Faculty of Art and Social Science

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responses from the urban planning and design professions in Brisbane to the impacts of climate change and the implications of the 2011 flood. In the past decade, the ramifications of climate change have already left a scar on some of the urban regions round the world. The Australian continent has been regarded as one of the most affected regions in terms of climate change implications. The 2011 Queensland floods of historic proportion, which came after a decade of extreme drought, raised many questions about the future development of cities. For the past decades, Queensland's economy was largely based on property-led development. The flood plain land situated along Brisbane River has been developed and overburdened with building infrastructure contributing to the magnification of the flood events. Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology is based on identification of the problem and the major objective. To address the objective, this study concentrated mainly on the use of qualitative research methods. The major qualitative research methods include literature review, qualitative analysis and observations. Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland, has been selected as the case study area. Findings: The paper revealed strong regional and city-wide planning directives addressing climate change which has not yet been fully been translated at the local-neighbourhood level. Originality/value: This paper provides a deep insight analysis and evaluation of the design and planning measures currently used to combat the impacts of climate change.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responses from the urban planning and design professions in Brisbane to the impacts of climate change and the implications of the 2011 flood. In the past decade, the ramifications of climate change have already left a scar on some of the urban regions round the world. The Australian continent has been regarded as one of the most affected regions in terms of climate change implications. The 2011 Queensland floods of historic proportion, which came after a decade of extreme drought, raised many questions about the future development of cities. For the past decades, Queensland's economy was largely based on property-led development. The flood plain land situated along Brisbane River has been developed and overburdened with building infrastructure contributing to the magnification of the flood events. Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology is based on identification of the problem and the major objective. To address the objective, this study concentrated mainly on the use of qualitative research methods. The major qualitative research methods include literature review, qualitative analysis and observations. Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland, has been selected as the case study area. Findings: The paper revealed strong regional and city-wide planning directives addressing climate change which has not yet been fully been translated at the local-neighbourhood level. Originality/value: This paper provides a deep insight analysis and evaluation of the design and planning measures currently used to combat the impacts of climate change.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responses from the urban planning and design professions in Brisbane to the impacts of climate change and the implications of the 2011 flood. In the past decade, the ramifications of climate change have already left a scar on some of the urban regions round the world. The Australian continent has been regarded as one of the most affected regions in terms of climate change implications. The 2011 Queensland floods of historic proportion, which came after a decade of extreme drought, raised many questions about the future development of cities. For the past decades, Queensland's economy was largely based on property-led development. The flood plain land situated along Brisbane River has been developed and overburdened with building infrastructure contributing to the magnification of the flood events. Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology is based on identification of the problem and the major objective. To address the objective, this study concentrated mainly on the use of qualitative research methods. The major qualitative research methods include literature review, qualitative analysis and observations. Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland, has been selected as the case study area. Findings: The paper revealed strong regional and city-wide planning directives addressing climate change which has not yet been fully been translated at the local-neighbourhood level. Originality/value: This paper provides a deep insight analysis and evaluation of the design and planning measures currently used to combat the impacts of climate change.

In recent years the Asia-Pacific Region has witnessed a spate of revitalisation projects as part of a general trend in addressing blight and decay of inner city urban areas. Urban design has been globally recognised as one of the key instruments of physical transformation employed to enhance urban quality and achieve sustainable urban environments. In this article we explore the role of urban design in the revitalisation process. In order to capture a wider urban context, revitalization at a city wide level in Singapore, district level in Brisbane, Queensland Australia and neighbourhood level on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia is examined . The three case studies differ from each other in terms of city size, global context, local economy, urban policy and in the case of Singapore social profile and culture. The study revealed that urban design, not only has role in the revitalization process, but underpins the economic and social regeneration of blighted urban areas in all thr...

