PurposeMental health recovery across cultures lacks understanding and suitable measures. The Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR) is a self-report instrument measuring personal recovery outcomes for consumers of mental health services. However, the extent of its relevance among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities is unclear. This pilot study aimed to examine the relevance and utility of the QPR among CALD consumers of primary mental health services in Australia.Design/methodology/approachEleven individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two general practitioners (GPs) and nine consumers from two clinics, at locations with high Iranian and Burmese refugee or asylum seeker populations. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a thematic framework approach.FindingsAlthough almost all consumers had little or no understanding of the concept of personal recovery, they found the QPR culturally acceptable and understandable. Using the QPR during mental health consultations can help with needs identification and goal setting. Challenges in using the QPR included completion time, cross-cultural differences in concepts and norms for some items, and need for careful translation. Consumers suggested additional items regarding family reputation, sexuality, and spirituality.Originality/valueThe QPR is potentially a valuable tool to support mental health consultations with CALD consumers, from the perspectives of both GPs and consumers.

Family law services assisting clients with post-separation parenting arrangements can play a key role in encouraging collaborative communication between separating parents. Increasingly, this communication takes place by digital means. Services and practitioners need to understand which communication technologies (CTs) are used by their clientele, how they are experienced in both positive and negative ways, and why some technologies might be favoured over others as a result. This paper reports on an exploratory mixed methods study of the use and misuse of 'everyday' CTs (text/instant messaging, email and social media) among parents accessing post-separation services in Victoria, Australia. A survey of 118 clients was followed by interviews with 12 participants. Post-separation clients readily differentiated between common CTs in terms of the extent to which they were helpful or unhelpful for co-parenting. Most participants had recent experience of some form of CT misuse by their ex-partners. An improved understanding of client experiences will help post-separation services incorporate explicit discussion of CT use in the negotiation of parenting arrangements.

Although dispute resolution has a long and rich documented history, the growth of out-of-court settlements and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes in Australia has been a recent development with family dispute resolution (FDR) services younger still. This chapter overviews the history of FDR in Australia to contextualise the development of online family dispute resolution (OFDR). As an extension to the already accessible Telephone Family Dispute Resolution service, OFDR offers the added value of multi-media engagement and innovative online tools to assist in easing the process of mediation for all stakeholders. From the introduction of the Family Law Act in Australia in 1975 to the 2006 Reforms, informal dispute processes are becoming recognised as fertile ground to deliver services via the use of advanced technologies. This chapter presents evidence as to the value of ADR in family law to mitigate issues concerning increased service demand, strained court resources, and the avoidance of emotionally taxing adversarial approaches. History shows a trend toward making services more efficient and effective, resulting in a natural progression to ODFR. Australia is currently at the forefront of OFDR advancement to accommodate their diverse and dispersed population.

Mindfulness-based initiatives have been shown to improve psychological wellbeing and increase academic engagement in school settings. The current study explored barriers and facilitators to the implementation of mindfulness-based (MB) programmes in schools. Ninety-five teachers completed an online survey, and six principals were interviewed, with questions for both informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Quantitative data was analysed via descriptive statistics and independent sample t tests. Qualitative interview data were analysed via thematic analysis. Teachers reported facilitators to successful MB programme implementation as self-efficacy and motivation, knowledge about MB programmes, acceptance of responsibility to deliver MB programmes and belief of negative consequences if MB programmes are not delivered. Principals reported organisational-level facilitators as having a school-wide positive education framework relevant to the school context, taking a long-term approach, school leaders supporting the initiatives and understanding the evidence behind MB programmes and empowering staff to engage in mindfulness. Individual-level facilitators included staff buy-in and commitment to practice and understanding mindfulness. Barriers included time, resources/money, staff buy-in and competing strategic priorities within the school. These findings are important for consideration by policymakers determining the way forward for more widespread implementation of MB programmes in Australia.

