This thesis has as its origins a desire by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Adult and Community Education in the Australian Capital Territory to learn more about the sector with whom they interact. There was a clear perception that, due to its diversity, a strong reliance on volunteers and an underlying mistrust of beaurocracy, the sector was quite poorly delineated. If this was in fact the case, then the capacity of the Council to support the sector - for example through the grants scheme - was being greatly handicapped. In the case of grants, it was known that requests commonly outnumbered available grant funds by three or four to one. What was not known was the extent of other worthwhile ACE activity that was either electing not to apply for funding or was simply unaware that the facility even existed. The research, based on the results of a broad ranging questionnaire distributed to all known ACE providers in the ACT, has furthered the level of understanding of the sector. The research approach was modeled on the South Australian Pathfinder Project (1996). Key findings include that: ? the ACE sector is extremely diverse and active in the ACT; ? it is client focussed in that it develops its programs in response to the identified needs of its target group(s); ? in the twelve months covered by the survey there were over 190 000 attendees in ACE programs; ? a range of programs are available to most community groups; ? there is a strong reliance on volunteers; ? the sector generally feels that there is a demand for even more programs than are currently offered; ? many individual providers do not see themselves as part of the overall ACE sector. While there are some marked similarities between the ACT ACE sector and the South Australian findings, there also some clear differences. For example, many of the factors that restrict access to ACE in other parts of Australia are less relevant to the ACT. An example of this is that travel distances/times for participants to access programs are generally less of a problem in the ACT than in some other jurisdictions due to the small area and the concentration of population in the ACT.

The affect of restructuring of organizations on individuals is an area of change that has received little attention from researchers. The literature points to a number of factors that influence how individuals cope with transition. Theorists agree that stages are an intregal part of this process. This study outlines the changes experienced in the ACT Technical and Further Education system between 1987 and 1989- It focuses on the stages model and how individuals perceived themselves moving through particular levels of stages during this time of change. Data from a questionnaire completed by 259 ACT Institute of Technical and Further Education teachers was analysed along with observations and documents produced during 1987 to 1989. Results of the analysis show that individuals felt powerless and alienated by the process of transition. They moved across the stages in a cyclical motion, returning to earlier stages as each new event during the transition impinged on their working lives.

The review of the literature, which constitutes Part I of the Field Study, sees the changing role; of the principal as an evolutionary process, and traces this process from the early years of the nineteenth century (when schooling was private and independent) through the middle years of this same century and onwards (the growth of public education) up to modern times. The review studies in depth the literature of the past fifteen to twenty years, and avers that the literature of this period indicates that the expected role of the principal, today, is one of leadership. It discusses the behaviour characteristics of leadership and suggests that, depending upon the degree to which these characteristics are present in the leader's behaviour, various typical leaders may be described. Finally, the review postulates future trends in the role of principal and predicts also, the possible eventual demise of this administrative position. Part II of the Field Study contains the findings of a survey of the primary school principals of the Australian Capital Territory - both government and non-government. This survey, which involved the completion of a questionnaire consisting of three sections, was designed to provide information regarding the role - functions and work-load of the principal, his leadership characteristics, and his perceptions and predictions regarding change. From this information significant inferences are drawn concerning the role-perceptions and role-expectations of the primary principal in the A.C.T. Inferences drawn from the data of Section A of the questionnaire concern time; priorities of various role-functions, preferred approaches,to role-functions involving human relationships, the degree of acceptance of the implication of the policies of the A.C.T. Schools Authority, and attitudes towards professional development. The data of Section B provides information from which inferences regarding the leadership characteristics of the principals are drawn, and Section C data provides material lending support for the postulates of both the previous sections. The concluding section discusses the implications of these findings for the present and future roles of the principal in the A.C.T., and suggests possible areas for further research.

Compulsory schooling, such as exists in Australia, does not guarantee literacy in the nation. The literature has established that a minority of children do fail to learn to read and write effectively. Failure to learn to read presents a serious disability to those concerned. Programs such as Reading Recovery are used in schools to try and identify at risk children and work with them to reduce illiteracy. Traditional methods of addressing the literacy problem have not proven to be effective. Studies in New Zealand, the U.S.A. and in Australia have established that Reading Recovery is an effective program. However, there is no longitudinal evidence to establish whether it is effective in the long run in the A.C.T. This study sought to establish the long term effectiveness of the program in the A.C.T. It has compared discontinued Reading Recovery children three and five years after they had been discontinued from the program with two 'average ' children from their current class. The discontinued Reading Recovery sample was drawn by random. The two classmate control children were selected by the teachers as performing in the average band of class achievement in reading. Four research instruments were chosen to collect the data. These were, interviews with class teachers and the children themselves, running records, a modified standardized test and an oral retell. The study confirmed that Reading Recovery is effective in the A.C.T. and that gains made whilst on the program were sustained in subsequent years. This being the case, every child who is being diagnosed as 'at risk' should have access to Reading Recovery .

