Far North Queensland

This limited analysis of survey data on attitudes of landowners sheds some light on the main factors that are predictive of streamside land management practices within the context of this Far North Queensland study area. It showed that an appreciation of environmental and functional benefits of streamside forests together with an awareness of human impact on these zones explains 10% of the variance in good streamside management practices. This reflects similar environmental studies that found conservation oriented biospheric attitudes to be closely correlated to environmentally beneficial practices. Such attitudes are mainly represented by factor 2 in this study which was a significant contributor to the prediction in the first step of the multiple regression analysis.

This study presents preliminary findings on the first investigation into psychiatric comorbidity in Far North Queensland. Researchers (Butt, 1992; Case, 1991; Drake & Mueser, 1996; Hall, 1996; McKenna & Ross, 1994; Wheatley, 1998) have found that not enough is known about psychiatric comorbid clients. Better communication of information between services and the accessibility of the history of client needs is required for adequate assessment, effective treatment and appropriate service provisions. A lack of research in psychiatric comorbidity could lead to a cycle of hospitalisation and a bleak recovery for dually-diagnosed clients.

In contrast, the Cairns-based artists are independent and strive to be careerist, advocating self-promotion and self-management of their art. The two Cairns-based artists that I interviewed are tertiary educated and could, if they wanted to, apply for roles in the art network that are currently held by non- Indigenous people, but they have chosen to remain working artists. However, should their circumstances change there are more opportunities for them to follow other paths. 18 It is worth noting here that there are artists that move between communities and urban areas because their art making success has brought them opportunities to share their new arts knowledge with others by facilitating arts workshops. For example, Arone Meeks facilitates art classes in various community art centres across Far North Queensland, spending time with artists and teaching them new techniques, and imparting his knowledge of the art network. Craig Koomeeta is another example as he lives partly in Cairns where he conducts his art business, and partly in Aurukun where he works under the banner of the art centre.

Tropical Far North Queensland is without doubt one of Australia’s top birding destinations. A variety of tropical habitats including rainforests, palm-fringed beaches, mangrove-lined mudflats, savannahs and cool mountain ranges result in a bird diversity unparalleled elsewhere in the country. Commencing in Cairns, we’ll bird the local area and head to well-known Kingfisher Park on the Atherton Tablelands, then traverse the unique Cape York Peninsula. During this tour we aim to find all Tropical Far North Queensland specialties. Expect over 200 species including all the endemics and other important birds this area is well-known for such as Magnificent Riflebird, Frill-

In conclusion, undifferentiated fevers are common in the population of Far North Queensland. Even thorough history taking, careful examination, and appropriate investigation in consultation with infectious disease specialists failed to reach a diagnosis in a significant proportion of cases. We found that more than half of AUFs do not have a specific diagnosis made despite the availability of extensive diagnostic facilities at a tertiary referral hospital. A robust definition for UUDF is proposed so that comparison of this disease entity can be monitored and compared between different geographical sites and over time. Evaluation of the application of next-generation sequencing in clinical practice may be a useful approach in this condition.

3.1 Abstract The study was conducted at three 1 ha plots in the wet-dry tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia. The area can be broadly divided into two distinct biore- gions with the Wet Tropics dominated by rainforest to the east and the Einasleigh Uplands dominated by savanna to the west. The study sites are all located near rainforest/savanna boundaries and represent some of the wetter tropical savanna types. Brooklyn Station is the hottest, driest and most seasonal of the sites lo- cated on alluvial sediments of the Mitchell River floodplain overlying metamorphic bedrock. The grassy understorey consists of C 4 native perennial grasses and the invasive annual species Themeda quadrivalvis (grader grass). Davies Creek is lo- cated on shallow gravelly soils of granitic origin with a sparse shrub layer and grassy understorey of C 4 perennial grasses. Koombooloomba is the coolest and wettest of the sites with a dense secondary canopy of Allocasuarina torulosa growing on deep soils of basaltic origin. The grassy understorey consists of a mix of perennial C 3 and C 4 grasses with considerable Lantana camara invasion.

Self-guided Mining Heritage Tour: Far North Queensland, Cairns This tour assumes you’ll be driving a conventional vehicle, though note that hire car companies don’t like you taking them off the bitumen. It assumes you will not need four wheel drive though these vehicles are very handy to have.

