This study, which has adopted a qualitative research approach using the Victorian Public Service (VPS) as a case study, explores the relationship between employer-provided training and development and employee turnover. The study examines training and development models and discusses how the context (organisation and employment characteristics) influences the training and development models adopted by the VPS. The study also investigates whether various training and development models have a differential impact on employee turnover. This study identifies three training and development models adopted by the Victorian Public Service and finds that each has a differential impact on employee turnover. The models used are labelled Individual Development, Team Development and Organisational Development. Employers often assume there is a relationship between training and development and employee turnover. While a number of organisations use training as an employee-retention strategy, others are reluctant to increase their investment in training and development because they fear employees may leave as a result of their improved skills and knowledge. In their desire to retain skilled workers in a market of short labour supply employers have become more concerned about the relationship between training and employee turnover. Available statistics indicate that the labour market is entering a period of supply shortages that could last many years. "From abstract"

Doctor of Business Administration

Satisfying customers is fundamental to the marketing concept and has long been recognised as important, firstly in the economic discipline and subsequently in marketing and in business generally. In a competitive marketplace customer satisfaction is closely linked to the ability of the organisation to deliver quality. Therefore, organisations rely on the feedback received from customers about how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with product and service provision and their perceptions of the value received. The study examines the various product and service attributes that contribute to visitor satisfaction and experience, and evaluates the role of price-value perceptions and behavioural intentions. This examination was undertaken by the study of three tourism enterprises operating in the heritage tourism area. These included Sovereign Hill, which is an historic goldfields township; Brambuk, which is an indigenous cultural centre located in the Grampians in Western Victoria; and Werribee Mansion, which depicts the life of a wealthy farming family in the early periods in Victoria. This study has provided insight into the understanding of visitor satisfaction in tourism enterprises by evaluating the relationship between overall satisfaction and dissatisfaction and how these influence revisit and recommending behaviour, as well as the influence of price-value perceptions on satisfaction, experience and enjoyment. The study shows that price-value dissatisfaction impacts negatively on the willingness of visitors to recommend a tourism venue to others and that price dissatisfaction tends to impact negatively on satisfaction. The results provide some insight into what contributes to tourist satisfaction, enjoyment and experience. The findings are expected to assist strategic and operational managers in their quest for continued quality enhancement and the provision and renewal of tourism products and services. It is expected that the findings will provide some guidance to managers, tourism operators, marketers and researchers alike in developing well informed data and analyses that are the key to strategic and competitive advantage.

Doctor of Business Adminstration

This thesis investigated the role of shame and guilt-proneness, assumptions about the world and coping strategies in the development of Posttraumatic Stress and Posttraumatic growth.

Doctor of Psychology

Globally, forest birds are under pressure, from agriculture and urban development fragmenting the landscape. Adding to these pressures, changes in the patterns of global climate drivers give rise to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Victoria, Australia, changing weather conditions are resulting in increases in the frequency and extent of bushfires. Furthermore, prescribed burning is applied to the landscape in attempts to not only ameliorate the impacts from bushfire, but as part of a ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’ protocol. These pressures all impact birds by reducing resources for: food, nesting and protection from predators. This thesis investigated bird responses to fire in the Heathy Dry Forests of Victoria, against variables of time-since-fire and fire frequency. Bird responses were modelled in terms of: community, foraging guilds and individual species. As a community, birds showed a resilience to both time since fire and fire frequency. Responses by foraging guilds and individual species highlighted some different responses. The common species from each foraging guild showed responses that broadly represent their guild. This thesis highlighted that an effective tool in adaptive management is to predict the trends of our common forest birds, as surrogates for entire bird communities, not just for fire responses, but for a broader reflection on the health of the landscape. The modelling of one species, the Laughing Kookaburra, showed a response to both time since fire and fire frequency, with a reduced abundance in post-fire new-growth vegetation. As this species is noted as being in decline down the east coast of Australia, it is flagged in this thesis as a species of concern. Further, this thesis investigated alpha and beta responses by the forest birds to prescribed burns of different severities. Results suggest that forest birds show little response to small prescribed burns in the landscape, regardless of severity. This may be a result of Heathy Dry Forests’ rapid regeneration post-fire. However, one species that exhibits site fidelity, the White-throated Treecreeper, left areas impacted by high severity prescribed burns. The White-throated Treecreeper’s response flagged the importance of tree hollows being maintained in the landscape, essential for the species that require hollows for roosting and nesting.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

