Shooting Mabel: warrior masculinity and Asian invasion

This article examines stories published around the beginning of the twentieth century depicting Asian invasions of Australia, and discovers consistent patterns of gendered and racialised assumptions setting Australian men, the bush and the future of the white race against Australian women, the city, and the asianisation of the nation. It argues that warrior Japan created a powerful case for an answering tradition of defiant, bush-based masculinity in Australia.

Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) - a building performance evaluation tool

This paper describes the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) and its application for systematic building performance evaluation for compliance testing, commissioning, strategic and operational facility management and continuous improvement in the built environment.

The first part of the paper introduces the application areas of on-site building performance evaluation and discusses the shortcomings in this regard in current practice. It emphasises the need for on-site investigations to generate information on 'as built performance' for the 'feedback' loop between design, operation and occupancy of new buildings, retrofit or adjustment.

The second part introduces the Energy-Comfort-Behaviour Framework for 'across-the-board' building evaluation and discusses MABEL's role in this scheme. MABEL's objectives, procedures and the performance measurement matrix are explained and discussed.

Characteristics of doctors transitioning to a non-clinical role in the MABEL study

Objective: To investigate the characteristics and satisfaction of medical doctors transitioning from a clinical into an entirely non-clinical role.

Design and setting: Wave 1 to Wave 5 data from 2008- 2012 in the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) longitudinal, populationbased survey were analysed.

Participants: Medical doctors including general practitioners (GPs), specialists, specialists in training (SIT) and hospital non-specialists (HNS). Hospital nonspecialists represent doctors working in a hospital who were not enrolled in a specialty training program. The total number of participants surveyed across the 5 waves was 15,195 doctors.

Main outcome measures: The number of medical doctors making the transition from a clinical role to a nonclinical role from one wave of data to the subsequent wave of data. Individuals who responded 'Yes' to the question 'Are you currently doing any clinical medical work in Australia?' were defined as working in a clinical role. Individuals who stated that they were 'Doing medical work in Australia that is non-clinical' were defined as working in a completely non-clinical role. Each doctor's characteristics while partaking in clinical work prior to making the change to a non-clinical role were noted.

Results: Over 5 years, there were a total of 498 individuals who made the transition from a clinical role to a completely non-clinical role out of a possible 15,195 doctors. Increasing age was the strongest predictor for transition to a non-clinical role. With regards to doctor type, specialists, hospital non-specialists and specialists-in- training were more likely to make the transition to a totally non-clinical role compared to GPs. There was minimal evidence of a relationship between lower job satisfaction and making a transition, and also between higher life satisfaction and making a transition.

Conclusions: Understanding the characteristics of, and reasons for non-clinical career transition are important for workforce training, planning and development.

Australian doctors’ non-clinical activities: results from the MABEL survey of doctors

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate non-clinical work conducted by Australian doctors.
Methods. This study was an exploratory descriptive study using data from Wave 5 of the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) longitudinal survey, collected in 2012 from Australian medical practitioners (2200 general practitioners (GPs), 3455 specialists, 1270 specialists in training and 1656 hospital non-specialists). The main outcome measure was the number of hours worked per week in non-clinical work. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between non-clinical activities (i.e. education-related, management and administration and other) and personal and professional characteristics, including age, gender, job and life satisfaction, total clinical working hours, sector of practice
(public or private) and doctor type.
Results. Australian doctors spend an average of just under 7 h per week, or 16% of their working time, on non-clinical activities. Doctors who worked more hours on non-clinical activities overall, and in education-related and management and
administration specifically, were male, younger, had lower life satisfaction and generally spent fewer hours on clinical work. Lower job satisfaction was associated with longer management and administration hours, but not with time spent in
education-related activities. Specialists were more likely to work long non-clinical hours, whereas GPs were more likely to report none. Hospital non-specialists reported relatively high management and administration hours.
Conclusions. Further work is required to better understand the full range of non-clinical activities doctors are involved in and how this may impact future workforce projections.

