Refugee : a recipe in six steps (2004)- Documenting the hidden

The research involved the production of a documentary and exegesis, arguing that to emphasise the importance of the indexical image in documentary is to overlook the active involvement of viewers, who don't need to see reality in order to infer that a given film is making arguments about reality.

Questioning deterrence policies in the mandatory detainment of asylum seekers

This thesis examined Australia's policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers which is based on the theoretical premises that they are rational actors who have choices, and that mandatory detention will serve as a deterrent. Interviews with asylum seekers did not support these underlying assumptions, suggesting that a re-examination of Australia's policies is required. The professional portfolio evaluates the Ward & Hudson (1998) model of the offending child molestation process which is believed to account for the differences in goals, affective states and planning among sexual offenders, and consequently determine an individual's treatment needs. Four case studies are presented and analysed.

The Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP) : a response to alcohol misuse in the farming community

Background
Farm men and women in Australia have higher levels of problematic alcohol use than their urban counterparts and experience elevated health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. The Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) program has worked successfully with farm men and women to address health, well- being and safety and has identified that further research and training is required to understand and address alcohol misuse behaviours. This project will add an innovative component to the program by training health professionals working with farm men and women to discuss and respond to alcohol-related physical and mental health problems.

Methods/Design
A mixed method design with multi-level evaluation will be implemented following the development and delivery of a training program (The Alcohol Intervention Training Program {AITP}) for Sustainable Farm Families health professionals. Pre-, post- and follow-up surveys will be used to assess both the impact of the training on the knowledge, confidence and skills of the health professionals to work with alcohol misuse and associated problems, and the impact of the training on the attitudes, behaviour and mental health of farm men and women who participate in the SFF project. Evaluations will take a range of forms including self-rated outcome measures and interviews.

Discussion
The success of this project will enhance the health and well-being of a critical population, the farm men and women of Australia, by producing an evidence-based strategy to assist them to adopt more positive alcohol-related behaviours that will lead to better physical and mental health.

A model for lesbian, bisexual and queer-related influences on alcohol consumption and implications for policy and practice

Research consistently reports higher rates of problematic drinking among lesbian, bisexual and queer women than among heterosexual women, but relatively little research has identified underlying factors. Within this context, the aim of the present study was to qualitatively explore the sociocultural influences on alcohol consumption among lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Australia. An ethnographic study including in-depth interviews and 10 sessions of participant observation was conducted with 25 Australian lesbian, bisexual and queer women. Analysis of transcripts and fieldnotes focused on lesbian, bisexual and queer-related influences on alcohol consumption. Three lesbian, bisexual and queer-related factors were identified that influenced alcohol use: (1) coping, (2) connection and (3) intersections with lesbian, bisexual and queer identity. Most participants reported consuming alcohol to cope with discrimination or to connect with like-minded others. Alcohol use had positive influences for some women through facilitating social connection and wellbeing. Women with a high lesbian, bisexual and queer identity salience were more likely to seek lesbian, bisexual and queer community connection involving alcohol, to publicly identify as lesbian, bisexual and queer and to experience discrimination. National policies need to address underlying causes of discrimination against lesbian, bisexual and queer women. Alcohol policies and clinical interventions should acknowledge the impact of discrimination on higher alcohol consumption amongst lesbian, bisexual and queer women compared with heterosexual women, and should utilise health promotion messages regarding safe drinking that facilitate lesbian, bisexual and queer social connection.

Female employment from the household. Towards a comprehensive analysis of work-life articulation

Research on women’s employment has proliferated over recent decades, often under a perspective that conceptualizes female labour market activity as independent of male presences and absences in the productive and reproductive spheres. In the face of these approaches, the article argues the need to focus on the couple as the unit of analysis of work-life articulation. After referring to the main theoretical arguments that, from a gender perspective within labour studies, have pointed out the relevance of placing the household as the central space for the analysis of the sexual division of labour, the article reviews different empirical contributions that have incorporated such perspective in the international literature. Next, the state of the art in the Spanish literature is presented, before arguing the desirability of applying such framework of analysis to the study of employment and care work in Spanish households, which are at present undergoing major transformations.

