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Abstract

If climate change occurs as predicted, forecasts suggest more frequent and
prolonged droughts in Australia. Farming populations, responsible for the supply of
fresh food to the greater population, are often worst hit when these weather events
occur. The current study looks at the construction and interpretation of drought and
climate change in farmers through the midlands of Tasmania. A mixed method
approach was used in the current study and a phenomenological scientific reduction
to analyse the stories of 13 farmers. Six major themes emerged from the data
including preparedness, positivity, social connectedness, reflective practice,
perseverance and solastalgia. Preparedness relates to awareness of problem areas in
drought and the preparation for these. Positivity covers aspects of experience relating
to the living of life well and social connectedness relates to the role of and
connection to other people and to the community more generally. Reflective practice
relates to the learning from experience captured by ongoing assessments of the
situation, application of skills and knowledge, and the development of new skills and
knowledge where necessary in the face of drought. Perseverance involves sustained
effort and little reward and tolerance of unpredictability and uncertainty and
solastalgia is an experiential theme related to the noticing and response to change
through drought and over time. Although distress is evident in the stories of farmers
in the current study, emergent themes highlight a sense of strength, community,
resilience and perseverance through drought.

Item Type:	Thesis - Coursework Master
Authors/Creators:	Chase, ER
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2011 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Thesis (MPsych(Clin))--University of Tasmania, 2011. Includes bibliographical references
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