This paper discusses the cultural characteristics of aged persons that facilitate planning of their future accommodation. It involves the identification of cultural values of the individual elderly, the rural/urban location, and the identification of loadings on those values. The key operative variables of the accommodation system are preserving face, a desire for harmony, with compliance a third factor. These values have been shown to influence the decisions on housing accommodation, particularly in determining change in accommodation and barrier free spatial forms in the housing environment, and shaping free flowing interaction with the community and choice in housing options. 'Adab' or mannerism Refers to behavioural norms 'Harmony' Avoid criticizing others to foster harmony; %!iii! 84 iiii!~?~ 84184 ~ i ~!!~ ~iiiii!iiiiiiiiiii;iiiiii~i~ freedom. 'Community spirit' Decision making is made after in-depth consultations, discussions and overall High spiritual; or entation, prominence of places for receiving religious instructions and social interaction.

In recent years the Asia-Pacific Region has witnessed a spate of revitalisation projects as part of a general trend in addressing blight and decay of inner city urban areas. Urban design has been globally recognised as one of the key instruments of physical transformation employed to enhance urban quality and achieve sustainable urban environments. In this article we explore the role of urban design in the revitalisation process. In order to capture a wider urban context, revitalization at a city wide level in Singapore, district level in Brisbane, Queensland Australia and neighbourhood level on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia is examined. The three case studies differ from each other in terms of city size, global context, local economy, urban policy and in the case of Singapore social profile and culture. The study revealed that urban design, not only has role in the revitalization process, but underpins the economic and social regeneration of blighted urban areas in all three cities.

Purpose: Level of satisfaction is signi cantly in uenced by health-related factors across human life course. Multidimensions of health and other factors such as religion and culture in uence life satisfaction that differ across different societies. Prior research shows that there are variations in the relationship between health factors and life-satisfaction between Western and Asian countries. Nevertheless, it is still unknown to what extend health factors are related to life satisfaction in Brunei Darussalam-a country with small population but increasing in proportion of elderly population. This study aimed to explore health determinants of life satisfaction among elderly population in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: A cross-sectional study on a sample of 645 adults aged above 50 years, recruited nationally. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were applied. Results: A robust model (R 2 =49.3%, alpha>0.7) suggested that life satisfaction in this population could largely be explained by musculoskeletal pain, di culty to perform daily activities, psychological and emotional issues, and family support. Gender has signi cant moderating effects on this relationship. Conclusion: Impacts of life satisfaction from health, social, cultural, and related perspectives were discussed. These ndings in this research may contribute to ongoing multi-sectorial efforts to design a comprehensive model of elderly care to achieve high quality of life.

This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.

Sustainability is an overarching sense of responsibility towards the future. On a citywide level, urban sustainability incorporates a wide body of changes especially as they relate to the built environment, all of which intended at creating a livable place. This paper discusses existing public spaces in view of their achievement against a set of criteria for the built environment. The paper introduces performance design criteria for the tropical built environment. The key findings indicate that long-term strategies, guidance and directions for the city and region can achieve development which corresponds to local climate, synergies and provide a higher proportion of public spaces that offer something for everyone.

Objective: To investigate predictors of life satisfaction and healthy aging with focus on gender differences among older people in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: A cross-sectional study on older people recruited by proportionate sampling. Multiple linear regression stratified by gender was applied. Results: 45.6% of life satisfaction of older women were strongly associated with selfperceived health, social relationship, and education level. For older men, 26.3% of the variance of life satisfaction was predicted by physical functioning or disability, and social relationship. For older women, 38.9% of the variance of health status can be explained with satisfaction with life, and difficulty to do daily tasks. For older men, 33.1% of the variance of health status can be accounted by income, number of children, presence of chronic illness, and diabetes. Conclusion: This paper discusses the unique gender differences of older people from a global perspective. Policymakers and stakeholders need to account for local and contextual differences before adopting international guideline. Particularly, on the maintenance or further promotion social interactions, active engaging elderly in health maintenance, and physical and mental functioning of the older population.