The field of Ephemeral Environmental Art is now very well established in contemporary arts practice. The ephemerality of the work together with the fact that its location is frequently inaccessible results in the need for documentation. Photography is the primary means by which these artworks are recorded. The role of photography is very important, however, it is also limited as a documentary outcome. As a visual artist who creates Ephemeral Environmental Art I am concerned that while photography can quickly and relatively easily create a visual record of the created form, its highly refined view of time and space is also problematic. The value placed on an instantaneous moment denies the process underpinning the interaction. Additionally, the camera as a mechanical intermediary between the work and its representation is counter to the intimate, viscerally known manipulation of materials that occurs onsite. Therefore a sense of disjunction can occur. There are isolated examples of artists using alternative documentary formats in the recording of this art form. This research engages with these alternative image-making techniques to explore and extend the notion of documentation. While direct reference to the form is maintained, the documentary outcomes are enriched with subtle and appropriate allusions to the site, the significance of change over time and the process of material manipulation in the construction of the artwork. This practice-led investigation has found that these alternative image-making techniques can produce meaningful forms of visual documentation. The considered application of these techniques, which is informed by the critical engagement with contemporary theoretical concepts, allows for the creation of conceptually appropriate documents. While the artworks demonstrate these enriched outcomes, no single documentary technique has been identified as applicable in all instances of recording Ephemeral Environmental Art.

This thesis improves the GRN discovery process by integrating heuristic information via a co-regulation function, a post-processing procedure, and a Hub Network algorithm to build the backbone of the network.

Doctor of Philosophy

"... the thesis examines traditional anarchist theorisations of 'politics without the state' and finds them to be as contained by the State and its founding concepts as the political liberalism of our present. All that remains to be salvaged from anarchist thought is the idea expressed in its name: that is, to be 'without rulers'. In order to escape such conceptual containment, Raw politics aims to produce a 'stripped-down' conceptualisation of politics." - Abstract.

Doctor of Philosophy

This thesis critically analyses the way disengaged youth participating in an alternative education program are positioned within a small rural town, New Goldfields (a pseudonym), a town of 2,300 people in the Wimmera region of Victoria.

Doctor of Philosophy

The problem of learning from noisy data sets has been the focus of much attention for many years. Three different types of noise could be defined that generate difficulties in data classification. The first type is related to the noisy features and labels where data entry and data acquisition are inherently prone to errors. The second type is from the redundant features, which may confuse the classification algorithm and degrade the classification performance. The last type could be generated by insufficient features where some features may become quite ambiguous in the absence of related hidden complementary features. In order to address these problems, robust methods for data classification have been studied in many areas, such as bio-informatics, genetics, medicine, education and electronic engineering. This thesis aims to study classification methods that are robust for noisy data sets. Different problems caused by the three types of noise listed above are investigated. New robust methods for data classification are proposed. "From Abstract"

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

Computational complexity in data mining is attributed to algorithms but lies hugely with the data. Different algorithms may exist to solve the same problem, but the simplest is not always the best. At the same time, data of astronomical proportions is rather common, boosted by automation, and the fuller the data, the better resolution of the concept it projects. Paradoxically, it is the computing power that is lacking. Perhaps a fast algorithm can be run on the data, but not the optimal. Even then any modeling is much constrained, involving serial application of many algorithms. The only other way to relieve the computational load is via making the data lighter. Any representative subset has to preserve the data essence suiting, ideally, any algorithm. The reduction should minimize the error of approximation, while trading precision for performance. Data mining is a wide field. We concentrate on classification. In the literature review we present a variety of methods, emphasizing the effort of past decade. Two major objects of reduction are instances and attributes. The data can be also recast into a more economical format. We address sampling, noise reduction, class domain binarization, feature ranking, feature subset selection, feature extraction, and also discretization of continuous features. Achievements are tremendous, but so are possibilities. We improve an existing technique of data cleansing and suggest a way of data condensing as the extension. We also touch on noise reduction. Instance similarity, excepting the class mix, prompts a technique of feature selection. Additionally, we consider multivariate discretization, enabling a compact data representation without the size change. We compare proposed methods with alternative techniques which we introduce new, implement or use available.

The term “green IT” is defined as “Optimal use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for managing the environment sustainability of enterprise operations throughout their life cycles.” Its objective is to create a positive impact on environment through net lowered emissions. The heart of green IT (Information Technology) is the concept of “Environmental Sustainability,” its initiatives are multifaceted to support enterprises “business as usual model,” in low-carbon economy. Many green IT initiatives have provided short–term financial benefits, based on which organizations are now focusing on increased energy efficiency. Since many of these approaches provide less financials benefits’ which are harder to implement but provides improved environmental performance. So the financial benefits and environmental performance should be the multiple objectives in the green IT study.