Rapports différenciés aux médias entre trois générations de femmes réfugiées au Québec

Cette thèse présente l’analyse des propos de trois générations de femmes réfugiées au Québec sur les manières dont ces femmes s’exposent, s’identifient et s’approprient le discours des médias pour ensuite en discuter entre elles. L’analyse permet de cerner certaines de leurs pratiques d’insertion et d’adaptation à un nouveau milieu de vie. L’immigration favorise de plus en plus l’éclosion des « cultures de la mixité », lesquelles représentent un enjeu incontournable en matière d’intégration. Quant aux médias, ils sont une source incontournable d’accès à l’information et à la culture. Le développement des techniques de transmission telles les réseaux câblés, le satellite de diffusion directe, Internet et le numérique permet au consommateur de médias, quel que soit son origine, de s’approprier de façon personnelle les produits culturels qui en retour déterminent la participation à la vie active dans la société hôte. Cette nouvelle intégration culturelle se transmet-elle aisément au sein des générations d’immigrantes? Cette thèse découle aussi d’un projet plus vaste sur les transmissions intergénérationnelles des savoirs, des pratiques et de l’entraide entre trois générations de femmes réfugiées au Québec (Vatz Laroussi, Guilbert & al. CRSH, 2009-2012). Étudier les transmissions de savoirs au sein des familles immigrantes, c’est reconnaitre avec les auteurs contemporains l’importance de la transmission et de la circulation des histoires personnelles s’inscrivant dans une histoire familiale et sociale de l’époque a méthodologie adoptée s’appuie sur les entretiens semi-directifs, le commentaire réflexif ainsi que l’analyse de contenu. La démarche méthodologique a été empruntée au projet principal. Les entretiens réalisés auprès des familles de réfugiés établis dans plusieurs régions du Québec (Sherbrooke, Joliette, Québec et Montréal) ont été réalisés par une équipe pluridisciplinaire, multiculturelle et féminine. L’originalité de cette recherche se trouve entre autres dans la collecte d’information qui s’est faite auprès de trios générationnels (grand-mère, mère et fille). Chaque membre du trio a été rencontré de façon individuelle et par la suite, le trio s’est formé pour une dernière entrevue de groupe. Ainsi, une analyse thématique des discours des répondants a été réalisée. Cette analyse a permis de mettre en perspective divers éléments proéminents relatifs à la relation entre les médias et chaque membre du trio générationnel. Il a été constaté que les médias sont appréhendés différemment par chaque membre du trio, que des médias comme la télévision et l’Internet sont les plus prisés par les jeunes et ils servent à la fois de fenêtre sur le pays d’accueil, d’ouverture sur le monde et d’expression de soi-même face aux frustrations vécues au Québec. En dernier lieu, une analyse de la question de la transmission intergénérationnelle au prisme des médias entre les trois générations de femme réfugiée a été faite. On constate que dans les trios, la transmission n’est pas unidirectionnelle. Elle va dans tous les sens. Sortant des sentiers battus elle devient un espace de création.

Religion and development in the Asia-Pacific : sacred places as development spaces

The book considers theories of ‘place’ as a component of successful development interventions and expands this analysis to consider the specific role that sacred places – buildings and social networks – have in planning, implementing and promoting sustainable development. A series of case studies examine various sacred places as sites for development activities. These case studies include Christian churches and disaster relief in Vanuatu; Muslim shrines and welfare provision in Pakistan; a women’s Buddhist monastery in Thailand advancing gender equity; a Jewish aid organisation providing language training to Muslim Women in Australia; and Hawaiian sacred sites located within a holistic retreat centre committed to ecological sustainability.Religion and Development in the Asia-Pacific demonstrates the important role that sacred spaces can play in development interventions, covering diverse major world religions, interfaith and spiritual contexts, and as such will be of considerable interest for postgraduate students and researchers in development studies, religious studies, sociology of religion and geography.

Campo de Refugiados de Dadaab: un escenario de desafíos frente al Enfoque de Género del Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (ACNUR): 1998-2010

El presente Estudio de Caso tiene por objetivo determinar el alcance que tiene el Enfoque de Género de ACNUR, en la garantía de los derechos fundamentales de las mujeres y las niñas en el Campamento de Refugiados de Dadaab entre 1998 y 2010. La implementación del Enfoque resulta insuficiente en el proceso de defensa de los derechos de la población femenina, pues los problemas que enfrentan han aumentado a pesar de la ayuda humanitaria brindada por organizaciones internacionales. La iniciativa de ACNUR de mejorar las condiciones de las mujeres refugiadas, se materializa en el Enfoque de Género, no obstante los resultados de su aplicación no son los esperados. El carácter correlacional y analítico de la investigación responde al enfoque cualitativo utilizado, con el propósito de entender los retos que representa Dadaab en la aplicación de un proyecto internacional.

