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External Outcomes

Congratulations to all of those researchers awarded external research grants. The list of successful applicants follows.

2009 ARC Linkage Round 2

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Prof RG Craven; Prof MH Vickers; Dr K Barker; Dr K Watson; Dr A Power; Dr M Mooney; Dr B Dobia; Mr PM Whitefield; Ms JM Schofield

Enabling schooling success: Psycho social drivers & impact of Positive Behaviour for Learning intervention on behaviour, well being, academic engagement & achievement

2009 : $ 71 000
2010 : $ 126 000
2011 : $ 123 500
2012 : $ 68 500

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): NSW Department of Education and Training

Project Summary
Reducing behavioural & emotional difficulties in schools is vital given their pervasiveness & long term consequences for academic failure, mental health & anti social behaviour. Consistent with National Research Priorities to promote proactive health & wellbeing effective research based positive behaviour for learning interventions will yield important educational & socio economic benefits by enriching learning, psychosocial adjustment, schooling success & life potential of young Australians. Research outcomes have the potential to seed success by generating new solutions to strengthen schooling; enable students to reach potential; build capacity at individual & community levels & contribute to national socio economic wellbeing. 

School of Social Sciences
LAW ENFORCEMENT

Prof M Mitchell; Prof SR Miller; Prof TJ Prenzler; Mr P Gallagher; Prof J Kleinig; Mr GT Chilvers; Prof SL Grover; Dr V Hughes

Police Leadership in the 21st Century:  Redesigning Roles and Practices

2009 : $ 77 500
2010 : $ 152 000
2011 : $ 136 500
2012 : $ 62 000

APA(I) Award(s): 2 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): New South Wales Police Force; Western Australia Police; University of Otago

Project Summary
Leaders are seen as exemplifying and guiding the climate of police organisations. This project will deliver comprehensive, comparative, and internationally relevant empirical data on the relationship between leaders' approach and behaviours and the achievement of outcomes in these significant, high profile public sector organisations. On this foundation the project will make recommendations on innovative institutional design to achieve ethical, effective and efficient policing capable of withstanding the challenges of the future. This will increase public confidence in policing, resulting in safer communities and improved crime control. This proposal contributes to the ARC research priority of Safeguarding Australia.

School of Management
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Prof SB Banerjee; Dr F Duarte; Dr JH Troughton

Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector: Challenges and Prospects

2009 : $  13 070
2010 : $  26 140
2011 : $  13 070

APA(I) Award(s): 1 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Business Associates Network

Project Summary
The proposed research addressed two of the National Research Priorities, viz., promoting an environmentally sustainable Australia (Goal 2: Transforming existing industries), and promoting and maintaining good health (Goal 4: strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric).  The research findings will identify best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibility in the SME sector thus contributing to the creation of environmentally and socially sustainable workplaces. By integrating perspectives from multiple stakeholders the research also addresses community environmental and social concerns.

Centre for Plant and Food Science
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Prof DS Ellsworth; Dr BE Medlyn; Mrs DE Drewry; Dr EC Morris

Forest ecosystem water use: Does species diversity matter?

2009 : $  43 500
2010 : $  76 500
2011 : $  66 000
2012 : $  33 000

APA(I) Award(s): 2 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Penrith Lakes Development Corporation

Project Summary
Forest water use and susceptibility to drought are major concerns for forest plantation establishment in Australia. This research will provide fundamental information about how plantation water use and drought tolerance are modified by species diversity. This work has the potential to transform tree plantation establishment practices toward inclusion of greater species diversity or toward species with particular complementary traits. It has significant potential to enhance benefits from reforestation projects, including better drought survival, reduced water use, soil bioremediation and enhanced biodiversity.

Family and Community Heath Research Group (FaCH)
NURSING

A/Prof VA Schmied; Dr LA Kemp; Dr T Covic; Prof BE Barnett; Mr RJ Mills; Mrs DA Nemeth; Mrs MM Hughes

The perinatal journey: the process and impact of psychosocial assessment

2009 : $  16 428
2010 : $  37 985
2011 : $  34 627
2012 : $  13 070

APA(I) Award(s): 1 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Karitane

Project Summary
This study of the process and impact of psychosocial assessment and depression screening during pregnancy and after birth will have immediate national application and benefit as Australian governments prepare policy to implement universal psychosocial assessment. Findings will provide evidence based approaches to assessment and service delivery impacting positively on large numbers of Australian women who use maternity and early childhood nursing services. Most importantly, skillful early identification of women in distress or 'at risk' is the first step in providing appropriate services and support to ensure better child outcomes. The research will be at the cutting edge internationally and directly addresses National Research Priorities.

Family and Community Heath Research Group (FaCH)
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES


A/Prof VA Schmied; Dr JH Fenwick; Dr K Gribble; Mrs D McGrath; Dr A Sheehan; Prof FC Dykes

A study of contemporary family, social and cultural influences on first time mothers' decisions about infant feeding and early parenting practices

2009 : $  13 070
2010 : $  26 140
2011 : $  26 140
2012 : $  13 070

APA(I) Award(s): 1 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation; Avondale College; University of Central Lancashire

Project Summary
Children who are never breastfed are more likely to experience respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, diabetes and as adults, high blood pressure, obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study of infant feeding decision making in first time mothers will inform strategies, grounded in the daily lives of women and families to assist mothers to breastfeed for longer particularly in communities where breastfeeding is not the norm. Increased support for breastfeeding women from family, community and health professionals is likely to reduce the distress reported by many new mothers. Strategic application of findings will lead to health gains from increased breastfeeding and translate into significant cost savings for the Australian health system.

School of Engineering
MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

Dr G Fang; Dr JJ Zou; Prof Dr S Chen; Mr JA Cameron

A Vision Controlled Autonomous Multi Robot Welding System

2009 : $  17 500
2010 : $  32 500
2011 : $  28 070
2012 : $  13 070

APA(I) Award(s): 1

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Lincoln Electric (Australia)

Project Summary
This developed system will increase the application of robotic welding in more Australian industries thereby increaseing the productivity and competitiveness of the nation. The system will provide a safer work environment for workers by reducing and potentially eliminating direct exposure of workers to the welding process. This fully automated welding system will give the Lincoln a significant advantage in commercialise this technology both in Australia and overseas. Therefore, this will reap considerable economic benefit for the company, and the nation. This project will also provide a realistic industrial environment for PhD student training.

