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Aiming at the problems of high stochasticity and volatility of power loads as well as the difficulty of accurate load forecasting, this paper proposes a power load forecasting method based on CEEMDAN (Completely Integrated Empirical Modal Decomposition) and TCN-LSTM (Temporal Convolutional Networks and Long-Short-Term Memory Networks). The method combines the decomposition of raw load data by CEEMDAN and the spatio-temporal modeling capability of TCN-LSTM model, aiming to improve the accuracy and stability of forecasting. First, the raw load data are decomposed into multiple linearly stable subsequences by CEEMDAN, and then the sample entropy is introduced to reorganize each subsequence. Then the reorganized sequences are used as inputs to the TCN-LSTM model to extract sequence features and perform training and prediction. The modeling prediction is carried out by selecting the electricity compliance data of New South Wales, Australia, and compared with the traditional prediction methods. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has higher accuracy and better prediction effect on load forecasting, which can provide a partial reference for electricity load forecasting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Hunter Valley is a major coal mining area in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Due to the ongoing increase in mining activities, PM10 (air-borne particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometres) pollution has become a major air quality concern in local communities. The present study was initiated to quantitatively examine the spatial and temporal variability of PM10 pollution in the region. An earlier paper of this study identified two air quality subregions in the valley. This paper aims to provide a holistic summarisation of the relationships between elevated PM10 pollution in two subregions and the local- and synoptic-scale meteorological conditions for spring and summer, when PM10 pollution is relatively high. A catalogue of twelve synoptic types and a set of six local meteorological patterns were quantitatively derived and linked to each other using the self-organising map (SOM) technique. The complex meteorology–air pollution relationships were visualised and interpreted on the SOM planes for two representative locations. It was found that the influence of local meteorological patterns differed significantly for mean PM10 levels vs. the occurrence of elevated pollution events and between air quality subregions. In contrast, synoptic types showed generally similar relationships with mean vs. elevated PM10 pollution in the valley. Two local meteorological patterns, the hot–dry–northwesterly wind conditions and the hot–dry–calm conditions, were found to be the most PM10 pollution conducive in the valley when combined with a set of synoptic counterparts. These synoptic types are featured with the influence of an eastward migrating continental high-pressure system and westerly troughs, or a ridge extending northwest towards coastal northern NSW or southern Queensland from the Tasman Sea. The method and results can be used in air quality research for other locations of NSW, or similar regions elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders typically emerge in adolescence and can be chronic and disabling if not identified and treated early. School-based universal mental health screening may identify young people in need of mental health support and facilitate access to treatment. However, few studies have assessed the potential harms of this approach. This paper examines some of the potential mental health-related harms associated with the universal screening of anxiety and depression administered in Australian secondary schools. Methods: A total of 1802 adolescent students from 22 secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia, were cluster randomised (at the school level) to receive either an intensive screening procedure (intervention) or a light touch screening procedure (control). Participants in the intensive screening condition received supervised self-report web-based screening questionnaires for anxiety, depression and suicidality with the follow-up care matched to their symptom severity. Participants in the light touch condition received unsupervised web-based screening for anxiety and depression only, followed by generalised advice on help-seeking. No other care was provided in this condition. Study outcomes included the increased risk of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, decreased risk of help-seeking, increased risk of mental health stigma, determined from measures assessed at baseline, 6 weeks post-baseline, and 12 weeks post-baseline. Differences between groups were analysed using mixed effect models. Results: Participants in the intensive screening group were not adversely affected when compared to the light touch screening condition across a range of potential harms. Rather, participants in the intensive screening group were found to have a decreased risk of inhibited help-seeking behaviour compared to the light touch screening condition. Conclusions: The intensive screening procedure did not appear to adversely impact adolescents' mental health relative to the light touch procedure. Future studies should examine other school-based approaches that may be more effective and efficient than universal screening for reducing mental health burden among students. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001539224) https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375821. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method to analyze and improve the set of equations constituting a rainfall‐runoff model structure based on a combination of a data assimilation algorithm and polynomial updates to the state equations. The method, which we have called "Data Assimilation Informed model Structure Improvement" (DAISI) is generic, modular, and demonstrated with an application to the GR2M model and 201 catchments in South‐East Australia. Our results show that the updated model generated with DAISI generally performed better for all metrics considered included Kling‐Gupta Efficiency, NSE on log transform flow and flow duration curve bias. In addition, the elasticity of modeled runoff to rainfall is higher in the updated model, which suggests that the structural changes could have a significant impact on climate change simulations. Finally, the DAISI diagnostic identified a reduced number of update configurations in the GR2M structure with distinct regional patterns in three sub‐regions of the modeling domain (Western Victoria, central region, and Northern New South Wales). These configurations correspond to specific polynomials of the state variables that could be used to improve equations in a revised model. Several potential improvements of DAISI are proposed including the use of additional observed variables such as actual evapotranspiration to better constrain internal model fluxes. Plain Language Summary: This paper presents a data‐driven method to improve rainfall‐runoff models used to generate future water resources scenario in climate change studies. The method, which we have called "Data Assimilation Informed model Structure Improvement" (DAISI) is generic, modular, and demonstrated with an application to monthly streamflow simulations over a large data set of catchments in South‐East Australia. Our results show that DAISI improves model performance for a wide range of metrics and increases the sensitivity of the model to climate