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Funding for homelessness services in Australia has traditionally been based on short-term contracts centred on specific outputs, rather than outcomes. However, social work research has suggested that lengthier projects with individualised responses are needed, and longer-term funding is required to align with this need. Consequently, social impact bonds (SIBs), a new method of funding programs for longer time periods, have emerged, shifting the focus away from crisis management and towards prevention by assessing service usage and savings associated with a reduction in service usage. This approach relies heavily on funding from the private sector and is conditional on services meeting specific outcomes within a time frame. It is important for social workers to understand this new funding model and its implications for social policy, as well as to critically understand its alignments with social work values and purpose. This article has reviewed literature on the outcomes of homelessness interventions and how these outcomes may inform SIB investment in future. IMPLICATIONS SIB funding has the capacity to facilitate longer term programs. SIB funding has the potential to address the largely individualised presentation and support requirements for people experiencing homelessness. Social workers need to understand SIB structures and their potential to leverage sustainable longer-term funding, but also understand tensions such as how SIBs contribute to the movement of social welfare funding towards a more neoliberalist model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood adversity is linked with mental health concerns, including complex trauma (CT), whereas positive experiences may be restorative. Treatment for CT with adolescents commonly uses therapies administered indoors. Yet outdoor adventure, being rich in positive experiences, may also be appropriate. Purpose: This article examines how adventure practices may be healing for adolescents with CT. Methodology/Approach: A scoping review of literature since 2014 on adventure therapy (AT) for 12- to 18-year-olds with CT was undertaken. Refining searches from six databases identified six texts which met inclusion criteria. A seventh paper was added manually. Findings/Conclusions: CT-informed adventure tended toward a tri-phasic approach: safety, processing, and integration. Adventure benefits included improvements in attachment, skills, schemas, and stress management. An ecological approach was identified, through the analysis, as were some well-intended but harmful practices that a human rights-based practice framework may help avoid. Implications: Adopting an ecological and human rights-based approach as frames for AT research and practice may yield new insights and enhance program effectiveness for youth with CT. This should apply to adventure generally and specifically to AT; however, more research is needed given the paucity of available texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to domestic and family violence, including technology-facilitated abuse. Often CALD women depend on technology to connect with support networks in their home country. Technology-facilitated abuse can be devastating and isolating. There is limited comprehensive knowledge of how technology-facilitated abuse is experienced by CALD women. This scoping review addresses this gap by exploring and analysing the available literature on technology-facilitated abuse amongst CALD women in the context of domestic and family violence. Employing a scoping review methodology, a total of nine studies were identified from a database search and other sources (including snowball, web search, and search verification processes). Studies were included if they contained the following three elements: (1) a focus on technology-facilitated abuse, (2) the inclusion of CALD women's experiences, and (3) a context of domestic and family violence (DFV). This review firstly maps the methodologies and characteristics of the studies. Second, the most common types of technology-facilitated abuse that disproportionally affect CALD women are identified together with culturally related help-seeking barriers. Areas for future research are discussed along with suggestions for improving practises and policies for prevention and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes activities and strategies hybrid businesses use to enhance environmental wellbeing, including a mix of modelling, education, stewardship, collaboration and nature connection. It is based on a multi-case study focusing on three hybrid businesses. Observation indicated there were benefits for both the natural environment and to people involved with the organisations, suggesting caring for the environment and for people can occur concurrently. Activities described could be adopted by social workers interested in increasing environmental wellbeing and justice, including a focus on the environment in social work and promoting the implementation of an alternative social-economic world system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work practice education should be designed for sustainability and relevance in emerging and future work contexts. Changes influencing the emerging world of work including transformations in services, communication technologies, distributed working patterns, and new priorities and identities should inform the design of the integrated learning components of the curriculum. Changes influencing the future delivery of education include increased demand for flexible, collaborative, networked and digital learning; pre-existing but rapidly accelerated because of COVID-19. Together, these drivers compel us to innovate to ensure graduates are practice ready and resilient in these evolving contexts. In this analysis of social work, nursing, and allied health literature diverse approaches to integrative learning are examined, generating an evidence base for informing decision making when innovating in the design of integrative learning. This article advocates an orientation