Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Counseling Australia'
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1
Port, Katrina. "A profile of consanguineous couples in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/277.
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The present study investigated consanguineous unions in Western Australia, irrespective of ethnic background, with attention paid to associated demographic variables. Despite its vast area, Western Australia was an excellent setting for a study of this nature, as virtually all cases of inherited diseases are referred and investigated via Genetic Services of Western Australia based in Perth. Four data sources were used to identify and investigate consanguineous marriages: Genetic Services of Western Australia, the Registrar General's Office of Births Deaths and Marriage, the Disability Services Commission and the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Western Australia.
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Barbas, Sarah M. "Exploring the experience of separation in Australia: Perspectives from formerly married and cohabiting parents." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2017. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1991.
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The increase in separation and divorce rates during the 20th century brought with it many far-reaching social implications for all involved, sparking a high level of interest among researchers. Most research in this area has been approached from stress frameworks that have conceptualised separation and divorce as a stressful life transition that individuals must adjust to. Yet, attempts to understand separation and divorce to date have been dominated by quantitative methods that have resulted in a relatively static and objective understanding of this experience; particularly in Australia. Furthermore, although international rates of divorce are declining, rates of separation following cohabiting unions are increasing. However, research continues to neglect the voices of formerly cohabiting individuals. Using a qualitative methodology, the current study sought to explore the experience of separation from the perspectives of both formerly married and cohabiting parents in Australia to learn more about how they adjust following this stressful life event. The term ‘separated’ was used to denote relationship dissolution to ensure adequate representation of both formerly married and cohabiting parents.
This study was embedded within an interpretivist paradigm and was guided by a phenomenological qualitative methodology. Using Moustakas’ (1994) systematic phenomenological research method, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 separated parents ranging in age from 23 to 56 years. Thirty-four parents were formerly married and the remaining 21 were part of cohabiting unions. Of the 25 mothers who participated in the current study, 11 were residential, 5 were non-residential and 9 were shared care parents. Of the 30 fathers involved in the current study, 9 were residential, 11 were non-residential and 10 were shared care parents. Exploration of experiences of the six groups of parents allowed for more robust and rich data. Phenomenological data analysis guided by Moustakas (1994) was used to understand and interpret interview transcripts.
Data analyses identified five major themes and related sub-themes that captured the experience of separation and the factors associated with adjustment: uncoupling (including sub-themes of psychological health, family stress, infidelity, and drifting apart); uncoupled (including sub-themes of co-parenting, the economic struggle, loss and loneliness, identity: assumed and assigned, and psychological, emotional, and physical health problems); searching within the self (including sub-themes of personal control, selfregulation, optimism, and healthy living); reaching beyond the self (including sub-themes of connectedness, social support and reaching out, positive employment, constructive coparenting, the parent – child relationship, and loving again); and patterns of adjustment (including sub-themes of the rollercoaster, the ‘time’ factor, and the protective nature of separation).
Collectively, findings revealed that the Australian experience of separation began prior to separation and was constantly changing over time. Formerly married and cohabiting parents’ experiences were imbued with stressors frequently identified in research that has adopted dominant stress frameworks, along with numerous personal and environmental resources that lessened the impact of stressors and assisted adjustment following separation. A framework that represents the experience of separation and the factors associated with adjustment was developed based on these five themes. Findings support an understanding of adjustment following separation and divorce that advocates for a paradigm shift away from objective conceptualisations of this experience, towards an understanding of this experience as it is perceived by those who have been through it. Therefore, to only attend to static and objective conceptualisations of separation and divorce as they are experienced by formerly married individuals would be to overlook significant psychological and social elements of the separation and divorce experience. Further research is encouraged with a specific focus on gender, residential status and marital status.
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Clapton, John A. "Pastoral care for clergy: The need, some program directions and desired outcomes among ministers of Churches of Christ in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1997. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/901.
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The purpose of this study was to consider the pastoral care needs of Churches of Christ ministers working in parishes, propose some directions that a programmed approach to that pastoral care could take, and outline the kinds of desired outcomes to be looked for among them in Western Australia. It was demonstrated that, as with other helping professionals within the Human Services domain, ministers experience stressors which impinge on their well-being and their effectiveness as care-givers. This study examined the different contexts within which ministers must function, examining the complexities of their duties, the hazards they face and the effects these have on their well-being and the performance of their duties within their professional and personal lives. The study looked at how to respond to the needs of this workforce, proposing some directions in which the program of pastoral care could take at each of the three levels identified as significant, the structural level, the professional level and the personal level. These were proposed in the context of an articulation of the desired outcomes that should result from the establishment of those systems of care. Finally, consideration was given to possible evaluators that would demonstrate the extent to which those desired outcomes had been achieved. While these were not the primary focus of the study, consideration of evaluators is a necessary adjunct to any programmatic approach to pastoral care.
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Jung, Kyungja School of Social Science & Policy & the Women's Studies Program UNSW. "Constitution and maintenance of feminist practice : comparative case study of sexual assault centres in Australia and Korea." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Social Science and Policy and the Women's Studies Program, 2002. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/19124.
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Although some research has focused on feminist practice in general, the external and internal dynamics of feminist practice still remains theoretically and empirically under-researched. This study addresses this void in feminist research and places a special focus on the relationship of feminist organisations with the state and within the broader context of the women's movement. This thesis explores the constitution and maintenance of feminist practices in one specific context in South Korea and Australia. Drawing on empirical and historical data derived from the case studies, two questions are explored in this study: What constitutes feminist practices in a feminist organisation? How can feminist practices be sustained?. Two feminist-run Sexual Assault Centres (SACs), one in Korea, one in Australia are studied and analysed, involving 32, in-depth interviews with activists of the two centres, non-participant and participant observation, and document analysis. First, this thesis provides a detailed account of feminist practice and organisational dynamics among feminist organisations, the feminist movement and the state. This thesis confirms that the practices of feminist organisations are seen as dynamic processes constituted by the context in which they are situated, the role of feminist activists and the nature and strength of the broader women's movement. This study, in particular, demonstrates that the relationship of the organisation with the state is a strong determinant in constructing feminist practices. Second, this thesis examines organisational practices at different phases such as the establishment, development and crisis phases. As both centres were experiencing crises, the study illuminates that the crisis in each centre has provided an opportunity for re-examination and reflection on their practices in shifting internal and external contexts. This study also suggests that continuous reflexive attention is necessary to maintain feminist practices. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the role of the activists in constructing and maintaining feminist practices is critical, in particular, in small organisations such as the ASAC and KSAC. This research, the first major study on feminist practices in Korea and Australia, makes a significant contribution to the study of feminist organisations, the state and, in general, feminist theory.
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Konrad, Christopher K. "An examination of the mentoring process: A study of the interaction between mentor and mentee in the context of an adolescent mentor program." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2005. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/678.