Effect of migration on food habits of Somali women living as refugees in Australia

This study aimed to assess the dietary changes that occur for migrants moving from a low-income to a high-income country. The sample included 45 females who had migrated to Australia from Somalia within the past 5years (1996-2001). The data for the study was derived from structured interviews conducted by a bilingual interviewer and anthropometry. Usual dietary intake and frequency of consumption of 54 foods were determined both for Australia (current home) and for Somalia (previous home). In Australia, subjects maintained the structure of the diet from their country of birth. They did increase their consumption of some processed food, such as instant noodles, crisps, and pizza. However, there was little evidence that the subjects adopted ready or partially prepared meals or takeaway meals. A significant addition to the diet in Australia was the use of breakfast cereals. Significant substitutions were of ready-baked bread for traditional bread and lamb for camel meat. The mean BMI of the sample was 27.4kg/m². Sixty percent of the sample were overweight or obese (BMI>25). Some of the dietary changes observed may be consistent with increased energy intake and altered nutrient density. Given the association between transition to a high-income diet and obesity, it is important that migrants are encouraged to retain the best of their traditional diet while adopting healthy foods from host country.

The experiences of African women giving birth in Brisbane, Australia

Our purpose in this research was to uncover first-person descriptions of the birth experiences of African refugee women in Brisbane, Australia, and to explore the common themes that emerged from their experiences. We conducted semistructured interviews with 10 African refugees who had given birth in Brisbane. Essences universal to childbirth such as pain, control, and experiences of caregivers featured prominently in participants’ descriptions of their experiences. Their experiences, however, were further overshadowed by issues such as language barriers, the refugee experience, female genital mutilation (FGM), and encounters with health services with limited cultural competence.

Breastfeeding experiences of Japanese women living in Perth, Australia

The aim of this study was to document the breastfeeding practices of Japanese-Australian mothers living in Perth. A cross-sectional survey of mothers who had delivered babies in Japan or Australia or both was carried out on a sample of 163 mothers recruited through Japanese social and cultural groups in Perth and by a 'snowball' technique. Factors involved in the decision to breastfeed were analysed using multivariate regression analysis. The main outcome measures were the initiation and duration of breastfeeding and cultural beliefs about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding initiation rates of the Japanese- Australian mothers in Japan and in Australia were higher than for other Australians and are consistent with breastfeeding rates in Japan. In Australia, 65% of Japanese-Australian mothers were still breastfeeding at six months. The most common reason for the decision to cease breastfeeding was 'insufficient breastmilk'. The significant factors in breastfeeding duration were 'the time the infant was introduced to infant formula', 'the time when the feeding decision was made', 'doctors support breastfeeding' and 'the mother received enough help from hospital staff'; these were positively associated with the duration of breastfeeding. Japanese mothers take a lot of notice of advice given by health professionals about infant feeding practices.

Sudanese refugees in Australia the impact of acculturation stress

Refugees from Sudan are the fastest growing community in Australia. Australian mental health professionals have to be prepared to offer services to this ethnic group along with the other mainstream and diverse consumers. In order to offer culturally competent services, these mental health professionals are required to be familiar with this emerging community. As such a review was undertaken with two main goals. Firstly, the review aimed to educate Australian mental health professionals about the demographics and culture of Sudan, the traumas encountered as a result of the civil war, factors leading to massive exodus, and the difficulties of the transit and post migration phase. Secondly, the review intended to inform Australian mental health professionals about the possible acculturation stress that is manifested in the form of intergeneration and role conflict and marital difficulties. The review highlights that there are few studies addressing acculturation stress of Sudanese refugees, and even fewer on the impact it has on relationships. Future research directions are discussed.

Gender equity in the professoriate : a cohort study of new women professors in Australia

According to statistics and trend data, women continue to be substantially under- represented in the Australian professoriate, and growth in their representation has been slow despite the plethora of equity programs. While not disputing these facts, we propose that examining gender equity by cohort provides a complementary perspective on the status of gender equity in the professoriate. Based on over 500 survey responses, we detected substantial similarities between women and men who were appointed as professors or associate professors between 2005 and 2008. There were similar proportions of women and men appointed via external or internal processes or by invitation. Additionally, similar proportions of women and men professors expressed a marked preference for research over teaching. Furthermore, there were similar distributions between the genders in the age of appointment to the professoriate. However, a notable gender difference was that women were appointed to the professoriate on average 1.9 years later than mens. This later appointment provides one reason for the lower representation of women compared to men in the professoriate. It also raises questions of the typical length of time that women and men remain in the (paid) professoriate and reasons why they might leave it. A further similarity between women and men in this cohort was their identification of motivation and circumstances as key factors in their career orientation. However, substantially more women identified motivation than circumstances and the situation was reversed for men. The open-ended survey responses also provided confirmation that affirmative action initiatives make a difference to women’s careers.