To celebrate Open Access Week 2026, join us for an online panel discussion exploring The Cost of Knowledge. Brett Mitchell, Kirsten Parker and Lynnette Lounsbury will share their perspectives on the theme, hosted by Professor Tracie Mafile'o. https://booknow.avondale.edu.au/event/5908946
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Peer Reviewed , Access status: Open Access , Seeking God’s will: The nature of Christian spiritual discernment and the role it plays in Christian school board decision making(Avondale Research, 2026-09-01)Campey, Paul Ian ArthurChristian schools have grown rapidly over the past 50 years, in terms of the number of schools and their student population, yet there has been very limited research on Christian school boards and no research could be found on the integration of faith or the use of Christian spiritual discernment in the decision making of those boards. The importance of integrating Christian faith in all aspects of the operation of a Christian school was a cornerstone in the foundation of the modern Christian schooling movement in Australia and New Zealand from the 1960s and 1970s onwards. In an environment of rapid change and ever-increasing compliance requirements for school boards, it is easy for boards to become focused on compliance and regulatory issues as they seek to meet the requirements of regulators. The pressure from this professionalisation can lead to matters of faith, and Christian spiritual discernment practices specifically, being pushed to the edges of the agenda of a board meeting rather than being central to their decision making. This mixed methods study found that the implementation of Christian spiritual discernment by boards was positively correlated with the higher the enrolment of a school, the numeric size of the school’s board and also where the board stops and prays in the midst of decision making. The study demonstrated that the activities in an actual board meeting are critical; specifically as they relate to the use of prayer and Scripture, enabling the implementation of Christian spiritual discernment. The findings indicated that an important element for decision making was the board member’s character, skills and experience, as well as the individual preparation they undertook prior to a board meeting. The research also showed that a positive impact arose for boards utilising Christian spiritual discernment in decision making, and in its absence, board decisions deteriorate in quality.Peer Reviewed , Access status: Open Access , Autonomy and depression: A mixed methods study exploring the experience of decision-making for residents in residential aged care(2026-06-01)Eastwood, Patricia E.Depression in older adults represents a major and growing global health concern. Statistical evidence suggests the highest risk group for depression in the ageing populace is those living in residential aged care facilities. Several risk factors are associated with depression in this group, particularly loss of autonomy and environmental mastery, which result in reduced self-esteem and self-concept. Despite the prevalence of depression in residential aged care, there is a paucity of identified interventions that result in significantly reducing the symptoms of depression in this group. The purpose of this mixed methods study design was to evaluate the effectiveness of offering residents bedtimes and participation in an evening activity program on reducing depressive symptoms among older adults living in a residential aged care facility. The study also examined whether depression training improved residential aged care staff’s knowledge of late-life depression. In addition, interviews with residents and staff were conducted to explore their experiences of the interventions and to identify factors influencing residents’ autonomy. This research is particularly timely given the introduction of the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (2025) introduced in November 2025, which require aged care facilities to actively promote resident choice and decision-making. The quasi-experimental resident intervention consisted of the assessment of resident participants’ depression scores using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) tool at three points during the study; this included at baseline, after the three-month pre-intervention phase, and after the three-month intervention phase. During the pre-intervention phase, a cross-sectional questionnaire of staff knowledge of late-life depression pre and post a short education session was conducted. The 10-Item Knowledge of Late-Life Depression-Revised questionnaire was used for this study. The study concluded with thematic analysis to investigate the resident and staff experiences of the resident interventions, and residents' choices in their daily lives more broadly. The collective voices of the aged care residents and staff, and the thesis researcher's observations, were used for the qualitative study. Thematic analysis was conducted using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. The interpretation of the findings was guided by the theoretical frameworks of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Person-Centred Care, and Personhood. The results of the resident intervention study indicated that there were no significant changes in depression scores following the interventions. The results of the staff's responses in the knowledge of late-life depression questionnaires denoted an improvement in staff knowledge following a short education session. Results of the resident interviews revealed four major themes: (1) facility routines impact choice; (2) factors that promote well-being; (3) barriers to engagement; and (4) confinement and isolation. Results of the staff interviews revealed three major themes: (1) confidence in recognising depressive symptoms; (2) experience of the evening program for residents and staff; and (3) catering to residents’ choice. This study adds to the body of research exploring the complexities of supporting autonomy among residents in residential aged care facilities to enhance well-being and alleviate depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the need for organisational reforms, advocating a shift from institutionalised models of care toward more flexible frameworks that facilitate and prioritise individual choice and decision-making. Aged care providers need to be dedicated to a fundamental system structure that enables staff to apply person-centred care principles throughout their care practices.Peer Reviewed , Access status: Metadata only , Antinomianism(Biblical Research Institute, 2026-05-01)MacPherson, AnthonyThe term antinomian comes from two Greek words, anti, "against" (or "in place of") and nomos, "law." It literally means "against the law." It is used in theology to refer to any doctrinal position which claims that Christians are not obligated to meet the demands of the moral law.Peer Reviewed , Access status: Metadata only , Impactful Christian education research: diversity, wellbeing and the praxis of Shalom(National Institute for Christian Education, 2026-05-01)Peer Reviewed , Access status: Open Access , Nurse-coordinated, transitional care intervention for hospitalised older adults in a frailty registry: The TRANSFER-II feasibility and acceptability study(Elsevier, 2026-04-01)