School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING

Dr G Ranzi; Prof B Uy; Dr S Gowripalan; Dr P Gabor

Behaviour of post-tensioned composite steel-concrete slabs

2009 : $  50 000
2010 : $  100 000
2011 : $  100 000
2012 : $  50 000

APA(I) Award(s): 2

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Stramit Building Products; Arup

Administering Organisation: The University of Sydney

Project Summary
Post-tensioned composite steel-concrete slabs represent an attractive and novel form of construction capable of
combining the advantages of the two most commonly used flooring systems in the Australian building industry
which consist of post-tensioned slabs in the case of concrete structures and of composite slabs for steel structures. The advantages of this novel system cannot be exploited as yet as no design guidelines are currently available. The proposed research team embraces all the construction building industry and will investigate the structural behaviour of post-tensioned composite slabs, producing valuable design guidance to keep Australian research and practice at the forefront internationally.

Social Justice Social Change Research
CentrePOLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

Dr S Bessell; Prof J Mason; Dr AV Nevile; Ms A Michaux
Children, Community and Social Capital in Australia

2009 : $ 13 500
2010 : $ 30 861
2011 : $ 32 361
2012 : $ 15 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): The Benevolent Society; NAPCAN

Administering Organisation: The Australian National University

Project Summary
Contributing to our understanding of children's roles and contributions to their communities in Australia, this research will strengthen the basis for policies and interventions relating to social inclusion, community strengthening, children's well-being and family policy. Currently, there is a strong policy focus on children's issues in Australia, but children's own experiences and perspectives are often missing from policy deliberations. This research will provide the foundation for policy and interventions that are inclusive of children and value children as community members and citizens.


 

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2009 ARC Discovery

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Prof RG Craven; Prof I Wilson; Dr AS Yeung

Keeping Pace: A Critical Longitudinal Analysis of the Psychosocial Determinants of Seeding Success in Educating Home Grown Doctors for Regional Communities

2009 : $  85 000
2010 : $  80 000
2011 : $  80 000

Project Summary
Australia currently has a medical workforce situation which, if unchecked, will see a deepening of the shortage of doctors in rural & regional communities. Elucidating the impact of psychosocial drivers on medical education outcomes will identify potent practical strategies that seed success. The outcomes of this research have the potential to 'break the cycle' of doctor shortages in underserved areas by generating new solutions to: improve Australia's capacity to strengthen home grown medical education; address doctor shortages regionally; and build capacity at community and individual levels. This research has important implications for the future of home grown medical education nationally and internationally.

 

Centre for Educational Research
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS
 
Prof M Singh; Dr J Han

Extending the capabilities of argumentative Chinese students: Enhancing Australia's pedagogical capacity for engaging China through internationalising research education

2009 : $  70 000
2010 : $  40 000
2011 : $  50 000

Project Summary
In 2007, 90,000 students from China were studying in Australia. This represents 23% of Australia's international students. This project will improve Australia's capacity for engaging China by producing an innovative framework for teaching mainland Chinese research students. It will explore the educational value of engaging these students' Chinese intellectual heritage; their communicative abilities in English and Chinese, and the knowledge they access via digital technologies. Australia's knowledge about the internationalisation of its research education and developmental, cooperative approaches to research will be increased. This will enhance Australia's capacity for research based engagement with the educational culture of China.

 

School of Computing and Mathematics
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING
 
Dr D Zhang; Prof Y Zhang; Prof N Foo; Prof M Thielscher

Logical Foundation and Implementation Technology for Automated Negotiation

2009 : $  95 000
2010 : $  65 000
2011 : $  65 000

Project Summary
The logic of bargaining is fundamental to understanding human negotiation and multiagent interaction. This project provides a new paradigm of negotiation with the integration of qualitative and quantitative analysis of bargaining processes and enhancement of implementation technologies for negotiation automation and trading agent design. The theoretic approach can be applied to a wide range of areas for the analysis of economic, political and social phenomena. The techniques, algorithms and possible patents generated by the project can be directly used by the Australian IT industry for the development of efficient e trading systems, allowing Australian business to take
advantage of new e market territories.

 

School of Computing and Mathematics
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING

Prof Y Zhang

Model Update with Localisation, Constraints and Abstraction

2009 : $  80 000
2010 : $  75 000
2011 : $  70 000

Project Summary
This project will fundamentally provide a new paradigm and a system prototype for advanced computer aided system modification. It will significantly enhance Australia's leading role in the cutting edge research in computer aided system development. By applying the new methodology and technology, Australian IT industry will significantly improve its capacity for developing highly complex hardware and software systems for various applications. With a strong research program across different areas such as knowledge system update, model checking and software development, and a collaborative research training environment, this project will strengthen Australia's international reputation as a leader in computing and IT research.

 

Dean's Unit - College of Health and Science
PSYCHOLOGY

Prof BL Hesketh; Dr BN Griffin

Retirement transition: a longitudinal P E fit approach within a 'life expectancy' time framework

2009 : $  85 000
2010 : $  60 000
2011 : $  60 000
2012 : $  35 500

Project Summary
Retirement is an important career milestone, heralding the onset of potentially significant changes in health, finance, and activity. Australia's largest birth cohort, the baby boomers, is ageing and beginning the transition into retirement and yet little is known about how the shifts in culture and attitude will affect their ability to adjust. This research will identify the dominant needs of this group, the resources required to fulfil them, and the factors associated with successful adjustment behaviours. Greater understanding on how self rated longevity, health, finance and values interact to affect decision making will have important implications for public policy and individual planning.

 

School of Humanities and Languages
CULTURAL STUDIES

Dr G Morgan; Dr G Noble

The Just in Time Self: Young Men, Skill and Narratives of Aspiration in the New Economy

2009 : $  62 000
2010 : $  60 000
2011 : $  26 000

Project Summary
Employers and policy makers frequently lament the 'skills gap': the shortage of workers with the skills required to perform the available jobs. This cannot be solved simply by funding more vocational training courses. To improve participation in training it is important to understand how vocational aspirations are formed. This research will demonstrate how, through their involvement in collective creative projects, young men from poor backgrounds, develop skills and inclinations that might move them beyond the traditional model of manual labour to develop the flexibility required of workers in the 'new economy'.

 

School of Humanities and Languages
CULTURAL STUDIES

A/Prof BM Neilson; Prof M Ang; Dr N Rossiter; Prof ME Morris; Prof R Samaddar; Prof H Wang; Prof S Mezzadra

Culture in Transition: Creative Labour and Social Mobilities in the Asian Century

2009 : $ 159 000
2010 : $ 100 000
2011 : $ 110 000 

Project Summary
Australia's role in the Asian region is changing with the rise of China and India. This Project will benefit Australian communities by increasing knowledge about how the emergence of these nations impacts upon economic growth and innovation, intercultural relations and efforts of social inclusion. The Project will develop new media strategies to inform citizens about how labour relations and mobilities are shifting in this regional context. It will also increase public awareness of the changing forms of global urbanism in Chinese and Indian cities and reposition Australian cultural research and policy in ways adequate to the economic and social challenges posed by the so called Asian century.

