THE MAGAZINE OF CURTIN UNIVERSITY ISSUE 22_ SUMMER 2013/2014

Artistic enterprise Julian Donaldson’s pride and passion

Does size really matter? The housing we’d prefer for our money

HISTORICAL HOMECOMING Carrolup artworks make their way back to country cite_SUMMER 2013/2014

Cite (s∂it) v. To put forward thought-provoking arguments; to offer insightful discussion and new perspectives on topics of social, political, economic or environmental relevance; to report on new thinking. Sight (s∂it) n. A feature or object in a particular place considered especially worth seeing. v. To frame or scrutinise ALANA BLOWFIELD community, research and business initiatives; to present points of view on current issues. Site (s∂it) n. The location of a building or an organisation, esp. as to its environment. v. To place or position in a physical and social context.

Cover Julian Donaldson – Curtin alumnus and General Manager of the Perth Festival. cite_contributors Managing Editor Margaret McNally Claire Bradshaw Sue Emmett Yvonne Hauck Editorial Team Claire is a freelance Sue is a freelance writer Dr Yvonne Hauck is Curtin Karen Carriero, Julia Nicol, writer, editor and and photojournalist, University's Professor Yvette Tulloch scriptwriter, with more with special interests of Midwifery. She holds Creative Direction than 20 years’ experience in science, technology, a joint appointment Mark Fisher, Sonia Rheinlander in the communications Western Australian between Curtin's School of field. She completed her business, education and Nursing and Midwifery and Design creative writing degree the marine environment. King Edward Memorial Manifesto Design at Curtin. Hospital. Contributing Writers Claire Bradshaw, Sue Emmett, Yvonne Hauck, Andrea Lewis, Andrea Lewis Steve Packer Flip Prior Steve Packer, Flip Prior Andrea is a freelance Steve is a freelance Flip graduated from Contributing Photographers writer and editor. She journalist who has Curtin with a journalism Alana Blowfield, James Rogers, was formerly publications 30 years’ experience degree in 2004. A former Jana Soderlund manager in Curtin’s working for newspapers, newspaper reporter, she Cover Photography corporate communications magazines and corporate is now Communications Alana Blowfield area. publications. Manager for the Walkley Foundation for Print Journalism. Scott Print Editorial Enquiries Corporate Relations and Development Curtin University GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Tel: +61 8 9266 2200 Email: [email protected] Cite is available online and in PDF at curtin.edu.au/cite. Alternative formats are available on request. curtin.edu.au/cite cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 11

feature_story

Heart comes home The ‘rediscovery’, collaboration and eventual transfer of The Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork to Curtin University is a tale as significant as it is visually stunning – in words and pictures. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: this issue of Cite features the artworks and names of artists who are now deceased. ALANA BLOWFIELD

feature_stories 18 A breath of fresh air 19 Alumni profile Treatment for sufferers of In the public’s service 08 Place over space chronic respiratory diseases She prefers to work behind the New research from Curtin will be better targeted, thanks scenes, but Lorissa Kelly is Business School reveals the to the first simulated model of inevitably in public view as a trade-offs people are prepared a breathing lung developed by Western Australian minister’s to make when choosing housing researchers in Curtin’s School chief of staff – a role she to suit their budget – and why. of Public Health. relishes. 16 Second nature 19 Alumni profile Biophilic urban design has regular_features High-flyer for health an important foothold in the With a newly minted Graduate Western Australian port city 02 VC’s view Certificate in Paramedicine of Fremantle, where it is under his belt, Churchill Fellow mitigating climate change and 03 In brief Bruce Wicksteed is on his way to improving medical transport making people feel happier. 05 Campus life systems for critically sick and 20 Making the mark 07 Alumni profile injured paediatric patients. Policy has come into play at Empowering communities 22 Rear view the Australian Football League, Ahmad Agus Setiawan’s where Dr Sean Gorman’s award-winning technology is 24 In perspective research into the particular being put to good use in his needs of Indigenous football As Western Australia’s first home country of Indonesia, Professor of Midwifery, Yvonne players has informed new best- where he is installing power and practice guidelines for clubs. Hauck is producing and water in remote communities. promoting midwifery research, 07 Alumni profile and bringing in a new snap_shots Ambitious for arts generation of midwives. Proud and passionate about his Risky business job, Julian Donaldson has been Cite magazine is now online. 06 instrumental in the success Australian businesses are Read and share your favourite of the Perth International Arts losing an estimated $1 billion stories and access Festival, and has plans to make a year to internet scams, web-exclusive content at it even bigger and better. say Curtin Business School curtin.edu.au/cite researchers. vc’s_view

ACTING VICE-CHANCELLOR CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Change is endemic in universities. Researchers interrogate existing theories to devise new solutions, and teaching staff impart knowledge and ideas to students who, in turn, debate issues and seek new knowledge – all to effect positive change in communities locally and abroad. A change of This summer issue of Cite government invariably brings change for universities, too, with priorities features stories that are for higher education adapting to meet the shifting demands of the global testament to the scope of economic and social climate. Change is implicit in Curtin’s strategic plan, under which the University change Curtin is making in has been operating since the start of 2013. To be a recognised international the community, thanks to the leader in research and education requires dynamic people, groundbreaking rigor with which our people research, innovative teaching methods and more intimate ways to engage have challenged previously with communities. Curtin is fortunate to have these attributes upon which to further develop. held concepts and sought This summer issue of Cite features stories that are testament to the new knowledge and solutions. scope of change Curtin is making in the community, thanks to the rigor with which our people have challenged previously held concepts and sought new knowledge and solutions. At Curtin Business School, researchers have investigated the housing priorities people have and what’s needed to bring about change in the urban landscape to ensure their wellbeing and that of the environment (page 8). Associate Professor Ben Mullins and his team in the School of Public Health have developed the first simulated model of a breathing lung. In ‘A breath of fresh air’ (page 18), read about how this important technology will enable more targeted treatment for the many sufferers of asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses. Also in health sciences, Western Australia’s first Professor of Midwifery, Yvonne Hauck, is guiding midwifery research for the future, encouraging a new generation of midwives to embed research into their clinical work (page 24). Curtin alumnus and Australia Awards Scholarship recipient Ahmad Agus Setiawan is putting his PhD into practice, installing his award-winning technology to deliver power and water to remote communities in Indonesia. Our cover story on Julian Donaldson exemplifies the longstanding contribution Curtin alumni make to community. The ever-evolving Perth International Arts Festival continues to grow in size and stature, thanks in no small part to its general manager, who has been in the role since 2005. Finally, I’m proud to announce that this issue of Cite is also available online. I invite you to visit curtin.edu.au/cite, where from now on you can find all the content of the print magazine – and more. In closing, Curtin welcomes Professor Deborah Terry as its new Vice- Chancellor in February 2014. The University has prospered under the leadership of Professor Jeanette Hacket AM, who retired from the position in August. Indeed, it has been my great privilege as Acting Vice-Chancellor since then to steer Curtin further along the path of evolution to the greater success we can look forward to with Professor Terry at the helm. Greetings to you and your families for the holiday season.

