St Michael's Uniting Church is a church in Collins Street in central Melbourne, Australia. Originally the Collins Street Independent Church, a Congregational Union of Australia Church, and later Collins Street Uniting Church, St Michael's has become well known as a centre of liberal theology and political radicalism under its recent Executive Minister Dr Francis Macnab (1971-2016).
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people in Australian workplaces. Eighteen adults who identified as TGD participated in semi-structured interviews led by the research questions: How do workplace structures and cultures contribute to minority stress among transgender and gender diverse employees, particularly in relation to psychosocial and physical safety? and How do transgender and gender diverse individuals manage identity disclosure in the workplace, and what forms of anticipated or enacted stigma influence these decisions and their emotional consequences? Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis informed by critical realism. Four main themes were developed: Hazardous gaps between policy and practice adversely impacted physical and psychosocial safety in the workplace; Managing perceptions of others through compulsory unpaid emotional labour; Gender affirmation as a costly balancing act; and Narrowed and endangering employment possibilities at the intersection of stigmatised and marginalised identities. The experiences shared here provide an illustration of how the relationship between organisational structure, policies and sanctioned discriminatory interpersonal ways of relating work together to create environments with inbuilt minority stressors and barriers to safe acts of identity disclosure. The findings highlight the need to support Australian employers not only to ensure workplace compliance with anti-discrimination legislation but to provide safer working environments through structural and cultural changes that reduce minority stressors and support safe identity disclosures for trans and gender diverse employees.
Objectives: Risky sexual behaviors (RSB; e.g., condomless sex with strangers) contribute to global health epidemics by facilitating the transmission of STIs and increasing exposure to sexual violence, particularly in younger populations. Therefore, understanding the etiological factors influencing RSB is crucial for informing tailored prevention and intervention approaches. Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) offer a potential etiological explanation with associated intervention through Schema Therapy. This study extends previous research regarding EMS and RSB by investigating the influence of schema-driven coping responses. Methods: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey recruited 238 participants (135 women, 101 men, 2 non-binary) with a mean age of 29.45 (SD = 6.75). Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression models. Results: EMS domains of Impaired Limits and Other-Directedness were significantly associated with RSB engagement, as were overcompensation and avoidance coping responses. These associations were observed among younger participants. Conclusions: The findings support the role of EMS as an etiological factor for RSB engagement while identifying behavioral patterns that may be targeted with Schema Therapy to protect sexual health and promote wellbeing.
Dog-assisted therapy is associated with improved treatment outcomes for children who have experienced trauma, including child sexual abuse (CSA). However, there are limitations to employing live dogs in therapy (e.g., cost, welfare concerns). Research suggests that robotic dogs may be a viable alternative; however, no published accounts have explored the use of robotic dogs in therapy for CSA survivors. This research aimed to qualitatively explore clinicians’ perspectives on the use of robotic dogs in therapy sessions with CSA survivors, in terms of potential effectiveness, benefits, and limitations. Four clinicians from an organisation that provides treatment to CSA survivors used a robotic dog in their treatment-as-usual sessions with CSA survivors aged between 5—12 years and were then interviewed about their experiences. Thematic qualitative analysis of clinician interviews revealed four main themes: (1) client characteristics that influenced their interest in the robotic dog (e.g., age, shyness); (2) clients’ behavioural interactions with the dog (e.g., cuddling, kicking); (3) robotic dog characteristics (e.g., softness, interactivity, and distractibility); and (4) clinicians’ use of the robotic dog (e.g., for psychoeducation, rapport development). The main reported benefits of the robotic dog were: it was a comfort object for clients, it was useful for psychoeducation, and it helped facilitated the development of therapeutic alliances between clinicians and CSA survivors. Shortcomings included distractibility (e.g., unwanted barking) and lack of technological advancement. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that there are advantages to using robotic dogs in therapy for CSA survivors.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment often involves significant psychological distress, yet many current support models are limited in taking a preventative lens and one which considers neurodiversity. This paper discusses the literature regarding fertility and IVF treatment for Autistic and Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) individuals and highlights Bancroft's Hope Affirm Thrive framework, a universal psychological support model integrating trauma-informed care and systematic neurodiversity screening and support for IVF populations. Hope Affirm Thrive employs a three-tiered model delivering psychoeducation, emotional regulation skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, trauma processing through Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, and Schema Therapy interventions. Universal screening for Autism and ADHD traits enables proactive accommodation without requiring diagnosis. The framework was specifically adapted for Australian healthcare contexts and IVF treatment timelines and addresses identified gaps by providing preventive rather than reactive support. This framework provides a replicable template for neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed psychological support adaptable to other high-stress medical contexts beyond IVF.
Adulthood is characterized by demands and expectations, including increased independence and responsibility, career and personal growth, and relationship stability. For adults with extreme demand avoidance (EDA) traits, characterized by an anxiety-driven need for autonomy and a pervasive resistance to everyday demands, these expectations can evoke an overwhelming anxiety, where avoidance functions as a form of self-preservation rather than disinterest or amotivation. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Australian adults with EDA traits and the ways they navigate adulthood. Fifty-three participants completed an online survey that included the EDA Questionnaire-Adult version to determine the presence of EDA traits and study eligibility. Fourteen adults aged 21–50 years with suspected EDA then went on to complete open-ended questions exploring everyday demands and coping strategies. Their responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, and five themes were observed, which we called: 24/7 Turmoil, A Tug-of-War Within, Hell is Other People, Misunderstanding and Stigma, and I Will Survive. Collectively, the findings depict adulthood as a demand-saturated environment marked by chronic overwhelm, exhaustion, and guilt. This study addresses an important gap in the literature, emphasizing the need for autonomy-supportive, compassion-focused, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches across clinical, workplace, and social contexts. Lay Abstract Adulthood often involves many demands, such as working, managing daily tasks, maintaining relationships, and taking on more responsibility. For adults with extreme demand avoidance (EDA), these everyday expectations can feel overwhelming. EDA is linked to high anxiety and a strong need for autonomy. Avoiding demands is not about laziness or lack of motivation, but instead works as a way to protect oneself from intense anxiety. This study explored the experiences of Australian adults with EDA and how they manage the demands of adulthood. Fifty-three adults took part in an online study and completed a questionnaire to identify EDA traits. Fourteen people aged between 21 and 50 went on to answer open-ended questions about daily demands and coping strategies. We analyzed their responses to identify common patterns and experiences. Five key themes were identified: 24/7 Turmoil , A Tug-of-War Within , Hell is Other People , Misunderstanding and Stigma , and I Will Survive (also see Infographic in supplementary material). Together, these themes show that adulthood can feel like a constant source of pressure, leading to ongoing overwhelm, exhaustion, guilt, and self-doubt. At the same time, participants described resilience, creativity, and ways of adapting their lives to protect their well-being. This study highlights the need for greater understanding of EDA in adulthood and supports approaches that are flexible, autonomy-supportive, compassionate, and affirm neurodiversity in clinical, workplace, and social settings.
