2009 research outcomes for funding commencing in 2010
- ARC Linkage Round 2
- NHMRC Project Grants
- ARC Linkage Round 1
- ARC Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development
- ARC Discovery
ARC Linkage Round 2
Centre for Cultural Research
CULTURAL STUDIES
Dr Megan Watkins, A/Prof Gregory Noble, Prof Kevin M Dunn, Ms Nell Lynes, Ms Amanda Bourke, Ms Robyn Mamouney
Rethinking multiculturalism/reassessing multicultural education
2010 : $ 45 000
2011 : $ 112 692
2012 : $ 113 192
2013 : $ 45 000
APAI 1
Partner Organisations: NSW Department of Education and Training, NSW Institute of Teachers
Project Summary
No study has systematically explored the links between multicultural policy and educational practice within the context of a thorough understanding of the cultural complexity of contemporary Australia and the conceptual framework of multicultural discourse. This project offers significant national and community benefits in its interrogation of the goals of multiculturalism and the nature of educational programs. Its informed approach to action research will assist in the development of innovative approaches to teaching and learning in diverse communities in urban and rural settings. The resultant enhancement of teacher quality will improve the educational outcomes of all students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Social Justice and Social Change Research Group
SOCIOLOGY
A/Prof Michael B Darcy, A/Prof Hart K Cohen, Dr Kathy D Arthurson, Dr Philip Nyden, Mr Jonathan A Campton
Residents' voices: advantage, disadvantage, community and place.
2010 : $ 13 335
2011 : $ 27 804
2012 : $ 28 939
2013 : $ 14 469
Partner Organisations: Center for Urban Research and Learning, St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia Inc, Tenants union of NSW Co operative Ltd
Project Summary
Community renewal and redevelopment of concentrated public housing areas represents a significant public investment aimed at improving the life chances of residents, yet the way in which place factors influence social outcomes is not well understood. This research will enhance the potential for successful outcomes by creating opportunities for residents to develop and express their own knowledge and understanding of the links between place and disadvantage, in an international context. The emergence of a theorised, contextualised and well articulated set of explanations about poverty and place from the tenant perspective will also improve public understanding and reduce the social division and stigma currently associated with public housing.
NHMRC Project Grants
Prof. Phillipa Hay (School of Medicine), Touyz, Prof Stephen, Meyer, Dr Caroline, Arcelus, Dr John, Madden, D Sloane, Crosby, Dr Ross, Pike, Dr Kathleen.
Taking a LEAP forward in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: a randomised controlled trial.
Total Funding $557 100 over four years [via University of Western Sydney]
A/Pr Emily Banks, Prof Adrian Bauman, Prof James Butler, Prof Louisa Jorm (School of Medicine), Ms Vicki Wade, Ms Debra Fernando, Dr Mark Clements, Dr Rosemary Korda, Dr Bette Liu, Dr Hilary Bambrick (School of Medicine).
Obesity, overweight and hospitalisation: Identifying targets for interventions to prevent adverse health outcomes
Total Funding $581 750 [via Australian National University]
A/Pr Elizabeth Comino, Prof Mark Harris, Prof Louisa Jorm (School of Medicine), A/Pr Marion Haas, Prof Bin Jalaludin, A/Pr Jeff Flack, Dr Kris Rogers.
Investigating best practice primary care for older Australians with diabetes using data linkage
Total Funding $504 750 [via University of New South Wales]
Prof Gary Halliday, Dr Guy Lyons, Dr Nick Di Girolamo, Dr Fergal Moloney, Prof Soon Lee (School of Medicine).
Brm and Brg-1 protect from ultraviolet radiation-induced skin and ocular damage
Total Funding $535 500 [via University of Sydney]
Prof Michael Dibley, Dr Iqbal Kabir, Dr Seema Mihrshahi, Dr Kingsley Agho (School of Medicine), Dr Swapan Roy.
Peer counselling to improve feeding practices and reduce malnutrition in children 0-2 years in Bangladesh
Total Funding $912 488 [via University of Sydney]
Prof William Mummery, Prof Gregory Kolt (Biomedical and Health Sciences), Prof Anthony Maeder (School of Computing and Mathematics), Dr Corneel Vandelanotte, Dr Mitch Duncan, Dr Cristina Caperchione.