Master of Computing (by Research)

The revolution in online criminal activities and malicious software (malware) has posed a serious challenge in malware forensics. Malicious attacks have become more organized and purposefully directed. With cybercrimes escalating to great heights in quantity as well as in sophistication and stealth, the main challenge is to detect hidden and obfuscated malware. Malware authors use a variety of obfuscation methods and specialized stealth techniques of information hiding to embed malicious code, to infect systems and to thwart any attempt to detect them, specifically with the use of commercially available anti-malware engines. This has led to the situation of zero-day attacks, where malware inflict systems even with existing security measures. The aim of this thesis is to address this situation by proposing a variety of novel digital forensic and data mining techniques to automatically detect hidden and obfuscated malware. Anti-malware engines use signature matching to detect malware where signatures are generated by human experts by disassembling the file and selecting pieces of unique code. Such signature based detection works effectively with known malware but performs poorly with hidden or unknown malware. Code obfuscation techniques, such as packers, polymorphism and metamorphism, are able to fool current detection techniques by modifying the parent code to produce offspring copies resulting in malware that has the same functionality, but with a different structure. These evasion techniques exploit the drawbacks of traditional malware detection methods, which take current malware structure and create a signature for detecting this malware in the future. However, obfuscation techniques aim to reduce vulnerability to any kind of static analysis to the determent of any reverse engineering process. Furthermore, malware can be hidden in file system slack space, inherent in NTFS file system based partitions, resulting in malware detection that even more difficult.

Doctor of Philosophy

Purpose The purpose of this pilot study was to conduct an impact evaluation on adherence to a 5 week high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention by the use of a body sensor network and social networking site (SNS) software. The study design used was experimental, comprised of two-groups with random allocation to each and pre- and post-tests of repeated sprint performance. Setting University of Ballarat, Australia. Subjects Participants (N = 16) included university student members of a State League 5 field hockey club. The study employed a convenience sample consisting of an intervention group (n=8) and a control group (n=8). Intervention Both groups were given a 5 week HIIT program specifically designed to improve performance in repeated sprint activity (RSA). This program comprised twice weekly training sessions over the 5 weeks with gradual increases in training load and concomitant reduction in rest and recovery. The intervention group used a garment with sensors to gather heart rate and accelerometer data (speed, distance and cadence) that published the physiological data via Bluetooth and GPRS to a purpose-specific software application called SPUTNIK which ran on the Facebook social networking site (SNS). This group could socialise their data amongst themselves and share detailed graphical analysis of their training programs. They were also able to set, change and share their goals and comment on each other’s training, goals and progress. The intervention group could train together as they required. The control group used a heart rate monitor (HRM) to guide their training sessions and a paper-based

Master Human Movement: Bio-Science

Medium sized workplaces are often grouped with small enterprises, yet they can have unique characteristics compared to more intensively studied small and large organisations, however, these differences are often not clearly recognised. The food processing industry is often part of the small and medium sized enterprises (SME) group and has a higher rate of accidents, injury and disease compared with many other industry groups. To improve safety performance in medium enterprises (within the food processing industry), there is a need to identify the perceived barriers to improving OHS amongst managers, supervisors, and process workers. This research provides a unique insider’s point of view of a food packing room within a food manufacturing plant in Melbourne. It is a single case design study, focusing on a specific medium sized enterprise, using insider research and an ethnographic approach to gain a greater understanding of the perceived barriers to improving OHS. The first part of this research focused on understanding the safety culture of the organisation, from different hierarchical perspectives, using Hudson’s Evolution of Safety Cultures model. The second part utilised the Health Belief model to identify the barriers to improving OHS from multiple perspectives of managers, supervisors and process workers. Following the analysis of the results, five barriers were identified: (i) fragmentation of group perspectives; (ii) poor communication between and within the hierarchical groups; (iii) limited OHS training and competency; (iv) inadequate management commitment to OHS; and (v) lack of empowerment. This created tensions amongst and between the groups. However, further examination of these findings suggested a deeper reason for the difficulty in improving the OHS, which was affecting the organisation. The most significant barrier to improving OHS at this workplace was the learned helplessness that had developed over a period of time and had filtered through all hierarchical groups. A reflection on the choice of methodology (insider research) and the importance of ethical considerations and the depth of meaning that was drawn from this research has been presented in this thesis. Learned helplessness has been discussed in the context of a medium sized enterprise and its significance to the contribution to OHS literature. Recommendations have been provided in terms of addressing learned helplessness within a medium sized enterprise, by changing the way individuals think, using learned optimism. Other changes that have been presented have included organisation design, facilitating improved communication and goal setting, and the investigation into the supporting role of supply chains toward OHS initiatives.

