Victorian Bar

The overall goal of this article is to present a fresh entanglement of diverging and converging cross-cultural perspectives on land, wellbeing and people. At times, what we weave is tightly bound, and at other times it frays off because that is life, relationship and research. We word-weave the complexity of our intersecting standpoints like a traditional Barkindji Club Rush emu net. One aim was to amplify and preserve Barkindji ecological and cultural knowledges and define a context-specific framework for conceptualising and practicing wellbeing. This framework builds on the work of others by including the importance of land-based participatory action, the potential for social change through traditional ecological plant knowledge, and highlights the significance of Indigenous women’s roles in this space.

The election of Labor Governments nationally and in New South Wales (NSW), after nine and twelve years in opposition respectively, have seen the rapid implementation of ‘interesting and critical developments in Australian industrial relations’ in both spheres. Leaving aside the usual hyperbole displayed by both supporters and opponents of industrial relations law reform generally, the changes that have been made by each of the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have been, on any measure, highly significant. The rapid pace at which those changes have been made is also noteworthy. At the Federal level, they arguably constitute more significant changes to the industrial relations framework than the original enactment of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (‘FWA’). The reforms in NSW are, so far, more in the nature of a restoration of the model in the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) (‘the IRA’).

Abstract Upzoning and land‐use reform are widely discussed as a way to improve housing supply and affordability. However, some literature contests this view and leads to apparent contradictions. We consider the theoretical frameworks and literature underpinning these divergent views in the hopes to establish mutual coherence, as well as questions for further research and the nascent but growing literature of empirical studies that could evaluate them.

Abstract This paper examines the experiences of behaviour support practitioners providing positive behaviour support (PBS) under the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including perceived barriers and enablers of practice, and ongoing support needs. It reports on data provided by NDIS PBS practitioners (n = 392) in a cross‐sectional mixed methods survey employed to examine the characteristics and experiences of behaviour support practitioners working across Australia. Qualitative data from open‐ended questions were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The key barriers to practice included “the current service systems,” “engaging and collaborating with stakeholders” and “limited PBS expertise across the sector.” Enablers of good practice related to “organisation systems and practice supports/tools,” “practice supervision” and “quality training and professional development opportunities.” Ongoing support needs identified included the need for “further PBS training,” “improved service systems” and “access to clinical supports and practice guidance.” Findings suggest that whilst some practitioners report positive experiences, a large majority experience significant barriers to their PBS practice. They describe potential supports to overcome these barriers, which emphasise the need for further PBS training, clinical supervision/oversight and more efficient service systems. Findings have implications for PBS practice, policy and research in Australia.

This paper explores the redevelopment potential of ageing and underutilised public housing properties in the middle suburbs of major Australian cities. State governments lack strategies for the renewal of this housing in the current fiscally constrained environment. Responding to this need, this paper presents a design research project that proposes a coordinated, precinct-based regeneration strategy that involves the redevelopment of clusters of public housing lots that are in close proximity to each other. It demonstrates how such a precinct-scaled approach can produce a greater diversity of housing types that achieve higher yields as well as better quality urban amenity and infrastructure. This is in contrast to the inefficient, piecemeal infill housing development currently prevalent in middle suburban areas. The paper describes the results of developing and testing this design research proposal. A mapping survey of the Victorian Government's public housing portfolio found that around 25% of assets form precinct scale clusters of renewable stock in well-serviced middle suburbs. Integrative redevelopment strategies were formulated for selected localised clusters, including customised arrangements of density, uses, parking and dwelling types. At the same time, targeted public realm enhancements were developed to encourage existing community assets to 'work harder'. These strategies were trialled and developed through innovative design-led community engagements, and then formalised into detailed design scenarios that enabled the testing of short and long-term viability relative to 'status quo' development models. The results of this analysis indicate how the quantity and distribution of public housing stock presents a timely opportunity for broader regeneration of ageing middle suburbs -recognised as vital to achieving sustainable metropolitan housing growth and diversity within equitable and liveable cities. Finally, this paper examines the role for community housing organisations in leveraging public investment in regeneration while preserving affordability in key areas.