Climate-Related Perceptions of Young People with Lived Experience of Disasters in Regional and Rural Victoria, Australia

The experiences of young people, particularly young women, in regional and rural communities and their perceptions of, and responses to, the climate crisis are under-researched. This research focuses on young people outside of urban centres. These young people are largely absent from the broader climate conversation, despite the impact of climate-related disasters in their everyday lives. Their experiences sit within the concept of rural as being deficit, disadvantaged and backward when contrasted with the experiences of urban young people and emerging calls to challenge this bias. This paper reports on a small-scale study investigating how young people who have experienced climate-related disasters in regional and rural Victoria perceive the climate crisis, the relationship between climate change and climate-related disasters, and climate action. Qualitative data was collected from interviews with young women aged 18–23 (n = 7) from six different councils/shires in rural and regional Victoria, Australia, which were impacted by bushfires in 2019–2020. The analysis is attentive to the particularities of “place”. The findings provide insight into regional and rural young people’s perceptions of the climate crisis, the connection (or otherwise) to climate-related disasters and climate action. They also reveal their perception of an urban/rural divide concerning climate action tactics and climate mitigation policy. The research highlights the social and material realities of young people’s everyday lives and feelings of stigma and fear, particularly where they perceived a conflict between climate action and the social and economic relations that shape their regional and rural communities

Associations between parental perceptions of neighbourhood environment and physical activity in children and adolescents: a systematic review including 149 studies

Background: Parental perceptions of the neighbourhood environment can be of particular importance for physical activity of children and adolescents, because parents act as the gatekeepers of their children’s behaviour. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the associations between parental perceptions of neighbourhood environment and physical activity among children and adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically review and summarise evidence on the association between parental perceptions of the neighbourhood environment and physical activity among children and adolescents (5 – 17 years of age). Methods: Literature searches were conducted in: CINAHL, Embase, Environmental Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Transportation Research Information Services, and Web of Science. The associations were coded as: mostly favourable (for 60% – 100% of studies showing a positive association); mostly unfavourable (for 60% – 100% of studies showing a negative association); and mostly non-significant, indeterminate, or inconsistent. Results: Out of 30,162 records identified in the search, 162 papers from 149 studies were included in the review. The most consistent finding was that a greater distance to school is unfavourably associated with active travel. Evidence of this association was found in children (5/7 associations; pooled sample size in the studies showing significant association [n] = 14,113), adolescents (3/4; n = 2328), and mixed-age group (8/13; n = 5410). There was some consistency in evidence on favourable associations of: (1) access to public transport, good street lighting, and presence of crossing guards with active travel among children; (2) access to sports and recreational facilities, parks and/or playgrounds with sports participation among children; and (3) access to sports and recreational facilities, parks, and/or playgrounds with non-type-specific physical activity among adolescents. Several associations were found in individual studies only, while others were mostly non-significant, indeterminate, or inconsistent. The quality of evidence ranged from very low to low. Conclusions: Parental perceptions of traffic safety and access to destinations and services are associated with different types of physical activity among children and adolescents. There is a need for longitudinal and experimental studies, more research among adolescents, more studies from low- and middle-income countries, and exploring a wider range of neighbourhood environment attributes

Early Leak and Burst Detection in Water Pipeline Networks Using Machine Learning Approaches

Leakages in water distribution networks pose a formidable challenge, often leading to substantial water wastage and escalating operational costs. Traditional methods for leak detection often fall short, particularly when dealing with complex or subtle data patterns. To address this, a comprehensive comparison of fourteen machine learning algorithms was conducted, with evaluation based on key performance metrics such as multi-class classification metrics, micro and macro averages, accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. The data, collected from an experimental site under leak, major leak, and no-leak scenarios, was used to perform multi-class classification. The results highlight the superiority of models such as Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbours, and Decision Tree in detecting leaks with high accuracy and robustness. Multiple models effectively captured the nuances in the data and accurately predicted the presence of a leak, burst, or no leak, thus automating leak detection and contributing to water conservation efforts. This research demonstrates the practical benefits of applying machine learning models in water distribution systems, offering scalable solutions for real-time leak detection. Furthermore, it emphasises the role of machine learning in modernising infrastructure management, reducing water losses, and promoting the sustainability of water resources, while laying the groundwork for future advancements in predictive maintenance and resilience of water infrastructure

Achieving success in post-graduate studies: A qualitative exploration of staff experiences transitioning from traditional to block mode delivery in an Australian university

Responding to student demand for flexibility in the delivery of classes as well as the potential barriers and enabling factors supporting student success, universities have introduced distinctive educational models, including replacing the standard 12-week, sequential delivery of units of study with 4- or 8-week blocks of one or two units at a time (Block Model). Most Block Model delivery and evaluation has been at the undergraduate level. The aim of this study was to investigate, via individual interviews, university staff experiences of teaching the Block Model at the postgraduate level. Staff affirmed that the Block Model resulted in high levels of engagement in teaching and learning; effective learning management systems; and up-to-date, engaging, and problem-based module design. However, staff also recognised the timetabling of units for students who were employed or had family commitments, and the cognitive burden carried by time-poor staff

Transformational Leadership, Psychological Safety, and Concussion Reporting Intentions in Team-Sport Athletes

Background/Objectives: The present study examined the predictive relationships between transformational leadership, psychological safety, and concussion reporting intentions. Interviews were used to understand the impact of the coach and teammates on the team environment and how this might lead to greater concussion reporting in team-sport athletes. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. 233 team-sport athletes (n = 160 males, n = 73 females, mean age = 19.83 years, SD = 3.15) completed quantitative measures of transformational leadership, psychological safety, and concussion reporting intentions, while five participants (n = 2 males, n = 3 females, mean age = 18.40 years, SD = 0.55) were subsequently interviewed about their experiences. Results: Quantitative results indicated that transformational leadership predicted a psychologically safe environment (p < 0.001), and social norms for team-sport athletes predicted concussion reporting intentions (p < 0.001). Qualitative findings highlighted the important role that coaches and teammates play in creating an open environment that encourages concussion reporting. Education and awareness were also seen to further develop such an environment, while athletes identified several barriers to reporting symptoms of concussion. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide researchers and practitioners with preliminary evidence that can shape the design of interventions to support the development of a team environment that can promote concussion reporting and, thus, prioritise player healt