ARC Linkage Awards for 2002
Faculty of Arts
School of Australian and International Studies
School of Social Inquiry
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science
School of Nursing
School of PsychologyFaculty of Science and Technology
School of Architecture and Building
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
School of Ecology and Environment
School of Engineering and Technology
Faculty of Arts
School of Australian and International Studies
Title: Cultural Heritage
Site Significance, Management and Interpretation in China and Australia: A Comparative
Analysis in a Cross-Cultural Framework
Prof William Stewart Logan, Mr JD Sweet, Ms KF Altenburg, Adj/Prof SM Sullivan
2002: $39,861
2003: $37,801
2004: $40,996
Industry Partner(s):
Sullivan Blazejowski & Associates, Cultural Heritage Conservation
Australian Heritage Commission/Dept of the Environment & Heritage
Summary: The Nara Document 1994 asserts that East Asians see 'cultural
heritage' differently from Westerners and that conservation practice should
reflect the culture in which it takes place. Given Australia's growing tourism
links with China, and China's growing importance in the Asia-Pacific, it is
timely to reflect on the Chinese understanding of cultural heritage. Conversely
China's relatively new cultural heritage industry can learn from Australian
practice. This project aims at better mutual understanding by researching key
issues of site significance, management and interpretation. The research will
fill a gap in the literature and provide model for further cross-cultural heritage
analysis.
Title: Economic and social rights of asylum seekers in Australia: Challenges for Community Associations
Dr Fethi Mansouri, Dr SM Kenny, Dr KM Brown, Ms DE Smiley
2002: $25,000
2003: $25,000
2004: $25,000
Industry Partner(s): Victorian Arabic Social Service (VASS)
Summary: This project will investigate the contribution of a community association providing humanitarian assistance to newly-arrived refugees holding Temporary Protection Visas (TPV). The project will assess the capacity of non-government organizations (NGOs) in delivering basic social services and identifying areas of immediate concern. The anticipated outcomes of the project are: (a) the establishment of effective models of best practice in the delivery of social services by a NGO, (b) the potential for partnership between such an organization and the State in developing social policy, and (c) the contribution to theoretical examination of the role of civil society in the new Globalisation era.
Title: Negotiating Transitions to Retirement
Dr Linda Hancock, Ms V Sheen
2002: $20,000
2003: $20,000
Industry Partner(s): Council on the Aging (Australia)
Summary: This project will track diverse pathways in work/retirement transitions,
by analysing how the present policy accommodates shifts in labour markets, demographic
shifts and shifts in households and income distributions. Focused on cohorts
aged 45 to 64, it firstly analyses national data sets to track the impact of
the current policy mix in terms of income security, industrial relations, housing,
health, education and training and work/life. Secondly, it Draws on qualitative
data to further examine how these transitions are played out. The research will
develop a new policy matrix for older workers that addresses risk, social exclusion
and social protection.
School of Social Inquiry
Title: New Trends in Foundation Formation
Dr Sue Kenny, Dr KM Brown, Ms E Cham
2002: $20,000
2003: $20,000
Industry Partner(s): Philanthropy Australia
Summary: The encouragement of philanthropic giving is a current priority of governments globally. The creation of foundations is one strategy for expanding philanthropic activity, with profound implications for public policy and existing foundations. Working with Philanthropy Australia, this study will explore the concept of charitable foundations and recent trends in foundation formation such as the development of 'community owned' enterprises and pressures on business to become more 'socially responsible'. The study will produce data of vital importance to informed policy making and to the effectiveness of philanthropic foundations.
Return to top
Faculty of Health and Behavioral Science
School of Nursing
Title: Investigating consumer partnerships in the context of complex health service deliveryDr Sally Jane Wellard, Dr C Beanland, Ms ME Lewis
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):
Box Hill Hospital
Cabrini Hospital
Summary: Whilst increased consumer participation has been demonstrated to improve health outcomes, there has been no translation to people with chronic illness using acute care services. People with chronic conditions represent an increasing proportion of health care consumers and due to the existence of co-morbidities their needs are usually complex. Despite this, they have been marginalised in the current development of participatory models of service delivery. This project will investigate the determinants of participation for consumers during episodes of acute health care, identify barriers to their participation, and develop testable strategies for increasing effective consumer participation in acute health care services.
School of Psychology
Title: Development of an intervention to enhance rural and regional service delivery to human service clientsA/Prof Valerie A Clarke, Dr DJ Higgins
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s): Department of Human Services (Barwon-South West Region)
Summary:A proactive program managing organisational stress and isolation in rural community service organisations is urgently needed to reduce unplanned absences and costly staff turnover among professionals working in a difficult environment. The intervention program focuses on extremely high risk regional workers - professional staff having daily contact with potentially difficult clients (e.g., persons suffering from neglect, abuse, Drugs). Strategies at both organisational and individual levels will be aimed at preventing rather than merely reducing stress. An educational package will be developed, subjected to two cycles of process and outcome evaluation, and prepared for use in this and other regional/rural organisations.
