and tailings, in asphalt pavements, with the aim of synthesizing performance outcomes and identifying key research gaps. A systematic literature search yielded a final dataset of 41 peer-reviewed articles for detailed analysis. Bibliometric analysis indicates a notable upward trend in annual publications, reflecting growing academic and practical interest in this field. Performance-based evaluations demonstrate that mining wastes, particularly iron and copper tailings, have the potential to enhance the high-temperature performance (i.e., rutting resistance) of asphalt binders and mixtures when utilized as fillers or aggregates. However, their effects on fatigue life, low-temperature cracking, and moisture susceptibility are inconsistent, largely influenced by the physicochemical properties and dosage of the specific waste material. Despite promising results, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly in relation to long-term durability, comprehensive environmental and economic Life-Cycle Assessments (LCA), and the inherent variability of waste materials. This review underscores the substantial potential of mining wastes as sustainable alternatives to conventional pavement materials, while emphasizing the need for further multidisciplinary research to support their broader implementation