Dissertations / Theses: 'Rural Australia'

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Garnett, Anne Margaret. "Employment and population adjustment in rural Australia /." Canberra : University of Canberra, 2007. http://erl.canberra.edu.au/public/adt-AUC20070802.130527/index.html.

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Garnett, Anne Margaret, and n/a. "EMPLOYMENT AND POPULATION ADJUSTMENT IN RURAL AUSTRALIA." University of Canberra. School of Business & Government, 2007. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20070802.130527.

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Rural regions in Australia have been, and continue to be, distinguished by very different population and labour market characteristics than those of more urbanised areas. Since the 1980s, rural regions have been exposed to a range of economic events and policies which has impacted on the structure and composition of the population and the labour force. These changes include trade liberalisation and globalisation, deregulation, declining numbers of agricultural establishments, advances in technology, increases in productivity and changes in the levels of public and private provision of goods and services. In addition, in recent years, serious shortages of labour, particularly skilled labour, has emerged as a major issue facing rural regions. However, there has been little economic research into rural labour markets relative to other labour markets, particularly since the 1980s. While there has been significant public discussion and political debate in recent years on the apparent changes experienced by rural regions, evidence regarding the nature, causes and impacts of these changes has often been anecdotal. For example, there is the popular notion of the �tree change� which refers to the idea that people are leaving metropolitan areas and moving to rural areas. Concurrently, there is also the significant discussion on the �rural downturn�, which refers to the belief that rural regions are declining in term of population and employment growth. Further, the agricultural sector has continued to be cited as the likely cause for downturns in rural population and employment growth rates in rural areas. However, again, there is a lack of economic research to substantiate these claims. The aim of this thesis is to redress the lack of economic research and to provide a comprehensive analysis of rural labour markets and population in Australia since the 1980s. Analysis focuses on the changing structure and composition of rural labour markets and the impact of population shifts on rural localities. Evidence is provided on the extent to which two decades of significant structural, technological and regulatory change have impacted on rural labour markets in Australia. This then provides a sound basis for the policy discussion in this thesis on population and labour market changes in rural Australia and the causes and implications of these changes.

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3

White-Davison, Patricia A. M. "Rural Views: Schooling in Rural/Remote Communities." Thesis, Griffith University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367842.

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This study is based on data collected for a large project that investigated social literacies and various aspects of the literacy culture of members of three rural communities in Queensland. This study draws on ideas from current critical literacy theory and research and post-structural writings. It reports a distinctive set of observations which aim to contribute to social and educational knowledge in respect of centre-margin relationships, literacy-empowerment relationships, the changing socio-economic and political landscape in rural Australia, and the need for a new conceptual landscape to define the foundations of a 'postprogressive pedagogy'. This study delineates some of the distinctive features of rural communities, and investigates the connections that people construct between schooling and economic change and the future, and between literacy and schooling and various aspects of the culture of the community. It interprets how schooling and literacy are socially constructed by members of the rural communities studied. One hundred and fifty-eight residents of three rural/remote communities were interviewed and their responses recorded and analysed. The residents represented the full range of ages and occupations. A selection of data from these interviews is taken for this study, based on themes and issues emerging from the data. A theoretical and empirical framework for the study is provided by reviewing current literature on rurality and rural living, on communities and schooling and cultural practices; literature on qualitative research methodology, specifically ethnomethodology, methods of interview analysis and the application of these methods, is also reviewed. Ethnomethodology is used for this study and the specific analytic procedures of Membership Categorisation Analysis. This specific type of qualitative research methodology is chosen because of its power to take the everyday conversations of community members and, through analytical procedures, to make explicit in those members accounts the interaction of their experiences with the organisational and social forces (the social realities) which permeate their relationships with one another and with the context of the community where they live, work and recreate. This study makes use of recent systematic procedures developed for interrogating interview data. It adds to the research literature on ideologies of family and community literacies and social practices in Australian rural communities. The study provides information relevant to rural development planners, and education policy developers and curriculum writers, for the purpose of enhancing schooling for rural students and better understanding of rural lifestyles. This study's focus on rural communities has highlighted the complexities and diversities of the rural communities that are studied. The different approaches and debates about 'defining rural' must continue, and researchers must avoid promoting a unidimensional category of 'rural'. The changing and developing nature of the rural communities has also been prominent in this study. The implications of these complexities and changes are that rural communities should be studied regularly so that the effects of the changes can be traced and documented. There is a varied set of understandings among rural dwellers about education. For some, education is bringing knowledge and skills to life in the rural location and enabling residents to avail themselves of the urban offerings that may enhance their occupations and leisure activities thus utilising the benefits of two cultures to their best advantage. For others, there are the expectations that education will enable them to move away from the rural areas, to go to the city, to take up other careers, to lead a different lifestyle. Hypotheses and generalisations that express negative approaches to rural cultures and to rural education must be reduced and the positive aspects promoted. Any centre-margin discourse must be scrutinised for its relevance and the feasibility of the assumptions on which it is based. Education policy developers, social researchers and rural policy planners need to re-evaluate the philosophical premises on which the current concept of success is based: success for the individual school student, success for education and schooling, and success in adult life. A number of recommendations are developed in an attempt to make a vision of excellence in rural education a central part of rural agenda. Curriculum in rural schools needs to be matched to rural resources and rural occupations and lifestyles, and to encourage enterprise. While education remains a centralised provision, it needs to provide a context for training in the communication skills that shape rural people's views of their communities. Rural secondary students may be disadvantaged by not having access to a wide range of curriculum offerings, and at tertiary level by inequities (mostly financial) of access, but technology could be used to assist in broadening the range of offerings at secondary level, and library resources across the country could be better utilised. Social and education research could benefit from further studies using this methodology, for example, studies in mining communities, rural ethnic communities, rural tourist communities.
Thesis (Masters)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
School of Cognition, Language and Special Education
Arts, Education and Law
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4

Johnson, D. H. "Masculinities in rural Australia : gender, culture, and environment." Thesis, Richmond, N.S.W. : University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 2001. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/21148.

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This research examines first the consequences of a learned, individualistic construction of masculinity as it exists within an aging population of farm men, and second the influence of this form of masculinity on possibilities for change in human relationships and industry practices. It is suggested that in a context of diminishing economic power and political influence, the prevailing model of masculinity has disabled the capacity of many farm men to manage change proactively. It is argued that evidence of a necessary change from instrumental, to-values and feelings-based engagement with human and natural systems has been slow to appear. A range of beliefs and attitudes are identified from the research data.Alternatives to traditional models of masculinity are examined. The research has been conducted using a Social Ecology approach, in which the personal autonomy arising from a coherent integration of values and beliefs informs our approach to all human and natural systems. Some possible consequences of such a change in personal orientation are explored, in relation to agricultural practices, community viability, and the fostering of social capital, and reference is made to alternative forms of community organisation.

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Johnson, D. H. "Masculinities in rural Australia : gender, culture, and environment /." Richmond, N.S.W. : University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 2001. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030409.155513/index.html.

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6

Rudd, Dianne Marie. "Women and migration : internal and international migration in Australia /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2004. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phr914.pdf.

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au, jmaxwell@katel net, and John Alexander Loftus Maxwell. "Rural veterinary practice in Western Australia 1964 to 2007." Murdoch University, 2008. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20081113.142241.

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Concern for the plight of rural veterinary practice in Australia existed throughout the 20th century. During the 1970s, the profession highlighted the problems faced by rural practitioners and in 2003, the Frawley Review examined current rural veterinary services. However, neither influenced the course of rural practice in Australia. The present thesis examined the status of rural practice in Western Australia from the 1960s to the present day. It did this by investigating the historical changes in agriculture during this period and their effect on rural practice. The practice at Katanning, in rural Western Australia, was used as a case study a study of the changes and adaptions made by that practice to remain viable. In 2006, surveys of both rural practitioners and government veterinary officers were conducted to obtain information of the veterinary services being provided to rural Western Australia. In addition, oral history interviews with a number of respondents to the surveys were carried out. Rapid expansion of Western Australian agriculture took place during the 1960s and was matched by growth in rural veterinary services. A government subsidy scheme recruited a number of veterinarians to the state. A Preventive Medicine/Animal Production service with sheep was established at Katanning in 1967. The reasons for developing such a service, its promotion, the results achieved and its subsequent failure are documented in the thesis. The 1970s was a troubled decade for agriculture and for those servicing it. The collapse of the beef-cattle boom was accompanied by a 20% reduction in veterinary staff in rural practice Australia-wide and a number of changes were implemented at Katanning to meet these circumstances. The 1980s saw a reduction in the economic significance of agriculture in Western Australia. At the same time, students from the Veterinary School at Murdoch University began graduating and, for the first time in the professions history, an overproduction of veterinarians existed. The 1990s was a period of relative stability, but was accompanied by major changes for the profession and rural practice. Many practices adopted merchandising and the sale of pet foods to supplement dwindling income. Previously, a male dominated profession, during this decade, it rapidly changed to one dominated by female graduates. Accompanying this gender change there was an increase in the demand for part-time work, whereas previously the profession had been predominantly a full-time vocation. The present decade opened with a questioning of the direction being taken by the profession and its undergraduate education. The current study revealed that the government veterinary services in Western Australia have contracted in size and scope, whilst at the same time, most rural practitioners attend companion animals at the expense of economic livestock. As a result, veterinary services to economic livestock have reduced and are likely to continue to do so and suggestions are made to counter this trend.

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Maxwell, John Alexander Loftus. "Rural veterinary practice in Western Australia 1964 to 2007." Thesis, Maxwell, John Alexander Loftus (2008) Rural veterinary practice in Western Australia 1964 to 2007. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2008. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/428/.

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Concern for the plight of rural veterinary practice in Australia existed throughout the 20th century. During the 1970s, the profession highlighted the problems faced by rural practitioners and in 2003, the Frawley Review examined current rural veterinary services. However, neither influenced the course of rural practice in Australia. The present thesis examined the status of rural practice in Western Australia from the 1960s to the present day. It did this by investigating the historical changes in agriculture during this period and their effect on rural practice. The practice at Katanning, in rural Western Australia, was used as a case study - a study of the changes and adaptions made by that practice to remain viable. In 2006, surveys of both rural practitioners and government veterinary officers were conducted to obtain information of the veterinary services being provided to rural Western Australia. In addition, oral history interviews with a number of respondents to the surveys were carried out. Rapid expansion of Western Australian agriculture took place during the 1960s and was matched by growth in rural veterinary services. A government subsidy scheme recruited a number of veterinarians to the state. A Preventive Medicine/Animal Production service with sheep was established at Katanning in 1967. The reasons for developing such a service, its promotion, the results achieved and its subsequent failure are documented in the thesis. The 1970s was a troubled decade for agriculture and for those servicing it. The collapse of the beef-cattle boom was accompanied by a 20% reduction in veterinary staff in rural practice Australia-wide and a number of changes were implemented at Katanning to meet these circumstances. The 1980s saw a reduction in the economic significance of agriculture in Western Australia. At the same time, students from the Veterinary School at Murdoch University began graduating and, for the first time in the profession's history, an overproduction of veterinarians existed. The 1990s was a period of relative stability, but was accompanied by major changes for the profession and rural practice. Many practices adopted merchandising and the sale of pet foods to supplement dwindling income. Previously, a male dominated profession, during this decade, it rapidly changed to one dominated by female graduates. Accompanying this gender change there was an increase in the demand for part-time work, whereas previously the profession had been predominantly a full-time vocation. The present decade opened with a questioning of the direction being taken by the profession and its undergraduate education. The current study revealed that the government veterinary services in Western Australia have contracted in size and scope, whilst at the same time, most rural practitioners attend companion animals at the expense of economic livestock. As a result, veterinary services to economic livestock have reduced and are likely to continue to do so and suggestions are made to counter this trend.