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The purpose of this study is to explore the mentoring process, specifically the interactions between mentor and mentee in the context of an adolescent mentor program. The data was gathered through in depth interviews with two mentors and feedback sessions from nineteen mentee participants who were involved in a group mentoring program for young people aged 14-16 years. Several adolescent programs, conducted at local high schools, were included in the study. A qualitative methodology of constructivist hermeneutics was utilised to examine the data and link it to the literature related to the study question. The findings indicated that what occurs during the process of mentoring is multi factorial, complex and diverse. Mentoring takes place in a reciprocal way that is impacted by layered contexts. New data was gathered pertaining to the utility of several theoretical constructs that might help to explain how mentoring occurs. Implications for professionals wishing to work as mentors or wishing to implement mentoring programs are examined in this study. These include the need to recognize and comprehend mentor qualities and styles vis a vis various theoretical constructs such as role modelling, identification and inter subjectivity. Cultural, gender and developmental issues related to the process of mentoring are examined. Little research has been identified that brings the narratives of both mentor and mentee together in one study comparatively analysing them. In this regard the present study can be seen as unique and contributing something new to the literature on mentoring.
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Marquis, Ruth. "A qualitative evaluation of a bereavement service: An analysis of the experiences of service consumers and providers." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1994. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1681.
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Human service evaluation has become an important consideration in service delivery due to an increased demand for accountability by funding bodies. Time constraints, financial constraints and political interests, however, influence the implementation and outcomes of evaluation projects. As a result, quantitative methods are most frequently used. Information obtained as the result of quantitative studies which are politically expedient may present a superficial view of a program and overlook the fundamental issues of program delivery which are important to participants. Identification of the valued aspects of program involvement and areas of unmet need from participants' perspectives may remain unknown as a result of seeking information on predetermined and routine program processes in order to maintain the 'status quo'.
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Monisse-Redman, Michael. "Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to improve mental health service provision to high-risk youth : evaluation of the Peel Youth Counsellor Program." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/254.
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This research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a youth counselling program with an innovative service delivery model influenced by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. The Peel Youth Counsellor Program (PYCP) is a promotion, prevention and early intervention program conceived as a result of an identified local need for a specialised program to work alongside mainstream mental health to provide services to youth aged 15 to 25 years. The PYCP began operation in January 2001 and is administered by the Peel Community Mental Health Service although is located fulltime in a community youth centre. The central service provision framework and understanding of youth engagement is based on youth friendly mental health services and Maslow's research into human motivation and its application to service delivery. The research outlines a comprehensive evaluation that was conducted using Austin's (1982) 'Objectives-Orientated' approach that uses a six step process to guide the implementation and analysis of what the program has achieved. The results suggest that the use of a community based youth counselling program adjunct to mainstream mental health, improves opportunities for promotion and prevention, and early (prodrama) intervention with a range of youth health and mental health issues, especially depression and suicide. With this information it is hoped that consideration will be made about current practice as well as the future development of mainstream mental health both giving priority to "youth" as an important entity in service provision.
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Tilbrook, Emily. "Male victims of intimate partner abuse: Experiences of disclosure and help-seeking." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1599.
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Intimate partner abuse is a significant social problem that impacts on the mental health of primary and secondary victims. Despite empirical evidence that there are male victims and female offenders of intimate partner abuse, Australian researchers focus almost exclusively on the needs of female victims and male offenders. The overall aim of this study was to explore the experiences of male victims of intimate partner abuse with reference to the nature of the abuse they report, its impact on them, their support needs and help-seeking behaviour.
During Stage One qualitative data were collected from 15 male victims of intimate partner abuse, seven significant others (close family and friends) of male victims, and eight service providers who have experience working with male victims. These data were collected and analysed using a phenomenological approach. The interview data revealed that both male victims and significant others experience negative impacts from intimate partner abuse and yet victims reported many barriers to seeking help and disclosing their abuse experiences , and, those wanting help, reported a lack of appropriate services.
A second study was undertaken to examine these findings and during Stage Two, 198 service providers completed a questionnaire, containing both quantitative and qualitative questions, based on the findings of Stage One. The data collected supported and extended the findings of Stage One, in particular the concern that there is a lack of services available to victims.
During Stage Three this concern was further explored by examining the internet and telephone services available to victims of intimate abuse in Australia. Quantitative data were collected to ascertain the quantity and nature of the current intimate partner abuse services on offer in Australia and the advertised willingness and readiness of these services to provide services to male victims. The findings highlighted that there are fewer services and types of service available to male victims in Australia than are available to female victims and that those available, to male victims, may not be useful.
This research highlights male victims’ need, yet reluctance, to seek help for the impact of intimate partner abuse. The findings also indicate that men’s needs could be better met if there were more services available to male victims and a more empathetic recognition of their abuse experience
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Merrett, Richard. "Domestic violence : treatment within a therapeutic community." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/296.
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Breathing Space is a residential centre offering therapeutic intervention for up to twelve men who engage in domestic violence. This research was a qualitative programme evaluation of the processes used within the Breathing Space therapeutic community. Observations and interviews were conducted on ten residents and eight staff. Positive findings revealed that both residents and staff perceived significant benefits from attending Breathing Space. Neither staff nor residents uniformly believed that treatment would reduce violence. Two of the most beneficial factors reported by residents were the ability to talk about their issues and the non-judgemental environment. Suggested improvements included strengthening of professional boundaries, greater screening of residents, enforced attendance at group therapy, and a greater focus on criminogenic needs.
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Paki, Dionne. "What do primary school principals from the Yamaji region or Mid West Education District say about their school's bullying prevention and management guidelines and practices and how they support the strengths and needs of Aboriginal students and their families?" Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2010. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/150.
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Background: Australia‟s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are over represented in poor health and education outcomes. Little is known about the bullying experiences of Aboriginal school age children and young people. This Master's study aimed to investigate the policies and practises school principals use for bullying prevention and management in primary schools located in the Yamaji region or Midwest Education District of Western Australia.This study was conducted in conjunction with the Child Health Promotion Research Centre‟s Solid Kids, Solid Schools project. Solid Kids, Solid Schools is a four-year study that aimed to contextualise the bullying experiences of Yamaji school-age children and young people; and develop a locally relevant and culturally secure bullying prevention and management resource.
Method: Thirty-one principals and four deputy principals of primary school aged students participated in either a semi-structured telephone interview or survey. Instrument items asked principals: how often staff at their school used 12 bullying management strategies; to describe and rate the effectiveness of 25 bullying prevention guidelines and strategies; and to describe enablers and barriers to working with Aboriginal students who are bullied or who bully others.Participant responses were matched for compliance with evidence-based recommendations (Cross, Pintabona, Hall, Hamilton, & Erceg, 2004, p. 11) and national policy as set out in the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF) (Department of Education Science and Training; DEST, 2003) for school bullying prevention and management. Participant responses were also compared to a culturally secure bullying prevention and management model to determine if their guidelines and strategies are culturally secure and could respond to the strengths and needs of Aboriginal students.
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Kluetz, Amy J. "Counseling issues of Australian Aboriginal females." Online version, 2002. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2002/2002kluetza.pdf.
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Hovane, Victoria Elizabeth. "Aboriginal perspectives about child sexual abuse: Informing the cultural dimension in sex offending theories for use with Aboriginal offenders." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1754.
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Child sexual abuse (CSA) and its consequences constitute a serious social issue in Aboriginal and other communities throughout the world. As a result, a number of influential psychological theories about sexual offending have been developed. These theories suggest that the early socialisation and developmental experiences of offenders are implicated in the onset, development and maintenance of sexual offending behaviour. While these theories suggest that culture is important for understanding such behaviour, their specific role has largely been ignored in the literature. Given the paucity of research in this area the aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of an Aboriginal community in Western Australia about the role of culture in CSA in their community, how this could inform the cultural dimension in existing psychological theories of sexual offending, and the implications of this for applying these theories with such sex offenders.
