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Purpose: The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of area-based vs individual-level measures of socioeconomic status (SES). Design/methodology/approach: Using data from the longitudinal surveys of Australian youth (LSAY), a multidimensional measure of individual SES is created. This individual measure is used to benchmark the relative usefulness of socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), a geographic set of measures often used in Australia to assess the SES of individuals. Both measures are compared in terms of classification bias. The effects of using the different SES measures on participation in post-compulsory education are examined. Findings: SEIFA measures perform satisfactorily with regard to the aggregate measurement of SES. However, they perform poorly when their use is aimed at channelling resources toward disadvantaged individuals. It is at the individual level that the analysis reveals the shortcomings of area-based SES measures. Research limitations/implications: While region based measures are relatively easy to collect and utilise, we suggest that they hide significant SES heterogeneity within regional districts. Hence, the misclassification resulting from the use of regional measures to direct support for low SES groups creates a risk for resource misallocations. Originality/value: The finding that region-based measures are subject to significant misclassification has important research and policy implications. Given the increasing availability of individual-level administrative data, the paper suggests that such data be used as a substitute for geographic SES measures in categorising the SES of individuals. (Contains 13 tables, 3 figures, and 4 notes.)

Transitioning from internal combustion power to passenger electric vehicles presents a highly complex problem for governments. During the past decade, there has been a slow uptake of passenger electric vehicle sales in Australia, a mere 3.6% per annum. This study explores the electric vehicle adoption policies and practices in Australia through an analysis of various stakeholder perspectives. A mixed methods approach comprising program analytics and vector-algebraic study of vehicular stakeholders was used to interrogate a range of electric vehicle stakeholders' data sets with 1, 317 stakeholder statements being analysed. The results of this study reinforce the critical importance of direct financial incentives and economic support measures valued up to A$21,000 per vehicle. In addition, the analysis exposed strong electric vehicle consumer sentiment to install up to 5800 new fast charging stations (151 km of road route per unit) by 2040 at a cost of A$1.2 Billion, while ensuring provision of vehicle model performance data and charging network information programs. Importantly, governments must show leadership with cooperative revisions to national vehicular standards, public fleet electrifications, and setting national passenger electric vehicle purchase targets. The study posits important actions that suborn passenger electric vehicle transition as a foundation for future forms of electric mobility. • There is a slow uptake of electric vehicle sales in Australia. • Analysis suggests beneficial incentives policies for EV of A$21,000 per vehicle. • Estimated fast charging network of 5800 sites requires over A$1.2 Billion investment. • Governments must install national EV standards, public EV fleets and EV purchase targets. • Passenger EV transition supports multiple applications of future electric mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Government’s installation of the now defunct carbon price in July 2012, triggered a review of the Renewable Energy (RE) Feed-In Tariff (FiT) policies in the state of Victoria. In this article, concept analysis techniques and mapping software have been used to examine RE FiT design elements and priorities proposed by eighty-six RE investors and FiT stakeholders during the course of the review. The results show that concept analysis and mapping can be used to analyse FiT designs enabling identification of combinations of discrete elements including fixed and variable payment rates, differing levels of market regulation and competition, varying tariff operating periods, and eligibility rules for RE system sizes, development sites and low emissions technologies. In addition, while the economic elements of FiT designs were afforded the highest priority by stakeholders, broader contemporary analysis shows that policy makers and regulators should continue to combine economic, technology, system and administration elements into tariffs that can deliver new RE supplies. Also, the results show that governments may elect to change the combinations of these design elements, introduce other ancillary policy instruments and regulatory mechanisms, and reshape the FiT schemes in order to accommodate significant shifts in public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Employee loyalty is generally a very positive trait. However, when loyal employees are confronted with dysfunctionality in the workplace the impact on their well-being can be significant. The purpose of this paper is to assess the interaction of employee loyalty and employee experience of inter-professional dysfunction in a hospital setting to predict employee job tension.Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on the analysis of a cross-sectional attitudinal survey of employees within a hospital setting in Australia. The authors use OLS regression and an SPSS macro (by Hayes, 2013) to assess the regions of significance of the interaction effects.Findings The authors find, as anticipated, significant direct effects for employee loyalty and inter-professional dysfunction on employee job stress. The authors further find significant interaction effects that suggest that highly loyal employees who experience inter-professional dysfunction also experience disproportionately high levels of job tension.Research limitations/implications The main research implication of this research relates to the confirmation of the presence of an interaction effect between loyalty and inter-professional dysfunction in predicting employee job stress. Further, the zone of significance analysis (following Johnson and Neyman) suggests that this effect is evident at even low levels of inter-professional dysfunction.Practical implications Organisations should appreciate employee loyalty but should also be aware that loyal employees are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of organisational dysfunction than are employees with limited organisational loyalty.Social implications The paper confirms the importance of managing organisational cooperation between groups in organisations as a precursor to positive employee outcomes.Originality/value This is the first paper to investigate this interaction and to apply Johnson-Neyman analysis to confirm the regions of significance for the interaction effects noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Building a new hospital requires a major investment in capital infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of bricks-and-mortar on patient safety culture before and two years after the move of a large tertiary hospital to a greenfield site. The difference in patient safety perceptions between clinical and non-clinical staff is also explored. Design/methodology/approach This research uses data collected from the same workforce across two time periods (2013 and 2015) in a large Australian healthcare service. Validated surveys of patient safety culture ( n=306 and 246) were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings Using two-way analysis of variance, the authors found that perceived patient safety culture remains unchanged for staff despite a major relocation and upgrade of services and different perceptions of patient safety culture between staff groups remains the same throughout change. Practical implications A dramatic change in physical context, such as moving an entire hospital, made no measurable impact on perceived patient safety culture by major groups of staff. Improving patient safety culture requires more than investment in buildings and infrastructure. Understanding differences in professional perspectives of patient safety culture may inform organisational management approaches, and enhance the targeting of specific strategies. Originality/value The authors believe this to be the first empirically based paper that investigates the impact of a large investment into hospital capital and a subsequent relocation of services on clinical and non-clinical staff perceptions of patient safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of interactive online lifestyles and social networks has arguably left IT users more exposed to privacy breaches. While governments continue to revise privacy legislation, the issue of online business relationships and privacy expectations remain contentious. Indeed, fewer studies have explored the expectations of users who willingly and knowingly engage in online activities that carry privacy risks. In this study, we examine the expectations and attitudes towards online privacy of a select group of 102 IT professionals. Using a qualitative survey, we show that these users have expectations of online privacy, particularly securing and protecting information from unknown third parties. Unfortunately, these expectations may go unsatisfied with third-party monitoring enabling information disclosure. In response, users argue that enhanced technical and complementary administrative measures should be actively pursued to improve privacy outcomes. The article builds further understanding of privacy expectations and trust behaviours, while exposing the importance of technical credibility from the online organisation and user perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the relationships between job satisfaction and organisational justice during a time of transformational change. Methods: Data collection occurred immediately before a major regional hospital's move to a greenfield site. Existing measures of job satisfaction and organisational justice were used. Data were analysed (n = 316) using descriptive, correlation and regression methods together with interactions between predictor variables. Results: Correlation coefficients for satisfaction and organisational justice variables were high and significant at the P < 0.001 level. Results of a robust regression model (adjusted R2 = 0.568) showed all three components of organisational justice contributed significantly to employee job satisfaction. Interactions between the predictor variables showed that job satisfaction increased as the interactions between the predictor variables increased. Conclusions: The finding that even at a time of transformational change staff perceptions of fair treatment will in the main result in high job satisfaction extends the literature in this area. In addition, it was found that increasing rewards for staff who perceive low levels of organisational justice does not increase satisfaction as much as for staff who perceive high levels of fairness. If people feel negative about their role, but feel they are well paid, they probably still have negative