A case for a mobile architecture and built environment laboratory

Deakin University and other research and industry partners have recently won a grant for the establishment of a Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL). MABEL provides the first means of integrated, on-site measurement of the key aspects of the built environment (power, sound, light and comfort) using the latest instrument technology. There exists an ongoing need to establish a versatile and comprehensive in-situ testing facility for built internal environments, for the provision of research, education, training and technology diffusion. The ability to make on-site measurements across the environmental spectrum is unique and important. Individual measurements might demonstrate improved lighting performance, reduced power consumption, and improved ventilation or better building acoustics. More importantly, an integrated perspective will address an interaction in terms of energy efficiency and overall occupant comfort. H is recognised that many of the parameters we can measure with existing instrumentation remain unresolved regarding their diagnostic significance on occupant health, comfort and productivity. Also, developed standards for in-situ measurement are at an emerging state, in the delivery of reliable and useful assessment methods. This paper discusses the inception and role of the MABEL facility for building research, learning and teaching.

Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies

A WHO expert consultation addressed the debate about interpretation of recommended body-mass index (BMI) cut-off points for determining overweight and obesity in Asian populations, and considered whether population-specific cut-off points for BMI are necessary. They reviewed scientific evidence that suggests that Asian populations have different associations between BMI, percentage of body fat, and health risks than do European populations. The consultation concluded that the proportion of Asian people with a high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is substantial at BMIs lower than the existing WHO cut-off point for overweight (25 kg/m2). However, available data do not necessarily indicate a clear BMI cut-off point for all Asians for overweight or obesity. The cut-off point for observed risk varies from 22kg/m2 to 25kg/m2 in different Asian populations; for high risk it varies from 26kg/m2 to 31kg/m2. No attempt was made, therefore, to redefine cut-off points for each population separately. The consultation also agreed that the WHO BMI cut-off points should be retained as international classifications. The consultation identified further potential public health action points (23·0, 27·5, 32·5, and 37·5 kg/m2) along the continuum of BMI, and proposed methods by which countries could make decisions about the definitions of increased risk for their population.

A time for real building performance measurement

The Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) was conceived upon the principle of investigating building environmental performance in situ. MABEL provides the first means of integrated, on-site measurement of the key aspects of internal built environments; energy, lighting, air quality, ventilation, acoustics and comfort using state-ofthe- art technology and instrumentation. The intention of this paper is to explain the how and what need to be measured in our buildings if we are to search of a genuine performance answer as well as the information to provide a solution. Several results of real building measurement are provided here, suggesting that a national program on 'as performing' is required if we are to proceed in a sustainable manner.

Combined evaluation of workplace performance using occupants' subjective assessment and objective measurement of environmental conditions : a case study

The case study presents findings from a program of pre- and post-evaluations of buildings sponsored by the NSW government. The program aims to demonstrate leadership in the delivery of government accommodation and to provide feedback into the building design and management process.

The results from a combined evaluation of an ABGR 4.5 star government building using the KODO probe© occupant surveys and measures of environmental conditions, carried out by the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) at Deakin University are summarised. In particular the paper will present the benefits of innovative performance evaluation of property for commercial benefit using the KODO productivity topographic maps©.

These maps isolate where facility solutions are needed as opposed to tenant/occupant solutions in order to optimise building and business outcomes with minimal capital investment.

Developing an ‘as performing’ building assessment

The building profession is increasingly becoming more demanding with respect to building environmental performance. Intentions are to provide best practices into our buildings. In part, this is a response due to the Australian government and other independent organisations that have developed policy on rating tools and performance ranking measures, all with the intention of accomplishing environmentally sustainable buildings.

With rating systems endorsing innovative environmental design solutions, it could be asked: Are our buildings really operating as rated? Do we know whether our designs are in compliance with what was calculated or simulated? Is there a feedback loop informing the design process on successes or failures in our designs or mechanical services?

While ratings continue to focus on ‘by design’ or ‘as built’ rewards, few tools acknowledge perhaps the more crucial bottom line: ‘as performing’. With the exception of an AGBR (Australian Green Building Rating) scheme on actual annual energy consumption, there appears to be no ‘as performing’ assessment. Furthermore, practically every building is a prototype (a one-off) and requires commissioning, programming and scheduling of its services. It would certainly appear that as stakeholders (the procurers, owners, facilities managers and users) of the newly built environment, that what we really want to know is actual on-site confirmation of performance. It is the objective of the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL), to provide such a service.

Work differences by sector for medical specialists : evidence of a public sector ethos

Work-related characteristics representative of the ethos for medical specialists have been relatively unexplored, particularly compared to the array of research on primary care physicians. Analyses of 4,166 specialists, from the first wave of the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) study, revealed that specialists have a choice between either challenging work in the public sector or straightforward yet well-paid work in the private sector. Despite more challenging conditions, health and intent to leave were not key issues for specialists in the public sector, with specialists in private rooms more likely to leave the profession despite more positive work conditions. This result may be due to the public sector ethos suggested in other studies. Ultimately this study provides evidence that suggests differences in the ethos between medical specialists in the public and private sectors.