The case-fatality rate fell impressively during the study period, echoing findings from Dar- win where a similar improvement was attributed predominantly to improvements in the ICU management of the sepsis [38]. Indeed, this is a trend that has been seen Australia-wide in all bacterial sepsis, not just in melioidosis [39]. However, unlike Darwin, granulocyte colony- stimulating factor is not routinely used in the management of patients critically ill with melioi- dosis in Far North Queensland [38]. The fact that a third of all deaths occurred within the first 48 hours of presentation emphasises the importance of prompt ICU care. Interestingly, the overall case fatality rate was no higher in the patients coming from remote locations than those patients living within 30 minutes of Cairns hospital. This likely reflects the ability of clinicians working in remote parts of Far North Queensland to recognise critically ill patients, and the efficiency of retrieval services in transporting these patients long distances to receive tertiary level support. Other factors that may have contributed to the improvement in mortality over the period of the study include improvements in imaging which may have identified previ- ously unrecognised foci. Improved access to digital education resources over the study period also permitted the promulgation of guidelines for the recognition and management of the dis- ease, which may also have contributed to superior outcomes.

private hospital providers and Capital developments Dr Lachlan Henderson ceo, St John of god Pathology group director Medical Services and Strategy St John of god Health care a Clinical training network for far north Queensland (supporting regionally based medical training) Prof Geraldine MacCarrick clinical dean northern clinical Training network, cairns base Hospital 1120–11401130–12001120–1140 ehealth and the pCehr Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, AO Head of clinical Leadership and engagement nehta – national e-Health Transition authority Via video conference the new rCh – project planning and implementation Prof Christine Kilpatrick chief executive Melbourne royal children’s Hospital in one person, many people; adaptive leadership A/Prof James Oldham chief Psychiatrist, illawarra & Shoalhaven Local Health district 1140–12001140–1200 tele-health & the tertiary sector – Why? Prof Gavin Frost Medical dean, notre dame University fremantle

Figure 1. Wetlands area before rehabilitation Figure 2.Wetlands area after rehabilitation In summary Although water quality in Far North Queensland is on the scientific, political and local agenda in some areas, our research indicates the wider community does not seem to be aware of problems associated with the quality of water. When we first contacted schools and teachers to participate in our research we received mixed reactions with most people commenting they did not know anything about water quality and felt it was not relevant to them. It very quickly became evident to us that if we were to carry on with the research we needed to find an approach that schools and teachers could identify with. Systems theory provided a way forward. Systems theory is based on investigating and understanding links between elements rather than the elements themselves. Applying a systems framework we can assume that learning activities that impact positively on school environments will eventually impact on water quality. We have reported our (very) preliminary research findings here on the one school identified in the study that has made an effort to improve local water quality through a swamp improvement project. This led on to a number of sustainability initiatives in the school

A major finding of this study was that only 5.4% of North and Far North Queensland primary schools scored the possible 12/12 for their sun-protection policies, while the median total policy score was 2 from a possible 12. However, even though many were not very comprehensive, almost all of these schools had some form of written sun-protection policy. A comprehensive written sun-protection policy could be the first step toward promoting and improving sun-protective behaviors at schools, especially if school staff, parents and care-givers actively encourage such behavior and become sun- safety role models. However, data supporting the link between sun-protection policies and obser- vations of sun-protective behavior at primary schools are lacking. Research involving independ- ent assessment of policies and direct unannounced observations of behavior to better represent usual sun-protective practices (rather than self-reported

The basis for this study was the global importance of the area of study which comprises the lowland catchment of the Great Barrier Reef GBR in far north Queensland, Australia, and the fa[r]

Received: 26 May 2014 – Published in Biogeosciences Discuss.: 13 June 2014 Revised: 14 November 2014 – Accepted: 14 November 2014 – Published: 19 December 2014 Abstract. Forest and savanna are the two dominant vegeta- tion types of the tropical regions with very few tree species common to both. At a broad scale, it has long been recog- nised that the distributions of these two biomes are prin- cipally governed by precipitation and its seasonality, but with soil physical and chemical properties also potentially important. For tree species drawn from a range of forest and savanna sites in tropical Far North Queensland, Aus- tralia, we compared leaf traits of photosynthetic capacity, structure and nutrient concentrations. Area-based photosyn- thetic capacity was higher for the savanna species with a steeper slope to the photosynthesis ↔ nitrogen (N) relation- ship compared with the forest group. Higher leaf mass per unit leaf area for the savanna trees derived from denser rather than thicker leaves and did not appear to restrict rates of light-saturated photosynthesis when expressed on either an area or mass basis. Median ratios of foliar N to phospho- rus (P) were relatively high (> 20) at all sites, but we found no evidence for a dominant P limitation of photosynthesis

282), raises concerns. They warned that preferring mass media hazard information messages had the potential to influence an individual’s perception of risk within his or her society but may not necessarily affect personal perception of risk, nor might it translate into behavioural changes required to protect the individual. The concern here is that if the preferred method of receipt of information for far north Queensland communities is the mass media, emergency managers might consider designing campaigns that emphasis personal risk while using the media to disseminate information prior to cyclone season. At the very least, consideration could be given to designing campaigns that use the media to redirect individuals to informative websites, libraries or other locations distributing preparatory information.