Professor Colin Stirling

02 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 in_brief AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM EUREKA PRIZES DAVID SPROULE, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND DAVID SAM PROCTOR

NCSEHE Director with board members (from Professor Deborah Terry From left: Andrew Jenkin (Rio Tinto) and left): Professor Carmen Lawrence; Paul Nicholls; Scanalyse CEO Peter Clarke Professor Colleen Hayward; Professor Sue Trinidad (Director); Craig Ritchie; the Hon. Fred Chaney AO; and Professor Bruce Chapman

New home for national centre Curtin appoints next A Eureka moment for Vice-Chancellor Scanalyse

A national centre to advance equity for all Professor Deborah Terry has been appointed Curtin spin-off company Scanalyse has taken students to participate in higher education as Curtin University’s next Vice-Chancellor, out the 2013 Rio Tinto Eureka Prize for has found a new home at Curtin University, commencing in February. Commercialisation of Innovation, for its following a competitive process open to all The appointment, by the Curtin Council, MillMapper and CrusherMapper technology. 37 public universities in Australia in 2012. follows an international search to replace Scanalyse was established from Curtin Funded by the Australian Government, the Professor Jeanette Hacket AM, who retired research into the use of laser scanning National Centre for Student Equity in Higher from the position in August 2013 after seven technology to monitor wear and tear in giant Education (NCSEHE) began operations from years at the helm and more than 30 years of rock crushers and grinding mills. Curtin’s Bentley Campus in June. service at the University. Previously, operators were required to Curtin's Professor Sue Trinidad has been Terry, originally from Western Australia, climb inside these giant machines – which appointed as the centre's Director. Prior to hails from the University of Queensland (UQ), are costly to run – to measure their level of this role, Trinidad was the University's where she has had a distinguished career wear. Scanalyse’s award-winning technology Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of since 1990. uses lasers to perform the measurements, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Initially an internationally recognised eliminating the need for workers to place Humanities. scholar at the world top 100 university, she themselves in potentially dangerous Overseeing the centre’s strategic direction had progressed through a number of senior situations. as Chairman of the Board is the Hon. Fred leadership roles since 2000 to Senior The company was acquired earlier in Chaney AO, a Director on the Board of Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She was Acting 2013 by Finnish mining giant Outotec, in Reconciliation Australia Ltd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for a period in 2012. recognition of the technology’s immense President of the Graham (Polly) Farmer Terry holds a PhD in Social Psychology potential in the global market. Foundation Board and previous chancellor of from the Australian National University. “Scanalyse illustrates a successful path Murdoch University. She says it is “both an honour and a from research to implementation,” says the “The national centre has a very important privilege to have been selected to lead WA’s Director of the Australian Museum, which role in bringing together groups doing largest university through the next exciting hosts the awards, Frank Howarth. valuable work in this and related fields,” says period of its development”. “What started as a work of enquiry at Chaney, “as we should not be endlessly “I am very much looking forward to Curtin University in 2004 has been very inventing programs, but rather improving the working together with the management capably adapted into a large-scale total social context and environment of equity team to ensure that Curtin achieves its commercial environment.” students.” ambitious vision and is positioned for future The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Previously hosted by the University of success in all domains,” Terry says. reward excellence in the fields of research South Australia, the centre aims to improve Curtin Chancellor Colin Beckett says and innovation, leadership and higher education participation and success Terry’s many years of senior leadership commercialisation, science journalism and for marginalised and disadvantaged people. experience at UQ will “place her in an communication, and school science. More information about the centre and its excellent position to strengthen Curtin’s research can be found at its new website: ability as a research-intensive University to ncsehe.edu.au. lead in innovative education and evolve as an agile, responsive organisation”.

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 03 in_brief AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (WA) ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL JANE MILEY JANE SHARON WALKER

From left: ABC Campaign Manager Amberlee Professor Chris Elders From left: Professor Steven Tingay; Laws; Governor of WA His Excellency Malcolm Senator the Hon. Kim Carr; Director General McCusker; and Healthway Chair Associate SKA Organisation Professor Philip Diamond; Professor Rosanna Capolingua and CSIRO SKA Director Dr Brian Boyle

A-B-C a winner Appointed professor boosts MWA operations take off petroleum geology

Act-Belong-Commit is the 2013 winner of Western Australian research and education The much-lauded Murchison Widefield Array the Australian Medical Association (WA) in soft rock and petroleum geoscience (MWA) radio telescope began operations in and Healthway Healthier WA Award, received a boost this year with the July, launched by Senator the Hon. Kim Carr, announced in July. Western Australia’s appointment of Professor Chris Elders – then the Minister for Innovation, Industry, leading public health award, it recognises formerly of Royal Holloway College, Science and Research, at a special event to excellence and innovation in primary University of London – as the inaugural mark the occasion. prevention in health care. Chevron Professor of Petroleum Geology A precursor telescope to the $2 billion A small team based at Curtin University is at Curtin. Square Kilometre Array – the world’s largest responsible for the Act-Belong-Commit Elders will lead programs crucial to and most sensitive radio telescope – the campaign, which aims to reduce factors improving knowledge in a field critically MWA will give scientists an unprecedented associated with mental illness and suicide important to Australia’s exploration future, look at the Universe. through three preventative measures: in a move funded by a co-investment Senator Carr described the launch as a keeping socially, mentally and physically between Curtin and Chevron worth more proud day for Australia, with the MWA the active (Act); joining family or community than $2 million over three years. first of the three precursor telescopes to be activities (Belong); and embracing “Discovery of new oil and gas fields is operational. meaningful challenges or causes (Commit). becoming more challenging in Australia and “In addition to helping us see back to the “Public recognition awards such as these elsewhere, and quality education and origins of the Universe, the array will also are an important and tremendous boost to research programs in petroleum geoscience help us to understand the interaction our team members,” says Campaign will improve our ability to identify and exploit between the Earth and the Sun, give early Manager Amberlee Laws, adding that the new resources,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor, warning of destructive solar flares, and study award also served to raise the profile of Research and Development, Professor our galaxy and other galaxies,” he said at the mental health in WA. Graeme Wright. launch, held in Melbourne. “Only 10 years ago the mere concept of “Professor Elders brings his extensive “I congratulate the international population mental health promotion was international experience in this area to consortium, led by Professor Steven Tingay almost non-existent. Now, both health Curtin, where he will be the foundation of at Curtin University, whose hard work has professionals and members of the public are new petroleum geoscience education and delivered a world first for Australia.” thinking more proactively about what we can research developments.” The start of MWA operations is the do as individuals and as a society to enhance The appointment is an outcome of culmination of nearly nine years of mental wellbeing.” Chevron’s University Partnership Program. development, construction, testing and The world-first initiative has inspired The program is a global initiative that verification of the precursor telescope. similar campaigns nationally and involves leading universities – including More than 700 astronomers and engineers internationally, with a team at Waseda Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from Australia, US, India and New Zealand University, in Japan, adapting the campaign Stanford University – working to establish will be involved in the nine inaugural MWA to help children affected by the 2010 tsunami. research and technology programs, foster research programs. academic excellence, grow research capacity, build key relationships and provide student scholarships.

04 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 JAMES ROGERS JAMES

campus_life

Pop-up food vans are the latest addition to the lively landscape of Curtin’s Bentley Campus. With a diverse array of international cuisines on offer – from Brazilian prato feito to Asian duck jumplings and many others in between – these ‘Park’d’ gourmet food vans offer tasty snacks, meals and drinks to students, staff and the community. The initiative is part of Curtin’s Place Activation Plan, which will see the Bentley Campus transformed into a vibrant hub that connects the University with community. To find out where and when to get your ‘foodie fix’, visit facebook.com/parkdatcurtin

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 05 snap_shot

RIsky business

Shedding light on the shady world of online Weber and Geneste encountered their own example of such wariness. When they offered scams shows that Australia’s small businesses an iPad as a prize to encourage responses to could be losing more than $1 billion a year. the survey, it took several emails to convince the lucky winner that it wasn’t a scam. story Steve Packer photography ALANA BLOWFIELD “He eventually Googled the University to check our credentials and contacted us,” Geneste says.