Walk 2.0: Investigating the internal and external validity of Web 2.0 applications in promoting physical activity
Total Funding $896 350 [via Central Queensland University]
Dr Velandai Srikanth, A/Pr Thanh Phan, A/Pr Gerald Muench (School of Medicine), A/Pr Alison Venn, Dr Robyn Tapp, A/Pr Leigh Blizzard, Dr Richard Beare.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cognitive Decline – a longitudinal study of effects and mechanisms
Total Funding $1 255 875 [via Monash University ]
Dr Susan Byrne, Prof Tracey Wade, Prof Phillipa Hay (School of Medicine), Prof Stephen Touyz, Prof Christopher Fairburn, Prof Ulricke Schmidt.
A randomised controlled trial of three treatments for anorexia nervosa in adults
Total Funding $584 125 [via University of Western Australia]
A/Pr Tony Butler, A/Pr Peter Schofield, Prof David Greenberg, Dr Don Weatherburn, Prof Kay Wilhelm, Prof Vaughan Carr, Prof Cate D’Este, Prof Alison Jones (School of Medicine).
Reducing impulsive behaviour in repeat violent offenders using a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
Total Funding $1 261 750 [via Curtin University of Technology]
ARC Linkage Round 1
School of Education
PSYCHOLOGY
Prof Rhonda G Craven, Dr Genevieve Nelson, Mr Andrew Anderson, A/Prof Geoffrey E Munns, Dr Tanya Covic
Bridging the gap on locational disadvantage: Impact of community-identified interventions on social capital, psychosocial and socioeconomic outcomes
2010 : $ 185 000
2011 : $ 180 000
2012 : $ 300 000
Partner Organisations: Benevolent Society
Project Summary
Interventions to combat locational disadvantage are vital given the pervasiveness and long-term consequences for youth and communities. This research will offer important educational and socio-economic benefits by enriching the psychosocial adjustment and life potential of young Australians and the capacity of schools in locationally disadvantaged communities. Effective research and community-identified social capital and psychosocial interventions will enhance pro-social behaviours, health, psychosocial adjustment, and school and community engagement. This will build capacity at community, school, and individual levels and contribute to national socioeconomic wellbeing.
Family & Community Health Research Group
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES
A/Prof Virginia A Schmied, A/Prof Sue Kruske, Prof Caroline Homer, Prof Lesley M Barclay, Prof Ian Wilson, Prof Cathrine M Fowler, Dr Lynn A Kemp, A/Prof Allan M Fasher, Dr Sharon R Goldfeld, Dr Barbara A Vernon, Ms Cecelia Randles
A study investigating the feasibility of implementing a national approach to child and family health services.
2010 : $ 85 000
2011 : $ 90 000
2012 : $ 65 000
APAI 1
Partner Organisations: Australian Association of Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses, Australian College of Midwives, Australian General Practice Network, Australian Practice Nurses Association, Michael Fasher, Northern Territory Department of Health and Families, NSW Department of Community Services, Qld Department of Health, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Western Australian Department of Health
Project Summary
Understanding and strengthening the way in which universal health services are provided to pregnant women, children and families has the potential to impact over a million Australian families annually. The findings of this study will have national application as federal, state and territory governments work towards implementing a national approach to child and family health services. The findings will inform effective multidisciplinary collaboration and service integration, address service gaps and duplication and lead to increased access to services. This study will generate new knowledge about characteristics of organisations, service delivery and professions that facilitate or hinder innovation.
Centre for Educational Research
OTHER EDUCATION
Prof Alastair Pennycook, Dr Criss M Jones Diaz, Dr Kenneth E Cruickshank, A/Prof Garth Alperstein, Dr Liam A Morgan, Dr Pauline F Gibbons
Developing Early Literacy in Informal Settings: Engaging Disadvantaged Aboriginal and CALD Families Outside Formal Settings
2010 : $ 87 000
2011 : $ 53 000
Partner Organisations: NSW Department of Community Services, NSW Department of Education And Training
Administering Organisation: University of Technology, Sydney
Project Summary
The development of literacy in pre-school age children is a national priority. This research will address a major gap in the provision of support for literacy development in children and families who do not access formal pre-school programs. It will directly address the disadvantage experienced by children and families in informal settings. The outcomes of this research will benefit work in this area at both a theoretical and a practical level. It will provide a strengthened research base around reaching and involving children and families and will inform those literacy methodologies that seek to address linguistic and cultural difference.