towards the future world of work and education, as a lens for reimagining integrative learning in social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to understand the extent, range and nature of social work research activity after natural disasters and to identify the implications for future research and practice. A Scoping review methodology framework was used search of three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest and Informit was conducted to identify relevant studies between 2000 and 2018. Selection of studies was based on empirical research about social work and natural disasters and/or authored by social workers. Study selection found a total of 38 relevant articles. Charting the data was conducted and the following areas of focus were summarised: (1) interventions relating to psychosocial care, aid work and community work; (2) the effects of disasters on people and mediators of these effects; (3) social work education and challenges in disaster relief; and (4) measuring mental health outcomes of people who have experienced a disaster event. This scoping review has established that there is a range of social work literature focused on natural disasters that primarily examines social work interventions, the effects of disasters and social work education. Future social work research and practice needs to focus on the types and timing of interventions that promote positive recovery following natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nHighlightsAddressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become of paramount importance for higher education institutions; however, a lack of a transparent, transferrable approach to identifying and quantifying the extent of SDG contributions hinders the ability to benchmark against past performance or other institutions. In this study, a four-level, quantitative SDG contribution classification system was developed and applied to a Bachelor of Architectural Design program of an Australian university, by analysing all learning contents and assessment tasks for all the course of the Program. Results show that overall, the highest contributions were towards targets from SDG11 and SDG7, though most SDGs were addressed at some level. Contributions were mainly associated to lower cognitive learning levels, though there was a shift to higher-level (e.g. applications) contributions towards the last year of the program. Results also show that convenor-driven contributions, especially for some specific SDGs, can be significant, though in most cases SDG contributions were deemed part of core assessment/learning contents. The proposed approach provides a numerical assessment of SDGs contributions of a university-level program, which could be refined in the future and used more systematically by other institutions to benchmark and track progress towards achieving these goals.Quantitative SDG contribution approach for universities programsApplied to a Bachelor in Architectural DesignHighest contributions towards SDG 11 and SDG 7Convenor- vs course-driven contributions assessedQuantitative SDG contribution approach for universities programsApplied to a Bachelor in Architectural DesignHighest contributions towards SDG 11 and SDG 7Convenor- vs course-driven contributions assessed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the broadest level, salutogenesis refers to an emphasis on the origins of health, as opposed to a predilection with the determinants of disease. Kickbusch urges health promotion professionals to adopt a salutogenic orientation; directing research and practice towards the question of 'what creates health?' This salutogenic study focused on the most pleasant part of the health continuum by asking: (i) what is high level wellness and (ii) how do people attain and maintain this way of being? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Australian adults who reported a 'high' or 'very high' level of wellness, health and happiness. Participants described what high level wellness meant to them, their wellness journeys, and the things that helped and hindered their wellbeing. This information was coded, compared and crafted into a constructivist grounded theory. Our interpretation of the data suggests that high level wellness is the sense of peace (wellbeing) that comes from knowing, liking and being one's best self. Happy, healthy people seem to attain and maintain this way of being over time, through a series of self-initiated experiential learning cycles. The 'experiential learning theory of high level wellness' links and extends literature on salutogenesis, eudaimonic wellbeing, self-actualization and experiential learning; positioning everyday people as the leaders of their own life-long wellness journeys. It also suggests a new dimension for Antonovsky's salutogenic theory: aspiring, not just adapting. Future research could explore the utility of our approach with a range of populations and professions, progressing towards 'high level wellness for all'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work is a profession focused on people within their environments. This is reflected in codes of ethics, where our shared mandate is to work towards individual wellbeing and social change. Recently, social work literature has promoted green and eco-social work, drawing on climate change science, notions of expanded and future justice, knowledge of the link between health and the environment, and principles of deep ecology. However, if social workers are to take up their place in a rapidly changing, globalised world, rife with environmental concerns, their education must prepare them to do this. One way of doing this is to embed curriculum on social work in relation to the natural environment in already existing units. This paper describes two examples of how this could be done based on the authors’ experiences from their respective universities. IMPLICATIONS It is incumbent on social work to respond to the mounting evidence related to the environmental crisis. Social work is well placed in terms of theory, values, and skills to lead the way