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Dialogue of Civilisations New Centre Tackles One of the Most Pressing Needs in the World Today

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Dialogue of Civilisations New Centre Tackles One of the Most Pressing Needs in the World Today AUGUST/SEPTEMBERJULY 2006 La Trobe UNIVERSITY Dialogue of Civilisations New Centre tackles one of the most pressing needs in the world today Who killed our giant marsupials? 73854 Bulletin SepAug06 v3.indd1 1 19/9/06 11:35:35 AM La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin International survey IN THIS ISSUE New Centre for Dialogue 3 ranks La Trobe in State’s top three Forum features Anwar Ibrahim 4 Honour for work with LA TROBE UNIVERSITY has been ranked education and training underpinned by a alcohol-related brain injury 4 among Victoria’s elite three universities strong research profile. Onassis Prize for Hellenic Centre 5 – after Melbourne and Monash – in the ‘It is very pleasing that independent Research grant from Greece 6 latest leading global academic rankings, the surveys of this sort continue to bear this Understanding Europe 6 Shanghai Jiao Tong University index of the out,’ he said. world’s top 500 universities. La Trobe also featured among the top The Jiao Tong study surveys more than Research in Action universities in the world in the latest British two thousand universities world-wide on a Times Higher Education Supplement Who killed Australia’s giant variety of criteria including research prizes, league table. It gained 23rd place in the marsupials 7 publications and major citation indices. Arts and Humanities, 68th in the Social Modern tales of an In the table of the top 100 universities in Sciences, 86th in Biomedicine – and was ancient village 8 - 9 the Asia-Pacific region, La Trobe was also ranked overall 98th among the world’s top Bass Strait seabird research 10 placed third in Victoria – and at equal tenth universities. Studies into Indigenous education 11 place among Australia’s 38 universities. Footwear not to blame for falls 12 In that survey, La Trobe University Arts Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian and Humanities was ranked equal 3rd Orthoses research surprises podiatrists 13 Stoddart, said La Trobe University prides in Australia (with Monash University), itself on being an internationally recognised after the University of Melbourne and the leader in the provision of high quality Australian National University. Roche Medal for biochemist 14 • Philosopher wins Eureka Prize 14 Students win EU awards 15 ABR - La Trobe Annual Lecture 15 Arts at La Trobe – writ large 16 Nursing bruises THE WORKPLACE for nurses can be ‘distressing and dangerous’ with nurses reporting being ‘shouted at, punched, stabbed and bitten’ according to a recently published study led by La Trobe University Head of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Gerald Farrell. Almost a third of the nurses who took part in the largest study of its kind in Australia said they had been subjected to both physical and verbal abuse in the last four working weeks, and a quarter had been physically abused had been struck considered resigning because of this. with a hand, fist or elbow and 34 per cent AUGUST/SEPTEMBERJULY 2006 La Trobe Cover: La Trobe UNIVERSITY The research was carried out by had been bitten. University launches Professor Farrell and a team from the Who killed our giant marsupials? new Centre for A further 49 per cent said they had Dialogue, see page 3. University of Tasmania before he joined been pushed or shoved, 48 per cent had Composite image. La Trobe early this year. It was supported been scratched and 38 per cent said that Dialogue of Design Greg Nelson. by the Australian Nursing Federation and Civilizations someone had spat at them. New Centre tackles one of the most pressing needs published in the latest issue of the Journal in the world today ‘We also discovered that six per cent had of Advanced Nursing. been choked and just under one per cent Two-thirds of the 2,407 nurses who took had been stabbed,’ Professor Farrell said. The La Trobe University Bulletin is published part in the survey reported some form of ten times a year by Marketing & Communications, Verbal abuse was most likely to take La Trobe University. abuse during the four-week period covered. the form of rudeness, shouting, sarcasm Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. This ranged from being sworn at, Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, and swearing. Two per cent said that their La Trobe University, Victoria 3086 Australia slapped and spat upon to being bitten, home or family had also been threatened. Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 choked and stabbed. The abused nurses, Email: [email protected] While nursing is a rewarding and Articles: Ernest Raetz, Adrienne Jones, Noel Carrick, who all worked in Tasmania, reported Photos: La Trobe University PDI challenging career, Professor Farrell said an average of four verbal incidents and Design: Campus Graphics, 73854 policies and practices must minimise La Trobe University. between two to three physical incidents. Printed by Work & Turner. workplace aggression, regardless of who Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin Sixty-nine per cent of nurses who had the perpetrators might be. • 2 La Trobe University BULLETIN August/September 2006 73854 Bulletin SepAug06 v3.indd2 2 19/9/06 11:35:38 AM NEWS New Centre for Dialogue ‘Your undertaking comes at a period of sharply increasing intolerance, extremism and violence … That is why initiatives such as your Centre are so important. They can help us unlearn our collective prejudices, and promote contacts and dialogue among different societies.’ - Kofi Annan ‘I am pleased to offer my support for the launch … and congratulate the organisers and the University for what I am sure will be a highly successful institution’ - John Howard Professor Camilleri speaks at the launch of the Centre. THESE TWO MESSAGES of support, The Centre is supported by a wide • community engagement across ethnic, from the UN Secretary-General and cross-section of educational, professional religious and cultural divisions – locally, the Prime Minister, were two of many religious and community organisations, nationally, regionally and globally received from leading local and world as well as many scholars in Australia • policy advice to governments, figures at the official launch of La Trobe and internationally. This is reflected in community organisations, and University’s new Centre for Dialogue. the diverse membership of the Centre’s international agencies Advisory Board. The Centre was launched in the Great • international networking. Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria by Its Board of Management is headed The Centre aims to establish a Global Mr John Pandazopoulos, Minister Assisting by Elizabeth Proust, Chairman of the Network for Dialogue, linking Melbourne the Premier with Multicultural Affairs, in Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She with collaborating institutions in Naples, front of an audience of 800 people. was until recently Managing Director for Oxford, Frankfurt, Moscow, Vancouver, Esanda, and in the late 1990s Secretary of The Centre is the initiative of its Los Angeles, Hawaii, Kuala Lumpur, the Department of Premier and Cabinet Director, Professor of Politics, Joseph Manila, Jakarta, Shanghai, Nagoya, in Victoria. Camilleri. He said: ‘The violence that is Jerusalem, Istanbul, Athens and Nicosia. raging in different parts of the world is a Master of ceremonies at the launch salutary reminder that dialogue is not a was journalist and commentator Phillip moral luxury, but a practical necessity.’ Adams, who conveyed to the gathering The Centre for Dialogue – the first of its the enthusiastic messages of support ‘A world wild with kind in Australia – is of international and received from scholars and universities, national significance. Strongly supported religious leaders, as well as foreign the delirium of hatred’ by the Victorian Government, it places ministers and ambassadors – and both THE LAUNCH also saw the Melbourne, and Australia, at the cutting the present Secretary-General of the Centre’s inaugural Annual Lecture, edge of the dialogue of cultures, religions United Nations, and his predecessor, Mr delivered by distinguished international and civilisations. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. jurist, Judge Christopher Weeramantry, ‘It is an initiative which the University Professor Camilleri said the key aims of the La Trobe University Centre for former Vice President of the International believes can make a significant Court of Justice. contribution through research, education Dialogue included: Renowned for his landmark judgments and community engagement,’ Professor • educational projects designed on the role of culture in international Camilleri said. ‘Our work will be inter- to promote inter-cultural/inter- law, Judge Weeramantry spoke on ‘The cultural – exploring a great many religious civilisational dialogue in schools Dialogue of Cultures: Religions and Legal and cultural traditions – and inter- and universities Systems - an Imperative of our Times’. disciplinary. It will bring together insights • research that addresses the challenges from many fields, including cultural and opportunities presented by cultural, He said: ‘Something is seriously studies, religious studies, education, religious and political diversity wrong somewhere with our attitudes international relations, sociology, law, and conflict towards our fellow planetary citizens. philosophy, history, and economics.’ Continued Page 4 La Trobe University BULLETIN August/September 2006 3 73854 Bulletin SepAug06 v3.indd3 3 19/9/06 11:35:42 AM NEWS Continued from Page 3 Honoured for The most compelling task of all the social disciplines is to examine why we permit work with the paradox of entrenching differences when unity is our burning need. alcohol-related ‘What is the cause? There has been a total breakdown of communication and brain injury of understanding. Each community, each religion, each nation is locked in within its own inherited compartments of knowledge MARTIN JACKSON, Director of and beliefs. Walls of separation prevent La Trobe University’s Psychology Clinic, a vision of the modes of thought, the has been recognised for his research and problems, the strengths and weaknesses of extensive community work in helping the other. people with alcohol and substance related brain injury.
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