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9

Maxwell, John Alexander Loftus. "Rural veterinary practice in Western Australia 1964 to 2007." Access via Murdoch University Digital Theses Project, 2008. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20081113.142241.

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10

Tonts, Matthew A. "Rural restructuring, policy change and uneven development in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia." Thesis, Curtin University, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2009.

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This thesis examines economic restructuring and changing governmental regulation in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia. It argues that, for much of this century, Australian governments were committed to the development and maintenance of export orientated agriculture and stable rural communities. While the agricultural industry, and the rural society that it supported, were periodically affected by economic downturns, wars, and technological changes, the full socio-economic impacts were often tempered by interventionist agricultural, social and regional development government policies. Since the early 1970s, however, the Central Wheatbelt, and rural Australia more generally, have experienced profound economic, social and political changes. During this period, the rapid transformation of the global economy has contributed to a series of problems in the Australian economy, such as low levels of economic growth, rising interest rates, and increasing unemployment. In the case of agriculture, the upheaval in the global economy contributed to world surpluses of agricultural commodities, declining returns for food and fibre production, and the rising cost of farm inputs.Since the early 1980s, the response of Federal and State governments to the turmoil in the Australian economy has been to argue that the only workable solution to globalisation was the adoption of policies based on the principles of economic rationalism. However, this thesis argues that, in the Central Wheatbelt, the combination of global restructuring and policies based on economic rationalism have contributed to: the declining viability of family farming; farm amalgamation; labour force adjustments; the contraction of local economies; depopulation; public service rationalisation and withdrawal; and uneven economic and social development. It is contended that policies based on the principles of economic rationalism have increased levels of uncertainty and socio-economic disadvantage in a region already adversely affected by the economic pressures associated with restructuring. The thesis concludes by arguing that a more integrated policy framework, based to a greater extent on the principles of social equity, is critical to ensuring the social and economic welfare of rural people.

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Tonts, Matthew A. "Rural restructuring, policy change and uneven development in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia." Curtin University of Technology, School of Social Sciences and Asian Languages, 1998. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=9689.

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This thesis examines economic restructuring and changing governmental regulation in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia. It argues that, for much of this century, Australian governments were committed to the development and maintenance of export orientated agriculture and stable rural communities. While the agricultural industry, and the rural society that it supported, were periodically affected by economic downturns, wars, and technological changes, the full socio-economic impacts were often tempered by interventionist agricultural, social and regional development government policies. Since the early 1970s, however, the Central Wheatbelt, and rural Australia more generally, have experienced profound economic, social and political changes. During this period, the rapid transformation of the global economy has contributed to a series of problems in the Australian economy, such as low levels of economic growth, rising interest rates, and increasing unemployment. In the case of agriculture, the upheaval in the global economy contributed to world surpluses of agricultural commodities, declining returns for food and fibre production, and the rising cost of farm inputs.Since the early 1980s, the response of Federal and State governments to the turmoil in the Australian economy has been to argue that the only workable solution to globalisation was the adoption of policies based on the principles of economic rationalism. However, this thesis argues that, in the Central Wheatbelt, the combination of global restructuring and policies based on economic rationalism have contributed to: the declining viability of family farming; farm amalgamation; labour force adjustments; the contraction of local economies; depopulation; public service rationalisation and withdrawal; and uneven economic and social development. It is contended that policies based on the principles of ++
economic rationalism have increased levels of uncertainty and socio-economic disadvantage in a region already adversely affected by the economic pressures associated with restructuring. The thesis concludes by arguing that a more integrated policy framework, based to a greater extent on the principles of social equity, is critical to ensuring the social and economic welfare of rural people.

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12

Maiolo, Teresa. "An action research investigation into new ways rural women in Western Australia can increase their involvement in government decision-making." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/817.

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This research investigates the role of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the promotion of rural women's participation in governmental decision-making. The origins of the research lie in apparent discrepancies between the Australian government’s high-level, policy commitment to increase rural women's involvement in government decision-making and the continuing barriers to their participation as demonstrated by researchers such as Elix and Lambert, (1998); and Wilkinson and Alston, (1999). This research deploys a feminist action research methodology to explore new ways to increase rural women's involvement in government decision-making in Western Australian. The first phase of the research, a phenomenological field study, investigated two research questions, • Why are so few rural women involved in government decision-making in Western Australia? and • What are new ways to increase rural women's involvement in government decision-making in Western Australia? The second phase of the research explored rural women's receptiveness to the implementation of information and communication technologies and any issues they had with using them. In phase one, 21 women from seven rural communities in Western Australia were interviewed to understand their experiences of the government decision-making system. Drawing on Covey's (1999) and Bronfenbrenner's (1979) frameworks, a Government decision-making framework was formulated to bring together the barriers and drivers that affect rural women's engagement with decision-making. This included three levels of factors that influence rural women's involvement - personal, interpersonal and cultural. Further, the Change strategies framework was developed to outline new ways to increase rural women's involvement in government decision-making. Five change strategies, targeting the personal resource and cultural level of the government decision making system were identified. Phase two of the study is a case study of an online meeting between 67 Western Australian rural women and the then Deputy Premier. It showed that rural women found the online government meeting reduced barriers such as limited resources of time and money, but, new barriers with using the technology emerged. A clear outcome is a paradigm shift from prioritising homogeneity to heterogeneity among government decision-makers is needed to address rural women’s different personal, interpersonal and cultural needs.

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13

Johnston, Catherine. "Improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote Australia." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/11738.

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Pulmonary rehabilitation, consisting of exercise training and education, is one of the most effective strategies for improving the health outcomes of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reducing associated healthcare costs. Prior to the work presented in this thesis a description of the structure and content of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in Australia had not been published. In addition, whether existing programs met Australian recommendations for practice such as those contained in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit, was unknown. Despite the significant benefits for both individuals with COPD and the community, access to pulmonary rehabilitation is limited, particularly for those in rural and remote regions. A lack of adequately trained healthcare professionals may contribute to difficulties with establishing and maintaining pulmonary rehabilitation. However, the effect of healthcare professional training on the availability of pulmonary rehabilitation had not been previously investigated. There were no published reports documenting existing knowledge and skill levels, evaluating training strategies to up-skill rural/remote healthcare professionals or evaluating the impact of such training on the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation. The aims of the studies presented in this thesis were to: describe the current provision of pulmonary rehabilitation in Australia and the alignment of these pulmonary rehabilitation programs with evidence-based recommendations; determine the level of knowledge and skills of rural and remote healthcare professionals in the management of people with chronic lung disease; investigate the ability of an educational training program for healthcare professionals to improve knowledge and confidence and improve the availability and delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote regions and explore the attitudes, opinions and concerns of healthcare professionals regarding the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation. The first study (Chapter 2) was a cross sectional, observational study using a purpose designed anonymous paper-based survey. The national database of pulmonary rehabilitation programs, maintained by Lung Foundation Australia (LFA), was used to identify known programs in all states and territories of Australia. All pulmonary rehabilitation programs listed on the database at that time were included (n=193). Healthcare professionals who coordinated pulmonary rehabilitation were invited to participate. This study had a response rate of 83% (n=163) and all states and territories in Australia were represented. The responses enabled the structure and content of Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs to be elucidated. Most Australian pulmonary rehabilitation programs broadly met recommendations for practice contained in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit in terms of included components (exercise training and education), program length, patient assessment and exercise training (duration, frequency and mode). Many respondents were not aware of major evidence-based practice guidelines (including the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Toolkit). Interestingly, despite not being aware of guidelines, most respondents indicated that they perceived a gap between current evidence and their practice in terms of exercise prescription and training. The studies presented in Chapters 4-7 were undertaken as individual components of a mixed methods study to evaluate the impact of the Breathe Easy Walk Easy (BEWE) program on healthcare professional knowledge and confidence, service delivery and patient outcomes in rural and remote Australian regions. The BEWE program was an interactive education and training program related to providing components of assessment and management (in particular pulmonary rehabilitation) for people with chronic respiratory disease. The BEWE program consisted of a training workshop, access to online resources, provision of community awareness-raising materials and ongoing telephone/email support. Details of the development of the BEWE program are presented in Chapter 1. Further information regarding the content and structure of the BEWE program along with relevant methods for the studies contained in Chapters 4-7, are presented in Chapter 3. The evaluation process was conducted by a researcher (the PhD candidate) who was independent of the development and delivery of the BEWE program. The study presented in Chapter 4 was a descriptive cross-sectional, observational survey design using a written anonymous questionnaire. Participants were healthcare professionals (n=31) who registered to attend the BEWE program initial workshop in either one rural or one remote Australian region. The main outcomes were participant attitudes, objective knowledge (case vignette-based) and self-rated experience, training, and levels of confidence. Participants were from a variety of professional backgrounds (allied health, medical, nursing) but were predominantly nurses (n=13) or physiotherapists (n=9). The main findings of this study were that that rural and remote healthcare professionals had low levels of experience, training, knowledge and confidence in providing components of management for people with COPD. Most participants reported that they had minimal or no experience or training in this area of practice. The scores in the measured knowledge quiz were generally poor, with mean knowledge score (number of correct answers out of 19) being 8.5 (SD=4.5). There were higher numbers of correct responses for questions relating to COPD disease pathophysiology and diagnosis than for questions relating specifically to pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, most participants reported particularly low confidence in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation. Based on the findings of the study, the need for an education and training program for rural and remote healthcare professionals in the evidence-based management of people with COPD with an emphasis on pulmonary rehabilitation was evident. The effects of the delivery of an education and training program on healthcare professional knowledge and confidence in the management of people with COPD and on the availability of pulmonary rehabilitation were investigated and are presented in Chapter 5. This study was a quasi-experimental, before and after repeated measures design. Healthcare professionals (n=33) from various backgrounds who participated in the BEWE program were eligible to participate. The BEWE program was delivered in one rural and one remote region. Participant knowledge, confidence and attitudes were assessed via anonymous written questionnaire before, immediately after and at three and 12 months following the BEWE workshop. Participation in the BEWE program resulted in significant improvements in participants’ self-rated knowledge and confidence immediately after the workshop, and at three and 12 month follow-up. Measured knowledge (case vignette score out of 19) improved significantly immediately after the workshop compared to before (mean difference 7.6 correct answers, 95% CI 5.8 to 9.3). At 12-month follow-up, three locally run pulmonary rehabilitation programs had been established in participating regions. The availability of pulmonary rehabilitation following delivery of the BEWE program, as well as patient outcomes and the factors contributing to the change in service delivery were further explored and results are presented in Chapter 6. Data were collected regarding the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation services before and after delivery of the BEWE program and patient outcomes (six-minute walk test and health related quality of life) before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation was not available in any of the participating sites before the BEWE program. At 12-month follow-up three sites had established locally-run pulmonary rehabilitation programs which had a structure and content broadly meeting Australian practice recommendations for pulmonary rehabilitation. Initial patient outcome data for the six-minute walk test and the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire demonstrated evidence of the effectiveness of these pulmonary rehabilitation programs in improving functional exercise capacity and health related quality of life. Providing targeted specific training, the retention of key staff and strong local healthcare organisational support were important factors which contributed to the successful establishment of pulmonary rehabilitation. A study involving interviews with key healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote regions was conducted and is presented in Chapter 7. Those healthcare professionals who participated in the BEWE program and who were identified as key informants, were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The purpose of the interviews was to gain a deeper understanding of the participants’ attitudes and opinions regarding developing, establishing and delivering pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote regions. This study was designed to add perspective to the quantitative data rather than to inform the design of the evaluation process. Interviews occurred at three and 12 months following the BEWE workshop in the remote region and at 12 months following the BEWE workshop in the rural region. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A process of thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Healthcare professional staffing levels, time and case load constraints, knowledge and confidence, ensuring sustainability, individual and community attitudes, and practical issues related to the setting, structure and content of pulmonary rehabilitation were identified as the main concerns of informants. The results of this study indicate that dedicated funding to support additional healthcare professional staffing and to assist with providing specific education and training may facilitate the availability and delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote regions. The body of work contained in this thesis has contributed to a greater knowledge of the practice and availability of pulmonary rehabilitation in the Australian rural and remote context and has provided evidence that the provision of a training program for healthcare professionals can facilitate the delivery of effective pulmonary rehabilitation in rural and remote Australian regions.