feelings overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent climate change projections and a push towards a universal agreement on carbon emission reductions suggest that firms will need to respond to future regulatory changes. This paper employs an influencing strategies lens to examine how large-scale firms might respond to future climate change regulations. The study uses a structured qualitative methodology to explore and explicate the strategic responses from 21 international firms to the proposed emissions trading scheme outlined in Australia's Garnaut Climate Change Review. The results of the analysis show that firms can use pre-emptive influencing strategies in attempts to shape and mould regulatory design parameters, secure high levels of transitional economic support, and shift the balance of public policies and expenditure. Complementary defensive strategies may also target policy makers and regulators with some of the potential negative consequences of the new regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The frequent occurrence of emergencies and disasters continues to threaten community safety and security. Emergency communications and warning systems (ECWS) allow people to make decisions and take actions before, during and after the emergency or disaster. The critical objective of this study is to determine the critical capacities of ECWS in the Australian context. Design/methodology/approach – This study used stakeholder analysis in which written submissions from individuals, and public and private organizations collected by the Australian federal government were subjected to structured coding techniques in order to identify major ECWS capacity issues. The summary of findings were generating by axially collapsing and summarizing the coded statements. Findings – Findings showed that a broad range of ECWS are deployed in the Australian context. These ECWS come with social and/or technical limitations that suggest the importance of adopting an integrated or systems based approach for their construction and deployment. Also, while the identification of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities reinforced the argument for an integrated systems approach for ECWS, this also demonstrated the pressing need to build resilience and redundancy into domestic infrastructure networks. In addition, new and innovative ECWS technologies and solutions will enable improved emergency or disaster management in the future. Originality/value – This paper simultaneously considers important factors and issues impacting ECWS and provides an instructive discourse on the requirement for more combinative ECWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Australian Government has set an ambitious target that at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity needs will be met by Renewable Energy (RE) sources by 2020. Given the limited use of RE sources for electricity generation, this national Renewable Energy Target (RET) leaves state, territory and municipal governments in a challenging policy position. In this article, we examine the Australian state of Queensland where RE provides approximately 4 per cent of the region’s electricity supplies. The research utilizes stakeholder theory to examine the developmental barriers, targets, policies and actions identified by firms and stakeholder organizations in the RE industry sector. The results from our analysis show that RE developments face a range of socio-technical barriers that require timely actions in the areas of financial incentives, infrastructure enhancement, regulation reform, community-centred developments, technology and workforce investments, and information and education programs. Also, in the context of RE planning, while the national RET is the preferred setting, the differences between Queensland’s RE installed generation capacity and electricity supply targets require clarification and agreement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of area-based vs individual-level measures of socioeconomic status (SES). Design/methodology/approach – Using data from the longitudinal surveys of Australian youth (LSAY), a multidimensional measure of individual SES is created. This individual measure is used to benchmark the relative usefulness of socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), a geographic set of measures often used in Australia to assess the SES of individuals. Both measures are compared in terms of classification bias. The effects of using the different SES measures on participation in post-compulsory education are examined. Findings – SEIFA measures perform satisfactorily with regard to the aggregate measurement of SES. However, they perform poorly when their use is aimed at channelling resources toward disadvantaged individuals. It is at the individual level that the analysis reveals the shortcomings of area-based SES measures. Research limitations/implications – While region based measures are relatively easy to collect and utilise, we suggest that they hide significant SES heterogeneity within regional districts. Hence, the misclassification resulting from the use of regional measures to direct support for low SES groups creates a risk for resource misallocations. Originality/value – The finding that region-based measures are subject to significant misclassification has important research and policy implications. Given the increasing availability of individual-level administrative data, the paper suggests that such data be used as a substitute for geographic SES measures in categorising the SES of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses data from a program