Title: Safe and unsafe workplace behaviour: the impact of organisational culture and climate
Dr Dorothy Hutton, Mr P Silk, Mr J Hayes, Mr GT Walker, Mr PJ Hester
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s):1
Industry Partner(s):
KAAL Australia Pty Ltd
Kmart Australia
Summary: This APA(I) project involves a study of safety cultures of organisations and safety climates of workgroups. It will develop and trial safety interventions derived from an understanding of the normative and individual psychological contracts of safety. It is hypothesized that such contracts will impact on safety behaviors and injury rate. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Kmart and KAAL (Alcoa) who experience very different levels of risk. The ultimate aim is to develop a better understanding of the complex human systems which impact on safety behaviors and injury rates in organisations.
Title: Videoconferenced supervision for trainee professionals: Unintended effects
Dr Robyn Miller, Dr R King
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s): South West Healthcare
Summary: Government agencies are investing heavily in videoconferencing networks for purposes that include the education and supervision of trainee professionals. This initiative is seen to promote equity of access for professionals in remote regions. Yet the assumed equivalence between videoconferencing and face-to-face communication remains untested. The teaching principles underlying face-to-face communication may be inappropriate for videoconferenced supervison. Aims of the project are to develop an investigative framework for videoconferenced supervision and to determine how videoconferencing affects the learning and affiliation processes in supervision. The main outcome will be the identification of principles to establish standards of best practice for videoconferenced supervision.
Return to top
Faculty of Science and Technology
School of Architecture and Building
Title: Embodied energy modelling of individual commercial buildingsDr Graham John Treloar, Dr BD Ilozor
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):Sinclair Knight Merz Pty LTD
Summary: This research will develop a method for modelling the energy embodied in individual commercial building construction. Construction material manufacturing emissions are well known in most industries, but the total embodied energy of the construction supply chain is difficult to model for individual buildings. For efficient commercial buildings, the embodied energy can represent up to 40 years of operational energy. The results will be used to develop cost effective strategies for optimising the total life cycle energy of individual commercial buildings. This will in part improve the environmental performance of the Australian construction industry.
Title: Natural and Artificial Lighting Control the Energy and Visual Optimisation for a Low Energy Building
Dr Mark Brandt Luther
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):Clipsal Integrated Systems
Summary:Artificial lighting is highlighted as the most significant area of opportunity to reduce energy as well as greenhouse emission. The application of integrated daylight design together with artificial lighting control is researched. Control strategies of switching and dimming the artificial daylighting in conjunction with set-point levels, user preferences and daylighting maximisation are measured. The goal is to find the most effective saving strategies whilst maintaining visual comfort.
Title:
Researching the Development of Benchmarks for Determining both Relative
and Sustainable Levels of Infrastructure for the Aged within Regional Victoria
Dr Alexander John Rollo, Dr GJ Byrne
2002: $45,090
2003: $45,090
2004: $45,090
APA(I) Award(s): 2
Industry Partner(s):
City of Greater Bendigo
Warrnambool City Council
Summary: The decline of country towns and subsequent population
shifts to larger regional centres often places significant stress on the facilities
within these larger centres. Of particular importance to local government are
the implications regarding the provision of services for the aged. This project
will research the development of benchmarks and indicators to assist local governments
to understand the current and future needs of their aged communities. The research
will comprise a pilot study involving the Cities of Bendigo and Warrnambool
to establish the current situation regarding physical infrastructure and service
provision and indicating future needs as the demographic profiles change.
Return to top
School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Title:Development of molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease (Leptos phaeria maculans) in canola
Dr Morley Somasundaram Muralitharan, Dr GP Kadkol, Dr DM Cahill, Dr T Stevenson, Dr SF Chandler
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s):1
Industry Partner(s):Nugrain
Summary:Canola (Brassica napus) is a valuable oil seed crop grown in many parts of the world and contributes annually $A450 million to the Australian economy. The overall aim of this project is to develop molecular markers for blackleg resistance using Australian germplasm along with evaluation in Australian disease nurseries which are regarded worldwide to develop the highest levels of disease pressure. Once molecular marker systems are developed and evaluated, they will be applied to facilitate the selection of Nugrain's (Industry Partner) canola breeding programs. Any molecular markers and QT. developed for Australian cultivars would find commercial application in breeding programmes .