During the first stage the researcher undertook semi-structured, in-depth interviews to collect data from 11 Aboriginal adult female and four adult male members from the community. A thematic analysis of the transcribed interview data identified five primary themes: Misusing Power; Surviving the System; Evolving Culture; Fear of Repercussions; and Avoiding Exposure. During the second stage the researcher presented her results to six people at a local Aboriginal community forum for their feedback, insights and refinement of the results. The same, but refined, themes were then presented to a group of five non-Aboriginal people who work with Aboriginal people in child protection and family counselling, for their feedback and insights. On the basis of all the feedback a sixth theme, Holding Aboriginal Law, was added. Aboriginal Law provides specific information, and sets out rules and expectations about Aboriginal people’s lives, kinship structures, cultural traditions, spiritual beliefs, and restricted ceremonial practices, traditional medicine, education and specialised training.
Taken together the results of this study suggest the themes Misusing Power; Surviving the System and Holding Aboriginal Law are relevant to understanding the onset, development, maintenance and response to CSA, that Evolving Culture is relevant to understanding the development and maintenance of CSA, and Fear of Repercussions and Avoiding Exposure make an important contribution to understanding factors that maintain the commission of CSA in this community.
An important finding of this study is that, whilst the misinterpretation of Aboriginal Law plays a role in the onset, development and maintenance of CSA, a sound knowledge of Aboriginal Law can be used to prevent CSA and to respond to it. Policy developers should therefore have a sound knowledge of Aboriginal Law and take it into account when developing policies. They should also consider developing policies that will create opportunities for Aboriginal people to connect with and enhance their understanding of Aboriginal Law. Assessors and professionals working with Aboriginal CSA offenders should likewise have a solid understanding of Aboriginal Law, and consider developing treatment modalities which will challenge Aboriginal offenders’ misconceptions about Aboriginal Law, and provide them with opportunities to develop a sound understanding of its values, principles and practices.
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Cardoso, Patricia S. "Opening doors : identifying factors that influence students’ use of pastoral care and school-based health services related to tobacco and other harmful drug use." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2010. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/362.
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Despite all the health warnings and risks associated with tobacco use, adolescentscontinue to smoke. In 2008, just under five percent of Australian students aged 12 to17 years indicated they had smoked a cigarette in the past week (Griffiths, Kalic, &Gunnell, 2009b). These figures are the lowest since the national student surveycommenced in 1984 and suggest positive progress in the area of youth tobacco control.However, each year a new generation of school students will experiment with smoking,increasing their chance of initiation (Warner, Jacobson, & Kaufman, 2003). It istherefore vital to develop alternative strategies to continue to reduce the level ofsmoking among adolescents, especially as many adolescents who smoke express aninterest in quitting (Plano Clark et al., 2002).
As students spend a large portion of their day in the school environment (Darling,Reeder, Williams, & McGee, 2006), schools have the potential to influence their socialbehaviours, including their smoking-related behaviours (Youngblade et al., 2007).Research has indicated that connectedness to school can influence pro-socialbehaviours in students by further increasing the bond between student and staff(McNeely & Falci, 2004), which has also been associated with reducing the likelihoodof an adolescent initiating smoking (Resnick, Harris, & Blum, 1993).
School-based health/pastoral care services staff seem ideally placed to support studentsto build resiliency, and therefore help them to overcome risks and empower them tomake informed health decisions (Hearn, Campbell-Pope, House, & Cross, 2006;Thomas, Hall, Adair, & Bruce, 2008). However, previous research with WesternAustralian secondary students found that, contrary to expectations, they would notnecessarily approach the school nurse(s) to discuss smoking cessation or other drug useproblems (Bond, 2009). Students indicated they would be more likely to talk andengage with school staff who they found approachable and trusted.
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Bostwick, Richard. "University Student Support Systems, Help-Seeking Behaviour And The Management Of Student Psychological Distress." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1458.
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The issue of student management and retention remains one of the most pertinent considerations for any university. In a climate of increasing awareness of mental and physical health issues, university policy development needs to adapt to ensure all students engage with and utilise support services effectively. It would appear that there are various influences on a student’s university experience, including learning abilities and styles, impact of life events and situations, for example, housing and finance, availability of support services and the ability of an individual to seek out appropriate help. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, in combination with the Health Belief Model can provide a strong foundation for universities to begin to understand why a student may not achieve their potential, or may depart prematurely. This theoretical interaction postulates how needs are determined and prioritised subsequently influences help-seeking behaviour. The application of this interaction assists with developing a picture of students who have ongoing issues, for example: housing, finance, and lack of family support, and how these issues can lead to problems with learning, achievement, and ultimately academic performance. The purpose of this thesis is concerned with seeking to understand how and why students access support services within the university setting, and whether the support services have an impact on the levels of psychological distress. This thesis was conducted in two phases, both collecting data through the use of surveys. Phase one, intended to collect information directly from support services concerning students who were accessing them, however, phase one did not achieve its aim due to lack of responses from support services. Phase two profiled the experience of students who have interacted with support services; this profile assisted in a review of relevant services including how the provision of university support services potentially affects student’s psychological distress. Results revealed a lack of data for measuring service outcomes, for example measures of psychological distress, which might impact on students’ ability to succeed at university. Recommendations were generated based on the discussion relating to the lack of phase one data and the phase two student profile, these recommendations aiming to enhance the ability of university systems to identify and promote effective help-seeking behaviour, and the efficacy of those systems in reducing psychological distress. The implications of this research include the potential for enhancing operational policies relating to student management and retention within Australian universities.
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Dall, Natalie. "Perceptions of financial counselling in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1996. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/934.
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The development of financial counselling in Australia during the past decade has been complex and fragmented. Financial counselling and rural counselling services within Western Australia are funded from a range of government, non-government and church based groups. This has contributed to problems in the identification of basic definitions of the need for services, the role of the financial counsellor and service models or functions. The failure to define the role of the financial counsellor and the needs to be addressed by financial counselling services, "appears to be the most important historic weakness in the field." (Wyse et al., 1990, p.2). A consequence of the initial failure to define the role of the financial counsellor has meant that definitions have evolved retrospectively rather than in a planned fashion in response to need. This conflict and confusion over the role of financial counsellors has created a situation where financial counsellors may not have a shared philosophy of their profession. Central to the debate has been the lack of clarification of the role of financial counsellors and the relative priorities of casework, community education and policy action. Casework and advocacy on behalf of clients have typically been regarded by funding bodies as the most important responsibilities, since casework statistics provide quantitative accountability for public funds. (Wyse et al., 1990, p.2). A study conducted by Ryan (1990) suggested that different ideological beliefs among financial counsellors would have a significant effect on their casework practice. Different ideologies may result in counsellors assessing cases differently and recommending different courses of action to clients. Other implications of counsellors having different ideologies are that they may have different perceptions of client problems and the role they adopt in assisting clients. (Ryan, 1990, p.31). It was thought that financial counsellors would have different views of the purpose of their work and the outcomes they hope to achieve as a consequence of being recruited from a wide range of different educational and experiential backgrounds. Other factors such as the diverse range of prior experiences, lack of uniform training, different work locations and available resources were suggested as being likely to influence the perceptions that financial counsellors have of their work. Individual counsellors may be working from very different paradigms making it difficult to identify a clear philosophy for financial counselling as a profession. The study was designed to investigate the perceptions of financial counselling in Western Australia by conducting in-depth interviews with financial counsellors and their clients. The interviews were analysed and interpreted to draw conclusions about the relationships between the perceptions of financial counsellors and their clients regarding the intended and actual functions of financial counsellors in meeting client needs. The responses from both financial counsellors and clients indicate that perceptions of the role of the financial counsellor, outcomes and strategies used to achieve outcomes are consistent. The results of this study indicate that financial counsellors are in fact working toward similar goals and have similar views of their work. The findings do not support the literature and anecdotal evidence which suggests that financial counsellors may not share the same philosophy of their profession. It is anticipated that the results of this study will assist in the development off future policies, practices and training programs for financial counsellors in Western Australia.