Research into how – and how many – small survey of small business scams. One in Dr Michael Schaper, Deputy Chairman of businesses in Australia are falling victim to eight of the 291 businesses that responded the Australian Competition and Consumer scams reveals it’s a very common and costly to the survey said they had fallen victim to a Commission (ACCC) and an adjunct professor problem, especially in the ‘dark alley’ of scam in the previous 12 months, with losses at CBS, says Curtin’s research plays squarely computer-based transactions. ranging from $100 to $10,000. into the ACCC’s goals for promoting scam Phone and postal scams still occur, but “The losses are likely to be under-reported awareness. email has become the most common form because of embarrassment and, in some “Most online scammers operate from of delivery. Social media is being used to gain cases, blissful ignorance,” Weber says. outside Australia and don’t wait around information and access for a wide and ever- “Australia has about two million actively for us to find them and take them to court, expanding range of scams, from small bills trading small businesses, so we estimate the so prevention through education is vital,” for non-existent or dubious services such as total losses to be well in excess of $1 billion Schaper says. directory listings, to large-scale identity theft. a year.” In 2012 the ACCC’s SCAMwatch received “Businesses that go online and do Scammers are even more likely to target about 90,000 reports of scams totalling e-commerce – have a shopping cart online, small businesses over individual consumers $90 million in losses. for example – are in a dark alley, and the because they have more money and make “And that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” longer they stick around with inadequate their contact details openly available, he says. Schaper says. There’s also a hidden cost. security, the more likely they are to be Weber and Geneste are planning the next Adds Geneste: “When a small business caught up in a crime,” says Dr Paull Weber, step in their research, the ultimate aim of has lost money to a scam it can affect its from Curtin Business School (CBS). which is to develop a reliable predictive scale ability to trust business relationships in the Weber and Dr Louis Geneste, also from or model of a small business’s financial loss online environment. It can shy away from CBS, recently conducted the first national through scams. using the web.”

06 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 alumni_profile

While Setiawan was working Now, as part of his academic on his thesis, a host of natural role, Setiawan is working with disasters both in Indonesia and local communities in Indonesia to

TRI ISBANI YUSUF other remote locations – the Aceh implement the technology. tsunami in 2004, the Yogyakarta Working with engineering earthquake in 2006, the Padang students from Indonesia’s earthquake in 2007 and the China Universitas Gadjah Mada, earthquake in 2008 – underscored Setiawan’s project engages the need for his work. communities in in-situ design of “Such catastrophes usually the plant; uses local labour in Empowering communities_ result in the affected areas being project construction; and will, isolated, particularly if the events ultimately, employ local residents Ahmad Agus Setiawan happen in remote locations,” in maintenance of the technology. story Andrea Lewis Setiawan says. “They made me “This project really brings realise that the small islands home the importance of building of Indonesia and other remote partnerships and empowering AMID his busy life as a lecturer Curtin, Setiawan designed and locations need an appropriate local communities,” Setiawan and researcher in Indonesia, developed a mini-grid hybrid environmentally friendly solution says. “Wherever the project is Australia Awards Scholarship power and water supply system; to the lack of power and water located, I want communities to recipient and Curtin graduate a novel system using renewable supplies, as part of disaster have a strong sense of ownership Dr Ahmad Agus Setiawan is energy sources through the response and reconstruction.” of the initiative.” remarkably enthusiastic about application of a voltage and The prototype – consisting of In 2008 the mini-grid one of his job’s requirements – current-controlled inverter. He renewable energy generators, a technology was formally community service. This is in completed the work through the diesel generator and a reverse inaugurated by the President large part because it’s his own Renewable Energy and Power osmosis desalination plant – was of the Republic of Maldives. award-winning technology that Systems Research Group, under tested in laboratory simulations The research also received a he’s busy implementing in remote the supervision of Emeritus at Curtin and at industrial partner Mondialogo Engineering Award communities across his home Professor Chem Nayar, in Curtin’s Regen Power. It involved two from UNESCO and Daimler in country, Indonesia. Department of Electrical and case studies: the Maldives and 2007, among other awards. For his doctoral studies at Computer Engineering. Indonesia.

(now Curtin University) in 1973 with His vision is for Perth Festival to a BA in theatre. be recognised internationally as His healthy appreciation one of the world’s best, to attract for the arts, education and artists at the peak of their practice ALANA BLOWFIELD communication has served him from anywhere. well at Perth Festival. Under his Donaldson says the festival leadership he has sharpened has, since it was founded in 1953, the festival’s marketing and been much more than merely organisational development, a creative pursuit: it makes a heralding a period of significant major contribution to civil society Ambitious for Arts_Julian Donaldson audience growth and influence in at a time when people reflect on which the total annual number of story flip prior the human condition, engage in visitors now exceeds 500,000. debate and discourse, and enjoy He has also developed a transformative arts and cultural Julian Donaldson’s passion, and internationally, and we’re significant education program and experiences. determination and enthusiasm for growing, albeit from a low base, encouraged heavy investment in “We’re very proud of the festival. his role as General Manager of the our philanthropic support.” local arts programs. It provides the Western Australian Perth International Arts Festival Just six months after joining These days Donaldson community with great diversity – (Perth Festival) practically fizzes Perth Festival in 2005 as juggles multiple stakeholders – a rich offering of events which through the phone: “I’ve got the development director in charge government, business, artists, contribute to making our place a best job in Australia,” he says. of marketing, sponsorship supporters and the media – while more liveable society,” he says. “We,” he emphasises, “have and publicity, Donaldson was leading a talented creative team. “It is our ambition to grow our been very innovative in the way catapulted into the top job. “You need the ability to choose audience. We’ve actually developed we’ve conducted the festival’s He came to the festival through and work with very talented people the festival’s audience to be more business and grown our audience a first career as a drama teacher, … and a terrific board with similar sophisticated and to be prepared to and reputation. followed by one in advertising, vision, passion and the ability to take greater risks, and to buy into “We’ve increased significantly after graduating from the Western support the cultural enterprise,” the festival across multiple genres. our corporate support and the Australian Institute of Technology he says. “The festival is a risk-taker – festival’s recognition nationally that’s part of our charter.”

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 07 feature_story

Place over space In the face of Perth’s rapidly growing population, how willing “While most people still are householders to abandon the quarter-acre dream, and prefer the idea of a separate house (around 80 per cent of what will it mean for them if they do? respondents), the reality is that people are willing to live story Claire Bradshaw photography JAMES ROGERS in a semi-detached dwelling and to trade off the number of bedrooms, if it provides them with an affordable option in a good location,” Rowley explains. in the second half of the twentieth million by 2031) is placing significant new “The study found that a safe century, living space in Perth seemed demands on our housing infrastructure. neighbourhood is the most important abundant. The great Australian post-war In parallel, the number of people living housing attribute, followed by easy dream of owning your own home – set on their own is also steadily growing: it is access to work and to a preferred school. proudly on a quarter-acre block of land – expected that by 2031 the number of lone- Location, not the amount of land or the was in full swing, and new suburbs person households across Australia will housing type, was the deciding factor. giving shape to this dream were have increased by 73 per cent since 2006. Respondents preferred the central developing rapidly. Given the concerns this raises about metropolitan suburbs to the newer, urban Even for those who couldn’t afford turning our landscapes into endless fringes, where single houses might be to buy their own home, space was suburbs, the question has to be asked: sizeable and affordable but were a long not a luxury: for children across the just how fiercely are Perth householders way from their established networks and metropolitan area, finding a patch of attached to the tradition of having their offered less amenities.” grass to wrestle on, a tree to climb, or own house on a quarter-acre block a decent stretch of ground on which to of land? As another recent study states, these play an impromptu game of cricket was Not fiercely at all, according to a recent householders seem to intuitively know usually just a matter of heading out the study led by Associate Professor Steven what’s best for them: living in a good area back door. Rowley, Head of Curtin’s Department is better than living in a good house. In recent times, however, significant of Property Studies and Director of the Associate Professor Mike Dockery population growth, demographic Australian Housing and Urban Research and a team of researchers from Curtin change, increased life expectancy and Institute. His study, ‘The Housing We’d Business School and the Telethon a growing focus on environmental Choose: A study for Peel and Perth’, Institute for Child Health Research sustainability have started to force serious surveyed almost 2,000 people about examined data from national longitudinal reconsideration of how much space we the trade-offs they were prepared to studies to explore how the health and need to live well. make when choosing housing to suit development of Australian children is Perth’s rapid growth (it is Australia’s their budget. It showed that people were influenced by housing circumstances. fastest growing city, with the current willing to live in semi-detached houses It showed that housing styles played a population of 1.9 million people on less land, if it meant they could live in negligible role in shaping the outcomes expected to increase another half a the areas they wanted. for physical health, social/emotional

