LA TROBE Bulletin JUNE 2002

NEWNEW WINDOWWINDOW onon oldold MelbourneMelbourne NEWS

President Stephanopoulos addresses members of La Trobe University and Bulletin ’s Greek community.

IN THIS ISSUE

Digging up a vanished Melbourne community 3

Identifying the most effective teachers 4

HIV/AIDS: Fifteen years after the Grim Reaper 5

Japanese literature for secondary students 6

Pricing precious water 7

Maths in Focus:

A friendly conversation 8

Quintessential mathematicians 9

Standard names – better health records 10

Sports injury-in the body and the mind 11 La Trobe honours Graduations: President of Greece Heart attack – men and women do it differently 12 The President of Greece, Mr Constantinos viewed its library and the ‘Dardalis Respecting difference in a globalised Stephanopoulos, has been honoured for his Archive of the Greek Community’ and met services to Hellenism and Hellenic studies members of staff. world 12 in by La Trobe University Vice- Professor Osborne said Greece was Teaching teachers from Alice Springs 13 Chancellor and President, Professor fundamental to any understanding of Michael Osborne. First Japanese graduates in aged care 13 western influences on civilisation and La The award was presented at a special Trobe has set itself a goal to become one of Reaching out to Cambodia’s children 14 ceremony in June. Held in Union Hall on the most prestigious centres for the study the University’s main Melbourne campus and promotion of Hellenic Studies outside Mario Vargas Llosa to visit La Trobe 15 at Bundoora, it was attended by about 500 of Greece and Cyprus. guests. ‘La Trobe is the only University in Professor Osborne said the award reflects Australia with two Professorial Chairs in the significance that La Trobe attaches to Hellenic Studies, one in its National Cover: An old soda flask Hellenic Studies and recognises the Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research, unearthed at the Casselden generous support which the Greek the other in its Faculty of Humanities and Place archaeological dig in the Government has given to the University in Social Sciences.’ heart of Melbourne, see story this arena. The NCHSR houses some six million next page. Accepting the award, Mr Stephanopoulos documents Ð letters, artefacts, Photo by David Cresswell, said Greece has strong traditions and a photographs, films, books and newspapers La Trobe University Photography respect for knowledge and learning that Ð which constitute an integral part of and Digital Imaging. has travelled alongside Greek people who Hellenic and Australian history.pThe have settled in all the continents of the Centre is supported by the Greek and world. He thanked Professor Osborne, who Cypriot Governments, research centres The La Trobe Bulletin is published ten times a year by the Public Affairs Office, La Trobe University. is also a classical scholar, for La Trobe’s and collaborating , members of Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. strong support of Hellenic studies in Australia’s Greek community and La Photographs can be supplied. Australia. Trobe University. Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, ‘We do not always realise how much we Funding for specific projects comes from La Trobe University, . 3086 Australia owe to those people who work in literature donations Ð the most significant benefactor Tel (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 and ancient studies, and who promote being Dr Zissis Dardalis, Managing Email: [email protected] them,’ Mr Stephanopoulos said. Director of Marathon Food Industries Ð Design: Campus Graphics, (43165) and from research and funding-raising La Trobe University. Patron of La Trobe’s National Centre for Printed by Vaughan Printing Pty Ltd. Hellenic Studies and Research (NCHSR), activities. Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/www/bulletin/ Mr Stephanopoulos inspected the Centre,

2 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 NEWS

Digging up a vanished Melbourne community

Minister Delahunty with La Trobe University is a key partner and and times of La Trobe archaeology sponsor of one of the largest urban Melbourne in the student Stephen Pollock archaeological excavations ever 19th century. at Casselden Place. undertaken in Australia. Planning Minister, The dig is taking place in central , Melbourne, next to an intriguing launched the excavation. ‘In my history history. For example, the dig is expected to archaeological site known as ‘Little Lon’. books this was the red light district of old shed new light on working class housing, Melbourne,’ she told Melbourne’s media. family and community, and the It comprises remains of stone and brick development of early Melbourne. foundations, cobbled laneways, cess ‘Now it appears this may have been a far barrels and a host of artefacts buried until more diversified and lively area than we ‘La Trobe University,’ says Professor recently under car park behind the thought Ð giving us a new window into our Murray, ‘has the largest department of Casselden Place building in Spring St. history,’ added the Minister, who is also a archaeology in Australia. We have a formal former La Trobe Arts graduate. collaborative agreement with the heritage More than twenty La Trobe undergraduate Initial work on the site has uncovered more firm, Godden Mackay Logan, and this sort students are working on the ten week dig of excavation, as well as another in 2000 at as a part of their course. than 10,000 artefacts and unearthed the remnants of a mid-nineteenth century Camp St in Ballarat, helps our students Head of Archaeology at the University, workers cottage. gain greatly in both academic and Professor Tim Murray, has co-designed the vocational experience.’ As well as La Trobe archaeology students, research strategy for the project and is the Professor Murray and Alan Mayne, an senior academic consultant to the dig. selected Victorian secondary school students and a small number of students Associate Professor in History at the He says Casselden Place is one of the last from other universities are also taking part , have a leading opportunities in the Melbourne CBD to in the dig. role in interpreting the results of the investigate an extensive and well preserved project. They are key figures in a new area of nineteenth century urban Community participation has attracted approach to researching the rise of modern archaeological landscape. hundreds of other volunteer helpers. There cities, by merging historical and are site tours, organised through Museum archaeological studies. Eight La Trobe archaeology graduates are Melbourne and a public viewing platform also employed as site supervisors and on Lonsdale Street. Up-dated information This approach has already been applied to artefact analysis staff for the dig by the two on the dig is featured on the web site a previous case study of ‘Little Lon’. Their heritage and archaeological firms, Godden www.heritage.vic.gov.au. work has been supported by two Australian Mackay Logan and Austral Archaeology, Research Council funded projects during who are carrying out the project in Professor Murray, who also heads the late 1990s and has resulted in a collaboration with Heritage Victoria. La Trobe’s School of Historical and recently-published book in Cambridge European Studies, explains ‘Little Lon’ University Press’ New Directions in Heritage Victoria says the project is taking was an area notorious for poverty, crime, Archaeology series. Victorians on an extraordinary journey into pimps and prostitution, but it is now their past Ð revealing glimpses of the life understood that the area has a far richer Continued page 4

