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Summary Little is known about the quantity, nature and range of Australian social work research on ageing and aged care. This scoping review involved a comprehensive search of seven online bibliographic databases. The review identified 108 peer-reviewed journal articles, published between January 2007 and June 2014, that reported Australian social work research on ageing and aged care. Findings The average number of authors per paper was 2.10 with most social work researchers co-authoring papers with non-social workers. The main topics of research focus were health and rehabilitation, elder abuse, asset management, community services and caregiving, housing and residential aged care, and ageing with an intellectual disability. The findings highlight the contribution social work researchers make to multidisciplinary gerontological research, and to understanding the lived experiences of older people and the provision of services. However, they also point to the relative paucity of research focusing on direct social work practice with older people, and the little evidence of the participation of older people and carers in the design and delivery of research. Applications The findings indicate the need for capacity-building strategies, such as developing networks of Australian social work researchers on ageing and aged care, to improve research outputs in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tactile warmth quality of various untreated and modified wood surfaces was compared at a room temperature of 22°C using the Thurstone's psychophysical method of paired comparison. The test surfaces included 12 varieties of untreated and modified wooden surfaces. A total of 17 participants took part in the experiments, in which they compared 33 specimen pairs arising from various surface combinations. The results demonstrated the considerable differences in tactile warmth quality among wood surfaces. Surface coatings, such as oil and varnish, and thermal modification induced a change in the tactile warmth of wood. In pine and birch, a decrease in the tactile warmth of the surface was readily perceived after surface densification. The results provide some insights into how materials could be selected, based on their warmth quality, to improve the thermal comfort of living spaces and suggesting that this could be achieved by the extensive use of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore potential cascading flows and the measures that could be taken to enhance cascading potential. The results reveal that the potential cascading flow needs to be considered in light of the length and condition of the wood recovered from buildings, rather than the cross-section. For instance, wood in the roof structure such as '1 × 4' or '1 × 6' was recovered with most of the original length intact and with minimal damage, which is suitable for direct reuse. In contrast, wood in walls, floors and ceilings such as '2 × 2', '2 × 3' or '2 × 8' was recovered in poor condition in terms of both length and the occurrence of damage. To enhance cascading potential, the development of the jointing systems and considering the reuse of whole elements of the unit parts should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Volunteering is associated with positive well-being among older people, providing opportunities to stay active and socially connected. This may be especially relevant for older lesbian and gay people, who are less likely than heterosexual people to have a partner, children or support from their family of origin. Methods: Patterns of volunteering and mental, physical and social well-being were examined in a sample of 754 lesbian and gay adults in Australia aged 60 years and older who completed a nationwide survey. Results: Volunteers reported greater positive mental health than non-volunteers. Among the gay men, volunteers additionally reported higher self-rated health and social support and lower psychological distress. Both the lesbian women and gay men who volunteered for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) organisations also reported greater LGBTI community connectedness than volunteers for non-LGBTI organisations. Discussion: These findings provide further insight into potential factors associated with the well-being of older lesbian and gay adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]