inputs, which is critical in climate change scenarios. Finally, the improvements identified by DAISI take a simple mathematical form with distinct regional patterns in three sub‐regions of the study domain (Western Victoria, central region, and Northern New South Wales). Several improvements of DAISI are discussed including the inclusion of additional observed variables such as evapotranspiration to better constrain model simulations. Key Points: Data Assimilation Informed model Structure Improvement method diagnoses hydrological model structures by combining data assimilation with a polynomial update of state equationsThe method was applied to the GR2M rainfall‐runoff model with significantly improved streamflow simulations in 201 Australian catchmentsThe method identified updates to state equations with marked regional characteristics that could guide future improvement of GR2M [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Hunter Valley is a major coal mining area containing approximately 40% of the currently identified total coal reserves in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Due to the ongoing increase in mining activities, PM10 (airborne particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 micrometres) pollution has become a major air quality concern in local communities. This paper summarises the spatial and temporal variability modes of PM10 pollution in the region, based on long-term multi-site monitoring data and the application of the rotated principal component analysis (RPCA) and wavelet analysis techniques. RPCA identified two distinct air quality clusters/subregions in the valley: one in the west/northwest and the other in the southeast. Wavelet analysis revealed the annual cycle to be the most persistent temporal mode of PM10 variability in both subregions, with intermittent signals also observed at time scales of around 120, 30~90, and under 30 days. How these variation modes are related to the effects of local PM10 emissions and the influence of meteorology at different time scales deserves further attention in future work. The findings will be used in air quality reporting and forecasting in NSW. The methodology and results can also be useful for air quality research in similar regions elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative framework for wind power prediction that focuses on the future of energy forecasting utilizing intelligent deep learning and strategic feature engineering. This research investigates the application of a state-of-the-art deep learning model for wind energy prediction to make extremely short-term forecasts using real-time data on wind generation from New South Wales, Australia. In contrast with typical approaches to wind energy forecasting, this model relies entirely on historical data and strategic feature engineering to make predictions, rather than relying on meteorological parameters. A hybrid feature engineering strategy that integrates features from several feature generation techniques to obtain the optimal input parameters is a significant contribution to this work. The model's performance is assessed using key metrics, yielding optimal results with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 8.76, Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 139.49, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 11.81, R-squared score of 0.997, and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 4.85%. Additionally, the proposed framework outperforms six other deep learning and hybrid deep learning models in terms of wind energy prediction accuracy. These findings highlight the importance of advanced data analysis for feature generation in data processing, pointing to its key role in boosting the precision of forecasting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is opportunity for universities to actively engage with Aboriginal communities to participate, conduct and ideally lead responsible research that attends to community priorities and issues. The Health from the Grassroots (Grassroots) project sought to address an ongoing mismatch between university-defined and community-defined priorities in rural northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Grassroots, led by Aboriginal staff of the University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH), aimed at engaging Aboriginal communities in conversations to inform research priorities. The Grassroots project was a true representation of collaborative research led by and for Aboriginal people. The team designed a local survey conducted yarning sessions with community members and used this information to visualize report findings. Community members were highly engaged in the consultation process and the "rich picture" continues to be used to further conversations about evolving health and research priorities. The Aboriginal research team identified strengths and challenges faced by communities and health services in the region and centred community in decision-making for project design and direction. Challenges encountered include limited resources and time for team members to devote to the project outside of their substantive paid positions. This paper describes the project vision, implementation, and research team lessons in the first years. Meaningful consultation to inform research action arose from the team's deep-rooted relationships and identities as members of the community in which we live and work. Research priorities identified through the Grassroots project have been integrated into the ongoing work of the UCRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implementation strategies are crucial to facilitate implementation success. To prepare and support implementation of a clinical pathway for screening, assessment and management of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (the ADAPT CP), six broad categories of implementation strategies; (1) Awareness campaigns, (2) Champions, (3) Education, (4) Academic Detailing and Support, (5) Reporting, (6) Technological Support, were developed. The aim of this paper is to describe the fidelity and acceptability of six categories of implementation strategies and any subsequent changes/adaptations made to those strategies. Methods: The ADAPT CP was implemented in twelve cancer services in NSW, Australia, as part of a cluster randomised controlled trial of core versus enhanced implementation strategies. Fidelity to and any subsequent changes to the delivery of the planned six categories of implementation strategies were captured using the ADAPT contact log, which recorded the contacts made between the ADAPT research team and services, engagement meetings and monthly meetings. To explore acceptability and awareness/engagement with the implementation strategies, interviews with a purposively selected staff sample across both study arms were held prior to implementation (T0), six months into implementation (T1) and at the end of the 12-month implementation period (T2). Interviews were thematically analysed across the six categories of strategies. Results: Delivery of all six categories of implementation strategies as planned was moderated by service context and resources and staff engagement. As such, for some implementation strategies, subsequent changes or adaptations to the content, mode of delivery, frequency and duration such as abbreviated training sessions, were made to optimise fidelity to and engagement with the strategies. Most strategies were perceived to be acceptable by service staff. Use of strategies prior to implementation of the ADAPT CP such as the engagement meetings and training sessions, positively impacted on ownership and preparedness to implement the ADAPT CP. Furthermore, ongoing support such as provision of additional training or monthly meetings facilitated increased awareness and engagement with the ADAPT program. Conclusion: Flexibility in delivering implementation strategies, and ensuring staff engagement with, and acceptability of those strategies, can support implementation of interventions within healthcare settings. Trial registration: The ADAPT CRCT was registered prospectively with the ANZCTR on 22/3/2017. Trial ID ACTRN12617000411347. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372486&isReview=true [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although traditional physical models have been used to analyse groundwater systems, the emergence of novel machine learning models can improve the accuracy of the predictions. Deep learning has been prominent in environmental and climate change problems. In this paper, we present a framework for utilising deep learning models to predict groundwater levels based on nearby streamflow and rainfall data. We address the missing data problem using a Bayesian linear regression model within the deep learning framework. Our deep learning framework utilises models such as long-short term memory (LSTM) networks and convolutional neural networks (CNN) for multi-step ahead time series prediction. We examine the fluctuations in groundwater levels at various boreholes located near Middle Creek in New South Wales, Australia. We use the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) groundwater database and utilise Bayesian linear regression to impute missing data. We investigate the accuracy of the selected models for individual and regional basins and univariate and multivariate strategies. Our results show that the LSTM-based regional model with multivariate strategy using rainfall data provided the best accuracy. • We predict groundwater levels based on stream flow and rainfall data. • Our framework uses Bayesian data imputation and deep learning for multi-step prediction. • We examine the groundwater fluctuations at various boreholes located in Australia. • Results show a fine-tuned regional model with rainfall data yielded the best accuracy. • We find that LSTM models outperformed CNNs using the multivariate approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaemia during pregnancy is common worldwide. In Australia, approximately 17% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age have anaemia, increasing to a rate of 25% in pregnant women. This study sought to determine the rate of screening for anaemia in pregnancy in regional New South Wales, and to determine whether screening and treatment protocols followed the recommended guidelines. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed antenatal and postnatal (48 h) data of women (n = 150) who had a live birth at Bathurst Hospital between 01/01/2020 and 30/04/2020. Demographic data, risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy, antenatal bloods, treatments provided in trimesters one (T1), two (T2) and three (T3), and postpartum complications were recorded. These were compared to the Australian Red Cross Guidelines (ARCG) using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the women with screening data available (n = 103), they were mostly aged 20-35yrs (79.6%), 23.3% were obese, 97.1% were iron deficient, 17% were anaemic and only a few (5.3%) completed the full pregnancy screening as recommended by the ARCG while a majority completed only partial screenings specifically Hb levels in T1 (56.7%), T2 (44.7%) and T3 (36.6%). Compliance to oral iron was largely undocumented, but constipation was a common side effect among the women. IV iron was administered in 14.0% of women, approximately 1.75x higher than the recommended rate. Conclusions: This study provided useful information about compliance to screening and treatment guidelines for anaemia in pregnancy. We identified the need for improved documentation and communication between various health providers to ensure adequate antenatal care to prevent maternal complications during pregnancy. This will improve patient care and encourage further developments in maternal care, bridging the rural health gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is the leading source of unscheduled hospitalisation in Australian children, with a high burden placed upon children, their parents/families, and the healthcare system. In Australia, there are widening disparities in paediatric asthma care including inequitable access to comprehensive ongoing and planned asthma care for children. Methods: The Asthma Care from Home Project is a comprehensive virtually enabled asthma model of care that aims to a. supports families, communities and healthcare providers, b. flexible and locally acceptable, and c. allow for adoption of innovations such as digital technologies so that asthma care can be provided "from home", reduce potentially preventable asthma hospitalisation, and ensure satisfaction at a patient, family, and healthcare provider level. The model of care includes standardisation of discharge care through provision of an asthma discharge resource pack containing individual asthma action plan, follow-up letters for the child's general practitioner (GP) and school/child care, and access to online asthma educational sessions and resource; post-discharge care coordination through text message reminders for families for regular GP review, email correspondence with their child's GP and school/childcare; and virtual home visits to discuss home environmental triggers, provide personalised asthma education and respond to parental concerns relating to their child's asthma. This study is comprised of three components: 1) a quasi-experimental pre/post impact evaluation assessing the impact of the model on healthcare utilisation and asthma control measures; 2) a mixed-methods implementation evaluation to understand how and why our intervention was effective or ineffective in producing systems change; 3) an economic evaluation to assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposed model of care from a family and health services perspective. Discussion: This study aims to improve access to asthma care for children in rural and remote areas. Implementation evaluation and economic evaluation will provide insights into the sustainability and scalability of the asthma model of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2021, Australia initiated a national COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy but faced setbacks, leading to negative press and media controversy, which may have diminished vaccine confidence. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing vaccine confidence in Australian adults (≥18 years of age) following the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. Conducted at Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, a cross-sectional survey with 1053 respondents gauged vaccine confidence and influencing factors. The results showed overall high confidence (mean score 33/40). Trusted sources included the Australian Department of Health (77.8%), NSW Health (76.7%), and general practitioners (53.7%), while social media was distrusted (5.9%). The motivations for vaccination varied: university-educated individuals prioritised personal health (X2 = 17.81; p < 0.001), while religious and/or older respondents (≥50 years of age) emphasised community (X2 = 11.69; p < 0.001) and family protection (X2 = 17.314; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed use of the Australian Department of Health website as a trusted source of COVID-19 information as the strongest predictor of high confidence (>30; OR 1.43; p = 0.041), while exposure to fake news decreased confidence (OR 0.71; p = 0.025). The study underscores the importance of reliable health information sources in bolstering vaccine confidence and highlights the detrimental effects of misinformation. Promoting awareness of trustworthy health channels is crucial to combat vaccine hesitancy in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticale (×Triticosecale) is a hybrid between wheat (Triticum spp.) and rye (Secale cereale), producing higher grain yields than wheat in challenging environments. Triticale grain is also highly nutritious. Thus, the potential of triticale grain for an expanded range of food applications should be explored. Sourdough bread has unique functional and nutritional properties, but understanding the effects of partial substitution of triticale for wheat flour and varying levels of dough moisture content on sourdough quality requires further research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the wholegrain flour of contrasting triticale cultivars in comparison to that of a common wheat cultivar in commercial sourdough breadmaking. Two triticale cultivars (Goanna and Hawkeye, selected from a panel of Australian genotypes) and one wheat cultivar (Scout) were grown in a field trial in northern NSW, Australia. Differences in quantitative texture and color parameters of the dough and sourdough bread resulting from (1) substitution of commercial wholemeal wheat flour with different proportions of wholegrain triticale or wholegrain wheat (Scout) flour (0%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) and (2) varying the amount of water included in the dough preparation (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100 g water/100 g flour) were determined. Replacement of wholemeal wheat flour with 60% wholegrain Goanna flour (protein content 12.76%; c.f. 11.50% for Hawkeye, 12.40% for Scout), and addition of 100 g water/100 g flour in the dough preparation gave the highest quality sourdough bread based on specific volume, texture, and color parameters and had similar properties to the control made from wheat alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has resulted in a worldwide increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events including bushfires. Previous research has shown that communities often do not engage in disaster preparedness, even when sufficient education and resources are provided. With the projected increase in natural disasters, preparedness is paramount, and more research is needed to gain an understanding into what impacts community preparedness in the face of climate change. This study investigated one rural Australian community's preparedness for the 2019–2020 bushfires. Thirteen Australian adults who resided within a small rural community in New South Wales during the 2019–2020 bushfires participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants reported being unprepared for the 2019–2020 bushfires and that the community has started to prepare for future bushfires. However, they also described a belief in 'climate cycles' rather than climate change, limiting engagement in preparedness for future hazards. Participants also reported that they did not talk about the 2019–2020 bushfires, although described experiencing residual anxiety. Recommendations included support needed for rural communities to help with future preparedness efforts and mental health symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We studied the occurrence of two sympatric wallabies, the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis) and the red-legged pademelon (T. stigmatica) in northeastern New South Wales, Australia in relation to structural habitat attributes. At our study site, both species inhabit closed forest environments and have overlapping distributions, but T. thetis leaves the forest at night to graze adjacent grassy forest edges whereas T. stigmatica remains within the forest and browses forest vegetation. The objectives of the study were to investigate how structural attributes of two forest types, wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest, relate to the fine-scale occurrence of these two wallaby species within the forested environment. Methods: We gathered occurrence data from 48 camera trap stations divided equally between rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. At each camera point, we also measured a range of structural habitat attributes to determine habitat affiliations for the two Thylogale species. Principal component analyses were used to describe major trends in habitat, and generalised linear models were used to describe the efficacy of the variables in predicting habitat occurrence of each species. Results: The number of occurrences of Thylogale thetis was significantly greater than occurrences of T. stigmatica, which was driven by significantly greater occurrences of T. thetis in wet sclerophyll forest. There was both spatial and temporal partitioning between the two species; there was a significant difference in the occurrences of the two species at individual cameras and T. stigmatica had a different activity schedule than T. thetis in wet sclerophyll forest, where the latter reached its greatest rate of occurrence. At a finer (camera station) scale, occurrences of T. thetis increased with proximity to roads and grassy edges and at sites that were less rocky and less steep. T. stigmatica occurrence increased in the presence of rainforest elements like vines, palms and ferns, more ground-level cover and tree-fall gaps and at sites with fewer emergent eucalypts. Conclusion: Our findings have implications for managing these pademelons and their habitats. T. thetis is a common species that was encountered more often than T. stigmatica, and it responded positively to human disturbance like roadsides and grassy edges, presumably because these areas provided good grazing opportunities. By comparison, T. stigmatica is a threatened species, and it responded to natural disturbance like tree-fall gaps where lateral cover was greater, and where rainforest food plants may be more abundant. Our results suggest, therefore, that conservation of the threatened T. stigmatica requires the preservation of intact rainforest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare workplace mistreatment has been documented globally. Poor workplace behaviour, ranging from incivility to bullying and harassment, is common in healthcare, and contributes significantly to adverse events in healthcare, poor mental health among healthcare workers, and to attrition in the healthcare workforce, particularly in junior years. Poor workplace behaviour is often normalised, and is difficult to address. Verbatim theatre, a form of research informed theatre in which plays are created from informants' exact words only, is particularly suited to facilitating workplace culture change by raising awareness about issues that are difficult to discuss. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the verbatim theatre play 'Grace Under Pressure' on workplace culture in NSW hospitals. Methods: The intervention was conducted in 13 hospitals from 8 Local Health Districts (LHDs) in NSW, Australia, in October and November 2019, with aggregated impact across all sites measured by a bespoke survey ('Pam McLean Centre (PMC) survey') at the conclusion of the intervention. This study was conducted in 3 Local Health Districts (one urban, one regional, one remote), with data collection conducted in November–December 2019 and December 2020. The study design was a mixed methods assessment of the play's impact using (1) validated baseline measures of psychosocial risk, analysed descriptively, (2) overall findings from the PMC survey above, analysed descriptively, (3) interviews conducted within a month of the intervention, analysed thematically and (4) interviews conducted one year later, analysed thematically. Results: Half (51.5%) of the respondents (n = 149) to the baseline survey had scores indicating high risk of job strain and depressive symptoms. Of 478 respondents to the PMC survey (response rate 57%), 93% found the play important, 92% recommended others see the play, 89% considered that it stimulated thinking about workplace behaviour, and 85% that it made discussing these issues easier. Thematic analysis of interviews within one month (n = 21) showed that the play raised awareness about poor workplace behaviour and motivated behaviour change. Interviews conducted one year later (n = 6) attributed improved workplace culture to the intervention due to improved awareness, discussion and capacity to respond to challenging issues. Conclusions: Verbatim theatre is effective in raising awareness about difficult workplace behaviour in ways that motivate behaviour change, and hence can be effective in catalysing real improvements in healthcare workplace culture. Creative approaches are recommended for addressing similarly complex challenges in healthcare workforce retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The perceptions and practices of sheep farmers with regards to their knowledge of sheep health management on their farms can have a significant impact on the overall health, welfare, and production of their animals and on the economics of their farming enterprise. District veterinary services play an important role in providing technical services and support to the farmers. Survey studies were conducted to understand and compare the practices and perceptions of sheep famers and district veterinarians (DVs) in NSW, Australia, to sheep health and its management. The findings illustrated differences between the farmer and DV perception of sheep health and diseases of greatest concern and provided valuable insights into their different observations and practices. For example, sheep producers were most concerned with parasites whereas for DVs sheep husbandry advice was most concerning. However, both groups ranked nutrition advice as the second most concerning area related to sheep health. Of particular interest were the differences in the communication methods that they prefer which, if more closely aligned, may enable more effective communication. The findings of these studies provide some guidance and recommendations for improving the management of the health, welfare, and overall economic value of sheep farming in NSW. The study objectives were to understand the practices and perceptions of sheep farmers and district veterinarians (DVs) towards sheep health management and, the impact of disease at the farm level in addition to the availability, accessibility, and use of veterinary services. Data were collected using question-based surveys, distributed online and in-person to sheep farmers (45 respondents) and DVs (25 respondents). Most farmers were male, ≥51 years old, who placed a high priority on the health and welfare of their sheep. For disease prevention most farmers vaccinated their sheep (91%) and 86.7% had a farm biosecurity plan, although its components and their application varied, e.g., the isolation of new or sick sheep. Fencing costs were most frequently identified (70.5% respondents) as a financial concern for sheep farmers. Their most common sources of information about disease control and prevention were DVs (66.7%), private veterinarians (60.0%), the internet (42.9%), rural suppliers (35.7%), and farmers/neighbours (28.6%). Fifty-eight percent of farmers reported a long distance from veterinarian services. Farmers preferred to receive information via email (77.8%), whereas 56% of DVs preferred to share information via phone call. This discrepancy presents an opportunity to align these mechanisms more closely for effective dissemination of information and increased producer engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cool temperate rainforests of eastern Australia are at risk from anthropogenic climate change with predicted changes in temperature, rainfall, severe weather, basal cloud layer, and droughts. Phenology and litter production are fundamental reproductive and growth processes to document in any ecosystem, yet very few long-term studies exist in Australian rainforests. In this study, long-term datasets are used to describe different phenological and litter production behaviours of tree species in a Nothofagus cool temperate rainforest in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, analysing seasonal and inter-annual climate drivers. Leaf fall at the community level was mostly influenced by Nothofagus moorei, driven by temperature and wind speed, and Ceratopetalum apetalum, driven by temperature, rainfall, and solar radiation. Mean dates of leaf fall at the community level were found to be advancing, correlated with an advance in solar radiation. We also analysed in detail the flowering behaviour of the dominant canopy tree species, N. moorei, which masts with a mean inter-flowering period of 3-4 years in 65% of flowering events. Three of the studied species presented mast flowering, C. apetalum, N. moorei, and Orites excelsus; however, they did not mast in the same years. All species presented strong seasonality in their phenological activity, but seasonality peaked in different months, and were driven by varied climate variables. Supra-annual peaks of flowering and fruiting did not occur at the same time for all species, and climate drivers of inter-annual phenological behaviour were different for each species. Our results show that projected changes in climate will affect species from cool temperate rainforests differently, affecting not only biomass production, but also species reproductive output and forest dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While vegetable intakes in Australia remain sub-optimal across all age groups, children are rarely consulted about their ideas on how to increase consumption. Qualitative research involving children provides an opportunity to consider their views. The aim of the Kids initiative inspires Dietary Success in Adults and Youth (KiiDSAY) project was to explore the views of school-aged children, who had participated in a school-based nutrition education program, about inspiring their peers and families to eat more vegetables. Methods: A total of 26 children (15 boys) aged 10–12 years from four primary schools in New South Wales, Australia, participated in seven focus group interviews. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit participants. The study involved open-ended semi-structured questions conducted via Zoom that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis with deductive and inductive coding in NVivo. Results: Four major themes emerged: (i) taste; (ii) family environment; (iii) healthy eating; and (iv) change makers; with subthemes that were embedded within Social Cognitive Theory and Ecological Model of Health Behaviour theoretical frameworks. Conclusions: Children's inputs hold great potential for informing future interventions, particularly when designing or refining school-based nutrition programs. Children offered suggestions on how to inspire increased vegetable consumption among their peers and families that could be taken into consideration for future research and practice. These included: cooking activities in the home and school settings using recipes that creatively hide/mask/enhance the flavour of vegetables, involving positive role models and supportive school environments. Additionally, children recommended a sequential approach to the delivery of recipes starting from fruit-based and transitioning to vegetable-based recipes. Given the challenges faced in increasing children's vegetable consumption, particular focus on future research in this area is warranted. Trial registration: FEAST Trial registered 14th December 2020 with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001347954). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storms and wildfires occur frequently in south-eastern Australia. Their effects on the ecology, environment and population exposure have been the focus of many studies recently. Dust storms do not emit ground-sequestered carbon, but wildfires emit significant quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. However, both natural events promote phytoplankton growth in water bodies because carbon, and other trace elements such as iron, deposit on the surface water of oceans. Carbon dioxide is reabsorbed by phytoplankton via photosynthesis. The carbon balance cycle due to dust storms and wildfires is not well known. Recent studies on the carbon emission of the 2019–2020 summer wildfires in eastern Australia indicated that this megafire event emitted approximately 715 million tonnes of CO2 (195 Tg C) into the atmosphere from burned forest areas. This study focusses on the association of dust storms and wildfires in southeastern Australia with phytoplankton growth in the Tasman Sea due to the February 2019 dust storm event and the 2019–2020 Black Summer wildfires. Central Australia and western New South Wales were the sources of the dust storm emission (11 to 16 February 2019), and the Black Summer wildfires occurred along the coast of New South Wales and Victoria (from early November 2019 to early January 2020). The WRF-Chem model is used for dust storm simulation with the AFWA (Air Force Weather Agency of the US) dust emission version of the GOCART model, and the WRF-Chem model is used for wildfire simulation with FINN (Fire Emission Inventory from NCAR) emission data. The results show the similarities and differences in the deposition of particulate matter, phytoplankton growth and carbon reabsorption patterns in the Tasman Sea from these events. A higher rate of deposition of PM2.5 on the ocean surface corresponds to a higher rate of phytoplankton growth. Using the WRF-Chem model, during the 5-day dust storm event in February 2019, approximately ~1230 tons of total dust was predicted to have been deposited in the Tasman Sea, while ~132,000 tons of PM10 was deposited in the early stage of the wildfires from 1 to 8 November 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Australian Government implemented a range of public health response strategies and communication approaches to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, concerns have been raised around a failure to sufficiently consider culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities in these processes. This research aimed to understand the factors that have impacted COVID-19 communication and engagement efforts during the pandemic from the perspective of key CaLD community and faith-based leaders. A further aim was to understand the processes that could be adopted to support future communication strategies, including promoting pandemic-related vaccines. Approach: This study included 29 key informant interviews with community and faith-based leaders in New South Wales, Australia. Results: The overwhelming message from community leaders was a sense of shared responsibility between their organisations and governments in communicating pertinent and accurate COVID-19 related information to CaLD communities. They expressed a sense of duty to keep their community members safe. However, community leaders and others shouldered significant costs related to resources and time that need to be acknowledged by governments in preparing for future disease outbreaks. They felt that governments should consider: 1) improving communication between governments and CaLD organisations; 2) responding to the specific CaLD needs with greater agility; 3) foregrounding social media in their communication strategy; 4) reinvesting in local public health units to know their population; 5) developing a health ambassadors model program; 6) preparing a hybrid model of translators/interpreters to fill the gap; and, 7) reimagining vaccine information campaigns to target CaLD communities better. Conclusion: Given the technical details about the COVID-19 virus conveyed in government information campaigns and the media, ensuring the most vulnerable populations, including people from CaLD backgrounds, access clear, concise and timely public health messaging from governments and community organisations requires further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Having a strong connection to culture and Country is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Australian Aboriginal children. The aim of the research was to evaluate the feasibility of study methods and programme implementation of a co-created afterschool cultural programme, and identify areas for improvement. Methods: Aboriginal Relational Research Methodology and mixed methods were applied to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of the programme and study methods using a non-randomised single-group study design. Australian Aboriginal children and their siblings aged 5–13 years were recruited within regional New South Wales, Australia. The primary outcomes for feasibility included recruitment rates of children and Aboriginal programme mentors, compliance rates of outcome data collection and of the planned programme activities, programme attendance, retention rates and mean enjoyment scores. Follow-up yarning circles were conducted with the children, their parents/caregivers, programme mentors and teachers to explore aspects of feasibility, and areas for improvement. Results: A total of 90 caregivers consented to their children (n = 111) being part of the research. Sixteen Aboriginal mentors were recruited to deliver the programmes across the communities. Overall, 74.4% of all health outcome measures were completed across baseline (86.5%) and follow-up (55.9%). Only 61.0% of the programme activities were delivered as originally planned. The average programme attendance rate was 70.0% with a 92.0% retention rate. Eighty-nine percent of children reported a high level of enjoyment with the programmes. Follow-up yarning identified the importance of relational methodologies and flexibility within the programme design and implementation to ensure programmes were adapted to the local community, conditions and differing age groups. Considerations for future programmes included the timing of the programme and identifying health outcome assessment tools and methods that acknowledge cultural protocols and experiences. Conclusions: Engaging the communities in the development, implementation and evaluation of the programmes were key to community support of the programme and conducting the feasibility study. Future programmes and evaluations need to be built on strong partnerships and embrace flexible and culturally