https://hdl.handle.net/2123/22642 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:13:15 GMT 2026-06-04T18:13:15Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35338 Factors associated with intentions to seek face-to-face and online supports among Chinese-heritage university students in Australia with mental health concerns Wang, Beibei; Glozier, Nicholas; Choi, Isabella Chinese-heritage students in Australian universities tend to underuse both face-to-face and online mental health services. This study aimed to explore the associations between mental health knowledge, different types of stigmas, and intentions to seek help from online and face-to-face sources for psychological problems among Chinese-heritage students. Chinese-heritage students (N = 268) recruited from three Australian universities completed an online cross-sectional survey. Over 70 % self-reported current mental ill-health and 89 % had previously sought help for their condition. Overall, there were high intentions to seek help from online (71.3 %) and face-to-face (85.1 %) sources, with a clear preference for face-to-face support. Multivariate analyses revealed that international student status, longer residence in Australia, and greater mental health knowledge were associated with higher intentions to seek help from online and face-to-face sources; and younger age was additionally associated with intentions to seek help from online sources. The results suggested that, among help-seeking Chinese-heritage students with poor mental health, being an international student and residing longer in Australia were associated with higher intentions to seek help. Strategies to promote help-seeking among Chinese-heritage students in Australia should therefore focus on supporting newly arrived students, as well as improving mental health knowledge. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35338 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35330 Free Content, Local Choice: The PacificAus TV Approach to Pacific Broadcasting Nicholls, Rob Overview PacificAus TV represents Australia’s government-funded initiative providing commercial television programming free of charge to eighteen broadcasters across twelve Pacific nations. Launched in May 2020 with initial funding of $17.1 million, the program has expanded to nearly 3,000 hours of content annually by 2025, operating within the broader Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy ($68.8 million over five years). Free TV Australia, the commercial broadcasting industry’s peak body, manages the program through a grant arrangement with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), distributing content via satellite, internet streaming, and web portals. Policy Architecture: Channels versus Programming Australian broadcasting policy in the Pacific differentiates between two distinct models. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) operates dedicated broadcast channels, ABC Australia television and Radio Australia. These deliver curated schedules of news, current affairs, and cultural programming through direct transmission infrastructure. ABC maintains editorial control over content selection and scheduling, functioning as traditional international broadcasting funded through government appropriations ($40.5 million over five years). PacificAus TV operates fundamentally differently as programming provision rather than channel operation. The initiative supplies Australian commercial television content to existing Pacific broadcasters, who retain complete editorial independence in selecting which programs to air and when to schedule them. This model respects Pacific broadcaster autonomy, positioning partner organisations as active decision-makers rather than passive content recipients. The distinction reflects policy recognition that effective regional engagement requires multiple complementary mechanisms serving different strategic purposes. Operational Model and Rights Acquisition Free TV Australia operates PacificAus TV with a lean staff of fewer than two full-time equivalents, outsourcing technical distribution to MediaHub Australia. The operational model leverages existing commercial television industry relationships and expertise rather than creating separate government infrastructure. Content acquisition navigates complex intellectual property frameworks. Australian commercial networks Seven and Nine retain ownership rights to some of their produced content and can license directly to PacificAus TV. For content produced by independent companies or acquired from international distributors, Free TV negotiates through rights-holding intermediaries including major distribution companies like Banijay, ITV, and Fremantle. These intermediaries control significant content catalogues and license Pacific territorial rights separately from Australian domestic rights. Music rights present particular complexity, as television programs incorporate multiple musical elements each potentially controlled by different rights holders. Australian networks typically clear music rights only for Australian territories, requiring renegotiation to extend clearances to Pacific distribution. Free TV’s strategy favours programs where music rights are pre-cleared broadly, can be cleared cost-effectively, or where music content is minimal. Sports programming and Australian dramas often present fewer music clearance challenges than entertainment formats featuring prominent musical performances. The Australian Government funds all licensing costs, enabling Pacific broadcasters to receive content entirely free. This zero-cost model addresses a genuine market gap, as many Pacific broadcasters operate with limited content acquisition budgets and could not otherwise afford high-quality Australian programming. Broadcaster Engagement and Content Selection Free TV consults regularly with Pacific partner broadcasters through surveys, individual communications, and ongoing dialogue via digital platforms including WhatsApp. This consultation process identifies programming preferences, assesses audience reception, and responds to emerging broadcaster needs. Pacific broadcasters indicate which genres and specific programs generate strong viewer interest, informing Free TV’s content acquisition decisions. Sports programming dominates the content profile at over 50% of total hours, reflecting Pacific audience preferences. The sports category encompasses netball (including Super Netball and Pacific-focused series), Australian football codes (AFL, NRL including Pacific Championships), cricket, rugby, basketball, and football. Free TV consults with DFAT’s PacificAus Sports initiative and works closely with sporting codes and to secure rights to events of particular Pacific relevance. Non-sports content includes Australian drama series (Neighbours, Home & Away), reality television and lifestyle programming (MasterChef Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, The Voice), factual programs (60 Minutes, Paramedics), and children’s content. Programming selection balances broadcaster preferences, available content, rights clearance feasibility, and cultural appropriateness considerations. Critically, Pacific broadcasters maintain editorial independence in determining which available programs to schedule. Much PacificAus TV content appears in primetime slots across Pacific broadcasters, reflecting professional judgments that programming attracts audiences and performs competitively. Fourteen of eighteen partner broadcasters operate as advertiser-funded commercial entities requiring audience delivery to sustain revenue, making their primetime scheduling decisions meaningful evidence of content value. Distribution Technologies PacificAus TV employs three complementary distribution methods accommodating diverse Pacific infrastructure contexts: Satellite delivery via Intelsat-19 provides reliable content delivery regardless of internet connectivity, transmitting structured 16-hour content blocks daily in standard definition. Pacific broadcasters receive signals through integrated receiver decoder equipment provided by the program. Satellite distribution enables live sports delivery and “pass-through” broadcasting where broadcasters relay signal portions directly without requiring local storage infrastructure. Internet Protocol streaming using Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) technology delivers identical content blocks via internet connection at multiple quality levels (high definition, standard definition, low-bitrate monitoring). Free TV is trialling second simultaneous SRT stream capability to deliver two sporting events concurrently. Web portal downloads provide on-demand access to individual program files in MP4 format, downloadable at convenient times. This method offers maximum scheduling flexibility and functions as backup when real-time distribution encounters technical difficulties. The 2023 Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Review The November 2023 review, conducted jointly by DFAT and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, assessed Australian broadcasting investments across the region. The review concluded that PacificAus TV “has successfully delivered on its intended aims, as evidenced by audience research and through grant reporting and performance reports,” noting that “feedback from Pacific broadcasters is very positive, including on the potential for expansion”. The review’s key recommendations included: Recommendation 7: Renew investment in PacificAus TV, based on objective achievement and positive broadcaster feedback Recommendation 8: Further expand into more Pacific nations, noting successful additions of Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and Cook Islands Recommendation 9: Investigate content slate expansion through ABC and SBS/NITV programming, enabling Pacific broadcasters to access news, current affairs, documentaries, and First Nations content alongside commercial entertainment Recommendation 10: Review program delivery arrangements to determine if existing models remain fit for purpose The review validated Free TV’s management, noting the organisation had exceeded contracted content hours while maintaining professional delivery standards. The