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McConigley, Ruth. "Rural palliative care nursing: A modified grounded theory study." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/986.

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This paper presents the findings of a study of rural palliative care nurses in Western Australia. The numbers of rural centres in Western Australia offering palliative care services are increasing; however at present there is little empirical data available about the roles of the nurses involved. This study was undertaken to begin to correct this deficit. The study examines basic social processes associated with the role of rural palliative care nurses and identities issues that affect the nurses’ professional practice. A modified grounded theory approach was used to form a conceptual framework that describes rural palliative care nursing. Theoretical sampling techniques were used to identify the six palliative care nurses working in rural Western Australia who participated in this study. Data was generated using in depth interview and participant observation techniques. Constant comparative analysis of the data was employed to allow concepts to emerge from the data. The central theme that developed from the data Living Palliative Care describes the all-consuming nature of the rural palliative care nurses’ role. Three related categories, Wearing Many Huts, Being the Expert and Surviving in Palliative Care are also discussed. This research has explored issues that rural palliative care nurses feel are relevant to their professional practice and it describes the basic social processes inherent in the rural palliative care nurse’s role. Recommendations for nursing research, education, administration and clinical practice are presented.

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15

Taneka, D. "Estimating the performance of rural roads in remote areas." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1996.

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Devers, Deanna University of Ballarat. "Effects of commuting status upon community involvement of professionals in rural North West Victoria." University of Ballarat, 2006. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/12763.

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Because mobility is associated with rural social decline, this two-phase cross sectional study investigates whether social patterns in small, rural Australian towns are affected by commuting. Quantitative data, which was gathered via a mail-out questionnaire (response = 54 per cent) that was issued to 1,040 occupationally diverse professionals who worked in fourteen towns throughout north-western Victoria, was analysed to determine whether commuting and non-commuting professionals differed significantly in their community involvement. To explain why certain relationships emerged from survey analysis, face-toface interviews were subsequently undertaken with 24 questionnaire respondents. The key finding of this study is that there is a significant relationship between commuting status and the retention of rural professionals. A significantly greater proportion of noncommuters than commuters remain working in the one location for longer than five years. This finding has important implications for the sustainability of rural areas.
Doctor of Philosophy

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Devers, Deanna. "Effects of commuting status upon community involvement of professionals in rural North West Victoria." Thesis, University of Ballarat, 2006. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/58705.

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Because mobility is associated with rural social decline, this two-phase cross sectional study investigates whether social patterns in small, rural Australian towns are affected by commuting. Quantitative data, which was gathered via a mail-out questionnaire (response = 54 per cent) that was issued to 1,040 occupationally diverse professionals who worked in fourteen towns throughout north-western Victoria, was analysed to determine whether commuting and non-commuting professionals differed significantly in their community involvement. To explain why certain relationships emerged from survey analysis, face-toface interviews were subsequently undertaken with 24 questionnaire respondents. The key finding of this study is that there is a significant relationship between commuting status and the retention of rural professionals. A significantly greater proportion of noncommuters than commuters remain working in the one location for longer than five years. This finding has important implications for the sustainability of rural areas.
Doctor of Philosophy

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Devers, Deanna. "Effects of commuting status upon community involvement of professionals in rural North West Victoria." University of Ballarat, 2006. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/14599.

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Because mobility is associated with rural social decline, this two-phase cross sectional study investigates whether social patterns in small, rural Australian towns are affected by commuting. Quantitative data, which was gathered via a mail-out questionnaire (response = 54 per cent) that was issued to 1,040 occupationally diverse professionals who worked in fourteen towns throughout north-western Victoria, was analysed to determine whether commuting and non-commuting professionals differed significantly in their community involvement. To explain why certain relationships emerged from survey analysis, face-toface interviews were subsequently undertaken with 24 questionnaire respondents. The key finding of this study is that there is a significant relationship between commuting status and the retention of rural professionals. A significantly greater proportion of noncommuters than commuters remain working in the one location for longer than five years. This finding has important implications for the sustainability of rural areas.
Doctor of Philosophy

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Garth, Alan, and edu au jillj@deakin edu au mikewood@deakin edu au kimg@deakin. "A Study of an Australian Rural Music Festival." Deakin University. School of Australian and International Studies, 2000. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20040617.152028.

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A social and cultural study of the development of the Port Fairy Folk Festival within the context of the current revival of folk music in Australia. The folk music movement is a social and cultural phenomenon, as well as a musical event.

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20

Mohajer, Nicole. "Adolescent empowerment programmes in two vulnerable populations: a cross-cultural study in rural Australia and rural India." Thesis, Curtin University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2061.

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Poor adolescents who are not attending school are a low priority in the minds and budgets of the people of the world. They are understudied, highly at risk for poor health outcomes and are less likely to be able to access health services, health promotion activities and other programmes designed to improve the well-being of the poor and needy. This thesis reports on a cross-cultural qualitative study with two populations: Aboriginal Australian adolescents who were poor attendees at school and rural North Indian adolescents who were school dropouts (or never enrolled). Both populations were further disadvantaged by belonging to socially disadvantaged and oppressed communities. The aim of the research was to identify the role of empowerment in improving the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations who are socially marginalised using the empowerment pedagogy of Freire.The settings for the research were rural areas with high levels of youth illiteracy, unemployment, substance abuse and ill-health. The Indian site was in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and was conducted in three districts of the state in sites that covered a wide range of social, religious and economic backgrounds. Most of the participants were from the lowest socio-economic strata of society and had left school because of poverty, inaccessibility of school or family pressure. The Australian site was deidentified at the request of the participants and included two Aboriginal-controlled communities and a large rural town with a high population of Aboriginal residents. Participants were poor attendees at school because of social disruption, poor academic performance, perceived discrimination or disinterest.Using an empowerment model developed during the literature search, elements of the empowerment process were tested in sequential focus group discussions and indepth interviews with out-of-school adolescents in both countries using a standard questionnaire developed in consultation with participants in the first pilot project. Data was analysed for each site and merged and compared across sites in each country and between each country until there were clear themes that emerged. The findings identified the identified needs of participants, the usefulness of the empowerment process and positive and negative features of the methodological approaches of empowerment; particularly peer education and the development of awareness through problem posing or critical discussion of photos and pictures.Despite the challenges involved in engaging ‘disempowered’ or ‘oppressed’ populations, this research provided an insight into the feasibility of empowerment programmes for health promotion and social change with vulnerable adolescents. Furthermore the study offered an opportunity to document the ‘generalisability’ of empowerment materials, methods and strategies to adolescents in diverse cultural and social situations.The findings support the promotion of empowerment methods as a means of health promotion and identification of the needs of vulnerable adolescents. In addition it highlighted the importance of making a commitment to also address the social determinants of health (education, sanitation, social justice and infrastructure) in communities and to involve parents and authority figures in the empowerment process. The special role that culture, traditions, families and the desire to learn play in the lives of vulnerable adolescents was revealed through the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions that were the mainstay of the research method. Recommendations for health promotion on a variety of levels are given, along with a proposal for a model of empowerment and suggestions for further research.

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Rollinson, Daniel J., and n/a. "Synanthropy of the Australian Magpie: A Comparison of Populations in Rural and Suburban Areas of Southeast Queensland, Australia." Griffith University. Australian School of Environmental Studies, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040924.152124.

