How Communities Can Better Support Parents: Findings from an Effective Parenting Expo

This article focuses on identifying how communities can better support parents, families and young people. Participants at an Effective Parenting Expo (n=57) were surveyed about the value of the event, the challenges facing them as parents, and the changes that would significantly improve life for their family. This paper focuses on responses to one open-ended question, "Thinking of your community, what ONE change could be made to significantly improve life for your family?" Responses were coded into three key categories: Improved Sense of Community, Increased Support for Families and Safer Communities. These responses clearly demonstrate the importance that parents place on having a safe, cohesive and friendly community in which to raise their children. Unfortunately, with social capital, community interactions and connectedness declining, the challenge is how to reverse this trend and foster a stronger sense of community. Participants identified several changes they believed would build better communities, believing that free community activities, meeting places and practical parenting courses would better connect them with families in their own community. This research highlights the importance of community for family well-being, with parents identifying changes they believe will significantly improve life in their community for their family

Academic authorship, publishing agreements and open access: Survey Results

This report presents the results from an online survey, Academic Authorship, Publishing Agreements and Open Access, which was conducted by the OAK Law Project from the 2nd October 2007 through to the 9th November 2007. The OAK Law Project is part of the Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Law and is funded by the Australian Federal Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The OAK Law Project seeks to promote strategies for the management of copyright in order to facilitate optimal access to research output, particularly publicly funded research. The online survey implemented recommendations made in the OAK Law Report No.1 Creating a Legal Framework for Copyright Management of Open Access within the Australian Academic and Research Sector, August 2006 (See link to 'Related Work' below)). The aim of the survey was to obtain empirical evidence relating to: · authors' experiences in publishing periodical publications, journal articles, research papers, conference papers and book chapters; · author's knowledge of publishing agreements and their experience in dealing with publishers; · authors' awareness of the different terms and conditions in publishing agreements under which these items have been published; · authors' knowledge and attitude towards Open Access and Open Access Journals; and · authors' understanding of the legal rights and responsibilities impacting on Open Access to their published items. The results received from the survey will be used in developing model publishing agreements and template addenda, publishing guides and practical toolkits and training materials for academic authors and publishers

South Bank Corporation's Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy and Implementation Strategy

The Centre for Subtropical Design has reviewed the Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy and Implementation Strategy provided by South Bank Corporation by gathering a team of QUT experts to comment on the full range of sustainability aspects covered by the policy. The Centre has prepared this submission to assist South Bank Corporation to finalise an ESD policy and implementation strategy which will create a truly sustainable, prosperous, and liveable urban parkland precinct

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in follicular fluid from women experiencing infertility in Australia

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely used and detected in human matrices. Evidence that PFAS exposure may be associated with adverse human reproductive health effects exists, however, data is limited. The use of a human matrix such as follicular fluid to determine chemical exposure, along with reproductive data will be used to investigate if there is a relationship between PFAS exposure and human fertility. Objective: This study aims to: (1) assess if associations exist between PFAS concentrations and/or age and fertilisation rate (as determined in follicular fluid of women in Australia who received assisted reproductive treatment (ART)); and (2) assess if associations exist between PFAS concentrations and infertility aetiology. Methods: Follicular fluids were originally collected from participants who underwent fully stimulated ART treatment cycles at an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic in the period 2006–2009 and 2010–11 in Queensland, Australia. The samples were available for analysis of 32 PFASs including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). 97 samples were matched with limited demographic data (age and fertilisation rate) and five infertility factors (three known female factors): 1) endometriosis, 2) polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and 3) genital tract infections - tubal/pelvic inflammation disease; as well as 4) male factor, and 5) idiopathic or unknown from either males or females. SPSS was used for linear regression analysis. Results: PFASs were detected in all follicular fluid samples with the mean concentrations of PFOS and PFOA, 4.9, and 2.4 ng/ml, respectively. A lower fertilisation rate was observed at higher age when age was added as a covariate, but there was no relationship between PFAS concentrations and fertilisation rate. There were few statistically significant associations between PFAS concentrations in follicular fluid and infertility factors. Log-transformed PFHxS concentrations were lower in females with endometriosis (factor 1) than in women who had reported ‘male factors’ as a reason of infertility, while PFHpA was higher in women who had infertile due to female factors (factor 1–3) compared to those who had infertile due to male factor. Conclusion: PFASs were detected in follicular fluid of Australian women who had been treated at an IVF clinic. PFAS exposure found in follicular fluids is linked to increased risk of some infertility factors, and increased age was associated with decreased fertilisation rate in our data. But there was no relationship between PFAS and ferlitisation rate. Further large-scale investigations of PFAS and health effects including infertility are warranted

Legal and project agreement issues in collaboration and e-Research: Survey results

This report presents the results from a survey conducted by Queensland University of Technology’s Faculty of Law as part of the Legal Framework for e-Research Project, funded by the Australian Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), under the Systemic Infrastructure Initiative (SII), Research Information Infrastructure Framework for Australian Higher Education, as part of the Commonwealth Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability - An Innovation Action Plan for the Future (BAA). This report presents initial results from a national survey undertaken as part of the Legal Framework for e-Research Project. The survey was designed to explore the nature of e-Research and collaborative research in the Australian context. It should be noted that results presented are initial findings and an analysis of the legal context and the development of strategies will be included in a more detailed Project report due for release in early September 2007. The survey aims to explore the nature of research collaborations and to identify common legal and project agreement problems encountered in forming research collaborations in order to form strategies to facilitate and streamline the process of e-Research in the Australian context. Specifically, the aims of the survey were to: • Identify e-Research activities and levels of engagement; • Understand the nature of the collaborative research landscape; • Investigate characteristics of informal collaborations and agreements; and • Explore legal issues related to data and databases