 

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
PSYCHOLOGY

Prof DK Burnham; Dr T Kuratate; Prof C McBride Chang; Dr K Mattock

Making speech three dimensional: Adding tone to consonant  and vowel based speech perception and language acquisition research, quantification and theory

2009 : $ 140 000
2010 : $  80 000
2011 : $ 135 000

Project Summary
Children learn the intricacies of human language in just a few years because they tune into their native language well before they start to speak.  We now have a good understanding of this process and how it might affect learning difficulties but only for a limited number of European languages. Here we will investigate face to face speech and language learning for components used across the world's languages, most particularly lexical tone used in many Asian languages, with significant implications for language acquisition, language learning difficulties, machines that speak, learning foreign languages, aids for the Deaf and hearing impaired, and multilingualism.

 

School of Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY

A/Prof CJ Stevens; Dr B Tillmann; Dr PE Keller

Expecting the Unexpected: Learning Complex Temporal and Rhythmic Relations

2009 : $  61 000
2010 : $  62 000
2011 : $  63 000

Project Summary
Music is one of the most accessible routes to experience, and to learn about, cultures other than our own. A new implicit method for learning complex rhythm and underlying metre promotes inter group understanding and communication. We hypothesize that implicit learning (IL) of unfamiliar complex metres through music generalizes to spoken language built on similar metres; IL facilitates segmentation of previously unfamiliar spoken language and enhances recognition of English spoken with the stress pattern of a 'foreign' metre. Future intervention programs based on implicit learning of temporal relations will benefit people with reading difficulties or timing problems characteristic of cerebellar and basal ganglia patients.

 

School of Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY

Prof JM Ussher; Dr J Perz; Dr E Weisberg

Evaluation of the relative efficacy and mechanisms of a couple based intervention for Premenstrual Syndrome through a randomised control trial using mixed methods

2009 : $ 150 000
2010 : $ 160 000
2011 : $ 110 000

Project Summary
Of 9,689 Australian women recently surveyed nationally, 33% reported moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Whilst relationships have been identified as a significant factor in the experience of premenstrual distress, to date there has been no systematic description or evaluation of couple based PMS interventions. This research study will do this, helping health care providers understand the experience and treatment of PMS in the context of family relationships, thereby reducing PMS, and the physical and psychological distress associated with it. This will lead to improved psychological wellbeing and quality of life for women and their families.

 

Urban Research Centre
ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT

A/Prof C Martinez Fernandez; Dr S Fol; Prof E Deakin; Prof Dr T Wiechmann; Dr I Audirac; Prof H Yahagi

Achieving urban vitality: skills & employment development in shrinking cities

2009 : $  97 000
2010 : $ 110 000
2011 : $ 119 000

Project Summary
The study will provide a conceptual framework for understanding the dynamics of shrinking cities, its typology, and the trajectories of these cities in Australia, Europe, USA and Japan. The study questions traditional paradigms of growth and decline and demographic change. At a policy and strategic level, the project will provide a review and assessment of policies, programs and regeneration strategies in areas in decline in Australia as well as a database of best practices in terms of skills and employment programs in shrinking cities as per the typology developed in the study. The study will provide an international environment for research students to participate in a highly innovative transnational debate.

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2009 ARC Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Mr AW Dillon; Prof RG Craven; Dr AS Yeung; Prof I Wilson

Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder: A critical analysis elucidating constructs that influence parental acceptance/rejection of diagnosis and response

2009 : $  60 000
2010 : $  30 000

Project Summary
Part of the controversy surrounding ADHD is the increasing use of stimulant medication to deal with children who have been given a diagnosis of ADHD. Given the absence of scientific evidence that demonstrates an underlying causal physical pathology for ADHD, many claim that medication is inappropriate, with some suggesting that it is harmful. This research seeks to explicate parents' perceptions of ADHD & the impact of psycho social constructs on parents' decisions to accept/reject a diagnosis & respond. This research offers important educational & social benefits. The outcomes of this research have the potential to 'break the cycle' of increasing medication; build parents' capacity to respond; & contribute to a healthy start to life.

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2009 ARC Linkage Round 1

Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies (CInIS)
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Dr JA Fitzgerald; Prof SJ Simoff; Dr TR Sloan; Dr P Samaranayake; Mr M Johnston; Ms A Larkin

Visual optimisation of patient flow in Hospital Emergency Departments

2009 : $  45 000
2010 : $  30 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Campbelltown Hospital

Project Summary
Recent policy announcements by the State and Federal Governments have centred on the need to explore the use of process management principles, normally applied to manufacturing industry, to health services management. This multidisciplinary project addresses one of the most pressing needs in health services provision of methods to reduce patient queues and waiting times in emergency departments through interactive computing simulation to visualise and plan work process improvements. This smart use of information will benefit hospital managers, patients and their carers, is transferable to other health contexts, and by optimising resource usage has the potential to help build Australian (health) business.

 

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Prof MH Vickers; Dr K Barker; A/Prof RW Perry; Prof SB Dockett; Mr M Hyam

Staying on at school: strategies for increasing high school completion rates in low retention regions of NSW

2009 : $ 141 000
2010 : $ 127 000
2011 : $ 133 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): NSW Department of Education and Training

Project Summary
Leaving school early has been shown to have detrimental effects on the life chances, well being and health of young people and their communities. Despite this, a significant portion of today's youth chooses to leave school early. Unfortunately, little is understood about the processes and factors involved in the decision to leave school, and hence schools and systems are uncertain about how to decrease dropping out. Understanding the processes and factors involved in the decision to leave school early, and identifying the basis for between school differences, will assist in the development of programs and curricula that will be more successful in increasing retention rates, hence enhancing the skill base of Australia's youth.

