UWAUWA newsnews 1 TheUniversityofWesternAustralia 26 March 2001 Celebrating90yearsofachievement1911-2001 Volume 20 Number 2 Visionoffersclueto mysteryofmigraines by Lindy Brophy cortical circulation occur, which could “ … glaucoma sufferers effect cortical processing of vision. If are more likely to have a similar changes occur in the eyes, it he visual symptoms may be possible for some residual T experienced by many history of migraine …” visual damage, in the early parts of migraine sufferers have pointed to visual processing.” a possible link between these Dr McKendrick is conducting this headaches and the eye disease, “Those who have migraine with aura phase of her research in Psychology, a glaucoma. also display neurological symptoms discipline in which she has not worked The link is tenuous but Dr Allison prior to the headache. We tested previously. McKendrick, an NHMRC fellow with a people seven or more days after having background in optometry and a migraine and found about ophthalmology, has joined the two thirds of them had Psychology Department for four years substantial residual vision to work on longitudinal studies. loss, both on visual field She completed her PhD at testing and tests of Melbourne University on the visual the ability to detect problems in people who suffer motion. migraine, then took a post-doctoral “I’ve only position in ophthalmology in Portland, tested one person Oregon. for a greater length “We tested migraine sufferers in of time and I found their 30s and found they had that his residual experienced subtle changes in their vision loss was visual fields. The visual field deficits we gradually resolved found were similar to those seen in the over three to early stages of glaucoma, that is, subtle four months. losses of mid-peripheral vision” Dr “We don’t McKendrick said. know if a degree “The potential link between migraine of vision loss and glaucoma is very interesting. could be perma- Population studies show that glaucoma nent. That’s some- sufferers are more likely to have a thing we’ll be history of migraine but the link hasn’t looking at in been specifically tested yet,” she said. longitudinal studies Around one in seven people suffer while I’m here,” she migraine and many of them experience said. a temporary visual impairment, during “During a or before the headache, known as an migraine, aura. changes in INSIDE THIS ISSUE: THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 26 MARCH 2001 Page 5 Hats off to cancer research Pages 6-7 Garden of dreams Page 12 A State treasure 2 UWA news UWA’s VCarious Gender thoughts … Agenda he Tropical Grove is not only a great feature of note that an increasing proportion are above Level 6: Tour beautiful campus, but it is also a very useful some 42.1% in 1997, and now nearly 45%. and special venue for UWA events. Within the Group of Eight, the older established research Over the summer the Grove has been an excellent intensive universities, we also compare well in our outdoor space for a variety of functions - ranging from a proportion of female staff and their levels of employ. reception for the Australian Council to a PIAF community • The Leadership Development for Women Program, dinner. Most recently (8 March) the Grove was our venue catering to both academic and general staff, has been a for celebrating International Women’s Day, with a morning great success and I have been delighted to see this tea occasion attended by an excellent cross-section of pioneering initiative ‘mainstreamed’ with our budget female staff, as well as a considerable number of male staff. processes. The 1999-2000 Report of the LDW, plus the (Plus, a great chorus of native birds in happily noisy form!) testimonies of women participants at last year’s This simple occasion allowed us to reflect on the concluding dinner evening, was extremely heartening. progress of our ‘gender agenda’ at UWA. • The UWA Equity Office has been innovative in other key Dr Joan Eveline (Department of Organisational and areas: Labour Studies) and a project researcher on gender issues is - the UWA Work and Family Guide has been updated UWA’s recent history, provided a most thoughtful major after an informal audit of work and family practices; speech in which she took up the theme of the difficulties for - the Sexual Harassment Policy has been updated and female staff even in a supportive work environment which there is a new Disability Policy; she identified at UWA. Joan left us with some very clear - evaluations of the Reviews of “Women and General challenges for the future - as well as some encouragement Staff’ and ‘Women and Academic Staff’ are imminent; for the commitment we are making. - a Workplace Diversity Strategy is to be launched before In my own short comments in welcoming the group to Easter and a special project - aimed at identifying and the Grove, I attempted to indicate the extent to which addressing issues for gay, lesbian and transgender staff systemic and positive change is happening - even though (and students) - is also to be initiated shortly. there is much progress to be made before we can truly These are difficult days for universities and this can most claim that equal opportunity of employment outcomes exist palpably seen in relation to the work of our staff. As part of for women staff members. that commitment to our staff, to equal opportunity, and to The data are always more boring than anecdotal stories the aspiration of UWA to be an excellent employer, I am but it is the data which sets out the realities of the situation. always ready to learn about the work experience on our • The overall percentage of female staff is now 59.6% campus. The 2001 workplace experience project results will (General) and 31.5%(Academic) and rising since 1997. be carefully scrutinised towards enhanced policies and • Academic women staff are clustered at the lower levels conditions. (59% as Lecturer): but the key trend is upwards: over Women’s Day in the Grove thus provided an opportunity 20% now as Senior Lecturer, with some 34.3% tenured to recognise the contributions of our women staff, and to (up from 20.5% in 1998). The success rate for academic get the measure of what we are achieving in an equal women applying for promotion is now 70.3% (compared opportunity sense and what are the main challenges to 60.7% for men). remaining. Particularly heartening is the growing presence of women In a phrase of the contemporary world — I am very at the top of Level E: rising from 12.4% in 1997 to 14.1% concerned that in this regard we indeed do walk-the-talk, today, and about to grow again with a pending professorial and not just talk-the talk. offer plus two professorial fellows. Our new Executive Dean of Arts adds a further female member to the Deans and our new female Professor of Chemistry expands the discipline range of our women professors. • There is progress for our women general staff. Yes, we Professor Deryck Schreuder should have more as a percentage in permanent employ Vice-Chancellor and President and more at the most senior levels. But I was pleased to [email protected] THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA • 26 MARCH 2001 UWA news 3 Travelgrants boostyoung Kristie careers Tuppin…her first trip overseas atrick Jory is going to an P Asian university to help set up a program of Asian studies. It sounds like carrying coals to Newcastle but Dr Jory says that Asian studies is a new concept within Asian nations. “Apart from Japan, the idea of studying one’s own culture is a recent initiative in most Asian universities. But it’s a fast growing phenomenon and will eventually have a dominant effect on studies that, until now, have been mainly from the outside, looking in,” said Dr Jory, a lecturer in Asian Studies. Patrick Jory…going ‘home’ to Thailand Kati Tonkin…interested in ethnic identity He is one of three winners of the annual Fay Gale Fellowships, designed Kati Tonkin was amazed to hear A few months later, laboratory to assist both academic and general she had been successful in winning a Fay technician Kristie Tuppin will embark staff members, at an early stage in their Gale Fellowship. on her first overseas trip, to Britain, to careers, to spend at least three months “I didn’t seem to fit the criteria: I soak up teaching methods in surgical working in a university overseas. don’t have children who need care procedures. Preference is given to staff who have while I work and I’ve already spent Mrs Tuppin works in the Hill not previously travelled overseas and/ three years in Germany,” said the asso- International Medical and Surgical or who have a financial need for child ciate lecturer in European Languages Workshop at The Centre for Medical or other carer commitments. and Studies. and Surgical Skills (ctec). Dr Jory is going with his wife, Oui “But when I became an associate “We have the best equipment and and two daughters (the younger born lecturer, late last year, I realised I resources here – better than at the Hill just eight weeks ago) to Oui’s home wouldn’t be able to find time to finish lab in London - but I felt I needed to town of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Over my PhD in the required time. So I asked see how other people set up their 12 months, he will help the Walailak for six months leave without pay to go classes and demonstrations,” she said. University to develop its Asian studies to Germany and complete it.