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The urbanised environment provides ecologists with unique situations in which to undertake ecological study. It has been said that urbanisation is like a natural experiment; we often have populations of animals that have gone from living in natural or semi-natural environments to living in a highly modified anthropogenic environment. These situations provide ideal settings to study the ecological and behavioural differences that may develop in populations located in different habitats. Urbanisation typically results in a minority of species dominating the fauna, and this thesis aimed to examine one such species, the Australian magpie. Despite the magpie being a common and well-liked suburban bird, the majority of previous research on this species has been undertaken within rural or exurban locations. This thesis aimed to examine what actually happens to the species when it lives in the suburban environment. In particular I focused on specific behavioural and ecological features, to see if there were any particular adaptations the suburban magpies showed and also if the suburban habitats provide certain resources favourable to the magpies and what ecological effects these may have. Comparisons of the territory structure and resources of rural and suburban magpies showed that although many features of the territory are similar between rural and suburban locations, notably the choice of native nest trees, magpie territories within suburban areas were smaller and contained more anthropogenic features. The reduced territory size may possibly be related to a greater abundance of key food resources also evident within suburban areas. Furthermore, suburban magpies are more successful in their foraging attempts, again possibly reflecting a more abundant food supply in suburbia and also the simplified nature of suburban foraging areas might facilitate more successful foraging. The increased foraging success is likely to explain the greater provisioning rate to nestling suburban magpies. Suburban magpies also utilised human provided foods. I quantified the extent of wildlife feeding within many of the suburban study sites of this thesis (through the use of questionnaire surveys). In each of the locations it was evident that at least one person (usually more) was providing a regular supply of food to wildlife and magpies appeared to be the main recipients of this food. Previous ecological studies suggest the provision of extra food to avian populations is likely to affect the breeding ecology, and this was so for magpies. The suburban populations initiated breeding significantly earlier than rural magpies. To test the influence of food, supplementary food was provided to rural magpies, not currently receiving any additional human provided foods. The fed rural magpies initiated breeding before control rural magpies (i.e. not receiving any additional food) but suburban magpies still initiated breeding before all other groups. This suggests additional factors present within suburbia, such as warmer temperatures, may also control the timing of breeding in magpies. Magpies in rural and suburban locations lived within different vertebrate communities. Within suburban magpie territories a greater number of intrusions were made by domestic animals, notably dogs (Canis lupus) and cats (Felis domesticus). The frequency of raptors entering the territorial areas occupied by magpies appears to suggest such events are more common in rural areas. The number of humans entering magpie territories was obviously greater in the more populated suburban areas and the majority of magpies responded neutrally to humans. However a group of magpies that previously exhibited extreme aggression towards humans were found to have a greater frequency of aggressive interactions with potential predatory intruders, which were primarily humans. Subsequent examination of the level of corticosterone from this aggressive group of magpies found that a high level of aggressive interactions with potential predators and humans is reflected in higher level of corticosterone, which may have implications for further behavioural and even physiological changes. An ability to habituate to human in urbanised areas is a key attribute of successful synanthropic species. Comparisons of magpies disturbance distances at different points along the urban gradient (the gradient that runs from the urbaised city to natural wildlands) found suburban magpies only responded to humans when they had approached to a close distance (often less than one metre) and many simply walked away to avoid the approaching human. Rural and exurban magpies responded to humans at greater distances than suburban magpies. The distance at which they responded to the human was usually 100 meters plus, and these magpies always flew away. A continuation of this investigation over a temporal scale again found the large difference in response to humans, with suburban magpies exhibiting a decreased response towards humans. However, a certain proportion of responses from suburban magpies were also aggressive. The examination of disturbance distance over the breeding season found that in suburban magpies the responses of most disturbance distance variables remained similar between breeding stages. Rural magpies, however, exhibited variation in their responses towards humans depending on the stage of breeding. It is suggested that the response of rural magpies may be a typical fear response towards an unusual potential threat. The studies presented in this thesis show that magpies have the behavioural capacity to take advantage of resources in suburban landscapes that are not available or are in lessor supply in rural landscapes, it is these abilities that facilitate the magpies synanthropy.

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22

Rollinson, Daniel J. "Synanthropy of the Australian magpie a comparison of populations in rural and suburban areas of southeast Queensland, Australia /." Connect to this title online, 2003. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040924.152124/.

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23

Rollinson, Daniel J. "Synanthropy of the Australian Magpie: A Comparison of Populations in Rural and Suburban Areas of Southeast Queensland, Australia." Thesis, Griffith University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367089.

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The urbanised environment provides ecologists with unique situations in which to undertake ecological study. It has been said that urbanisation is like a natural experiment; we often have populations of animals that have gone from living in natural or semi-natural environments to living in a highly modified anthropogenic environment. These situations provide ideal settings to study the ecological and behavioural differences that may develop in populations located in different habitats. Urbanisation typically results in a minority of species dominating the fauna, and this thesis aimed to examine one such species, the Australian magpie. Despite the magpie being a common and well-liked suburban bird, the majority of previous research on this species has been undertaken within rural or exurban locations. This thesis aimed to examine what actually happens to the species when it lives in the suburban environment. In particular I focused on specific behavioural and ecological features, to see if there were any particular adaptations the suburban magpies showed and also if the suburban habitats provide certain resources favourable to the magpies and what ecological effects these may have. Comparisons of the territory structure and resources of rural and suburban magpies showed that although many features of the territory are similar between rural and suburban locations, notably the choice of native nest trees, magpie territories within suburban areas were smaller and contained more anthropogenic features. The reduced territory size may possibly be related to a greater abundance of key food resources also evident within suburban areas. Furthermore, suburban magpies are more successful in their foraging attempts, again possibly reflecting a more abundant food supply in suburbia and also the simplified nature of suburban foraging areas might facilitate more successful foraging. The increased foraging success is likely to explain the greater provisioning rate to nestling suburban magpies. Suburban magpies also utilised human provided foods. I quantified the extent of wildlife feeding within many of the suburban study sites of this thesis (through the use of questionnaire surveys). In each of the locations it was evident that at least one person (usually more) was providing a regular supply of food to wildlife and magpies appeared to be the main recipients of this food. Previous ecological studies suggest the provision of extra food to avian populations is likely to affect the breeding ecology, and this was so for magpies. The suburban populations initiated breeding significantly earlier than rural magpies. To test the influence of food, supplementary food was provided to rural magpies, not currently receiving any additional human provided foods. The fed rural magpies initiated breeding before control rural magpies (i.e. not receiving any additional food) but suburban magpies still initiated breeding before all other groups. This suggests additional factors present within suburbia, such as warmer temperatures, may also control the timing of breeding in magpies. Magpies in rural and suburban locations lived within different vertebrate communities. Within suburban magpie territories a greater number of intrusions were made by domestic animals, notably dogs (Canis lupus) and cats (Felis domesticus). The frequency of raptors entering the territorial areas occupied by magpies appears to suggest such events are more common in rural areas. The number of humans entering magpie territories was obviously greater in the more populated suburban areas and the majority of magpies responded neutrally to humans. However a group of magpies that previously exhibited extreme aggression towards humans were found to have a greater frequency of aggressive interactions with potential predatory intruders, which were primarily humans. Subsequent examination of the level of corticosterone from this aggressive group of magpies found that a high level of aggressive interactions with potential predators and humans is reflected in higher level of corticosterone, which may have implications for further behavioural and even physiological changes. An ability to habituate to human in urbanised areas is a key attribute of successful synanthropic species. Comparisons of magpies disturbance distances at different points along the urban gradient (the gradient that runs from the urbaised city to natural wildlands) found suburban magpies only responded to humans when they had approached to a close distance (often less than one metre) and many simply walked away to avoid the approaching human. Rural and exurban magpies responded to humans at greater distances than suburban magpies. The distance at which they responded to the human was usually 100 meters plus, and these magpies always flew away. A continuation of this investigation over a temporal scale again found the large difference in response to humans, with suburban magpies exhibiting a decreased response towards humans. However, a certain proportion of responses from suburban magpies were also aggressive. The examination of disturbance distance over the breeding season found that in suburban magpies the responses of most disturbance distance variables remained similar between breeding stages. Rural magpies, however, exhibited variation in their responses towards humans depending on the stage of breeding. It is suggested that the response of rural magpies may be a typical fear response towards an unusual potential threat. The studies presented in this thesis show that magpies have the behavioural capacity to take advantage of resources in suburban landscapes that are not available or are in lessor supply in rural landscapes, it is these abilities that facilitate the magpies synanthropy.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Australian School of Environmental Studies
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24

Ollenburg, Claudia, and n/a. "Farm Tourism in Australia: A Family Business and Rural Studies Perspective." Griffith University. School of Environmental and Applied Sciences, 2007. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20070717.165555.

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This research examines the Australian farm tourism sector within both family business and rural studies research paradigms. It analyses which farmers in Australia establish farm tourism businesses, and why. It extends previous research on farm tourism both in breadth, by covering an entire continent; and in depth, using qualitative approaches to determine the internal and external triggers for individual decisions, as well as quantitative approaches to establish the operational structure of the sector and the overall motivations of its operators. There were three separate stages to this study, with an increasingly detailed focus. In the first, a national database of farm tourism operators was constructed from publicly available sources. In the second phase, a 92 item questionnaire was mailed to every operator, with a response rate just below 50%. In the third phase, detailed interviews were conducted with 43 farm tourism operators either on site or by telephone. There are over 650 working farms which offer farm based tourism products in Australia. A few are large, remote and luxurious, but the majority are small, family priced and close to major population centres. There are around 14,000 beds, with mean occupancy rate 35%, and total annual turnover AUS$115 million. Only 0.2% of Australian farmers have taken up tourism, as compared with 10-20% in some European countries. There are four major groups of farm tourism operators in Australia: full time farms, part time farms, retirement farms and lifestyle farms. There are statistically significant differences between these groups in the make up of their income streams, and in their motivations and family structures. Australian farm tourism operators attach slightly more significance to social than financial gains. Particular groups of operators, however, do indeed rely on farm tourism as a key income stream. For lifestyle operators, the farm component is principally a lifestyle luxury and a tourism attraction, with tourism generating the principal income. For retirement farmers, farming is no longer at a commercially viable scale, and tourism provides the cashflow to keep the operators on their farm property during semi retirement. For part time operators, tourism provides an income stream in addition and, where possible, in preference to off farm employment, for farm families having difficulty making ends meet. For full time farmers, tourism is not seen as a long term important income source, but as a diversification option which enabled them to survive external economic shocks caused by changes in commodity prices or government policies. Whereas an income from farm tourism seems to have been an important stopgap or supplement which allows the operators to maintain their farms and farming lifestyles, it does not necessarily generate sufficient income to support two generations on the same property. At least to date, therefore, it appears that farm tourism cannot be relied upon routinely as a new lifeline for rural communities in Australia. It does indeed have a role to play, but the role may be different in different parts of the country. In the more remote areas, farm tourism can provide a buffer for an older generation of farming families, helping to maintain stability in rural communities and land tenure. In areas popular with amenity migrants, however, farm tourism may act as an agent of change, part of a package which brings former urban professionals to a rural semi retirement.

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Andrew, Monica, and n/a. "The internet experiences of women living in rural and regional Australia." University of Canberra. Professional Communication, 2004. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060410.122445.

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This study explores the internet experiences of women living in rural and regional Australia, their motives for internet uptake and use, the benefits they gain from using the internet, the difficulties they encounter in using the internet and whether the benefits are affected by technical factors, such as computer equipment and telecommunication infrastructure, availability of opportunities for developing online skills, and perceptions of the internet. Data was collected via an email snowball technique to contact women living in rural and regional Australia, resulting in participation by 40 women from throughout rural and regional areas. The research drew on the literature of internet research and media uses-and-gratifications. Although the internet is a relatively new communication technology, it has attracted a large amount of scholarly interest. However, there has been little research into internet use by individual populations. Women living in rural and regional areas of Australia experience geographical and social isolation, with limited access to goods, services and information, and could be expected, therefore, to gain significant benefits from use of the internet. However, the potential benefits of the internet could be offset by difficulties with internet use in rural and regional areas. A narrative approach was used to determine the motives for internet use by women living in rural and regional Australia, the benefits they gain from using the internet, the difficulties they encounter in using it and whether the difficulties affect the benefits they gain from internet use. The research findings show that, more than anything else, women living in rural and regional Australia use the internet to build and maintain relationships, including keeping in touch with family and friends, re-connecting with friends for the past and making new friends online. They also use the internet to facilitate involvement in community organisations, to contribute to social issues at the national, state and local level and to participate in community projects and events. In addition, women living in rural and regional Australia use the internet to undertake business and education related activities, pursue personal interests, seek emotional support and undertake practical tasks, such as finding and disseminating information, banking and shopping. However, the many benefits of the internet are offset to some extent by the many frustrations encountered in using it, particularly in regard to technical factors and developing online skills. Spam mail and viruses also cause considerable inconvenience.