 

School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING

Dr CJ Leo; Prof BN Indraratna; Dr JJ Zou; Dr C Rujikiatkamjorn; Mr R Golaszewski; Mr TD McWilliam; Dr H Wong; Prof DT Bergado

Geotechnical characterisation of compacted ground based on passive ambient noise techniques

2009 : $  77 000
2010 : $  69 000
2011 : $  65 000

APA(I) Award(s): 2 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Penrith Lakes Development Corporation; Coffey Geotechnics

Project Summary
The proposed research will provide our local construction and mining industries with a much needed fast and low cost technology for geotechnical investigation of very large sites which is currently not available. The project will help steer Australia to the forefront of ambient noise research for geotechnical site investigation, in the characterisation of unsaturated compacted soil and in the determination of dynamic site characteristics which are required for seismic risk assessment. Two postgraduate students will benefit from this research by receiving research training at the highest level and it will also pave the way for exporting the technology developed overseas, particularly to our near neighbours in Asia and the Pacific.

 

School of Nursing and Midwifery
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

Dr EJ Halcomb; Prof R Griffiths; Dr S Sloggett

A Model of Integrated Care for Dependant Older People Living in the Community

2009 : $  26 140
2010 : $  27 000
2011 : $  27 000

APA(I) Award(s): 1 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Carrington Centennial Care; Tunstall Australasia Pty Ltd; Schwarz Family Practice

Project Summary
This research offers significant economic, health and social benefits. Promoting and maintaining good health and ageing well, ageing productively are national priority areas. Case management and telemedicine are both recognised strategies to support chronic disease self management. Early intervention can offer significant benefits in morbidity and mortality. Enhanced service delivery using an integrated model encompassing general practitioners, practice nurses and community carers, could improve chronic and complex disease management and reduce health costs.

 

School of Nursing and Midwifery
NURSING

Prof DE Jackson; Ms L Luck; Prof LM Wilkes; Mrs M Clarke

Violence in the hospital setting: Testing the predictive validity of a violence assessment tool for nurses

2009 : $  26 140
2010 : $  26 140
2011 : $  26 140

APA(I) Award(s): 1 

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Sydney West Area Health Service

Project Summary
Violence against nurses persists as an ongoing problem in the Australian health care settings. This form of violence negatively impacts on nurses' job satisfaction, performance and productivity, morale, retention and recruitment and may cause physical and/or psychological injury.  By developing a violence assessment tool, this project will enable nurses to routinely assess individuals for potential violence and address the issue before violence occurs.  In addition, this project will provide evidence for policy makers and health care professionals to encourage a more pro active approach to support vulnerable nursing staff against potential violence in the emergency and general ward area.

 

School of Psychology
PSYCHOLOGY

Dr T Covic; Dr A Sharpe; A/Prof J Pallant; A/Prof N Manolios; Mrs D Aspinall

Motherhood choices: a decision aid for women with rheumatoid arthritis

2009 : $  35 000
2010 : $  40 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Arthritis NSW

Project Summary
Decisions about pregnancy in the context of debilitating rheumatoid arthritis impact directly on both the mother and the child as well as their family and wider social unit. Providing evidence based information to support women in making informed decisions about motherhood is critical in maximizing the well being of the mother and ensuring a healthy start to life for a baby. The project will contribute to the national research priority area of promoting and maintaining good health, addressing the goal of supporting a healthy start to life. 

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2008 ARC Discovery

Centre for Cultural Research
CULTURAL STUDIES

Prof DM Stevenson; A/Prof S Tomsen; Prof DC Rowe

The City after Dark: The Governance and Lived Experience of Urban Night Time Culture

2008 : $ 81 284
2009 : $ 47 000
2010 : $ 95 000

Project Summary:
The stimulation of a 'night time economy' can deliver to Australian cities great cultural, social and economic benefits, or result in social disruption and disputation, assaults, and serious injuries that drain public criminal justice and health resources. By increasing understanding of the experience, production and regulation of urban night time cultures in a major metropolitan centre, this innovative Project will contribute to the development of urban policies attuned to specific Australian circumstances. It will promote the long term cultural, social and economic sustainability of diverse urban after dark leisure spaces, and the safety and protection both of leisure participants and neighbouring areas and communities.

Centre for Cultural Research
JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA

Dr B Hutchins; Prof DC Rowe (UWS)

Struggling for Possession: The Control and Use of Online Media Sport

2008 : $ 62 000
2009 : $ 57 500
2010 : $ 62 300

Administering Organisation: Monash University

Project Summary:
Policy debates about the private ownership of sport content by media companies and sports organisations, and citizens' rights of access to content in new media environments, are characterised by considerable regulatory and legal uncertainty. This Project will identify and analyse the sources of this uncertainty, and provide informed, evidence‑based policy direction. There is a pressing need for such evidence, with regulatory authorities already expressing concern over the locking up of exclusive content rights by major media companies. This Project also contributes to the conceptual development of Communication and Media Studies in a key area of national popular culture ‑ sport.

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Prof RG Craven; Prof HW Marsh; Prof L Wheeler; Dr AS Yeung; Ms M Seaton

Realising Gifted Students' Potential: Elucidating psychosocial determinants and the impact of different educational settings on educational outcomes and psychosocial wellbeing

2008 : $ 150 000
2009 : $ 150 000
2010 : $ 150 000
2011 : $ 100 000

APD Ms M Seaton

Project Summary:
As current gifted students are expected to provide future leaders in all fields of endeavour, there is an increasing emphasis in Australia and worldwide on how to educate gifted students most effectively. Our proposed research will improve Australia's capacity to educate gifted students by: informing practice on how best to select students to participate in gifted education; maximising the potential of gifted young Australians; and providing guidance for future intervention strategies. This research will contribute substantially to further actualising Australia's claim to be the clever country and will have important implications for the future of gifted education.

School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING

Prof B Uy; Dr A Remennikov; A/Prof JR Liew

Utilising the benefits of high performance steels (HPS) and infill materials for critical infrastructure protection (CIP) against extreme loads

2008 : $ 140 000
2009 : $ 136 000
2010 : $ 95 000

Project Summary:
This project will provide an improved understanding of the behaviour of structural elements subjected to impact and blast loads. The structural engineering community will benefit from the state of the art knowledge whilst the general community will benefit from the increased safety of critical infrastructure which will provide greater security against physical and financial losses. This project extends on work conducted by the first Chief and Partner Investigator in a completed ARC Discovery Project. It is also directly related to research being carried out by the Second Chief Investigator as part of the ARC, Research Network for a Secure Australia.

School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING

Prof B Uy

Unified theory for the behaviour and design of composite steel concrete beams subjected to generalised loading and support conditions

2008 : $ 96 490
2009 : $ 122 452
2010 : $ 81 471

Project Summary:
Steel framed construction for bridges, buildings and stadia is considered to provide a more elegant form of construction which often results in a minimum weight solution and can be linked with reconstructability and sustainability. This project, which provides for an improved understanding of steel framed construction, will result in the community being provided with more efficient structural forms. From a technical perspective a greater understanding of steel framed construction will provide the structural engineering community with greater choice in their design process. This will often allow for the most effective solution in terms of aesthetics, constructability, cost and sustainability.