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Evans, Rebecca. "When teachers are victims : A study of support in Western Australian government schools for teachers who have been assaulted by students." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2000. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1382.
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The aims of this study were to determine the personal effects of student assault upon a teacher and what assaulted teachers feel that they need in the way of support. In particular, I wanted the study to focus on the personal aspects of the cases as I was convinced that assaulted teachers experience similar anxieties, fears and barriers to support and similar difficulties in having those feelings recognised. Many clinical studies of assault victim support have been conducted, however, seemingly none of them are specifically related to assault by a student upon a teacher. This specific type of assault involves distinctive factors which effect the victim, such as the assailant being a minor and the victim an adult and the student being an inescapable part of the teacher's vocation. Given these aims, narrative form was considered the most appropriate methodology for the study. Narrative form uses emotive, context-specific language to build meaning, a plot based upon some form of conflict and the use of multiple voices. Thus the participants of the study became characters within the framework of an academic study. The idea that from the telling or reading of a story a type of truth can be developed is gradually becoming more accepted within the social sciences. This 'truth' is created by the reader actively constructing knowledge from constant reflection on the experiences of the characters and then modifying these experiences within the story by using cultural knowledge as a basis for comparison (Gray, 1996, p3). In this study three individual stories were collected during extensive interviews and were blended by the narrator (researcher) into a story of teacher assault that highlights the effects of workplace violence on the victims and their support needs. The story format allowed the portrayal of the assaulted teacher's perception and a brief insight into the frustrations experienced by members of the assaulted teacher's family. The study also developed a program of the types of support that should be provided for teachers when they have been assaulted by a student. The study revealed that the assaulted teachers experienced many similar anxieties, fears and barriers to support. The need for a specific support program for assaulted teachers was verified, as was the fact that support is currently nut being provided. Using information from the interviewed participants, a program of necessary support was formulated. A plan for schools to follow in order to establish effective support programs was also established.
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Elliott, Diana. "The impact of genetic counselling for familial breast cancer on women's psychological distress, risk perception and understanding of BRCA testing." University of Western Australia. School of Population Health, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2008.0190.
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[Truncated abstract] Background: A review of the literature indicated there was a need for more long-term randomised controlled studies on the effects of BRCA counselling/testing on high risk women, including improved strategies for risk communication. Reviews have also shown women are confused about the significance of inconclusive or non informative results with a need for more research in this area. Aims: The general aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of breast cancer genetic counselling on psychological distress levels, perception of risk, genetic knowledge and understanding of BRCA testing/test results in a cohort of 207 women from high risk breast cancer families who were referred for genetic counselling in Perth during the period 1997 to 2001. Short- and long-term impact of BRCA genetic counselling/testing was determined in women with and without cancer in a randomised controlled trial as part of which women were randomised to either receive immediate versus delayed genetic counselling. This included family communication patterns before BRCA testing, anticipated outcomes of testing on oneself and family including intentions for result disclosure. Comprehension of index and predictive BRCA testing with possible results was assessed both in the short- and the long-term and understanding of individual or family BRCA test results was evaluated at long-term. The effect of genetic counselling on breast cancer risk perception in unaffected women was evaluated. This study considered a theoretical framework of educational learning theories to provide a basis for risk communication with possible relevance for future research. ... Only 25% of the original study population (52/207) reported BRCA results and women's understanding of results is concerning. Key findings were: 1. The majority of affected women received an inconclusive result. 2. Out of twelve unaffected women who reported results, seven were inconclusive which are not congruent with predictive testing. This implies that these women did not understand their test result. 3. A minority of untested relatives did not know whether a family mutation had or had not been found in their tested family member or what their actual test result was. This implies either a lack of disclosure or that woman did not understand the rationale for and significance of testing for a family mutation. 4. Three relatives did not understand a positive result was a mutation. Conclusion: The implication of this research for breast cancer counselling and testing services is that women who wait for counselling are no worse off in terms of short- or long-term general psychological distress than women who receive the intervention early. There is a suggestion that unaffected women without the disease found counselling more advantageous than affected women. The meaning of BRCA results as reported by women is concerning particularly women's understanding of negative and inconclusive results and further research is needed in this area. Too much information presented at counselling may affect women's comprehension of risk, BRCA testing and future test results and further research is required to evaluate the effects of information overload.
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Percy, Ian David. "Mindfulness in counselling and psychotherapy: narratives from practitioners in Bhutan and Australia." Thesis, Curtin University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1346.
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In Western countries therapeutic mindfulness has claimed positive physical benefits and improved mental wellbeing. The Kingdom of Bhutan is addressing social problems through emerging counselling and psychotherapeutic services. A narrative research methodology deconstructed the place of mindfulness in the personal lives and professional practices of six counsellors and psychotherapists in Perth, Western Australia and five counsellors in Bhutan. Their relational and contextual histories led to a reconsideration of the descriptions, purposes and applications of mindfulness.
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Watson, Robert. "Generalist telephone counselling and referral call data as a social indicator : a lifeline to social support?" University of Ballarat, 2006. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/15563.