Doctor of Philosophy

Securing a cloud network is an important challenge for delivering cloud services to cloud users. There are a number of secure network protocols, such as VPN protocols, currently available to provide different secure network solutions for enterprise clouds. For example, PPTP, L2TP, GRE, IPsec and SSL/TLS are the most widely used VPN protocols in today’s securing network solutions. However, there are some significant challenges in the implementation stage. For example, which VPN solution is easy to deploy in delivering cloud services? Which solution can provide the best network throughput in delivering the cloud services? Which solution can provide the lowest network latency in delivering the cloud services? This thesis addresses these issues by implementing different VPNs in a test bed environment set up by the Cisco routers. Open source measurement tools will be utilized to acquire the results. This thesis also reviews cloud computing and cloud services and look at their relationships. It also explores the benefits and the weaknesses of each securing network solution. The results can not only provide experimental evidence, but also facilitate the network implementers in development and deployment of secure network solutions for cloud services.

Master of Computing (Research)

This research project, ‘Revealing the Essence of the Sacred’, examines the archetypal forms of the dot, cross and the mandorla. Their appearance and meaning are traced back through history and across cultures. The commonalities between the physical act of making imagery using these pared back abstracted forms and the experience, in the maker, of embodied immanence are examined. By extension the research also considers how creating and contemplating artwork can be a curative spiritual practice. I identify how the artwork correlates with, and is informed by, my spiritual practice. The research takes a phenomenological approach and is based on my own subjective experience of bodily sensed knowledge whilst making and viewing the image. Intuitively accessing the source or essence of the subject matter has been a primary motivating factor in the images used in the artwork. This approach is grounded in the innate belief that what has been distilled and purified has great transformative power. Informing this is an alignment with both the Jungian Collective Unconscious and the ancient Indian spiritual system of Tantra. The artworks, rendered within a ritualistic structure and using abstracted form, are an individual expression of the universality of intuitive mark making. A similar connection is established in the practice of contemporary artists who strongly identify with a level of spirituality in their personal lives

Master of Arts

This thesis critically examines how students enrolled in state-funded schools can be ‘put at’ a disadvantage. I do this through examining two techniques of exclusion that stimulate student disconnection from school: first, the ways in which standards-based and performativity-driven learning outcomes are implemented to shape how student success is determined. Secondly, I examine how discourses around power control curriculum and student identity instil monological learning structures that normalises standards-based learning outcomes. Challenging this, I allow the voices of my co-researchers, the students in my thesis, to speak back to confront these school-based policies that allow disconnection to occur. Examining school policy and student voice at the point where they intersect allowed me to undertake an evaluation of how schools adversely affect students, and what students say they want from their experience of schooling. The final theme I develop is based on student and agency worker voice and what they say school-based learning should become. Relational learning and learning that develops students ethically emerged as fundamental strengths of what enriching learning transactions should look like. I argue that creating relational learning spaces develop challenging environments that can lead students to ethically understand their identity within complex social and cultural lifestyles. I argue that the ways in which schools are organised to administer time and space must be radically overhauled if this is to be achieved.

Doctor of Philosophy

Excessive hardness and rotational traction are the factors most associated with non-contact, ground-related injury risk in football. Irrigation has the greatest influence on surface hardness, and also in determining the turfgrass species that can be sustained. However, irrigation is prohibited on many Australian community-level grounds during drought. This thesis investigated the influence of various agronomic factors on surface hardness and on rotational traction, with the aim of devising strategies to reduce ground-related injury risk in drought conditions. In replicated plots tested over a drought period, Clegg hardness values on a football ground peaked at 160 gravities when turfgrass coverage was present, compared to values in excess of 200 gravities when turf coverage was absent. If the Clegg threshold was set at 160 g for community-level football, many grounds would stay open for play provided they sustained turfgrass coverage. In southern mainland Australia during drought and without irrigation, only a drought-resistant species such as couchgrass (Cynodon dactylon and hybrids) could do this. However, couchgrass has been linked by past epidemiological evidence to a higher risk of knee injury than perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), which was attributed to couchgrass having a higher rotational traction. In data presented in this thesis, perennial ryegrass actually had significantly higher rotational stiffness than couchgrass on four out of eight assessment dates. Consequently, there appears no reason to favour perennial ryegrass and to recommend against the use of couchgrass for reasons concerning rotational traction. Furthermore, the largest range in rotational traction was between areas of full grasscover compared to denuded areas. The thesis concluded that the ability to sustain turfgrass coverage provided the most effective agronomic solution for moderating both hardness and rotational traction on community-level football fields, and that a turfgrass species should be selected primarily on its ability to best sustain that coverage.

