Jane Montgomery Griffiths’ Theatrical Poetics

An interview with Jane Montgomery Griffiths regarding her theatrical adaptation of Dorothy Porter’s verse novel Wild Surmise (2002).

How Australian and New Zealand schools of optometry prepare students for culturally competent practice

Background: This study is an investigation of how Australian and New Zealand schools of optometry prepare students for culturally competent practice. The aims are: (1) to review how optometric courses and educators teach and prepare their students to work with culturally diverse patients; and (2) to determine the demographic characteristics of current optometric students and obtain their views on cultural diversity. Methods: All Australian and New Zealand schools of optometry were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected with two surveys: a curriculum survey about the content of the optometric courses in relation to cultural competency issues and a survey for second year optometry students containing questions in relation to cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and attitudes to cultural diversity. Results: Four schools of optometry participated in the curriculum survey (Deakin University, Flinders University, University of Melbourne and University of New South Wales). Sixty-three students (22.3 per cent) from these four schools as well as the University of Auckland participated in the student survey. Cultural competency training was reported to be included in the curriculum of some schools, to varying degrees in terms of structure, content, teaching method and hours of teaching. Among second year optometry students across Australia and New Zealand, training in cultural diversity issues was the strongest predictor of cultural awareness and sensitivity after adjusting for school, age, gender, country of birth and language other than English. Conclusion: This study provides some evidence that previous cultural competency-related training is associated with better cultural awareness and sensitivity among optometric students. The variable approaches to cultural competency training reported by the schools of optometry participating in the study suggest that there may be opportunity for further development in all schools to consider best practice training in cultural competency. © 2014 Optometrists Association Australia.

Interview with Dr. Enri Haryanti Kahfi

Dr. Enri Haryanti Kahfi is an Indonesian who studied at Flinders University in 2002-2006. She studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a PhD in Gender Studies. The interview was conducted in English by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University and Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia on 30 April 2014. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary and a photo.

Interview with M. Tahir Kasmani

M. Tahir Kasmani is an Indonesian who studied at Flinders University in 1987-1990. He completed a PhD in Social Demography, specifically focussing on rural women and development in Indonesia. The interview was conducted in English by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University and Dr. Ahmah Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia on 24 October 2014. This set comprises: an interview recording, a photograph, and a timed summary.

Interview with Dhian Kusumawardhani

Dhian Kusumawardhani is an Indonesian who studied at Flinders University in 2001-2003. She studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a Masters in Public Management. She wanted to return to Australia to complete her PhD but was unable to, so she completed it at the Universitas Indonesia instead. The interview was conducted in English on 24 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey and Prof. David Lowe, both of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, a photograph, and a timed summary.

Interview with Yuyun Suresti

Yuyun Suresti is an Indonesian who studied at Flinders University in 2008-2010. She studied on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) and completed a Masters of Anthropology and Sociology. The interview was conducted in English on 26 May 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording, and a timed summary.

Interview with Endang Turmudi

Endang Turmudi is an Indonesian who studied in Australia on two occasions; in 1988-1990 at Flinders University, and in 1992-1996 at the Australian National University (ANU). On both occasions, he studied on Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) Scholarships. He completed his Masters in Sociology during his time at Flinders University before completing his PhD in the same field at ANU. The interview was conducted in English on 24 April 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey and Prof. David Lowe, both of Deakin University, and Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, a timed summary, and a photo.

Interview with Lalu Sahabuddin

Lalu Sahabuddin is an Indonesian who studied at Flinders University in 2007-2009. He studied on an Australian Partnership Scholarship (APS) and completed a Masters in Public Policy. The interview was conducted in English on 4 August 2014 by Dr. Jemma Purdey of Deakin University. This set comprises: an interview recording in two parts, a timed summary, and a photograph.

Interview with Nur Fitriatin Yamin

Nur Fitriatin Yamin is an Indonesian who studied in Australia on two occasions; at Flinders University in 1998-1999, and at the University of Canberra in 2008-2012. In both periods of study she was awarded Australian Development Scholarships (ADS). She completed a Masters in Education during her time at Flinders University before completing a PhD in the same field while at the University of Canberra. The interview was conducted in Indonesian on 1 June 2014 by Dr. Ahmad Suaedy of the Abdurrahman Wahid Centre for Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace at Universitas Indonesia. This set comprises: an interview recording, and a transcript of the interview (also in Indonesian).

