An exploratory analysis of planning characteristics in Australian visitor attractions

This paper provides an exploratory analysis of the planning practices of 408 Australian attraction operators. The results indicate that attraction managers can be divided into four categories: those that do not engage in any formal planning, those that adopt a short-term planning approach, those that develop long-term plans, and those that use both short-term and long-term planning approaches. An evaluation of the sophistication of attraction planning showed a bipolar distribution. Attraction managers favored a planning horizon of three or five years, and were inclined to involve their employees in the planning process. Managers relied strongly on their own research and tourism industry intelligence when formulating business plans. The content of plans tended to focus on operational activities, financial planning and marketing. The study provides a benchmark for the comparison of attraction planning efforts in various contexts. © 2006 Asia Pacific Tourism Association

Formal childcare services in North Queensland, Australia: an empirical assessment

This research is a step towards integrating both demand and supply assessment for childcare. Specifically, it focuses on a set of research questions that have been highlighted as salient by the childcare industry in Townsville, Australia. A survey among households in Townsville revealed that finding a childcare centre at the right location drives "formal" childcare usage. Non-usage is primarily related to respondents not getting care for the hours they need, and being unable to find care at short notice. It is shown that a geographical area in Townsville, Murray, would be the ideal location for a new childcare facility. The results of this research should be of interest to practitioners and policy makers in childcare

The influence of family intervention on the treatment of adolescent patients with borderline personality disorder: A literature review

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a widespread mental disorder linked to functional impairment and a high suicide rate. Adolescent BPD is now recognized as a reliable and valid diagnosis in psychiatric classification systems and national treatment guidelines. Family issues, such as parental underinvolvement or neglect, may affect the mentalization process and attachment styles. Thus, the family is crucial to understanding the etiology of BPD in adolescents. Family intervention was primarily used as a component of the psychotherapy strategy in the current treatment of BPD, including pharmacological and psychotherapy measures. The primary objective of this study is to review previous research on the effectiveness of family intervention in treating adolescents with BPD. Although there is currently little data, studies in this paper show that family intervention is a realistic treatment option for adolescents with BPD