Doctor of Philosophy

Objective: The objective of this project is to describe and test the efficacy of new testing and training techniques for competitive cyclists. Methods: Physiological variables and cycling performance were measured during a graded exercise test (GXT) and a novel, computer-simulated, variable gradient 20-km cycling time-trial. Initially, data collected from the time-trial and GXT were used to establish the reliability of the time-trial, determine the laboratory correlates of hilly cycling performance and examine the pacing pattern during hilly cycling performance. Then, results from a series of GXT’s and time-trials were used to establish the effects of a brief period of overload training on the physiology and performance of competitive cyclists. Results: Power output and performance time measured during a computer simulated 20-km variable gradient cycling test were reliable, however reliability diminished with increasing time between trials. Performance in variable gradient time-trial correlated strongly with absolute measures of physiological variables; however the strength of correlations increased when variables were measured relative to body mass. Power output was highest during the first four and last two kilometres of a variable gradient time-trial. Additionally, there were large differences in power output between consecutive one kilometre segments throughout the trial, particularly when the difference in gradient between segments was greater. Performance in the variable gradient time-trial improved substantially following a brief period of overload training. Performance improvement corresponded with adaptation in important physiological determinants of cycling performance, namely maximal oxygen uptake, lactate threshold and gross efficiency. Conclusions: Variable gradient, cycling time-trial tests can be used to detect meaningful changes in performance, evoke dynamic distribution of power output and are best suited to cyclists who produce high power outputs relative to body mass. The current project also determined that a brief period of overload training induces physiological adaptation and substantial improvement in cycling performance in competitive cyclists. Sport scientists, coaches and cyclists can use this information to determine the testing and training techniques used in preparation for competition.

Doctor of Philosophy

The operation of regional multiquality water distribution systems (WDSs) is a complex task involving multiple objectives in order to meet customer water quantity and quality requirements. These objectives, often conflicting, include scheduling of pumps to minimise pumping costs and mixing different quality waters from sources to ensure adequate quality water for customers. Evolutionary algorithms have been successfully applied to optimise operation of regional WDSs. Although a considerable reduction in pumping costs was demonstrated in past studies, other legitimate objectives, for example water quality, were not considered on an equal basis as they were included as a constraint. This single-objective approach precludes the tradeoffs between the objectives being obtained, so any insight on how to operate such a system cannot be provided should pumping costs and water quality be considered on equal basis. A multi-objective approach is applied in this thesis to optimise operation of regional multiquality WDSs considering pumping costs and water quality as legitimate objectives. Two optimisation models with increasing complexity are proposed. The first model considers two objectives, the pumping costs and a general water quality objective. The second model includes three objectives, the pumping costs and two water quality objectives for turbidity and salinity. The optimisation models are applied to three example networks from the literature using numerous scenarios and water quality data from the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, Australia. A methodology is proposed to find the optimal solution for the multi‐objective optimisation of the WDS, which links a network simulator with a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Prior to optimisation, the performance of algorithm parameters is evaluated and their sensitivity analysed, for which a new methodology is developed. The following results were obtained. For the two-objective optimisation problem, there is a tradeoff with a competing nature between pumping costs and water quality. It means that reduction in pumping costs cannot be achieved without deterioration of water quality delivered to customers and vice versa. For the three-objective optimisation problem, interestingly, there is not a unique type of tradeoff (either competing or non-competing) between a particular pair of objectives. It is dependent on network hydraulics in combination with water quality at sources and customer water quality requirements. General principles behind the tradeoffs are formulated based on new categorisation of sources, so called consistent/inconsistent water quality (CWQ/IWQ) sources, in relation to customer water quality requirements. A practical approach for system operational strategy is developed for the purpose of long-term operational planning. It enables an operator to schedule supply from multiple sources with minimum pumping costs and customer water quality requirements being satisfied as much as possible, for all predicted water quality scenarios in the system.

