2008
Indigenous Homework Centres
Researchers: Prof Rhonda Oliver & Mrs Janet Mannolini
Project Partners: DETWR, Participating Schools
The Indigenous Homework Centre was administered by ECU SW in 2007 and again in 2008. A total of twelve Centres from thirteen schools in the Bunbury and Warren-Blackwood Department of Education & Training districts were involved in the project.
In 2007 the twelve centres were established with 204 Indigenous students participating in the project. Twenty-eight parents and community members were involved with an average attendance rate of 69.1%. The 2007 evaluation data clearly indicates the success of the project when assessed against the categories of homework completion; improved numeracy skills; greater understanding of school work; improved literacy skills; appropriate behaviour/attitudes and enhanced self-esteem.
Licence Clubs WA
Researcher: Professor Brian English
Research Partners: Dept of Premier & Cabinet, ClubsWA
The aim of this study is to examine and report on the social and economic impact of licensed clubs in Western Australia.
In a Childs Mind
Researchers: David Hodgson, Lynelle Watts, Dr Marilyn Palmer
Research Partners: Playgroups WA Inc
This is study that will evaluate playgroups. These groups share a common vision and commitment to children as important citizens of the world. They are underpinned by the belief that children have the right to a healthy childhood, free from pressure, high stress, unrealistic expectations and ‘hot-housing’ from commercial and school and academic interests. ‘In a Child’s Mind’ focuses parents and the playgroup community on the importance and value of their interactions between children.
Wellbeing of the Professions: Policing, Nursing and teaching in Western Australia
Researcher: Professor Brian English
This report is about perceptions of 'wellbeing' among police, nurses and teachers in Western Australia. Most previous explorations of attitudes within professions have concentrated on a narrow range of issues. We have addressed a much broader spectrum. Members of the three professional groups looked both inwardly towards their jobs, and outwardly towards their employing organisations.
2007
National Suicide Prevention Strategy: Impact assessment on an active Postvention service in WA (ARBOR)
Researcher: Prof Brian English
Project Partners: ECU, Curtin University
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) has two broad aims. One aim is to promote suicide prevention activities throughout the lifespan as well as for specific at risk groups. A second aim is to develop and enhance existing suicide prevention and Postvention services and programs with governments, businesses, and non-government and community organisations.
Funding under the NSPS is being providing to develop trial and evaluate an integrated model of proactive bereavement support Postvention service delivery in Western Australia referred to as the ARBOR Project.
The intention of ARBOR is the early engagement of those bereaved by suicide with existing support services, including Indigenous people. The specific objectives are to (a) provide additional opportunities for support and healing, (b) assist in normalising the grief process, (c) facilitate the identification of the bereaved at higher-risk of self harm, and (d) reduce the risk of suicide and suicidal behaviours amongst the bereaved target group.
An overarching aim of ARBOR is to compliment and build on existing services which have contact with families in bereavement, including police, coronial counselling, medical and community services. The focus here is on delivering sustainable improvements to resources available for those bereaved by suicide through skill development of existing community service agencies and the mobilisation of community assets in support of those bereaved by suicide. This is a three year project and is due for completion in 2009.
National Suicide Prevention Strategy: The Salvation Army Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Support Services “Living Hope” Evaluation Plan
Researcher: Prof Brian English
Project Partners: ECU, Salvation Army
The overall goal of this project is to assist frontline staff, as well as the general public to provide appropriate support to families and friends bereaved by suicide. The training program and accompanying resource kit will be available both online and in a DVD/Training Manual format.
Wellbeing of Regional Professions
Researcher: Prof Brian English
Project Partners:
The effectiveness of policing services is a direct function the ‘health’ of the occupation of policing (indicated, for example, by the ‘status’ of policing as a job) and the ‘health’ of the organisations employing police (indicated, by example, by the commitment of police officers to the goals of their employing organisation). The present research will extend recent research conducted by English and Barratt-Pugh into factors important to people engaged in policing from both perspectives. This is referred to the ‘wellbeing of the policing profession’.
Evaluation of the Head, Heart & Hand Program
Researcher: Mr David Hodgson
Project Partner: Milligan House
This project is an evaluation of Head Heart & Hand project which is a parenting support and education programme for young mothers based at Milligan House in Bunbury. There are three main aims of the evaluation. First, the evaluation must be able to assess the ability of the HHH program to meet its goals and objectives, and in doing so, consider issues of internal and external validity that my compromise the analysis and results of the evaluation. The second aim is to provide enough formative information and analysis to enable HHH staff to monitor and improve the development of the service. The final aim is to sufficiently document the theoretical and methodological approach of HHH insofar as this will assist in the programs on-going sustainability.