Title: The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection
Dr Simon Wyndham Lewis, A/Prof NW Barnett, Dr PJ Scammells
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):
Victoria Forensic Science Centre
South Australia Forensic Science
Summary: There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon these successes, in order to develop innovative analytical strategies for forensic detection of certain illicit Drugs and explosives. The results of this research have the potential to revolutionise key aspects of forensic analysis.
School of Ecology and Environment
Title: Design and Development
of DNA Oligonucleotide Microarrays (Biochips) for Fish Species Identification
From Processed Food Products
Dr Christopher Mervyn Austin, Dr LJ Laurenson, Dr SA Wilcox
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s): GeneScan Australia
Summary: Australia's seafood industry (valued at A$2 billion/annum)
imports and exports a wide variety of fish and shellfish products. This industry
is open to exploitation, specifically in respect of product labelling. A rapid
and reliable method for identifying commercial and endangered fish species in
seafood products is urgently needed for effective management and regulation
of the industry. New genetic biochip technology enables any species or strains
of an organism to be rapidly, and accurately, identified by non-experts. In
collaboration with GeneScan Australia, this project applies this new technology
to develop a diagnostic tool for checking the labelling of Australian seafood
products.
Title: Grazing as a management
tool for biodiversity conservation: adaptive management strategies for threatened
grassland ecosystems
Prof Gordon Anthony Duff, Br I Lunt, Dr F Coates
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s):1
Industry Partner(s): Parks Victoria
Summary: Lowland temperate grasslands are threatened Australian
ecosystems that support an important, and in many cases threatened, biota. These
habitats are significantly underrepresented in the reserve system, and occur in
bioregions that have been subjected to extensive vegetation clearing, intensive
production and high stocking densities. This project will develop strategies for
maintenance of species and habitat diversity in grasslands through the application
of adaptive management principles informed by rigorous ecological research. Outcomes
include best-practise approaches to the interaction between research and biodiversity
conservation.
Title: Improving water
use efficiency of grapevine production in the Great Western region using effluent
water and soil amelioration practises
Dr Graeme Allinson, A/Prof F Stagnitti, Dr R Armstrong
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):
Grampians Regional Water Authority
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Grampians Winemakers Inc.
Summary: Irrigation of vineyards
with municipal wastewater is a desirable option for the viticulturists
of the Great Western region of Victoria, but only if vineyard soil
structure is not adversely affected. This project will (1) study the
impact of dissolved chemicals in the waste water on the structure
of the local sandy soils; (2) model the data to enhance understanding
of the key chemical and physical mechanisms controlling grey water
impact in heterogeneous environments. The resulting predictive tools
will have direct application in the Great Western regions vineyards,
and for irrigation of grey water in vineyards across Australia.
Title:Monitoring and Modelling
Hydrogeochemical Interactions with Groundwater: Implications for Mine Dewatering
on Groundwater, River and Lake Chemistry
A/Prof John Edwin Sherwood, A/Prof F Stagnitti, Mr J Hill
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s): Alcoa World
Alumina Australia
Summary: Alcoa operates a power station and brown coal mine at Anglesea
is western Victoria. Following heavy rain in 2000 acidic water entered
the Anglesea estuary causing precipitation of iron and aluminium flocs
and fish kills. Estuary closure to tourism resulted. This project
will identify the cause(s) of this phenomenon by modelling groundwater
movement and studying geochemical processes. The resultant hydrogeochemical
model will also be applied to simulating longer term water quality
changes in the catchment arising from current mine dewatering operations
and future rewatering following mine closure.
Title: Planning for the adaptive management of wetland rehabilitation; Kanyapella Basin Case Study
Dr Kimberley James, Mr R Drew
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s):1
Industry Partner(s): Field and Game Australia Inc.
Summary: Australia's ephemeral wetlands are being lost or degraded primarily through Drainage. There is a pressing need to conserve the ecological character of remaining systems, and rehabilitate degraded ones. Rehabilitation is invariably constrained by water availability, community expectations and uncertainty about ecosystem responses to different water regimes. This project applies the adaptive management model to wetland rehabilitation. Adaptive management addresses uncertainty through experiments integrated into the rehabilitation process. It uses monitoring, and information feedback loops to inform current management actions. A generic model for the adaptive management of wetland rehabilitation will be developed which will predict responses to different re-wetting scenarios.
Title:Vegetation
change in coastal Parks and Reserves: risk assessment and management of woody
invaders
Prof Gordon Anthony Duff, Dr D Simmons, Dr F Coates
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s):Parks Victoria
Summary: Coastal health ecosystems contain some of the highest diversity
of plant species for any vegetation type within temperate Australia.