School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY

Prof BA Neilan; Dr CJ Bolch; Dr MC Moffitt (UWS)

Polyketides as the conserved basis for diverse marine toxin biosyntheses

2008 : $ 105 000
2009 : $ 105 000
2010 : $ 105 000

Administering Organisation The University of New South Wales

Project Summary:
Over the past three decades, the frequency and global distribution of harmful marine biotoxin events appears to have increased, and human poisonings have regularly occurred. This project will develop an understanding of the genetics and physiology of toxin producing marine microorganisms in response to pollution and climatic change that is critical for the management of these species and for the risk assessment of contaminated seafood. The direct outcomes of this work constitute an easier, more economical and ethical alternative to current toxicity testing. Further benefits of this research will also be tangible for the environmental, biosecurity, fisheries and pharmaceutical sectors of Australian community and industry.

School of Computing and Mathematics
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SIGNAL AND IMAGE PROCESSING

Prof SJ Simoff (UWS); Prof JK Debenham; Prof C Sierra; Prof IF Wilkinson

'It's all about me' Anthropomorphised Trading in Believable Electronic Markets

2008 : $ 123 210
2009 : $ 118 000
2010 : $ 112 000

Administering Organisation University of Technology, Sydney

Project Summary:
There is a need for trustful business environments that will open up the e markets to a greater population of traders. This project looks at the development of believable e markets that address this need. Proposed 3D electronic institution technology is expected to facilitate the establishment of robust business structures as the believability of the business activities and interactions in such e markets will ensure the principles of trust and reputation in the electronic markets of tomorrow.

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
PERFORMING ARTS

Prof RT Dean

Temporal segmentation, leadership and cognition in musical improvisation and creativity

2008 : $ 68 000
2009 : $ 65 000
2010 : $ 65 000

Project Summary:
Improvisation is core to conversation and to creative and social emergence. This project investigates musical improvisation, in order to reveal constituent processes, using computational and cognitive approaches. Mechanisms for generating transitions in the temporal stream, and for asserting social power or position in it are assessed. Improvised material can be explored, modified, and developed in the creative process, and the project investigates how this occurs and whether computers can facilitate the process. Such contributions can be critical to the development of innovation in research and cultural arenas in Australia.

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
LINGUISTICS

Dr MD Tyler

Development of second language phonetic and phonological categories

2008 : $ 79 983
2009 : $ 70 000
2010 : $ 70 000

Project Summary:
The majority of the world's population speaks two or more languages, yet we know little about how multiple languages are accommodated within a single speaker. Why do children appear to learn a second language 'like a native' but adults invariably develop a clearly perceptible foreign accent? This project investigates a little known fact adult second language speakers also 'hear' with a foreign accent. As Australia becomes increasingly multilingual increasing our understanding of the human capacity for language learning would strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric by leading to improved educational practices, work prospects for migrants and, most importantly, understanding between cultures.

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
LINGUISTICS

Dr CK So

Unveiling the mystery of tone perception: How does native language prosody affect adults' perception of foreign tones?

2008 : $ 140 000
2009 : $ 78 648
2010 : $ 78 648

APD Dr CK So

Project Summary:
This project provides new knowledge about how humans perceive non native lexical tone categories. The results of this large scale cross language study will indicate how native languages constrain human perception of non native speech (consonants, vowels, intonation). These data will greatly facilitate the research in second language acquisition and teaching, speech perception modeling including automatic speech recognition with tone languages, human speech processing. The findings will also be useful to clinical speech and hearing research for speech and hearing impaired persons, and commercial applications in foreign language teaching, and computer assisted language learning for language learners.

School of Medicine
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

Prof B Raphael; Ms J Dunsmore

Terrorism, Pandemic Influenza, and Global Warming: Future Conceptualisations and Societal Resilience

2008 : $ 220 000
2009 : $ 225 000
2010 : $ 163 415

Project Summary:
Understanding the potential and actual impact of mass adversity on individual and societal resilience and conceptualisation of the future will help improve the preparedness, response, and recovery by emergency workers, individuals, and society to these events. Guiding likely individual and social behaviours at an appropriate time will help to avoid or mitigate negative social, economic, and health impacts. Studying Bali survivors will lead to an understanding of how their experiences and recoveries have impacted their behaviours and perception of the future, and will identify the most effective professional and community responses to future threat.

School of Natural Sciences
PSYCHOLOGY

Dr BN Griffin

Rudeness, social undermining and interpersonal mistreatment in the workplace

2008 : $ 75 000
2009 : $ 25 000
2010 : $ 42 000

Project Summary:
Workers who are mistreated by colleagues, be it thoughtless rudesness or more intentional undermining, are more likely than others to leave their job, suffer from poor emotional and physical health, and engage in increasingly aggressive retalitory actions. By providing greater understanding of the contributing factors and processes involved, this project will inform the development of interventions to reduce these counterproductive behaviours and their harmful effects. Providing a unique opportunity for widespread documentation of the incidence and nature of interpersonal mistreatment across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the research will identify types of people or workplaces that are at high risk of being targeted.

Centre for Plant and Food Science (PAFS)
OTHER BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Prof DS Ellsworth; Dr BE Medlyn; Prof GG Katul; Prof Dr RJ Ceulemans

How will Eucalypt tree architecture and growth adapt to future atmospheric CO2 and drought?

2008 : $ 120 000
2009 : $ 120 000
2010 : $ 120 000

Project Summary:
This work is fundamental to understanding how growth and water use by Australia's forests will be modified in the future by global change. The changes in tree leaf area and canopy structure that we seek to understand will determine forest responses to increasing atmospheric CO2 and drought. It is essential to study these changes on Australian species, because they differ from forest species elsewhere in having been largely shaped by water availability. This fundamental work will flow into predictions of future forest growth and water use in Australia, with consequences for land and water resource management as well as forestry.

Centre for Plant and Food Science (PAFS)
BOTANY

Prof DT Tissue; Prof JP Conroy; Dr NG Phillips; Dr BA Logan

Eucalypt growth in past and future environments a novel approach to understanding the impacts of atmospheric CO2 and climate

2008 : $ 100 000
2009 : $ 100 000
2010 : $ 100 000

Project Summary:
The impact of climate change and rising atmospheric CO2 on Australia's plantation and native forests is a major concern for government and land managers. These forests are important for environmental, aesthetic, and economic purposes, including carbon sequestration and trading. Forests use large amounts of water, reducing stream flow and water supplies for rural and urban communities. Knowledge generated from the proposed project will provide insight into mechanisms driving productivity and water use of forests in current and future environments. The knowledge will be used by land managers and government to develop strategies to cope with future impacts of climate change.