in developing an eco-social paradigm of potential relevance across disciplines. Social work educators need to educate students about emerging issues, such as environmental degradation. Embedding material in already existing courses, as per examples provided in this paper, provides one way of doing this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hope has dynamic features that look to the future and motivate people. Yet despite being synonymous with social work, psychological terms have tended to define hope's perimeters. Its role in social work is often heralded, yet its unique, critical and temporal role has not been well mapped in social work theory. This article explores the use of hope in social work practice. A conceptual framework highlights the richness of hope, its application in social work practice and its position in social work relationships. The implications for direct practice, further research and professional education are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural environment is increasingly incorporated into social work research, policy, and frameworks for practice in recognition of the importance of ecological justice and the interconnectedness of humans with nature. However, it is unclear to what degree social work education has broadened its scope to include the natural world. Using a content analysis of 937 subject descriptions within Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work (Qualifying) degrees, this article reports on the extent to which Australian social work education appears to cover content related to the natural environment. The findings from this study indicate there is an overall lack of engagement with this content. Reasons for this gap in social work education are discussed, as well as the implications for Australian social work education more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social media and other online technologies have transformed communication between social workers and service users, with many practitioners engaging and working with clients through social networking sites. While there are numerous ethical issues associated with online practice related to confidentiality, dual relationships, and boundary crossing, there is lack of clarity about how to deal with such issues. This article uses a case example to develop a nuanced understanding of ethical issues and ethical behaviour in online spaces. We argue that social workers need to link their knowledge of the complex interplay between discourses that underpin daily practice like those related to power, permanency, authorship, audience, embodiment, and professionalism to social media created spaces. In doing this, social workers must retain their commitment to ethical values and critical reflective practice. We conclude with recommendations for education, research, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Debate has arisen in social work about the value of online education, with proponents providing examples of innovative approaches to online teaching and those against it citing the need for face-to-face interactions to suitably teach and assess social work skills. At the same time, social workers are increasingly making use of social media, websites, online databases, email, and text messaging services for work with clients. Consequently, social workers must be adequately prepared to make use of online technologies in their practice. Drawing on examples of online interactive activities used at two regional universities and informed by Chi’s conceptual framework of cognitive processes of learning, this article argues that learning via information and communications technology (ICT) helps prepare graduates for emerging digital practice and should be an integral part of social work education. Further, ICT enables educators to monitor the levels and quality of student rehearsal of practice skills and knowledge in interactive learning experiences helping promote competent practice, grounded in social work values. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Field education is widely acknowledged as a central component of social work education. However, it requires a substantial commitment of time and energy from students which can present challenges to students who have multiple responsibilities. Based on a literature review conducted in preparation for doctoral research into social work student experience of juggling multiple roles and responsibilities with field placement, this article summarises what is known about the challenges they face and what helps them to complete placement. The findings have implications for students, schools of social work and field placement agencies. Further research should provide guidance for professional social work bodies, schools of social work, field educators and students. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Open access podcasting or podcasts on the internet on specific disciplinary topics are gaining prominence but are not well researched. This paper explores the usefulness of a new podcast series for social workers freely available on the internet that aims to: promote the profession of social work and contribute to a social work identity; make connections between theory, research, and practice; introduce students to real-life practice issues much earlier than often occurs in undergraduate degrees; and provide practitioners with opportunities for ongoing professional development. The evaluation was based on social media and website statistics, a survey of 22 students and nine educators, and a content analysis of listener feedback. While the evaluation provided limited evidence that all the aims had been met, the findings revealed very positive attitudes towards the initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This paper reports on the experiences and perspectives of community members in relation to advance healthcare directives and enduring power of attorney, including the factors that encourage or discourage engagement in advance care planning (ACP). Methods. A qualitative methodology was used involving 26 