Migration to Australia: a quick guide to the statistics

This paper provides a summary of some of the key statistics on permanent and temporary migration to Australia. Overview Australia is considered to be one of the world’s major ‘immigration nations‘ (together with New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America (USA). Since 1945, when the first federal immigration portfolio was created, over 7.5 million people have settled here and Australia’s overseas-born resident population—estimated to be 27.7 per cent of the population in June 2013—is considered high compared to most other OECD countries. Permanent migrants enter Australia via one of two distinct programs—the Migration Program for skilled and family migrants or the Humanitarian Program for refugees and those in refugee-like situations. The Australian Government allocates places, or quotas, each year for people wanting to migrate permanently to Australia under these two programs. Until very recently, the United Kingdom (UK) had always been the primary source country for permanent migration to Australia. However, for the first time in the history of Australia, China surpassed the UK as Australia’s primary source of permanent migrants in 2010–11. Since then, China and India have continued to provide the highest number of permanent migrants. New Zealand (NZ) citizens also feature highly in the number of settler arrivals, but they are not counted under Australia’s Migration Program unless they apply for (and are granted) a permanent visa. Over the decades, migration program planning numbers have fluctuated according to the priorities and economic and political considerations of the government of the day. However, it is important to note that the Australian Government’s immigration policy focus has changed markedly since 1945, when attracting general migrants (primarily from the UK) was the priority, to focussing on attracting economic migrants and temporary (skilled) migrants. Currently the planning figure for the Migration Program is 190,000 places, with skilled migrants comprising the majority. One of the most significant developments in the dynamics of migration to Australia in recent years has been the growth in temporary migration. In 2000–01 temporary migrants outnumbered permanent arrivals for the first time. Many of these entrants arrived on either student visas or long-term temporary skilled business visas (subclass 457). Unlike the permanent Migration Program, the level of temporary migration to Australia is not determined or subject to quotas or caps by Government, but rather is demand driven. The 457 visa also provides a pathway for skilled workers and their dependants to apply for permanent residence and many students are also eligible to apply for permanent visas under the Migration Program at the completion of their courses. The largest contribution to net overseas migration (NOM) in recent years has been from people on temporary visas—mostly comprised of overseas students and temporary skilled migrants and the rate of Australia’s population growth has increased significantly over the few years largely driven by an increase in NOM

Computer Models of Corrosion in Passivating Systems

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2729 on 08.03.2017 by CS (TIS)Analysis of corrosion in marine and acid environments is a complicated task, involving the interaction of thermodynamic, kinetic and geometrical factors. Two mathematical models which predict corrosion behaviour have been implemented for personal computers. The first program uses an assumption of unidirectional current flow to simplify the prediction of potential distributions for systems of essentially cylindrical geometry containing natural seawater-based electrolytes of differing strength. Using experimentally determined electrochemical and flow rig data, experimental and theoretical results were compared. The correlation between the two was shown to be poor, and this is attributed to the unrepresentative nature of the electrochemical data input to the model. The second model involves the synthesis of polarization curves. Several algorithms to model passivating behaviour have been studied, and one was selected and incorporated into the calculation routine. A number of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are used in algorithms describing such behaviour, along with activation, concentration and solution polarization effects, for a number of redox reactions, which are then combined to produce an overall potential-log current density curve. Experimentally determined data for pure iron and different stainless steels in marine and acid environments of differing dissolved oxygen content and temperature were obtained. Theoretical models were constructed for each system, and compared to experimental data. Excellent correlation between experimental and theoretical data was obtained for potential ranges in excess of 2 V. Trends in parameter values were discussed, and compared to published data. The transition between stable and unstable passivity of stainless steels was shown to be dependent on the oxygen reduction diffusion limited current density and the iron dissolution reaction free corrosion current density, which in turn was linked to the dissolved oxygen content and temperature of the electrolyte. A new model for the behaviour of stainless steels in the transpassive region was proposed.School of Manufacturing, Materials and Mechanical Engineering, University of Plymout

New families? Tradition and change in partnering and relationships

NoThe family as a social institution is often said to be undergoing rapid change or even crisis. Commentary in the media and by policy-makers sometimes claims a `breakdown¿ of the family, asserting that intimate ties of loving and caring are becoming more individualised and self-centred, even selfish. Some scholars see this as part of a broader process whereby traditional social ties such as class, religion and family are fading away. Instead, they argue, people are `compelled to choose their own biographies¿ and personal relationships are being individually and actively chosen from a diverse range of possibilities. Statistically speaking, marriage is decreasing in popularity, whilst living alone, cohabitation and births outside marriage are increasing. But what do trends like this mean? Does this mean `family breakdown¿ or, as much in-depth family research has argued, just that the outward form of families is changing but the inner core - the value people attach to their family relationships ¿ remains central? This project tried to answer this question by examining the British public¿s attitude to different family relationships and parenting arrangements. It looked particularly at cohabitation and marriage, partnering, divorce, solo living, living apart together, same sex relationships and friends

People who live apart together (LATs) - how different are they?