Whitlam Institute
EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Prof Jack P Keating, A/Prof John Polesel, Mr Eric N Sidoti, Prof Brian J Galligan, Ms Rosalyn Black, Dr Lucas L Walsh, Ms Maree L Dressing
Federalism in Australian schooling: Its impact upon quality and equity
2010 : $ 55 167
2011 : $ 80 486
2012 : $ 71 024
Partner Organisations: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Foundation for Young Australians
Administering Organisation: The University of Melbourne
Project Summary
The project is designed to support the objectives for schooling in Australia that have been identified by the Council of Australian Governments. These objectives are in the face of growing inequities in the distribution of educational resources, growing concentrations of students with high levels of educational needs, and imbalances in the distribution of resources across key stages, especially in early childhood education. By examining the ways in which federalism contributes to the structural barriers to these objectives and by developing and validating a set of structural reforms the project will contribute to these national objectives.
School of Psychology
ANTHROPOLOGY
Prof Sherry Saggers, Prof Helen R Wildy, Prof Thiagarajan Sitharthan, Dr Amanda G Wilson, A/Prof Katherine M Conigrave, Dr Tim Marchant, Ms Anne C Hampshire, A/Prof Jagdish K Dua, Ms Carmen Acosta, Mr Allan Colthart
What difference does treatment make? Psychometric properties of a measure of young people's progress in residential rehabilitation
2010 : $ 52 000
2011 : $ 62 000
2012 : $ 55 000
Partner Organisations: Department of Health WA, Mission Australia, NSW Health, Sydney Southwest Health, Ted Noffs Foundation
Administering Organisation: Curtin University of Technology
Project Summary
This research is expected to: enhance evidence-based treatment outcome measures in residential rehabilitation services in WA, NSW and the ACT; provide high-quality research training for alcohol and other drug service staff; and contribute to long-term collaborative relationships between five partner organisations, five universities, and addiction specialists which will assist ongoing service quality improvement. Enhancing the effectiveness of alcohol and other drug treatments for young people will also address the National Health Priority of injury prevention as young people are one of three groups at higher risk of harm.
ARC Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development
Centre for Educational Research
PSYCHOLOGY
Dr Gawaian H Bodkin-Andrews, Prof Rhonda G Craven
Wingara Mangami (to follow the dream of understanding): Seeding innovative intervention success to challenge and prevent racism for Indigenous youth
2010 : $ 120 000
2011 : $ 115 000
2012 : $ 113 000
ARFI Dr Gawaian H Bodkin-Andrews
Project Summary
Intervention to combat racism towards Indigenous youth is vital given the pervasiveness and long-term consequences for academic failure, mental health costs and anti-social behaviour. Consistent with the priority of promoting and maintaining good health and well-being, the study offers important educational and socio-economic benefits by enriching the psychosocial adjustment and life potential of Indigenous Australians. Effective intervention to address racism will enhance pro-social behaviours, self-concept, mental health, and school engagement of Indigenous secondary students and build capacity of non-Indigenous students to address racism and foster safer schools that contribute to individual, local community, and national well-being.
Centre for Educational Research
SPECIALIST STUDIES IN EDUCATION
Ms Virginia G O'Rourke, Prof Rhonda G Craven, A/Prof Geoffrey E Munns, Dr Gawaian H Bodkin-Andrews,
Closing the educational gap for Aboriginal primary students in low density schools: A qualitative analysis of impact of culturally inclusive pedagogy
2010 : $ 69 657
2011 : $ 52 105
Project Summary
Closing the gap between Aboriginal students' achievement and their peers is a national priority. Culturally inclusive practice is considered to be a potent key for what works, yet little is known about its actual impact. This research seeks to explicate the impact of specific culturally inclusive practices on Aboriginal students' educational outcomes and well-being. The outcomes of this research have the potential to 'break the cycle' of underachievement by generating new solutions to strengthen classroom and schooling practice of salience to Aboriginal children; increase Aboriginal student engagement in schooling; and build capacity at community, school, classroom, & individual levels.
School of Natural Sciences
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Ms Laura M Parker, A/Prof Pauline M Ross, A/Prof David A Raftos, Dr Wayne A O'Connor, Prof Dr Hans O Portner
Climate change research: Can Sydney rock oysters adapt to chronic multigenerational exposure to ocean acidification and temperature?