This study has resulted from the author's interest and participation in the activities of the A.C.T. Primary Principals' Association over the past six years. For the last three years of the twelve-year period covered by the study he was General Secretary of the Association, and thus had access to the minutes, reports and correspondence which had accumulated since the inception of the Association. Additional information has been obtained through discussions, reminiscences, letters and taperecordings from members and others who were actively involved in the activities of the Association. The History of the Association has been divided into four stages, corresponding to: 1. The inaugural period, under the direction of New South Wales. 2. The period of maximum growth. 3. The beginning of the independent A.C.T. Schools System. 4. The reorganisation of the Association. The main topics which were discussed within each period are analysed, together with the reactions of members to the circumstances which caused those topics to be emphasised, The analysis has shown that over the twelve-year period there has been: 1. A series of organisational changes in the structure of the Association as its membership has increased. 2. A significant trend away from the discussion of topics which could be classified as Managerial and towards subjects which could be regarded as Educational. 3. An increasing use of Guest Speakers at meetings and conferences. 4. A gradual change in the objectives of the Association and in the nature of the organisations to which it has related. 5. Only a very small percentage of members who have held Executive Office in the Association. The comments of individuals who have been involved with the Association over a period of years are used to assess its strengths and weaknesses, and suggestions are made regarding ways in which the structure of the organisation might possibly be improved. An examination has been made of the Association as a model-type, and throughout the study there is discussion as to how its performance equates with the findings of current literature on Organisational Theory. A recommendation is made that a review of the stated aims of the Association be undertaken, and that a Constitution be developed.

The A.C.T. Teachers' Federation was formed at a mass meeting of teachers in the Canberra Workmens' Club on August 3rd 1972. Its structure was strongly conditioned by the N.S.W. background of many of those who played a role in its early affairs. Changes which have taken place since then have been influenced by the environment within which it operates. It soon obtained, and held, a large proportion of its potential membership. The internal organisation enabled the leadership to keep in touch with rank and file opinion and ensured that democratic practices were observed. It was fortunate in that a legitimate role had been established in Australia for pressure groups and that the governments it dealt with in its early days were prepared to acknowledge its authority to speak for teachers. It was able to take advantage of the opportunities made available to it and to play a prominent part in the early policy formation in a new system. The evolving system was based on a participatory model and the Federation gained access to all major decision centres. It retained, its right, however, to operate outside formal consultative forums and to engage in direct bargaining when necessary.