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The aim of this Australian Research Council Linkage doctoral project with industry partners UnitingCare-Lifeline Ballarat and Lifeline Australia was to investigate whether calls to Lifeline – a generalist telephone counselling and referral service – could be used as valid and reliable social indicators of health. The Lifeline Australia service receives approximately 1,000 calls a day and key details of each call are recorded on its Client Services Management Information System (CSMIS). A number of research questions directed this study: (1) What are the characteristics or attributes of callers to Lifeline?; (2) How do the patterns of calls to Lifeline vary spatially?; and (3) What is the statistical relationship between calls to Lifeline and other measures of community health? This thesis presents a detailed descriptive summary and analysis of Lifeline’s national CSMIS call data (N = 90,128 cases) from 01-04-2003 to 29-06-2003. It explores this and other sources of call data, such as the Telstra Exchange data, for their potential to be used as social indicators. The project created a model of generalist telephone counselling and referral use (MGTCRU). The MGTCRU was used as a theoretical base to a call rate indicator, named the Lifeline Indicator of Social Need (LISN), which reflects the community’s capacity to provide social support to its most socially isolated residents. The LISN was found to have useful attributes and a potential for use as a social indicator of community strength. The call rate indicator showed a statistically significant relationship with the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia, measures of socio-economic disadvantage, and suicide rates. However, the CSMIS database was found to have certain limitations. The thesis presents recommendations for this situation to be addressed. While acknowledging that there are limitations to telephone counselling call data it is clear that these call data can be used to create cost effective, rapid, reliable, and potentially valid social indicators. This thesis has made a number of significant empirical and theoretical contributions to knowledge on telephone counselling and referral. The descriptive summary of the CSMIS data provided in this thesis might be used in innovative ways by social researchers. The LISN could be used on its own or included in other social indices. The MGTCRU provides a theoretical framework for understanding telephone counselling and referral services use and may assist these services to organise their operations and meet the needs of their callers. This project may have particular application to a current upgrade of Lifeline Australia’s telephony and call data systems.Doctor of Philosophy
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Munro, Louise Ellen. "The development and evaluation of a culturally affirmative counselling model for deaf clients in Australia." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2010. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/46997/1/Louise_Munro_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
In Australia, there is only one, newly established, dedicated mental health service catering specifically for the signing *Deaf community. It is staffed by four part-time hearing professionals and based in Brisbane. There are currently no Deaf psychologists or psychiatrists and there is no valid or reliable empirical evidence on outcomes for Deaf people accessing specialised or mainstream mental health services. Further compounding these issues, is the fact that there are no sign language versions of the most common standardised mental health or psychological instruments available to clinicians in Australia. Contemporary counselling literature is acknowledging the role of the therapeutic alliance and the impact of 'common factors' on therapeutic outcomes. However, these issues are complicated by the relationship between the Deaf client and the hearing therapist being a cross-cultural exchange. The disability model of deafness is contentious and few professionals in Australia have the requisite knowledge and understanding of deafness from a cultural perspective to attend to the therapeutic relationship with this in mind. Consequently, Deaf people are severely disadvantaged by the current lack of services, resources and skilled professionals in the field of deafness and psychology in this country. The primary aim of the following program of research has been to propose a model for culturally affirmative service delivery and to provide clinicians with tools to evaluate the effect of their therapeutic work with Deaf people seeking mental health treatment. The research document is presented as a thesis by publication and comprises four specific objectives formulated in response to the lack of existing services and resources. The first objective was to explore the use of social constructionist counselling techniques and a reflecting team with Deaf clients, hearing therapists and an interpreter. Following the establishment of a pilot counselling clinic, indepth semi-structured interviews were conducted with two long-term clients following the one year pilot of this service. These interviews generated recommendations for the development of a new 'enriched' model of counselling to be implemented and evaluated in later stages of the research program. The second objective was to identify appropriate psychometric measures that could be translated into Australian Sign Language (Auslan) for research into efficacy, effectiveness and counselling outcomes. Two instruments were identified as potentially suitable; the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS), a measure of global functioning, and the Session Rating Scale (SRS), a measure of therapeutic alliance. A specialised team of bi-lingual and bi-cultural interpreters, native signers and the primary researcher for this thesis, produced the ORS-Auslan and the SRS-Auslan in DVD format, using the translation and back-translation process. The third objective was to establish the validity and reliability of these new Auslan measures based on normative data from the Deaf community. Data from the ORS-Auslan was collected from one clinical and one non-clinical sample of Deaf people. Statistical analyses revealed that the ORS-Auslan is reliable, valid and adequately distinguishes between clinical and non-clinical presentations. Furthermore, construct validity has been established using a yet to be validated sign language version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21), providing a platform for further research using the DASS-21 with Deaf people. The fourth objective was to evaluate counselling outcomes following the implementation of an enriched counselling service, based on the findings generated by the first objective, and using the newly translated Auslan measures. A second university counselling clinic was established and implemented over the course of one year. Practice-based evidence guided the research and the ORS-Auslan and the SRS-Auslan were administered at every session and provided outcome data on Deaf clients' global functioning. Data from six clients over the course of ten months indicated that this culturally affirmative model was an effective approach for these six clients. This is the first time that outcome data have been collected in Australia using valid and reliable Auslan measures to establish preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of any therapeutic intervention for clinical work with adult, signing Deaf clients. The research generated by this thesis contributes theoretical knowledge, professional development and practical resources that can be used by a variety of mental health clinicians in the context of mental health service delivery to Deaf clients in Australia.
21
Snider, Paul D. "Exploring the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students /." Access via Murdoch University Digital Theses Project, 2003. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20040430.140708.
Full text
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Strasser, Alison. "Development of a counselling and psychotherapy supervision training program within an Australian educational context." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2004. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/6437/.
Full textAbstract:
Although supervision has been a significant component of counselling and psychotherapy practice since the days of Freud, it appears that only since the professionalisation of this industry has supervision become a requirement for ongoing practice. Indeed, it can be argued that supervision is becoming a profession in its own right as it is increasingly recognised that not only does the supervisee benefit in a multitude of ways, but ultimately it is the welfare of the client that is of prime concern. In Australia, the registration process only began in 1999 and as such, is still defining its role amongst the 'helping* professions and government bodies. Although there are clear statements regarding the amount of supervision hours required for both training and ongoing professional practice for counsellors and psychotherapists, there is still work to be achieved in both defining supervisor qualifications and designing an ethical code of practice. At the macro level, a motivation behind this project was my desire for greater personal lucidity about the nature of supervision and the characteristics that determine a good supervisor within the strictures of an educational establishment. One of the possible outcomes was to contribute to the registration definitions. More specifically, the intent was to design a training program for supervisors that was congruent with the needs of supervisees and was cross-theoretical in orientation to allow potential supervisors to develop their own personal model of working. This project documents the phenomenological research I undertook with recently graduated Master of Counselling participants. One of the principle intentions was to explore each individuals underlying meaning and intent towards supervision. Equally, the aim was to develop increased clarity about the nature of supervision itself. The results of this research in combination with other materials were used to develop a supervision training program that was run over 12 weeks in March 2003 and then evaluated for future developments. In the course of this research, a framework of supervision emerged which I have defined as the 'Wheel of Supervision', which has the potential for further evolution in terms of future training and further publications. This 'Wheel of Supervision’ is a new and different way of viewing supervision from both the supervisor and supervise e perspective.
