This thesis explores issues relating to the application of physiological-process models (???process models???) of forest growth to mixed species, mixed age forests, in particular the coastal blackbutt forests of New South Wales. Using a dataset provided by State Forests of New South Wales (Carter 1994 unpubl.) a numeric description of the forest was developed and stand-level parameters of interest were derived, in particular the plot by plot stemwood volume growth from 1975 to 1999. The amounts of harvested volume, volume that died and volume that grew into the measurement population were identified separately, and several different means of accounting for volume change over time were investigated. A method for quantifying the impact of harvesting and other silvicultural practices on the growth of the forest was developed and programs were written to convert the stand-level summary of the harvest impact into a semi-random selection of trees that would be ???harvested??? from the database under the set of silvicultural assumptions (Dore et al. 1999). A number of process models were investigated and reviewed before selecting one particular model, SUSTAIN (Dewar 1997) for adaption to these forests. This model is a relatively simple process model with a small number of input parameters. The model was adapted so that it could be used to compare the SUSTAIN estimate of growth with the growth of an individual stand of trees in the Kendall Forest Management Area, between Wauchope and Taree on the mid-north coast of NSW. To improve the accuracy of the prediction of growth by SUSTAIN, a method of re-setting the state of the stand to the actual condition at the time of remeasurement was developed. In addition, the SUSTAIN model was extended to enable two separate levels of canopy to be described and grown separately. Ultimately the model was only partially successful in mirroring the growth predicted by the empirical data. Its partial success is attributed primarily to the difficulties associated with correctly determining the allocation parameters used by the model to assign net photosynthate to the roots, foliage and stemwood. The nature of the change in allocation parameters when the forest stand is disturbed by harvest or fire needs further investigation.

Includes bibliography.

[Typescript]

Offprints of the author's articles inserted. Bibliography: v. 2, leaves 106-111. v. 1. [Text] -- v. 2. Appendices.

For many years, migration has been intensively politicised in Australia. Political parties have different stands about migration and the government has raised its transparency to such a high level that the public is aware of developments and policy directions in migration for the present and future years. It was realized that well-educated migrants with skills and experience are able to accomplish better employment prospects and settlement outcomes. Skilled migration has therefore been emphasized. This thesis consists of a literature review on some of the motivations that support the objectives of migration over past years, outcomes brought by migration and overview of the migration program and main categories under skilled migration. As skilled migration has been placed with more emphasis since the 1990s and a larger quota has been allocated to facilitate younger migrants with the skills and expertise that are of use to Australia, it has become necessary to assess the economic impact brought by some of these skilled migrants. Coinciding with the emphasis of skilled migration, the trend of settler arrivals has changed so that Asians have increased their presence in Australia and the focus of this thesis is narrowed down to assess the economic impact of Asian groups. A description of general Asian culture and characteristics is also included in the literature review. Although Asians in Australia maintain their own cultures and some common characteristics, I have chosen the two biggest groups, namely Chinese and Vietnamese, to explore and identify their differences and economic contributions. Apart from ethnicity factor, other elements specifically educational attainment, occupational achievements, labour force status in which they have participated, age, English language proficiency, years of arrival and hours worked are tested for significance in enabling Chinese and Vietnamese migrants to earn income. This study also examines whether higher qualifications would increase the prospects of employability. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Typescript (photocopy) Bibliography: leaves vii-xiv.

This thesis investigates how sports organisations and discourses have impacted on the sports participation of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia. A series of national participation studies have documented that women from minority ethnic backgrounds have significantly lower participation rates in sports and physical activity than Anglo-Australian women. However, the explanations and dimensions of this difference have not been examined in previous research. The experiences of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are used in this thesis to explore sports discourses and organisation and the embodiments of their interrelationship. The present research proposes that sports organisations and discourses within Australia have historically served to marginalise women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The arguments for this position are explored using a local narrative which details the situated nature of women????s experiences of sports. These experiences are located within a historical context that traces migration policies, the growth and development of sports and women????s social relations since white settlement of Australia. It is argued that contemporary sports discourses and organisation are inextricably tied to Australia????s colonial and imperialist past. Theories of ethnicity, gender and sports are analysed. The theoretical perspective taken in this thesis builds on feminist ideologies and ethnicity studies. Empirical analysis is undertaken using gender relations to situate sport as a site of cultural struggles best understood through investigations of history and diversity. Aspects of power, control and influence are central to this thesis. The empirical component of this thesis uses secondary data sources, surveys and interviews to investigate the research proposition. This is achieved on two levels. The first level interrogates existing data to create a macro level analysis of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in sports. A survey of 972 schoolgirls was undertaken to collect information on sports participation and attitudes to sports. This was followed by 30 interviews with women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds that explored individual sports experiences and perspectives on sports. The second level of investigation employed the case study of netball to examine the research question as it related to a specific sports organisation. The case study component of the research involved document and archival analysis, a survey of 372 netball players and interviews with 18 women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and former and current netball administrators. The thesis analyses the empirical data as it relates to the organisation and discourse of sports in Australia. The principal conclusion reached is that sports organisation and discourses are located within a societal power structure that places women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds on its margins. Sports participation is predicated on conformity to existing cultural practices and expectations and it does little to facilitate cultural diversity. The women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who participated in the research did not perceive sports as particularly inclusive of gender and culture. The examination of netball demonstrated that netball has not been concerned with ????other???? women, rather it has focussed its efforts on appealing to ????mainstream???? women. While netball has not explicitly excluded the involvement of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, neither has it actively encouraged cultural diversity. This thesis makes a contribution to knowledge in the field of sports studies with its empirical research and through the ensuing development of a framework for locating the implications of inclusion or exclusion in sports organisations and discourses. This understanding can be used to assess and inform future sports policy development and practice. Principally, the thesis seeks to acknowledge and legitimise the sports experiences of women from diverse backgrounds and in doing so provides insights into a better theoretical understanding about the nexus of gender, ethnicity and sports.