Doctor of Philosophy

Although little material evidence survives other than mullock heaps and the occasional ruined building, a large body of archival documentation exists to help reveal the history of the deep lead gold mining communities at Springdallah. This thesis reconstructs the discovery, rise and progress of that goldfield, 30km south-west of Ballarat, through a study of family formation and community building, facilitated by micro-study tools including prosopographical and genealogical databases. At its prosperous and productive peak in the 1860s and 1870s, the communities relied totally on the mining industry for their existence. This thesis positions the alluvial deep lead gold mining industry firmly within the long but disparate historiography of Australian, and particularly Victorian, gold seeking. Unlike the many regional histories that celebrate the growth from goldfields to city status, it focuses on the miners who worked the deep leads of buried river beds, and how they and their families effected material and social change to benefit the communities they created. The findings of this thesis reveal that, in contrast to the strong Cornish presence on many Victorian goldfields, miners at Springdallah came mainly from northern England, south-west Ireland, and the lowlands of Scotland, often with extensive kinship networks. The study demonstrates that this network of communities attracted workers, usually with coal and lead mining experience, who had skills suited to conditions in the deep lead alluvial gold mining industry. According to the findings of this thesis, miners gained power within the Springdallah communities by becoming members of committees, councils, and boards of local and wider institutions. This study found that the Springdallah families were youthful, adapted well to their changed circumstances, were agents of change within their communities, and quickly took advantage of Victorian land legislation, particularly the 1869 Land Act, to take up farming properties both locally and in the north and east of the State.

Doctor of Philosophy

Invasive and noxious weeds are well known as a pervasive problem, imposing significant economic burdens on all areas of agriculture, and thus their control and eradication are of central concern to the industry. Whilst there are multiple possible pathways of weed dispersal in this industry, of particular interest to this discussion is how the unintended dispersal of Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana) weed seeds, within emergency fodder, may be prevented. Periodic drought is a feature of the Australian climate, which, together with natural disasters of flood and bushfire, necessitates the urgent provision of emergency fodder for maintenance of livestock production. However, previous investigations into weed seed dispersal by this fodder type have revealed a significant risk for the dispersal of a number of noxious weeds well beyond their current range. Because preventive work, relating to detection and eradication of noxious species, is at an early stage of development, the development of faster, more reliable, and non-destructive sampling methods for seed species has become essential. In addition to prevention of weed seed dispersal in fodder, the use of appropriate methods of controlling troublesome pasture weeds in situ is of relevance for addressing established infestations. Whilst silage preservation is one such typical method that can reduce weed seed input into the soil seed bank, there is currently little data on the absolute effectiveness of this method for control of N. neesiana. To investigate whether rapid detection of seeds in bales is possible and how the numbers of seeds in a pasture are linked to the numbers of seeds that may be incorporated into hay bales made from an infested pasture, an investigation of a rapid, non-destructive technique to detect seeds in bales, together with an examination of a pasture to estimate seed density and dispersal prior to baling, were carried out. Additionally, since pastures infested with this weed are of no use for producing hay and little use for grazing, a third experiment was devised, which was an investigation of silaging for preventing inadvertent seed input into pasture soil seed banks. This thesis has shown that this approach of non-destructive core sampling of bales to detect the seeds of N. neesiana, and possibly others, which can be visually recognised, shows promise for those involved in weed control. Similarly, the simultaneous demonstration that silage fermentation is an efficient viable method for both eliminating viability of mature (germinable) seeds of this species while also reducing the probability of injury to livestock from these seeds, confirms that reducing the impact of this weed in agro-ecological systems and on livestock during emergency situations is possible.

Doctor of Philosophy

As indicated by the emergence of occupational health and safety (OHS) professional bodies in the United States of America (1911), United Kingdom (1945) and Australia (1949), OHS advisors have had a role in industry for over 50 years. However, despite changes in legislation and in the major paradigm for OHS together with changes in the industrial and economic environment, it appears that the role of the OHS professional has changed little from the technically-oriented, people-focused, compliance approach of 50 years ago. It appears that senior managers may not seek the input of OHS professionals on strategic business matters that may impact on workplace health and safety, and the activities of OHS professionals do not position themselves to be influential with senior managers. This lack of strategic influence may be inhibiting improvement in OHS in Australian workplaces. This document outlines the rationale, research framework and research design for a study that applied grounded theory analysis methods to data collected through interviews of senior managers and OHS professionals, supported by observations, to develop a theory and model to explain the way OHS professionals interact with senior managers and how the manager processes and perceives OHS professional advice. The implications for OHS professional practice are presented in the form of a letter to a young colleague. The outcomes of this research should assist OHS professionals in developing the capability to enhance the acceptance of OHS professional advice at senior levels of management and so optimise safety and health in Australian workplaces.