The previous chapter emphasised the need for more methodologically rigorous evidence in online family dispute resolution (OFDR) if these technologically-enhanced services are to be useful and enduring. The contribution of Australia to furthering OFDR knowledge and practice worldwide is exemplified by an innovative pilot project conducted by Relationships AustraliaRelationships Australia Queensland in 2009. Both the development of the software and its subsequent evaluation were evidence-based and intended to adhere to best practice through the adoption of an iterative designIterative design that incorporated ongoing quantitative and qualitative data from all stakeholders to optimise system functioning and utility. This chapter summarises processes, findings, and recommendations of this pilot across the four stages of the program design: registration, intakeIntake, pre-FDR educationPre-FDR education, and OFDR. Clients and staff reported largely positive attitudes towards OFDR, with need to appreciate the learning curve involved in navigating the system and how the technology qualitatively changes the mediation process. This pilot sets the standard for the development and evaluation ofOnline Family Dispute Resolution (OFDR)evaluation of OFDR services in Australia and worldwide by subjecting the service to extensive systematic testing and evaluation to promote continuous learning and improvement.

This book represents the Online Family Dispute Resolution system which deals with children’s issues rather than focusing upon property distribution.

Objectives: Australian general practitioners (GPs) are pivotal in mental health care. The REFOCUS-PULSAR (Principles Unite Local Services Assisting Recovery) primary care study aimed to improve personal recovery outcomes in adults with mental health problems consulting GPs. Design: Modified from an intended stepped-wedge cluster study, an exploratory (pre- and post-intervention) design employed cross-sectional surveys of patients consulting GPs. Setting: Eighteen primary care sites (clusters) in Victoria, Australia in 2013–2017. Participants: From 30 GPs recruited, 23 participated (76%), with 235 patient surveys returned from adults aged <75 years receiving mental health care. Intervention: A co-delivered face-to-face training intervention for GPs in recovery-oriented practice (ROP), with personal recovery a key focus, used multimedia, mnemonics, and targeted interview schedules to encourage ROP—with availability of support sessions for 1 year. Outcome Measures: Primary: the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery full-scale score (outcome). Secondary: INSPIRE (experience), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) (outcomes). Other: General-practice-Users Perceived-need Inventory (experience). Results: Small positive significant effects indicated primary-outcome post-intervention improvements [ t -test (233) = −2.23, p = 0.01], also improvement in two secondary outcomes (WEMWBS t (233) = −2.12, p = 0.02 and K10 t (233) = 2.44, p = 0.01). More patients post-intervention reported “no need” for further help from their GP; but in those reporting needs, there was greater unmet need for counseling. Conclusions: ROP implementation, internationally influential in specialist mental health care, here is explored in primary care where it has had less attention. These exploratory findings suggest better patient outcomes followed introducing GPs to ROP in routine practice conditions. Higher unmet need for counseling post-intervention reported by patients might be a sign of limited supply despite ROP facilitating better identification of needs. Challenges in project implementation means that these findings carry risks of bias and flag the importance establishing research infrastructure in primary care. Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov/ , The Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ACTRN12614001312639.

Loss of historical artefacts arising from colonisation and past social policy continue to cause disadvantage and distress for indigenous peoples all over the world and particularly so in Australia. Social efforts to improve community and family outcomes show little progress despite investment. The provision of culturally appropriate, high quality services could be enhanced through the use of technology, particularly in remote areas. One such application is the development of online options for family dispute resolution services. This study forms part of one example of community collaboration to ensure high quality, culturally appropriate services are available to some of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia. Using an organisational development approach via participatory action research, this chapter details an exercise in community engagement in planning for roll out of services. Data included both focus groups and researcher reflections which were pooled and analysed leading to the development of key themes. Participating communities appear ready and enthused by the concept of online service delivery; however, were wary of service provision that was not tailored to their needs or culturally insensitive. With ongoing modification and consultation with community reference groups, the service could be contextualised and adapted to better suit local needs.

The growth of Online Family Dispute Resolution (OFDR) means that consumers are now presented with a range of options on the market to suit their needs. With the intention of these services to optimise effectiveness and efficiency for their users, it is paramount that robust evidence be demonstrated for their quality to support their preferential use when compared to other forms of dispute resolution service delivery. The literature review presented in this chapter was conducted to scope the current research and practice evidence for online dispute resolution in family law as relating to child custody issues. The use of OFDR services in both Australian and international contexts was investigated across a range of electronic sources since 2011. Of those programs located by the review, it was evident that while more methodologically rigorous research is required, preliminary evidence shows support for OFDR effectiveness in reaching desirable and fair outcomes. The considerations for selecting technologically-enhanced services are discussed, as are the avenues for future research and directions to further develop OFDR as a viable option for informal conflict resolution. This chapter demonstrates how knowing the literature helps to inform future OFDR development and enhance service delivery.

PurposeInnovation is ever more critical for sustainable business performance in the contemporary, global economic and social context. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are arguably well positioned to innovate through their potential for rapid adjustment. Although leadership and organizational climate have been identified as playing a key role in innovation, little is known about whether such influences play out in SMEs. The aim of this study is to explore how leaders shape the organizational climate of their firms to enhance innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe article presents findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 CEOs of SMEs in the Vietnamese tourism sector.FindingsThe findings indicate that SME leaders in the tourism sector influenced an organizational climate that provided for autonomy and supported innovation through a number of leadership approaches. They also used daily interaction-based practices to drive the innovative behaviors of employees and developed reward systems to encourage innovation in their organizations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explored leaders' approaches toward developing an organizational climate to stimulate innovation in tourism SMEs. Where leaders share frequent communication and knowledge with their subordinates, they perceive a climate for innovation developments, which stimulates innovation in tourism SMEs.Practical implicationsThe study provides implications for managers to improve creativity and innovation in firms through the development of reward and incentive systems along with leadership and team development programs.Originality/valueThis study describes how different leader approaches affect innovation through orientating the organizational climate and business processes within their firms toward encouraging staff to initiate and try out new ideas.

The paper details the specification of a model that will underpin the development of system dynamics based teaching and learning simulations across five of the nine levels of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The model functions as a scaffold, building on previous levels of knowledge and simulation experience to guide students as they progress to higher levels of learning. It is anticipated this will enable students who reach AQF Level 9 to have developed a strong understanding of system dynamics and interactivity between model variables, as well as complex cause-and-effect decision-making and unintended consequences, culminating in their ability to define and specify their own variables so as to enhance models.

Addressing the dearth of sustainable tourism teaching simulations, this article details the design, development, testing and validation of a destination development game simulation designed to reinforce the teaching and learning of sustainable tourism principles. We discuss two stages of model development, including an earlier game developed using system dynamics and an evolved version with agent-based modelling extensions, incorporating a flock leadership framework and network theory, which together provided a framework for considering the human dynamics provoked within the simulation interaction. For Study 1, simulation validation was based on feedback received from staff and students of an Australian higher education institution for which students were assessed on their use of the simulation in a classroom setting. The simulation illustrated to the students the complexity of decision-making in tourism destinations, while highlighting the need for a broader range of stakeholder interactions. We detail the initial validation of Study 2 as a precursor to further testing. The development process has highlighted the importance of a coherent and familiar context as background to using such a simulation as a teaching and learning tool. Further validation will be conducted in diverse institutions to trial and observe different modes of uptake of the simulation.