in-depth telephone interviews with community members (mean age 66 years). The aims of the interview question were to gain an understanding of: (1) motivations for engaging in ACP; (2) barriers that prevent people from engaging in ACP; and (3) suggestions for promoting ACP. Results. The findings suggest that: (1) community members lack knowledge about ACP; (2) forms appear inaccessible and complex; (3) community members avoid ACP due to fear, mistrust and concerns over control; and (4) there are misperceptions regarding the relevance of ACP based on age and health. Conclusions. There is unnecessary fear, avoidance and mistrust around ACP activities, largely resulting from misinformation. There is an undoubted need for greater education and support to be offered to individuals and their families regarding ACP, its benefits and its limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transgender community represents a highly marginalised portion of the Australian population, frequently experiencing discrimination, social isolation, and harm. This review explores literature informing Australian social work with transgender people. It highlights the importance of generating a transgender-positive discourse within Australian social work to effectively engage with and advocate for individuals with nontraditional gender identities. Key themes emerged from reviewing the literature related to the medical model, the mental health of transgender people, interdisciplinary and alternative transgender literature, minority status of transgender people, existing social work approaches to transgenderism, and Indigenous transgender literature. The views of transgender Australians are largely absent from the literature. However, the Australian transgender community's emerging voice and political activism highlights the potential for collaboration to play a significant role in the process of building a working knowledge base for social work. Based on the identified gaps in literature, in this paper we call for continued progress in developing a theoretical and practical knowledge base that incorporates the lived experiences of transgender Australians. We argue for the development of an approach to practice that is responsive to gender diversity. Highlighted in the review are the conditions that promote greater engagement with the transgender community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents findings from six focus groups with health care practitioners in an Australian hospital during 2010, which sought to elicit their perspectives on the barriers for people to plan their future health care should they become unwell. Such knowledge is invaluable in overcoming the barriers associated with advance care planning and enhancing the uptake of advance directives and the appointment of an enduring power of attorney for people of all ages. A person's rights to self-determination in health care, including decision making about their wishes for future care in the event they lose cognitive capacity, should not be overlooked against the backdrop of increasing pressure on health care systems. Findings suggest that multiple barriers exist, from practitioners' perspectives, which can be divided into three major categories, namely: patient-centred, practitioner-centred and system-centred barriers. Specifically, patient-centred barriers include lack of knowledge, accessibility concerns, the small 'window of opportunity' to discuss advance care planning, emotional reactions and avoidance when considering one's mortality, and demographic influences. At the practitioner level, barriers relate to a lack of knowledge and uncertainty around advance care planning processes. Systemically, legislative barriers (including a lack of a central registry and conflicting state legislation), procedural issues (particularly in relation to assessing cognitive capacity and making decisions ad hoc) and questions about delegation, roles and responsibilities further compound the barriers to advance care planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a social intervention research study into mentoring with women from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, this study considers some of the key differences between traditional workplace and community-based mentoring when used as a social work intervention. The study involved 18 women who participated in a preparation-for-mentoring groupwork program for 12 months. Eleven of these participants were then matched with a mentor and supported in this relationship for a further 12 months. Qualitative analysis points to three key factors likely to enhance the success of community-based mentoring relationships: (i) relational qualities, such as trust, engagement, and authenticity; (ii) mentees' readiness for change and ability to overcome adversity; and (iii) mentors' practical assistance with tasks and overcoming obstacles. Social workers implementing a community-based mentoring program need to be mindful of the importance of these factors in order to ensure that mentees are supported to engage effectively in any mentoring relationship and overcome structural, community, and familial barriers that may adversely affect them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Peripartum women are vulnerable to experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Interactions with health practitioners during maternity care provide a unique opportunity to detect and respond to women who are experiencing IPV. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of IPV screening at an Australian maternity service. Methods: Qualitative methodology was used in this cross-sectional study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with women with IPV who attended an Australian maternity service. Thematic analysis was used to identify codes and themes. Results: The nine women expressed three major themes, and six sub-themes, surrounding clinician approaches (communication and support, asking about IPV, and following disclosure), system considerations (fear of child safety involvement, continuity of care, and environmental considerations), and education. All participants supported screening and highlighted beneficial or detrimental approaches to screening and care, and recommendations for improvement. Conclusion: This research points to the benefit of trauma-informed frameworks in hospitals to support women experiencing IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work clinicians across health care settings are uniquely positioned to disseminate valuable practice experience, thereby contributing to knowledge development within their field of practice and across disciplines. Unfortunately, practitioners tend to shy away from writing and research, and are often reluctant to publicly disseminate their expertise through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. To better support health social workers in scholarly endeavors, we developed and implemented The Writing Series Project in southeast Queensland, Australia. This article reports on the development, programmatic challenges and practitioner feedback that offer insight into the benefits and pitfalls that we encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The machinery of income support can have considerable influence in people's lives, creating opportunities for social work but also tensions: access to vulnerable people, but not always on their terms. This paper argues that the challenge to social work is about more than holding on to professional discretion. It considers how social workers can influence service delivery approaches to work more relationally, pursuing a more equal involvement of clients, and recognising the complex interactive context of social and community life. The authors trace the development of such an approach within the Australian Government human services delivery agency Centrelink in Logan, Queensland, and briefly consider a parallel innovation in Newcastle, New South Wales. The authors suggest that grounding a large institutional social service agency in the realities of client and community experiences has mutual benefits, creating a more humanising, cooperative space, and displacing inefficient and sometimes tragic cycles of misunderstanding, confrontation, and disconnection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article critically examines the success of the Map Your Future women's mentoring programme (MYF) in challenging gender role norms with a group of women from four socio-economically disadvantaged communities of a large Australian provincial city. MYF was underpinned by a 'feminist-strengths' perspective and used a social intervention research framework to guide programme development, implementation and evaluation. Participants, who were predominantly of Anglo-Celtic ethnicity, came from communities where there was a persistent cultural expectation that women work within the home. Unemployment was significantly higher, one-parent families more common, the median weekly household income lower and completion of secondary education well below the state average in all communities (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2006). The findings suggest that group mentoring with women, from cultures where caregiving is valued over education and career opportunities, can assist women to broaden their educational and career interests and enable them to explore their hopes and goals for the future unconstrained by gender role norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

community-based research study conducted in 2004 identified a number of women from disadvantaged communities who sought mentoring in personal, educational, and vocational aspects of their lives. Informed by this earlier research, a program titled Map Your Future was developed, and a pilot mentoring program commenced in 2005. This article describes the group program that was developed to prepare the women for a mentoring relationship, and the research methodology underpinning its development. It concludes with an exploration of the women's experiences of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of body dissatisfaction (BD) in non-Western countries is an important area of empirical enquiry. The results reflect collectivistic and individualistic cultures of Malaysians and Australians, respectively, whereby social approval, social acceptance, and cultural values are of high importance to Malaysians compared with the more liberal attitudes of Australians with respect to health behaviours. This study sought to compare: (1) Australian and Malaysian women on BD, thin ideal internalisation, sociocultural influences, problematic weight-related behaviours, and health behaviours; and (2) the degree to which BD is associated with health behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, and sexual behaviours) across the two cultures. Participants were 428 Australian females and 402 Malaysian females aged 18–25 years old. Australians had higher BD, thin ideal internalisation, family and media influences, restrained eating, and poorer health behaviours, while Malaysians had higher peer influence. There was no difference for bulimic behaviours across the two countries. BD was found to have an association with use of drugs, smoking, and sexual behaviours among Malaysian women, but not for Australian participants. The permeation of Western standards of the thin ideal due to increased industrialisation, Westernisation, and modernisation has brought about bulimic behaviours in Malaysian women, similar to that of Australian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have been catastrophic internationally, with alarming rates of cases and deaths, as well as travel bans and countrywide lockdowns. While many industries are experiencing the deleterious effects of Covid-19, international surrogacy is facing enormous ethical challenges resulting from the pandemic. Drawing on the first author's reflections on research with Indian surrogate mothers, coupled with contemporary literature, this paper highlights the impacts of Covid-19 on surrogacy in India, particularly regarding the strict lockdown laws intended to protect civil society. This