of customer interviews and focus group research conducted by the Australian government to develop an electronic services evaluation and design framework. A proven theory building approach has been used to develop and confirm the various components of electronic government (e-government) use and satisfaction from original government studies conducted in Australia and to create the new evaluation framework. Building on the extant e-government literature, the reintroduction of the original data into the framework yielded some emergent observations and insights for future e-government design, including the somewhat paradoxical importance of human contacts and interactions in electronic channels, service efficiency and process factors that impinge on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and a potential growth trajectory for telephony based e-government for older segments of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training and development of employees increases the value and breadth of employee capabilities and knowledge, although this improvement, we suggest, cannot drive improved competitive performance in the absence of effective commercialisation of these capabilities. We propose and test a model of training and organisational performance, mediated by effective market engagement and transformation by firms. We find, as we anticipate, no direct link between training and performance, although there is a significant and positive path between training and performance when mediated through effective and contemporaneous market engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The open innovation approach emphasizes porous knowledge boundaries between firms and upstream suppliers, but tends to ignore questions of transformative efficiency and effectiveness once the knowledge reaches the focal organization. In this paper, we test for the significance of interaction effects between open innovation strategies and absorptive capacity, finding support for the idea that effective knowledge absorption capabilities are of vital importance in the facilitation of innovation effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligence, as measured by standardized psychological tests, has been shown to be highly heritable, though identifying specific genes influencing general intelligence has proven difficult. We conducted genome-wide linkage analyses to identify chromosomal regions containing genes influencing intelligence, as measured by WAIS full-scale IQ (FSIQ), performance IQ (PIQ) and verbal IQ (VIQ). Non-parametric multipoint linkage analyses were conducted with Merlin-regress software, using a sample of 1111 genotyped and phenotyped individuals from 201 families, ascertained as part of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). The strongest evidence of linkage was obtained for FSIQ on chromosome 6 (LOD=3.28, 12 cM) near the marker D6S1006. This region was also implicated with suggestive linkage in a recently published genome screen of IQ in Australian and Dutch twin pairs, and it has been implicated in linkage studies of developmental dyslexia. Our findings provide further support that chromosome 6p contains gene(s) affecting intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of harsh climate change and weather events is having profound impacts on energy networks. In recent times, Australia has suffered several network failures and power outages that have placed human lives and community infrastructure at extreme risk. Subsequently, a diverse array of energy storage systems have been commended as a potential solution for electricity network performance and resilience issues. At this critical juncture, this review suggests that an assemblage of currently lacking targeted energy storage systems and supply development policies will be required to grow and advance future domestic energy storage assets and infrastructure; while also providing a mechanism to address changing climatic conditions, variations in electricity demand and associated demand response, and a reduced dependency on coal-fired power generation. Importantly, the recognition of energy storage systems services value across the energy supply chain will be a critical component of future systems growth. In addition, while some specific regulatory changes to create a new energy capacity market will be required, the majority of electricity market rules and procedures will need to be maintained to allow entry of energy storage systems in scheduled and semi-scheduled modes. The review also identified the requirement for strong governance that supports continued renewable energy and energy storage investment, intergovernmental cooperation, and technical network upgrades. Ideally, the implementation of these policy options and regulations should result in a robust and resilient power grid, reduced emissions and economically efficient energy storage systems rollouts. • The study developed a causal flowchart for Australia's energy storage development policies. • Twenty-four percent of stakeholder statements called for combined energy-climate, storage development policies. • Australia will require integrated renewable energy and storage financial incentives. • Australia's coal-fired generation decline of 3.6 million MWh p.a. requires energy storage substitution. • Energy storage facilities will be more than 20% of the projected A$900B network investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is envisaged to provide the capabilities to plan, design, construct, operate and manage Australia's key infrastructure. With over 75% of Australia's population living in cities and accessing public and private goods