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26

Ollenburg, Claudia. "Farm Tourism in Australia: A Family Business and Rural Studies Perspective." Thesis, Griffith University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366281.

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This research examines the Australian farm tourism sector within both family business and rural studies research paradigms. It analyses which farmers in Australia establish farm tourism businesses, and why. It extends previous research on farm tourism both in breadth, by covering an entire continent; and in depth, using qualitative approaches to determine the internal and external triggers for individual decisions, as well as quantitative approaches to establish the operational structure of the sector and the overall motivations of its operators. There were three separate stages to this study, with an increasingly detailed focus. In the first, a national database of farm tourism operators was constructed from publicly available sources. In the second phase, a 92 item questionnaire was mailed to every operator, with a response rate just below 50%. In the third phase, detailed interviews were conducted with 43 farm tourism operators either on site or by telephone. There are over 650 working farms which offer farm based tourism products in Australia. A few are large, remote and luxurious, but the majority are small, family priced and close to major population centres. There are around 14,000 beds, with mean occupancy rate 35%, and total annual turnover AUS$115 million. Only 0.2% of Australian farmers have taken up tourism, as compared with 10-20% in some European countries. There are four major groups of farm tourism operators in Australia: full time farms, part time farms, retirement farms and lifestyle farms. There are statistically significant differences between these groups in the make up of their income streams, and in their motivations and family structures. Australian farm tourism operators attach slightly more significance to social than financial gains. Particular groups of operators, however, do indeed rely on farm tourism as a key income stream. For lifestyle operators, the farm component is principally a lifestyle luxury and a tourism attraction, with tourism generating the principal income. For retirement farmers, farming is no longer at a commercially viable scale, and tourism provides the cashflow to keep the operators on their farm property during semi retirement. For part time operators, tourism provides an income stream in addition and, where possible, in preference to off farm employment, for farm families having difficulty making ends meet. For full time farmers, tourism is not seen as a long term important income source, but as a diversification option which enabled them to survive external economic shocks caused by changes in commodity prices or government policies. Whereas an income from farm tourism seems to have been an important stopgap or supplement which allows the operators to maintain their farms and farming lifestyles, it does not necessarily generate sufficient income to support two generations on the same property. At least to date, therefore, it appears that farm tourism cannot be relied upon routinely as a new lifeline for rural communities in Australia. It does indeed have a role to play, but the role may be different in different parts of the country. In the more remote areas, farm tourism can provide a buffer for an older generation of farming families, helping to maintain stability in rural communities and land tenure. In areas popular with amenity migrants, however, farm tourism may act as an agent of change, part of a package which brings former urban professionals to a rural semi retirement.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environmental and Applied Science
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27

Kirkwood, Sandra Jane. "Frameworks of Culturally Engaged Community Music Practice for Rural Ipswich, Australia." Thesis, Griffith University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367823.

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This study is a critical reflection on two music projects that I conducted in my home area of Ipswich, Australia, prior to undertaking this research. The music projects involved participatory action research to investigate the music heritage and culture of the rural Ipswich region. The purpose of this study is to review and analyse the creative processes that I used in the rural Ipswich music projects in order to develop suitable practice frameworks for similar projects in future. The first music project was a collaborative investigation of the music history of Purga in rural Ipswich (2003-2005). Local people and those who used to live in the area were invited to come back to share memories of the music from the area with one another. People collaborated creatively: This allowed me to write The Purga Music Story and Harold Blair (2005), an inter-generational community education package. In 2003, we established the Purga Music Museum as a meeting place where the music heritage and culture of our neighbourhood is performed and displayed. The second music project (2006) was a study of contemporary music in rural Ipswich that resulted in community consultation and the development of a Music Action Plan for the area. I continued facilitating community music in rural Ipswich, as the curator of the Purga Music Museum, until 2008. Both music projects presented different challenges in the establishment of processes that would be effective for the needs and interests of people from various cultural groups. The work was fraught with complex decisions and ethical dilemmas about representation and music cultural heritage management because our neighbourhood previously contained the Purga Aboriginal Mission (1915-1948). The findings therefore relate to the struggles of the ‘Stolen Generation’-- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were taken away from their families and forced to live in government-controlled residential situations. New, respectful approaches had to be found, conducive to the health and well-being of all concerned. For this reason, participatory action research methods were developed and a ‘Community of Discovery’ approach was used. Throughout this study, I investigate issues that arose as people told their music stories, and passed on music heritage and culture from one generation to the next. The key question is “What are appropriate frameworks of culturally engaged community music practice for rural Ipswich?” This study also draws on findings from the music projects to address the sub-questions, “How did community music practice function in the past in rural Ipswich?” “What is the current situation regarding contemporary community music practice in rural Ipswich?” and “What can be done to enhance future community music practice for rural Ipswich?” Aspects of music and health practice complement each other in this study. As a dual qualified music and health professional, I draw on expertise from both of these areas. Ethnographic methods were used to record and review the findings from each music project. The analysis is grounded in review of literature and other sources, creative display and performance, analysis of music history, community consultation, and critical reflection on my own community music practice. Finally, this evidence-based process of professional reasoning leads to the development of appropriate practice frameworks that transform the way that I intend to deliver services in future, and will hopefully inspire others. The thesis has five parts. The context and rationale for the research are outlined in Part 1. This is followed by description of the two music projects in Part 2. Part 3 is an exploration of how my music practice is situated in relation to scholarly literature (and other sources) and outlines the chosen theoretical constructs or models. This prepares for critical analysis and discussion of specific issues that arose from reflection on practice in Part 4. The conclusions of the research, presented in chapter 9, outline the creative processes, underlying principles, and the philosophy of my practice. The study concludes with an epilogue, which is a consideration of the present situation and suggested future directions for service provision and research.
Thesis (Masters)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Queensland Conservatorium
Queensland Conservatorium of Music
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Perceval, Meg. "Translating evidence into practice: Wellbeing and suicide prevention in rural Australia." Thesis, Griffith University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/386230.

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In Australia, farmers have been recognised as a particular at-risk group for suicide. A greater understanding is needed as to why this is the case so that contextually sensitive suicide prevention strategies may be developed. Further evaluation of suicide prevention initiatives is necessary to demonstrate their effectiveness. This project will advance current understanding of farmer suicide in Australia, develop a culturally appropriate suicide prevention program tailored specifically for this audience, and provide an evaluation measuring its impact. A mixed methods multiphase approach will be taken with the overall objective to better understand risk factors and attitudes towards farmer suicide (Component One) and to utilise this information to develop, deliver and evaluate an evidence-informed, tailored and culturally appropriate suicide prevention initiative (Component Two). Component One involves qualitative analysis of focus group data from an Australian Research Council Linkage grant ARC LP120100021 “Influences on farmer suicide in Queensland and New South Wales” gathered from male and female farmers from three diverse sites across New South Wales and Queensland. This information, in combination with a comprehensive literature review and practice-based evidence, will inform Component Two. Component Two involves the development, delivery and evaluation of a tailored suicide prevention workshop, SCARF (Suspect Connect Ask Refer Follow-up). SCARF is a 4-hour face to face workshop focusing on improving health to reduce suicide in accordance with suicide prevention best-practice. The content is theoretically informed by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide and the Biopsycho-ecological model. Evaluation of the SCARF program comprises quantitative analysis to measure participant changes in levels of suicide stigma, suicide literacy, mental wellbeing and confidence to assist others. This study will contribute important knowledge towards the body of evidence in farmer suicide prevention.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Aust Inst Suicide Res&Prevent
Griffith Health
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29

Wibowo, Yosi Irawati. "Rural pharmacy services in Western Australia : a time-series comparative study." Thesis, Curtin University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/471.

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Objectives: to evaluate rural pharmacy practice in Western Australia (WA) (“2006 data”), and to perform a time-series comparison with the previous data (“2002 data”) that were sourced from the National Pharmacy Database Project in 2002.Methods: a questionnaire used in the 2006 survey was developed based on that used in the 2002 national survey. In the 2002 survey, questionnaires were mailed to 1391 representative participant pharmacies (82 participants from rural WA), of which 1131 were returned (66 respondents from rural WA). The response rate for rural WA was 80.5%. In the 2006 survey, questionnaires were mailed to all 103 sample pharmacies of rural WA, of which 51 were returned. This gave a response rate of 49.5%. Chi-square tests were used to test individual associations between year of survey against pharmacist or pharmacy characteristics, or provision of services. Where significant associations were reported between year of survey and provision of particular services, logistic regressions controlling for gender, age, PhARIA location, and inclusion of a forward pharmacy area, were performed.Results: pharmacist characteristics were not significantly different across the two surveys with regard to age, gender, year of registration, qualification, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) involvement, and position. Similar pharmacy characteristics were reported in relation to PhARIA, setting, group membership, inclusion of counselling areas, method of operation, trading hours and annual turnover. Only Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) accredited-pharmacies significantly increased. In both surveys, WA rural pharmacies offered a range of services, including prescription-related activities, medication reviews, preventive services, primary health care, harm minimisation services, and Enhanced Pharmacy Services (EPS). A significantly higher percentage of pharmacies provided clinical testing for monitoring, Domiciliary Medication Management Reviews (DMMRs), and printed information for non-prescribed medicines. There were marked increases in weight testing and weight management services. Smoking cessation was offered by over 50% of pharmacies, and tended to increase. However, other EPS (asthma, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia), which correspond to the National Health Priorities Areas (NHPAs) and rural needs, were reported by less than 50% of pharmacies in both surveys. A shortage of pharmacy workforce still remained a problem, as evidenced by similar numbers of full-time equivalent (FTE) pharmacists per pharmacy. This study also highlights several issues, including less CPE involvement, low uptake of forward pharmacy, and low participation in the S100 scheme.Conclusions: This study found a remarkable consistency of WA rural pharmacy practice across the two surveys. However, significant increases were reported in some important services such as weight management. This findings may indicate that support for important services is required if they are to be taken up by the profession. The government and pharmacy bodies need to address the workforce barriers to improve access to pharmacy services for rural communities.

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Dwyer, Anna I. "Understanding police-Indigenous relations in remote and rural Australia: Police perspectives." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2018. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/121455/2/Anna_Dwyer_Thesis.pdf.

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This thesis examined police and Indigenous relations in rural and remote contexts in Australia which historically and in contemporary times have often been contentious. Using a grounded theory approach, the police participants of this qualitative research provided insight as to how social factors such as ecological, organizational and occupational culture influenced their responses in discrete Indigenous communities. The findings revealed that ecological factors such as community dynamics and Indigenous culture heavily influenced police in how they responded to situations, more so than the influence of organizational and occupational culture. It found that ecological factors played a large role in shaping policing responses in discrete Indigenous communities.