Received: 26 May 2014 – Published in Biogeosciences Discuss.: 13 June 2014 Revised: 14 November 2014 – Accepted: 14 November 2014 – Published: 19 December 2014 Abstract. Forest and savanna are the two dominant vegeta- tion types of the tropical regions with very few tree species common to both. At a broad scale, it has long been recog- nised that the distributions of these two biomes are prin- cipally governed by precipitation and its seasonality, but with soil physical and chemical properties also potentially important. For tree species drawn from a range of forest and savanna sites in tropical Far North Queensland, Aus- tralia, we compared leaf traits of photosynthetic capacity, structure and nutrient concentrations. Area-based photosyn- thetic capacity was higher for the savanna species with a steeper slope to the photosynthesis ↔ nitrogen (N) relation- ship compared with the forest group. Higher leaf mass per unit leaf area for the savanna trees derived from denser rather than thicker leaves and did not appear to restrict rates of light-saturated photosynthesis when expressed on either an area or mass basis. Median ratios of foliar N to phospho- rus (P) were relatively high (> 20) at all sites, but we found no evidence for a dominant P limitation of photosynthesis

2 Abstract Background: Children in remote Indigenous communities in Australia have levels of dental caries much greater than the national average. One such, the Northern Peninsula Area of Far North Queensland (NPA), had an oral health survey conducted in 2004, shortly before the introduction of fluoridated, reticular water. Children were again surveyed in 2012, following 5 years exposure.

The increasing incidence of ESKD attributable to FSGS and its associated burden on patients and their families that has prompted renewed interest in this disease. The purpose of the study was to describe the clinical features, treatment and outcomes of primary and secondary FSGS in Far North Queensland Australian adults and to identify any predictors of disease progression and all-cause mortality.

Abstract Aedes aegypti is the vector of dengue fever in far north Queensland where dengue outbreaks occur each year. The most recent outbreak in 2008/2009 saw all four serotypes of the virus circulating in the region with 1025 reported cases. Surveillance of the vector population is an important component of vector control and therefore dengue management. There are several tools that are currently used to measure the Ae. aegypti population, and like any sampling method, these tools need to be better understood and refined in order to achieve measurable outcomes in the field. The value of these tools lies in their sampling efficacy, and ultimately in how well we use them and understand the data that they produce—our ability to accurately interpret data from a very limited subsample of the field population.

Abstract Aedes aegypti is the vector of dengue fever in far north Queensland where dengue outbreaks occur each year. The most recent outbreak in 2008/2009 saw all four serotypes of the virus circulating in the region with 1025 reported cases. Surveillance of the vector population is an important component of vector control and therefore dengue management. There are several tools that are currently used to measure the Ae. aegypti population, and like any sampling method, these tools need to be better understood and refined in order to achieve measurable outcomes in the field. The value of these tools lies in their sampling efficacy, and ultimately in how well we use them and understand the data that they produce—our ability to accurately interpret data from a very limited subsample of the field population.

Abstract Background: Every year in tropical areas of Australia, in addition to the people who live there, many others visit to experience nature at its best. In tropical Far North Queensland, tourists often come to holiday during the summer period when their own region of residence is cold and uninviting. As a consequence, they are keen to swim in the ocean and partake of other water activities. In these warm tropical waters, however, lurk a number of creatures which can cause unpleasant physical effects. One of these marine animals is a very small creature, the Irukandji jellyfish, which is usually invisible to the swimmer but causes a very painful systemic reaction in those who are stung. The body’s response to the sting is called ‘Irukandji syndrome’. However, in spite of the pervasiveness of the Irukandji and other similar animals in tropical waters during the summer months, very little is written about the nursing management of patients with Irukandji syndrome although there is some literature on the medical management. This study aimed to redress this gap in the nursing evidence-base and provide a framework for expert emergency nurses to better manage the patient with Irukandji syndrome.