08 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 09 development and learning for children. consolidated growth of the metropolitan Rather, it was parenting styles and the area over the next two decades in its report ‘liveability’ aspects of their broader Directions 2031 and Beyond. It estimates neighbourhood – its socio-economic that an additional 328,000 dwellings will be status, security, access to parks and needed by 2031, and has set a target of just other amenities, and its feeling of social under 50 per cent of these being provided via connectedness – that had the much infill development: that is, the redevelopment greater impact. of existing housing within a built-up area. The only exception to this finding was for The state government also seeks to increase Aboriginal and sole-parent households, the number of dwellings per hectare being where inferior housing did contribute to built in new land developments (from 10 poorer outcomes. The dwellings per gross urban-zoned hectare report also showed to 15). that overcrowding Rowley says a variety of housing types, in a could have a negative range of price points, will need to be provided impact on learning. to accommodate preferences for living in our

SHUTTERSTOCK “The old real estate already established suburbs. adage of getting into “Our report gives the clear signal that the the worst house in the residents of Perth and the Peel region [about best neighbourhood 75 km south of Perth] support a shift in focus seems also to from urban fringe development of detached, apply for improving four-bedroom homes to a wider range children’s outcomes,” of housing types in the inner and central Dockery says. suburbs,” he says. “The study “At the moment, however, there’s a showed that the considerable mismatch between the current physical properties housing stock and the type of housing many of a dwelling aren’t people can afford. significant. Parenting “There needs to be an increase in the has a much stronger impact than proportion and range of semi-detached housing variables, and it’s only dwellings being supplied to the market in those housing issues that affect these areas, allowing people to make the the quality of the relationships housing trade-offs they want to fit their within the household – insecure budget, whether that’s to do with the amount tenancy, frequent moves, financial of land, the number of bedrooms or the level stress – that appear to influence of density of the dwelling.” children’s social and emotional Rowley adds that the property wellbeing. development industry has already started “This is a positive finding for to respond to this demand, with new equality in Australian society. urban developments such as Cockburn It shows that children from all Central – a blend of residential and sorts of housing environments commercial properties not far from can reach their potential and be Fremantle – which offers apartments socially mobile, as long as they of various sizes in excellent proximity to have positive social influences.” transport networks and a range of other He adds that this highlights the amenities. importance of distributing public housing “Cockburn Central, which has been throughout the more liveable, higher planned and developed in partnership socio-economic suburbs and of improving with government, is a good example of neighbourhood amenities and the quality of where density can work and be relatively schools in poorer neighbourhoods. affordable,” he says. “However, smaller, piecemeal infill If the good news is that higher-density development of our existing suburbs will be living doesn’t in itself disadvantage health a greater challenge because it will be hard to and wellbeing – and the public has a greater deliver this in an affordable way for low and appetite for it – what changes can we expect even medium-income earners.” to see in our urban landscapes? The Western Australian Government has set out a strategic direction for the

10 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 in_pictures

Heart comes home. story MARGARET McNALLY photography ALANA BLOWFIELD

Artwork: Reynold Hart, Hunting c1949. Pastel on paper.

From the Great Southern region of Western Australia to major cities across Europe, and later to New York, a collection of astonishing artworks produced by Aboriginal children of the Stolen Generations in the late 1940s finds its way back home to Noongar country.

Top: The first of the artworks from The Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork arrives at Curtin to mark the official Memorandum of Agreement signing of the collection’s transfer from Colgate University to Curtin. Middle: Noongar Elder Angus Wallam watches Colgate University Provost and Dean of the Faculty Professor Douglas Hicks, Mungart Boodja Art Centre CEO Ezzard Flowers and the then Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket unveil an artwork at the Memorandum of Agreement signing.

Bottom left: Professors Jeanette Hacket and Douglas Hicks sign the Memorandum of Agreement. Bottom right: The signing of the agreement proceedings took place at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies, at Curtin’s Bentley Campus.

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 11 in_pictures

The Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork arrives at Curtin.

“THE work has so much meaning in country took it upon themselves to enrich the “What it does for me is to realise that my that it deserves to be within the hearts, souls disenfranchised lives of incarcerated parents’ energy and love for those children and eyes of the people.” Aboriginal children through art. These was not in vain, and even though they are These words, by Professor Ellen Kraly children were forcibly removed from their all gone now, that time has not been for from Colgate University in Hamilton, New families to the notorious settlement on nothing,” she says. York, encapsulate the cultural significance the banks of the Carrolup River under the of Colgate’s transfer of a unique collection government’s assimilation policies of the day. RECOGNISING the astonishing artworks the of 122 artworks by Noongar children of the Little could the Whites know they had set in children were creating was visiting English Stolen Generations from the 1940s, to Curtin motion the beginning of an art movement, woman Florence Rutter, a major benefactor University in May 2013. still alive today. of the Carrolup school. From 1949 Rutter Kraly, the William R Kenan Jr Professor The Whites fostered the extraordinary organised exhibitions of the artworks in of Geography at Colgate, was central in artistic talents of the children, aged between major cities across Europe, where they the consultation with senior elders of the seven and 14, supervising walks through captured the art world’s attention with their Noongar community in the Great Southern the local bushland to make sketches in the atmospheric and sophisticated depictions of region of Western Australia, the Mungart landscape, later to be finished from memory Carrolup landscapes. Boodja Art Centre in Walmsley, and Curtin in class as colourful drawings and paintings. Years after Carrolup closed, Rutter sold to effect the transfer. It was the final stage For the children who were denied access all of her remaining Carrolup artworks to of a long process that started soon after the to traditional culture, making art about their New York art collector and Colgate University collection was ‘rediscovered’ decades after it natural surroundings enabled them to keep alumnus Herbert Mayer. Ten years later, had been donated to and then ‘lost’ in storage in touch with their Noongar heritage and in 1966, Mayer donated the entire Carrolup at Colgate. connection to the land. collection, along with many hundreds of The timeline of events in the remarkable Similarly for the Whites’ eldest daughter, other artworks from his personal collection, tale of the return of this historic collection Noelene, the recent Koolark Koort Koorliny to Colgate. It was there that the Carrolup takes root in the scrubby landscape of (Heart Coming Home) exhibition at the John works sat in storage at the university’s Carrolup in the late 1940s. Curtin Gallery (JCG), celebrating the artworks’ Picker Art Gallery, evading the search At the time, Noel White, the new transfer to Curtin, brought the recollections by Australian scholars for 38 years until, headmaster of the school at the Carrolup of her formative years in Carrolup into sharp by chance, a visiting academic from the Native Settlement, and his wife, Lily, relief, some 67 years later. Australian National University, Professor

12 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 allery A lderson , J ohn C urtin G A manda

Above: Preparing for the Koolark Koort Koorliny (Heart Coming Home) exhibition at the John Curtin Gallery to celebrate the transfer of the Carrolup artworks to Curtin. Left: John Curtin Gallery Director Chris Malcolm with Noelene White, daughter of Noel and Lily White who taught at the Carrolup Native Settlement, who witnessed the Artwork: Reynold Hart, A Native Corroboree c1949. Pastel on paper. arrival of the ‘rediscovered’ artworks, some 67 years after spending her formative years at the settlement’s school with her parents.