2010 : $ 105 203
2011 : $ 94 785
Project Summary
Our goal is to understand how long term exposure to climate change will affect oysters in an effort to climate-proof the Australian oyster industry. Oyster farming is worth more than $1 billion a year in retail sales and employs thousands of Australians. The future of this industry is threatened by climate change, particularly its impact on the reproduction and development of oysters. Our study will identify how oysters respond to chronic multigenerational exposure to ocean acidification and temperature, & identify physiological mechanisms and genes associated with climate change adaptation. This work will maintain Australia's position at the forefront of climate change research on marine ecosystems.
ARC Discovery
Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES
Dr C Reid; Prof C Halse
A sociological analysis of ethnicity and compulsory schooling in NSW
2010 : $ 40 000
2011 : $ 40 000
2012 : $ 30 000
Project Summary
Building social cohesion is a national priority. We directly address this priority through our focus on young people of low SES, ethnically diverse backgrounds in a region with a public reputation for inter ethnic tensions and low school retention. We aim to generate insights that will shape a suite of policies and practices that teachers report effective in meeting the needs of schools and ethnically diverse students in the context of the collapse of the youth labour market.
Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES
Dr N Denson
Maximising the benefits of diversity in university through cross-cultural interaction
2010 : $ 82 000
2011 : $ 82 000
2012 : $ 82 000
2013 : $ 82 000
Administering Organisation: The University of Sydney
Project Summary
Australia is unique among Western nations because of its proximity to Asia and its ability to attract large numbers of international students to its universities. This issue is extremely important as numerous Asian countries (China and India, in particular) have become increasingly dominant players in global markets. This research will contribute to enhancing Australia's capacity to understand and effectively engage with diverse others through a greater understanding of other cultures and societies. The insights gained from this research will allow us to better prepare our university graduates with the skills necessary to benefit from this diversity.
School of Engineering
OTHER ARCHITECTURE, URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING
Prof KC Kwok; Prof V Macefield; Dr PA Hitchcock; Dr DK Walton
Occupant comfort, cognitive performance and task performance in wind excited tall buildings
2010 : $ 166 000
2011 : $ 191 000
2012 : $ 187 000
2013 : $ 61 621
Project Summary
Strong winds are sensitive to climate change and highly unpredictable, critically affecting the design of tall buildings and our built environment. The outcomes of this research will revolutionalise current design approach for occupant comfort in wind excited tall buildings and deliver a new generation of tall buildings that provides a comfortable living and working environment without a degradation of work performance due to wind induced vibration. The transfer of this knowledge from research to practice will enhance the international competitiveness of our architecture, engineering and construction professionals, boosting our involvement in major tall building projects worldwide and bringing long term economical benefits to Australia.
School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr S Liyanapathirana; A/Prof CJ Leo
Application of expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam and deep cement mixed columns for protection of existing foundations during urban construction
2010 : $ 65 000
2011 : $ 57 000
2012 : $ 61 000
Project Summary
Urban construction activities are increasing in the capital cities of Australia, and the occurrence of new construction activities near existing structures is increasing. The main outcome of this project will provide economic engineering strategies for the protection of buildings during urban construction activities, hence minimising construction related damage, litigation and delays as witnessed recently during Sydney's Lane Covetunnel collapse. Proposed novel solutions using EPS geofoam and deep cement mixing will significantly increase the international competitiveness and export potential of the Australian construction industry, and improve community confidence in developers and the Engineering profession.
MARCS Auditory Laboratories
PSYCHOLOGY
Prof CW Davis; Dr S Kouider
Unconscious processing: To what extent, how flexible and how smart?
2010 : $ 80 000
2011 : $ 50 000
2012 : $ 70 000
Project Summary
We are unaware of the sophisticated pattern analyses conducted by our perceptual systems that enable us to operate in a complex environment. Less clear is whether unconsciously presented information itself can influence our behaviour or indeed whether unconscious cognition occurs. The proposed studies provide the foundation and structure for a pioneering examination of the extent, flexibility and computational power of unconscious processing at the level of neural response and behaviour. The impact and benefits of the project will be in its contribution to theory with outcomes revealing the boundary conditions governing unconscious cognition and providing a first benchmark for how such conditions might vary across the lifespan.