23
Watson, Robert University of Ballarat. "Generalist telephone counselling and referral call data as a social indicator : a lifeline to social support?" University of Ballarat, 2006. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/12788.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this Australian Research Council Linkage doctoral project with industry partners UnitingCare-Lifeline Ballarat and Lifeline Australia was to investigate whether calls to Lifeline – a generalist telephone counselling and referral service – could be used as valid and reliable social indicators of health. The Lifeline Australia service receives approximately 1,000 calls a day and key details of each call are recorded on its Client Services Management Information System (CSMIS). A number of research questions directed this study: (1) What are the characteristics or attributes of callers to Lifeline?; (2) How do the patterns of calls to Lifeline vary spatially?; and (3) What is the statistical relationship between calls to Lifeline and other measures of community health? This thesis presents a detailed descriptive summary and analysis of Lifeline’s national CSMIS call data (N = 90,128 cases) from 01-04-2003 to 29-06-2003. It explores this and other sources of call data, such as the Telstra Exchange data, for their potential to be used as social indicators. The project created a model of generalist telephone counselling and referral use (MGTCRU). The MGTCRU was used as a theoretical base to a call rate indicator, named the Lifeline Indicator of Social Need (LISN), which reflects the community’s capacity to provide social support to its most socially isolated residents. The LISN was found to have useful attributes and a potential for use as a social indicator of community strength. The call rate indicator showed a statistically significant relationship with the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia, measures of socio-economic disadvantage, and suicide rates. However, the CSMIS database was found to have certain limitations. The thesis presents recommendations for this situation to be addressed. While acknowledging that there are limitations to telephone counselling call data it is clear that these call data can be used to create cost effective, rapid, reliable, and potentially valid social indicators. This thesis has made a number of significant empirical and theoretical contributions to knowledge on telephone counselling and referral. The descriptive summary of the CSMIS data provided in this thesis might be used in innovative ways by social researchers. The LISN could be used on its own or included in other social indices. The MGTCRU provides a theoretical framework for understanding telephone counselling and referral services use and may assist these services to organise their operations and meet the needs of their callers. This project may have particular application to a current upgrade of Lifeline Australia’s telephony and call data systems.Doctor of Philosophy
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au, psnider@central murdoch edu, and Paul Dabney Snider. "Exploring the Relationships between Individualism and Collectivism and Attitudes towards Counselling among Ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American University Students." Murdoch University, 2003. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20040430.140708.
Full textAbstract:
Exploring the Relationships Between Individualism and Collectivism and Attitudes Towards Counselling Among Ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American University Students Compensating for reduced public funding, Australian and American universities actively recruit full-fee paying East Asian international students. University staff, aware of international students having difficulties coping with cultural and emotional issues, often encourage them to seek university counselling services. However, East Asian international students under-utilise Western universities counselling services.
It has been argued that the Western concept of counselling reflects Western cultural values, in particular individualism. Thus the reluctance of international students from more collectivistic cultures to seek counselling services may in part be due to a clash of cultural values. Over a decade ago, Draguns hypothesised the existence of a relationship between Hofstedes cultural dimensions of individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity, and their influence on individuals attitudes towards psychopathology and treatment modalities. The current study sought to offer empirical support for Draguns hypothesis as it related to individualism and power distance, and to attitudes towards counselling. In place of Hofstedes cultural dimensions, this study used the Triandis cultural concepts of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism.
Using the Triandis Individualism Collectivism Scale (ICS) and the Tinsley Expectations about Counseling-Brief Form (EAC-B)questionnaire, the current study explores the relationship between levels of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism, and attitudes towards the roles of counsellors, the roles of clients, and the process and goals of counselling. The research is based on data collected from three cultural groups: ethnic Chinese international students attending Australian universities, and Australian and American university students enrolled in their home countries.
This study is unusual in cross-cultural research owing to its use of the Rasch extended logistic model of modern item response theory (IRT) as a means of validating the data prior to standard statistical analysis. Whereas classical test theory emphasises the model fitting the data, the Rasch model of IRT requires that the data fit the model to be considered valid. Psychometric analysis of the ICS found its four scales separately fit the Rasch model quite well, as did three modified scales of the EAC-B.
The IRT analysis also provided a means of identifying differential item functioning (DIF), that is, items functioning differently (demonstrating bias) among
the three cultural groups.
Using the EAC-B to collect pre and post-intervention data, the current study assessed the effectiveness of a videotape intervention as a means of changing within and between-group attitudes towards counselling. It was anticipated that ethnic Chinese participants, representing the group with the least familiarity with counselling, would show the greatest change in counselling attitudes as a result of the intervention. Americans were expected to show the least change, and Australian participants to be in the middle position. Based on the findings, the intervention did not significantly alter the participants attitudes towards counselling regardless of their cultural background. Overall, the intervention served to strengthen existing attitudes.
Lastly as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of the quantitative findings, the study collected qualitative data from the participants and from university counsellors. These findings indicated that there was a general lack of knowledge about university counselling services even among those participants who were familiar with counselling as a concept. Participants, in general, expressed reservations about seeking counselling due to concerns of being seen by friends. This was particularly true for the Chinese. Chinese participants also expressed scepticism towards a non-Chinese counsellors ability to understand their problems.
In reference to Draguns hypothesis, overall the findings from this study supported his model. The findings indicated that individuals endorsing collectivistic attitudes expressed a strong preference for counsellors who were direct, expert-like, and helped clients seek concrete solutions to their problems. The study also found that an individuals expressions of cultural dimensions, such as vertical collectivism, were better predictors of counsellor preference than an individuals cultural background.
These findings have implications for university policy makers who are responsible for ensuring the existence of an infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of the international students they so actively recruit. This would include appropriate funding for an adequate and diverse counselling staff extending itself to the university community. There are also implications for counsellor education programs in recognising the link between cultural variables and client expectations.
25
Snider, Paul Dabney. "Exploring the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students." Thesis, Snider, Paul Dabney (2003) Exploring the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2003. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/319/.
Full textAbstract:
Compensating for reduced public funding, Australian and American universities actively recruit full-fee paying East Asian international students. University staff, aware of international students having difficulties coping with cultural and emotional issues, often encourage them to seek university counselling services. However, East Asian international students under-utilise Western universities? counselling services.
It has been argued that the Western concept of counselling reflects Western cultural values, in particular individualism. Thus the reluctance of international students from more collectivistic cultures to seek counselling services may in part be due to a clash of cultural values. Over a decade ago, Draguns hypothesised the existence of a relationship between Hofstede's cultural dimensions of individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity, and their influence on individuals' attitudes towards psychopathology and treatment modalities. The current study sought to offer empirical support for Draguns' hypothesis as it related to individualism and power distance, and to attitudes towards counselling. In place of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, this study used the Triandis cultural concepts of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism.
Using the Triandis Individualism Collectivism Scale (ICS) and the Tinsley Expectations about Counseling-Brief Form (EAC-B)questionnaire, the current study explores the relationship between levels of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism, and attitudes towards the roles of counsellors, the roles of clients, and the process and goals of counselling. The research is based on data collected from three cultural groups: ethnic Chinese international students attending Australian universities, and Australian and American university students enrolled in their home countries.
This study is unusual in cross-cultural research owing to its use of the Rasch extended logistic model of modern item response theory (IRT) as a means of validating the data prior to standard statistical analysis. Whereas classical test theory emphasises the model fitting the data, the Rasch model of IRT requires that the data fit the model to be considered valid. Psychometric analysis of the ICS found its four scales separately fit the Rasch model quite well, as did three modified scales of the EAC-B.
The IRT analysis also provided a means of identifying differential item functioning (DIF), that is, items functioning differently (demonstrating bias) among the three cultural groups.
Using the EAC-B to collect pre and post-intervention data, the current study assessed the effectiveness of a videotape intervention as a means of changing within and between-group attitudes towards counselling. It was anticipated that ethnic Chinese participants, representing the group with the least familiarity with counselling, would show the greatest change in counselling attitudes as a result of the intervention. Americans were expected to show the least change, and Australian participants to be in the middle position. Based on the findings, the intervention did not significantly alter the participants' attitudes towards counselling regardless of their cultural background. Overall, the intervention served to strengthen existing attitudes.
Lastly as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of the quantitative findings, the study collected qualitative data from the participants and from university counsellors. These findings indicated that there was a general lack of knowledge about university counselling services even among those participants who were familiar with counselling as a concept. Participants, in general, expressed reservations about seeking counselling due to concerns of being seen by friends. This was particularly true for the Chinese. Chinese participants also expressed scepticism towards a non-Chinese counsellor's ability to understand their problems.