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Top: Wadumbah Dance Group perform for guests at the exhibition opening. Top right (from left): Noongar Elder Angus Wallam; John Curtin Gallery Director Chris Malcolm; and Noongar Elder May McGuire, who delivered the Welcome to Country at the exhibition opening. Middle right: Professor Ellen Kraly, from Colgate University, and Ezzard Flowers share an emotional moment. Bottom right: Noelene White stands before a Carrolup artwork at the exhibition opening. Bottom left: Professor Ellen Kraly (right) with Elaine Wallam, daughter of Edie Wallam who has four artworks in the Carrolup collection.

14 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 Howard Morphy, literally lifted the lid off the leaders, including Angus Wallam, Noongar container. Elder from Wagin, Mungart Boodja Art The rediscovery was widely reported Centre CEO Ezzard Flowers and Curtin’s internationally, after the story broke in Director of CAS, Associate Professor Simon The New York Times in 2004. Morphy’s Forrest. These collaborations have helped to excitement at the discovery was quoted in build stronger links between Aboriginal and The Colgate Scene in 2005: “I saw the top non-Aboriginal people, and to foster respect drawing, a beautiful pastel drawing, and and better understanding of Noongar culture I immediately thought: Carrolup. It was a and history. Carrolup drawing … I just leapt for joy. And After a brief flourishing, the Carrolup then I saw that this box was actually full of Native Settlement and school were closed works on paper, piled on top of each other. in 1951. The distinctive Carrolup artworks So I started to take them out and each one created there continue to resonate across the was a Carrolup.” decades, inspiring generations of Noongar Since their rediscovery, the paintings have artists. Importantly, the snapshot captured been studied by students from Colgate who of the lives of these Aboriginal children who journeyed annually to Western Australia endured the challenging conditions of the on field trips under the guidance of Kraly. times is a powerful story of resilience, retold These trips included contact with the and remembered with every viewing of the Mungart Boodja Art Centre, guided tours artworks. with Noongar elders of the Carrolup Native Curtin is now planning to tour the Settlement site, and engagement with collection widely, starting with the Great programs developed by Curtin’s Centre for Southern region from 2014 onwards, to Aboriginal Studies (CAS), the School of Art honour the intention of Colgate’s gift. and the JCG to learn about Noongar culture In this way, The Herbert Mayer Collection and history. of Carrolup Artwork indeed has returned The visits enabled strong relationships to home to Noongar country. flourish between Curtin and Colgate, and fostered Kraly’s relationships with Noongar

Artwork: Parnell Dempster, Down to Drink c1949. Pastel on paper.

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 15 feature_story

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SECOND

NATURE ROGERS JAMES

A new ‘green wall’ pilot The loss of nature that has accompanied The Green Skins Project, initiated through much urban development around the world discussions between the Curtin University project in Fremantle has led, in many instances, to cityscapes that Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute and looking at the social and are lifeless and bleak environments. Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt, has involved environmental impacts of With urban development set to become the installation of two ‘green walls’ in the even more concentrated – as climate change heart of the Fremantle city area. The one- bringing nature into the and energy shortages force planners to year pilot began in April 2013, and aims urban landscape is also one implement denser urban environments – its to trial green walls in Western Australia’s of the city’s early efforts necessary bedfellow sustainability is playing challenging climate. an ever-stronger role in advocating for the “In addition to capturing data about to make biophilic design a environmental, economic and social benefits scientific and horticultural outcomes – such natural part of Perth. of bringing nature back into the city. as suitable plant species, temperature Biophilic urban design – as the movement variances and water usage – my research is known – recognises the fact that humans includes an online social response survey story Andrea Lewis have an innate ‘hard-wiring’ to respond that assesses the feelings and thoughts local photography JAMES ROGERS and to nature in a positive way. Although residents have towards building-integrated jana soderlund maturing in other nations, it is far from well vegetation in their local business precinct, established in Australia. There are, however, and towards nature in general,” says Jana pioneers of biophilic urban design around Soderlund, a doctoral student with CUSP the nation. In Fremantle – about 19 km who is undertaking the research. south-west of Perth – a Curtin-led project, “Results so far show an overwhelming while modest in its initial configuration, appreciation of the green walls and strong hopes to set a precedent and generate a agreement with the role of nature in groundswell of interest in Perth, in using and increasing happiness and reducing stress. capturing the benefits of nature in the city. Most people would like to see the City of Fremantle make provision in their budget

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for the construction of more green walls, the principles of biophilic urban design and worker productivity, and respond to with many wanting to know how to create the ways in which it is best demonstrated in pressures related to densification and their own.” iconic examples in the city. revitalisation of cities. It’s about using nature Soderlund’s PhD will incorporate results “Singapore is a compelling model of wisely by capturing its benefits.” from the Fremantle project into broader biophilic urban design,” Newman says. “Its Newman attended the World Cities research that looks at the rapidly expanding origins as the ‘Garden City’ began in the Summit on sustainable cities in Singapore global movement of biophilic urban design, 1960s, and the government’s Singapore in 2012, presenting a paper on ‘Biophilic particularly the social drivers behind the Green Plan 2012 reaffirms its ongoing Singapore’. movement. Her research will help make the commitment to biophilic urbanism, shifting it “Historically, cities attempting to introduce case for further implementation of biophilic from a Garden City to a ‘City in a Garden’.” nature into the urban setting usually embark design initiatives in Australia by providing The policy brings green spaces and on limited development to do so,” Newman an evidence base that can be used by biodiversity to people’s doorsteps and goes says. “Singapore and other good models policymakers and developers. beyond parks and reserves. Buildings, of biodiverse cities build nature into every roads and concrete are all potential sites for element of the built environment, not just in Professor Peter Newman, Director of landscaping. Green walls, green roofs and the gaps between it.” CUSP and a John Curtin Distinguished continuous tree canopies are all hallmarks Professor, is a respected international leader of the city that is fast being seen as the world For further information or to complete the in sustainability. Newman looks to Singapore leader in biophilic urban design. online survey for Soderlund’s research, go to as the biophilic city of the future. “Biophilic urbanism has the potential to sustainability.curtin.edu.au/projects In 2012 he collaborated with Professor Tim make significant contributions to a range of Beatley, from the University of Virginia in the national, state and local government policies 1 Fremantle's 'green wall' US, to work with a senior urban design class related to climate change mitigation and 2 Walkway wall in Singapore from the National University of Singapore to adaptation,” explains Newman. explore the biophilic aspects of Singapore. 3 ‘Supertree’ at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore “It can reduce urban energy consumption, The Community in Bloom project saw enhance urban biodiversity, improve 4 Vertical garden at Subiaco Library students explore and better understand both resilience to natural disasters, improve 5 Green roof at 140 William Street, Perth

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 17 snap_shot

Curtin’s Fluid Dynamics Research Group – Mullins and his Curtin collaborators, a Dr Andrew King from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr Ryan Mead-Hunter from the School of Public breath Health, were able to create the first-ever simulated model of a lung breathing, as occurs in a mammal. of fresh “In reality, when you breathe the muscles in your chest expand, which brings the air in,” Mullins explains. air “We’re the first who have been able to simulate that as it occurs in reality. In other words, it’s the most physiologically realistic simulation of airflow and particle deposition in the lungs ever achieved. “Up until now, everyone has been using these very simplified models to simulate lung particle deposition and we’ve basically proven that they’re not sufficiently accurate. From now on, people won’t be able to justify using the older methods.”

