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Honours Projects in Public Health, Health Promotion and Health Science for 2018 School of Health and Social Development Welcome to Honours
As at 13/11/2017
Deakin University CRICOS Code: 00113B
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Project Titles Page
Children’s wellbeing in the inner-city: why does is it appear to be declining? 2
Is gender stereotyping associated with young children’s perception of their physical skill? 3
How do parent and children’s views of children’s aquatic competence relate to children’s actual aquatic skill ability?
4
Supporting families in new high density housing in the City of Yarra 5
A netnographic study of user decision making and home preparation of anabolic-androgenic steroids 6
‘Steroid holidays’: The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids in foreign countries 7
Harms associated with the use of counterfeit anabolic-androgenic steroids 8
Four seasons in one day: Does this effect children’s play? 9
‘Using Deakin University’s Burwood community garden as a mechanism for Education for Sustainability’ 10
‘Pawsitive Connections; Do Pet Support Programs improve the lives of older adults?’ 11
“Brain on nature” 12
Household risks and new arrivals, piloting of a home safety program for newly arrived families with young children.
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Experience of foodbank users: A qualitative investigation 14
Understanding of the local food supply: outlet mapping 15
Experiences of homelessness of people seeking asylum 16
Offloading the impact of diabetic foot disease: Evaluation of a clinical toolkit for use in High Risk Foot Clinics
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Localising the global 18
Deakin Community Garden: Impact Evaluation 19
Project Title: Healthy eating train stations: a platform for change 20
No sugary drinks and healthy eating policy: a case study at Barwon Health 21
Policies for improving the healthiness of food environments – multi-country study of consumer perceptions
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Exploring mothers’ perspectives on their resilient child’s development in the early childhood period 23
Which strategies within gambling advertisements have the most appeal to children? A public health framework for regulatory change.
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Characterising positive and sustainable friendships for people with cognitive disability 25
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Project Title: Children’s wellbeing in the inner-city: why does is it appear to be declining?
Type of Project Suitable for either Honours or Masters Major project
Supervisors Dr Fiona Andrews [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/15986/Dr-Fiona-Andrews
Dr Melissa Graham [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/16530/Dr-Melissa-Graham
Associate supervisor: Dr Belinda Robson, City of Yarra
Project Time Frame Data has already been collected. Our preference would be for a full time student.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly check in, with longer meetings as and when required
Project Description This project provides an exciting opportunity for an honours student to work with local government on a project that has direct applications to their work with children in their community. The project will assist Council to understand why Yarra, a municipality which is in many ways experiencing socio-economic growth, has seen a drop in the quality of life of its children in 2015. The student would use the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) taken of children in their first year of school in 2009, 2012, and 2015. They would look at the breakdown results for the suburbs of Yarra and compare to suburbs in similar municipalities. One comparison could be the suburbs of Darebin, where the number of children with vulnerabilities has decreased, and Port Phillip, where there has been no change. The student would also use the ABS census data (collected 2011 and 2016) to help explain the differences between municipalities. Has there been any noticeable other social or economic trends in Yarra that has not been present in Darebin or Port Phillip? How else could we explain why the number of vulnerable children in Yarra appears to be increasing?
Methodological Approach
The student will be required to undertake statistical analysis of the data sets to examine the changing patterns of vulnerability among children across municipalities. The project will require extracting data from the AEDC and merging data from the ABS. The student will require strong data management, statistical analysis and SPSS skills.
Ethics An ethics exemption will be sought.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
The student will require a strong quantitative background.
Additional Details The project will be run in partnership with the City of Yarra. The student will be required to have occasional meetings with relevant staff from the City of Yarra and to present the final findings to them.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is anticipated that results could be presented at conferences such as the State of Australian Cities, Liveable Cities, AIFS etc. The student would be encouraged to be involved in preparing an abstract and presenting the findings.
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Project Title: Is gender stereotyping associated with young children’s perception of their physical skill?
Type of Project Suitable for either Honours or Masters Major project
Supervisors A/Prof Lisa Barnett, Faculty of Health Burwood [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/20385/Dr-Lisa-Barnett
A/Prof Debbie Ollis, Faculty of Education Burwood [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/0000017834/A-Prof-Debbie-Ollis
Project Time Frame 2018 date to be determined. The project could be taken part time.
Expected Student Contact
The student would be expected to meet weekly with at least one of the supervisors for around one hour. This can be via skype or telephone if the student is not located nearby.
Project Description It is well known Australian children are not physically active enough. Girls are a particular risk group as they are less active than boys starting from very young. Having a positive physical self-perception helps children to be active. But gender differences in perception emerge even in children as young as five years old. Boys think they are better at ball skills than girls for instance. The aim of this study is to see whether gender stereotyping is related to how young children see their skill (e.g. catching, running, jumping) ability. For instance girls with strong stereotyping beliefs about the role of girls and women might also perceive their physical skill ability as less. The rationale behind this study, is that if this is true, then helping girls to be more physically active might involve an intervention which focuses on changing gender stereotypes in addition to building actual skill ability.
Methodological Approach
Quantitative. The student will collect data from a minimum of 30 primary school children using surveys (largely pictorial) to assess gender stereotyping and perceived physical competence. The gender stereotyping survey has been recently modified and will require additional pilot testing before use in at least 10 children It is likely that children will be recruited from schools which are part of a larger study investigating how best to implement a Respectful Relationship Program in schools.
Ethics The larger project already has the required ethics and the supervisors will lodge an ethics modification to enable this data collection to take place.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
An interest in gender stereotyping; An interest in children; Ability and interest in working with schools and communicating with teachers; An interest in physical activity and skill development in children; A willingness to learn quantitative methods; Interest in writing up results for a publication
Additional Details This project will involve data collection in 1-2 Melbourne primary schools.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
This project could be published in a range of Sports Medicine journals such as Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport or Journal of Sports Science. It also could be published in journals that address gender issues in physical education such as the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. Similarly both education and sport related conferences could be applicable. It is hoped the student will be committed and interested in publication which can involve time after submission of the thesis. The student will be supported every step of the way.
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Project Title: How do parent and children’s views of children’s aquatic competence relate to children’s actual aquatic skill ability?
Type of Project Suitable for either Honours or Masters Major project
Supervisors Dr Lisa Barnett (Deakin University) https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/20385/Dr-Lisa-Barnett Email: [email protected] Phone: 92446166
Dr Dean Dudley (Macquarie University) http://www.educ.mq.edu.au/our_staff/dr_dean_dudley/ Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 98504864
Project Time Frame Data collection in 2017 starting around April/May. Project could also be considered part time.
Expected Student Contact
For a full time student - each week for around one hour. For a part time student each fortnight for an hour.
Project Description An important public health issue for Australia is reducing the incidence of children drowning. Prevention involves removing hazards (e.g. fencing backyard swimming pools) and child (e.g. teaching children to swim) and parent (e.g. informing parents of the risk factors for children drowning) education. It is common for young children to believe they are more physically skilled than they are. In the context of aquatic environments, this may mean thinking they can swim further or are capable of swimming in a context that they are not capable of yet. Parents may also have views of their children’s water competence that do not match with reality. Little research has investigated the relationship between parent and child perception of children’s water competence and child’s actual aquatic ability. The purpose of this project is to do this in young children (in the first 3 years of school). Findings will be used to help inform water safety education prevention programs.
Methodological Approach
This is a quantitative cross sectional project. Parents and their children will be recruited through one of the following options, via: a school holiday swim program, schools with a swimming program, an independent swim program at the start of a swimming term. Parents will be assessed prior to the program on their perception of the child’s aquatic competence. Children will be assessed on their perception of their own ability. Children’s water competence will be sought from the swimming teacher.
Ethics Ethics will be required and will be primarily organised by the supervisors with student input welcomed.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Enjoy working with young children and their parents Interested in quantitative research Interest in future publication Interest in swimming and water safety
Additional Details Geographical area is not determined at present. Student will be expected to be able to travel to place of data collection for assessment. The co-supervisor (Dean) is the Honorary Chair of Learning and Development for Surf Life Saving Australia.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
This topic is unique and could result in a conference presentation and a journal publication. Suitable outlets could include the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Health Promotion Journal of Australia. The student will be encouraged to pursue publication and conference presenting.
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Project Title: Supporting families in new high density housing in the City of Yarra
Type of Project Suitable for either Honours or Masters Major project
Supervisors Dr Fiona Andrews [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/15986/Dr-Fiona-Andrews
Dr Belinda Robson, City of Yarra
Project Time Frame
Data collection will begin once ethics approval is obtained (see below). It is anticipated this will be a straight forward process as the student will be interviewing service providers in 3-5 Council-run services. The student would need to be able to travel independently to the City of Yarra to conduct the interviews. The project could be undertaken part time.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly check in, with longer meetings as and when required
Project Description
This project provides an exciting opportunity for an honours student to work with local government on a project that has direct applications to their work with children in their community. The project will contribute to Council’s understanding of the needs of a newly emerging parent group in the municipality; namely parents raising children in private high density housing, and how best to support them through service provision. The student will interview Early Years’ service providers in the City of Yarra about their experiences for example; are workers aware of families living in high-rise? What are their needs that service has identified (if any?) What if anything could services provide to help them address these needs? Findings will be used by Council in their service planning.
Methodological Approach
The student will be required to develop an interview schedule, interview service providers, transcribe interview material and analyse this for key themes.
Ethics The student will work with the supervisor to submit a low risk ethics application.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
The student will require excellent communication skills. A preference will be given to students with knowledge of qualitative methods.
Additional Details The project will be run in partnership with the City of Yarra. The student will be required to have occasional meetings with relevant staff from the City of Yarra and to present the final findings to them.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is anticipated that results could be presented at conferences such as the State of Australian Cities, Liveable Cities, AIFS etc. The student would be encouraged to be involved in preparing an abstract and presenting the findings.
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Project Title: A netnographic study of user decision making and home preparation of anabolic-androgenic steroids
Type of Project Honours 2018 Masters Major project 2018
Supervisors Dr Matt Dunn [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/27853/Dr-Matthew-Dunn Dr Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay
Project Time Frame Data can be collected at any time during the candidature, though the earlier the better.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic forms of the hormone testosterone and are misused by those wishing to increase muscle strength and muscle mass. There is good evidence that the use of these substances is increasing in Australia and worldwide. AAS have traditional been sold on the ‘black market’ and can be diverted from hospitals or veterinary clinics, or manufactured in clandestine laboratories. Increasingly there is evidence of AAS users sourcing the raw materials and producing their own drugs, a process known as ‘homebrew’, of which little is known. The aim of this study is to explore online forum discussions related to this practice. Online forums provide an environment for information and knowledge exchange, and are an accessible way for members of the AAS community to seek and share information to reduce the harms associated with performance and image enhancing drug use.
Methodological Approach
An online search will be conducted to identify online forums that discuss this issue. The primary source of data for this study will be the ‘threads’ from the online forums. Threads will be thematically analysed for overall content, leading to the identification of themes.
Ethics This project would require an exemption from ethics application, which does not require a substantial amount of work and can be done by the supervisor if a student nominates this project.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
No necessary skills, though an interest in the topic would be beneficial.
Additional Details None.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is anticipated that this project would lead to both a conference presentation and a peer-reviewed publication.
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Project Title: ‘Steroid holidays’: The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids in foreign countries
Type of Project Honours 2018 Masters Major project 2018
Supervisors Dr Matthew Dunn [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/27853/Dr-Matthew-Dunn
Dr Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay
Project Time Frame Data can be collected at any time during the candidature, though the earlier the better.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic forms of the hormone testosterone and are misused by those wishing to increase muscle strength and muscle mass. There is good evidence that the use of these substances is increasing in Australia and worldwide. In many countries, AAS are available with a valid medical prescription for legitimate therapeutic conditions, and their use without a prescription is a criminal offense. In some countries, particularly in South-East Asia, this may not be the case; AAS may be legally obtained over the counter or their cost on the ‘black market’ are a fraction of what they are in Australia. There is anecdotal evidence of bodybuilders and athletes spending a period of their year in these countries on a ‘steroid holiday’, taking advantage of readily accessible substances before returning to Australia. The aim of this study is to explore online forum discussions related to this practice. Online forums provide an environment for information and knowledge exchange, and are an accessible way for members of the AAS community to seek and share information to reduce the harms associated with PIED use.
Methodological Approach
An online search will be conducted to identify online forums that discuss this issue. The primary source of data for this study will be the ‘threads’ from the online forums. Threads will be thematically analysed for overall content, leading to the identification of themes.
Ethics This project would require an exemption from ethics application, which does not require a substantial amount of work and can be done by the supervisor if a student nominates this project.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
No necessary skills, though an interest in the topic would be beneficial.
Additional Details None.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is anticipated that this project would lead to both a conference presentation and a peer-reviewed publication.
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Project Title: Harms associated with the use of counterfeit anabolic-androgenic steroids
Type of Project Honours 2018 Masters Major project 2018
Supervisors Dr Matthew Dunn [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/27853/Dr-Matthew-Dunn Dr Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay
Project Time Frame Data can be collected at any time during the candidature, though the earlier the better.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description Drugs which have been genuinely developed for therapeutic use may be misused for nonmedical reasons. Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic forms of the hormone testosterone and are used to treat conditions such as bone marrow stimulation, growth stimulation, and hormone replacement therapy. They are misused by those wishing to increase muscle strength and muscle mass. A key concern with illicit or prescription substance misuse is that substances may contain adulterants which may cause harm when ingested. Due to their illicit nature, those who use AAS may not seek medical care if they encounter harm related to their AAS use. While there are case reports in the medical literature reporting on harms related to counterfeit AAS use, little is known about this issue. The aim of this study is to explore online forum discussions related to this practice. Online forums provide an environment for information and knowledge exchange, and are an accessible way for members of the AAS community to seek and share information to reduce the harms associated with PIED use.
Methodological Approach
An online search will be conducted to identify online forums that discuss this issue. The primary source of data for this study will be the ‘threads’ from the online forums. Threads will be thematically analysed for overall content, leading to the identification of themes.
Ethics This project would require an exemption from ethics application, which does not require a substantial amount of work and can be done by the supervisor if a student nominates this project.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
No necessary skills, though an interest in the topic would be beneficial.
Additional Details None.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is anticipated that this project would lead to both a conference presentation and a peer-reviewed publication.
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Project Title: Four seasons in one day: Does this effect children’s play? Type of Project Honours
Supervisors A/Prof Lisa Hanna [email protected] Geelong Waterfront https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/21335/Dr-Lisa-Hanna
Dr Nicky Ridgers [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/21635/Dr-Nicky-Ridgers
Project Time Frame Qualitative data for this project have already been collected. It is anticipated that the project will be undertaken full-time in 2018.
Expected Student Contact
Students can access supervisory input at either Burwood or Geelong campuses. A/Prof Hanna is located at the Geelong Waterfront campus but with travel to the Burwood campus as needed. Dr Ridgers is located at the Burwood campus. Depending on student location, we anticipate a face to face meeting approximately weekly at either campus with a video or phone connection to the other supervisor’s campus, supplemented where necessary with face-to-face meetings with both supervisors.
Project Description Aim: To explore children’s perceptions of their seasonal activity and awareness of how weather may influence their activity levels.
Rationale: Only 22% of 9-12-year-old children meet physical activity guidelines. To increase activity levels to benefit health, we need to identify and implement effective strategies. Emerging research has documented the importance of understanding how seasons may influence activity levels, as this may identify key times of the year to intervene and how. To date, however, no research has examined why children may not be active all year round. Given Melbourne has unpredictable weather and a reputation for ‘four seasons in one day’, it is particularly pertinent to explore Melbourne children’s perceptions and awareness of potential seasonal or weather influences on their physical activity.
Methodological Approach
Prior qualitative data relevant to this project’s aim have been collected. The student will conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis of these data to explore children’s percpetions and awareness of seasonal or weather influences on their physical activity; this is a novel analysis that has not previously been carried out.
Ethics Supervisors will obtain ethical approval (or exemption from ethical approval if appropriate) for this project prior to the student’s commencement.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Students would benefit from an interest in the topic area (children’s health, physical activity and health). Introductory understanding of or interest in undertaking qualitative research would be an advantage; however the student will gain the necessary qualitative research skills via Honours coursework and supervision by experienced qualitative health researchers.
Additional Details Primary data collection will not be required for this project; it consists of analysis of an existing qualitative data set. No additional funding or resources are anticipated to be required.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
Yes. It is expected that completion of this project will lead to peer-reviewed publication co-authored by the project’s supervisors, and/or a conference presentation.
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Project Title: ‘Using Deakin University’s Burwood community garden as a mechanism for Education for Sustainability’
Type of Project This project is suitable for either a Masters or Honours project option but preferably and Honours project.
Supervisors Dr Claire Henderson-Wilson, Burwood Campus, [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88423/Dr-Claire-
Henderson-Wilson Dr Justin Lawson, Burwood Campus, [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88549/Dr-Justin-Lawson
Project Time Frame Data collection is expected to take place between May – July 2018. However, this could be deferred for a part-time student. There are no external time considerations that need to be considered.
Expected Student Contact
For a full-time student, weekly face-to-face or phone meetings would take place for approximately 30-60 minutes.
Project Description Deakin University is a signatory of the Talloires Declaration, an internationally recognised document signed by over 350 universities. The declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. There are ten aims that are the foundation of the declaration and of particular note are aims 4, 5 and 7, which state that all universities that sign the declaration are to: (4) Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students; (5) Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of programs of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction and environmentally sound operations and (7) Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop curricula, research initiatives, operational systems, and outreach activities to support an environmentally sustainable future. While there are many dynamic approaches to maintain the principles of the declaration, one particular path that is very inclusive is the development and maintenance of a campus community garden. This project aims to explore how the Community Garden at Deakin University’s Burwood campus can provide a model for the promotion of Education for Sustainability (i.e. education about sustainable gardening practices and social sustainability), which aligns with the Talloires Declaration.
Methodological Approach
The project will adopt a qualitative research design and it is expected that 10-15 staff members from the Burwood campus would be recruited (by purposive and/or snowball sampling) and interviewed (for approximately 1 hour) to explore how they could engage their students in Education for Sustainability through the community garden. Qualitative data analyses would be conducted, perhaps adopting a case study approach or other relevant method.
Ethics The student would work with their supervisors to develop an ethics application (low-risk) OR they may be able to submit a modification to an existing ethics application.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
This project is ideal for anyone who is interested in health and sustainability and qualitative research methods. This could be demonstrated by subjects undertaken at undergraduate level in Health Sciences (Health and Sustainability or Environmental Health majors) or Public Health and Health Promotion or at post-graduate level AND/OR work/volunteer experience in a role that combines health, the environment and sustainability.
