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Small Pelagic fisheries in the Pacific – the future of nutritional security?
The project aims to improve understanding of the role of terrestrial nutrient delivery in driving productivity of a hitherto neglected fishery sector: small pelagics (sardines, scads and small mackerels) in the Western Pacific. The high productivity, resilience to fishing pressure, and superior nutritional value of these fish warrant greater attention as population and market pressures increase. We will generate data correlating nutrient dynamics and fishery production, together with ethnographic data on local fishery knowledge, to better understand the relationship between small pelagic fisheries and the catchments that deliver the nutrients they depend on.
The potential for indium mineralization in the Herberton Mineral Field, NE QLD (Old ID 26820)
The project aims to: 1. Investigate the mineralogy, paragenesis and geochemistry of indium at the Baal Gammon deposit and other similar occurrences in the region; 2. Determine the distribution of indium in the host rocks; 3. Identify the factors controlling the location and formation of the indium mineralisation and; 4. Discover mineralogical, textural and geochemical zoning patterns that could be used as vectors to ore. In so doing, we will identify the factors controlling the location and formation of the indium mineralization in association with tin-tungsten and polymetallic ore deposits. A geological model will be developed for use in exploration targeting.
APRICOT-NQ: Advancing Pressure Injury Risk Classification & Outcome Testing - North Queensland
• Pressure Injury (PI) continues to be a major problem: In Australia, PI is a significant hospit al-acquired complication requiring early clinical intervention(3). Hospital-acquired PI (HAPI) are a persistent and serious patient safety threat(1, 3) and financially burdensome. HAPI prevalence remains high (between 8-10%(4, 5), and the cost is substantial, estimated to be $9 billion per year in Australian public hospitals(6).
• Current risk assessment is inadequate: Existing tools like the Waterlow Score and Braden Scales(7, 8) are outdated, subjective, and lack robust validation(9). They were developed using small samples and without advanced statistical methods(10, 11). This raises ethical concerns about their continued use.
• Need for better solutions: A new approach is therefore urgently needed to bridge this gap in knowledge to accurately classify PI, their risk factors and effective prevention strategies.• Machine learning challenges: While AI and machine learning offer potential solutions, they are hampered by the poor quality of existing PI risk assessment data(9); exemplifying the "garbage in, garbage out" principle.
• Data quality issues: PI documentation is often free text, incomplete, and inaccurate, further complicating the problem. This unstructured data makes it difficult to train reliable machine learning models.
Community Insights survey content development (Old ID 26884)
Development of a conceptual framework and associated scales, informed by contemporary developments in environmental sociology, to guide Community Insights Surveys and contribute to the evidence base for measuring progress against social goals embedded in the DPIE outcomes framework and the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework.
Mary Integrated Project: Upper Mary dairy water quality
Collaborate with MRCCC to design and manage the Upper Mary dairy water quality monitoring sub-project, under the Mary Integrated Project. Support MRCCC with the co-design and coordination of the monitoring project, including water quality data compilation, storage and analysis, and water quality science engagement with the Upper Mary dairy industry.
Near Infrared Spectrometer in Crab Fattening Index Measurement
The project aims to conduct measurements of the crab fattening index, carried out by research students from JCU.
Improving Bowel Cancer Care in Indigenous Populations in Central Queensland: Co-design, Implementation, and Evaluation of New Models of Care
Bowel cancer is a major health issue in Australia, particularly for Indigenous Australians, who face higher rates of advanced cancer diagnoses and worse outcomes due to systemic barriers to healthcare. This project aims to co-design, implement, and evaluate culturally appropriate care models to improve bowel cancer screening, prevention, and management. Key goals include developing a model that increasing screening rates, enabling earlier diagnoses, and reducing cancer-related death.
FLARE – Federated Learning for AI-Based RRR Engagement
FLARE – Federated Learning for AI-Based RRR Engagement, will develop a smartphone-based AI system for mental health support in RRR communities. FLARE will enable adaptive, privacy-preserving mental health support (screening, diagnosis, and treatment) on mobile devices, reducing barriers to access, stigma, and service availability in the regions JCU serves.