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Wilson, Sally B. "Family Centred Care: A Descriptive Study of the Situation in Rural Western Australia." Thesis, Curtin University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2255.

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Family centred care is a concept espoused to be fundamental to achieving excellence in paediatric nursing. Although it is recognised that family centred care includes the child's rights to self determination the focus of this study is parental participation in the decision making and care of their hospitalised child at a partnership level. This is based on negotiation and requires frequent, effective communication between parents and nurses and for each to respect the other's knowledge and appreciate the other has something to offer in the relationship which will benefit the child. The purpose of this study was to identify whether family centred care was occurring in paediatric settings in rural Western Australia and explored parents' and nurses' perceptions of the concept. A questionnaire was designed based on the literature and common themes identified from focus groups. Convenience sampling was used and 15 rural hospitals facilitated participation of 243 parents who had a child under ten years of age hospitalised and 108 nurses who cared for children. Exploratory factor analysis identified four subscales from the parents' questionnaire and three subscales from the nurses' questionnaire which measured separate concepts of family centred care. Descriptive statistics were generated for each subscale, and independent t-tests, ANOVA and correlations were examined between independent variables and subscales of family centred care. There was a statistically significant difference in scores for parents' perceptions of `child friendly environment' between regional and district hospitals. Those parents who did not have social support scored a statistically significantly lower mean score for `respect as parent'. Nurses in district hospitals generated statistically significantly higher mean scores for `family focussed hospital' than those who worked in regional hospitals.Parents and nurses both perceived that parents wanted to continue parenting their hospitalised child, however parents wanted to provide more nursing care than was perceived by nurses. Nurses' perceptions of delivering family centred care were greater than the perceptions of parents receiving it, however they were consistent in items that were scored low. Nurses did ask parents about the amount of participation they wanted in their child's care on admission however, it was not done on a regular basis. Parents perceived that nurses were unaware of other things that parents needed to attend to while their child was hospitalised and therefore did not enable parents to attend to these needs. More frequent negotiation of roles between parents and nurses by communicating each shift, or at least daily, could narrow the gap between differing perceptions in care provision and also enable parents to attend to their other roles thereby reducing their levels of physical and emotional stress.

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32

Corboy, Denise. "Psychosocial support use among men with cancer living in rural and regional areas." Thesis, University of Ballarat, 2008. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/39861.

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The main aim of the current study was to investigate formal and informal psychosocial support use among a sample of men with cancer living in rural and regional Australia, and to examine how use of psychosocial support is related to psychological, physical and social wellbeing.
Master of Applied Science (Psychology)

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33

Wilson, Leigh Ann. "Heatwaves and the older Australia population: A mixed methods study." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/16015.

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Introduction In Australia heatwaves are increasing in duration, frequency and intensity. This phenomenon parallels an ageing population. The aged are at risk of increased mortality and morbidity in very hot weather, however risk perception studies suggest older people deny they at risk. This research investigated the relationship between heat-related mortality and morbidity in NSW, Australia and the factors that place older people at risk of heat-related illness. Method This research consists of two literature reviews and three discrete studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods in a rural population in NSW Australia. Results Review of the Australian literature highlighted the differences in methods used, heatwave definitions and populations studied in Australian heat-related research. There was a relationship between heat-related mortality and morbidity on days classified as either severe (> 95th percentile of expected temperature) or extreme (> 99th percentile). Direct and indirect effects of heatwaves contributed to deaths and increased hospitalisations on both severe and extreme days. Less than half of the aged care facilities(ACFs) included in our sample had a heatwave response plan. Only one third of ACFs in NSW were fully air-conditioned, 65% had partial or no air-conditioning. Few ACF staff had participated in staff in-service training on caring for older people in extreme conditions. Older rural residents with a self-perceived sense of ‘wellness’ do not consider themselves at risk in hot weather, even if they have multiple co-morbidities, or are aged; factors that independently place them at increased risk of heat-related morbidity and mortality. Conclusions This research found that high daily temperatures have both direct and indirect effects on the health of the adult population. Those aged >75 years are most affected however people with chronic conditions and/or circulatory disorders are vulnerable to heat-related morbidity and mortality at any age. There was a general complacency about, and low perception of, heat-related health risk in the Australian population and a low level of preparedness for extreme heat events in the aged care sector, both in the knowledge of how to care for the vulnerable aged in very hot weather and in organisational planning for periods of extreme heat.

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34

Woodfield, Linda University of Ballarat. "The landscape of my life." University of Ballarat, 2007. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/12801.

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The investigations surrounding the topic ‘The Landscape of My Life’ questions whether it is possible for a landscape to delineate the way in which we live our lives. For a period of thirty-two years my home has been a historic rural property comprising a dwelling and outbuildings on twenty acres of undulating countryside at Carngham. The work conveys the story of my life at this locale and pursues the motives behind the purchase of the country property, the experiences and remembrances that exist from this period of time and reflects upon the implications of a way of life over the last three decades. While considering the impact that a landscape can have on individual lives, it became important to consolidate the insights that surfaced for me with respect to my own life and works and compare it with that of other selected landscape artists. This comparison took into account personal and family backgrounds, artistic techniques, relationships with the land and the motivations that resulted in the depiction of particular landscapes. The result of these observations led to a consideration that not only can a landscape define the way in which we live our lives but, also identifies an affinity between human beings and the environment.
Master of Arts

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35

Woodfield, Linda. "The landscape of my life." Thesis, University of Ballarat, 2007. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/32088.

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The investigations surrounding the topic ‘The Landscape of My Life’ questions whether it is possible for a landscape to delineate the way in which we live our lives. For a period of thirty-two years my home has been a historic rural property comprising a dwelling and outbuildings on twenty acres of undulating countryside at Carngham. The work conveys the story of my life at this locale and pursues the motives behind the purchase of the country property, the experiences and remembrances that exist from this period of time and reflects upon the implications of a way of life over the last three decades. While considering the impact that a landscape can have on individual lives, it became important to consolidate the insights that surfaced for me with respect to my own life and works and compare it with that of other selected landscape artists. This comparison took into account personal and family backgrounds, artistic techniques, relationships with the land and the motivations that resulted in the depiction of particular landscapes. The result of these observations led to a consideration that not only can a landscape define the way in which we live our lives but, also identifies an affinity between human beings and the environment.
Master of Arts

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36

Woodfield, Linda. "The landscape of my life." University of Ballarat, 2007. http://archimedes.ballarat.edu.au:8080/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/15613.

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The investigations surrounding the topic ‘The Landscape of My Life’ questions whether it is possible for a landscape to delineate the way in which we live our lives. For a period of thirty-two years my home has been a historic rural property comprising a dwelling and outbuildings on twenty acres of undulating countryside at Carngham. The work conveys the story of my life at this locale and pursues the motives behind the purchase of the country property, the experiences and remembrances that exist from this period of time and reflects upon the implications of a way of life over the last three decades. While considering the impact that a landscape can have on individual lives, it became important to consolidate the insights that surfaced for me with respect to my own life and works and compare it with that of other selected landscape artists. This comparison took into account personal and family backgrounds, artistic techniques, relationships with the land and the motivations that resulted in the depiction of particular landscapes. The result of these observations led to a consideration that not only can a landscape define the way in which we live our lives but, also identifies an affinity between human beings and the environment.
Master of Arts

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37

Mitakakis, Teresa Zinovia. "Prevalence and distribution of Alternaria allergens in rural New South Wales, Australia." University of Sydney. Science, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/370.

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In rural inland, south-eastern Australia, allergy to the fungus Alternaria is prevalent and an important risk factor for asthma. The aim of the thesis was to investigate the distribution and factors influencing allergens of Alternaria in the air. As airborne allergenic spores were thought to arise from harvesting of nearby crops, two towns with different agricultural practices were studied. Moree has two crop harvesting periods in summer and autumn whilst Wagga Wagga has one harvesting period in summer. Over two years, air was sampled daily in Wagga Wagga and Moree using Burkard traps. The reliability of measurements from a single site to represent the distribution of airborne concentrations of spores across each town was examined using data from three traps simultaneously, sited 2.0 to 4.9 km apart, over four weeks. Substantial intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were observed between the three sampling sites across both towns (ICC=0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.71 to 0.76, 95% CI 0.61-0.87) when counts of Alternaria spores were relatively high. The correlation was poor when counts were low. Of more than 365 trap tapes examined, the two microscopic traverses strongly correlated for counts of Alternaria spores (ICC=0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.96). Alternaria was detected in both towns throughout the two year period with peaks in spore concentrations reflecting the season of crop harvesting in each region. Individual exposure to spores was examined. Thirty three subjects (adults and children from nine families) wore nasal air samplers and personal air samplers both inside and outside their homes. The effects of activity, location, age on the inhalation of Alternaria spores and variation between individuals in the same environment were determined. Every subject inhaled Alternaria spores. Personal exposure to Alternaria in the home environment varied substantially between subjects. Levels of fungal spores inhaled were higher during periods of activity than during rest, and higher while subjects were outdoors than indoors. During outdoor activity, the number of Alternaria spores inhaled ranged from 4 to 794 (median 11) spores/hr. Sources of airborne spores was investigated by sampling air above wheat and cotton crops near the towns during harvesting and non-harvesting periods, in a grain and cotton seed storage shed, and a cotton gin. Substantially higher concentrations were detected above crops during harvesting periods compared to non-harvesting periods. Peaks were associated with harvesting and other activities where plants were manipulated. By regression analysis spore concentrations in both towns were modelled against those detected above crops and with weather variables. Only one crop sampling period (cotton harvest) independently correlated with concentrations in town. Analysis combining all data showed concentrations of spores above crops correlated with spore concentrations in the town when lagged by one day. Variables of rainfall and maximum temperature influenced concentrations in both towns, and wind direction in Wagga Wagga alone. Parents of asthmatic children were asked by questionnaire in which locations symptoms were provoked. Asthma was reported to be exacerbated at grain farms and with disturbance of local vegetation in town and home gardens. Nasal sampling confirmed that activities that disturbed dust or vegetation increased the inhalation of spores. The factors that release allergen from spores were determined in a modified Halogen immunoassay. Approximately 60% of spores released allergen, and the proportion was influenced by isolate, nutrient availability, viability, and not influenced by sunlight or culture age up to 21 days. Germinating the spores significantly increased the proportion that released total allergen and Alt a 1 (p<0.0001). Alt a 1 appears to be a minor contributor to the total allergen released from spores except when spores have germinated. Conclusions: People living in inland rural regions of Australia are exposed to substantial quantities of allergenic spores of Alternaria. Exposure is a highly personal event and is largely determined by disturbance of local vegetation releasing spores such as from nearby crops by wind, harvesting, slashing, transport and processing of produce, and from within town and home gardens. Most spores inhaled are likely to be allergenic, with potency potentially increasing with viability.

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McAra, Sally. "A "stupendous attraction" : materialising a Tibetan Buddhist contact zone in rural Australia /." e-Thesis University of Auckland, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2292/5234.

