Avondale Research

A greater vision of world needs since 1897.

 

Recent Submissions

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Innovating for the Greater Good: Examining Innovation Champions and what Motivates them
(2024-03-01) Barnes, Lisa; Kriz, Anton; Bankins, Sarah; Molloy, Courtney

Governments have increasingly tasked the not-for-profit sector with supporting the provision of public goods and services. Alongside this role, not-for-profits have faced increasingly challenging external contexts, including heightened competition and tighter funding regimes. This makes effective innovation critical for the successful delivery of social goods within this setting particularly, and in other public service-oriented organisations more broadly. However, we know little about how innovation occurs in such contexts and even less about the motivations of those who choose to expend the effort to drive innovation there. This study examines the motivations of a key innovation agent, the innovation champion, in the challenging and dynamic not-for-profit context. Via a multi-case study, qualitative approach with 46 interviews, we utilise self-determination theory to surface what motivates innovation champions to develop and drive new idea generation and implementation. The motivations for championing innovations in not-for-profits are varied, spanning intrinsic, prosocial, and other extrinsic drivers. With wider implications for public service-oriented organisations, our work also suggests that champions in such contexts are variably motivated throughout an innovation project and appear to be simultaneously intrinsically and prosocially motivated. We also find that boredom, or its avoidance, can motivate champions toward innovative activities.

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National Health and Medical Research Council Statement on Electronic Cigarettes: 2022 Update
(Wiley, 2024-02-05) Freeman, Becky; Peters, Matthew J.; Bittoun, Renee; Brightwell, Richard; English, Dallas R.; Thomas, David P.; Otlowski, Margaret FA; Zwar, Nicholas A.; Chamberlain, Catherine
Introduction: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in Australia has rapidly increased since the 2017 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) statement on e-cigarettes. The type of products available and the demographic characteristics of people using these products have changed. New evidence has been published and there is growing concern among public health professionals about the increased use, particularly among young people who do not currently smoke combustible cigarettes. The combination of these issues led NHMRC to review the current evidence and provide an updated statement on e-cigarettes. In this article, we describe the comprehensive process used to review the evidence and develop the 2022 NHMRC CEO statement on electronic cigarettes. Main recommendations: • E-cigarettes can be harmful; all e-cigarette users are exposed to chemicals and toxins that have the potential to cause adverse health effects. • There are no health benefits of using e-cigarettes if you do not currently smoke tobacco cigarettes. • Adolescents are more likely to try e-cigarettes if they are exposed to e-cigarettes on social media. • Short-term e-cigarette use may help some smokers to quit who have been previously unsuccessful with other smoking cessation aids. There are other proven safe and effective options available to help smokers to quit. Changes in management as a result of this statement: The evidence base for the harms of e-cigarette use has strengthened since the previous NHMRC statement. Significant gaps in the evidence base remain, especially about the longer-term health harms of using e-cigarettes and the toxicity of many chemicals in e-cigarettes inhaled as an aerosol.
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Healthcare-associated Infections in Australia : Principles and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control.
(Elsevier, 2024) Mitchell, Brett G.; Shaban, Ramon Z.; Russo, Philip L.; MacBeth, Deborough
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Making Tomorrow’s Church Today: The Lived Experience of Youth Ministry
(Avondale Academic Press, 2023-12-21) Williams, Peter; Skrzypaszek, John; Williams, Anthony
Captured in the pages of this book are experiences of the Seventh-day Adventist youth ministry leaders from different parts of the world and diversity of cultures. Listening to their voices through the lenses of the “Lived experience” approach to the study, one hears their concerns, aspirations, and desire to serve with passion and commitment in the complexity of contemporary life. These youth ministers share a visionary aim – to shape the spiritual pathway for future leaders and in doing so, help make tomorrow’s church today.
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Nudging as a Support for Behavioral Change in Lifestyle Medicine
(2023-12-01) Matthews, Simon

The practice of lifestyle medicine and its emphasis on behavioral change continues to grow around the world. Yet much of the burden of disease weighing on healthcare systems from chronic, modifiable conditions remains stubbornly present. From a behavior change perspective, efforts to date have primarily focused on public health messaging and public health campaigns (global approaches) to interventions such as health coaching (individual approaches). There exists an opportunity to consider contextual elements which support behavioral change. The practice of “nudging” behavior in primary care and allied health settings is proposed as a means of responding to these contextual opportunities. Nudging does not assure change; however, it can invite curiosity about change and small behavioral efforts in the direction of a desired change. Furthermore, its nature conserves autonomy and patient choice while inviting a health-creating behavior. As such, when considered and applied in the context of public health and individual treatment options, it creates a consistent milieu in which behavior change is facilitated.