The systemic neoliberal colonisation of higher education: a critical analysis of the obliteration of academic practice.

Within the neoliberal university, scholarship, education, students, academic staff, and practices are subordinated to managerial imperatives. University educators are denigrated and displaced by colonising neoliberal practices that systemically invalidate and invisibilise academic work. The present article provides an example of this by critically analysing the corrosive and Orwellian operations of neoliberal managerialism in higher education through the prism of my own experience of applying for 'recognition of leadership' in relation to teaching. I use a narrative ethnographic approach to generate new insights into the obliteration of academic practice in contemporary university contexts and to produce a counter-hegemonic discourse for understanding these processes. Following Habermas inter alia, it is argued that without radical reform, the uncoupling of the ethical and substantive dimensions of the (educational) lifeworld from systemic (neoliberal managerial) strategising will leave higher education in a state of paralysis. The analysis highlights the urgent need for resistance and provides a critical framework for academics to recognise and contest similar colonising processes occurring in their own experiences and contexts.

Weaponizing COVID-19: How the Pandemic Influenced the Behavior of Those Who Use Violence in Domestic and Family Relationships.

COVID-19 has increased threats to women's safety in Australia and globally. This research is based on a 2020 nationwide survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic and family violence (DFV) services and allied sectors throughout Australia. This study focuses on how perpetrator behaviors-coercion, control, and violence-changed and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two central themes identified from this qualitative analysis were the increase in complexity and severity of DFV during COVID-19. The analysis highlights how perpetrator behavior reflects the weaponizing of COVID-19 against women and children. The article concludes with a discussion about the theoretical, practice, and policy implications.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Australian domestic and family violence services and their clients.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports emerged that lockdowns were increasing the prevalence of domestic and family violence (DFV) in Australia and across the world. The lockdowns and restrictions were necessary to contain the pandemic. However, leaders in the domestic family violence sector expressed concerns early during 2020 that these lockdowns would lead to the escalation of domestic and family violence. Calling it a shadow pandemic, the United Nations Secretary-General urged all governments to prioritise the prevention of violence against women in their national response plan for COVID-19. To gain some insight into the Australian context, a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Centre for Justice research team conducted a nationwide survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on DFV services and their clients. Findings based on survey data from 362 participants from the DFV sector, including 1,507 qualitative responses, confirm the concerns raised early in the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides an overview of the survey results, discusses the findings in the light of national international research and highlights the resources needed to strengthen the DFV sector in the future.

Efficacy and safety data for the Ab interno XEN45 gel stent implant at 3 Years: A retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: To report efficacy and safety measures of the XEN45 gel stent at 36 months in the UK National Health Service setting. METHODS: Retrospective non-comparative audit of the records of patients who underwent XEN45 implantation between June 2015 and May 2017 was performed. Main outcome measures were intraocular pressure and number of antihypertensive medications used. Failure was defined as need for further surgery or stent removal. Success was defined as a 20% decrease in intraocular pressure without the need for additional glaucoma medications or a reduction in antihypertensive medications without an increase in baseline intraocular pressure. Needling rates and preoperative factors effect were assessed. RESULTS: The cohort included 205 patients (205 eyes) with primary open angle glaucoma (84.4%), angle closure glaucoma (7.8%), or refractory glaucoma (7.8%), 62.9% had a stand-alone procedure and 37.1%, a combined phaco-XEN45 procedure. Mean intraocular pressure was 22.6 ± 7.0 mmHg at baseline compared to 14.7 ± 3.8 mmHg at 24 months and 14.0 ± 2.9 mmHg at 36 months (p < 0.001 for both). Mean number of medications used was 2.6 ± 1.1 at baseline compared to 0.5 ± 0.9 and 0.6 ± 1.0, at 24- and 36-months, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). The failure rate at 36 months was 25%. Needling was required in 36.6%. Evaluation of background factors yielded an increased failure rate in non-Caucasians compared to Caucasians (74% vs 21%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: XEN45 implantation is effective and safe at 36 months' follow-up. Patients should be advised regarding the risk of failure and possible need for bleb revisions. Careful patient selection may be required.

Why having a voice is important to children who are involved in family support services.