and services, ICT is positioned as a strategic resource for smart infrastructure developments. In this study, international and domestic stakeholder inputs on the future role of smart ICT in advancing Australia's infrastructure development and operations were crowdsourced for analysis. The study identifies several forms of smart ICT (e.g. building information modelling software) enabled infrastructure that possesses potential to deliver over A$9 billion per annum in domestic economic improvements, with commensurate advancement of communities, regions and urban environments. However, to be effective these smart ICT require enablement through open and interoperable data, sound governance and policy, and government leadership and coordination using dedicated resources. While smart infrastructure development is presently slow and lumbering, the identified smart ICT present as valuable strategic technologies for change and development in domestic communities. • A crowdsourced dataset relating to smart infrastructure adoption in Australia is analysed. • Up to A$9 b yearly is at stake, with benefits flowing to communities and businesses. • Key drivers are interoperable data, sound governance and policy. • Government leadership and coordination, using dedicated resources, is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Science Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) are a consensus set of academic standards for Australian university Science education. They were developed by Prof. Brian Yates and Prof. Sue Jones, supported by Dr Jo-Anne Kelder, during 2010-2011. The co-authors of this paper are key figures in Australian Science education, and in this manuscript, we have used a reflective semi-structured interview approach to describe the process of developing the Science TLOs and consider their subsequent effect on tertiary science education in Australia. This manuscript documents Sue and Brian's impact on science curriculum through the lenses of leadership, community and practice. We have a twofold aim: first to draw lessons for harnessing consensus in scientific communities on the value and purpose of a tertiary science education, and second to celebrate the success of these influential and impactful leaders in our community. We demonstrate how work to develop the TLOs has transformed tertiary science education in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Despite accumulating evidence that there is a genetic basis for cannabis use disorders (ie, abuse and dependence), few studies have identified genomic regions that may harbor biological risk and protective factors., Objective: To conduct autosomal linkage analyses that identify genomic regions that may harbor genes conferring a vulnerability to cannabis use disorders., Design: In 289 Australian families who participated in the Nicotine Addiction Genetics Project, 423 autosomal markers were genotyped. Families were ascertained for heavy cigarette smoking. Linkage was conducted for DSM-IV cannabis dependence and for a novel factor score representing problems with cannabis use, including occurrence of 3 of 4 abuse criteria (excluding legal problems) and 6 DSM-IV dependence criteria., Results: A maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) of 3.36 was noted for the cannabis problems factor score on chromosome arm 1p. An LOD of 2.2 was noted on chromosome 4 in the region of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A gene cluster, including GABRA2, which has been implicated in drug use disorders. For DSM-IV cannabis dependence, a modest LOD score on chromosome 6 (1.42) near cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) was identified. In addition, support for an elevation on chromosome 3, identified in prior independent studies, was noted for the factor score and cannabis dependence (LOD, 1.4)., Conclusions: Genes such as ELTD1 on chromosome 1, in addition to genes on chromosomes 4 (eg, GABRA2) and 6 (eg, CNR1), may be associated with the genetic risk for cannabis use disorders. We introduce a novel quantitative phenotype, a cannabis problems factor score composed of DSM-IV abuse and dependence criteria, that may be useful for future linkage and association studies.

We conducted a genomewide linkage screen of a simple heavy-smoking quantitative trait, the maximum number of cigarettes smoked in a 24-h period, using two independent samples: 289 Australian and 155 Finnish nuclear multiplex families, all of which were of European ancestry and were targeted for DNA analysis by use of probands with a heavy-smoking phenotype. We analyzed the trait, using a regression of identity-by-descent allele sharing on the sum and difference of the trait values for relative pairs. Suggestive linkage was detected on chromosome 22 at 27-29 cM in each sample, with a LOD score of 5.98 at 26.96 cM in the combined sample. After additional markers were used to localize the signal, the LOD score was 5.21 at 25.46 cM. To assess the statistical significance of the LOD score in the combined sample, 1,000 simulated genomewide screens were conducted, resulting in an empirical P value of .006 for the LOD score of 5.21. This linkage signal is driven mainly by the microsatellite marker D22S315 (22.59 cM), which had a single-point LOD score of 5.41 in the combined sample and an empirical P value <.001 from 1,000 simulated genomewide screens. This marker is located within an intron of the gene ADRBK2, encoding the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 2. Fine mapping of this linkage region may reveal variants contributing to heaviness of smoking, which will lead to a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence.