Social Work - Research Publications

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    Australian parent and sibling perspectives on the impact of paediatric acquired brain injury on family relationships during the first 6 weeks at home.
    Hickey, L ; Anderson, V ; Jordan, B (Department of Social Work, The University of Melbourne, 2021)
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    Pathways to participation in gymnastics: Understanding the experiences of families of children with disability.
    Toovey, R ; Shuttleworth, H ; Hickey, L (ICMS Australasia, 2022-03-04)
    Background/Objective: Modifying environments can break down barriers to community participation for children and young people with disability and their families. Gymnastics is a popular community-based sport for young people in Australia with physical, social, and psychological benefits for children including those with disability. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of families of children with disability with getting involved in, and participating in, gymnastics, to inform how more supportive gymnastics environments can be created. Study design: Sequential explanatory mixed-methods study Study participants and setting: Eligible participants were parents or carers of children / young people with disability (any type, up to 25 years of age) who currently participate in, had participated in, or had attempted to participate in gymnastics in Victoria, Australia, in the last 3 years. Methods: This study was led by researchers in collaboration with a project advisory group including two parents of children with disability and staff from the peak organisation for gymnastics in Victoria. Participants were invited to complete an online survey, with selected participants purposively invited to undertake a semi-structured interview via videoconference. Quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics with preliminary findings informing the invitation of interview participants and further refinement of the interview questions. Qualitative survey and interview data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis to create themes. All data were then mixed to create a conceptual framework. Themes and the framework underwent member checking with the parent advisors and interview participants. Results: Sixty-eight parents or carers provided survey responses, and eight interviews were conducted. The three most reported factors considered when selecting a gymnastics club were 1) coaches’ knowledge of disability (median importance score = 84/100, interquartile range (74-99)), 2) convenient location (80 (68-94)) and, 3) inclusive programs offered (80 (63-94)). Five key themes emerged: 1) Tailored, accessible and supportive facilities and programs make a difference, 2) An explicitly inclusive club culture helps young people get involved and stay involved, 3) Coach knowledge about engaging children with disability is valued, 4) Enjoyment and recognition of achievement are key facilitators of ongoing participation and, 5) Gymnastics has psychological and social benefits too. The conceptual framework integrated themes into stages along the participation pathway. Conclusions/significance: Many participation-related interventions target children with disability and their families. Conversely, these findings provide guidance to gymnastics clubs on how to become more inclusive and supportive environments at each stage of participation.
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    Not For Me: Older Adults Choosing Not to Participate in a Social Isolation Intervention
    Waycott, J ; Vetere, F ; Pedell, S ; Morgans, A ; Ozanne, E ; Kulik, L (Association for Computing Machinery, 2016-05)
    This paper considers what we can learn from the experiences of people who choose not to participate in technology-based social interventions. We conducted ethnographically-informed field studies with socially isolated older adults, who used and evaluated a new iPad application designed to help build new social connections. In this paper we reflect on how the values and assumptions guiding the technological intervention were not always shared by those participating in the evaluation. Drawing on our field notes and interviews with the older adults who chose to discontinue participation, we use personas to illustrate the complexities and tensions involved in individual decisions to not participate. This analysis contributes to HCI research calling for a more critical perspective on technological interventions. We provide detailed examples highlighting the complex circumstances of our non-participants' lives, present a framework that outlines the socio-technical context of non-participation, and use our findings to promote reflective practice in HCI research that aims to address complex social issues.
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    Agile housing for an ageing Australia
    Newton, C ; Backhouse, S ; Aibinu, A ; Crawford, RH ; Kvan, T ; Ozanne, E ; Pert, A ; Whitzman, C ; Zuo, J ; Daniel, L ; Soebarto, V (The Architectural Science Association and The University of Adelaide, 2016)
    By 2055, Australia’s 65+ population will have doubled and, if current strategies are followed, it is likely that the housing available will be inappropriate. Today’s housing stock will still be in use yet few developers and designers are capitalising on the potential of agile housing and, more broadly, the creation of age-friendly neighbourhoods. Current changes in design and prefabrication technology, along with government initiatives for ageing at home in preference to institutional care, have the potential to transform the way we consider housing design to support changing demographics. This research considers agile housing for an ageing population from the perspectives of urban planning, design, prefabrication, sustainability, life-cycle costing and social gerontology. We highlight the need for interdisciplinary perspectives in order to consider how entrenched policy, planning, design and construction practices can be encouraged to change through advocacy, design speculation and scenario testing to deliver right-sized housing. A cradle-to-grave perspective requires the exploration of the social and practical benefits of housing in multigenerational communities. This research links to concurrent work on affordable housing solutions and the potential of an industry, government and academic partnership to present an Australian Housing Exposition, that will highlight the possibilities of a more agile housing approach.
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    Women’s mental health, family violence and the interface with children’s services
    Humphreys, Prof. Catherine ( 2007)
    This record is the Power Point Presentation slides of "Women’s mental health, family violence and the interface with children’s services".
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    Social services responses: problems and possibilities
    Humphreys, Dr. Catherine ( 1998)
    An overview of some of the issues that were arising in social services responses to domestic violence.