Yes‘Living apart together’ – that is being in an intimate relationship with a partner who lives somewhere else – is increasingly recognised and accepted as a specific way of being in a couple. On the face of it, this is a far cry from the ‘traditional’ version of couple relationships, where co-residence in marriage was placed at the centre and where living apart from one's partner would be regarded as abnormal, and understandable only as a reaction to severe external constraints. Some commentators regard living apart together as a historically new family form where LATs can pursue a ‘both/and’ solution to partnership – they can experience both the intimacy of being in a couple, and at the same time continue with pre-existing commitments. LATs may even de-prioritize couple relationships and place more importance on friendship. Alternatively, others see LAT as just a ‘stage’ on the way to cohabitation and marriage, where LATs are not radical pioneers moving beyond the family, but are cautious and conservative, and simply show a lack of commitment. Behind these rival interpretations lies the increasingly tarnished spectre of individualisation theory. Is LAT some sort of index for a developing individualisation in practice? In this paper we take this debate further by using information from the 2006 British Social Attitudes Survey. We find that LATs have quite diverse origins and motivations, and while as a category LATs are often among the more liberal in family matters, as a whole they do not show any marked ‘pioneer’ attitudinal position in the sense of leading a radical new way, especially if age is taken into account.ESR

Extremely short duration sprint interval training improves vascular health in older adults

Exercise improves health and physical function in older people, but very few older people participate although the trend is for increasing participation. This study sought to determine whether short duration sprint interval training (SIT) improves health and physical function in older people. Seventeen (9 M and 8 F) older adults (age 66 ± 3 years) were recruited. Participants had blood pressure, physical function and blood lipid profile measured and were then allocated to a control group (CON n = 7) or a SIT group (n = 10). The control group maintained daily activities; the SIT group performed 10 weeks of twice-weekly training sessions of 6-s sprints. By week 10, training sessions lasted 11.6 ± 0.6-min. Ten weeks of SIT resulted in significant changes in pulse pressure (CONpre 59 ± 18 mmHg; CONpost 60 ± 9 mmHg; SITpre 56 ± 14 mmHg; SITpost 49 ± 7 mmHg; p = 0.007), mean blood pressure (CONpre 100 ± 10 mmHg; CONpost 97 ± 11 mmHg; SITpre 102 ± 7 mmHg; SITpost 93 ± 8 mmHg; p = 0.003), timed get up and go (CONpre 6.9 ± 1.1 s; CONpost 6.9 ± 1.0 s; SITpre 7.4 ± 1.2 s; SITpost 6.6 ± 1.0 s; p = 0.005), loaded 50 m walk (CONpre 6.9 ± 1.1 s; CONpost 6.9 ± 1.0 s; SITpre 7.4 ± 1.2 s; SITpost 6.6 ± 1.0 s; p = 0.005),and total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol ratio (CONpre 4.2 ± 0.7; CONpost 4.0 ± 0.7; SITpre 4.4 ± 1.1; SITpost 3.2 ± 0.7; p = 0.01). SIT is an effective way to maintain blood pressure, lipid profile, and physical function during aging and is an effective tool for promoting optimal aging

Mobilizing public support for providing needles to drug injectors: A pilot advocacy intervention

400 members of the general public in Western Australia were surveyed regarding their attitudes to the provision of needles and syringes to drug users as a means reducing the spread of HIV. Attitudes were measured before and after the presentation of an audio-taped advocacy intervention which explained the rationale and effectiveness of needle provision. After the intervention fewer respondents agreed with stereotypical negative statements about drug injectors; and more supported needle provision, the role of pharmacists in this, and politicians taking legislative steps to support it. The impact of the advocacy intervention suggested that the public were able to assimilate information about harm reduction with injecting drug users. Providing a data based rationale resulted in an increase in support for needle and syringe provision as a public health strategy for minimising the spread of HIV