The discovery has a huge range of applications in clinical science: firstly, it promises to better target aerosol drug delivery for lung disease sufferers. Asthma affects about 15 per cent of the Australian population, and while current medication is effective, more than 95 per cent of it is wasted in delivery because of a lack of information about airflow in localised areas of the lungs. “Most of it doesn’t reach the areas in the lungs where it is needed – it’s wasteful,” Mullins says. “Our work, for the first time, gives us information on what the local airflow properties are in different regions of the lung; once we know that, we can know the kind of particles and size of particles needed in the lungs.” The technique also accounts for the fluid Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other or mucous in the lungs of chronic obstructive chronic lung disease sufferers could soon breathe much pulmonary disease sufferers and produces easier, thanks to Curtin researchers who have developed the a much more accurate reading of lung function than traditional spirometry. first simulated model of a breathing lung – which behaves Within the next decade, as computers just like the real thing. at the iVEC-supported Pawsey Centre get more sophisticated, Mullins also expects story Flip Prior PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES ROGERS improvements in surgical outcomes resulting from individualised patient scans, to optimise treatment and better inform Research at Curtin’s School of Public collect liquid droplets when they realised surgeons before lung surgery. Health promises to dramatically improve the results had significant drug-delivery “It will lead to more effective treatment of drug delivery and surgical outcomes for applications: “That was the way forward,” lung diseases once it gets to the stage where people suffering respiratory illnesses including Mullins says. we’re able to apply it clinically – it will be a asthma – combined, the most common Studying a high-resolution CT scan of a significant breakthrough,” he says. cause of death in people aged over 65. rat lung, the team examined the geometry The research was conducted in Three years ago, Curtin researcher of it as the starting point for sophisticated collaboration with the Telethon Institute Associate Professor Ben Mullins and his computer model simulation. Using for Child Health Research and funded by team were producing models for filters to computational fluid dynamics – working with Asthma Foundation WA.

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John Curtin Undergraduate newspaper put her in a story Scholarship, for people who did last year about people who well at school but were also influence the political decision- JAMES ROGERS JAMES community-minded,” she says. making process, and she She won the scholarship, which featured recently as one of Scoop included six months studying magazine’s 50 Western Australian in Canada, and graduated from ‘Women of Success’. Curtin Business School in 2006 “Sometimes I think I could do with a BCom in public relations my job more effectively by staying (with honours). quietly behind the scenes. But I In the public’s service_Lorissa Kelly accept there may be some public Her volunteer work with Curtin interest in what I do, especially story Steve Packer Volunteers! while at University with the projects I’m working on included mentoring high with the minister,” Kelly says. school students and helping In that respect, she feels With considerable In 2008 Kelly was appointed international students at the lucky to work with the ‘good understatement, Lorissa Kelly principal policy advisor to WA’s Bentley Campus. says her job as Chief of Staff to Minister for Planning, Culture news’ portfolio, including the “The public service position arts and Perth’s Elizabeth Quay Western Australia’s Minister for and the Arts, the Hon. John I’m in is a form of community development of the Swan River Planning, Culture and the Arts is Day MLA. In 2011 she became his service in itself. Although, of waterfront. “quite demanding”, but it’s the chief of staff. At the age of 26 she course, I get paid for it now,” Kelly “Although, people notice very challenge that makes her look was the youngest person ever to says. “I wouldn’t describe myself quickly if anything goes wrong,” forward to going to work. be appointed to such a position in as an idealist; I’m probably an she says. “For example, when “People who work in politics the state’s public service. optimistic cynic, and I choose to the traffic’s banked up, friends talk about that adrenaline boost, Her spectacular career get things done by working from and family don’t hesitate to ask and I feel it as soon as I drive into trajectory has been based on the inside rather than carping me about it! I don’t control the the car park at work,” she says. smart decisions that started from the outside.” traffic, but it’s good to look out “There’s the thought of, ‘What’s when she left high school. Nevertheless, public the window and know important going to happen today?’” “I had my heart set on recognition has been hard to projects are happening.” law. Then I heard about the avoid. The West Australian

were being stabilised for many, establishing the service; by then many hours at the initial referring it had nagged at him for years. facility, and then transported for He says the Churchill several more hours before finally Fellowship will allow him to ALANA BLOWFIELD arriving at PMH,” he says. research best-practice models Conversely, a retrieval service and find a way to use existing would take the expertise of the medical transport systems PICU to patients, and would allow offered by SJA and the Royal teams of specialists to be sent to Flying Doctor Service to develop accompany the child, if necessary. a model suitable for WA, bringing High-flyer for health_Bruce Wicksteed “This would provide not only health services in line with other the best level of care in a timely developed countries. story Flip Prior manner, but also support to Wicksteed hasn’t turned his the health professionals in the back on nursing – he still works referring centre,” Wicksteed says. casually at PMH to keep up his Having recently completed systems for paediatric patients, nursing skills – but relishes the Curtin’s new Graduate Certificate with a view to establishing a When Curtin offered the Graduate variety of his new “unpredictable” in Paramedicine, Bruce service in WA. Certificate in Paramedicine, role. Wicksteed has ambitions to Formerly a clinical nurse in in collaboration with St John “I enjoy the challenge significantly improve outcomes the Paediatric Intensive Care Ambulance (SJA) Australia, he of working in uncontrolled for critically injured and sick Unit (PICU) at Princess Margaret had leapt at the opportunity to environments and situations,” Western Australian children – and Hospital (PMH) for Children for a further develop his skills. he says. “I love dealing with he’s well on his way to realising decade, with seven years prior in “I had been thinking about how people through their highs and his goals. general paediatrics, Wicksteed to take my clinical skills out of the lows … it teaches me so much Among 11 Western Australians was always interested in patients’ hospital environment … the about humanity.” to be awarded a prestigious experiences of their care before chance to gain another qualification Churchill Fellowship in 2013, he they reached him. while working on the job was too will visit New Zealand, the US, “Often when working in the good to pass up,” he says. Sweden and the UK in 2014 to PICU we would receive children When he finished, he decided research aeromedical ‘retrieval’ from remote areas after they to revisit the possibility of

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 19 feature_story

Indigenous football players make up 10 per cent of the Australian Football League MAKING (AFL). However, some of the challenges faced specifically by Indigenous players have lacked both public recognition and formal policy support. Now, new research from Curtin has THE MARK helped to remedy the issue. Dr Sean Gorman has been working in tandem with the AFL Players Association Research conducted at Curtin’s Centre for Aboriginal (AFLPA) and elite Indigenous athletes to Studies is helping to support and give greater produce new best-practice guidelines. recognition to the Australian Football League’s cohort The new guidelines will help ensure that clubs understand the particular needs of of Indigenous players through new policy guidelines. Indigenous players in order to optimise their time spent in the AFL. story Andrea Lewis Gorman has worked in the Indigenous photography JAMES ROGERS sports space for years. Before coming to Curtin, he lectured at the University of Melbourne, where he also undertook a research project compiling an oral history archive of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century. “During my time at Melbourne University, I realised quickly that there was little qualitative data around key issues for