BACKGROUND: Having a voice in family matters is considered a protective factor from harm, and key to promoting children's wellbeing. However, since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and specifically Article 12 pertaining to children's participation, research reveals that children's voices often remain invisible in child protection and family welfare services. OBJECTIVE: While there is renewed interest in hearing children's voices about their experiences in out-of-home care, there remains little awareness and knowledge of children's voices in family support services. This article addresses this gap by presenting children's own meanings and experiences of having a voice, derived from a research collaboration between UnitingCare and Queensland University of Technology . PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 17 children aged 6-16 years (8 sibling groups) whose families received family support services (voluntary or ordered) from UnitingCare in Queensland, Australia. METHODS: An interpretative phenomenological approach with activity-based interviews involving art, play and Reflexions cards were used to support children to share their lived experiences. FINDINGS: Children's sense-making related to having a voice revealed four connected meanings that poignantly illustrated that not only should children have a say about the supports they receive because they are part of a family, but because they are knowledgeable agents with insights that can improve their and their family's experiences. CONCLUSION: Family support services need a sustained paradigm shift towards protection with participation to incorporate the voices of children as an everyday practice to ensure their wellbeing and safety.

Efficacy and safety data for the XEN45 implant at 2 years: a retrospective analysis.

AIM: To report efficacy and safety measures for XEN45 in a National Health Service setting after 24-month follow-up. METHODS: This is a retrospective, non-comparative audit of records of patients who underwent XEN45 procedure between June 2015 and May 2017. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and number of antihypertensive medications at each timepoint. Failure was defined as requiring further surgery or removal of XEN. Success was defined as 20% reduction of IOP without additional glaucoma medications or reduction in antihypertensive medications without increase in baseline IOP. Needling rates were assessed and subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 151 eyes were included in the study. The main diagnoses were primary open angle glaucoma (84.1%), angle closure glaucoma (8.6%) and refractory glaucoma (7.3%). Stand-alone procedure was performed in 62.3% and combined phaco-XEN was done in 37.7%. The mean IOP at baseline was 22.1±6.5 mm Hg, and the mean IOP at 12 and 24 months was 15.4±5.9 mm Hg and 14.5±3.3 mm Hg, respectively (p<0.001). The mean number of medications was 2.77±1.1 at baseline, and 0.3±0.7 and 0.5±1.0 medications at 12 and 24 months, respectively (p<0.001). 25% of patients failed at the 24-month timepoint. Needling was required in 37.7% of patients at 24 months. Non-Caucasian ethnicity was found to be related to higher failure rate. No significant adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: XEN45 is a viable, effective and safe procedure after 2 years of follow-up. Patients should be advised regarding failure rate as well as possible need for bleb revisions and medication use.

The evolution of domestic violence prevention and control in Vietnam from 2003 to 2018: a case study of policy development and implementation within the health system.

BACKGROUND: Internationally, mental health and social care systems face significant challenges when implementing policy to prevent and respond to domestic violence (DV). This paper reviews the policy process pertaining to the national law on domestic violence prevention and control (DVPC) within the health system in Vietnam from 2003 to 2018, and critically examines the policy-making process and content, the involvement of key actors and the barriers to implementation within the health system. METHODS: 63 policy documents, 36 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions were conducted in Hanoi city, Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces. The policy triangle framework was used to analyse the development and implementation process of the Law on DVPC. RESULTS: The Vietnamese government developed the law on DVPC in response to the Millennium Development Goals reporting requirements. The development was a top-down process directed by state bodies, but it was the first time that international agencies and civil society groups had been involved in the health policy development process. The major themes that emerged in the analysis include: policy content, policymaking and implementation processes, the nature of actors' involvement, contexts, and mechanisms for policy implementation. Policy implementation was slow and delayed due to implementation being optional, decentralization, socio-cultural factors related especially to sensitivity, insufficient budgets, and insufficient cooperation between various actors within the health system and other related DV support systems. CONCLUSION: The initial development process for DVPC Law in Vietnam was pressured by external and internal demands, but the subsequent implementation within the health system experienced protracted delays. It is recommended that the policy be revised to emphasise a rights-based approach. Implementation would be more effective if monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are improved, the quality of training for health workers is enhanced, and cooperation between the health sector and related actors in the community is required and becomes routine in daily work.