Homeless and connected: mobile phones and the Internet in the lives of homeless Australians

New research shows high mobile and smart phone ownership among people experiencing homelessness, but staying connected is a struggle. Overview This project set out to research how a group of consumers – people experiencing homelessness – access and use mobile phones and the Internet (covering fixed and wireless Internet sources). The aim was to provide the evidence to inform the delivery of public services by community, welfare and government agencies to this group of consumers, and to develop and improve on telecommunications policies and initiatives that address the needs and challenges of consumers facing hardship, including homelessness. Traditional approaches to researching homelessness and digital technology have focused on barriers or ‘gaps’ in accessing technology, known as the ‘digital divide’. This project goes beyond this approach by recognising that many people experiencing homelessness are already mobile phone and Internet consumers that have unique patterns of ownership and use, which correspond to their homeless circumstances (Newman, Baum and Biedrzycki, 2010, 2012; Le Dantec, 2010; Yoshida, 2010). A confluence of trends – shifting patterns of connectivity, and a push to online and mobile delivery of all high volume or ‘heavy user’ government services – has made researching these patterns an urgent priority. The project involved working with the support of the national peak advocacy body for people experiencing homelessness, Homelessness Australia, and seven homelessness accommodation and support services in inner and outer metropolitan Sydney and Melbourne. In summary, it was found that for the 95 families, young people and adults who participated in the study: A mobile phone was essential – the most important uses of the mobile phone, after contacting friends and family, were: contacting emergency services (52%); support services (49%), and medical assistance (48%). Most had a mobile phone – 95% had a mobile phone and 77% reported having a smart phone. Staying connected was difficult – shortage of credit, service and power restrictions, number changes and handset loss resulted in partial or restricted access to one or a number of mobile and Internet services. Significant impacts resulted from connectivity limitations – such as not being able to contact essential support and emergency services, being at physical risk without the ability to reach help and not meeting basic eligibility requirements of some government services. Users had a wide range of connectivity and affordability strategies – using a pre-paid mobile service and alternative Internet sources such as free Wi-Fi hotspots and Internet access in public libraries and accommodation centres were key measures for keeping costs down and staying connected. Mature male adults who were single and experiencing long-term homelessness were more likely to be without a mobile phone and not use the Internet – this group made up 60% of those with no mobile phone access and of these 40% reported they didn’t use the Internet at all. Vulnerable consumers with complex needs, that is, with a set of overlapping health and support needs[1], had the most payment difficulties and debt relating to mobile phone services. For agencies in the process of, or embarking on the reform of their services, these findings point to the potential to use online and mobile platforms to deliver services to and engage clients who are experiencing homelessness. Many in this group are not laggards in technology – indeed when it comes to mobiles – they are leaders. At the same time, while having a mobile phone is commonplace for many people experiencing homelessness, staying connected is a struggle and access is not guaranteed. Moreover, within this population, there are some who are especially likely to be without any form of mobile or Internet technology and experience serious difficulties with the cost and terms of post-paid plans. It is important to recognise that the imperative to have a mobile phone is not primarily driven by a desire to own or upgrade to the latest gadget. For people experiencing homelessness this is a matter of survival – there is no ready alternative like a household telephone or broadband connection to use when homeless. A wide range of activities which constitute fundamental forms of social and economic participation, including accessing emergency services, medical help and crisis support, hinge on ready access to a phone. With large-scale patterns of changing social connectivity and the shift of government and other services to online modes of delivery, the need to have a mobile phone – with access to the Internet – is greatly magnified. This imperative comes with a cost. For online and mobile services to be accessible and beneficial to this group, the cost of access and the specific barriers and limitations facing consumers who are homeless must be addressed. There are a number of ways that providers of mobile services as well as government and support services can contribute to this goal. A set of recommendations aimed at these groups, and guided by the principles of continuity of service, affordability and flexibility of access, are detailed in the final section of this report. In summary these are: Recommendations for Mobile Service Providers: Specify homelessness in financial hardship policies adopted by mobile service providers and ensure that customer service operators are aware of the special need for people affected by homelessness to maintain continuity of service when negotiating bill extensions and payments. Ensure cost effective methods for consumers to reach staff and teams with responsibility for hardship across multiple platforms such as direct contact through 1800 number[2], web form, call back options, Live Chat, Facebook, apps and via Financial Counselling and Homelessness services. Introduce new aid and subsidy programs (or extend existing programs such as Telstra’s ‘Access for Everyone’ program) to support access to mobile and data services (for example, handsets, credit recharge, discount options and Wi-Fi access). Consider ways assistance programs can be provided that works effectively across all mobile service providers, for example a way for community agencies to recharge their clients mobile service, a card with call and data credit that can be used with any pre and post paid mobile service and provider, or a subsidised or free voicemail and inbox messaging service, again, for use with any pre and post paid mobile and service provider. Offer more widely assistance programs and available discounts through existing partnership programs (for example, the SMS/call packages for support providers through the Youth Connected Program from Vodafone Australia Foundation (VAF)) and initiate outreach programs in collaboration with homelessness services (including specialist legal clinics) to, for example, provide on the spot assistance to clients with telecommunications matters. Work in partnership with support and housing providers, libraries, local councils and users of these services to develop and promote affordable Internet access and provisioning solutions that integrate with where and how people experiencing homelessness use digital technology (for example, Internet access points and self-service terminals, Wi-Fi hotspots, options to switch to available Wi-Fi services, low cost and pay-per-use mobile broadband, power recharge stations and shelters for securely storing equipment). Recommendations for Government Agencies and Support Services: Ensure cost effective contact methods and multiple access points to services (especially for high volume services) such as 1800 numbers[3], call back options, Facebook, Live Chat, SMS and other social media, web-based platforms and apps. Build digital capacity of homelessness services through adequate funding and resourcing to integrate mobile, social media and other web-based platforms into regular contact and support activities (if any of these are considered to raise privacy concerns, these should be addressed as early as possible in development). Equip staff of homelessness services with the skills and resources to provide information and referrals on telecommunications bill, contract and debt matters, and to be able to make direct and immediate contact with the specialist hardship teams of mobile service providers on behalf of their clients. Preserve non-digital contact and service points for customers who are non-Internet users and those without access to mobile and online technologies. Work in partnership with mobile service providers, libraries, local councils and service users to develop and promote affordable Internet access and provisioning solutions that integrate with where and how people experiencing homelessness use digital technology (for example, fixed Internet access points and self-service terminals, Wi-Fi hotspots, options to switch to available Wi-Fi services, low cost and pay-per-use mobile broadband, power recharge stations and shelters for securely storing equipment).   [1] Rankin and Regan (2004) provide a definition of ‘complex needs’ as not related to individual characteristics but a “framework for understanding multiple, interlocking needs that span health and social issues” (p. 1). [2] Dependent on the implementation of the new framework for call charges from mobile phones to 1800 numbers developed by ACMA and the Telecommunications Industry. [3] As above

