Providing a law degree for the real world : perspective of an Australian law school

As a result of a two year curriculum review, QUT’s undergraduate law degree has a focus on first year student transition, integration of law graduate capabilities throughout the degree and work integrated learning. A ‘whole-degree’ approach was adopted to ensure that capabilities were appropriately embedded and scaffolded throughout the degree, that teaching and learning approaches met the needs of students as they transitioned from first year through to final year, and that students in final year were provided with a capstone experience to assist them with transition into the work place. The revised degree commenced implementation in 2009. This paper focuses on the ‘real world’ approach to the degree achieved through the first year program, embedding and scaffolding law graduate capabilities through authentic and valid assessment and work integrated learning to assist graduates with transition into the workplace

Stellar Velocity Dispersion in Dissipative Galaxy Mergers with Star Formation

In order to better understand stellar dynamics in merging systems, such as NGC 6240, we examine the evolution of central stellar velocity dispersion (\sig) in dissipative galaxy mergers using a suite of binary disk merger simulations that include feedback from stellar formation and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We find that $\sigma_*$ undergoes the same general stages of evolution that were observed in our previous dissipationless simulations: coherent oscillation, then phase mixing, followed by dynamical equilibrium. We also find that measurements of $\sigma_*$ that are based only upon the youngest stars in simulations consistently yield lower values than measurements based upon the total stellar population. This finding appears to be consistent with the so-called "$\sigma_*$ discrepancy," observed in real galaxies. We note that quasar-level AGN activity is much more likely to occur when $\sigma_*$ is near its equilibrium value rather than during periods of extreme $\sigma_*$. Finally, we provide estimates of the scatter inherent in measuring $\sigma_*$ in ongoing mergers.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Grief in the Iliad

This paper addresses the causes and effects of grief within Homer\u27s Iliad. In addition, this paper argues that error, both committed and suffered, is the primary cause of grief, and that grief is particularly transformative in regard to Achilles, both in his motivations and his physicality

An exploration of occupational therapy practice in social enterprises in the UK

Introduction Occupational therapy in the UK has been heavily shaped by the medical model, however developments within the occupational therapy profession that have led to a re-focussing on the centrality of occupation for health have resulted in the need for new areas for practice outside of traditional, medicalised settings. The recent changing landscape of health and social care provision in the UK provides occupational therapists with new and different environments for practice. This research explored the provision of occupational therapy within social enterprises in the UK, and the compatibility of the occupational therapy philosophy with a social enterprise model. Methods This mixed methods exploratory study that was conducted within the pragmatic paradigm and had two phases. In Phase 1, twenty-one online questionnaires were completed by occupational therapists working in social enterprises in the UK and focused on their practice and the social enterprise they work for. Social enterprises that employed occupational therapists were also identified through desk based research. In Phase 2, eight of these social enterprises (which were identified in Phase 1) participated as case studies, using case study methodology to explore occupational therapists perceptions of their practice; service users’ experiences; and the social entrepreneur’s involvement in the provision of occupational therapy. The data collection in the case studies consisted of twenty-six semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists, social entrepreneurs and service users; unstructured observation and formal documentation was used for triangulation. The interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis and the findings of the case studies were combined with findings from Phase 1. Findings Social enterprise has been used as an effective model for implementing holistic occupational therapy services that promote health, wellbeing and occupational justice. Occupational therapists benefit social enterprises to achieve their social and business aims. Funding social enterprise start-ups and ensuring their sustainability continues to be a challenge and government policy needs to be supported with finance to implement it, without which there is a risk of private companies taking over public sector services. Conclusions Social enterprises can provide an environment where occupational therapists have freedom to practise according to the principles of their profession without the limitations of the medical model and in a socially inclusive environment. Social enterprise can provide a rewarding and satisfying environment for occupational therapists to practise in client centred, holistic ways. The current health and social care climate provides many opportunities for occupational therapists to create and shape their own environments for practise. Alternatively, occupational therapists may need to promote the profession to existing social enterprises to gain employment in the new organisations that deliver public services

Creating Significant Learning Experiences for Clinical Reasoning by Physical Therapist Students

Background: Clinical reasoning skills are embedded in all aspects of practice. There is a lack of consensus and standards for curriculum design and teaching methods of clinical reasoning in entry-level education of health professionals. Purpose: The purpose was to describe a process of designing one comprehensive, planned sequence of four courses to create significant learning experiences for clinical reasoning for Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Method: Fink’s design process was used to develop four clinical decision-making courses to ensure a close alignment of learning goals, feedback and assessment, and learning activities to engage students in practicing components of clinical reasoning. Student outcomes were measured by self-efficacy ratings for clinical reasoning in a practical exam for first-year students and by ratings of performance by clinical instructors for third-year students. Results: 41 first-year students ranked their confidence in making clinical decisions both before and after a midterm practical. A paired t-test found a significant difference (.05t40 = -6.66, ρ=0.00) in the mean ratings of students from the pre-practical assessment to the post-practical assessment about confidence in making clinical decisions. Third-year students received ratings that met or exceeded expectations on five audited skills from the Physical Therapist manual for the Assessment of Clinical Skills (PT MACS), both at midterm and at the final assessment. No significant differences between midterm and final ratings on any of the selected skills were found using a Chi-Square Test of Independence (α=.05). Conclusion: The four-course sequence was designed using four themes: patient-centered care, models of practice, and evidence-based practice, and ethics/legal issues. This paper offers specific details about how one method of teaching clinical reasoning meets the current trends in education and health care for accountability and meaningful outcomes. Students gained practical knowledge and skills in the components of clinical reasoning and decision-making by participating in active and engaging significant learning experiences

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in 8 countries of the former Soviet Union.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been a sharp growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in some former Soviet countries. However, as yet, comparatively little is known about the use of CAM in the countries throughout this region. Against this background, the aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of using alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in eight countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU) and to examine factors associated with their use. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Living Conditions, Lifestyles and Health (LLH) survey undertaken in eight former Soviet countries (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) in 2001. In this nationally representative cross-sectional survey, 18428 respondents were asked about how they treated 10 symptoms, with options including the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the treatment of differing symptoms by such practitioners in these countries. RESULTS: The prevalence of using an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner for symptom treatment varied widely between countries, ranging from 3.5% in Armenia to 25.0% in Kyrgyzstan. For nearly every symptom, respondents living in rural locations were more likely to use an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner than urban residents. Greater wealth was also associated with using these practitioners, while distrust of doctors played a role in the treatment of some symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in some fSU countries and the growth of this form of health care provision in the post-Soviet period in conditions of variable licensing and regulation, highlights the urgent need for more research on this phenomenon and its potential effects on population health in the countries in this region

Rethinking risk: a narrative approach

Purpose The assessment and management of risk is central to contemporary mental health practice. The emergence of recovery has contributed to demands for more service user centered approaches to risk. This paper examines the potential of narrative as a framework for understanding risk and safety in mental health care. Design/methodology/approach Narrative theory is adopted to structure a debate examining the potential role of a narrative approach to risk assessment and inform future practice. Findings There is a danger that even within services, people with mental health problems are understood in terms of their riskiness perpetuating an image of service users as ‘dangerous others’. This is confounded by a disconnection with individual context in the risk assessment process. Narrative centralizes the persons’ subjective experience and provides a contemporaneous self-account of their identity. This situates risk within a context and creates possibility for greater understanding of coping, strengths and resilience. Originality/value There has been a call for new ways of working with risk in mental health which facilitate safety and recovery. There is limited examination of what this might actually look like. This paper presents narrative as an approach that may achieve these aims