Additional Details This project is intended for implementation at Deakin University’s Burwood Campus. There will be minimal travel and costs as all resources can be provided by the Health, Nature and Sustainability Research group (i.e digital voice recorders). The student will be required to undertake their own audio transcription using free Apps/software.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
The student would be expected to write 1 peer reviewed article (as a brief report) in potentially one of the following journals: EcoHealth journal, Health Promotion Journal of Australia or Australian Journal of Environmental Education. They would also be encouraged to present their research at a national conference on Sustainability and Higher Education or Ecohealth.
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Project Title: ‘Pawsitive Connections; Do Pet Support Programs improve the lives of older adults?’
Type of Project This project is suitable for either a Masters or Honours project option but preferably and Honours project.
Supervisors Dr Claire Henderson-Wilson, Burwood Campus, [email protected]
https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88423/Dr-Claire-Henderson-Wilson
Dr Justin Lawson, Burwood Campus, [email protected]
https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88549/Dr-Justin-Lawson
Project Time Frame Data collection is completed as this project analyses existing interview data. However, the student may decide to undertake further data collection if this is deemed necessary.
Expected Student Contact For a full-time student, weekly face-to-face or phone meetings would take place for approximately 30-60 minutes.
Project Description Perceived isolation and social disconnectedness can markedly decrease an individual’s quality of life. Loss of social roles, a reduction in physical ability and cognitive functioning are considered to be risk factors. Similarly, the morbidity and mortality rates associated with these experience are of particular concern due the fiscal pressure they can create. Therefore, to improve the conditions of aging and facilitate independent living innovative health programs are required. Notably, studies have demonstrated that pets play an important role in their owner’s lives, from providing emotional support, to facilitating social and physical activity. This study was developed to explore how pet support programs (PSP) and/or pets help reduce social disconnectedness and perceived isolation. PSPs operate to ensure people with disabilities and elderly pet owners can remain with their pet. The project involves analysing existing qualitative interview data that was collected in 2016. Interviews were conducted with 15 older adults (aged 65 years+) about their experiences of how PSP improve social connectedness and alleviate loneliness and also the role pets play in their owner’s lives.
Methodological Approach The project adopts a qualitative phenomenological research design. It is anticipated that thematic analysis will be used to analyse the existing data (interview transcripts) as this allow both words and observations to be classified into categories to establish themes across the data. This project is unique and it is expected to provide much needed knowledge and insight into the relatively under-studied area of pet support programs and how they impact recipients. The research will provide an Australian perspective and add to international literature relating to anthropology.
Ethics The project already has ethics approval (HEAG_H 10 2016) and a minor modification will be required to add the new Honours student to the proposal.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
This project is ideal for anyone who is interested in health and animal studies and qualitative research methods. This could be demonstrated by subjects undertaken at undergraduate level in Health Sciences (Health and Sustainability or Environmental Health majors) or Public Health and Health Promotion or at post-graduate level AND/OR work/volunteer experience in a role that combines health and animal studies.
Additional Details The project findings will be disseminated via the Volunteer Manager, Link Health and Community, Glen Waverley who acted as a ‘gatekeeper’ and promoted the research/advertised recruitment flyers. Many of the participants belong to PSP that are managed by Link Health and Community so they will be very interested in the findings. There will be no transport or transcription costs as the interviews have already been transcribed.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
The student would be expected to write 1 peer reviewed article (as a brief report) in potentially one of the following journals: Health Promotion Journal of Australia or Applied Animal Behaviour Science. They would also be encouraged to present their research at a national conference on Health and Ageing and possibly to members of Link Health and Community, Glen Waverley.
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Project Title: “Brain on nature” Type of Project Honours project 2018
Supervisors Dr Justin Lawson, Burwood campus [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88549/Dr-Justin-Lawson
Dr Wei-Peng Teo, Burwood campus [email protected] http://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/wei-peng-teo
Project Time Frame Data collection to take place between February – June 2018; however, this could be deferred for a part-time candidate. No external timelines at this stage.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly face-to-face or skype meetings for 30-60 minutes
Project Description There is a wide range of self-reported data supporting the view that contact with nature has significant health benefits. Studies have tended to be qualitative through interviews and supported with quantitative data that has been acquired through surveys. However, it is now possible to augment and supplement this data with the use of cutting edge technology, namely in the form of mobile headsets that measure brainwave activity. Questions are based on how the brain responds to various settings (built and natural), what are the stressors and how can these be mitigated. The research adds value to the field of research by the potential to support the established qualitative research with quantitative data.
Methodological Approach
This project would entail acquiring data in different settings to build base-line data for the purpose of understanding natural and built settings more completely. Scoping and limitations can be discussed further with the supervisors.
Ethics Human ethics research will be required
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
The student will need to have a passion for working with data and data analysis. While a psychology background is not required, this may be helpful. An understanding of statistics will also be very useful as analyses will require the use of various software, including Excel and SPSS.
Additional Details Field research is expected to take place in a variety of settings; however, all of these can be within Greater Melbourne. No external agencies will be involved at this stage.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
Findings have the potential to be published in journals such as Environment and Behaviour, EcoHealth, Environmental Psychology and/or Environmental Psychology conference.
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Project Title: Household risks and new arrivals, piloting of a home safety program for newly arrived families with young children.
Type of Project Honours or major project
Supervisors Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay Matt Dunn [email protected] Burwoodhttps://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/27853/Dr-Matthew-Dunn
Project Time Frame This project is not available part time. Data will be collected around May-June.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description Children who are recent arrivals to Australia, including asylum seekers, refugees, and general migrants, have anecdotally been found to experience more injuries in the home. Working with parents to increase the safety of children is a known strategy for improving child health. Working with a community organisation in the Dandenong area, and several agencies that are concerned with child safety and health, this project will pilot a culturally specific program working with new arrival parents and their children around home safety (including road safety, kitchen safety, and water safety), and evaluate the initial findings. Students who are bilingual (Chinese, Pashto, Dari, Thai, or Farsi) would be highly regarded.
Methodological Approach
The evaluation of the pilot will employ a mixed methods approach, using both surveys, observations, and interviews. The student will have access to a paid transcription service for interview transcription.
