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Item Restricted Beguiled by the 'Glittering Prize' : Systemic and ethical culture failings in the management of Informer 3838(Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026-04)Politicians and public alike wanted to know why Victoria Police (Australia) were making little substantive headway investigating a seemingly unstoppable wave of serious and organized crimes, manifested not least in a murderous gangland war that had lasted over a decade (AAP, 2014). Whoever was really in control of the streets of Melbourne, through journalism’s lens it did not appear to be Victoria Police. For the both the organization’s executive command, and for frontline detectives – feeling the heat of public and political scrutiny (McMurdo, 2020:v1, pp.80-81) - when presented with an unparalleled, unprecedented, opportunity to gather information from a source trusted by those under investigation; a source who knew exactly how and in what ways the suspects were vulnerable; a source who could provide information that would not only secure evidence but also inform prosecution strategy and so secure convictions, the attraction of the proposition seemed a no-brainer: why wouldn’t you?Item Open Access The validity and reliability of player tracking technology in team sports(Australian Catholic University, 2025-11-12)The quantification of a player’s external training load (i.e., work performed) is important and is commonplace to numerous levels of team sport. These data are often used to establish match demands of a sport; and then incorporated into a feedback loop where they are used to: (1) prescribe training that is specific to those demands; (2) monitor training loads to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved; and (3) adjust loads for subsequent training periods, which can vary from within a session, to between seasons. All these steps are used to minimise injury risk, optimise adaptations and deliver successful performances. Historically this tracking was performed by charting player movements during match-play live or retrospectively. Semi- and fully-automated computer-vision tracking systems were then used but are labour intensive and therefore not suitable for the fast-paced nature of modern day sport. Hence the introduction of wearable microtechnology in the field of sport science has become the most common means of quantifying player movements. Recently, computer-vision and artificial intelligence (AI) have experienced rapid growth in the area of tracking player movements. Given the widespread use of these technologies, it is important to ensure their output is understood to facilitate effective use in practice. First and foremost, the validity and reliability of these devices must be understood. As such, the overall aim of this thesis was to establish the validity and reliability of common tracking technologies used in team sports. This thesis comprises a systematic review and three experimental studies. The systematic review appraised studies that investigated the validity and/or reliability of the wearable microtechnology devices used in team sports. After assessing the eligibility of the 384 retrieved studies, 72 were eligible and therefore included in the review. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) were examined in 47 studies, local positioning systems (LPS) in 12 studies and inertial measurement units (IMUs) in 25 studies. It was difficult to collectively synthesise the validity and reliability of wearable microtechnologies, given the methodological heterogeneity among the included studies. However, whilst validity and reliability varied across studies, in general there was a trend for improved validity and reliability as sampling frequency increased. Typically, the devices offered suitable accuracy for monitoring key metrics such as peak speed and distance covered. Significant gaps identified in the literature included: 1) the validity and reliability of the most recent and commonly used GNSS devices had not yet been examined in peer-reviewed research; 2) Intra-device reliability had been inadequately assessed; and 3) Validity and reliability had not yet been assessed over multiple days. Given the findings of the systematic review, Chapter 4 investigated the inter-device and inter-manufacturer reliability of Catapult (Vector S7) and Statsports (Apex Pro) devices over time. It was found that the devices possessed consistently suitable reliability for most metrics apart from threshold-based acceleration and deceleration metrics. There were also large differences between the outputs of both manufacturers. Chapter 5 assessed the validity of the same devices to measure instantaneous speed and acceleration during straight-line sprinting across multiple sessions. It was found that both devices possessed suitable validity for measuring speed and acceleration compared to a laser criterion. There were small differences in validity across sessions for Catapult units, but these were not practically meaningful. Chapter 6 assessed the ability of computer-vision and AI models to track players position and speed using broadcast video footage. The results showed that players can be accurately tracked but this is dependent upon the computer-vision and AI techniques implemented. Overall, modern day (≥10-Hz) GNSS devices provide suitable validity and reliability. Further, it appears that computer-vision tracking may be a suitable alternative provided players are detected by the software. However, future research should focus on this area given it is in its infancy. In particular, the methods used to estimate a player’s position when they are not detected by the software (e.g., outside of the camera’s field of view, occluded) currently lack suitable accuracy and should be further developed. It may be that more training data are required for the machine learning algorithms to develop sufficient accuracy to predict player position accurately in these situations. Collectively, this thesis consolidates the work pertaining to the validity and reliability of wearable player tracking devices. It provides practitioners with an understanding of the precision and accuracy of the metrics commonly assessed using wearable devices and highlights the viability of using computer-vision and AI to track players using broadcast footage.Item Open Access Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: Systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries(Oxford University Press, 2023)Background: Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods: This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results: In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries.Item Open Access Motivation of sessional teaching staff to remain employed in pre-registration nursing programs: A systematic review(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-06-19)Aim: To identify motivational and demotivational factors for sessional teaching staff to undertake employment in pre-registration nursing programs. Background: Sessional teaching staff are part of the nurse education team; however high turnover can cause challenges to the university and impact the quality of teaching and learning for students. Understanding the motivational factors for working as sessional staff can help create a more sustainable nurse education workforce. Design: Systematic review. Methods: The review protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework and the search was conducted in September 2024 using the databases CINAHL, Education Source, ERIC, PsycInfo® and MEDLINE. The inclusion criteria were sessional teaching staff, teaching into pre-registration nursing programs in tertiary education settings. Themes were deductively developed following data extraction. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Four studies were included in this review. Two themes were developed: i) Motivation to remain employed; ii) Demotivational factors to remain employed. The top motivating elements for sessional staff were the enjoyment of teaching, the work flexibility and the ability to nurture the next generation of nurses. Demotivational factors for working sessionally included feeling disconnected from the nursing school and not having adequate resources and support for teaching. Conclusions: Sessional teaching staff provide benefits to nurse education programs. Universities need to enhance motivational factors such as flexibility and address the lack of sense of belonging, support and resourcing of sessionals to create a sustainable academic workforce and to ensure the quality of nurse education.Item Open Access More than lights and sirens : Assessing the impact of a national accreditation scheme from the perspective of change in an evolving profession - Paramedicine(Australian Catholic University, 2025)Introduction/Background: This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of the intricate relationship between curriculum design, accreditation processes, and the evolving landscape of paramedicine in Australia, particularly within the context of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), which was established in 2018. The research explores the impact of the advent of the NRAS on the development and delivery of paramedicine education, examining its influence on both the academic and professional readiness of paramedic graduates. By contextualising the historical evolution of paramedic practice in Australia, this study examines the current status and challenges facing the profession, with a focus on the regulatory and educational frameworks that support it. Aim: The primary aim of this study is to investigate how paramedicine courses developed under the Australian Paramedicine National Registration and Accreditation Scheme effectively prepare graduates to meet the dynamic and ever-changing demands of their profession. The research aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses within current educational frameworks, providing insights into how these frameworks can be enhanced better to equip paramedic students for the realities of professional practice. Methods: Employing a multi-modal methodology, this study engages with various data sources, including academic literature, regulatory documents, and interviews with key stakeholders in the paramedicine field. A comparative analysis with international jurisdictions is also conducted to identify potential areas for improvement and innovation within the Australian context. This methodological approach enables a comprehensive examination of the educational, regulatory, and professional frameworks that underpin paramedicine education in Australia, providing a solid foundation for the study’s findings and recommendations. Findings: The findings suggest that while accreditation processes ensure baseline professional competency, they do not prescribe curriculum content, resulting in varied interpretations and implementation across institutions. This has led to inconsistencies in how key areas—such as primary healthcare, governance, and interprofessional collaboration—are integrated into paramedicine programs. Rather than attributing this solely to a lack of standardisation, the study acknowledges the broader challenge of balancing regulatory flexibility with the need for consistency in graduate preparedness. International comparisons further highlight how structured, but adaptable curriculum frameworks can support both innovation and coherence in education. Discussion: The discussion synthesises key findings from an analysis of paramedicine curricula, accreditation frameworks, and evolving models of care. It reveals that while Australian paramedicine education programs demonstrate strong alignment with emergency response and acute care, significant gaps persist in primary healthcare, governance, and community-based care. The study highlights inconsistencies in curriculum integration across universities, reflecting the broader challenge of aligning educational standards with accreditation requirements. A critical finding is that accreditation frameworks, although essential in ensuring professional competency, do not provide prescriptive curriculum guidance, resulting in variability in program design. The RESPIGHT model analysis revealed disparities in how universities integrate primary healthcare and interprofessional collaboration, underscoring concerns about graduate preparedness for expanded roles in healthcare systems. Additionally, international comparisons suggest that paramedicine education in Australia may benefit from adopting structured curriculum frameworks that strike a balance between regulatory oversight and curricular flexibility. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study concludes that while accreditation provides an essential foundation for ensuring paramedic competence, variability in curriculum design has contributed to inconsistencies in graduate outcomes, particularly in areas aligned with expanded scopes of practice. It recommends the development of structured curriculum frameworks that align with accreditation standards while maintaining flexibility to respond to local and emerging healthcare needs. Enhanced emphasis on primary healthcare, leadership, and collaboration between education providers, industry, and regulatory bodies will be essential to preparing graduates for future practice. To address these challenges, this study recommends a structured approach to curriculum development, incorporating standardised frameworks that align with accreditation requirements while allowing flexibility for emerging healthcare trends. Strengthening primary healthcare education, embedding governance and leadership training, and fostering stronger collaboration between universities, accreditation bodies, and industry stakeholders are critical steps in ensuring paramedic graduates are well-prepared for contemporary practice.
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