In reference to Draguns' hypothesis, overall the findings from this study supported his model. The findings indicated that individuals endorsing collectivistic attitudes expressed a strong preference for counsellors who were direct, expert-like, and helped clients seek concrete solutions to their problems. The study also found that an individual's expressions of cultural dimensions, such as vertical collectivism, were better predictors of counsellor preference than an individual's cultural background.
These findings have implications for university policy makers who are responsible for ensuring the existence of an infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of the international students they so actively recruit. This would include appropriate funding for an adequate and diverse counselling staff extending itself to the university community. There are also implications for counsellor education programs in recognising the link between cultural variables and client expectations.
26
Snider, Paul Dabney. "Exploring the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students." Snider, Paul Dabney (2003) Exploring the relationships between individualism and collectivism and attitudes towards counselling among ethnic Chinese, Australian, and American university students. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2003. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/319/.
Full textAbstract:
Compensating for reduced public funding, Australian and American universities actively recruit full-fee paying East Asian international students. University staff, aware of international students having difficulties coping with cultural and emotional issues, often encourage them to seek university counselling services. However, East Asian international students under-utilise Western universities? counselling services.
It has been argued that the Western concept of counselling reflects Western cultural values, in particular individualism. Thus the reluctance of international students from more collectivistic cultures to seek counselling services may in part be due to a clash of cultural values. Over a decade ago, Draguns hypothesised the existence of a relationship between Hofstede's cultural dimensions of individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity, and their influence on individuals' attitudes towards psychopathology and treatment modalities. The current study sought to offer empirical support for Draguns' hypothesis as it related to individualism and power distance, and to attitudes towards counselling. In place of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, this study used the Triandis cultural concepts of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism.
Using the Triandis Individualism Collectivism Scale (ICS) and the Tinsley Expectations about Counseling-Brief Form (EAC-B)questionnaire, the current study explores the relationship between levels of vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism, and attitudes towards the roles of counsellors, the roles of clients, and the process and goals of counselling. The research is based on data collected from three cultural groups: ethnic Chinese international students attending Australian universities, and Australian and American university students enrolled in their home countries.
This study is unusual in cross-cultural research owing to its use of the Rasch extended logistic model of modern item response theory (IRT) as a means of validating the data prior to standard statistical analysis. Whereas classical test theory emphasises the model fitting the data, the Rasch model of IRT requires that the data fit the model to be considered valid. Psychometric analysis of the ICS found its four scales separately fit the Rasch model quite well, as did three modified scales of the EAC-B.
The IRT analysis also provided a means of identifying differential item functioning (DIF), that is, items functioning differently (demonstrating bias) among the three cultural groups.
Using the EAC-B to collect pre and post-intervention data, the current study assessed the effectiveness of a videotape intervention as a means of changing within and between-group attitudes towards counselling. It was anticipated that ethnic Chinese participants, representing the group with the least familiarity with counselling, would show the greatest change in counselling attitudes as a result of the intervention. Americans were expected to show the least change, and Australian participants to be in the middle position. Based on the findings, the intervention did not significantly alter the participants' attitudes towards counselling regardless of their cultural background. Overall, the intervention served to strengthen existing attitudes.
Lastly as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of the quantitative findings, the study collected qualitative data from the participants and from university counsellors. These findings indicated that there was a general lack of knowledge about university counselling services even among those participants who were familiar with counselling as a concept. Participants, in general, expressed reservations about seeking counselling due to concerns of being seen by friends. This was particularly true for the Chinese. Chinese participants also expressed scepticism towards a non-Chinese counsellor's ability to understand their problems.
In reference to Draguns' hypothesis, overall the findings from this study supported his model. The findings indicated that individuals endorsing collectivistic attitudes expressed a strong preference for counsellors who were direct, expert-like, and helped clients seek concrete solutions to their problems. The study also found that an individual's expressions of cultural dimensions, such as vertical collectivism, were better predictors of counsellor preference than an individual's cultural background.
These findings have implications for university policy makers who are responsible for ensuring the existence of an infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of the international students they so actively recruit. This would include appropriate funding for an adequate and diverse counselling staff extending itself to the university community. There are also implications for counsellor education programs in recognising the link between cultural variables and client expectations.
27
Willer, Fiona. "A good fit: Health-oriented size acceptance and Australian dietetic practice." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2021. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/211444/1/Fiona_Willer_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis explored the suitability of health-oriented, size-accepting approaches for use in Australian dietetics counselling with weight-concerned adults. Across three studies, this work established that such an approach has an acceptable evidence base to drive Australian dietetics practice and may be a superior method to support higher dietary quality and lower eating disorder risk when compared with weight-centric approaches.
28
Fisher, John. "Reaching the heart : Assessing & nurturing spiritual well-being via education." University of Ballarat, 2008. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/13798.
Full textAbstract:
Several quantitative measures of spiritual well-being were developed with primary and secondary school students and teachers, and university education students, namely the Spiritual Health And Life-Orientation Measure, Feeling Good, Living Life, and the Quality Of Life Influences Survey. Spiritual dissonance was revealed by comparing respondents’ ‘ideals’ with ‘lived experiences’ in four domains of spiritual well-being. Teachers and university education students reported a decline in help being provided in schools to develop the relationships which foster school students’ spiritual well-being.Doctor of Education EdD
29
Lee, Susan Kaye. "Alcohol, tobacco and other drug concerns of newly arrived 'CaLD' (culturally and linguistically diverse) women in Perth." Thesis, Curtin University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1590.