embedded methodologies in order to be adaptive and responsive to research approaches, communities and to Country. Trial registration: ACTRN12619001224112. Retrospectively registered on 05 September 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Effective primary healthcare services have been identified by the World Health Organization as the most equitable approach to enhancing universal healthcare. Robust models of mentoring for registered nurses (RNs) transitioning to primary healthcare roles have yet to be described in the Australian context. A robust mentoring model can support RNs to fulfill their potential, bridging the gap between theory and practice. In 2015, the peak body for nurses in primary health care (PHC) began developing a transition to practice program, including embedded mentoring to support newly graduated and more experienced registered and enrolled nurses. This quality improvement study reports the experiences and perspectives of nurses participating as mentors in two separate offerings of the program delivered between 2019 and 2021. Method: A two-phase concurrent mixed methods evaluation utilized data from pre- and post online surveys and post program meetings. Quantitative items underwent descriptive analyses. Thematic analysis of free-text responses and comments was conducted independently by two researchers. Mentors voluntarily provided self-report data and were informed that data is routinely collected to support continuous quality improvement processes for all programs. An Information Sheet informed mentors of data usage, confidentiality, and options to withdraw without penalty from the program at any time. Results: Seventy-nine mentors were recruited to support two groups of nurses (N = 111). Mentor self-rated overall satisfaction with program participation was 86.67% (very or extremely satisfied). Mentors described being "witness to mentee growth," "having facilitated access to learning" and receiving "unexpected benefits" including personal and professional growth and enhanced enthusiasm for their role in PHC. Conclusion: The embedded mentoring reported in this article combined a focus on skills acquisition and professional identity with the provision of a range of resources and support activities. Sustainable mentoring programs will be an important mechanism for supporting the expanding roles required of nurses working in primary health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual modeling method enables flexible interactions with rich graphical depictions of data and supports the exploration of the complexities of epidemiological analysis. However, most epidemiology visualizations do not support the combined analysis of objective factors that might influence the transmission situation, resulting in a lack of quantitative and qualitative evidence. To address this issue, we developed a portrait-based visual modeling method called +msRNAer. This method considers the spatiotemporal features of virus transmission patterns and multidimensional features of objective risk factors in communities, enabling portrait-based exploration and comparison in epidemiological analysis. We applied +msRNAer to aggregate COVID-19-related datasets in New South Wales, Australia, combining COVID-19 case number trends, geo-information, intervention events, and expert-supervised risk factors extracted from local government area-based censuses. We perfected the +msRNAer workflow with collaborative views and evaluated its feasibility, effectiveness, and usefulness through one user study and three subject-driven case studies. Positive feedback from experts indicates that +msRNAer provides a general understanding for analyzing comprehension that not only compares relationships between cases in time-varying and risk factors through portraits but also supports navigation in fundamental geographical, timeline, and other factor comparisons. By adopting interactions, experts discovered functional and practical implications for potential patterns of long-standing community factors regarding the vulnerability faced by the pandemic. Experts confirmed that +msRNAer is expected to deliver visual modeling benefits with spatiotemporal and multidimensional features in other epidemiological analysis scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Provision of critical care in rural areas is challenging due to geographic distance, smaller facilities, generalist skill mix and population characteristics. Internationally, the amalgamation telemedicine and retrieval medicine services are developing to overcome these challenges. Virtual emergency clinical advisory and transfer service (vCare) is one of these novel services based in New South Wales, Australia. We aim to describe patient encounters with vCare from call initiation at the referring site to definitive care at the accepting site. Methods: This retrospective observational study reviewed all patients using vCare in rural and remote Australia for clinical advice and/or inter-hospital transfer for higher level of care between February and March 2021. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and included remoteness of sites, presenting complaint, triage category, camera use, patient characteristics, transfer information, escalation of therapeutic intervention and outcomes. Data were summarised using cross tabulation. Results: 1,678 critical care patients were supported by vCare, with children (12.5%), adults (50.6%) and older people (36.9%) evenly split between sexes. Clinicians mainly referred to vCare for trauma (15.1%), cardiac (16.1%) and gastroenterological (14.8%) presentations. A referral to vCare led to an escalation of invasive intervention, skill, and resources for patient care. vCare cameras were used in 19.8% of cases. Overall, 70.5% (n = 1,139) of patients required transfer. Of those, 95.1% were transferred to major regional hospitals and 11.7% required secondary transfer to higher acuity hospitals. Of high-urgency referrals, 42.6% did not receive high priority transport. Imaging most requested included CT and MRI scans (37.2%). Admissions were for physician (33.1%) and surgical care (23.3%). The survival rate was 98.6%. Conclusion: vCare was used by staff in rural and remote facilities to support decision making and care of patients in a critical condition. Issues were identified including low utilisation of equipment, heavy reliance on regional sites and high rates of secondary transfer. However, these models are addressing a key gap in the health workforce and supporting rural and remote communities to receive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding Your Way is a shared decision-making resource created with and for Aboriginal People in New SouthWales, Australia, in 2021. It is the only culturally adapted shared decision-making resource for Aboriginal People in Australia and one of few examples developed with First Nations people internationally. A two-round modified e-Delphi approach, incorporating yarning techniques, was used to gather expert opinions and reach a consensus on the capabilities (knowledge and skills) required to effectively use Finding Your Way and engage in shared decision-making with Aboriginal People. A set of 29 predefined capabilities were gleaned from the research evidence and a yarning session, forming the basis of the e-Delphi process. In total, 138 panel members completed Round 1 of the e-Delphi process between January 19, 2023 and January 27, 2023, and 113 completed Round 2 between February 9, 2023 and February 20, 2023. The panel member retention rate was 82% across the two e-Delphi rounds, and