An Examination Of The Relationship Between Alcohol-related Injury (ARI) And Licensed Premises
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,686.00
Summary
There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the d ....There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the drinking location. Characteristics of drinking locations and drinking settings, in particular licensed premises, will be examined to determine their association with ARIs. Then an intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with local police, to address the conditions of the drinking environment with the aim of reducing ARIs and other alcohol-related problems stemming from licensed premises. The intervention will form part of a randomised controlled trial where licensed premises, identified through monthly police data as hot spots, receive either an intervention or act as a control. In the following month, controls receive the intervention (a cross-over design). The intervention was established in 1998 by Gold Coast police and involves police, fire and liquor licensing officers undertaking an on-site inspection and taking prescribed actions. It is hypothesised that this action should result in a decreased level of ARIs being generated from premises which receive the intervention, compared to those that do not. This is an intersectoral, collaborative project aimed at improving community safety through a concerted effort by police, health and the licensees.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Role Of The UPF3B Gene And Nonsense Mediated RNA Decay (NMD) Process In Mental Retardation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,710.00
Summary
Intellectual disability is a frequent and important medical problem. Genetic and environmental factors contribute about equally to the aetiology of intellectual disability. Estimated 1-3% of population suffer from a form of intellectual disability. Among the genetic factors contributing to intellectual disability are genes, and their mutations, on one of the human chromosomes, chromosome X. We have been studying human X-chromosome genes for many years and discovered in excess of 20 novel genes c ....Intellectual disability is a frequent and important medical problem. Genetic and environmental factors contribute about equally to the aetiology of intellectual disability. Estimated 1-3% of population suffer from a form of intellectual disability. Among the genetic factors contributing to intellectual disability are genes, and their mutations, on one of the human chromosomes, chromosome X. We have been studying human X-chromosome genes for many years and discovered in excess of 20 novel genes causing various forms of intellectual disability. Surprisingly the number of genes, in which mutations cause various forms of intellectual disability is unexpectedly high. Just on the human X-chromosome we expect in excess of 200 such genes, which is nearly 30% of the gene content of this chromosome. We propose to study a novel gene, UPF3B, we recently identified to be mutated in a form of intellectual disability. The normal function of this gene and its protein is known to a certain extent. The UPF3B protein plays a role of a guardian of other genes in human (and also other species) cells. The role of the UPF3B protein is to prevent erroneous genetic information to be used for the building of proteins with potentially toxic effects to the organism. In our patients this process clearly malfunctions as a consequence of the damaged UPF3B gene. We propose to shed some more light in to the molecular intricacies of this process with the aim to better understand the mechanics of the process. Families, which participate in our studies and have this gene involved will benefit from the availability of direct test. Multiple other families around the world are also likely to benefit, now or in the future.Read moreRead less
The Kids in Communities Study: national investigation of community level effects on children's developmental outcomes. This project (a cross-disciplinary collaboration) will investigate community level factors influencing early childhood developmental outcomes using a mixed methods approach in up to 10 communities across Australia. This will result in a potential set of measures or indicators that reflect communities that are good for children.
Settlement outcomes of Syrian-conflict refugee families in Australia. This project aims to focus on the policy responses to, and settlement outcomes for, Syrian-conflict refugee families in Australia with an emphasis on employment and education. The Syrian conflict has generated an unprecedented flow of refugees across Europe and other countries, including Australia. These countries face new challenges in providing successful settlement outcomes for the refugees. Utilising a longitudinal study o ....Settlement outcomes of Syrian-conflict refugee families in Australia. This project aims to focus on the policy responses to, and settlement outcomes for, Syrian-conflict refugee families in Australia with an emphasis on employment and education. The Syrian conflict has generated an unprecedented flow of refugees across Europe and other countries, including Australia. These countries face new challenges in providing successful settlement outcomes for the refugees. Utilising a longitudinal study of 250 refugee families and fieldwork in key areas of high refugee settlement in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, this project will generate comparative insights to identify policy and program responses that lead to the most successful settlement outcomes. Improved employment, education and settlement outcomes for refugees will have economic, social and cultural benefits for Australian society and improve the quality of life of refugees.Read moreRead less
Keeping the best: how school leaders engage and retain high quality early career teachers. This project will investigate how school leaders use micropolitical strategies to engage and retain high quality early career teachers. It will develop a framework for school leaders to guide policies and practices to keep the best early career teachers in the profession.
Pursuing equity in high poverty rural schools: improving learning through rich accountabilities. Poor performance of students in schools located in high poverty communities is a pressing educational problem for Australia, with educational disadvantage in poor rural communities in particular demanding amelioration. The evidence suggests the equity and quality of schooling outcomes are centrally important to the nation's economic future, the strength of Australian democracy, social inclusion and a ....Pursuing equity in high poverty rural schools: improving learning through rich accountabilities. Poor performance of students in schools located in high poverty communities is a pressing educational problem for Australia, with educational disadvantage in poor rural communities in particular demanding amelioration. The evidence suggests the equity and quality of schooling outcomes are centrally important to the nation's economic future, the strength of Australian democracy, social inclusion and a unified nation. In strengthening policy and practice knowledge about educative usage of performance data and the development of rich forms of accountability, the research will advance the academic literature and provide an evidence base for success of the national partnership on low socio-economic status schools.Read moreRead less
Punish them or engage them? Identifying and addressing productive and unproductive student behaviours in South Australian schools. This project will provide a contemporary understanding of productive and unproductive student behaviour, which is a key educational concern in Australia. Evidence will be obtained to inform educational decisions to engage and promote positive student behaviour and improve academic achievement.
Are the kids alright? Understanding the wellbeing of Australian children in their middle years. This project will produce the first comprehensive national stock-take of wellbeing among Australian children in their middle years, with a special focus on children who experience disadvantage. Findings will reflect children's views and experiences, have direct policy relevance and lay the groundwork for comparing and monitoring of child wellbeing.
Educational leadership and turnaround literacy pedagogy. This project will provide new ways of thinking about school reform for improving literacy achievement in high poverty contexts. The project will examine the ways in which new forms of educational leadership are developing in South Australian public schools and its effects on school culture, pedagogy and student literacy learning.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100107
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,325.00
Summary
Resilience, culture, and class: A sociological study of Australian students. This project aims to promote academic resilience and school success in contexts of adverse conditions. Using interviews, Social Network Analysis, and psychometric measures, the project will explore links between academic resilience, culture, and class. The project is designed to provide insights that can reduce educational failure and enhance life prospects of at-risk students. Expected outcomes include publicly availab ....Resilience, culture, and class: A sociological study of Australian students. This project aims to promote academic resilience and school success in contexts of adverse conditions. Using interviews, Social Network Analysis, and psychometric measures, the project will explore links between academic resilience, culture, and class. The project is designed to provide insights that can reduce educational failure and enhance life prospects of at-risk students. Expected outcomes include publicly available project findings and an instructional animation to assist end-users build academic resilience in Australia's multicultural contexts. Expected benefits include attenuated achievement gap, increased social cohesion and mobility, and reduced public cost on educational failure.Read moreRead less