Master of Applied Science (Research)

The initial stage of this inquiry is a solo exploration of my definition of doodling, how doodling became my preferred artistic process, and reflectively examines the factors that contribute to my experience of flow moments when creating art. An intrinsic component of this solo research was finding new ways to create moments of flow when working individually, and reflecting how they could influence and shape the second stage of the project. The second stage of this inquiry investigates doodling in collaboration with four participating artists. In an attempt to flesh out the spaces between conscious and unconscious artistic interventions, and the role that outside influences can play on the creative process, this collaborative inquiry developed into an examination of the factors which influence co-creation during different stages of art making. The framework for this second inquiry was created by utilising insights gained from the initial solo investigation Accordingly, this research includes multiple strands of artistic exploration, including solo works, works created in collaboration, and interviews with the collaborating artists involved in the project. Selected key solo works and all artistic collaborations are included in the body of this exegesis to encourage immersion in this practice based research. Beginning as an artist and incorporating the different roles of researcher and teacher into the work, this research is an a/r/tographical inquiry into the way these oftentimes overlapping identities influence and guided the research. The outcomes from this research include insights into my creative processes, revealing previously unacknowledged tensions between the need for creative control and flow. One of the most important outcomes from this research was the development of non-verbal conversations between artists, and the way the collaborative process has the potential to both encourage and hinder flow moments. This work is a self-study which incorporates others in relation to my own work. I believe it holds significant relevance to a wider artistic audience seeking a different perspective on encouraging collaborative artistic flow, and the method of collaborative doodling enacted in this research has potential applications in both formal and informal educational settings.

Doctor of Philosophy

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel is a significant form of travel in terms of global travel numbers. However, research on VFR travel is small relative to its size. In particular, research regarding the role of hosts of VFR travellers in shaping their trips including travel decisions and activities has been examined by few researchers. No previous research explored the differences in hosting between immigrant and non-immigrant local residents despite VFR travel being commonly associated with migration in existing literature. Before this research, the differences between hosting friends and relatives had been neglected, resulting in VFR hosts being treated as one homogenous group. Previous research also failed to empirically test the influence of destination on the hosting of VFRs. Thus, this is the first study examining the hosting of VFRs through combining how migration, relationship types, and destination types, impact VFR travel experiences for hosts. Given that VFR travel is a significant component of Australia’s visitor numbers, and that it comprises a large immigrant population, Australia is a suitable setting for this study. Considering the multi-dimensional elements in the study, the “VFR Whole Tourism Systems Model” was used as the conceptual model for this study. Quantitative research was conducted nationally with 331 residents, collected through an online survey, assessing the differences and similarities in hosting behaviours. Qualitative research was undertaken through in-depth interviews with 34 local residents in three contrasting destinations in Victoria understanding the social interactions between VFR hosts and their visiting friends/relatives. Significant differences were found between immigrants and nonimmigrants regarding attracting VFRs and hosting experiences. Differences were also noted between hosting friends versus hosting relatives, and it was also determined that the destination types impact VFR hosting. Such findings have provided valuable insights regarding the economic and social benefits of promoting local marketing campaign targeting local residents.

Doctor of Philosophy

At a time when university student diversity is heightened and when national government regulations have shifted their quality focus from support improvements to student achievement, little is known about the mechanism of the latter. University efforts to support quality, caring interactions between students and staff, known as connectedness, are currently favoured, and this thesis examines connectedness, mood, emotional well-being and academic behaviours of commencing students at a regional Australian university. This is done through the lens of a first semester intervention, known as Tertiary Learning Communities (TLC). Drawing on existing connectedness research, across both school and university settings and guided by a whole-school framework, details of the establishment of a suitable working party, the development of survey, pilot and intervention activities, and monitoring the ability of a cross-campus intervention to influence student connectedness and behaviour markers, are highlighted to advance further understanding of the mechanics of connectedness in a university setting. The developed survey, which collected data from undergraduate students early in their first semester, effectively captured perceptions of connectedness across a broad range of sources in addition to their mood, emotional well-being and academic student behaviours. Paired sample-tests assessed connectedness changes, and chi square analysis assessed behaviour changes when comparing the experimental and control groups on two occasions. A single intervention aligned to a first year core unit to support academic and social interactions, was shown to be ineffective in enhancing student connectedness during the semester of the intervention or the semester following the intervention. However, the level of connectedness decreases measured across ‘personal’, ‘other students’ and ‘lecturers’ were indeed significant, as was the finding that connectedness decreases for intervention participants exceeded the decreases of the control group. Furthermore, mood and emotional well-being challenges and the slow emergence of academic behaviours were also revealed. These findings provided support for future inclusive student support initiatives, maintained the involvement of working party members and extended support beyond the first semester to across first year.