Full textAbstract:
Womens Health Services (WHS) in Perth provides medical services, counselling, information, community talks and workshops, referral, and outreach to women in Western Australia. WHS works with women from over sixty different nationalities, including many newly arrived migrants and refugees. New arrivals access a wide range of WHS programs, but at the time the current study was developed few ethnic women attend the alcohol and other drug (AOD) services offered by the organisation. To address this a needs assessment was conducted with newly arrived women (0 to 5 years in Australia). The needs assessment examined the use of alcohol and other drugs by newly arrived women, the barriers that prevent women from accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) services and explored the types of services and programs newly arrived women wanted.Method. The needs assessment used both qualitative and quantitative methods. Twenty two service providers working with newly arrived migrant and humanitarian entrant women were either interviewed individually or attended a focus group. The views and experiences of 26 newly arrived women from a variety of culturally and linguistic backgrounds were also collected through one-on-one interviews (n=6) and through focus groups (n=5). The information gathered from these interviews and discussions informed the design of a questionnaire that was administered to 268 newly arrived women. All women participating in the project were 18 years of age or more, Australian citizens, permanent Australian residents or in the process of being granted permanent residency and had lived in Australia 5 years or less.Findings Regarding Tobacco and Alcohol Use. Australian cultural attitudes had had an impact on newly arrived women's alcohol and other drug use. Some impacts were positive, for example, increasing restrictions and the decrease in acceptability of smoking in public places along with strong educational messages about the risk of smoking had influenced some women to quit since coming to Australia. Unfortunately, not all Australian cultural attitudes had a positive impact on newly arrived women. Just under one third of the women (31.7%) who drank alcohol were drinking more alcohol since coming to Australia. Reasons for drinking more alcohol were varied and included alcohol being cheaper in Perth than in their own countries, socialising with Australians who drank alcohol, and using alcohol as a way of coping with stress. However, it is important to note that only a very small percentage of the newly arrived women participating in the needs assessment drank at levels considered risky or high risk for either short term or longer term harm. The vast majority of respondents surveyed did not smoke (n=207; 77.2%) and did not use alcohol (n=201; 76.1%), often due to cultural or religious reasons.Other Results. Other findings of the needs assessment included: • Over 21% of newly arrived women responding to the survey had been put in fear by some one under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs. Nearly 17% of women responding to the survey had been verbally abused by some one under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs. • More than one third of the women responding to the survey indicated that they wanted information and support on family violence. • Over 40% of the women responding to the survey wanted information and support for depression. • Forty women (14.9%) responding to the survey wanted support for husbands or children that were drinking too much alcohol.A surprising finding was the high level of interest in women's only exercise classes and opportunities to participate in other types of physical activity Two thirds of questionnaire respondents said that exercise was a priority for them. Subsequent feedback sessions with newly arrived women about the results of the needs assessment confirmed the need for opportunities to participate in a variety of physical activities in a safe, affordable, women only environment where childcare was available.Understandings of Alcohol and Other Drug Services. Participants in the study appeared to have a poor understanding of what AOD services were, different types of treatments and models that could be used, who was entitled to access them (not just the alcohol or other drug user), the associated costs and fees, and whether or not the police would become involved. There was a significant lack of understanding by service providers working with newly arrived women about eligibility to access alcohol and drug services and what assistance and support these agencies could provide either to women using alcohol and other drugs or to family and friends impacted by another's drug use. Few service providers asked their clients any questions about alcohol or other drug use on a regular basis.The findings from the needs assessment have been used to improve programs and services with newly arrived women at WHS. These have included the addition of a specific alcohol and other drugs program for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with a focus on prevention activities as well as opportunities for newly arrived women to participate in a variety of physical activity classes.
30
Smyth, Marion A. "The story speaks for itself: A thematic information analysis of an intended phenomenological study of the lived experiences of spouses and parents bereaved by the death of Special Forces members killed in combat." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1712.
Full textAbstract:
The Australian Special Forces (SF) members have faced considerable adversity with combat deployments to Afghanistan as an elite operational unit of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). There have been 40 combat deaths since 2001 and despite the significant research available on bereavement and violent death, to date there is a gap in the literature to guide the provision of bereavement support for spouses and parents of those SF members killed in action. Contemporary qualitative research into combat related bereavement has found a number of themes which gave meaning to bereavement outcomes found in the non-SF context and recommended that future studies in this field be extended to include SF bereavement. This study used a qualitative transcendental phenomenological design for the study of the bereavement experiences including perceptions of social support of widows and parents of SF members killed in action (KIA) in Afghanistan. In stressing the importance of the lived experiences of participants the purpose was to understand the lived experiences through the use of semi-structured face to face interviews. The journey of this research depicts a two phase study in which the first phase was unsuccessful in the recruitment of bereaved SF spouses and in the second phase the potential bereaved parent participants withdrew before the interview stage. Remaining true to phenomenological inquiry the focus of the researcher returned to the phenomenological paradigm for guidance on the way forward. It was a journey which reflected that in phenomenological inquiry the story should be allowed to tell itself. The resulting extension to this study featured a thematic information analysis of this study. Using the Moustakas (1994) modified van Kaam analysis model, four dominant themes emerged to explain the recruitment challenges of this study. The extracted themes included the SF as a hard to reach population; specific bereavement research challenges; research methods and design and, the ethics review processes. These were used to explain the phenomena of research challenges in the SF context. The outcome of this study is discussed in the context of the themes and guidance for future research in SF combat related bereavement.
31
Inkpen, Nova Arabella. "Reintegrative shaming through collective conscience building : the intended and unintended consequences of drink driving diversionary conferences for offenders and their supporters." Phd thesis, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/147881.
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Groube, Margaret. "Stress, social support and adaptation among caregivers." Master's thesis, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/142444.
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Kenney, Gary. "The chaplain as mentor : towards a definition of mentoring as a spiritual activity in adolescent formation in Australia." 2002. http://arrow.unisa.edu.au:8081/1959.8/81590.
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Vella, Rose Marie. "Counselling minority migrant groups : supporting Maltese-Australian females and their descendants affected by acculturation stress." Thesis, 2008. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/33026/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the counseiUng needs of ethnic migrant groups, in
particular the counselling needs of Maltese-Australian females and their female
descendants. Research indicates that some Maltese migrants in Australia have
experienced acculturation difficulties. Maltese- Australian women record a high
prevalence of depression. Reports indicate that children of Maltese- Australian
migrants experience lower self- esteem and more parent-child conflict than their
Anglo- Australian peers. Research indicates that some members of the Maltese-
Australian community, in particular Maltese -Australian females experience
more mental illness than other groups and that this may be attached to
experiences of unresolved acculturation stress. Children of Maltese- Australian
females are at risk of being affected by trans-generational acculturation stress
Theraputic interventions for Maltese-Australian females need to target specific
cultural needs, identity confusion and experiences of unresolved acculturation
stress. An integrated trans- theoretical model of counselling was recommended
and included a culturally focused Narrative, Existential and Family therapeutic
model for Maltese- Australian females and their female descendants.
35
Bui, Thi Bach Yen. "Adolescent depression in Vietnamese migrant families in Australia." Thesis, 2008. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/33025/.
Full textAbstract:
Due to rapid transitions of life events, changes in essential relationships, low self esteem and
conflict within the family, depression can impact on adolescents in Vietnamese migrant families
in Australia (Beyer & Reid, 2000, as cited in Tran, 2003). These adolescents may suffer from
depression due to their reactions to cultural conflicts they experience in adapting their traditional
family values into the context of Australia society (Vu, 2006). This depression can lead to
serious drug abuse and suicidal ideation (Greenfield at al, 2006; Webber, 2002). In this context,
this thesis discusses impact of the high expectations in maintaining Vietnamese traditional values
in migrant families, and how this can affect adolescents' psychological well being. Therefore, as
this thesis clearly implicates that the conflict between Vietnamese cultural values and Australian
cultural values are associated with Vietnamese adolescent depression, a greater understanding of
the specific needs of Vietnamese adolescents will assist counsellors and health professionals to
provide more effective interventions during their treatment process.
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Dagley, Gavin R. "The Athlete Career Education Program (ACE): the usefulness of ACE services and counsellor training." Thesis, 2004. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/15333/.
Full textAbstract:
The Athlete Career Education program (ACE), administered nationally by the Australian Institute of Sport, has as its objective to "assist elite athletes to undertake education, vocation and personal development opportunities whilst pursuing and achieving excellence in sport" (Australian Institute of Sport, 1999, p. 1). ACE offers a wide range of services including career and education guidance, sport performance related programs, services designed to help athletes cope with elite sporting life, and services related to personal development. These services are provided through individual consultation with ACE advisors or through group training courses. The focus of the present research was to explore the usefulness of ACE services to athletes, the effectiveness of ACE-type interventions, and the helpfulness of ACE advisor training to advisors.