Evaluation of the FACE program
Researcher: Ms Lynelle Watts
Project Partners: ECU, Greater Bunbury Division of General Practice & Mission Australia
The aim of this project is to deliver an early intervention service that will prevent at risk children and adolescents from developing harmful alcohol habits. The project will target children and adolescents aged 5-19 who have a parent or sibling who misuses alcohol as research literature shows that parental or sibling alcohol misuse is a major risk factor for teen alcohol misuse and that the earlier the age of initiation, the greater the risk of later substance misuse.
Indigenous Natural Resource Management Action & Capacity Building in the South-West of WA
Researcher: Ms Deb Bennell
Project Partners: South-West Catchment Council, Bunbury Aboriginal Women’s Group
There is a pressing need for a better understanding “Nyungar Women’s roles within Nyungar country", in the context of Natural Resource Management. The project will provide an opportunity for the Bunbury Nyungar women’s group to host two workshops, where they will endeavour to address the gap of specific Nyungar women’s knowledge into NRM Action.
Two Priority areas will selected to do on ground works and develop a medium through which those values may be communicated directly from Nyungar women of the region to the relevant government bodies or community groups, along with specific cultural management plans and directives for on-ground works (largely environmental restoration) to be undertaken, encompassing their special places.
Exploring the educational needs of African refugee students in WA schools
Researchers: Professor Rhonda Oliver, Dr Yvonne Haig and Samantha Vanderford
Project Partners: WATESOL
The purpose of this project is to determine the perceptions and expectations of those stakeholders involved in the education of African refugee children. A variety of research methods, including surveys, focus group discussions, and individual interviews will be used to collect data. In addition a survey will be undertaken to document those teaching methods and resources that are currently available for addressing the needs of these children. All this data was analysed and compiled into a report “Waiting in Line” (Haig & Oliver, 2007) and subsequent journal articles and made available to all those concerned with the education and care of these students.
Examining rural youth needs in the South West of WA
Researchers: Professor Rhonda Oliver, Lynelle Watts, David Hodgson, Joan Strikwerda-Brown & Dr Marilyn Palmer
Project Partners: ECU, South West Regional Development
The purpose of this study was to investigate youth needs, specifically in the south-west region and then to explore how these needs might be addressed in terms of current curriculum and teaching practices. The target cohort for this study was youth (both indigenous and non-indigenous) in the high school years, and also those who have recently left south-west high schools to commence further education and/or work. Focus groups were conducted exploring issues related to need (social, emotional, physical and familial) as well as aspects to do with transition to high school (from primary school) and transition to work and/or further study (both in the region and away from the region). Data from this study has been analysed and collated, and compiled into a report “Perceptions and needs of rural young people in the South-West of Western Australia: implications for pedagogy” (Oliver, et al)
2006
Improving Student Retention in Regional Western Australia: What works, What's Promising
Researcher: Professor Brian English
Project Partners: Department of Local Government and Regional Development
Student retention has been a significant and ongoing problem in many regional locations in Western Australia, particularly in Indigenous communities. The aim of the research is to examine what works, what doesn’t, and what’s promising when the focus was on improving student retention in regional WA with a specific focus on industry partnerships. Information was be sourced locally, nationally and internationally to achieve this aim
Worsley Alumina Energy Challenge
Researchers: Dr Sandra Wooltorton, Ann Jennings
Project Partners: Worsley Alumina, Curtin University, Australian Association of Environmental Educators, Amaroo Primary School, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Bunbury Primary School, Dalyellup Primary
The aim of the Worsley Energy Challenge is to motive West Australians to reduce their energy consumption. The setting for the Sustainable Energy Education Resources project is the Worsley Energy Challenge which comprises of four pilot schools who are in the process of receiving renewable energy generation equipment. In addition, three of the four will receive a wind turbine and one school will also receive a bio-diesel generator. The Worsley Energy Challenge is unique in that representatives of south-west based organisations who are engaged in the project with ECU participate in a collaborative management team. In this context, the intention of the Sustainable Energy Resources Project is to make educational materials and the projects documented experience available to Western Australian Schools and communities through a fully resourced website which will be promoted by the Educational Department and climate change educators in Western Australia. Additionally, there are two Worsley-funded PhD researchers, one from ECU and more recently one from Murdoch University, who will research aspects of the energy challenge project.
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