Urban Research Centre
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

A/Prof D McNeill

The production and contestation of airport territory.

2008 : $ 80 000
2009 : $ 80 000
2010 : $ 25 118

Project Summary:
The restructuring of Australian airports has become a major issue of public interest in recent years, given their status as 'critical infrastructures' (a National Research Priority). The project places the Australian experience in comparative context. It will provide an informed contribution to a range of groups affected by airport restructuring, from private enterprise, through to Commonwealth, State and local councils, and community groups who seek to respond to the challenges of airport expansion. It will provide a strong empirical and theoretical framework that will further the understanding of the impact of airports on urban governance and theory worldwide.

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2008 ARC Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development

Centre for Educational Research
EDUCATION STUDIES

Mr GH Bodkin-Andrews; Prof RG Craven; Dr AS Yeung

Bubalamai Bawa Gumada. Healing the Wounds of the Heart: A Research-Based Intervention Diminishing the Impact of Racism and Stereotype Threat

2008 : $ 90 000
2009 : $ 90 000

IRF Mr GH Bodkin-Andrews

Project Summary:
Indigenous students are not achieving academic outcomes commensurate with non-Indigenous peers. Although research has identified contributing factors, little is known of the effect of cultural stereotypes on Indigenous students' academic outcomes. This research will implement an innovative new intervention to address stereotyping in secondary schools for Indigenous students and evaluate the intervention's impact on mental health and academic functioning. This research offers important educational and socio-economic benefits by enriching the psychosocial adjustment and life potential of Indigenous Australians. This will foster schools free from racism and stereotyping that will contribute to individual, community, and national wellbeing.

OTHER STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY

Mr P McKenzie; Prof MJ Atherton; Prof RG Craven

Hidden Talent: A Critical Analysis of the Contributions of Aboriginal Musicians of the New England Tablelands to Contemporary Aboriginal Culture and Cultural Revitalisation

2008 : $ 40 000
2009 : $ 35 000
2010 : $ 30 000

Project Summary:
My research will add a fresh historical study by an Indigenous researcher to the literature by undertaking a critical multi-method analysis of Anaiwan people's contributions to the development of music in the New England Tablelands to contemporary Aboriginal culture and cultural revitalisation. Their stories have yet to be told, documented, analysed, and shared with all Australians. The significantly different life histories these musicians have lived and the impact of their music contributions on the community will contribute to an engaging public history.

Ms L Riley-Mundine; Prof RG Craven; Dr GE Munns

Conditions for Success to Enhance Aboriginal Education

2008 : $ 35 000
2009 : $ 35 000
2010 : $ 35 000

Project Summary:
Aboriginal students remain the most educationally disadvantaged Australians. This research will elucidate the conditions for success in classrooms, schools, and Aboriginal communities that empower primary Aboriginal students to achieve their potential. The outcomes of this research have the potential to 'break the cycle' of underachievement by generating new solutions to: strengthen schooling; shape a better future for Aboriginal students by enabling students to reach their potential; build capacity at community, school, classroom, and individual levels; and providing educators with effective strategies that are salient to Aboriginal children for doing so.

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2008 ARC Linkage Round 1

Centre for Cultural Research
CURATORIAL STUDIES

Dr FR Cameron; Prof RI Hodge; A/Prof BM Neilson; Dr J Salazar; Prof JP Conroy; Prof DJ Karoly; Mr S Chan; Ms C Meehan; Ms LJ Kelly; Prof GP Durant; Mr W LaBar; Dr R Sandell

Global Citizenship and the Agency of the Museum Sector in Climate Change Interventions

2008 : $174 000
2009 : $161 000
2010 : $235 000

APA(I) Award(s): One

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): Powerhouse Museum,
Museum Victoria, Australian Museum, Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre, Liberty Science Center

Project Summary:
Australia plays an important role in the global response to climate change. This project will benefit Australian communities by building capacity to more effectively respond to and make informed decisions about climate change by looking to the museum sector as change-agents, well-equipped to operate as a global network. It will develop institutional capacity to communicate high-level state of the art knowledge about climate change to produce better informed citizens; provide forums where diverse interests can meet; and produce new avenues for Australian communities to interact and contribute to local and global debates and decision-making on climate change.

Centre for Educational Research
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS

Dr GE Munns; A/Prof WK Sawyer; Mr CR Murray

Teachers For a Fair Go: A study of teachers who 'make a difference' to students in poverty.

2008 : $28 000
2009 : $135 000
2010 : $96 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): NSW Dept of Education and Training/ Priority Schools Programs

Project Summary:
Restricted educational outcomes are central to entrenched disadvantage in poor communities in both rural and urban Australia. This project directly addresses education's role in equal opportunities for all Australians. It seeks to work with, and inform, Australia's largest educational jurisdiction (the NSWDET) about practices which gain success for its poorest students. The project also applies new ideas around motivation and engagement from within the MeE Framework, developed at the University of Western Sydney. Using teachers as co-researchers also takes forward methodological practices in investigating what makes a difference in the social and academic outcomes of students in poverty.

School of Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING

Prof MA Bradford; Prof B Uy (UWS); Dr G Ranzi; Mr A Filonov

Time Dependent Response and Deformations of Composite Beams with Innovative Deep Trapezoidal Decks

2008 : $ 87 141
2009 : $ 83 893
2010 : $ 85 154

APA(I) Award(s): 1
Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): BlueScope Lysaght

Administering Organisation: The University of New South Wales

Project Summary:
The construction industry in Australia is introducing efficient and economical long span trapezoidal profiled steel sheeting for composite flooring systems. Australia is a world leader in the research of composite structures. Composite beams undergo deformations because the concrete creeps and shrinks, and because the slab slips relative to the steel joist. Surprisingly little research has addressed these issues collectively; they are of paramount significance with trapezoidal decks and research is much needed. This research will investigate the interaction of
creep, shrinkage and partial interaction in these composite beams, producing valuable design guidance to keep Australian research and practice at the forefront internationally.

N-FORCE Research Group
NURSING

A/Prof VA Schmied; Dr JH Fenwick; Dr A Sheehan; Mrs FA Saxton; Ms L Passant

Establishing Breastfeeding: an analysis of the language and practices used by midwives and lactation consultants when interacting with new mothers.