the consensus threshold was 75% strongly agree for each capability. Consensus was reached for 10 capabilities, and a learning map was developed to reflect Aboriginal ways of valuing, being, knowing and doing as represented in the 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning: Aboriginal Pedagogy framework (New South Wales Department of Education, n. d.). Cultural imagery was used to create the learning map to present the foundational knowledge and skills required to use Finding Your Way in a symbolic and non-linear way. The results signal the importance of navigating two worlds--working through Aboriginal knowledge and processes to generate cultural responsiveness and safety at the intersection of traditional cultural knowledge and the Western paradigm of shared decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated distribution models (IDMs) predict where species might occur using data from multiple sources, a technique thought to be especially useful when data from any individual source are scarce. Recent advances allow us to fit such models with latent terms to account for dependence within and between data sources, but they are computationally challenging to fit.We propose a fast new methodology for fitting integrated distribution models using presence/absence and presence‐only data, via a spatial random effects approach combined with automatic differentiation. We have written an R package (called scampr) for straightforward implementation of our approach.We use simulation to demonstrate that our approach has comparable performance to INLA—a common framework for fitting IDMs—but with computation times up to an order of magnitude faster. We also use simulation to look at when IDMs can be expected to outperform models fitted to a single data source, and find that the amount of benefit gained from using an IDM is a function of the relative amount of additional information available from incorporating a second data source into the model. We apply our method to predict 29 plant species in NSW, Australia, and find particular benefit in predictive performance when data from a single source are scarce and when compared to models for presence‐only data.Our faster methods of fitting IDMs make it feasible to more deeply explore the model space (e.g. comparing different ways to model latent terms), and in future work, to consider extensions to more complex models, for example the multi‐species setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An important impediment to the large-scale adoption of evidence-based school nutrition interventions is the lack of evidence on effective strategies to implement them. This paper describes the protocol for a "Collaborative Network Trial" to support the simultaneous testing of different strategies undertaken by New South Wales Local Health Districts to facilitate the adoption of an effective school-based healthy lunchbox program ('SWAP IT'). The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of different implementation strategies to increase school adoption of the SWAP across New South Wales Local Health Districts., Methods: Within a Master Protocol framework, a collaborative network trial will be undertaken. Independent randomized controlled trials to test implementation strategies to increase school adoption of SWAP IT within primary schools in 10 different New South Wales Local Health Districts will occur. Schools will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or control condition. Schools allocated to the intervention group will receive a combination of implementation strategies. Across the 10 participating Local Health Districts, six broad strategies were developed and combinations of these strategies will be executed over a 6 month period. In six districts an active comparison group (containing one or more implementation strategies) was selected. The primary outcome of the trial will be adoption of SWAP IT, assessed via electronic registration records captured automatically following online school registration to the program. The primary outcome will be assessed using logistic regression analyses for each trial. Individual participant data component network meta-analysis, under a Bayesian framework, will be used to explore strategy-covariate interactions; to model additive main effects (separate effects for each component of an implementation strategy); two way interactions (synergistic/antagonistic effects of components), and full interactions., Discussion: The study will provide rigorous evidence of the effects of a variety of implementation strategies, employed in different contexts, on the adoption of a school-based healthy lunchbox program at scale. Importantly, it will also provide evidence as to whether health service-centered, collaborative research models can rapidly generate new knowledge and yield health service improvements., Clinical Trial Registration: This trial is registered prospectively with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000558628)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Barnes, Jones, Wolfenden, Robertson, Seidler, Norman, Budgen, Mattingly, Piliskic, Moorhouse, Mozina, Plaskett, McDermott, Darney, Vuong, Douglass, McDonnell and Sutherland.)

Introduction: Smoking cessation in pregnancy remains a public health priority. Our team used the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop the Midwives and Obstetricians Helping Mothers to Quit smoking (MOHMQuit) intervention with health system, leader (including managers and educators) and clinician components. MOHMQuit addresses a critical evidence to practice gap in the provision of smoking cessation support in antenatal care. It involves nine maternity services in New South Wales in a cluster randomised stepped-wedge controlled trial of effectiveness. This paper describes the design and rationale for the process evaluation of MOHMQuit. The process evaluation aims to assess to what extent and how MOHMQuit is being implemented (acceptability; adoption/uptake; appropriateness; feasibility; fidelity; penetration and sustainability), and the context in which it is implemented, in order to support further refinement of MOHMQuit throughout the trial, and aid understanding and interpretation of the results of the trial., Methods and Analysis: The process evaluation is an integral part of the stepped-wedge trial. Its design is underpinned by implementation science frameworks and adopts a mixed methods approach. Quantitative evidence from participating leaders and clinicians in our study will be used to produce individual and site-level descriptive statistics. Qualitative evidence of leaders' perceptions about the implementation will be collected using semistructured interviews and will be analysed descriptively within-site and thematically across the dataset. The process evaluation will also use publicly available data and observations from the research team implementing MOHMQuit, for example, training logs. These data will be synthesised to provide site-level as well as individual-level implementation outcomes., Ethics and Dissemination: The study received ethical approval from the Population Health Services Research Ethics Committee for NSW, Australia (Reference 2021/ETH00887). Results will be communicated via the study's steering committee and will also be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences., Trial Registration Number: Australian New Zealand Trials Registry ACTRN12622000167763. https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au/anzctr/trial/ACTRN12622000167763., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)