In search of a governance framework of vocational education and training for the 21st century: an international comparative study

This paper focuses on the governance framework in relation to the decision-making process which designs, moulds and formulates the policy on vocational education and training (VET) to meet the needs of various industrial and commercial sectors in Hong Kong. There has been a long history of an apparently close relationship among government, businessmen and academics who form a tripartite alliance in making decisions on VET within the framework of the government’s co-optation strategies. Such a triple alliance may be regarded as a necessary and desirable outcome of the political system and environment in Hong Kong. It may also be a trend towards which many countries, whether developed or developing, have steered their system of policy-making in relation to VET. This paper will attempt to analyze the concept of a co-optative decision-making system in relation to VET by comparing it to the traditional mode of decentralized decision-making process, which had been put into place since the 1960s. An overview of the decision-making systems of 10 selected countries will be made in order to understand why and how the policies on VET may be formulated in the context of the diversity of social and political systems in these countries and yet still follow a general pattern of cooperation and rationalization among various stakeholders. These 10 representative countries are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, India, Italy, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, and Switzerland. The decision-making systems of these 10 countries will be highlighted and compared with respect to the delivery of quality VET. Tables for comparison will be used as far as possible. To conclude the paper, a more refined decision-making system, which extends the ideas of the triple alliance but also incorporates the involvement of various stakeholders, is recommended to foster further development in quality VET

Moving on? Experiences of social mobility in a mixed-class North London neighbourhood

This qualitative study investigates subjective experiences of social mobility amongst parents whose children attend the same London state primary school, at a historical moment when the Conservative-led Coalition government claims social mobility as the principal goal of its social policies. I argue that the government’s understanding of social mobility is founded on a neoliberal discourse that holds individuals responsible for their own life trajectories. This individualist view aligns with individualization theory’s emphasises on reflexive selves, understood as disembedded from class groups. By examining how participants’ experiences are shaped by class processes I interrogate this dominant perspective, and consider alternative conceptions of social mobilities that expand the existing discourse. I take a case-study approach that utilises a range of qualitative methods, enabling crossclass comparisons as well as examining parents’ intersectional identities. I draw embodied and emotional geographies into the analysis, including everyday distinctionmaking and face-to-face interactions. I relate subjective experiences to class structures across a range of social fields, inter-weaving material and cultural analyses to examine the impacts of economic and political processes on lived experiences. The thesis demonstrates how class processes significantly impact on social mobility experiences, and thus argues that the individualist social mobility discourse is flawed. However, whilst the individualist model denies the role of class structures, I argue that it constructs class identities by attaching stigma and status to individuals, who are held responsible for their own social trajectories. This narrative is implicated in processes of dominance and hegemony, and works to justify the current welfare cuts. I also argue, however, that by attending to participants’ experiences and using a class analysis it is possible to reframe social mobility within an equality agenda based on the redistribution of resources. This study therefore makes a significant academic contribution because it expands the understanding of how class impacts on social mobility experiences, it explicitly addresses the individualist discourse of social mobility, and it suggests an alternative more equitable model