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39

Vlasich, Eliza Jane. "Exploring social media use by local tourism providers in rural Western Australia." Thesis, Vlasich, Eliza Jane (2022) Exploring social media use by local tourism providers in rural Western Australia. Masters by Research thesis, Murdoch University, 2022. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/65265/.

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Social media has had a significant impact on the tourism industry. Instagram has become a popular platform to share travel experiences due to the visual experience it offers users. This study utilised a case study approach to explore how small business, local tourism providers in the Shire of Collie, Western Australia (Collie), are using social media to promote their business and the destination. This study also examined how local tourism providers and social media users utilise hashtags on Instagram to represent a rural Western Australia tourist destination. The study included conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 local tourism providers representing five major requirements of a tourist destination (Dickman, 1989). Common barriers in using social media were identified. Challenges included inadequate time, difficulty in measuring the impact of social media and lack of knowledge using affordances, such as using functionalities effectively. Participants shared benefits of using social media, which included reaching a wider audience and a ‘younger’ demographic. The interviews also explored influences on local tourism providers’ social media use, including the influence of destination management organisations (DMO) activities and resources. A content analysis of hashtags on Instagram was undertaken to explore how hashtags are used in conjunction with Collie, including the most popular hashtags. Based on purposive sampling, ten hashtags related to tourism in Collie were selected. The hashtags included popular tourist attractions, such as #blackdiamondlake, and hashtags used on the Collie Visitor Centre Instagram page, including #collierivervalley and #colliewa. From this sample, five hashtags with the highest growth were used as the basis of exploration of other hashtags used in conjunction with the topic. The hashtags were categorised based on the level of DMO, to explore the influence of DMO marketing on hashtag use. Hashtags relating to Tourism Western Australia marketing campaigns such as #wanderoutyonder and #thisiswa, were amongst the most used hashtags. Finally, this study explored Kavaratzis’ (2004) theoretical framework for developing city brands and proposes changes to the model, to include local tourism providers and social media. The framework discusses three levels of communication representing different aspects of marketing a destination: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The study proposes changes to Kavaratzis’ (2004) framework, to reflect how communication has evolved to include social media and demonstrate how it can be used to describe communication in rural tourist destinations. This study provides a holistic approach to understanding how local tourism providers in a rural destination use social media, and may be utilised in other rural settings to develop destination image. The findings reflect that local tourism providers in Collie recognise the benefits of using social media for promotion, although there are barriers when using social media.

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40

Aveyard, Karina. "Rural Cinema: Film Exhibition and Consumption in Australia and the United Kingdom." Thesis, Griffith University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367864.

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This thesis investigates the contexts of film exhibition and consumption in contemporary rural Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). As the site of most detailed fieldwork, Australia forms the primary focus of the investigation, while information gathered in the UK provides material for contextualisation and comparative analysis. The public screening of films takes place in a wide variety of settings in rural areas of Australia and the UK. These range from modern multi-screen venues operating in large regional centres, through to older-style twin and single screen cinemas found in smaller places. In very small and remote settlements, where film exhibition is generally not viable on a commercial basis, screenings are held in purpose-built and make-shift facilities by local councils, community cooperatives, film societies and a few small-scale entrepreneurs. As a commercial enterprise, the fortunes of film exhibitors are closely tied to wider economic and demographic trends. Over recent decades there has been a significant increase in the overall number of multiplexes in rural areas. However, this growth has taken place almost exclusively in large settlements, where it has been underpinned by broader increases in industrial activity, employment and population, as well as the rise in cinema-going frequency since the mid 1980s. In smaller, relatively stable towns, scaled-down single and twin screen cinemas are regularly able to survive and sometimes prosper. But in areas of social and economic decline film enterprises can be highly marginal concerns. For smaller operators adaptation and innovation are often key skill requirements. Initiatives such as in-house movie clubs, low ticket prices, and efforts to personalise patrons’ film-going experiences all form an important part of their marketing strategies. For other cinemas the secret to longevity can centre around creating a sub-commercial operating structure, one which allows the enterprise to utilise financial support mechanisms such as government funding and volunteer labour.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Humanities
Arts, Education and Law
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41

Greenhalgh, Emma. "Principal place of residence? : long term caravan park residents in rural Australia." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2003. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/16706/1/Emma_Greenhalgh_Thesis.pdf.

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This thesis explores the importance of caravan parks as a provider of long term housing in rural areas. Previous research on caravan parks in the Australian housing system focused on the metropolitan and coastal regions, with little analysis given over to parks in rural areas. There is a similar dearth of research on rural housing in Australia. In previous housing studies rural housing has been discussed as a residual of that in the capital cities. In many instances, rural areas are absorbed into broader metropolitan/non-metropolitan constructs. This is despite the complexity and range of housing issues in rural places. This research has brought these two fields together, particularly to determine whether the problems in the rural housing market are a factor for people living in caravan parks. Previous studies on caravan parks have demonstrated that caravan park residents have socio-economic characteristics that would make it difficult for them to access housing. They have low incomes, a reliance on government benefits and higher mobility rates compared to the general population. Caravan park residents have a greater propensity to poverty. Thus for these residents, caravan parks offer housing that is affordable and accessible. In many instances it is housing of last resort, or housing used in times of crisis. Previous research into rural housing has found that rural areas have greater incidences of after housing poverty as a result of lower incomes. There are also problems of housing accessibility, particularly for specific groups, such as the aged, youth, and the disabled. Rural areas also are encountering the migration of 'urban refugees'. This group has high levels of need which creates a further strain on a market. The Shires of Chinchilla and Murilla in Queensland were selected as case studies because they they have a stable caravan park industry and they are rural without being remote. Interviews were undertaken with a variety of individuals representing a range of organisations. This included a large sample of long-term caravan park residents. The residents who participated in the research were, similarly to the general profile of park residents, disadvantaged. They also had low incomes with a reliance on government benefits. The majority of the residents had located to the case study region from the South-East of the State. It was also found that the majority of residents migrated to the area and immediately moved into a caravan park. Interestingly, there were no family households in the park, and very few young people. Also, caravan parks were not utilised as crisis accommodation. This is attributed to the discriminatory practices of the park operators as a form of 'risk management'. This research found that caravan parks play an important role in the housing system of rural areas. Specifically, they are not a residual form of the dominant tenures, but are a separate component of the housing market. Many residents did not consider the broader housing market, and immediately moved into the park. Residents did not explicitly consider their housing choice within the context of the broader market. While housing related issues did arise, the majority of residents individualised their experiences; that is, their housing experience is related to their own individual situation and not because of any problems in the market.

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42

Greenhalgh, Emma. "Principal Place of Residence? Long Term Caravan Park Residents in Rural Australia." Queensland University of Technology, 2003. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16706/.

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This thesis explores the importance of caravan parks as a provider of long term housing in rural areas. Previous research on caravan parks in the Australian housing system focused on the metropolitan and coastal regions, with little analysis given over to parks in rural areas. There is a similar dearth of research on rural housing in Australia. In previous housing studies rural housing has been discussed as a residual of that in the capital cities. In many instances, rural areas are absorbed into broader metropolitan/non-metropolitan constructs. This is despite the complexity and range of housing issues in rural places. This research has brought these two fields together, particularly to determine whether the problems in the rural housing market are a factor for people living in caravan parks. Previous studies on caravan parks have demonstrated that caravan park residents have socio-economic characteristics that would make it difficult for them to access housing. They have low incomes, a reliance on government benefits and higher mobility rates compared to the general population. Caravan park residents have a greater propensity to poverty. Thus for these residents, caravan parks offer housing that is affordable and accessible. In many instances it is housing of last resort, or housing used in times of crisis. Previous research into rural housing has found that rural areas have greater incidences of after housing poverty as a result of lower incomes. There are also problems of housing accessibility, particularly for specific groups, such as the aged, youth, and the disabled. Rural areas also are encountering the migration of 'urban refugees'. This group has high levels of need which creates a further strain on a market. The Shires of Chinchilla and Murilla in Queensland were selected as case studies because they they have a stable caravan park industry and they are rural without being remote. Interviews were undertaken with a variety of individuals representing a range of organisations. This included a large sample of long-term caravan park residents. The residents who participated in the research were, similarly to the general profile of park residents, disadvantaged. They also had low incomes with a reliance on government benefits. The majority of the residents had located to the case study region from the South-East of the State. It was also found that the majority of residents migrated to the area and immediately moved into a caravan park. Interestingly, there were no family households in the park, and very few young people. Also, caravan parks were not utilised as crisis accommodation. This is attributed to the discriminatory practices of the park operators as a form of 'risk management'. This research found that caravan parks play an important role in the housing system of rural areas. Specifically, they are not a residual form of the dominant tenures, but are a separate component of the housing market. Many residents did not consider the broader housing market, and immediately moved into the park. Residents did not explicitly consider their housing choice within the context of the broader market. While housing related issues did arise, the majority of residents individualised their experiences; that is, their housing experience is related to their own individual situation and not because of any problems in the market.

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43

Mitakakis, Teresa Zinovia. "Prevalence and distribution of Alternaria allergens in rural New South Wales, Australia." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/370.

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In rural inland, south-eastern Australia, allergy to the fungus Alternaria is prevalent and an important risk factor for asthma. The aim of the thesis was to investigate the distribution and factors influencing allergens of Alternaria in the air. As airborne allergenic spores were thought to arise from harvesting of nearby crops, two towns with different agricultural practices were studied. Moree has two crop harvesting periods in summer and autumn whilst Wagga Wagga has one harvesting period in summer. Over two years, air was sampled daily in Wagga Wagga and Moree using Burkard traps. The reliability of measurements from a single site to represent the distribution of airborne concentrations of spores across each town was examined using data from three traps simultaneously, sited 2.0 to 4.9 km apart, over four weeks. Substantial intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were observed between the three sampling sites across both towns (ICC=0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.71 to 0.76, 95% CI 0.61-0.87) when counts of Alternaria spores were relatively high. The correlation was poor when counts were low. Of more than 365 trap tapes examined, the two microscopic traverses strongly correlated for counts of Alternaria spores (ICC=0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.96). Alternaria was detected in both towns throughout the two year period with peaks in spore concentrations reflecting the season of crop harvesting in each region. Individual exposure to spores was examined. Thirty three subjects (adults and children from nine families) wore nasal air samplers and personal air samplers both inside and outside their homes. The effects of activity, location, age on the inhalation of Alternaria spores and variation between individuals in the same environment were determined. Every subject inhaled Alternaria spores. Personal exposure to Alternaria in the home environment varied substantially between subjects. Levels of fungal spores inhaled were higher during periods of activity than during rest, and higher while subjects were outdoors than indoors. During outdoor activity, the number of Alternaria spores inhaled ranged from 4 to 794 (median 11) spores/hr. Sources of airborne spores was investigated by sampling air above wheat and cotton crops near the towns during harvesting and non-harvesting periods, in a grain and cotton seed storage shed, and a cotton gin. Substantially higher concentrations were detected above crops during harvesting periods compared to non-harvesting periods. Peaks were associated with harvesting and other activities where plants were manipulated. By regression analysis spore concentrations in both towns were modelled against those detected above crops and with weather variables. Only one crop sampling period (cotton harvest) independently correlated with concentrations in town. Analysis combining all data showed concentrations of spores above crops correlated with spore concentrations in the town when lagged by one day. Variables of rainfall and maximum temperature influenced concentrations in both towns, and wind direction in Wagga Wagga alone. Parents of asthmatic children were asked by questionnaire in which locations symptoms were provoked. Asthma was reported to be exacerbated at grain farms and with disturbance of local vegetation in town and home gardens. Nasal sampling confirmed that activities that disturbed dust or vegetation increased the inhalation of spores. The factors that release allergen from spores were determined in a modified Halogen immunoassay. Approximately 60% of spores released allergen, and the proportion was influenced by isolate, nutrient availability, viability, and not influenced by sunlight or culture age up to 21 days. Germinating the spores significantly increased the proportion that released total allergen and Alt a 1 (p<0.0001). Alt a 1 appears to be a minor contributor to the total allergen released from spores except when spores have germinated. Conclusions: People living in inland rural regions of Australia are exposed to substantial quantities of allergenic spores of Alternaria. Exposure is a highly personal event and is largely determined by disturbance of local vegetation releasing spores such as from nearby crops by wind, harvesting, slashing, transport and processing of produce, and from within town and home gardens. Most spores inhaled are likely to be allergenic, with potency potentially increasing with viability.

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44

Duffield, Patricia. "A Pilgrim's Tale : Travelling the landscape of rural and regional practice nursing." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/271.

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This thesis is based on a model of critical feminist ethnography, designed to explore how practice nurses experience their daily work life in rural and regional general practice. Here, rural and regional practice includes small and large organisations based outside the metroploitan area that employ practice nurses, some in large regional centres and others in small regional communities. Ownership of the general practicioners, local government, regional health services, Aboriginal medical services, universities and private-for-profit businesses.

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45

Wilson, Sally B. "Family Centred Care: A Descriptive Study of the Situation in Rural Western Australia." Curtin University of Technology, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 2004. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=15170.

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Family centred care is a concept espoused to be fundamental to achieving excellence in paediatric nursing. Although it is recognised that family centred care includes the child's rights to self determination the focus of this study is parental participation in the decision making and care of their hospitalised child at a partnership level. This is based on negotiation and requires frequent, effective communication between parents and nurses and for each to respect the other's knowledge and appreciate the other has something to offer in the relationship which will benefit the child. The purpose of this study was to identify whether family centred care was occurring in paediatric settings in rural Western Australia and explored parents' and nurses' perceptions of the concept. A questionnaire was designed based on the literature and common themes identified from focus groups. Convenience sampling was used and 15 rural hospitals facilitated participation of 243 parents who had a child under ten years of age hospitalised and 108 nurses who cared for children. Exploratory factor analysis identified four subscales from the parents' questionnaire and three subscales from the nurses' questionnaire which measured separate concepts of family centred care. Descriptive statistics were generated for each subscale, and independent t-tests, ANOVA and correlations were examined between independent variables and subscales of family centred care. There was a statistically significant difference in scores for parents' perceptions of `child friendly environment' between regional and district hospitals. Those parents who did not have social support scored a statistically significantly lower mean score for `respect as parent'. Nurses in district hospitals generated statistically significantly higher mean scores for `family focussed hospital' than those who worked in regional hospitals.
Parents and nurses both perceived that parents wanted to continue parenting their hospitalised child, however parents wanted to provide more nursing care than was perceived by nurses. Nurses' perceptions of delivering family centred care were greater than the perceptions of parents receiving it, however they were consistent in items that were scored low. Nurses did ask parents about the amount of participation they wanted in their child's care on admission however, it was not done on a regular basis. Parents perceived that nurses were unaware of other things that parents needed to attend to while their child was hospitalised and therefore did not enable parents to attend to these needs. More frequent negotiation of roles between parents and nurses by communicating each shift, or at least daily, could narrow the gap between differing perceptions in care provision and also enable parents to attend to their other roles thereby reducing their levels of physical and emotional stress.

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46

Cutts, Christopher. "Identification of influences on the quality use of medicines in general practice in rural Australia /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2002. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe16591.pdf.

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47

Wallace, Gary E., of Western Sydney Hawkesbury University, and Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture. "Governance for sustainable rural development : a critique of the ARMCANZ-DPIE structures and policy cycles." THESIS_FEMA_XXX_Wallace_G.xml, 1998. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/263.

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The focus of the thesis is a critique of the form and function of the federal institutions governing the development of Rural Australia. In undertaking this study two cycles of a systemic action research were followed, the first to explore the policy development environment and the second to validate and expand on findings of the first cycle of enquiry. The thesis follows the historical development of policy institutions and the deliberations of poicy actors that have lead to normative, strategic and program change within these institutions. These institutional changes have then been critiqued from theoretical perspective of governance for sustainable development. Conclusions from this critique indicate that that the pace of policy change is very slow and after 20 years from the Rural Policy green paper of 1974 the federal institutions have taken on board a rhetoric of sustainable rural development that encapsulates much of the principles espoused in the Green Paper.This includes principles that aim to empower rural communities to find local solutions to their natural resource management and local economic development problems. The downside is found in institutional conflict over resource dependencies and spheres of responsibility and an apparent lack of community economic development facilitation skills within the service organisations of rural institutions.
Master of Science (Hons)

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48

Redpath, Adrienne Kay, and n/a. "Graduate Rural Women: Perceptions of the Impact and Import of a University Education." Griffith University. School of Vocational, Technology and Arts Education, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20041208.104942.

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While there is abundant literature about Australian rural women including references to those who have had or wish to have some form of tertiary education, little attention is given to those who are the subject of the present study, graduate rural women, in this case of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The significance of the research emerged from its focus on the experiences of such women, with the purpose of the study being to present an exploration of their previously unrecorded perceptions of themselves as graduates occupying a place in their rural communities - to articulate the impact and import of graduate status for rural women. As understanding the articulations rather than explaining the data was deemed to be more appropriate to the exploration, a qualitative-interpretivist approach was adopted, recognising that a grounded constructivist epistemology would assist in viewing the experiences through the eyes of the participants. Data were collected in the form of written narrative - correspondence via e-mail - which allowed both the participants and myself to revisit and reflect upon each other's comments. The graduate women's comments were wide-ranging, from matters of concern to all country people, to those which were particularly relevant to graduate rural women, such as the perceived value of their own expertise and their experiences in taking up either professional or other roles in the rural context. The depth of thought, the powers of perception, the identification of lines of reasoning, the development of interwoven themes in rural life, and the manner of expression through the articulation of common occurrences, revealed far more than was originally envisaged. From the resultant collation of data it was possible to identify, examine and associate important perceptions which permeated the lives of graduate rural women. An exploration of the term rural and being a rural person in that environment was an important pre-cursor to interpreting subsequent articulations as the meaning of rurality extended the accepted geographical definitions and comparative urban-rural economic and social relationships. With this understanding, remembered experiences embraced the stages of becoming and being graduate rural women in professional practice and in everyday life, evidencing the participants' introspective, positive appreciation of the impact and import of their university education in the fulfilling and rewarding application of their professional skills. The concluding stage involved the graduates' relationship with the members of their rural communities as they attempted to pursue their lives at the level of their confidence and belief in themselves and in the value of their education. Challenging situations were recounted, indicating a schism to be overcome in that association, with male culture and traditional attitudes, the feminist movement and the rural crisis being included in the considerations. The core concepts, upon which the findings of the research were structured, emerged from the participants' articulations to illustrate the stages of becoming and being graduate rural women, both from the introspective and contextual viewpoints. The written narrative articulations of graduate rural women defined their reflective views of self-empowerment through education, countered by the challenges and constraints of social reality in the application of that ability in the rural context of their professional and everyday lives. The previously unrecorded perceptions of this significant section of society have added to the store of knowledge by giving graduate women a voice, a basis for further expression and a collective presence and identity in the rural situation. The future value of this research lies in its dissemination to raise awareness of identified issues and in its invitation to explore a wider sphere of knowledge enrichment beyond its central focus.

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49

Redpath, Adrienne Kay. "Graduate Rural Women: Perceptions of the Impact and Import of a University Education." Thesis, Griffith University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366713.

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Abstract:

While there is abundant literature about Australian rural women including references to those who have had or wish to have some form of tertiary education, little attention is given to those who are the subject of the present study, graduate rural women, in this case of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The significance of the research emerged from its focus on the experiences of such women, with the purpose of the study being to present an exploration of their previously unrecorded perceptions of themselves as graduates occupying a place in their rural communities - to articulate the impact and import of graduate status for rural women. As understanding the articulations rather than explaining the data was deemed to be more appropriate to the exploration, a qualitative-interpretivist approach was adopted, recognising that a grounded constructivist epistemology would assist in viewing the experiences through the eyes of the participants. Data were collected in the form of written narrative - correspondence via e-mail - which allowed both the participants and myself to revisit and reflect upon each other's comments. The graduate women's comments were wide-ranging, from matters of concern to all country people, to those which were particularly relevant to graduate rural women, such as the perceived value of their own expertise and their experiences in taking up either professional or other roles in the rural context. The depth of thought, the powers of perception, the identification of lines of reasoning, the development of interwoven themes in rural life, and the manner of expression through the articulation of common occurrences, revealed far more than was originally envisaged. From the resultant collation of data it was possible to identify, examine and associate important perceptions which permeated the lives of graduate rural women. An exploration of the term rural and being a rural person in that environment was an important pre-cursor to interpreting subsequent articulations as the meaning of rurality extended the accepted geographical definitions and comparative urban-rural economic and social relationships. With this understanding, remembered experiences embraced the stages of becoming and being graduate rural women in professional practice and in everyday life, evidencing the participants' introspective, positive appreciation of the impact and import of their university education in the fulfilling and rewarding application of their professional skills. The concluding stage involved the graduates' relationship with the members of their rural communities as they attempted to pursue their lives at the level of their confidence and belief in themselves and in the value of their education. Challenging situations were recounted, indicating a schism to be overcome in that association, with male culture and traditional attitudes, the feminist movement and the rural crisis being included in the considerations. The core concepts, upon which the findings of the research were structured, emerged from the participants' articulations to illustrate the stages of becoming and being graduate rural women, both from the introspective and contextual viewpoints. The written narrative articulations of graduate rural women defined their reflective views of self-empowerment through education, countered by the challenges and constraints of social reality in the application of that ability in the rural context of their professional and everyday lives. The previously unrecorded perceptions of this significant section of society have added to the store of knowledge by giving graduate women a voice, a basis for further expression and a collective presence and identity in the rural situation. The future value of this research lies in its dissemination to raise awareness of identified issues and in its invitation to explore a wider sphere of knowledge enrichment beyond its central focus.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Centre for Learning Research
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50

Dömötör, Ildikó. "Gentlewomen in the bush : a historical interpretation of British women's personal narratives in nineteenth-century rural Australia." Monash University, School of Political and Social Inquiry, 2004. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/5283.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Rural Australia'

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