'I think you are doing a good job, but?' Initial Thoughts on First Year - Responses from Students and Implications for the University

The first year experience (FYE) is both exciting and daunting for university students. Ensuring that this experience is positive and enjoyable is increasingly important for universities, with research indicating that students’ initial experiences will determine whether they complete their degree (McInnes, James and Hartley 2000). This paper analyses student responses to one open-ended question in a survey that considered students’ initial experiences of university at the Carseldine and Caboolture Campuses of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2005. The question was How could QUT and the campus improve your experience as a first-year student? Please describe both positive and negative aspects of your experience. The responses were classified into five categories: Enrolment/Orientation Issues, Socio-cultural Issues, Academic Support, Access to Information and General Comments. Some students did not comment (n=109) but those that did respond (n=155) identified some key challenges and possible solutions. These included: the provision of social activities for first year students, the need for improved clarity in enrolment processes, and more information and pre-commencement sessions on course structures/requirements/choices and career pathways. Two major implications for the initial phases of first year can be discerned from the challenges identified by the students. Firstly, improvements are required in orientation/induction programs and, secondly, the information provided to students, as well as the means for accessing that information, need to be clear and consistent

Thermostats, Climatically Responsive Clothing and Reducing Buildings' Greenhouse Gas Emissions

There has been increasing reliance on mechanical heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in order to achieve thermal comfort in office buildings. The use of universal standards for thermal comfort adopted in air-conditioned spaces often results in a large disparity between mean daily external summer temperatures and temperatures experienced indoors. The extensive overuse of air-conditioning in warm climates not only isolates us from the vagaries of the external environment, but is generally dependent on non-renewable energy. Research conducted at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) involved altering the thermostat set-points to two or three degrees above the normal summer setting in two air-conditioned buildings during the subtropical summer. It was expected that this minor temperature change would reduce energy usage of air-conditioned buildings and in turn, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this project was to measure the social, economic and environmental value of a different approach to thermal comfort, facilities management, corporate culture and acceptance of the benign subtropical climate. Surveys were administered periodically to workers in the buildings to assess their comfort levels during a four month period. Internal and external temperature, humidity and air movement were measured. Data collected was used to compare weather data and energy use of the buildings from the same period in the previous year; and also to analyse users' physiological and psychological responses, including the acceptance of appropriate climate responsive clothing as acceptable business attire. This paper presents the findings of the research, including 'lessons learned' and a set of strategies that may be used by facilities managers who adopt a similar initiative, to ensure that users of buildings are positively engaged and consistent protocols are communicated to all stakeholders

Women And Homelessness: Innovative Practice And Exit Pathways

The face of women now appears as a significant feature of the ‘new homelessness’. According to the Wesley Mission report the ‘faces of homelessness’ have changed significantly over the last two decades: ‘The old, derelict wino on the park bench has been joined by younger men, unemployed and hopeless; by the confused and mentally ill, frightened by the pace of activity surrounding them; by women and children, desperate to escape violent and destructive domestic situations; by young people, cast off by families who can’t cope or don’t care’ (Hoogland, 2001). This paper reports on recently completed research on women’s transitions out of homelessness and the role of housing and associated support services in offering ‘independence’. This paper will provide an overview of the research and the outcomes in the final report. The research sought to answer the following questions: a. What kinds of housing and support services do homeless women utilize? b. How does access to housing and associated support services affect women’s transitions out of homelessness? c. How do different forms of housing provision and associated support services affect women’s transitions out of homelessness? The research project was funded by the Commonwealth Office of the Status of Women (OSW), who sought to further its evidence based policy development through examination of the ‘exit pathways’ for women from homelessnessii

Mapping Youth-At-Risk: GIS and its Potential as a Service Integration Tool

This paper examines the utility of a spatial information tool in the form of a Geographic Information System (GIS)) in assisting human service agencies involved in integrated service approaches to engage in coordinated planning and service delivery initiatives. In accordance with an action research strategy, the aim of this study was to engage with stakeholders in the area of youth services and supports in a reflexive multidisciplinary environment regarding the potential of a spatial information tool in assisting integration and service delivery efforts. A number of maps depicting snapshots of demographic, disadvantage and housing data were produced, with the present paper reporting on stakeholders’ perceptions of both the mapped content and the potential of GIS in the development of a shared information system. Key issues relating to data collection, positioning in the information hierarchy and trust are discussed

Triclosan and benzophenone-3 in Australian pooled infant urine

The period of developmental vulnerability begins at conception and extends through gestation, parturition, infanthood and adolescence. The World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledges that children experience quantitatively and qualitatively different exposures to chemicals than adults, and that children may be more or less sensitive to a chemical than adults [1, 2]. For instance, because of mouthing behaviours, children have higher exposure to chemicals through non-dietary ingestion than adults [3, 4], and the possibility exists for different metabolism and/or toxicity between different groups due to the immaturity of defense mechanisms that are fully developed in adults [1]. Traditional toxicological studies are inappropriate for assessing the results of exposure at very low levels during critical periods of development. Biomonitoring data can be used to identify where policies should be directed in order to reduce exposure