paper discusses the serious issues facing key actors involved in surrogacy, including surrogate mothers and commissioning parents. Focus is given to the psychological impacts on newborn babies caught in a liminal space as a result of lockdown laws. The authors conclude with reflections on the role of social work in protecting women and children in international surrogacy, particularly during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review investigates evidence on the association between body image concerns and weight-related behaviours of adolescents and emerging adults. It includes peer-reviewed journal articles reporting research involving body image concerns and weight-related behaviours of adolescents and emerging adults, published between 2005–2017, and located through systematic searches from four databases. This review includes studies from 11 countries or regions: United States (n = 13), Asia (n = 9), Europe (n = 8), Middle East (n = 3), South America (Brazil; n = 3), Canada (n = 3), Australia (n = 1), New Zealand (n = 1), Trinidad (n = 1), Turkey (n = 1) and Seychelles (n = 1); 24 different countries (n = 1); three Asian countries and the United States (n = 1). Out of 46 studies included in this review, 45 studies reported a positive association between body image concerns and weight-related behaviours. Adolescents and emerging adults who misperceived their weight engaged in weight-related behaviours. Higher body dissatisfaction had a significant association in the development of eating disorders and extreme weight-loss behaviours. Body image concerns play a significant role in adolescents and emerging adults engaging in weight-related behaviours. Experimental research designs are required to determine the causality of this association. Evidence strongly suggests policy makers and public health practitioners contemplate strategies to promote positive body image and healthy weight-related behaviours among adolescents and emerging adults. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article explores an engagement process undertaken by Australian government social workers in one disadvantaged locality prior to the introduction of federal “teenage parent” welfare reforms. The focus of engagement was to learn about young parents’ experiences and aspirations, and to draw on this to inform policy implementation. Findings from engagement, and how engagement between social workers and young parents impacted local policy implementation are discussed, including the subsequent development of family friendly school options. The authors suggest that problematizing early parenting may itself be “risky,” and may obscure opportunities for building on the parental role as a source of inspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The demands placed on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to deliver sustainability initiatives alongside their long-standing social responsibility commitments has been recognised in literature. However, how these interrelate in practice continues to be relatively unexplored. The extant literature suggests that the integration of the two connected agendas can be problematic due to a range of factors, including a general lack of awareness or even misconceptions of the respective agendas. This paper explores the attitudes and practices related to the integration of social responsibility and sustainability initiatives at HEIs. Theoretically, this study highlights the ongoing relative positioning and importance of economic factors – as it relates to differentiation rather than integration – over others such as social responsibility and sustainability. The main implication of this study is that provide useful insights into how HEIs can closer integrate two contemporary but potentially competing agendas. Graphical abstract Image 10884 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing research investigating prevalence rates of BD among Malaysian women, there has been limited research conducted in Malaysia with respect to factors contributing to its development and consequences. This study tested a subsection of the Tripartite Influence Model, investigating whether sociocultural influences (family, peers, media) lead to thin ideal internalization, which in turn lead to body dissatisfaction (BD) and subsequently restrained eating and bulimic behaviours in both Australian and Malaysian women. Participants were 421 Australian and 399 Malaysian female emerging adults aged between 18 and 25 years, (M = 20.76; SD = 2.86) who completed questionnaires assessing sociocultural influences, thin ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, restrained eating and bulimic behaviours. The model, largely supported in both cultures, had two points of difference. For Malaysian but not Australian women, family influence was significantly linked with internalization of the thin ideal. Although BD was significantly linked with restrained eating as predicted for Australian women (albeit rather weakly), it was not significantly linked with restrained eating for Malaysian women. The striking similarity of results across both cultures, suggests that Western body ideals, with their corresponding negative sequelae, have infiltrated the collectivist and developing nation of Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses three feminist research principles through three doctoral studies and their accompanying supervision and support group: (i) capturing women’s experience; (ii) improving women’s lives; and (iii) equalising power. These guiding principles assisted in understanding the connections between feminist theory and the respective studies on: older people experiencing family estrangement (Kylie); a mentoring program with women from disadvantaged backgrounds (Jennifer); and arts-based intervention research to raise awareness of domestic violence in a disadvantaged community (Leanne). It discusses the way in which these guiding principles informed the studies and the supervision process from the students’ and supervisor’s perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]