Review of measurements in schools to improve IEQ

An Australian research facility, MABEL (the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory) measured several school classrooms for their indoor environmental performance (IEQ) performance. This paper is a reporting of a case study, highlighting the processed measurement of a classroom and its findings. A review of the literature, also reveals particular sectors of IEQ in schools that are worthy of measurement. A primary intention here is to determine the type of IEQ measurements and their evaluation methods together with their corresponding instrumentation. A secondary intention is to highlight particular IEQ discrepancies in existing school classroom design resulting from these case study measurements, suggesting construction and operational conditioning improvements.In particular this research reveals international research on the subject of IEQ in school buildings and confirms the usefulness, urgency and necessity of IEQ measurements, world wide, in this area. As most of the existing literature on the subject seems to fall short of acknowledging all sectors of IEQ, this paper would like to address the importance of multiple IEQ parameters, experienced through on-site measurement case studies. It is suggested that the existing literature intends to target a specific IEQ sector or parameter, predetermining its effect on student absenteeism or reduced performance. In contrast to this, this paper would like to acknowledge the interactive effects of an IEQ index (standard) in general. One of the reasons for this are that such an index still appears to remain in the developmental stages.Various sectors of IEQ measurements, as measured with the MABEL facility, are demonstrated in this paper. They illustrate a cross-section of typical classroom evidence-based problems backed by measurement. A literature review confirms that similar problems in school buildings are evident in other parts of Australia as well as throughout the world, in identical and different climates. A holistic IEQ measurement acknowledges that there may be several outstanding, as well as poor IEQ parameters within the same classroom. Solutions to these poor IEQ results may be remedied, yet, it is the measurement that highlights the periods, degree and extent to which these problems occur. It is suggested here that a holistic approach to IEQ is required and that the development of its measurement standards and reporting are desperately needed.

Job satisfaction among Australian general practitioners and specialists

OBJECTIVE:
To identify patterns of job satisfaction among Australian doctors using latent class analysis, and to determine the relationships of these patterns to personal and professional characteristics so as to improve satisfaction and minimize medical wastage.
METHODS:
MABEL (Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life) data in 2011 were used. The study collected information on 5764 doctors about their job satisfaction, demographic characteristics, their health, country of medical training, opportunities for professional development and social interaction, taking time off work, views of patients' expectations, unpredictable working hours, hours worked per week, preference to reduce hours and intention to leave the medical workforce.
RESULTS:
Four latent classes of job satisfaction were identified: 5.8% had high job satisfaction; 19.4% had low satisfaction with working hours; 16.1% had high satisfaction with working hours but felt undervalued; and 6.5% had low job satisfaction. Low job satisfaction was associated with reporting poor health, having trained outside Australia, having poor opportunities for professional development and working longer hours. Low satisfaction was associated with a preference to reduce work hours and an intention to leave the medical workforce.
CONCLUSION:
To improve job satisfaction and minimize medical wastage, policies need to address needs of overseas trained doctors, provide continuing professional development and provide good health care for doctors.

Retirement patterns of Australian doctors aged 65 years and older.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate retirements over a 4-year period among Australian general practitioners (UPs) and specialists aged 65 years and over, and factors influencing retirement. METHODS: Data from Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) for the years 2009-12 were analysed for 435 GPs and 643 specialists aged 65 years and over at the time of entry to the MABEL survey. Discrete time survival analysis was used. RESULTS: The retirement rates were 4.1% (2009), 5.1% (2010), 4.2% (2011) and 10.4% (2012). Retirement was associated with: (1) the intention to leave medical work in 2009 and 2010; (2) working fewer hours in private consulting rooms in 2010 and 2012; (3) having lower job satisfaction in 2009 and 2011; (4) being older in 2009; (5) working fewer hours in a public hospital in 2012; and (6) working fewer hours in a private hospital in 2010. Doctors who intended to reduce their working hours were less likely to retire in 2009. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to support doctors at the late career stage to provide their valued contributions to the medical workforce for as long as possible may include increasing job satisfaction and addressing barriers to reducing work hours.