Avondale Research

A greater vision of world needs since 1897.

 

Communities

Recent Submissions

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Preaching in Melbourne 1913-1918: What a Difference a War Makes
(Cambridge University Press, 2024-11-04) Reynaud, Daniel
When evaluating factors shaping the Australian home front during World War One, the impact of preaching is generally overlooked, though historians have identified it as one of the most influential sources of public speech. This paper examines preaching in Melbourne just before and during the war, as reported in the influential Melbourne Herald. It asks how preaching was affected by the outbreak of war, and explores its developments, its reporting and its impacts. It points to conclusions about the nature and place of religion in the life of the city, and the interaction of preaching and war that highlight gaps in our understanding of the interaction of religion and war in Australia at that time. It challenges notions about Australian secularity, the degree of sectarianism, and the place of religion in our understanding of the war in both Australia and the wider British world.
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The American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Offering of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (The Lift Project) to its Members – Caring for the Carers
(2024-09-01) Morton, Darren; Renfrew, Melanie; Matthews, Simon

In the wake of COVID-19, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine offered its members an online 10-week multicomponent mental health and wellbeing program (The Lift Project), and extended the invitation to members from sister organizations associated with the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. A total of 1785 members registered for the program, representing 39 countries. The website hosting the program recorded 9815 total visits over the 10 weeks. In a post-program questionnaire completed by 145 participants, 91% agreed or strongly agreed that the program supported their mental wellbeing, and participants reported their wellbeing as higher after the program as compared to its commencement (X2 = 80.8, P < .01). Ninety-four percent of respondents indicated they would recommend the program to a friend. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses included in the post-program evaluation indicated that the participants liked: the structure of the program and content covered; the style of the video presentations; and the practical application of the program. Some participants indicated they would have liked more time to engage with the program and would have enjoyed the provision of group meetings. In conclusion, healthcare organizations can support their members’ mental health and wellbeing by offering large-scale, evidence-based interventions.

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Exploring General Practitioners’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards E-Cigarette Use/Vaping in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study in Sydney
(MDPI, 2024-09-01) Singh, Rajiv; Burke, Michael; Towns, Susan; Rahman, Muhammad Aziz; Bittoun, Renee; Shah, Smita; Liu, Anthony; Bhurawala, Habib
Background: The increasing use of e-cigarettes/vaping in children and adolescents has been recognised as a global health concern. We aim to explore the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of General Practitioners (GPs) in Sydney regarding the use of e-cigarettes in children and adolescents and identify the barriers to addressing this issue. Methods: This pilot study was a cross-sectional study conducted using an electronic questionnaire with a Likert scale and free-text responses. Results: Fifty-three GPs participated in the study (male = 24 and female = 29) with a mean age of 50 ± 5.5 years. There was strong agreement (mean 4.5) about respiratory adverse effects and addictive potential. However, there was less awareness of cardiac side effects and the occurrence of burns. There is a lack of conversation about e-cigarettes in GP practice and a deficit of confidence in GPs regarding managing e-cigarette use in children and adolescents. Conclusions: Our pilot study has shown that GPs are somewhat knowledgeable about the potential adverse effects of the use of e-cigarettes in children and adolescents, though there is a lack of knowledge of the complete spectrum of adverse effects and more importantly, there is a paucity of a structured approach to discuss the use of e-cigarettes with children and adolescents, and there is a low level of confidence in addressing these issues. There is a need for educational interventions for GPs to increase awareness of the potential adverse effects of using e-cigarettes and build confidence in providing management to children and adolescents regarding the use of e-cigarettes.
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Finding the Decalogue in Unexpected Places
(General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2024-08-01) Young, Norman H.
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Game Cleared: Alice from Wonderland to Borderland
(Sydney Literature and Cinema Network / Macquarie University, 2024-07-26) Lounsbury, Lynnette