XXXVI. An account of some experiments and observations on the constituent parts of certain astringent vegetables; and on their operation in tanning

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Designing And Evaluating A Personal Skills Development Program For Management Education

Success in preparing business students for professional careers requires these students to develop a set of well-defined personal skills. The present study examined 145 business students to assess the effectiveness of a personal skills development (PSD) program by measuring the impact of the training on the students’ attitudes in skill development and by evaluating their satisfaction of the learning process. We present the planning and implementation processes of a comprehensive semester-long program in an English-speaking university in Asia that aims to develop the personal skills of business undergraduates. Differences between pre- and post-test perceived ability skill levels were highly significant (p < .01). Respondents also agreed that the program has a positive impact on their skill development and reported satisfaction with the learning experience. This study provides suggestions to business educators on developing and evaluating a range of personal skills amongst students. Recommendations and limitations of the study are discussed

Tungsten carbide is more oxidation resistant than tungsten when processed to full density

AbstractPrevious studies report that WC oxidises in air more readily than W. However, systematic thermogravimetric studies reveal considerably slower oxidation kinetics in WC samples, which outperform previous measurements by 1–2 orders of magnitude. By combining X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, the enhanced stability in WC is explained by a dense interlayer of sub-stoichiometric WO3, approximately 10μm in thickness, which forms adjacent to the substrate/oxide interface. The faster oxidation kinetics from previous studies are explained by the comparatively low densities of samples used

An innovative method for teachers to formatively assess writing online

Assessment is an integral component of effective teaching and a teacher’s professional judgement influences all routine aspects of their work. In the last 20 years, there has been considerable work internationally to support teachers in using assessment to improve student learning. However, there is a pressing issue that impedes teacher professional judgement being exploited to its full potential. The issue relates to teacher assessments in the context of extended performances such as essays and arises from the complexity of obtaining reliable or consistent teacher assessments of students’ work. Literature published in the United States, England and Australia details evidence of low reliability and bias in teacher assessments. As a result, despite policymakers’ willingness to consider making greater use of teachers’ judgements in summative assessment, and thus provide for greater parity of esteem between teachers’ assessment and standardised testing, few gains have been made. While low reliability of scoring is a pressing issue in contexts where the data are used for summative purposes, it also an issue for formative assessment. Inaccurate assessment necessarily impedes the effectiveness of any follow-up activity, and hence the effectiveness of formative assessment. In this session, Dr Sandy Heldsinger and Dr Stephen Humphry will share their research of writing assessment and explain how their research has led to the development of an innovative assessment process that provides the advantages of rubrics, comparative judgements and automated marking with few of the disadvantages

Speaking out of Place : End of Project Report

At present East 20 presents something of a paradox. Already internationally famous as an Olympic heritage site, what this new piece of the city will come to mean to east Londoners has still to be realised. Although heavily populated with public expectations, the area awaits the imprint of the lives and stories of its residents, the first already in situ, many more yet to arrive. The series of projects reported on here set out to document and capture one moment in the development of East 20: the point at which new residents move in to what was the Athletes Village, and the long promised Olympic housing legacy for East London begins to take shape on the ground. The overall aim of these projects was to document how the new communities that form in and around East 20 can be actively involved in this transformation. The focus was on the experience of young people who are studying and living in the area and the new residents of East Village

Microwave Dielectric Heating of Drops in Microfluidic Devices

We present a technique to locally and rapidly heat water drops in microfluidic devices with microwave dielectric heating. Water absorbs microwave power more efficiently than polymers, glass, and oils due to its permanent molecular dipole moment that has a large dielectric loss at GHz frequencies. The relevant heat capacity of the system is a single thermally isolated picoliter drop of water and this enables very fast thermal cycling. We demonstrate microwave dielectric heating in a microfluidic device that integrates a flow-focusing drop maker, drop splitters, and metal electrodes to locally deliver microwave power from an inexpensive, commercially available 3.0 GHz source and amplifier. The temperature of the drops is measured by observing the temperature dependent fluorescence intensity of cadmium selenide nanocrystals suspended in the water drops. We demonstrate characteristic heating times as short as 15 ms to steady-state temperatures as large as 30 degrees C above the base temperature of the microfluidic device. Many common biological and chemical applications require rapid and local control of temperature, such as PCR amplification of DNA, and can benefit from this new technique.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure