Research Projects
Development of a culture based fishery for giant freshwater prawn in Sri Lankan reservoirs (Old ID 23638)
Clive Jones
01 Oct 2017 - 30 Sep 2019
Giant freshwater prawn (GFWP) - Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a high value aquaculture species suited to culture-based fishery stocking into reservoirs in Sri Lanka. The project will develop a science based stocking strategy of hatchery reared juvenile prawns, to improve the yields of GFWP in reservoirs and design and use of fishing gear that will prevent damage to the animals. Socio-economic research will lead to a better understanding of the value chain to enable further improvements to the fishery. The research will ensure the fishery is profitable, efficient and sustainable in the long term. The research is part of an ACIAR Small Research Activity (SRA) that will form the basis of a larger, full four year project to follow on in 2019.
Leveraging GenAI in Enhancing Professional Scepticism in Auditing
Abhijit Das
01 Nov 2024 - 28 Feb 2026
An individual auditor’s professional scepticism is considered to be the epitome of the auditing profession. Research highlights the crucial role of regulators, professional bodies, and educators in actively fostering professional scepticism among junior auditors and students, particularly given the increasing complexity of business and financial reporting, as well as the technological developments impacting business. Increasing expectations from regulators and other stakeholders for auditors to demonstrate professional scepticism further emphasise the need for educators to enhance awareness of these essential skills and cultivate the necessary attitudes. Given the global accounting community's sustained interest in professional scepticism, it is crucial to understand how AI mechanisms can enhance the skills that enable junior auditors and students to apply professional scepticism appropriately and sufficiently. GenAI can significantly enhance am abstract concept like professional scepticism among junior auditors and students by providing tools and methodologies that promote critical and logical thinking, rigorous analysis, and objective evaluation of evidence. GenAI achieves this through sophisticated machine learning algorithms that identify patterns, anomalies, and trends in large datasets. By exposing junior auditors and students to these AI-driven tools, helps students to develop a critical mindset, encouraging them to question and investigate unusual patterns in financial data, evaluate evidence appropriately, thereby enhancing their level of professional scepticism. This project will entail training a custom GPT on the OpenAI platform before using the OpenAI wrapper API and a web based front end to create a virtual avatar for junior auditors and students to interact with. This methodology aims to create an interactive and personalised training and learning experience for users, supported by AI-driven virtual assistance tailored to their needs.
Virtual Reality Approach to Improve Public Speaking
Arushi
14 Aug 2019 - 12 Jul 2025
Interdisciplinary Research in Affective Computing focusing on investigation of voice analysis techniques for development of real-time Stress Detection Model (SDM) and its implementation for VR public speaking training
Macroalgal removal for reef restoration (Old ID 26442)
Hillary Smith
14 Oct 2019 - 13 Oct 2020
This project investigates the potential for restoration of reef ecosystems around Magnetic Island. It aims to remove macroalgae at varying frequencies and monitor changes in coral recruitment to develop best practices for the large-scale implementation of the technique to restore coral reefs impacted by macroalgal phase shifts. This grant is to support the project funded by Earthwatch Australia by increasing funds for field work.
A pilot study into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for improving veteran mental health in North Queensland
Wendy Li
01 Apr 2021 - 30 Nov 2023
This clinical-based study aims to investigate whether MBSR is efficacious for North Queensland veterans. MBSR is a clinically standardized 8-week group intervention, with one 2.5-hour session each week and an all-day (6 hours) self-retreat session in week 6. It provides systematic training in mindfulness to improve mental health through self-regulating arousal to stress. Fifty veterans living
in Townsville will be recruited to participate in the MBSR intervention. To assess the effectiveness of MBSR, a repeated-measures design will be employed, with mental health outcomes being measured at four timepoints.
Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for improving mental health and metabolic profile among diabetes patients: A randomized clinical trial
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2024 - 30 Apr 2027
The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of MBSR for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients living in regional and rural north Queensland using a RCT design. Our study will answer three research questions: 1) Is in-person MBSR efficacious for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients? 2) Is online MBSR efficacious for improving mental health and metabolic profile in diabetes patients? 3) Are there mental health benefits observed after 4- and 6-week interventions?
Culturally Responsive Diabetes Prevention (CDP) Program for Children of First Nations in North Queensland –A Pilot Study (CI)
Wendy Li
01 Apr 2024 - 28 Feb 2025
The CDP program aims to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) children in Townsville. It comprises of 6 months of a weekly 2-hour physical activity alternating with a weekly 2-hr nutrition/sports education in a storytelling format to be delivered by ATSI elders. Sixty ATSI children aged 8-17 years will participate. Clinical data will be collated at onset, 3 and 6 months and a questionnaire will be administered to determine changes in clinical markers of T2D including body weight, blood pressure, knowledge and attitude of heathy diet and daily physical activity.
Predicting treatment success based on physiological and psychological markers at baseline
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2022 - 31 May 2024
this study examines whether physiological and psychological markers at baseline can predict treatment success of a stress intervention in 50 university students, 25 each from JCUA and JCUS. This project will provide the foundation for a larger study focused on predicting treatment efficacy based on individual differences at baseline, which may inform clinicians in choosing person-focused interventions to increase efficacy and reduce the burden and costs related to ineffective and delayed treatment.
Mindful Warriors Full-Day Retreat
Wendy Li
12 Oct 2024 - 12 Oct 2024
The Mindful Warriors Full-Day Retreat at the Central Plaza, James Cook University, Townsville, is an initiative during the Queensland Mental Health Week, offering veterans and their family members a day to connect with nature, reduce stress, and cultivate inner peace. Guided by a qualified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teacher, participants will practice mindfulness meditation away from daily distractions. This practice encourages being fully present and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. It is a powerful tool for emotional regulation and overall well-being for veterans
and community members. The retreat includes various meditation techniques (body scan, attention-focus meditation, lying down yoga meditation, standing yoga, meditation, sit meditation, walking meditation), and a mindful BBQ and eating session.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Group Intervention for Victim-Survivors of Violence against Women in Regional and Rural North Queensland
Wendy Li
01 Sep 2023 - 30 Aug 2024
Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health problem in Australia. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023 report, 23% Australian women experienced violence by an intimate partner and 12.6% women experienced sexual harassment in the past 12 months1. Women living in regional, rural and remote areas are more likely to experience VAW compared to metropolitan women3. VAW commonly results in post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)3 that is often a comorbid condition of depression and anxiety4. Prolonged exposure, cognitive processing and cognitive behavioural therapies are the most well-studied first- and second-wave psychotherapies, that have demonstrated effectiveness for individuals with PTSD4. However, about 30-60% individuals do not respond well to these treatments5, indicating a critical need for research into alternative treatments for PTSD among victim-survivors of VAW, such as third-wave psychotherapies. As a prominent third-wave psychotherapy, MBSR has been employed as a safe and effective treatment for victim-survivors of VAW in the past decade; but is predominately USA-based4. The proposed activity is to deliver MBSR to 30 victim-survivors of VAW in Townsville and evaluate its effectiveness for this population. This study is the first in Australia to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR for this population.