20 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 Running concurrently to Gorman’s work is the AFLPA-established Indigenous Advisory Board, chaired by AFL player Adam Goodes. The board drew up policy guidelines for AFL clubs around supporting Indigenous players. Gorman provided his research findings to the board and they were used to directly inform the new guidelines. The resulting document – Many Stories, One Goal – was circulated to all clubs in 2013. It outlines suggestions for support in four areas: induction, culture, personal support and career transition. Curtin alumnus Cory McGrath, a former player for both Carlton and Essendon football clubs and a long-term AFLPA employee, says that while it’s too early to see a substantive national change in the culture of clubs, there are shifts afoot. “How exactly the policy guidelines have played out has varied, depending on the different resources, staffing structures and cultural needs of each club,” McGrath says. “Some clubs have established programs to help induct their new Indigenous players to the club, while others have been slower to do so. It’s definitely been a step in the right direction.” Gorman believes the guidelines have given players more confidence in speaking out about cultural obligations, with simultaneous changes in how clubs view their role. “AFL clubs are in a unique situation,” Gorman says. “They have significant cohorts of talented Indigenous players. If they pay attention to their players, they get enhanced levels of performance. If they get the pastoral care and the wellbeing right, everyone Indigenous AFL players,” he says. “So I benefits.” applied for an Early Career Researcher Gorman believes there are broader, Fellowship at Curtin in 2008 and commenced related social outcomes that will flow from work at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies changes in the football world. in mid-2009, looking at Indigenous players’ “Because Indigenous players are so visible experiences during and after their AFL to the Australian public, raising awareness careers.” in the AFL can lead to benefits in other areas Gorman has been lucky to attend several of Australian society – across social, political Indigenous All-Stars camps in Darwin, and cultural awareness issues,” he says. Sydney and, more recently, Alice Springs. These visits gave him intimate connections IN August, Gorman travelled to the UK to to the players, whereby he could discuss and present his research findings at a two-day colloquium at the University of Cambridge. understand some of the key issues they faced. Delegates from several Australian and UK He has looked at issues around universities were invited, as were the AFL transitioning into the AFL, experiences and AFLPA, the English Premier League, while playing for the AFL, and challenges Professional Footballers’ Association and transitioning out of a career with the league. members from the UK-based anti-racism He has also considered how issues such organisation Kick It Out. as cultural leave, ‘sorry’ business, NAIDOC Gorman’s work on policy guidelines week and National Reconciliation Week need builds on his earlier research funded by to be recognised by the clubs. an Australian Research Council Linkage “Issues of family and home are extremely Project grant that reviewed the legacy of central to Indigenous culture,” Gorman says. ‘Rule 30’ – the anti-vilification law in the AFL. “If a player needs to go home for a month, The AFL, AFLPA and the Victorian how is this dealt with when they have a Multicultural Commission are current lucrative contract with a club?” partners on this project.

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 21 rear_view

New app pride in to support diversity weight loss Curtin's Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Stirling, says staff A weight-loss program tailored to an dedication and commitment to individual’s shape and health needs fairness and equity played a major will soon be available on a mobile part in the University being recently phone application. named the Highest Ranking Developed by the Chair of Health University in Australia for lesbian, Innovation in Curtin’s Faculty of gay, bisexual, transgender and Health Sciences, Professor Moyez intersex (LGBTI) equality at the /S winburne A stronomy P roductions CSIRO/H arvard Jiwa, the ‘Future Me’ app aims to national Pride in Diversity Awards. motivate obese and overweight Curtin was also ranked 7th in the people to take responsibility for their Radio astronomy top 10 employers for LGBTI people, own health and challenge the while the University’s Ally program behaviours of an increasingly was runner-up for LGBTI Employee overweight population. breaks new Network of the Year. Curtin’s Participants enter their weight, nationally trained Ally network of height and body shape into the app barriers people is readily available on the and the information appears as a Bentley Campus to assist LGBTI clear, electronic image of their body Curtin astrophysicist Dr Ramesh Bhat staff, students and the Curtin shape to determine their current and believes the detection of a number of fast community when needed. projected physique. radio bursts (FRBs), possibly arising from Sheldon Smith, one of Curtin’s The app then advises on the diet high-energy explosions billions of light Student Equity Advisors, was and exercise required to reach goal years away, could revolutionise the way we runner-up in the LGBTI Diversity weight, with images of the body understand the Universe in coming decades. Champion Award. looking progressively slimmer after Bhat, from Curtin’s Department of Says Stirling: “We are extremely four, eight and 12 weeks. Imaging and Applied Physics, says the proud of this recognition, as it fits in Jiwa says the ‘Future Me’ concept bursts light up for very short durations – with our desire to live our values and came from successful anti-smoking about a few thousandths of a second – and demonstrate our commitment and software which shows the rapid would have occurred when the Universe openness to people of diverse ageing effect that inhaling cigarette was much younger. He says their energies, sexuality and gender identity.” smoke has on an individual’s face. durations and distances are such that “If our people succeed, our “Both technologies are based on scientists may be able to use them as University succeeds. And our people the principle that appearance is a powerful tools to measure the amount of will only succeed if they can bring powerful incentive to stop bad habits normal matter in the Universe. their whole selves to work. Anything and make a life change,” Jiwa says. “Such bursts are probably striking our less would compromise their The app has attracted keen interest Earth every day, but they are hard to detect contribution, and Curtin would have from health workers, and with our limited telescope range and field- failed to live up to its values.” negotiations are underway with a of-view,” he says. commercial funder. He recently co-authored a paper on the subject with a team of international scientists in the journal Science. Bhat and his research team used the Parkes radio telescope, in New South Wales, to discover four such bursts. Three more bursts have been found since the paper was

ALANA BLOWFIELD published last month. He says the Murchison Widefield Array project – involving a consortium of 13 international institutions and led by Curtin that will create the groundbreaking low- ANNA-MARIA CALIHANNA frequency radio telescope for the Square Kilometre Array – will make a significant From left: Former High Court judge the Hon. Michael Kirby; Curtin contribution towards finding more FRBs Director of Support Services Michelle in the future. Rogers; country Victoria footballer Jason Ball; and comedian Bob Downe at the Pride in Diversity Awards event.

Professor Moyez Jiwa

22 cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 Two lost up_coming events apan

ALANA BLOWFIELD ships

Curtin University researchers Dr Andrew Hutchison (School of Design and Art),

Andrew Woods (Centre for Marine Science J C enter [ICC] ommunication and Technology) and Dr Petra Helmholz (Department of Spatial Sciences) are working on an ambitious project to document, conserve and interpret the Moving_pictures: For a sneak preview World War II shipwreck sites of the HMAS of the upcoming Ryota Kuwakubo Online open Sydney II and HSK Kormoran for future installation The Tenth Sentiment, generations. visit johncurtingallery.curtin.edu.au/ course reaches The two ships, which sank each other on multimedia/#tenth the stars 19 November 1941, were found in water 2,500 metres deep, 200 km off the coast JOHN CURTIN GALLERY from Shark Bay in the Gascoyne region of 2014 Perth International Curtin’s move to globalise higher Western Australia, in 2008. For the past Arts Festival education with Massive Online two years the team has been developing February – April 2014 Open Courses (MOOCs) saw the plans to return to the site to capture an University launch its first MOOC extensive collection of 3-D photography The John Curtin Gallery presents two in July. and 3-D video content for a high-quality stunning installations by Japanese artists “MOOCs are enabling Curtin to museum exhibition. Ryota Kuwakubo and Paramodel. embrace new technology, teaching The Australian Government recently Ryota Kuwakubo: The Tenth Sentiment methods and learning,” says Deputy granted $483,000 to the project through Vice-Chancellor, Education, the Your Community Heritage program. Ryota Kuwakubo fills a room with a landscape Professor Jill Downie. Woods says the project is a joint venture of minuscule and everyday artefacts, and then seamlessly animates it into an immersive field Almost 1,600 students enrolled into between Curtin University, iVEC@UWA, the of vast and expansive vistas. Journey spellbound Curtin's MOOC in astronomy, based Western Australian Museum, DOF Subsea, through this powerfully hypnotic scene of on the Square Kilometre Array, the Australian National Maritime Museum moving shadows aboard a tiny toy train. which successfully delivered study and other partners. Museum exhibitions in material online to students via Geraldton, Perth and Sydney will tell the Tel: +61 8 9266 4155 : NTT I nter C courtesy : K eizo ioku , photo view ), photo ( installation K uwakubo , 2010 ©R yota television-quality videos, multiple- story of the unlikely battle. Curtin’s newly johncurtingallery.curtin.edu.au choice questions and use of a established ‘HIVE’ (Hub for Immersive simulator. Visualisation and eResearch) at the John Paramodel: The Plastic Model “MOOCs have a valuable place Curtin Gallery will be used to prototype of Paramodel is Paramodel in the University’s Transforming some of the exhibition content. With vivid imagination and meticulous design Learning @ Curtin strategy, and “State-of-the-art visualisation skills, Paramodel creates wondrous T he enth S entiment we have much to learn about technology will allow visitors to experience environments out of mass-produced toys and scalability and learning analytics the reality, diversity and tranquillity of brilliant blue plastic train tracks. from teaching such massive open these two nationally significant shipwreck Incorporating elements sourced locally in classes,” Downie says. sites,” Woods says. Perth, Paramodel creates a new diorama “However, while some students especially for the John Curtin Gallery and the want to learn online, many prefer a Perth International Arts Festival 2014. class environment, so at Curtin we are going with a flexible ‘converged’ HAYMAN THEATRE COMPANY model to cater for face-to-face and online teaching, MOOCs, and Mad Fred distributed learning for students in 10–14 December 2013 distant locations.” Based on actual court transcripts, Mad Fred is Downie says Curtin bought new a grotesque period piece framed by the 1892 equipment for its distributed learning trial of Frederick Bailey Deeming – master through video conferencing, and conman, bigamist and brutal murderer – and refurbished 11 classrooms, equipped the media frenzy that surrounded it. with MOCOWs (mobile online The Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge computers on wheels). Tel: +61 8 9266 2383 Curtin’s second MOOC, on [email protected] Australia–China trade relations, was launched in October, with plans for From left: Andrew Woods; Dr Andrew Hutchison; additional MOOCs in 2014. and Dr Petra Helmholz

cite_SUMMER 2013/2014 23 in_perspective

An enquiring mind

A finalist in the Research or Innovative Practice category of the 2013 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards, Western Australia’s first-ever Professor of Midwifery, Yvonne Hauck, isn’t resting on her laurels – she’s looking to the future.

story Yvonne Hauck photography ALANA BLOWFIELD

I’ve been Western Australia’s first Professor Another current project involves evaluating bringing in the new generation of midwives, of Midwifery for almost three years – a joint parent education sessions offered through involving them in research while they’re appointment between Curtin University and midwifery models of care at KEMH. We want working clinically, and ensuring they are King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). to offer more father-inclusive education not daunted by it. We aim to give them I’ve spent more than three decades working so that men feel information provided is confidence to do more research in the future, in maternal and child health in Canada appropriate to their needs as new parents. to develop their enquiring minds. Effective and Australia, and this current role is a We are evaluating a ‘dads only’ session midwifery research requires a partnership joy, as it involves working collaboratively facilitated by a man, as research suggests with midwives at the coalface. At KEMH, I with students and midwives to increase men may feel more comfortable there than have research assistant positions available our contributions to midwifery research. A in a mixed gender group. to encourage a small number of midwives to key focus of mine is promoting midwifery I’ve been researching breastfeeding for work with me on different research projects. research by supporting higher degree I want to support their engagement in students who are midwives completing their more than 18 years, but I’m also interested research that is relevant to clinical practice. master or PhD degrees. in research on birth experiences and health There is a need to educate the community As with every clinical profession, not every outcomes from homebirths, caesarean about the role of the midwife, who some clinician needs to conduct research, but they section and water births, antenatal care people can mistakenly refer to as nurses. must be consumers of research to allow in hospital, and parent education during Although some choose a midwifery pathway translation of evidence into clinical practice. pregnancy. Having a consultancy in the after being a nurse, those interested in Therefore we need a small, enthusiastic Mental Health Early Life Program at team in WA to guide midwifery research North Metropolitan Health Service, Mental being a midwife can complete a direct-entry for the future. For example, Lucy Lewis, Health, allows me to research aspects option, such as the Bachelor of Science (a midwifery research fellow at Curtin) concerning women’s mental health across (Midwifery) course offered at Curtin. and I are doing a pilot project with young the childbearing period. We have recently We also want the public to understand that pregnant women between the age of 16 and completed a study looking at the sexual nurses and midwives are recognised as 24 who smoke cigarettes. We asked these and reproductive health needs of women unique professions with different roles. women, using a hypothetical scenario, what attending community mental health services. All knowledge gained from our research challenges they would have to overcome to When midwives join KEMH in the graduate into midwifery helps Western Australian stop smoking and what could assist them. program, in their first year in practice one women to make informed decisions around From that information, we put together a graduate is given the opportunity to work their choices in childbirth, and facilitates suite of interventions; that research is still with my research team, one day a week. optimum health outcomes for women and in progress. This is a highlight of my role, as it involves infants. That’s what I want to be able to do.

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There are many ways PROFESSORS DAVID WOOD JEREMY KANE AND MARIA FIOCCO to make a difference to people’s lives. Through Professors A highlight of the Curtin University David Wood and Jeremy Kane’s Foundation, staff of the Maria Fiocco role as a Curtin University are getting are actively Health Sciences behind initiatives to promoting Student support students through their strong belief in the right to Services Officer is seeing how education. Through donations to people come to university to higher education. the Building the Gap Indigenous change and improve their lives. As Curtin strives to Support Program, they are To facilitate this opportunity helping to support Indigenous for change, Jeremy contributes meet global challenges students to successfully to three Curtin projects: the Go by supporting practical transition into tertiary Global program, Building the research and teaching education. Gap Indigenous Support that create solutions “When a person steps into Program, and staff-funded for healthy, sustainable their community having studied scholarship support for students and successful societies, at Curtin they are sending a from low socio-economic backgrounds. donations to the Curtin strong message that education matters, that the effort and “Each is a direct way that I, as University Foundation are sacrifices are worthwhile,” the a staff member, can help Curtin helping to prepare today’s Curtin Director of Strategic be more than just a university, brightest minds for a Relationships, Maria, says. but an institution of social better tomorrow. “A university degree changes change,” he says. lives and contributes to “It is an easy way to make a the building of families and mark and be involved in the communities – the ripple effect work Curtin does. Small amounts is immeasurable. To be educated donated by large numbers of is therefore a right and should be people add up.” accessible to all.”