Ethics Ethics is required. The supervisors will arrange for ethics
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Ideally the student will have an interest in child safety, migration, and other cultures.
Additional Details The student will need to travel to the Dandenong area.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is expected that the data from this project will be written for publication.
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Project Title: Experience of foodbank users: A qualitative investigation Type of Project Honours or major project
Supervisors Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay Matt Dunn [email protected] Burwoodhttps://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/27853/Dr-Matthew-Dunn
Project Time Frame This project is not available part time. Data will be collected around May-June.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description The number of people who are seeking food aid has increased in recent years. As a result, the number of food banks, pantries, and other providers of food aid has also increased. People who use food banks and receive food aid have been identified as more likely to be food insecure, and often experience other vulnerabilities. Their perceptions of the food programs provided, and preferences for alternative strategies are currently under researched. The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of the users’ of food banks and pantries experiences of food insecurity and gain evidence for effective responses in the future.
Methodological Approach
The research will employ up to 20 semi-structured interviews with a sample of users of food banks in metropolitan Melbourne. The student will have access to a paid transcription service for interview transcription. These interviews will then be qualitatively analysed.
Ethics Ethics is required. The supervisors will arrange for ethics
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Ideally the student will have an interest in nutrition, and be confident and willing to talk to people who are using food banks.
Additional Details
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is expected that the data from this project will be written for publication.
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Project Title: Understanding of the local food supply: outlet mapping Type of Project Honours or major project
Supervisors Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay Justin Lawson [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88549/Dr-Justin-Lawson
Project Time Frame This project is not available part time. Data will be collected around May-June.
Expected Student Contact
Once per week until as needed. Phone/email contact as needed.
Project Description Food insecurity is linked with access to food outlets and may be linked to alcohol. We are interested to know how many food and alcohol outlets are in the City of Greater Bendigo, which is known to have a high prevalence of food insecurity. This project is a comprehensive mapping activity of retail districts. Stores within the City of Greater Bendigo whose primary purpose is the sale of food will be mapped using GIS software. The purpose of this audit is to identify and assess the availability of food for home consumption, so those stores that sell ingredients for home cooking or take-home meals will be assessed, restaurants will only be included if they provide a takeaway service. Alcohol outlets that provide takeaway will also be mapped.
Methodological Approach
Mapping will be undertaken using simple equipment for ease of data acquisition and analysis. This will allow for the potential for replication in other locations and thus build on the overall mapping of food security. Mobile phones with GPS capabilities and software using Google earth images will be used to create the maps required. Fusion tables, spreadsheets which combine a range of qualitative and quantitative data with GPS coordinates, will be used in the mapping procedure.
Ethics Ethics is not required
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Ideally the student will have an interest in nutrition.
Additional Details
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is expected that the data from this project will be written for publication.
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Project Title: Experiences of homelessness of people seeking asylum Type of Project Honours or major project
Supervisors Dr Fiona McKay [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/38956/Dr-Fiona-Mckay
A/Prof Lisa Hanna [email protected] Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/21335/A-Prof-Lisa-Hanna
Project Time Frame
This project is not available part time. Data will be collected around May-June.
Expected Student Contact
The student would be expected to meet with the supervisor’s every week at Burwood.
Project Description
Aim: This project will seek to understand the experiences of homelessness among people seeking asylum. Rationale: The majority of people seeking asylum who in live in the Australian community do so via bridging visas while they await resolution of their asylum claims. Many of these asylum seekers have little access to a government-funded financial safety net or a sustained independent income. As a result, many experience homelessness. Housing is a fundamental human right, according to a number of human rights treaties to which Australia is a party, and the impact of homelessness on the health and well-being of individuals is well known. The federal government has described those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as ‘one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in our community’, stating that homelessness removes stability and connection in people’s lives, and that the impact of ‘even brief periods of homelessness can be long-lasting’. It also notes that children are particularly vulnerable to the traumatic effects of homelessness. Asylum seekers live with acute uncertainty and instability due to their unresolved immigration status; many rely on charity for all aspects of their lives. By definition, asylum seekers are seeking safety and protection in Australia, having fled persecution or organised violence in their country of origin. As such, some asylum seekers have experienced trauma or torture, which can contribute to complex mental health issues. For those with no income or stable housing, their health and wellbeing may be compromised further.
Methodological Approach
This study will use qualitative research methods. The student will conduct up to 20 face to face semi-structured interviews with people seeking asylum, recruited with the assistance of Baptcare. Interviews will investigate participants’ housing history; income history; experiences of homelessness and factors contributing to homelessness; housing solutions; preventative factors; and support or otherwise from mainstream homelessness services. The student will have access to a paid transcription service for interview transcription. Interviews will then be qualitatively analysed by the student.
Ethics Ethics is required. The supervisors will obtain ethical approval for the study prior to the student’s commencement of recruitment and data collection.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Ideally the student will have an interest in homelessness and the human rights of asylum seekers in Australia, and be confident and willing to talk to people seeking asylum.
Additional Details This project is in partnership with Baptcare.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
It is expected that the findings from this project will be written for publication in peer-reviewed journal(s). The student will also be expected to provide a report for Baptcare.
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Project Title: Offloading the impact of diabetic foot disease: Evaluation of a clinical toolkit for use in High Risk Foot Clinics
Type of Project Suitable for Masters Major project or Honours project in 2018
Supervisors Dr. Jonathan O’Hara, Burwood Campus [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/100171/Dr-Jonathan-O%27Hara
Dr. Alison Beauchamp, Burwood Campus [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/19172/Dr-Alison-Beauchamp
Project Time Frame
Data collection is expected to be conducted from May to July 2018. Full-time only.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly, face to face meetings at Burwood. Occassional phone meetings can be accommodated.
Project Description
Foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to amputation and premature death if not treated effectively. Every day 12 Australians undergo a diabetes-related amputation and half do not live longer than five years. High Risk Foot Clinics are podiatrist-led multidisciplinary services that aim to prevent amputation. In this project you will evaluate a toolkit of resources for clinicians working in High Risk Foot clinics. This toolkit is designed to support good foot care outcomes for clients with diabetes and is currently in development. Your results will be used to inform the further development of this toolkit and prepare it for use in a range of podiatry clinics.