The tourism industry is vulnerable to crises and disasters and increasingly government and industry stakeholders are turning their attention to how to prevent, manage and recover from shock events. In the last decade there has been increasing interest in tourism research on crises and disasters, prompted in part by recognition of the tourism industry's vulnerabilities and what appear to be more frequent shock events. The beginning of this century has been marked by a series of crises and disasters including the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the United Kingdom, the 2001 terrorist hijackings in the USA, the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings, the 2003 SARS epidemic in southeast Asia and Canada, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in the southern USA in 2005 (Henderson, 2007). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007a) has also predicted that the extreme weather events associated with climate change will lead to more natural disasters. Crises and disaster have local, regional and global repercussions on the tourism industry at business/corporate, industry and destination levels and the need for more attention to preparation, response and recovery is acknowledged. Much of the initial tourism research in this field focused on descriptions of crises and disasters and their impacts on tourism with some reflection on their management. This foundation and the comprehensive crisis and disaster literature from disciplines such as psychology, sociology, economics, geography and environmental science led to development of crisis and disaster management frameworks specifically designed for the tourism industry. These frameworks have achieved varying degrees of acceptance amongst tourism researchers with Faulkner and Vikulov's (2001) Tourism Disaster Management Framework (TDMF) being the most well known and often cited. The more recent Crisis and Disaster Management Framework (CDMF) developed by Ritchie (2004) is a useful destination-level framework based on a strategic management approach. Despite the development of these frameworks, relatively little tourism research effort has focused on destination recovery and very little on medium and long term recovery. In addition, there is little research on wildfires as a type of natural disaster. The extensive bushfires in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2003 (often referred to as the Canberra fires) provided an opportunity to investigate in a longitudinal study the short, medium and long term actions undertaken by the government and tourism industry to assist destination recovery and then compare them with Ritchie's prescriptive CDMF. Being longer term research this study is able to consider almost the entire recovery stage whereas other research has focused on short or medium term recovery (for example Faulkner & Vikulov, 2001). This research centred on a case study which is defined by Yin (1989 quoted in Wimmer & Dominick, 1997, p. 102) as an 'empirical inquiry that uses multiple sources of evidence to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context'. This case study used interviewing, the documentary method and participant observation as the key methods. Representatives of government and the tourism industry were interviewed in-depth about the actions taken by their organisations or businesses. The interviews were semi-structured with mostly open-ended questions and some participants undertook multiple interviews over a three year period. Extensive secondary data and documentation about the bushfire and subsequent response and recovery was generated by the ACT government, industry and community and publicly available sources included reports and reviews, media releases, newspaper articles, newsletters, brochures, websites and legal and coronial enquiries. These were critical for gaining a comprehensive understanding of recovery. Participant observation was also important and, as a resident of the ACT, the author participated in relevant events and observed the public face of community recovery. The three methods resulted in a large data set that was distilled into a 'response and recovery story' structured according to Ritchie's CDMF. Upon comparing the findings with the framework, it was found that many elements were evident in the 'real life' case study including crisis communication, resource management, stakeholder communication, destination restoration and disasters as agents for change. There were also new findings that could be integrated into a redeveloped framework including the establishment of a recovery team, training for crisis and disaster management, tourist/visitor management, recovery planning, human resource management issues, business recovery tools, partnerships and memorialisation and commemoration. The resulting Tourism Industry Crisis and Disaster Management Framework (TICDMF) is a practical and comprehensive tool for Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) that both describes what occurred in a real life case study but also prescribes recommended management actions. In addition to specific recommendations for the ACT tourism industry, this research also resulted in general recommendations to the tourism industry, government and educators. These focused on (i) the importance of crisis and disaster management planning, (ii) the need to evaluate and document response and recovery and devote adequate resources to organisational learning, (iii) potential use of tools like the TICDMF and the plethora of resources to manage crises and disasters, (iv) educating staff, academics and tertiary tourism and hospitality students about crisis and disaster management and (v) accepting the chaos of recovery and devoting adequate resources to address the resulting complexity. The tourism industry is vulnerable to external shocks whether they be local crises or national disasters. The preparedness of the industry and its ability to effectively respond and recover is of critical importance for destinations and the community in which they function. Case studies of crises and disaster and development of a body of theoretical and practical knowledge will ensure that government and industry continue to play an important role in caring for the safety and security of tourists while maintaining a viable and sustainable industry for all stakeholders.

This study examines trends over the past decade in the learning of foreign languages in schools, tertiary institutions, adult classes and ethnic schools in the A.C.T. It reports results of a survey of the attitudes towards learning foreign languages of secondary language teachers and samples of students and parents from two high schools and two secondary colleges in Canberra. The introduction of the new system of education in Canberra in 1976 has had an impact on foreign language learning in schools. This is examined. Reasons are offered for the trends observed and future directions for language teaching in the A.C.T. are suggested.

None Provided.