Young people's perceptions of the risks of methamphetamine use in Adelaide nightclubs: a quantitative study

Understanding young people’s perceptions of the risks associated with the use of methamphetamines is an important but under-researched area. Precisely how these young people use the space of Adelaide nightclubs, perceive such drug risks, employ risk management strategies and how these factors interact to influence their experience of methamphetamines in the nightclub is largely unknown. This article presents self-report data drawn from a sample of 457 young people who completed the Perception of Risk survey questionnaire while waiting to enter one of five key Adelaide nightclubs in 2010. Participants were examined in terms of gender, age, drug use history, motivations for nightclub attendance and frequency of nightclub attendance. Approximately one-fifth of the sample reported using methamphetamines (21.0 percent).Participants demonstrated a pattern of attendance at Adelaide nightclubs that reflects a broader understanding of the important role of the nightclub in their social lives, which for some also involves the use of methamphetamines. Specifically, participants’ motivations for ‘nightclubbing’ concern the consumption of leisure and are guided by social group membership, in which methamphetamine use is not prioritised, as evident in the development of knowledge and risk management strategies to ensure safe consumption in the club. Perceptions of risk reflect concern surrounding unregulated methamphetamine use, as well as gendered concerns linked to safety and the prevalence of alcohol misuse, violence, drink spiking, physical injury and sexual assault. These findings were consistent across the sample, suggesting a shift in youth nightclub culture that has numerous implications for understanding and reducing the use of methamphetamines and regulation of the night-time economy generally, which are discussed herein.

Positron scattering from methane

We report on measurements of total cross sections for positron scattering from the fundamental organic molecule methane (CH(4)). The energy range of these measurements was 0.1-50 eV, whereas the energy resolution was similar to 100 meV when our Ni moderator was used and similar to 260 meV when the W moderator was employed. To assist us in interpreting these data, Schwinger multichannel calculations were performed at both static and static plus polarization levels of approximation for elastic positron scattering from 0.001 to 10 eV. These calculations are found to be in quite good qualitative agreement with our measured data, and they clearly educe the crucial role played by the target polarization in the low energy positron-CH(4) scattering dynamics.

Positron scattering from the cyclic ethers oxirane, 1,4-dioxane, and tetrahydropyran

In this paper we report original measurements of total cross sections (TCSs) for positron scattering from the cyclic ethers oxirane (C2H4O), 1,4-dioxane (C4H8O2), and tetrahydropyran (C5H10O). The present experiments focus on the low energy range from similar to 0.2 to 50 eV, with an energy resolution smaller than 300 meV. This study concludes our systematic investigation into TCSs for a class of organic compounds that can be thought of as sub-units or moieties to the nucleotides in living matter, and which as a consequence have become topical for scientists seeking to simulate particle tracks in matter. Note that as TCSs specify the mean free path between collisions in such simulations, they have enjoyed something of a recent renaissance in interest because of that application. For oxirane, we also report original Schwinger multichannel elastic integral cross section (ICS) calculations at the static and static plus polarisation levels, and with and without Born-closure that attempts to account for the permanent dipole moment of C2H4O. Those elastic ICSs are computed for the energy range 0.5-10 eV. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other experimental results or theoretical calculations against which we can compare the present positron TCSs. However, electron TCSs for oxirane (also known as ethylene oxide) and tetrahydropyran do currently exist in the literature and a comparison to them for each species will be presented. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3696378]

The psychoeducation needs of parents who have an adult son or daughter with a mental illness

Since deinstitutionalisation, parents of adults with mental disorders are increasingly utilised as a resource for their relatives’ care. This study used a general phenomenological perspective to capture people’s experiences. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with eight parents who were members of the Schizophrenia Fellowship of Southern Queensland to explore their perceptions of their psychoeducation needs. The themes that emerged included the usefulness of past experiences with psychoeducation, educational needs, barriers to accessing information and support, and other unmet carer needs, including the need for managing stress and emotional needs, recognition and inclusion of family members in decision-making, and negotiating the best care for their family member within the health care system. This study adds to an increasing body of knowledge that advocates for the greater inclusion and involvement of families in the care and treatment of their relatives. Further research into the needs of families, in particular barriers and supports in accessing information and services, is recommended.