Methodological Approach
Evaluation will consist of quantitative and qualitative methods. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected via online surveys.
Ethics An ethics amendment will be submitted to, and approved by, the Western Health Office for Research and Deakin University. This will be managed by the supervision team.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Basic quantitative and qualitative research skills are required.
Additional Details
A couple of visits to the Western Health High Risk Foot Clinic may be required, but in these cases, the student will be accompanied by a supervisor
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
A student will be supported to produce a conference presentation or publication if they have demonstrated that they are able to work independently and to a good quality standard.
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Project Title: Localising the global
Type of Project Honours project 2018 and/or Masters Major project 2018
Supervisors Dr Rebecca Patrick, Burwood Campus, [email protected]
https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/17825/Dr-Rebecca-Patrick
Dr Claire Henderson-Wilson, Burwood Campus, [email protected]
https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88423/Dr-Claire-Henderson-Wilson
Project Time Frame Data collection to take place between June – July 2018. However, this could be deferred for a part-time candidate. No external timelines at this stage.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly face-to-face or skype meetings for 30-60 minutes
Project Description Human health is dependent on the health of the environment. We need co-benefit programs and policy to engage the community around these issues and research tools to measure change. This project will build on the findings of a 2017 study (HEAG_H_60_2017) that examined the feasibility of rescaling the global Happy Planet Index to a local level. The purpose of the Honours project will be to apply the happy planet index and pilot test a questionnaire within a small setting i.e. Deakin University. The student will administer a pilot questionnaire (n= 30 participants), analyse the data and provide recommendations for further development of the Happy Planet Index at a local level.
Methodological Approach
This is a quantitative study involving the development and administration of an online pilot questionnaire with a small sample of participants (n=30) from Deakin University. The project constitutes a phase 2 of a qualitative, exploratory study. Sampling criteria, data collection and analysis design will be confirmed post implementation of phase 1 (feasibility study).
Ethics The study has low risk ethics from the Faculty of Health and the student will work with supervisors/CI to submit a modification.
Project Ref: HEAG_H_60_2017
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Passion for, interest in and knowledge of human health and environmental sustainability. This could be demonstrated by subjects undertaken at undergraduate level in Health Sciences and PH-HP or at post-graduate level AND/OR work/volunteer experience in a role that combines health, the environment and sustainability.
Additional Details This project is intended for implementation at Deakin University Burwood Campus. Whether or not there is a funder or 3rd party will be determined at the completion of phase 1 of the study. There will be minimal travel and costs as all resources provided in-house by the Health, Nature and Sustainability research group
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
The key forums for dissemination if this work: 1/EcoHealth journal and biannual conference 2/ Health Promotion Journal of Australia and conference 3/ Sustainability and Higher Education Journal and AASHE conference. The student would be expected to write 1 peer reviewed article (as a brief report) in one of the above journals.
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Project Title: Deakin Community Garden: Impact Evaluation Type of Project Honours project 2018 and/or Masters Major project 2018
Supervisors Dr Rebecca Patrick, Burwood Campus, [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/17825/Dr-Rebecca-Patrick
Dr Claire Henderson-Wilson, Burwood Campus, [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88423/Dr-Claire-Henderson-Wilson
Project Time Frame
Data collection to take place between June – July 2018. However, this could be deferred for a part-time candidate. No external timelines at this stage.
Expected Student Contact
Weekly face-to-face or skype meetings for 30-60 minutes
Project Description
Community gardens provide dual benefits for human health and environmental sustainability. This project will evaluate the impact of the recently established Deakin University Community Garden at the Burwood Campus on the health of garden participants and on the natural environment. This qualitative study (n= 8-10 participants) forms part of a larger project (Monash Health HEAG 14141B) considering programs that co-benefit health and the environment and will build upon an evaluation study of the DU garden that was completed in 2017.
Methodological Approach
This study will employ a qualitative case study approach to evaluating the impact of the Deakin Community Garden. Purposeful sampling strategies will be used to select and recruit participants (n= 8-10). Semi-structured individual or group interviews will be used to determine health impacts and benefits of participation in the Deakin Community Garden. Stake’s (1998) approach to case study research will guide data collection and data analysis. Specific design elements will be determined after the completion of the 2017 study.
The study has an existing approval from Monash Health and Deakin University and the student will work with supervisors/CI to submit a modification. Project Ref: Monash Health 14141B
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Passion for, interest in and knowledge of human health and environmental sustainability. This could be demonstrated by subjects undertaken at undergraduate level in Health Sciences and PH-HP or at post-graduate level AND/OR work/volunteer experience in a role that combines health, the environment and sustainability.
Additional Details This project is intended for implementation at Deakin University Burwood Campus. Whether there is a funder or 3rd party will be determined at the completion of phase 1 of the study. There will be minimal travel and costs as all resources provided in-house by the Health, Nature and Sustainability research group. The student will be required to undertake their own audio transcription using free Apps.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
The key forums for dissemination if this work: 1/EcoHealth journal and biannual conference 2/ Health Promotion Journal of Australia and conference 3/ Sustainability and Higher Education Journal and AASHE conference. The student would be expected to write 1 peer reviewed article (as a brief report) in one of the above journals.
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Project Title: Healthy eating train stations: a platform for change Type of Project Both Masters Major and Honours
Supervisors Anna Peeters, [email protected], Burwood, https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/17136/Prof-Anna-Peeters
Kathryn Backholer, [email protected], Burwood, https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/106879/Dr-Kathryn-Backholer
Project Time Frame The data collection will take around two months. This can be done at any time, including part time. There will be two students working together on data collection, each with a different but related project aim
Expected Student Contact
Once per week.
Project Description Train stations are currently experienced by a wide cross-section of the community. Food offerings at train stations are generally unhealthy, indicating an important opportunity to improve the healthiness of the food supply for many Australians. However, there has been little measurement of the extent to which food and drink offered at train stations is unhealthy and whether this differs according to location. There will be two related projects. One will collect a sample of the food and drink availability at selected train stations around Melbourne. The food offering will be coded according to state government guidelines to identify how healthy/ unhealthy this setting is. One will collect a sample of the food and drink marketing at selected train stations around Melbourne. The food marketing will be coded according to state government guidelines to identify how healthy/ unhealthy this marketing is.