2008 : $37 463
2009 : $35 117
2010 : $25 627

APA(I) Award(s): One

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): John Hunter Hospital, Campbelltown Hospital

Project Summary:
Breastfeeding confers extensive health benefits for infants and women, and social and economic benefits for Australian society. Studies indicate that although 80 to 90 per cent of women initiate breastfeeding, approximately 25 per cent cease within the first six weeks. It is estimated that if the prevalence of breastfeeding at three monthspost-birth increased from 60 per cent to 80 per cent, a saving of at least $11.5 million would be made to the Australian health system. This study will provide knowledge about the impact of health professionals' practices on women's infant-feeding decisions, identifying effective components of professional support to inform interventions that increase breastfeeding duration.

Social Justice, Social Change Research Centre
RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

A/Prof RJ Leonard; Dr JD Bellamy; A/Prof RL Ollerton

Investing and Cashing in Social Capital: Using denominational differences among Christian churches to identify the costs and benefits of different network patterns

2008 : $60 000
2009 : $35 000
2010 : $30 000

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s): National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Research

Project Summary:
How much do Christian churches contribute to strengthening Australia's social fabric? Do different denominations contribute in different ways, with some more concerned with relationships within the congregation while others are more concerned with reaching out to the wider community, crossing boundaries of age, class, gender, religious affiliation and ethnicity? This project utilises the large NCLS databases to assess the contribution to social capital of churches across Australia. NCLS Research is the world leader in surveys of church life and this project will form a new basis for international comparisons with the USA, England and New Zealand.

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2008 ARC Linkage - International

Centre for Plant and Food Science (PAFS)
OTHER BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Prof JW Cairney; Prof Z Xu; Dr CD Campbell; Dr IC Anderson

Future climate change: consequences for decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through rhizosphere fungal communities

2008 : $ 16 500
2009 : $ 28 100
2010 : $ 25 100

Collaborating Countries: UK

Project Summary:
The proposed collaboration will provide novel insights into likely consequences of global climate change on decomposition and pathways of carbon flow through forest soils. This will refine predictive models of future climate change and its impacts on the sustainability of Australia's forests. It will also enhance the protection of our valued habitats and their important soil biodiversity. The knowledge gained will help land managers to adapt current practices to meet the demands of future climate change. This will maximize the opportunities for sequestering carbon in Australia's forests and so contribute to meeting Australia's global responsibility for mitigation of climate change.

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2007 ARC Linkage Round 2

UWS has been successful in gaining large scale Australian Research Council funding for two projects in the ARC Linkage Round 2 funding scheme – one project will be hosted by the Centre for Educational Research (CER), the other by the School of Natural Sciences. Total funding for the two projects has been set at $835 000 with matching industry support of $1.789 million.

Centre for Educational Research (CER)
EDUCATION STUDIES

LP0776977 Prof RG Craven; Dr AS Yeung; Dr GE Munns; Dr P Cavanagh; Prof JH Lester; Dr B Davies

Seeding Success and Research-Based Intervention for Aboriginal Students: Impact of quality teaching, effective schools, and psycho-social drivers on educational outcomes

2007 : $45 000
2008 : $85 000
2009 : $107 500
2010 : $67 500

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s)
Department of Education and Training

Project Summary:
Aboriginal students are educationally disadvantaged. This research offers important educational and social benefits. Elucidating the impact of quality teaching, effective schooling, and drivers of life potential on educational outcomes not attained by generations of Aboriginal Australians will identify potent practical strategies that seed success. The outcomes of this research have the potential to 'break the cycle' of underachievement by generating new solutions to: strengthen schooling; shape a better future for Aboriginal students by enabling students to reach their full potential; build capacity at community, school, classroom, and individual levels; and providing educators with best available practice effective strategies for doing so.

School of Natural Sciences
CLINICAL SCIENCES

LP0776482 A/Prof TJ Millar; Prof J Bartlett; Dr HA Ketelson

Investigation of the structure of the pre-ocular tear film

2007 : $90 000
2008 : $172 500
2009 : $175 000
2010 : $92 500

APA(I) Award(s): One

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s)
Alcon Inc.

Project Summary:
Eye care is critical to the elderly e.g. over 50 per cent can expect to suffer from dry-eye which inhibits productivity and independence. Eye-drops are often used for treatment and development of drops will improve the well-being and productivity of the elderly. Formulation of eye-drops is complex because they must be comfortable, easy to use, and preserve the active agent. Better formulations will benefit people both medically and financially. It will lead to more compliance, and thus maintain the independence of and productivity of older people. This will increase the market share and the financial gains will be fed back to the community. This project will also train scientists in industrial production and marketing.

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2007 ARC Discovery

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
LINGUISTICS

DP0772441 Prof CT Best; Dr CM Kitamura; Prof G Docherty; Prof W Labov

How Strict is the Mother Tongue? Using Dialects to Probe Early Speech Perception and Word Recognition.
2007 : $122 000
2008 : $130 000
2009 : $239 000
2010 : $20 000

Project Summary

This project will:

  1. advance knowledge of toddler word representations and their developmental precursors
  2. contribute to theories of phonological vs phonetic properties of spoken language
  3. explain how experience with the ambient language shapes children's phonological and lexical development.

Moreover, the findings will:

  1. offer crucial new insights into sources of developmental disorders (language delay, dyslexia) leading to improved early diagnosis and treatment
  2. bear on issues of second language learning; and by understanding the process by which young learners handle dialect variability
  3. provide insights into how automatic speech recognition systems can be made more robust to dialectal and foreign accent differences.

MARCS Auditory Laboratories
PERFORMING ARTS

DP0771890 A/Prof CJ Stevens; Dr IR Cross; Prof WF Thompson

Music, Arousal, and Mood: The Role of Loudness and Loudness Change in Cross Cultural Music Perception
2007 : $69 000
2008 : $52 000
2009 : $60 000

Project Summary:
Despite decades of research into perception of Western music there are no studies applying experimental methods to perception of traditional Australian music. This project investigates a parameter present in all auditory events, from animal songs and alarms to music and speech: loudness. Results concerning the universality of loudness change and effects on mood and arousal will be reported to academic and local communities. Understanding how people experience loudness has implications for non musical uses of sound, e.g. more effective uses of loudness in non verbal auditory warnings. Identifying effects of loudness on arousal and mood is also relevant to research on therapeutic or harmful effects of music and other sounds.

