Ensuring Rights: Improving Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Female International Students in Australia

Drawing on the research and advocacy work being conducted by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH), a national community-based organization in Victoria, Australia, the paper analyzes female international students’ experiences with accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services is one of a number of areas identified by MCWH in which international students experience unequal treatment. The limitations of international students’ mandatory health insurance is of particular concern because it appears to conflict with Australia’s human rights obligations to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination and to ensure appropriate services in connection with pregnancy. Given the social, cultural and economic benefits international students bring to the country in which they choose to study, state action on equitable health access for international students is urgently called for

Mural visions : viewing histories in the works of Michael Ondaatje

This thesis seeks to challenge traditional notions of literary interpretation by examining the interaction between visual and verbal representation in literature. To this end, I critically examine several elements of visual culture in the literary works of poet/novelist Michael Ondaatje and seek to understand the ways in which the visual as practice and discourse can be seen to exercise power. I argue that images are crucial participants in the politics of knowledge production and that a reading of images must always contend with an account of their historical representations

Liquid images: viewing the wine label

What is it that consumers see when they read the wine label? This article begins from the premise that the label does not merely consist of words that describe the contents of the bottle, but also contains clues to complex social, cultural and economic interactions which bestow wine its meaning. Thus, the visual aspects of wine extend far beyond colour, labelling and packaging. Viewing the wine label through the cultural lens suggests that the label has much to offer the hospitality provider in the ways in which the wine's affective qualities are conveyed. [From the Publisher

Business to consumer E-Services: Australian accounting practices and their Web sites

This article reports on a study involving analysis of the Web sites of 100 accounting practices located in Melbourne, Australia, and subsequent interviews with twenty practices. This article focuses on identifying the level of e-services that they employ. In this regard, Angehrn’s virtual dimensions of Web site spaces were used to classify the various service delivery strategies adopted by the different practices. The results suggest that information technology plays a critical role in the accounting industry and that the use of computer accounting packages is almost mandatory among clients. There is little evidence of the use of Web sites for the delivery of automated e-services. At the moment, the Internet is primarily used to support the delivery of services rather than completely automate it. Overall, the study suggests that Australian accounting firms currently take a fairly conservative approach to Web site use

The travel agency service industry: industry trends and practices

The need for this scoping study was identified by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). A current overview of the industry, including the changing trends of travellers, was required by the organisation, with a specific request to source existing available data with regard to industry trends for travellers in seeking, booking and purchasing travel. It was understood from the outset that data may not exist to answer all the desired needs and, hence, the scoping study would help to confirm the need for future primary research, as well as the parameters and dimensions of that research. This paper describes the key findings of the scoping phase

The travel agency service industry: industry trends and practices

The need for this scoping study was identified by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). A current overview of the industry, including the changing trends of travellers, was required by the organisation, with a specific request to source existing available data with regard to industry trends for travellers in seeking, booking and purchasing travel. It was understood from the outset that data may not exist to answer all the desired needs and, hence, the scoping study would help to confirm the need for future primary research, as well as the parameters and dimensions of that research. This paper describes the key findings of the scoping phase

The MuSeS project: a mixed methods study to increase understanding of the role of settlement and multicultural services in supporting migrant and refugee women experiencing violence in Australia

Abstract Background Violence against women is a major human rights and public health issue globally. The experience of violence affects women across Australia, including the large number of migrant and refugee women who permanently or temporarily resettle in the country. Many women who experience violence find it difficult to access support, and evidence suggests women who have resettled in Australia face additional barriers to violence-specific services. Previous research, however, indicates many migrant and refugee women experiencing violence have contact with, and may disclose violence to, settlement and multicultural services. There has been limited research documenting current knowledge of, and practices by, settlement and multicultural services in relation to violence. The MuSeS project will address this knowledge gap and identify strategies settlement and multicultural services can use to better support women experiencing violence. Methods This mixed methods research project will be conducted in six geographic communities across three Australian states: South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The different migration and resettlement patterns seen in these jurisdictions will enable generation of data relevant to settings across the country. The project has been designed in consultation with partner organisations from the settlement and multicultural service sector to ensure the research addresses their concerns and priorities. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to generate rich data to inform strategies for settlement and multicultural services to better support women experiencing violence. These methods include an anonymous online survey of settlement and multicultural service providers to assess current knowledge, practices and professional development needs; in-depth interviews with settlement, multicultural and specialist (refugee) mental health service providers; in-depth interviews with refugee women; and focus group discussions with frontline workers and volunteers working with settlement and multicultural services. Discussion Findings from this two-year research project will generate an in-depth understanding of the current and potential role of Australian settlement and multicultural services in supporting migrant and refugee women experiencing violence, and inform strategies to strengthen services’ capacity to appropriately respond. Given the prevalence of violence against women globally, findings will be useful for services engaging with migrant and refugee populations around the world

Promoting community-led responses to violence against immigrant and refugee women in metropolitan and regional Australia

This state of knowledge paper examines a broad range of national and international research to present the current knowledge about family violence against immigrant and refugee women. While the paper identifies critical evidence on the topic, it acknowledges that much of the available literature has methodological issues, including incomplete and inconclusive prevalence data; small sample sizes; and conceptualising family violence in ways that are not recognised by immigrant and refugee communities. The paper finds: Overall immigrant and refugee report similar forms of family violence as women from non-immigrant backgrounds, however there are some differences in the types of violence experienced and the structural contexts where it takes place. The constraints produced by immigration policies are of significant concern, where women depend on perpetrators for economic security and residency rights. Many immigrant and refugee women are motivated to resolve family violence without ending relationships and breaking up families, for reasons including immigration concerns and family and community pressures. There is scant evidence that the increase in criminal justice responses to family violence, such as “mandatory arrest” and “pro-prosecution” approaches, are helpful for immigrant women, and may deter them from seeking assistance in crisis situations. The paper also identifies key gaps in literature on this issue, particularly in connection to the ways immigration policies, structural disadvantage and location interact with immigrant and refugee women’s experiences of family violence