Doctor of Philosophy

Early diagnosis of lung cancer improves patient outcomes which has led to a search for non-invasive diagnostic tests suitable for population screening. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath have shown potential, however, confirmation of the metabolic origins and disease specificity of candidate markers is required. Cell culture metabolomics can identify disease biomarkers and their origins. To date VOC profiles from in vitro cultured cancer cells have little similarity to cancer breath VOC profiles. In vivo, cancer cells experience hypoxia whereas in vitro cells are cultured under normoxic conditions. Since hypoxia influences cell metabolism, we hypothesize that cancer cells cultured under hypoxic conditions will have altered cell metabolism and produce VOC profiles more typical of cancer breathe. This study investigates the effect of hypoxia on metabolic reprogramming in A549 lung cancer cells cultured under standard normoxic (atmospheric oxygen) or hypoxic (2% oxygen) conditions. Results from quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated a significant upregulation in hypoxia of the glucose transporter (GLUT1) and the key TCA regulatory gene PDHK1, demonstrating that hypoxia plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism in A549 cells. A ratio-metric assessment of Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed an increase in LPO and a slight decrease in the production of ROS in hypoxic cultures, the combined effect of which may serve to equip the cells to adapt to and proliferate under low oxygen. Finally, the comparison of endogenous VOCs produced by A549 cells under hypoxic and normoxic conditions identified twelve VOCs unique to cells grown under hypoxic conditions including n-pentane, a marker of LPO and cancer, and 3-methyl hexane, which has been reported as a biomarker of cancer. This data is consistent with the hypothesis that a hypoxic tumour microenvironment may influence cell metabolism leading to a unique and diagnostic cancer VOC profile.

Doctor of Philosophy

Background: Olympic combat sports are commonly considered dangerous, however injury rates for these sports are not well understood. Isolated studies in combat sports have investigated injury, however these are mainly during competition, and therefore are unlikely to include significant or persistent injury which prevents athletes competing and participating in data collection. This thesis was undertaken as a series of linked studies, to provide further detail into the types, mechanisms and aetiology of injuries in combat sports. Methods: Study 1 was a systematic review that utilised the PRISMA guidelines to investigate the current evidence. Study 2 was a repeated measures study to examine the reliability of training load measures. Study 3 employed a longitudinal study design to assess the feasibility of injury, illness and training load monitoring. Finally, Study 4 was a cross-sectional cohort study that gathered perspectives of combat sport coaches and managers before and after an injury and illness prevention workshop. Results: Study 1 found one high-quality epidemiological study with low risk of bias in Judo. Variation in injury and illness definitions prevented cross-sport comparisons, however the injury incidence was comparable to other sports. In Study 2, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was shown to have good stability across sessions (ICC=0.84), and no significant differences were found between coach (observed) and athlete (experienced) RPE (ordered logistic regression coefficient = 0.47 [1.51–0.57 95%CI]). Study 3 found that athlete engagement with the monitoring system was low, with only 13% of athletes entering data across a 12-week period. Irrespective of low engagement, 62 injuries and illnesses were recorded. In Study 4, combat sport coaches and managers were found to be generally well informed of the risk and seriousness of injury and illness, however, illness risk perceptions changed after the workshop (p=0.048). Discussion and Conclusion: Currently, cross-sport comparisons are not possible due to varying data methodology and study quality. Based upon the results presented in this thesis, RPE can be used as a tool to quantify training load in the sport of judo. Longitudinal surveillance of training load, injury and illness in combat sport is not currently feasible within the Australian system, due to low uptake and engagement. However, the collection of data on a large number of injuries and illnesses indicates that athletes are experiencing multiple, repeated health problems. Coaches and managers are well informed about injury and illness risk and seriousness, indicating that injury and illness prevention education alone may not translate to a decrease in injury and illness incidence in combat sport.

Doctor of Philosophy