The aim of this exploratory study is to delineate the role of local government in climate change response through an accountability lens. Local governments have an important role in climate change response due to its proximity to the impact the environment will have on its citizens and businesses. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of local government response to climate change, therefore, needs a critical exploration of the ways in which local governments are answerable on its obligations. Local government climate change response was investigated by posing questions aimed to unpack accountability: who, to whom, for what, and how? Findings from the investigation show that climate change response within local councils is a highly contextual phenomenon; where the level of accountability observed is influenced externally by community demands and political cycles, and internally through a hierarchical chain of command, collaboration amongst council workers and the political interests of its leaders. The current study contributes to the literature by deepening understanding of how individuals make sense of organisational initiatives that respond to climate change, as well as highlighting the accountability challenges faced within local governments.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of empowering leadership, directive leadership and initiating structure on innovation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and examine the mediating role of climate for innovation on those relationships. Design/methodology/approach Applying structural equation modeling, the study empirically tested the model on a sample of 330 employees from tourism SMEs in Vietnam. Findings Results indicated that climate for innovation mediated the relationship between empowering leadership and innovation and also initiating structure and innovation. Whereas empowering leadership was found to have a negative direct influence on innovation, directive leadership was unrelated to innovation. Research limitations/implications - The results of this study contribute to the literature by expanding the existing research on SME innovation, assessing the effect of diverse leadership styles and a climate for innovation on the innovation performance of SMEs. The findings enrich the literature by indicating the contribution of empowering leadership, directive leadership and initiating structure on encouraging innovation in SMEs. Practical implications - When leading subordinates in the SME context, leaders who have a clear understanding of the effect of empowerment, direction and initiating structure can optimally seek to stimulate innovation. These leadership approaches influence employees' task, interpersonal and role-related processes that shape a climate for innovation. Originality/value The novelty of this paper is that it examines the differential influences of empowering leadership, directive leadership and initiating structure on innovation and the mediating role of climate for innovation on these relationships.

Whilst the advent of new and increasingly accessible communication technologies undoubtedly provides new, positive, and effective ways for individuals to communicate and connect with their communities, it simultaneously provides additional means and forums for perpetrators to abuse and harass their victims. Furthermore, such technologies enable perpetrators of family violence to overcome geographical boundaries and continue their abuse post-separation, particularly where there are children of the relationship. This paper reviews and classifies the existing literature on technology-facilitated abuse, identifying predominant themes in relation to context and focus, as well as the gaps. New forms of criminality as well as new ways to perpetrate existing forms of criminality are described.

Background: Recovery features strongly in Australian mental health policy; however, evidence is limited for the efficacy of recovery-oriented practice at the service level. This paper describes the Principles Unite Local Services Assisting Recovery (PULSAR) Specialist Care trial protocol for a recovery-oriented practice training intervention delivered to specialist mental health services staff. The primary aim is to evaluate whether adult consumers accessing services where staff have received the intervention report superior recovery outcomes compared to adult consumers accessing services where staff have not yet received the intervention. A qualitative sub-study aims to examine staff and consumer views on implementing recovery-oriented practice. A process evaluation sub-study aims to articulate important explanatory variables affecting the interventions rollout and outcomes. Methods: The mixed methods design incorporates a two-step stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) examining cross-sectional data from three phases, and nested qualitative and process evaluation sub-studies. Participating specialist mental health care services in Melbourne, Victoria are divided into 14 clusters with half randomly allocated to receive the staff training in year one and half in year two. Research participants are consumers aged 18–75 years who attended the cluster within a previous three-month period either at baseline, 12 (step 1) or 24 months (step 2). In the two nested sub-studies, participation extends to cluster staff. The primary outcome is the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery collected from 756 consumers (252 each at baseline, step 1, step 2). Secondary and other outcomes measuring well-being, service satisfaction and health economic impact are collected from a subset of 252 consumers (63 at baseline; 126 at step 1; 63 at step 2) via interviews. Interview-based longitudinal data are also collected 12 months apart from 88 consumers with a psychotic disorder diagnosis (44 at baseline, step 1; 44 at step 1, step 2). cRCT data will be analyzed using multilevel mixed-effects modelling to account for clustering and some repeated measures, supplemented by thematic analysis of qualitative interview data. The process evaluation will draw on qualitative, quantitative and documentary data. (Continued on next page) * Correspondence: frances.shawyer@monash.edu Southern Synergy, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Dandenong Hospital, 126 128 Cleeland St, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, Australia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s). 2017 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Shawyer et al. BMC Psychiatry (2017) 17:172 DOI 10.1186/s12888-017-1321-3