Centre for Cultural Research
CULTURAL STUDIES

DP0774024 Prof RI Hodge

Putting humanities to work in a chaotic world: dynamic interdisciplinarity and community engagement
2007 : $80 000
2008 : $107 000
2009 : $110 000

Project Summary:
This project will rethink theories and methods in humanities and social sciences so that they can make a more direct contribution to the community. It will build stronger interdisciplinarity across these various fields. It will incorporate ideas from science, from chaos theory, to make it more powerful and science friendly. It will develop the new theory out of a series of strategic collaborations with local government, industry and community players, around critical incidents. This will be new theory, but with strong links with existing disciplines, offering good humanities and social science academics methods and models for a more engaged research.

Writing and Society Research Group
LITERATURE STUDIES

DP0773265 Prof IR Indyk; Mr JF Arnold; Dr MR Davis; Prof DJ Carter; Ms L Poland

Australian literary publishing and its economies, 1965 1995
2007 : $245 000
2008 : $185 200
2009 : $204 950
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship: Ms L Poland

Project Summary:
Australian literature is an essential aspect of Australian culture but its viability is currently under threat, both in the marketplace, and in tertiary and secondary education, where its coherence and relevance as a discipline has diminished over the past decade. Because it explores the different inputs that make for a vital literary culture, some of them intangible or discrete in their operation, the project will contribute to a better understanding of how this culture works, and to a renewed confidence in its ability to sustain itself by commercial and non commercial means.

School of Computing and Mathematics
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

DP0772335 Dr CP McGregor

Multi dimensional Temporal Abstraction to Support Neonatal Clinical Research
2007 : $42 081
2008 : $45 303

Project Summary:
Each year, the death of a baby causes grief for thousands of Australian parents, contributes to depression and considerable anxiety in the population. In this work we propose procedures that will significantly reduce this unhappy scenario. The availability of a complex trend and pattern analysis will give neonatologists access to predictive clinical analysis that has not previously been available locally or internationally. Thus, significant benefits in terms of lower mortality rates and lower long term disability rates among babies requiring special care is possible. This research will provide the basis for future projects that will support regional hospitals.

School of Computing and Mathematics
MATHEMATICS

DP0774701 A/Prof WX Zheng; Prof E Bai; Prof Y Zheng

Development of Identification Methods for Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
2007 : $50 000
2008 : $50 000
2009 : $50 000

Project Summary:
It is widely recognised that nonlinear systems theory will mark a new era of control science in the coming decade, and will be used in various types of applications. Driven by such immense opportunities and needs, identification of nonlinear systems is emerging as a vital, active area of research. The success of this project will enhance Australia's leading role in the international control community. The training of the postdoctoral research associates will generate the expertise needed to maintain the involvement of the coming generation in cutting edge technological advancement. The project will strengthen research activities in Australia through strong international collaborations.

School of Humanities and Languages
HISTORICAL STUDIES

DP0773385 A/Prof AJ Moore

A study of right wing movements during Australia's Great Depression
2007 : $30 000
2008 : $31 148
2009 : $21 148

Project Summary:
This project studies the social roots of political extremism in Australia and seeks to explain why decent, law abiding citizens joined organisations like the New Guard which flouted the conventions of liberal, parliamentary democracy. The project will provide historical context for understanding contemporary right wing political violence. In studying the transformation of a organisation whose initial objectives were civic and high minded into a terrorist organisation that contemplated mounting a coup against a democratically elected government, the project will seek to shed light on why 'ordinary people' embraced 'home grown terrorism'.

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2007 ARC Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development

UWS has been awarded 1 grant.

SELF Research Centre
OTHER STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY

DI0775798 Miss F Blacklock; Prof RG Craven; Dr GE Munns

A Documentation and Multi Method Critical Analysis of Ngarabal and Biripi Elders' Perspectives and Experiences of Australian History.
2007 : $17 000
2008 : $20 000
2009 : $18 000

Project Summary:
The proposed research will add a fresh historical study by an Indigenous researcher to the literature by undertaking a multi method critical analysis of Ngarabal and Biripi Elders' perspectives and experiences of Australian history. There are not many Elders left in my family and I believe that it is important for their stories to be told to the wider community and also as a record for the younger generation of my family to have as a tribute to our people. The significantly different life that Indigenous people have lived will contribute to an interesting and engaging public history.

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2007 ARC Linkage Round 1

UWS has been awarded two Linkage grants through its University Research Groups. Overall this represents a 25% success rate.

Nanoscale Organisation and Dynamics Group
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY

LP0775238 Dr VJ Higgins; Prof IW Dawes; Adj/Prof PJ Rogers

The role of redox balance and reactive oxygen species in beer stability using an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis
2007 : $100 000
2008 : $105 000
2009 : $110 000

APA(I) Award(s): One

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s)
Carlton and United Beverages

Project Summary:
A better understanding of yeast redox balance will enable it to be used to predict fermentation outcomes and to link raw materials and processes to the quality of the final product. These data will produce economies in the brewing industry by the introduction of quality control regimes for raw materials and can be extrapolated to the wine industry. This will provide real economic advantage to Carlton and United Breweries which is an Australian company that has an international profile within a highly competitive industry.

N-Force
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES

LP0775015 Prof DE Jackson; Prof LM Wilkes; Ms J Hutchins

Model of care: A family focussed approach to promote child protection
2007 : $25 118
2008 : $29 888
2009 : $28 118

APA(I) Award(s): One

Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s)
The Benevolent Society

Project Summary:
Childhood neglect and abuse is an issue for all Australians. Models of best practice for child protection services are essential to protect the well-being of these children. This project will draw upon information from consumers and workers to provide a framework for a sustainable model of best practice for child protection that is transferable to other settings. A further benefit of this study is that it will provide insight into occupation health and safety issues associated with working in long term relationships with vulnerable families.

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2007 ARC Linkage - International

Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies
POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

LX0775037 Prof TR Turpin; Prof J Marceau; Prof SC Hill; Dr BL Bozeman; Dr MM Gaughan

Research Training, Scientists, Mobility and Innovation: enhancing comparative methodologies
2006: $6 250
2007: $10 040
2008: $3 790

Collaborating Countries
USA

Project Summary:
The collaboration will facilitate transfer of research value mapping (RVM) methods and technologies from a leading US centre into Australia. The RVM program focus on university-business collaboration will orient future collaborative projects and analyses. This will enhance the state-of-the-art of research evaluation in Australia over time. Extension of the CIs unique survey database will incorporate comparative dimensions into research value mapping. A focus on Australian respondents in the international database (n=1300) will lead to analyses that inform science policy and scientist human resource development in Australia. This will provide a deeper understanding of Australia’s science role in the Asia Pacific region.

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