These communities exist within and outside the Reserve system, but
even those within Parks and Reserves may be undergoing rapid change
in structure and composition as a result of invading environmental
weeds, resulting in a significant loss of biological diversity. As
agriculture, tourism and other developments place increasing pressure
on these diminishing ecosystems, the maintenance of their biodiversity
takes on increasing importance. This project will identify threatening
processes and devise cost-effective, practicable management strategies
in a context of competing stakeholder interests.
School of Engineering and Technology
Title:A Distributed Virtual Factory in Agile Manufacturing
A/Prof Saeid Nahavandi, Dr L Kong, Dr A Kouzani
2002: $92,033
2003: $111,752
2004: $71,381
APA(I) Award(s): 2
Industry Partner(s): Backwell IXL
Summary: The aim of this research is to develop an Intelligent Distributed Virtual Factory consisting of several distributed precise simulation models connected by several synchronisation mechanisms named Time Bucker algorithms. Intelligent Distributed Virtual Factory will then be applied into precise evaluations of the whole manufacturing system under two major types of manufacturing operational logics, PULL and PUSH methods.
Title: Controlling and Predicting the Pilling Propensity of Fabrics
Prof Xungai Wang, Dr L Wang
2002: $45,090
2003: $45,090
2004: $45,090
APA(I) Award(s): 2
Industry Partner(s):
Australian Country Spinners Pty LTD
A & B Knitwear Pty LTD
Casaveen Holding Co.
Calcoup Inc Pty LTD
Country Road Clothing Co. Pty LTD
Graham Walters & Assoc. Pty LTD
Macquarie Textile Group LTD
Riverina Wool Combing Pty LTD
Summary: Pilling adversely affects the appearance of fabrics and garments. It is one of the most serious quality problems for the textile industry, particularly the wool industry. This project will examine and control the key factors that contribute to fabric pilling in the fibre-to-fibre conversion processes. It also aims to predict fabric pilling performance from these factors. This will help the industry, along the fibre to fabric chain, to understand the mechanism of pilling and to work together to manage and control this long-standing problem for the benefit of the textile industry as well as textile consumers.
Title: Development of a Microstructure Model for Process and Product Development
Prof Peter Damien Hodgson, Dr MR Barnett
2002: $72,000
2003: $64,000
2004: $64,000
APA(I) Award(s): 1
Industry Partner(s): Smorgon Steel
Summary: It is possible to mathematically model the evolution of the microstructure of steel during hot rolling and cooling to room temperature. By linking the microstructure to the product performance these models can be used for computer based development of new products and processes. The current work involves an extension of these concepts to the Smorgon Steel minimill. The project involves the development of new equations to handle the high residual content from the use of remelted scrap and the use of these models to enhance current and future local and export grades.
Title: Exploiting Annealing Reactions for New Steel Grade Development
Dr Matthew Robert Barnett, Dr E Pereloma
2002: $45,090
2003: $45,090
2004: $45,090
APA(I) Award(s): 2
Industry Partner(s): BHP Steel
Summary: Overseas steel markets are demanding thinner and cheaper formable products. The proposed work aims to establish how the reactions that take place during annealing can be exploited to create new products to meet these needs. The processes of recrystallization texture development, which controls the ease with which the product can be Drawn into shapes, precipitate dissolution, which impacts on surface quality, and creep, which can lead to annealing defects in thin products will be studied. The objective is use the knowledge generated to remove over-design of processing parameters and steel composition to develop new cost effective export grades.
Title:Hot Rolling Model for Control of Nb Bearing Steels
Prof Peter Damian Hodgson, Dr MR Barnett
2002: $22,545
2003: $22,545
2004: $22,545
APA(I) Award(s):1
Industry Partner(s): BHP Steel
Summary: High strength NB bearing strip steels are used to reduce the weight of automotive and construction products. The manufacture of theses steels is challenging because of difficulties encountered in maintaining constant properties and strip thickness. The aim of the current work is to develop a model for NB bearing steels that describes the effect processing conditions and composition on the microstructure evolution during hot rolling. The model to be developed will incorporate a new approach to describing dynamic recrystallization and will lead to better property and dimensional control. It will also assist in new grade development.
Title: The characterization and processing of Australian grown hemp fibres
Prof Xungai Wang, Adj/Prof P Brady, Dr L Wang, Dr A Kaynak
2002: $130,000
2003: $108,000
2004: $ 86,000
APA(I) Award(s): 2
Industry Partner(s): Fibrenova LTD
Summary: This project will, for the first time, systematically examine the characteristics and processing behaviour of Australian grown hemp fibres. The hemp industry is an emerging new industry in rural Australia. This research will tackle a number of complex problems concerning characterization, degumming, and processing of Australian grown hemp, and will engineer the finest and softest yarns as well as industrial products from this hemp. This will position the local hemp industry, as well as the fibre processing industry in a very strong position to meet the growing demand world wide on this "green" fibre.
Return to top