At present with Aung San Suu Kyi embarking her way into the Parliament, what is going to be the verdict for Myanmar's future? This paper seeks to shed some light into the forecast of how Myanmar may be shaped in the near future consisting of major events such as being host for the upcoming Sea Games in 2013 and the uptake of role as Chairman for ASEAN in 2014. Will Myanmar be ready by then? Many countries are skeptical of its developments and the sudden changes of governance from the military regime to a more unperturbed and liberal rule (the release of the political prisoners and the involvement of Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar's political scene). This prospect will be using different perspectives that have been casted from recent updates as well as the past proceedings which have characterized Myanmar at its present state. In addition to this cross-examination, this paper will venture into the prospects of Myanmar from the main insights of the treatment of the Rohingya, the reconciliation of the Burmese with the other minority groups in the nation and Myanmar's economic growth with relation to the world's interest and booming markets.

Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar in May 2008 caused catastrophic destruction and the humanitarian situation in the country. Taking into account the specific nature of the military-based Myanmar government, this paper aims to answer four questions: (1) how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) managed to convince the Myanmar government to provide the nation with assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis while initially it was quite reluctant to admit foreign aid into the country; (2) through what process ASEAN formed a tripartite core group with the UN and humanitarian groups; (3) how successful the core group’s three-year action plan was; and (4) how human insecurities arising from the humanitarian situation were addressed and handled by ASEAN and other relevant parties. Some critics have considered ASEAN’s response to the Cyclone Nargis disaster as fairly successful, and there have been debates on how the UN-endorsed concept of “responsibility to protect” (R2P) can be developed in the regional context, building on the humanitarian measures taken during the disaster, as the existing R2P does not include ‘natural disaster’  among its target areas. From such investigation, the paper seeks to make some contribution to the development of the new concept of human insecurity.

This paper is a critique against "purist" pedagogies found in the literature of student-centred learning. The article reproves extremism in education and questions the absolutism and teleological truths expounded in exclusive problem-based learning. The paper articulates the framework of a unifying pedagogical practice through Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's conceptual use of beside and leverages upon translation theory to counter argue against a pedagogy of extremism. The teaching and learning narratives of the authors are invoked in critiquing student-centred learning approaches that attempt to minimize the authority of the teacher/educators and advocate unguided learning.

This paper is a critique against "purist" pedagogies found in the literature of student-centred learning. The article reproves extremism in education and questions the absolutism and teleological truths expounded in exclusive problem-based learning. The paper articulates the framework of a unifying pedagogical practice through Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's conceptual use of beside and leverages upon translation theory to counter argue against a pedagogy of extremism. The teaching and learning narratives of the authors are invoked in critiquing student-centred learning approaches that attempt to minimize the authority of the teacher/educators and advocate unguided learning.

The paper explores the profile of the Sex Workers (SW) in Bangladesh; and the ordeals faced by them. 221 randomly selected respondents from three categories of sex workers (Hotel, brothel and floating) were interviewed using both close and open-ended questionnaire. Data show that child prostitution is quite prevalent. A higher percentage of sex workers were married compared with the singles. HSWs (Homosexual Sex Workers), on an average, entertain seven clients and BSWs (Bisexual Sex Workers) 15 clients per day. The highest percentage of child prostitutes was prevalent among the FSWs (Female Sex Workers). Hotel sex working is an emerging direction of its category. The paper concludes that dynamics of sex working in Bangladesh is extended to hotel sex working from two of its historically known categories.

The paper attempts to explore the adaptation-related challenges that Bangladeshi migrant workers in Hong Kong face and the strategies they adopt to triumph over them. Data were collected through administering both closed and open-ended questionnaires to 56 migrant workers in Hong Kong during [2005][2006]. The study revealed that most of the respondents stayed in Hong Kong legally but worked illegally because of the fact that although they could extend their stay permits, they were not grated work permits. This exclusive circumstance places them in a number of difficult situations. In attempting to adapt to Hong Kong society, they embrace a number of interesting and unique strategies to surmount challenges.