Methodological Approach
Students will travel in a pair to selected train stations around Greater Melbourne and take photos of food and drink for sale and the associated marketing. At Deakin the collected data will be coded according to standard guidelines and students will report on proportion of availability and marketing which is classified as healthy or unhealthy
Ethics Ethics will likely be exempt and the student will need to work with the supervisors to put in an ethics exemption
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Skills and understanding in public health. Knowledge of public health nutrition and basic epidemiology an advantage
Additional Details Students will be asked to participate in feedback to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
Yes, this will be up to the student
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Project Title: No sugary drinks and healthy eating policy: a case study at Barwon Health
Type of Project Suitable for Honours project in 2018
Supervisors A/Prof Gary Sacks, Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88788/Dr-Gary-Sacks
Dr Erik Martin, Waurn Ponds (School of Medicine), https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/92764/Dr-Erik-Martin
Project Time Frame Data collection likely to take place around June-July 2018. Project could be undertaken part time
Expected Student Contact
Weekly contact would be expected for a full time student, which would include phone contact, and/or meeting in person in Geelong or Burwood. Some travel to Geelong during the data collection period would be essential and expected.
Project Description Obesity is one of the most significant health challenges in Australia today. Despite recent developments areas such as education campaigns, nutritional guidelines, food labelling and primary health care, the prevalence of obesity has remained stagnant in recent years. Subsequently, there has been an emphasis on innovative and multi-pronged approaches to reduce and prevent obesity. There is significant potential in this area through providing healthy food environments in settings such as workplaces and hospitals. The health sector and health professionals within it also serves as important role models for health promotion and healthy eating in the communities they operate in. In line with this, Barwon Health has recently adopted a ‘no sugary drinks’ policy and made other significant changes to the food environments within their health care services. While health care services are increasingly looking to implement such settings-based policies, little evaluation has been undertaken (and none at Barwon Health). The aim of this project is to explore barriers and facilitators to the implementation of Barwon Health’s policy on healthy eating/no sugary drinks. A case study within such a setting may reveal important factors likely to affect the implementation and success of such policies, the lessons of which may be applicable to other health services in Australia.
Methodological Approach
This mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) study will include primarily semi-structured interviews, followed by document analysis, observation and secondary data where available. The student would be required to conduct audio-recorded interviews with key stakeholders of Barwon Health’s healthy eating/no sugary drinks policy with an interview guide (preferably in person, and possibly by phone/Skype). Data from the transcribed interviews, documents and observation will be analysed by way of thematic coding using NVIVO, where key themes relating to barriers and facilitators would be identified and explored.
Ethics Ethics would be required, and student would work in collaboration with supervisor to submit an ethics application
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
• Interest in public health, obesity prevention and policy approaches • Experience in undertaking qualitative research and/or very strong understanding of
qualitative research methods • Excellent writing and communication skills – demonstrated by consistently high marks for
written assignments or other strong evidence of being a superb writer with outstanding attention to detail. We will ask for multiple examples of your written work as part of considering your suitability for this project.
Additional Details Data collection would primarily be undertaken at Barwon Health in the University Hospital Geelong. Barwon Health staff would have some involvement in the project through providing advice and access to research participants.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
There is potential for publication in journals and/or conferences in obesity or health promotion/public health, which the student could work on in collaboration with the supervisors
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Project Title: Policies for improving the healthiness of food environments – multi-country study of consumer perceptions
Type of Project Suitable for Honours project in 2018
Supervisors A/Prof Gary Sacks, Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/88788/Dr-Gary-Sacks
Dr Adrian Cameron, Burwood https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/21088/Dr-Adrian-Cameron
Project Time Frame Data collection will take place in 2017, with the data available for analysis from early 2018. Project is best suited to a full time student
Expected Student Contact
Weekly contact would be expected for a full time student, which would include phone contact, and/or meeting in person in Burwood. We would strongly prefer a student who wants to base themselves full time at the Burwood campus, working closely with our research team.
Project Description Overarching study: This project forms part of an international, multi-country study that aims to evaluate the impact of national-level food policies. We are conducting prospective cohort studies in each of five countries—Canada, the USA, Mexico, Australia and England—to examine dietary patterns and policy-relevant behaviours across countries. The overall study will provide a quasi-experimental design for evaluating federal-level policies by providing both ‘within’ and ‘between-country’ measures over time. The study will assess seven primary policy domains: price/taxation, food packaging and labelling, retail food policies, food marketing, nutritional labelling in restaurants, nutrition information and education, and food guide/dietary recommendations. The study will have a particularly focus on sugary drink policies and beverage intake, in addition to the following consumer perceptions and behaviours: sources of food purchases and food preparation, weight loss behaviour, nutrition knowledge, and food security. The initial wave of data collection for all five countries will take place in 2017. For this Honours student project, the student will analyse components of the Australian data, potentially including cross-country comparisons for some measures. Potential areas for the student to examine include consumer perceptions of potential policy interventions (e.g., sugar taxes, restrictions on marketing to children), exposure to unhealthy food marketing, perceptions on different aspects of food environments (e.g., supermarkets, billboard advertising, etc). The specific areas of study can be tailored to the student’s interests.
Methodological Approach
This quantitative study will be based on data collected as part of the study mentioned above. The student will need to identify areas of interest from the data collected, and analyse the data using appropriate statistical methods. While the stats will be relatively simple and we will be able to provide some assistance in choosing appropriate methods, the student will need to feel comfortable using basic statistical software and be prepared to conduct analyses independently.
Ethics Ethics will already have been obtained by the time the student starts
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
• Interest in public health, obesity prevention and policy approaches • Very good with numbers and comfortable doing quantitative work • Basic stats knowledge and willingness to apply stats independently • Excellent writing and communication skills – demonstrated by consistently high marks for written
assignments or other strong evidence of being a superb writer with outstanding attention to detail. We will ask for multiple examples of your written work as part of considering your suitability for this project.
Additional Details Our research team conducts a range of cutting edge studies related to policies for improving the healthiness of food environments, and the Honours student would gain excellent exposure to the range of research projects we are involved in.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
There is excellent potential for publication in journals and/or conferences in obesity or health promotion/public health, as well as great opportunities for international collaborations as part of the project.