This study is about the risk of youth unemployment in Canberra. It applies the perspective of Giddens and others on risk communication to how the hazards of self identity and self esteem, coping ability, the work ethic, family support and level of education, the ability to enjoy spare time, drugs and alcohol use, poverty and suicide affect young people's ability to cope. The study's communication perspective also integates political with organizational, interpersonal and network as well as mass media communication. The study also draws from scholars who write from a sociological and psychological viewpoint and are frequently cited in communication sources. The loss of traditional work opportunities in the Public Service in Canberra is a significant barrier to a young person's integration into the community. Other barriers are the reduced work opportunities for young unskilled workers in a fledgling private market, the lack of adequate social and transport facilities, and family breakdown that can leave young Canberrans abandoned. The added factor of a global decline in participation in work in the last two decades has resulted in the general collapse in the full time jobs market, a growth of part time and casual employment, multiple job holding, and non-standard hours of work. Using historical research, participant observation, interview data and newspaper content analysis the study shows that the risk of unemployment for young people remains high notwithstanding the reduction in the overall unemployment rate. The media has played a significant role in forming community attitudes since the 1974 recession to the new millennium - a time of increasing government hardline policies towards welfare reform. Such policies have resulted in semi-privatisation of the employment services and tightening of welfare eligibility. Poor communication of these policies and coordination of their service delivery has resulted in public confusion about accessing these services. This is exacerbated in varying ways at the individual level depending on the extent that young people are affected by the hazards of unemployment. The government's answer to the problem of youth unemployment seeks to force young people to return to school and the family home. The outcomes of other reforms, such as the mutual obligation component of work for the dole, are yet to be determined. Young people want to work. However, the consequences of the present government reforms for young people are that they are 'parked' in education, denied access to full time employment and the privileges of adult status. All of these issues are reflected in the findings of the five research questions posed in the study detailed as follows: Research Question 1: What role does interpersonal communication play in the construction of a positive sense of self-concept among young unemployed people? Findings: Young people are vulnerable to social change. At the individual level, the risk of unemployment and its associated hazards is heightened when an individual's sense of self and identity is not properly developed and they are unable to forge a sense of belonging with society. Reduced job opportunities, lack of trust despite the strong will do to the 'right thing' have prevailed amongst the young. For some access to choice is exciting. For others who are overwhelmed or have dropped out the world can be a bleak place. For an increasing number of young people the absence of family support and education impinges on their interpersonal communication skills in developing coping strategies in their day-to-day existence outside society's norms of acceptance. Research Question la: How important is a positive sense of self-concept for young unemployed people in communicating with community support organizations? Findings: A positive sense of self-concept is paramount for young people communicating with Centrelink and the Job Network organizations in an environment where they are required to contribute extra effort in finding work, reduce their use of social assistance, adopt compliant behaviours towards the government's welfare reforms and meet raised expectations in finding employment. Research Question 2: How do young unemployed people differently experience their primary and secondary social support networks? Findings: Family support as well as education increases the ability of young unemployed people to interact with their primary and secondary social support networks. Consequently, a poor experience of primary support leads to eventual confusion when dealing with organizations that deliver employment services. The replacement of family support by a friendship group can nevertheless be empowering in these circumstances. Research Question 2a: How does young people's ability to access secondary support networks affect their experience of unemployment? Findings: The lack of family support and education increases the chances of having low resilience, low trust in organizations and other people and an inability to cope. These are all significant barriers to communicating successfully with secondary support networks that provide assistance with employment opportunities. Staying in education is a safety net against youth unemployment. The feeling of connectedness with the community is difficult because of the loss of identity and the absence of identity recognition for young unemployed people through discrimination. The maintenance of the work ethic in the main stems from the desire to accrue material benefits. Research Question 3: What is the role of community and organizational support for young people experiencing the hazards of unemployment? Findings: The findings of the study highlight the vulnerability of young unemployed people accessing organizational support with the hazards stated in the study being the intervening variables. It was found that reforms linking markets and networks make increasing demands on the unemployed and their families. Poor communication within Centrelink, interorganizationally with the Job Network providers and in public communication informing about such reforms has resulted in confusion amongst young unemployed people. The new market driven environment has had detrimental effects on clients because of the lack of integrated programs and has generated a lack of trust in organizational providers. Research Question 4: What is the role of the media and public opinion polls informing community perceptions about youth unemployment? Findings: Media agenda setting provides the cues setting the standards by which the public evaluates government and attributes responsibility for societal problems. Public opinion is formed when media reports on public affairs. People talk to one another about the topic and consequently public opinion is formed. In the 1970s the media framed unemployed youth as 'dole bludgers' and the polls reflected public attitudes that unemployment was due to people not wanting to work. Media framing in the 1990s contrasted with the 1970s view. Such indications included that it now considered that young people were priced out of a job whilst showing cynicism of governments to improve the situation. It did not use the 'dole bludger' tag. Although the salience of youth unemployment in the opinion polls had diminished, it was still a dominant consideration. Sympathy for young unemployed people who are seen as victims of social change by the media has maintained into the new millennium with media criticism aimed at the government's punitive approach to youth unemployment. Research Question 5: How are policies about youth unemployment communicated to the community? Findings: Following Foucault the study found that government is a broader process involving more than the state. From depth interviews with organizational representatives it was found that formulation of policy for youth and unemployment should be bottom up - community, state, federal - before Cabinet consideration. Political and economic ideologies currently precede pragmatism and there is a diminished voice of those representing youth policy. These findings contribute to building on understandings of the phenomenon of youth unemployment at the community level in Australia and inform about the various individuals, groups, organizations including the media that contribute to shaping the discourse in and around youth and youth unemployment.