Urban Research Centre
APPLIED ECONOMICS
Prof PM O'Neill
Developing criteria to help solve Australia's urban infrastructure crisis
2010 : $ 58 000
2011 : $ 56 000
2012 : $ 50 000
Project Summary
The key items of infrastructure in our cities are seen to be in crisis. Yet despite a growing willingness to fund new infrastructure, governments at all levels struggle to devise, rank and deliver infrastructure projects. The project will recover and rebuild a language for understanding the role of infrastructure in Australian cities and then devise criteria for better enactment of the infrastructure procurement and provisioning processes. The project's prime outcomes will intersect with a growing need for better ways to build and operate large economic infrastructure and thus contribute to building cities that perform better economically, are more liveable, and contribute to long term environmental sustainability goals.
School of Computing and Mathematics
MATHEMATICS
Dr V Gebhardt; Prof P Dehornoy; Dr J González Meneses
Algorithmic approaches to braids and their generalisations
2010 : $ 50 000
2011 : $ 50 000
2012 : $ 50 000
Project Summary
This project combines theoretical methods from pure mathematics with computational experiments in order to gain new knowledge. The objects of interest, so called braid groups and generalisations, are important for many fields of mathematics, but also have applications for data security. Both the theoretical outcomes of this project and the algorithms developed will strengthen Australia as a centre of cutting edge research in computational algebra. Moreover, the results can lead to new technologies for protecting confidential data, which are more efficient and hence cheaper to implement than existing alternatives. Secure identification of legitimate users in the context of online banking is one possible field of application.
Centre for Plants and the Environment
MICROBIOLOGY
Prof JW Cairney; A/Prof IC Anderson
Plant : fungal symbioses in Australian forests new perspectives using laser microdissection
2010 : $ 110 000
2011 : $ 90 000
2012 : $ 100 000
Project Summary
Ericaceae are important components of the Australian flora in many habitats, including forests and fragile alpine regions that are significant to Australia's cultural and natural heritage, and several species are considered threatened. This project addresses the fundamental question of whether networks of symbiotic fungal mycelia act as below ground bridges between Ericaceae plants and tree roots. If demonstrated, this would alter current views of carbon and nutrient cycling in Australian forests and provide the basis for better informed decisions for the sustainable management of Australian forest resources. This is particularly important in the context of carbon sequestration and future climate change.
Centre for Plants and the Environment
FORESTRY SCIENCES
Dr M Riegler; Prof DS Ellsworth
Insect herbivore and plant responses in eucalypt forests under climate change at physiological, species and community scales
2010 : $ 102 500
2011 : $ 102 500
2012 : $ 100 000
Project Summary
Understanding the drivers for insect populations and vulnerabilities to climate change are the first steps to predicting adaptation and mitigation strategies to minimise impacts of climate change on forest biodiversity. Our research will quantify the outcome of climate change on the still neglected but important insect community associated with eucalypts in Australian forests. These insect communities are widespread, diverse and quintessential for the Australian economy and ecology. Apparent climate change is expected to cause biodiversity shifts, leading to outbreaks and extinctions of insects in eucalypt forests. Negative outcomes of impacts could also include the accumulation of leaf litter, increasing bush fire activity in the future.
College of Business Dean's Unit
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Prof SB Banerjee; Prof DL Levy; Dr BB Wittneben; Dr C Okereke
Corporate and institutional strategies for climate change: An international comparative study
2010 : $ 90 000
2011 : $ 95 000
2012 : $ 110 000
Project Summary
Drawing on 'best practice' from US and European countries, the project will improve corporate Australia's capacity for sustainability by developing a framework that integrates climate change issues into corporate strategy. By integrating perspectives from market, state and civil society actors, the research's multi stakeholder approach also addresses community concerns about climate change. The findings will help enhance our understanding of the challenges and opportunities resulting from the introduction of Australia's first national emissions scheme in 2010.
School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
PSYCHOLOGY
Prof SJ Paxton; A/Prof JM Mond; Prof PJ Hay; Prof B Rodgers
Paving the way for effective public health interventions for bulimic eating disorders: Understanding stigma and mental health literacy
2010 : $ 74 000
2011 : $ 70 000
2012 : $ 70 000
Administering Organisation: La Trobe University
Project Summary
This research contributes to promoting and maintaining good health. The burden of bulimic eating disorders in the community is high, frequently ignored and increasing. Our research will pave the way for improved understanding of eating disorders and a reduction of stigma in relation to these problems. In so doing, it will lead to reduced shame and suffering for people with eating disorders and enhance appropriate treatment seeking and the quality of advice received from family, friends and health professionals. A public health intervention based on our findings will contribute to a more tolerant and understanding community.