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Project Title: Exploring mothers’ perspectives on their resilient child’s development in the early childhood period
Type of Project Suitable for Masters Major project in 2018 (two trimester duration) OR Honours project in 2018 (two trimester duration
Supervisors Professor Ann Taket, [email protected], Burwood, http://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/ann-taket
Professor Andrea Nolan, [email protected], Geelong, http://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/people/andrea-nolan
Dr Fiona Andrews, Burwood, [email protected], Burwood, https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/15986/Dr-Fiona-Andrews
Project Time Frame
Data is already collected. Could be part time
Student Contact Weekly check in, with longer meetings as and when required
Project Description
Social disadvantage (poverty, poor health, unemployment, educational underachievement) is increasingly concentrated. But not all students, families, schools or communities in ‘challenging circumstances’ have poor outcomes (academic and/or social). A three year ARC linkage project followed three cohorts of resilient children living in challenging circumstances, collecting a variety of data on children, families, schools, and communities in three different settings, metropolitan, rural and regional. The early childhood cohort was followed from their last year in kindergarten through into primary school. A number of papers, book chapters, as well as conference presentations have already resulted, but one of the data sets collected, namely interviews with mothers in the first and third year of the study, remains to be fully analysed. We have already identified the importance of the strategies families use to support or develop their child’s resilience, but no analysis has yet been undertaken of the changes in mothers’ views over the course of the two years between successive interviews. The general research aim would be to explore the changes in mothers’ views over the course of an important life transition for their child, namely kindergarten to primary school. Further sub-aims will be formulated by the student in discussion with supervisors once they have familiarised themselves with the dataset.
Methodological Approach
As described above the project will use a pre-existing data set consisting of two interviews with each of 17 mothers (8 rural, 5 regional and 4 metropolitan). Interviews have been fully transcribed.
As noted above analysis of changes in mothers’ views over time have not been analysed.
The main methodological approach will be that of qualitative data analysis using a mix of inductive and deductive thematic analysis.
Ethics Full ethics clearance has already been obtained, the student will work under supervision to submit the necessary ethics amendment to gain access to the data set.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Interest in research with children and young families. Interest in acquiring skills in qualitative research.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
There are a wide range of possible journals for publication in the field of family and community health and early childhood education and research, such as: Early Years, Family and Community Health, Family Relations, Journal of Family Studies, Journal of Family Issues. Relevant conferences for presentation include annual national public health and health promotion conferences, annual conference of ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research), ECA (Early Childhood Australia) and AIFS (Australian Institute of Family Studies).
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Project Title: Which strategies within gambling advertisements have the most appeal to children? A public health framework for regulatory change.
Type of Project Masters Major or Honours Project
Supervisors A/Prof Samantha Thomas (Burwood Campus) [email protected] https://www.deakin.edu.au/apps/research/find-a-researcher/104916/A-Prof-Samantha-Thomas
Hannah Pitt
Amy Bestman
Project Time Frame April – August 2018 This project is not suitable for part time students
Expected Student Contact
The student will be expected to meet face to face with the supervisory team on a weekly basis.
Project Description Gambling advertising is everywhere. While government regulations have aimed to restrict the timing of gambling advertising on Australian television, there has been very limited regulatory reform about the content of advertisements. Based on an analysis conducted by Pitt et al (2017), this project aims to understand which specific strategies in gambling advertisements may have the most appeal for children, and how they may shape children’s gambling attitudes and consumption intentions. The research will focus on children aged 8-16 years of age, and will aim to provide clear policy recommendations about regulation of the content of gambling advertisements.
Methodological Approach
This project will comprise both basic descriptive quantitative and detailed qualitative methodologies. Students will also conduct a basic content analysis of gambling marketing on social media sites.
Ethics This study will require ethical approval. The research team is currently applying for this approval and it is anticipated that the project will have approval by the time students commence.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
Students should have basic knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Because of the colloquialisms in Australian betting advertisements, the students should have a strong understanding of English.
Additional Details Data collection will take place in Melbourne. Students should have access to transport to collect data. Some petrol costs will be available to cover transport costs.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
We have a strong track record in journal publications and conference presentations and we expect that there will be multiple opportunities for the students to participate in both of these.
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Project Title: Characterising positive and sustainable friendships for people with cognitive disability
Type of Project Masters Major or Honours Porject
Supervisors 1. Dr Jo Watson ([email protected])
2. Dr Patsie Frawley ([email protected])
3. Professor Susan Balandin ([email protected])
Project Time Frame March – December, 2018. The project is suitable for full or part time students.
Expected Student Contact
Students would be expected to meet with supervisor(s) once per week, either in person, by phone or over Skype.
Project Description Our friendships are an important source of support throughout life, and contribute positively to our quality of life (Hefner & Eisenberg, 2009). Friends play a particularly important role in providing support with decision-making (Watson, 2016). Despite the importance of interpersonal relationships people with intellectual disabilities often have small and poorly sustained social networks (Lippold & Burns 2009; Bigby & Clements, 2009).
This project aims to understand key factors that support and impede sustainable friendships for people with intellectual disability. This understanding will inform the development of strategies aimed at expanding and sustaining informal networks for people with intellectual disability, important elements of decision making support.
The project will sit within the context of an ongoing study currently being carried out by the proposed supervisors (Watson, Balandin & Frawley). The larger study is evaluating a program that matches volunteers with people with cognitive impairments. These relationships are framed by ideas about the need for support in decision making.
Methodological Approach
This project will require a student to: 1. Conduct and write up a scoping literature review; 1. Contribute to the development of semi-structured interview protocols; 2. Conduct and transcribe several semi-structured interviews; 3. Thematically analyse qualitative interview data related to the characterisation of positive
and sustainable friendships for people with intellectual disability.
Ethics This study will require ethical approval. The research team will commence the approval process and it is anticipated that the project will have approval by the time students commence.
Necessary Skills / Knowledge
A basic understanding of: 1. Literature searching and synthesis; 2. Qualitative data collection methodologies; 3. Qualitative thematic analysis.
Additional Details Data collection will take place throughout Melbourne and possibly Geelong.. A number of external organisations are involved in this project, however the student is unlikely to have meet with them. These organisations include, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the Office of the Public Advocate and a statewide disability advocacy organisation (VALID). Funding has been secured to support this project.
Could the project result in a conference presentation/ publication?
Results from the larger research project will be presented at conferences and submitted for publications in peer reviewed journals. The student will be invited to participate in both of these activities.