Abstract Paper aims This study aims at identifying the barriers, opportunities and trends for the strategic development of the Australian manufacturing industry. Originality As research on Australian manufacturing is prolific and sparse, our study helps to clarify whether and how important research findings on Australian manufacturing replicate. Research method For that, we conducted a scoping review on literature evidence published in the last twenty years. We systemically compiled the body of knowledge and proposed research directions in accordance with five global manufacturing megatrends. Main findings We identified eight barriers/challenges and eight opportunities according to manufacturing sectors and analyzed them based on their emphasis on these global megatrends. Literature emphasis has not been equally distributed over time, highlighting the need for further research. Implications for theory and practice We suggested three main directions for future studies; they were: (i) digital transformation of manufacturing; (ii) sustainable operations in end-to-end service-integrated manufacturing; and (iii) interrelation between socioeconomic characteristics and strategic critical success factors. Further, the body of knowledge’s systemic compilation has led to new conceptual and theoretical insights in light of global megatrends.

This paper documents the high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties demonstrated by young people placed within a therapeutic fostering environment, and the provision of therapy for these difficulties. Whilst foster carers were positive about the support provided both to themselves and to the young people, there was no significant change in the levels of difficulties shown during the course of the study. Children showing higher levels of difficulty early in the placement were more likely to experience a placement disruption than those with lower levels of difficulty. The research suggests that it may be possible to identify those more likely to be at risk of placement disruption, using screening tools such as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997). Furthermore, the research indicates that support mechanisms, including therapeutic interventions, for the foster carers and young people need to be implemented early to help stabilise and maintain these high-risk placements, and that delay in doing so may jeopardise the placement.

El presente trabajo pone de manifiesto la presencia de altos niveles de dificultades emocionales y de comportamiento en los niños y jóvenes que viven en acogimiento y la necesidad de promover terapias para gestionar estas dificultades. Si bien el apoyo que recibieron los niños en acogimiento fue muy positivo, no se hallaron cambios significativos durante el curso del estudio. Los niños que presentan los niveles más altos de dificultad en los primeros momentos del acogimiento fueron más propensos a experimentar perturbaciones que aquellos con niveles más bajos de dificultad. La investigación sugiere que es posible identificar a los niños en situación de riesgo, utilizando herramientas de detección, como el Cuestionario de Fortalezas y Dificultades (Goodman, 1997). Por otra parte, la investigación pone de manifiesto que los mecanismos de apoyo, incluyendo las intervenciones terapéuticas, necesitan ser implementados lo antes posible para contribuir a estabilizar y mantener estos acogimientos; una demora en hacerlo podría poner en peligro dicho acogimiento.