[Truncated abstract] This study extends understanding of the careers of classical instrumental musicians within the cultural industries, and ascertains the extent to which professional practice is reflected within current classical performance-based music education and training. Little is known about the careers of classically trained instrumental musicians in terms of the activities in which they engage and the skills and attributes used to sustain their professional practice, and there is also widespread lack of understanding about the music industry and the wider cultural industries. The extent to which education and training reflects the careers of music performance graduates has gained heightened exposure at the same time as higher education institutions have become increasingly accountable for the employability of graduates, and yet much of the available literature has only tangential relevance and there remains a shortage of literature relating to the complex area of creative practice. The research approach for the study bridges both the interpretive and normative paradigms. Using survey and interview methods, the study employs three distinct but interrelated data collections to investigate sustainable professional practice through analysis of musicians’ careers, performance-based education and training, and the cultural industries. The study identifies the longitudinal characteristics of musicians’ professional practice and presents in a conditional matrix the intrinsic and extrinsic influences that impact upon it. The study proposes a practitioner-focussed Arts Cultural Practice (ACP) framework that consists of four practitioner-focussed, non-hierarchical groups which were determined through analysis of the major foci characterising roles within the cultural industries. As such, the ACP framework represents a new paradigm of sustainable practice that circumvents existing barriers; submitting a non-hierarchical view of cultural practice that clearly indicates the potential for an exciting diversity of holistic practice often not considered by practitioners. The ACP curricular model posits the collaborative delivery of generic skills across artforms. This study substantiates the generic skills used by artists throughout the cultural industries, and confirms the rationale for education and training which considers the sustainability of music graduates’ careers as arts cultural practitioners. Thus, individual strengths and talents should be developed according to the intrinsic and extrinsic influences which drive the passion for arts practice.

This thesis seeks to establish whether Australia’s manufacturing competitiveness improved during the Hawke-Keating period of government (1983-1996), based on its performance prior to 1983. To achieve this aim it was necessary to identify what are the key characteristics impacting on competitiveness, and indeed, how do these factors interact? Importantly, the review was conducted from a broad-based strategic management perspective and not from an econometric standpoint. As a means of determining the above a detailed examination of the development of competitiveness was undertaken. It was found there was no single determinant insofar as, competitiveness cannot be attributed to one specific aspect, but is in fact influenced by a number of factors acting simultaneously. This involved a review of the informed contributions reflecting the development of competitiveness. Findings suggested the roots of competitiveness could largely be traced back to the doctrine of comparative advantage. However, much of this thinking was inevitably surpassed, when the correlation between competitiveness and strategy was better understood. Thus, in terms of manufacturing, this demanded the analysis of factors which appeared to independently and jointly influence competitiveness. It also showed within the manufacturing sector there was an inextricable link between productivity, increased competitiveness and growth. The contribution to the assessment of competitiveness by Professor Michael Porter was also studied in detail. The application of his work was examined with a view to the appropriateness of using his Determinants of National Advantage model in an Australian manufacturing context. Notably, this model provided a process which consistently explained the unique differences between participants within industrial environments. It also facilitated the identification of specific reasons for failure within an industry, which if left unchecked impacted on a nation’s competitiveness. Relative to competitiveness and, to the significance of Porter’s theories, an amended version of the ‘Diamond Model’ was considered more appropriate for this thesis. Historically, Australia’s manufacturing sector has been traditionally underpinned by tariff protection to sustain its existence. Political efforts to counter the impact of competition appeared to remain a central part of industry policy. For instance, politicians such as McEwen shaped Australia’s post-war interventionist role by the use of politically imaginative industry policies to help shelter manufacturing from the threat of growing international competition. In 1965, the manufacturing sector underwent its first major restructure, driven by the objective to make it less reliant on government subsidies and support. This was followed by similar reform initiatives such as the Jackson Report (1977) and Crawford Committee Report (1979). The Hawke-Keating Government came to office in 1983 amidst a shattered economy. Mid-way through its administration period, however, the Hawke-Keating Government had to contend with the internationalisation of world economies. This led to a deliberate change in industry policy, particularly at a microeconomic level to a free market persuasion. An accelerated tariff reduction program was also introduced. Whilst there was genuine support for the manufacturing sector to improve its competitiveness, many thought a more measured and strategic change was warranted. Research suggested Australian manufacturing was highly dependent on multinationals for technology and employment but by the same token, lacked specialization, and economies of scale and scope in terms of utilising its capabilities. Australia’s manufacturers similarly failed to capitalize on aspects of research and development and innovation, languishing in a climate devoid of competition. Moreover, the manufacturing sector was not considered a prime investment target for international finance. In order to test these assertions a number of key hypotheses were developed. Following analyses, with the exception of the impact of manufactured imports on the economy, it was determined that manufacturing had improved in each of the categories assessed. However, largely, the sector’s performance was well below that of its international counterparts. Overall, these results add to the body of knowledge of competition literature, and also contribute to a better understanding of the factors which influence growth, sustainability, and the competitiveness of Australia’s manufacturing in general. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1268524 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Adelaide Graduate School of Business, 2007

"March 2004" / Bibliography: leaves 115-141. / 141. [8] leaves : ill., maps, photos (col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Localised disturbance can generate considerable patchiness in the structure and composition of subtidal habitats which is a key determinant of differences in the diversity of associated assemblages of invertebrates. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Environmental Biology, 2004