recommendation to integrate ABC and SBS content reflects the Australian viewer experience of complementary and competing broadcasting services delivered by commercial broadcasters and the national broadcasters. In particular the SBS public service content addressing cultural connections. Scalability and Geographic Expansion The program demonstrates strong scalability characteristics. Initial expansion to Tonga and Samoa (2021), followed by Niue and Cook Islands (2024), and Timor-Leste (2025) occurred with minimal incremental costs. Satellite footprint, internet streaming infrastructure, and web portal systems accommodate additional broadcasters without proportional investment increases. Content rights cleared for “Pacific” territories typically cover all regional nations without requiring territory-by-territory renegotiation. The 2023 review identified potential expansion to New Caledonia and French Polynesia, acknowledging that Francophone contexts might require content adaptation but suggesting the fundamental program model could accommodate diverse regional settings. Lessons for Similar Initiatives The PacificAus TV experience offers several insights applicable to organisations like NHK Foundation examining Pacific broadcasting engagement: Consultation mechanisms: Regular engagement with Pacific broadcasters to identify content preferences ensures programming selections align with local audience interests rather than external assumptions. Pacific broadcasters’ professional judgments regarding primetime scheduling provide stronger validation of content value than external critique. Technological flexibility: Multiple distribution pathways accommodate diverse infrastructure contexts. No single technology optimally serves all Pacific broadcasting environments, with capabilities varying substantially between urban centres and remote locations, larger and smaller nations. Rights clearance complexity: Securing content for Pacific distribution requires navigating territorial licensing arrangements, music rights, and program rights. Government funding of licensing costs enables zero-cost broadcaster access, addressing market gaps where many partners lack content acquisition budgets. Respect for broadcaster autonomy: Deferring content selection to Pacific broadcasters acknowledges that local organisations best understand audience preferences and cultural sensitivities. This approach builds trust and demonstrates genuine partnership rather than content imposition. Sustained commitment: Multi-year funding enables relationship building, operational capability development, and content catalogue expansion impossible under short-term project frameworks. Conclusion PacificAus TV demonstrates that programming provision models can effectively complement traditional international broadcasting whilst respecting Pacific broadcaster autonomy. The initiative’s expansion from 1,188 to 2,950 hours annually, geographic extension across twelve nations, and positive 2023 review assessment validate governmental investment in commercial content distribution. For organisations seeking Pacific broadcasting engagement, the program illustrates the importance of consultation, flexibility, respect for local agency, and sustained commitment. Success ultimately rests on alignment between policy objectives, broadcaster operational needs, and audience preferences. This is achieved through partnership approaches respecting Pacific priorities rather than imposing predetermined content or technologies. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35330 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35284 Submission on the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 review Nicholls, Rob The SOCI Act has undergone substantial reform since its original enactment but contains significant blind spots that leave the nation exposed to emerging threats. In my view the critical gaps are that content delivery networks (CDN) and AI services fall outside the SOCI Act’s explicit coverage, while space technology remains listed as a sector yet has no defined critical infrastructure assets. These are all fundamental to modern Australian infrastructure but either fall outside the Act’s explicit coverage or remain entirely undefined despite their sector listing. The June 2021 Akamai CDN outage disabled three of Australia’s four major banks for four hours. Healthcare and financial decision-making have ongoing dependence on US-hosted AI services. These gaps are not theoretical concerns but operational vulnerabilities requiring immediate regulatory attention. The SOCI Act framework has evolved through four major amendments between 2021 and 2024, including addressing gaps exposed by the Optus and Medibank breaches. However, this reactive approach was an ex post response rather than threat anticipation. This leaves Australia perpetually one step behind adversaries who have demonstrated both capability and intent to disrupt critical infrastructure Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35284 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34894 Creating Surveys to Measure Institutional Trust: A Best Practice Guide Argyrous, George This guide is written for practitioners, researchers, and policy teams who want to design a short survey module (or a full questionnaire) to measure trust in institutions such as government agencies, regulators, the media, banks, courts, health services, or science. It focuses on the practical decisions that most affect data quality: defining the trust object, writing unambiguous items, choosing response options, and testing questions before fielding. It draws on common issues identified in the trust-survey literature and on methodological evidence from survey design research, including experimental comparisons of alternative wordings and formats. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34894 2026-02-25T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34887 Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2025 Nicholls, Rob This report examines a single, specific proposal within the Bill: the repeal of section 46 of the Commerce Act 1986 as set out in clause 8. While the broader suite of reforms contained in the Bill is generally welcomed, this analysis highlights a technical concern arising from the proposed repeal. The issue is not rooted in resistance to stronger competition law enforcement but in the risk of an unintended legislative consequence. In particular, removing section 46 may inadvertently expose routine merger transactions to criminal liability - an outcome unlikely to align with the Bill’s policy intent. The report therefore sets out the basis for this concern and underscores the need for careful legislative design to avoid such effects. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34887 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34886 Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 – Exposure Draft Nicholls, Rob This submission identifies four key concerns with the exposure draft Bill relating to unfair trading practices. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34886 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34862 Implementing lifestyle interventions in mental health care: third report of the Lancet Psychiatry Physical Health Commission Milton, Alyssa The physical health disparities experienced by people who live with mental illness are well documented. This population group has cardiometabolic risks and diseases at rates 1·4–2·0 times higher than people without mental illness, and physical health conditions are responsible for 70% of the deaths of people with severe mental illness. They are the major drivers of the 13–15 year reduction in life expectancy that is found in individuals with mental illness, compared with those without mental illness. The 2019 The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness brought these disparities into focus and provided guidance for health promotion, multiprofessional clinical care, and future research. Lifestyle risk factors, such as high smoking rates, low physical activity, high levels of sedentary behaviour, low cardiorespiratory fitness, lower diet quality, detrimental eating behaviour, and poor sleep hygiene, are prevalent in this population. Lifestyle interventions that target these risk factors are effective adjunctive therapies in people living with mental illness, alleviating mental health symptoms while protecting physical health and promoting wellbeing. Given the established benefits of lifestyle interventions in mental health settings, there is a need to shift the focus from efficacy towards implementation research and address how best to implement and deliver lifestyle interventions as core clinical practice. Implementation should include a recognition of the social and economic context in which behavioural risk factors emerge to ensure equity of outcomes. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34862 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34844 Smart Glasses: A study outlining implications for public sector organisations Zeng, Jacky; Weatherall, Kimberlee; Gulson, Kalervo Smart Glasses are a technology which has seen rapid development in recent years – evolving from niche gadgets to functional technology. Leading products today enable the user to capture – and subsequently distribute – audio, video, geolocation etc., in a hands-free and discreet manner. In the context of the University of Sydney (the University), the use of Smart Glasses by people on campus grounds (mostly, students and visitors) raises or exacerbates concerns related to safety, privacy, copyright and academic integrity. This can trigger legal issues. Recording may implicate privacy-related laws: surveillance devices and privacy legislation can require consent (from all parties) for recording. As a rule, however, consent is only required where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. The use of Smart Glasses in classrooms can trigger copyright regulations – which prohibit the use of lecture materials beyond personal use. Most obviously, use in examinations would contravene the University’s policy on academic integrity. Smart Glasses may also amplify downstream malicious activity such as stalking and doxxing, as well as cyberbullying and harassment, for which there are strict prohibitions in both the law and University policies. On the other hand, any responses need to take into account accessibility enhancements that Smart Glasses can offer for people with disabilities. There are some gaps and ambiguities between existing safeguards and potential harms. A combination of explicit policy and/or education may help promote safety and respect on University campuses. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34844 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34840 A borderlander’s reckoning Hu, Wavie “The mountains are high and the emperor far away.” Reckonings from a borderland—on walls, my friend J, and choosing a life in diaspora. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34840 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34748 Historical GTFS Dataset for Sydney 1855-2015 Rayaprolu, Hema; Levinson, David Matthew; Lahoorpoor, Bahman These files represent digitised Sydney’s historic public transport networks and constructed General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) datasets covering a period from 1855 to 2015. The complementary paper presents the methodology developed to generate historical GTFS data from archival sources. To validate the approach, we compared accessibility metrics derived from the generated GTFS for 2015 with those obtained from the officially published GTFS for the same year. The results show that the generated GTFS reproduced access levels within 2% of the official data, demonstrating the reliability of our method. Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34748 2026-01-22T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34662 Coo-ee from Chinese Australians: Echoing The Long Connections with Indigenous Communities Shen, Yinfeng; Hendrischke, Hans The word "cooee" originates from the Dharug word 'guu-wii', meaning 'come here'. It is used to project one’s voice over long distances. Its echo finds people at a distance and indicates one’s own location. The Chinese Australian community shares a rich history of interaction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. There are narratives from the Gold Rush era, with tales of Chinese settlers in Outback Australia. Early Chinese migration began in the 1850s, with Chinese people settling in many parts of Australia. Their connections with Indigenous Peoples are evident in various forms of collaboration, art, history, culture, mythology, food and innovation, drawing upon individual experiences and shared stories. This report reimagines the past, present and future of enduring connections and profound interweavings between the Chinese Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34662 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34650 Submission to the News Bargaining Incentive Argyrous, George; Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Nicholls, Rob; Stepnik, Agata In this submission, we have responded to a selected set of questions outlined in the Treasury Consultation Paper. Our main recommendations are: 1. Considerations should be given to extending the Incentive to apply to major generative AI platforms and not simply restricted to social media and search services. 2. Gross annual Australian revenue collected (including GST) should be the basis on which the significance of a digital platform is determined. 3. The charge base of total gross revenue generated in Australia (including GST), aggregated across a company as a whole should provide the basis for determining inclusion in the Incentive. 4. Consideration should be given to enabling smaller publishers to undertake collective bargaining arrangements for the purposes of engagement with the Incentive process, in order to address concerns about the exclusion of smaller news publishers from the News Media Bargaining Code, 5. There should be strengthened reporting requirements around both the funding received by news publishers through the Incentive, and the uses of such funding, to strengthen accountability, transparency and public confidence in the Incentive. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34650 2025-12-18T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34496 The Digital Climate Footprint: From Global Data Centre Growth to Local Ecological Consequences Nicholls, Rob This report provides the first integrated analysis linking AI-driven data centre expansion to specific ecological impacts on Australian pollinator communities. As the digital economy undergoes unprecedented growth, the climate implications extend far beyond abstract temperature statistics to measurable risks for critical ecosystems and species. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34496 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34476 Submission to the 2025 Review of the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation Bailo, Francesco; Flew, Terry; Nicholls, Rob; Gozman, Daniel This submission proposes a reconceptualisation of the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation. We argue that the current approach conflates two distinct types of harm requiring different policy responses: individual harm from exposure to dangerous content, and collective harm from systemic degradation of information quality across the digital ecosystem. We propose that platforms should be held accountable for preventing individual harm through content moderation, while contributing to ecosystem-wide monitoring of information disorder through a novel persona-based measurement system that protects epistemic rights. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34476 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34422 Submission to the Productivity Commission: Harnessing Data and Digital Technology & Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce Weatherall, Kimberlee; Flew, Terry; Bailo, Francesco; Gulson, Kalervo; Bello-Villarino, Jose-Miguel; Gozman, Daniel This submission responds to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Harnessing Data and Digital Technology and Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce. These domains are not merely technical or economic in nature; they are deeply embedded within broader social, cultural, and institutional transformations that demand nuanced and contextually grounded policy responses. Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34422 2025-10-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34395 Submission to the Productivity Commission: Harnessing Data and Digital Technology & Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce Centre for AI, Trust and Governance This submission responds to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Harnessing Data and Digital Technology and Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce. These domains are not merely technical or economic in nature; they are deeply embedded within broader social, cultural, and institutional transformations that demand nuanced and contextually grounded policy responses. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34395 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34025 Digital Policy as Problem Space: Policy Formation, Public Opinion, and Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Stepnik, Agata This article examines Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 as a case study in digital policy formation, focusing on the socio-political processes that shaped its development. Framing the debate through Celia Lury’s concept of “problem spaces,” the paper explores how the issue of youth and social media use is constructed through “givens” (perceived risks), “goals” (protection), and contested “operators” (policy solutions). Drawing on public opinion surveys and stakeholder submissions to a parliamentary inquiry, the article finds widespread public concern about online harms, especially for minors, but sharp disagreement about how best to address them. While the Act’s age restriction was broadly supported by the public and some stakeholders, critics warn of unintended consequences and advocate alternative measures such as media literacy and platform accountability. The case reveals broader tensions in digital governance between public demand for action, legislative responsiveness, and competing visions of youth digital rights. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34025 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33868 Ex Ante Interoperability Regulation for Competitive Digital Markets: Contrasting The European Union, United Kingdom, and Australian Approaches Brown, Ian; Marsden, Chris; Nicholls, Rob In this article, we explain the development of interoperability as an effective behavioral remedy for digital platform dominance, and contrast its inclusion in legal reforms in three (closely-related) advanced economy jurisdictions: the EU, UK, and Australia. In section 2, we explain what interoperability is, its development in European and Australian digital platform law and economics from the 1990s onwards, the curious lack of enforcement in the 2000s, and progress towards its development in the 2010s. In sections 3-5, we analyze the 2020s developments in application of interoperability mandates in the European Union, UK, and Australia. In conclusion, we explain how regulators can ensure greater competition in the largest emerging digital platforms (especially AI), and what role interoperability should play. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33868 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33862 Nation-State Regulation as Social Media Governance: The Australian Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Stepnik, Agata; Tang, Wenjia This article analyzes Australia's landmark Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which restricts access to designated social media platforms for individuals under the age of 16. Prompted by rising concerns over youth mental health, ineffective platform self-regulation, and global regulatory shifts, the law mandates age restrictions on major platforms, despite legal, ethical, and technological challenges. We note that the Bill has broad political and public support but has faced criticism from academics and digital rights groups. It reflects a wider trend of nation-state intervention in digital governance and raises questions about the future interplay between government regulation, platform accountability, and children's rights in the evolving digital landscape. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33862 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33861 Ten Provocations on AI, Trust, and the Future of Communication Flew, Terry As we enter a global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, it is important to bring together the disparate array of conversations, provocations, and prophecies regarding AI and its societal impacts. This article addresses such questions from the standpoint of trust as a concept and communications as a disciplinary field. It notes both historical continuities and areas of discontinuity in these debates and the importance of popular culture as a means of framing AI debates. This article also questions the pessimistic scenario on AI’s likely impact on education, noting that it could be potentially positive for the humanities. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33861 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33825 RESPONSE TO DISCUSSION PAPER: A NEW PLAN FOR ARC-FUNDED RESEARCH Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Flew, Terry The Discussion Paper for the Australian Research Council National Competitive Grants Program (ARC NCGP) (NCGP Discussion Paper) outlines an agenda for reviewing Commonwealth Government research funding for the higher education sector. This response to the Discussion Paper focuses on the context of declining global rankings for Australian arts and humanities research, the impact of artificial intelligence on the sector, and the future of research infrastructure funding. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33825 2025-04-17T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33672 Factors influencing the adoption of pre-commitment devices for online gambling Stratton, Elizabeth Deposit limits are a voluntary pre-commitment device that allow gambling customers to pre-select the amount of money they want to be able to deposit into their gambling accounts, representing an external aid to self-control. This study aimed to investigate attitudes towards and use of deposit limits along with perceived barriers and motivators to use among regular online gambling customers using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a framework. An online survey was completed by 299 participants [84.3% male; M age=48.85] years recruited through an Australian online wagering operator. Results showed that positive attitudes and perceptions of social norms was related to deposit limit use and that not knowing what limit to set was a significant barrier to use, thus supporting the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a relevant framework. Additional barriers to use included perceptions that individuals could manage their own betting, that deposit limits were for people with gambling problems, not wanting to change or have their gambling constrained, and not knowing what limit to set. Motivators included concerns that individuals might be betting too much and wanting to limit their spend. This specific exploration of barriers and motivators to use deposit limits will enable strategies to be developed to enhance voluntary uptake and meaningful engagement among a broader group of gambling customers. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33672 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33653 Submission to the UK Copyright and AI Consultation Weatherall, Kimberlee; Flew, Terry This submission by Professors Kimberlee Weatherall and Terry Flew of the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance at the University of Sydney responds to the UK Copyright and AI Consultation, highlighting key challenges and opportunities in balancing copyright law and AI innovation. The authors commend the Consultation Paper’s recognition of complex conundrums, including the global nature of AI training and the tension between creators’ rights and technological advancement. The submission identifies three main areas of concern: 1. Protection of Individual Creators: The authors emphasize that creators’ interests are often distinct from those of rights holders, advocating for measures such as rights retention for academic authors and inclusion of creator representatives in licensing negotiations. 2. Practical Challenges of Rights Reservation: The authors highlight complexities in the proposed rights reservation mechanism, noting issues arising from multiple ownership structures and the role of online intermediaries. They call for consideration of collective licensing models to streamline negotiations. 3. Transparency Requirements: While supporting transparency obligations for AI developers, the authors stress the importance of reciprocal transparency from rights holders. They also caution against potential legal risks, including exposure to international copyright lawsuits. The submission urges the UK government to adopt a balanced, globally informed approach to copyright and AI regulation, ensuring both the protection of creative industries and the promotion of innovation. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33653 2025-02-20T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33651 A mentally healthy framework to guide employers and policy makers Glozier, Nick Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to expand access to evidence-based interventions for mental health conditions, including depression. HeadGear was developed to prevent depression and improve well-being among the working population and was associated with significant positive effects in an efficacy trial. This study presents the results from a naturalistic trial intended to evaluate real-world usage of the app. We examined the naturalistic use of HeadGear between March 2019 and March 2022, using app analytic data, in-app event data, and surveys assessing depressive symptoms, well-being, and work performance repeated at 30-day intervals over 5-month app usage. During the observation period, HeadGear was widely disseminated to the public, and downloaded 26,455 times. Of those who downloaded the app, 12,995 completed baseline. The mean age of users was 38.23 (SD = 12.39) and 60% were women. Approximately one in four met criteria for probable depression at baseline. Depressive symptoms showed consistent improvement at all time points (Cohen’s d ranging from 0.24 at 1 month to 0.13 at 5 months). A similar pattern emerged for well-being. Work performance showed improvement to 2-month follow-up only. The strongest change was found for those with greater symptom severity at baseline, and those with high app engagement. Attrition at follow-up points was high. Findings regarding the real-world use of HeadGear are promising and highlight the use of such apps among those with higher symptom severity (despite the intended use of the app as a prevention tool). Further work is required to tailor mHealth apps to reach their full potential through an enhanced understanding of the utility of individual features for effectiveness and engagement. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33651 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32786.2 Developing systems and capacities to protect animals in catastrophic fires. Sturman, Anna; Celermajer, Danielle; MacDonald, Freya; Verlie, Blanche; Heenan, Natasha; Schlosberg, David This report details the findings and recommendations from the Australian Government funded project "Developing systems and capacities to protect animals in catastrophic fires." The project interviewed over sixty people in the Shoalhaven region of NSW regarding their experiences trying to care for and protect wild, domesticated and farmed animals during the 2019/2020 bushfires. Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32786.2 2025-01-29T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33521 A Web of Nets: How Everything is a Network Levinson, David Matthew; Sarkar, Somwrita A Web of Nets, edited by David M. Levinson and Somwrita Sarkar explores the profound influence and universal relevance of networks, from physical systems to abstract constructs, connecting diverse fields and phenomena. Whether natural or man-made, these interconnected systems shape our understanding of science, technology, and culture. Structured into comprehensive sections, the book navigates through network principles, theories, and applications: Principles and Theory: Understand the foundational aspects of network science, including graph theory, topology, and network formation. Key concepts such as accessibility, resilience, and scaling reveal the hidden patterns underlying complex systems. Applications Across Domains: Biological Systems: Explore the networks within cells, organs, and ecosystems, revealing their interconnectedness and impact on life processes. Physical Systems: Delve into the cosmic web, chemical reactions, and transport systems, where networks determine flows, capacities, and dynamics. Technological Innovations: Learn about advancements in computing, communication, and infrastructure, illustrating how networks enable modern life. Social and Cultural Networks: Unpack the structure of social interactions, cultural exchanges, and economic markets, showing how they shape societies. Analysis and Evolution: Examine methods to analyze connectivity, centrality, and flow within networks, and understand their evolution over time. Techniques like PageRank, space syntax, and feedback loops provide powerful tools to decode network behavior. Emergent Phenomena: Discover how networks give rise to self-organization, emergent behaviors, and innovation. Case studies range from neural circuits and the brain's connectome to the assembly line and supply chains. Blending theoretical insights with practical applications, A Web of Nets is both a comprehensive reference and a thought-provoking exploration. It bridges disciplines, fostering a deeper appreciation of the patterns connecting the natural, physical, and human worlds. Engage with this captivating analysis to unlock a greater understanding of the networks shaping our universe. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33521 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33472 The role of human involvement and support in digital mental health interventions for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a critical review Arnautovska, Urskaa; Milton, Alyssa; Trott, Mike; Soole, Rebecca; Siskind, Dan Purpose of review: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SDD) are characterised by a complex array of psychosis symptoms, and typically require ongoing and long-term support including pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) have been suggested as a novel therapeutic approach to enable low cost, scalable improvements in quality of care for adults living with SSD. However, the types and role of human involvement and support within DMHIs is currently unknown. Recent findings: Several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the potential efficacy of DMHIs for people with SSD, with scant yet emerging systematic evidence on the effects of human support within DMHIs on mental health outcomes. Further, several recent individual studies examined the efficacy of DMHIs with human support among people with SSD and provided valuable insights into the potential active ingredients of such support on outcomes relevant to this population. Summary: The current critical review provides the first narrative synthesis of available evidence to guide clinicians and intervention develops in designing DMHIs with adequate human support that may enhance long-term outcomes of people living with SSD. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33472 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33260 Stories are the Toolkit: Community-led Disaster Response, Recovery and Adaptation Webster, Scott; Pittaway, Emma; Gillies-Palmer, Zachary; Schlosberg, David; Longman, Jo; Howard, Amanda; Rawsthorne, Margot; Viney, Gemma; Verlie, Blanche; Celermajer, Danielle; Bailie, Jodie; Matous, Petr; Naderpajouh, Nader; Joseph, Pam; Iveson, Kurt; Troy, Jakelin ‘Stories are the Toolkit’ is a vignette series that illuminates the actions taken by communities as they faced recent disaster events. The stories are based on interviews with 68 individuals who, in their different ways, contributed to community-led response, recovery and adaptation across three regions in New South Wales: the Northern Rivers, the Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains. The stories themselves are amalgamations. They blend and combine what people shared to highlight what is common among them all – despite the immense diversity of actions, experiences, places, people and backgrounds. The stories are not a comprehensive account of what communities did during and after the bushfires or floods. Rather, the stories included focus on what seems less visible and recognised when we think of community-led disaster response, recovery and adaptation. These vignettes highlight how different contributions can be made through various skillsets, in many ways enabling more visible actions like boat rescues to be taken. Each story demonstrates how communities often drew upon so-called ‘everyday’ social networks to coordinate support and to access skills, resources and local knowledges. In this sense, what is ‘ordinary’ is powerful and has made a profound difference for many people. The stories also highlight some of the difficulties people faced as well as how they worked around these difficulties. Having to ‘learn as you go’ was routinely cited as a key challenge. Many of those we interviewed said they now ‘feel like pros’, having had to put into practice their organising multiple times over. Others expressed a strong desire to learn from each other to improve how they respond to future challenges. This vignette series sustains and passes on such knowledge for other communities to inspire and reduce future disaster risk through shared experiences. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33260 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33100 Empowering Communities, Harnessing Local Knowledges: Self-Organising Systems for Disaster Risk Reduction - Findings Report (April 2024) Webster, Scott; Pittaway, Emma; Gillies-Palmer, Zachary; Schlosberg, David; Matous, Petr; Longman, Jo; Howard, Amanda; Bailie, Jodie; Viney, Gemma; Verlie, Blanche; Celermajer, Danielle; Naderpajouh, Nader; Rawsthorne, Margot; Joseph, Pam; Iveson, Kurt; Troy, Jakelin The Self-Organising Systems to Minimise Future Disaster Risk – Findings Report is a collaborative effort between the Sydney Environment Institute and the University Centre for Rural Health, both at the University of Sydney, and community partner organisations in Plan C, Resilient Blue Mountains and Street Connect. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the pivotal role of self-organising systems in disaster risk reduction. Through extensive research conducted in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, and Northern Rivers regions, the report illuminates key findings that can significantly influence and enhance disaster management strategies for the future. The report underscores the imperative of integrating self-organising principles into comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies. By fostering stronger partnerships between government entities and local communities, meaningfully harnessing local knowledges, investing strategically in critical grey and social infrastructure, and implementing the recommended actions, communities can fortify their resilience and navigate the complexities of disasters with greater efficacy. Collaboration, proactive measures, and sustained support are essential components in building a more resilient and prepared future for all. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33100 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32981 CCP Ideology, 1976-1980: From the "Two Whatevers,” to the “Criterion of Truth,” to the “Four Cardinal Principles,” and Beyond Teiwes, Frederick C.; Sun, Warren This Working Paper is a draft chapter for a book on the poorly understood CCP elite politics of the early post-Mao period, tentatively entitled Hua Guofeng, Deng Xiaoping, and the Dismantling of Maoism. Nowhere is this period more misunderstood than in the area of ideology and its notional centrality to an imagined Hua-Deng power struggle. In the accepted narrative, a critical feature of this struggle is the February 1977 “two whatevers” editorial notionally requiring support for all of Mao’s decisions, that allegedly sought to prevent Deng’s return to work and to enforce a rigid ideological framework preventing significant change from Mao’s practices. In fact, Deng’s return to high office had been decided at the start of January, and more importantly, from the earliest days of Hua’s leadership, the task was to move away from Mao’s Cultural Revolution but to maintain regime stability and unity by expressing fealty to a leader still deeply worshipped in major sections of the population and respected by Party leaders, notably those of the revolutionary generation. Claims that “whateverists” engaged in an intense struggle with reformers seeking a pragmatic approach under the slogan “practice is the sole criterion of truth” beginning in May 1978 are not totally amiss, but they exaggerate the situation and do not adequately account for the fact that the conflict was largely among lower-level figures on the theoretical front who did not deeply engage the top leadership. There were nuanced differences between Hua and Deng on the “criterion of truth” question but nothing fundamental, and neither wanted ideological issues to disrupt the economic agenda of the fall 1978 pre-Third Plenum work conference. At the conference, however, arguments initiated by progressive theorists resulted in official acceptance of the criterion position, although there was high-level concern, most prominently expressed by Deng, for 3 proceeding with caution, particularly as it related to Mao’s prestige. More broadly, in Party ranks many felt the plenum’s policies had gone too far and were leading to disruption in society. At the end of March 1979, Deng reacted with his “four cardinal principles” speech that demanded adherence to the political practice of Mao’s pre-Cultural Revolution period. This not only alarmed progressives but it also created leadership concern that the practical focus of the Third Plenum policies was being undermined. Deng then sought to bolster those policies, but at the time of the 30th anniversary of the PRC, he still gave priority to the “four principles” and defence of Mao. Indeed, he explicitly affirmed a lavish claim concerning Mao’s essential role in the Party’s successes, the same claim that had appeared in the “two whatevers” editorial more than two and a half years earlier. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32981 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32915.2 Understanding Elite Politics Through Relentless Research: Warren Sun’s Hua Guofeng Nianpu, Chronology of Hua Guofeng (1971–1981) Teiwes, Frederick C. This Working Paper is a pre-publication review of an immense documentary collection prepared over the past 25 years by Warren Sun, Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and Affiliate Member of the Sydney CSC. It is based on the intellectual premise that elite politics in the CCP cannot be understood without deep penetration into the details of political decision-making and conflict. In its absence, simplistic narratives emerge and become widely accepted, especially when the Party itself is creating the basis for the narrative. This is most prevalent for the immediate post-Mao period as a Hua Guofeng-Deng Xiaoping struggle between different ideological lines and in the profound misunderstanding of Hua as a limited, merely transitional political leader. Hua nianpu uses a wide range of sources to uncover details that contest such views. These include: the contemporary PRC public record; official documentary collections; internal Party documents including unpublished speeches and compendia of circulars at major Party meetings; memoirs, oral accounts, and recollections published in the PRC by or about leaders; studies by Party history scholars in PRC journals; more-adventurous books published in Hong Kong by Party historians and former officials; interviews with scholars and retired officials; and unique interviews with officials who worked as secretaries or as aides to very senior figures and their family members, especially members of Hua’s family. However, these sources have limitations that must be considered critically and discussed in terms of what they can and cannot provide. Taken together the detailed information compiled in Hua nianpu undermines central features of the accepted narrative, most notably by showing that the 1978 work conference and the subsequent Third Plenum were joint Hua-Deng ventures to advance modernization, and when unanticipated developments weakened Hua, Deng did not act against him. Instead, he worked to lower tensions and to return the focus to their original joint plan. Hua nianpu is a major basis for our joint book project, Hua Guofeng, Deng Xiaoping, and the Dismantling of Maoism. But this nianpu is entirely Professor Sun’s creation and exacting work. The target for submission of both these projects to their respective publishers is early 2025. Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32915.2 2024-08-08T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32924 Local Social Governance in China: Spatial politics and social welfare Goodman, David S G The policy goal of establishing local social governance in the People’s Republic of China since 2021 highlights two somewhat contradictory tendencies in its spatial politics. One is increased social welfare provision through economic, social and governmental institutions cooperating to create self-sustaining communities. The other is greater city-district and county level local control by the Communist Party of China. Local social governance remains in its infancy with limited policy implementation. The evidence to date though from an examination of the settings for local social governance, its causes, and preliminary implementation does not suggest major changes in the longer-term balance between the Party-state’s undoubted centralist and decentralist tendencies. Moreover, while there may be the desire both to improve social welfare provision, and to extend the reach of the state and the Party, the proposed programme of change faces immense and probably intractable challenges. Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32924 2024-08-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32807 Preparing for emergencies with your animals: A community conversation guide. Sturman, Anna; Celermajer, Danielle; MacDonald, Freya; Verlie, Blanche; Heenan, Natasha; Schlosberg, David This guide will help you take the time with some trusted neighbours, family, friends or community members to make sure that your and their animals will be as safe as possible, come fire, flood, or other emergency. Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32807 2024-07-17T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32483 Access, the Built Environment, and Behavior Wu, Hao; Levinson, David Matthew Access is an essential component of the built environment that measures the ease of reaching desired destinations; the level of access is a combined result from both land use and transport infrastructure. Other facets of the built environment include density, street design, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, policy, etc. Individual travel behaviour is shaped in part by the built environment, which has implications for both the well-being of individuals, and the sustainability and vitality of a city. The built environment of a city is in a continuous state of change; developments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and work-from-home (WFH) have the potential to redefine the meaning of the built environment, and access. This chapter discusses the evolving interaction between access, the built environment, and travel and activity patterns, and what these changes would mean for the future of transport. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32483 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32348 The relationship of shift work disorder with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress Chang, Melinda J.; Vidafar, Parisa; Birk, Jeffrey L.; Shechter, Ari Shift workers commonly suffer from disturbed sleep, which is known to affect mental health in other populations. Shift work disorder (SWD) is characterized by complaints of insomnia and/or excessive daytime sleepiness temporally associated with working non-standard schedules that occur during the usual time for sleep. Few studies have explored the extent to which workers with vs. without SWD experience worse mental health. We administered the Shift Work Disorder Screening Questionnaire to 60 adults engaged in various shift work schedules to categorize workers as being at high or low risk for SWD. Mental health outcomes were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Linear regression was performed for each DASS-21 subscale, adjusting for age, sex, shift type, sleep duration, and frequency of alcohol use. Most participants (55 %) were at high risk for SWD. High-risk participants had higher depressive symptoms than low-risk participants, B = 3.59, 95 % CI [0.54, 6.65], p = .02. The estimated value for those at high risk for SWD corresponded to clinically significant mild depressive symptoms, (M = 13.43), compared to those at low risk, (M = 9.84). High risk for SWD was marginally associated with increased stress symptoms, B = 2.48, 95 % CI [−0.06,5.02], p = .06. Our findings add to the body of evidence that SWD is associated with poor mental health outcomes. Providing interventions specific to the sleep impacts of SWD, including tailored cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, may improve shift workers’ mental health. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32348 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32347 Choosers Adapt Value Coding to the Environment, But Do Not Attain Efficiency Kurtz-David, Vered; Alladi, Vinayak; Bucher, Stefan; Brandenburger, Adam; Louie, Kenway; Glimcher, Paul; Tymula, Agnieszka We investigate how human choosers adapt their value encoding strategy to the statistics of the choice environment. Specifically, we ask whether the human value encoding mechanism exhibits divisive normalization only in the Pareto-distributed environments in which it is information-maximizing. To test this theory, we conduct a risky choice experiment in which subjects are presented with blocks of choice stimuli drawn from either a Pareto-distributed environment or a uniform-distributed environment. Our results show that subjects exhibit some degree of normalization regardless of whether it is efficient or not, but do adapt the curvature of their encoding function to the environment. These findings suggest that human value coding mechanisms are flexible but biologically constrained to be perfectly efficient only in specific environments. This study provides new insights into the neural mechanism of human decision-making and the role of environmental statistics in shaping it. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32347 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32346 Predictive modelling of deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts in young people accessing primary care: a machine learning analysis of a longitudinal study McHugh, Catherine M.; Ho, Nicholas; Iorfino, Frank; Crouse, Jacob J.; Nichles, Alissa; Zmicerevska, Natalia; Scott, Elizabeth; Glozier, Nick; Hickie, Ian B. Purpose Machine learning (ML) has shown promise in modelling future self-harm but is yet to be applied to key questions facing clinical services. In a cohort of young people accessing primary mental health care, this study aimed to establish (1) the performance of models predicting deliberate self-harm (DSH) compared to suicide attempt (SA), (2) the performance of models predicting new-onset or repeat behaviour, and (3) the relative importance of factors predicting these outcomes. Methods 802 young people aged 12–25 years attending primary mental health services had detailed social and clinical assessments at baseline and 509 completed 12-month follow-up. Four ML algorithms, as well as logistic regression, were applied to build four distinct models. Results The mean performance of models predicting SA (AUC: 0.82) performed better than the models predicting DSH (AUC: 0.72), with mean positive predictive values (PPV) approximately twice that of the prevalence (SA prevalence 14%, PPV: 0.32, DSH prevalence 22%, PPV: 0.40). All ML models outperformed standard logistic regression. The most frequently selected variable in both models was a history of DSH via cutting. Conclusion History of DSH and clinical symptoms of common mental disorders, rather than social and demographic factors, were the most important variables in modelling future behaviour. The performance of models predicting outcomes in key sub-cohorts, those with new-onset or repetition of DSH or SA during follow-up, was poor. These findings may indicate that the performance of models of future DSH or SA may depend on knowledge of the individual’s recent history of either behaviour. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32346 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32345 Expected subjective value theory (ESVT): A representation of decision under risk and certainty. Glimcher, Paul W.; Tymula, Agnieszka A. We present a descriptive model of choice derived from neuroscientific models of efficient value representation in the brain. Our basic model, a special case of Expected Utility Theory, can capture a number of behaviors predicted by Prospect Theory. It achieves this with only two parameters: a time-indexed “payoff expectation”(reference point) and a free parameter we call “predisposition”. A simple extension of the model outside the domain of Expected Utility also captures the Allais Paradox. Our models shed new light on the computational origins and evolution of risk attitudes and aversion to outcomes below reward expectation (reference point). It delivers novel explanations of the endowment effect, the observed heterogeneity in probability weighting functions, and the Allais Paradox, all with fewer parameters and higher descriptive accuracy than Prospect Theory. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32345 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32344 Work-related psychosocial and physical paths to future musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Glozier, Nick; Morris, Richard W. Given the human, industrial and societal costs of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) we evaluated antecedents to MSDs (assessed as pain, doctor diagnosis, and workplace injury) over a six-year period T1 (2014/2015) and T2 (2020/2021). The purpose of the study was to examine the role of the organisational climate (i.e., psychosocial safety climate, PSC) for employees’ psychological health and safety as an antecedent to physical demands, and psychosocial risks (e.g., low control, harassment) that in turn might relate to MSDs using a longitudinal design. We used matched data from follow-up telephone interviews of 432 Australian employees. We found evidence for several psychosocial paths; PSC was related to future workplace injuries through decision authority; PSC was related to MSD pain through depressive symptoms. For future doctor diagnosed MSDs, PSC was directly nega-tively related. Older age, being male and low income was related to work injury; being female associated with MSD pain; and being older was associated with MSD diagnosis. A novel finding was the linkage between psy-chosocial risks (low skill discretion and harassment) and future physical demands leading to future MSD pain and work injury highlighting a new pathway linking psychosocial and physical aspects. Overall poor PSC was found as a distal antecedent of all MSDs. Decision authority and skill discretion were most critical psychosocial risks in predicting future pain and injuries. Psychosocial factors predicted future demands. Actions should target improving PSC and autonomy and reducing harassment and physical demands, to decrease the incidence of MSDs. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32344 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32343 Distress and career regret in doctors: are we really that different to other professions? Glozier, Nicholas Health departments should support the professional training they require and show that their employees are valued Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32343 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31118 Digitalization of Special Economic Zones in China Huang, Jeanne Special Economic Zones (SEZ) have become the forefront in China to test legal and technological reforms for digital trade. This chapter explores three cutting-edge case studies in China’s SEZs: the Beijing blockchain-based Single Window deposit box; newly established big data exchanges in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai SEZs; and pilot projects in financial, medical care and automobile industries to flow data across the border in the Shanghai SEZ. It scrutinizes China's experiments in the context of its applications to join CPTPP and DEPA. It argues that the development of Chinese domestic law for digital trade is shifting away from the traditional paradigm that uses international commitments to push domestic reform or make domestic law according to international law. The development of Chinese domestic law for digital trade relies much more on China’s domestic needs than what FTAs negotiations require. FTAs are increasingly becoming a tool for China to shape international law rather than a benchmark for legislating domestic Chinese law. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31118 2023-04-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31117 Australia’s Response to the China Threat: The Case for Engagement Goodman, David S G The dominance of the China Threat discourse in Australia’s public affairs suggests poor prospects for any continued Australia-China relations, let alone positive interactions of mutual benefit. An exploration of alternative ways to approach Australia’s relationship with China may though prove not only more constructive but also better future-proofed. The first step is to recognize that while China certainly poses challenges to Australia the perception of threat is more relevant to the USA. The second is the recognition of differences and the development of ways to mediate those differences. And the third is to build on the complementarities for the benefit of both Australia and China, not just through economic but also through social interactions. As Europe discovered in the 1950s, the development of mutual understanding of other peoples, their cultures, and their social and economic systems is a precursor not simply to respect and the avoidance of unwarranted prejudice, but to cooperation for a wider public good. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31117 2023-04-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31116 The Belt and Road Initiative as Ten Policy Commandments: Review of Xi’s Kazakhstan and Indonesia Launch Speeches Johnston, Lauren A. In 2019 Foreign Policy described China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as “the most talked about and least defined buzzword of this decade”. Given that confusion and the importance of leader political speeches in China, especially those of current President Xi Jinping, it is surprising that the BRI literature has little in-depth analysed the two launch speeches of 2013. This article seeks to fill that gap with study of those speeches and focus on the five cooperation-oriented areas announced in each. In comparative context those ten pillars appear not to be descended from New Era Chinese heaven but rather demonstrate substantive thematic overlap with the ten pillars of what was once relatively mainstream macroeconomic development policy, the Washington Consensus. Yet, in the case of the BRI there is a relative implicit implementation emphasis also. In forward context of contemporary global political economy tensions, the need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the G7’s Build Back Better and the European Union’s Global Gateway ambitions also, this article may offer a timely fresh and comparative lens on the BRI. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31116 2023-04-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31115 Working Class Formation in China Since 1920 Blecher, Marc In the 20th century, the Chinese working class did have the opportunity, and from time to time it looked like they had might be turning the trick. But in the end, they lost. Why? Chinese workers have been the subjects of a great deal of analysis by scholars, documentation by journalists and activists, and portrayal by writers, filmmakers and artists. Light has been shone on the rich tapestry of economic, social, cultural and political forces driving them into low-paid, dangerous, degrading, alienating, mind-numbing, transient employment, on the obstacles to improvement, on workers’ understandings of their world and their lives in it, on their passivity and resistance, and on the effects of their responses. A World to Lose seeks the foundation for all this in three questions: what kind of class is the Chinese working class?; what are the historical forces and processes that have formed it?; and how does the pattern of class formation help explain the working class’s reactions historically, presently and even prospectively? Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31115 2023-04-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31114 PRC Foreign and Military Policy, 1977-81: Shades of Mao, the Imprint of Deng Teiwes, Frederick C.; Sun, Warren This Working Paper is a draft chapter for a book on the poorly understood CCP elite politics of the early post-Mao period, tentatively entitled Hua Guofeng, Deng Xiaoping, and the Dismantling of Maoism. Conventional wisdom pictures the period up to the December 1978 Third Plenum as a struggle between Hua and Deng, reflecting neo-Maoist v. reformist tendencies, and won by Deng at the plenum. In fact, there was broad consensus between them, Hua was more proactive in key areas, and there is no evidence of anything approaching a power struggle. This paper, however, deals with an area where elements of accepted views of Deng hold up. In essence, Deng held both the foreign policy and particularly PLA portfolios, notably where they concerned the crucial relationships with the US, Soviet Union, Japan, and Vietnam. In external relations Deng was broadly regarded to have performed brilliantly, while Hua was thought a mere cypher. Overall, Hua was clearly secondary in external relations, but he took the bold step of initiating relations with revisionist Yugoslavia, made the most telling proposal in the high-level negotiations with the US, and deeply impressed dominant European leaders Margaret Thatcher and Helmut Schmidt. Deng’s foreign policy outlook was deeply influenced by Mao, he could push Mao’s “horizontal line” concept to counterproductive extremes, almost losing the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty, and rather than brilliantly negotiating US normalization, the Chinese side was slow to grasp the outcome that was always there. Most significant, and revealing of the underlying dynamic of CCP politics, was the war against Vietnam. This was truly Deng’s war, opposed by not only Hua, but also by a broad array of senior civilian and PLA officials, including surviving marshals. This was essentially the first time since his return to work in 1977, in contrast to persuading his colleagues through intense effort, that Deng simply asserted his authority. Neither here or elsewhere, was argument decisive as it had generally been under Hua’s leadership to that point. What was decisive was Deng’s enormous prestige as the most outstanding of the surviving “old revolutionaries” who achieved the success of 1949. It was the same factor that allowed Deng’s quiet coup against Hua at the turn of 1979-80, with no significant resistance from Hua or anyone else, and with no explanation being made in any official forum until well after the fact. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31114 2023-04-19T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29949 Governing for Access Levinson, David M. The only reason to locate anywhere is to be near some people, places, and things (opportunities) and be far from others. Access quantifies the ability to reach, or be reached by, people, places, and things. It explains much of the variation in real estate prices and development density. It does so in large part because real estate capitalises into land value the ease of travel to desired opportunities. Physical infrastructure networks like roads and rails exist to connect within and between places faster than travel without them. Transport agencies often plan networks as if the land use is given, and regulators plan and zone development as if the network were unchangeable. Since the efficiency of a transport network depends on the land use pattern and the efficiency of the land use pattern depends on the network configuration, systems which coordinate these may be more efficient than those where transport and land use are planned independently. This is especially pertinent for long-term capital investments which are largely irreversible. While compared to some peer cities, Sydney has done a good job coordinating transport services and land development, it can do much better. This would lead to shorter commutes lengths, greater public and active transport mode shares, higher employment and incomes, and greater productivity. Overall Sydney would be a more desirable and convenient city. This is also important as better coordinating transport with land development while better balancing jobs and housing will thereby reduce motor vehicle travel. Reducing private vehicle travel will remain critical to addressing environmental problems such as CO2 emissions and air and water pollution, and increasing traveler safety. Modern urban planning confronts the challenge of coordinating policies in transport investment, land use and development regulation, budgets and taxation, and capital spending so that they reinforce instead of undermine each other.1 Several inter-related problems with transport - land use planning processes in New South Wales are apparent: 1. Mobility-centric transport planning and density-centric land use planning. 2. The uncoordinated and disjointed nature of decision making, wherein transport and land use decisions made by different organisations assume the other is unchanged. 3. Lack of systematic feedback in the infrastructure/land development cycle, so the gains in land value from new transport facilities don’t generate revenue could have helped fund the infrastructure in the first place. 4. The political cycle reversing long-term strategic planning decisions. 5. Lack of institutional knowledge caused by lack of long-term stability in senior staff and organisational structure. 6. Lack of domain expertise within operating agencies leading to: • Very high costs (and unexpectedly high costs) for infrastructure, reducing the capacity for investment. • Under-utilisation (over-forecast of demand) of many major new infrastructure projects. 7. Lack of transparency and authentic public participation in decision processes. This report contains several major parts. The next part, The Value of Access to Opportunity (chapter 2) discusses the framework of the Fundamental Model of Access. Then chapter 3 of the report, Operationalising Access describes formally how access is measured. This is followed be an examination of how Infill Stations Expand Access (chapter 4), including an example that illustrates how access might change between two public transport service scenarios when an infill station is added, and a sample of some potential sites for Infill Stations on the Sydney network are provided. Access-Oriented Planning Globally: Case Studies (chapter 5), discusses how integrated transport and land use planning is conducted in several key metropolitan regions globally. It looks at the governance structures in the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague) in the Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. The subsequent section, Governing for Access in New South Wales: A Future Sydney Commission (chapter 6), describes how long-term strategic transport - land use planning might be conducted in Greater Sydney, with an aim to address several of those inter-related problems. The final section (chapter 7) concludes the report, showing how the proposed strategy addresses the key problems identified above. Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29949 2023-02-02T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29750 Continuity of mental health care during the transition from prison to the community following brief periods of imprisonment Browne, Christie; Korobanova, Daria; Chemjong, Prabin; Harris, Anthony W.F.; Glozier, Nick; Basson, John; Spencer, Sarah-Jane; Dean, Kimberlie Purpose: The prison-to-community transition period is one of high risk and need, particularly for those with mental illness. Some individuals cycle in and out of prison for short periods with little opportunity for mental health stabilization or service planning either in prison or the community. This study describes the socio-demographic, clinical and criminal justice characteristics of individuals with mental illness and frequent, brief periods of imprisonment, examines continuity of mental health care between prison and the community for this group, and reports on their post-release mental health and criminal justice outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: This study examined a sample of 275 men who had recently entered prison in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, who had been charged with relatively minor offenses and had been identified on reception screening as having significant mental health needs. Baseline demographic and mental health information was collected via interview and file review and contacts with the prison mental health service were recorded for the period of incarceration. Follow-up interviews were conducted 3 months post-release to determine level of health service contact and mental health symptoms. Information on criminal justice contact during the 3 month period was also collected. Findings: The majority (85.5%) of the sample had contact with a mental health professional during their period of incarceration. Mental health discharge planning was, however, lacking, with only one in 20 receiving a referral to a community mental health team (CMHT) and one in eight being referred for any kind of mental health follow-up on release. Of those followed up 3 months post-release (n = 113), 14.2% had had contact with a CMHT. Of those released for at least 3 months (n = 255), one in three had received new charges in this period and one in five had been reincarcerated. Conclusion: Continuity of mental health care for those exiting prison is poor, particularly for those with mental health needs experiencing brief periods of imprisonment, and rates of CMHT contact are low in the immediate post-release period. These findings suggest a need for early identification of individuals in this group for timely commencement of intervention and release planning, and opportunities for diversion from prison should be utilized where possible. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29750 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29749 What happened to the predicted COVID-19-induced suicide epidemic, and why? Glozier, Nick; Morris, Richard; Schurer, Stefanie Two years ago, in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were widespread and grim predictions of an ensuing suicide epidemic. Not only has this not happened but also by the end of 2021 in the majority of countries and regions with available data, the suicide rates had, if anything, declined. We discuss four reasons why the predictions of suicide models were exaggerated: (1) government intervention reduced the economic and mental costs of lockdowns, (2) the pandemic itself and lockdowns had less of an effect on mental health than assumed, (3) the evidence for a link between economic downturns, distress and suicide is weaker and less consistent than the models assumed and (4) predicting suicide is generally hard. Predictive models have an important place, but their strong modelling assumptions need to acknowledge the inherent high degree of uncertainty which has been further augmented by behavioural responses of pandemic management. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29749 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29745 Disentangling what works best for whom in comorbidity Glozier, Nick; Vidafar, Parisa This short commentary article reviews Mason EC, Grierson AB, Sie A, et al. Co-occurring insomnia and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial of internet CBT for insomnia vs. internet CBT for anxiety. Sleep. 2022 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29745 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29280 An uphill battle: A case example of government policy and activist dissent on the death penalty for drug-related offences in Indonesia Kramer, Elisabeth; Stoicescu, Claudia In 2014, newly-elected President Joko Widodo announced that Indonesia was facing a national ‘emergency’ due to high levels of drug use that necessitated harsh criminal justice responses, including the ultimate punishment of death. On April 29, 2015 Indonesia executed eight prisoners condemned to death for drug-related offences, including seven foreigners, eliciting widespread international criticism. This commentary explores the strate- gies employed and obstacles faced by national anti-death penalty advocates that opposed the 2015 executions, primarily focusing on their efforts between 2015 and 2017. We begin by highlighting existing political narra- tives that make the death penalty an attractive option for the Indonesian government, before discussing key approaches employed as part of anti-death penalty efforts. It is hoped that a better understanding of existing ef- forts to promote abolition and the challenges associated with these approaches will help inform a more systematic and evidence-based approach to policy, practice, and discourse on the death penalty for drug-related offences in Indonesia. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29280 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z