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 3 NEWS

Digging up a vanished Melbourne community Ð continued from page 3

Titled The Archaeology of Urban Landscapes Ð explorations in Slumland, Professors Murray and Mayne say material from such excavations Ð broken kitchen china, glass grog bottles, and tonnes of building debris, nails and plaster samples Ð will not quickly find its way into museum collections. ‘But, properly interpreted, it yields evidence of lives that have left little in the way of written records.’ The ‘Little Lon’ precinct, on the former Commonwealth Block, was the site of a number of archaeological excavations in 1988, followed by the Black Eagle and Oddfellows Hotel premises in 1990, and No17 Casselden Place in 1995. Detailed re-analysis, says Professor Murray, has significantly refined and, in some instances, overturned earlier interpretations. ‘This has lead to a more complex and Professor Murray, right, and La Trobe graduate complete picture of nineteenth and early Urban Workshop, recreating the original Catherine Tucker sort through the rubbish of twentieth century life in Melbourne.’ laneways. Industry Superannuation another era found in a pit behind one of the old Property Trust, which owns the site, is houses on the site. The area being excavated is scheduled to funding the dig and associated historic be redeveloped in 2003 as a $300 million investigation. contemporary office precinct called the Identifying the most effective teachers

La Trobe University Professor of He said the project found ‘marked Education, Peter Sullivan, has triggered differences in achievements between debate in Victoria’s education sector classes Ð differences that are largely over research findings that reveal attributable to the teachers. marked differences between the ‘In other words, there are some highly effectiveness of teachers. effective teachers out there and some not He has called on schools to consider the so effective teachers and this is apparent criteria for teaching effectiveness and to across all geographic areas and without find ways to support teachers who are social or economic boundaries.’ less effective than they could be. Following that research, Professor Professor Sullivan is Head of the Sullivan has released a discussion paper La Trobe University Institute of with Dr Andrea McDonough from the Education in the University’s Faculty Australian Catholic University entitled, for Regional Development at . Teachers Differ in their Effectiveness. He was involved in the Department of ‘Rather than using the research to point Education and Training Early the finger at teachers who are not Numeracy Research Project that effective in their teaching, we hope to Professor Sullivan: investigated mathematics teaching and use it as a platform to promote marked differences in learning in Prep to Year 2 in 70 discussion among teachers, schools and achievements that are largely attributable to Victorian schools. communities.’ teachers. See ‘Maths: a friendly conversation’, page 8.

4 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 HEALTH

FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER THE GRIM REAPER HIV/AIDS study finds discrimination and poverty is still a problem

than one in 10 had been discriminated against over accommodation. Poverty levels among men and women living with HIV/AIDS is of great concern, the report said. Nearly one half have a government pension or benefit as their main source of income with almost a third of them living below the poverty line. More than half of this group had difficulties meeting costs of co-payments for HIV medication and other prescribed drugs, as well as food, clothing, transport and childcare. While praising the efforts of welfare and support services, Dr Grierson said ‘it remains a gross indictment of a wealthy society like Australia that people with HIV continue to suffer this level of privation’. ‘The gap is widening between those for whom the new treatments have been of enormous benefit, and those for whom they have either not worked at all, or given only limited or short-term improvement,’ he said. The Grim Reaper from the television commercial, courtesy of Even those who are doing well on the new Commonwealth Department of treatments were struggling with the highly Health and Ageing. regimented manner in which the drugs must be taken, and the debilitating side Many people living with HIV/AIDS face More than half the respondents reported effects were experienced by almost half the significant discrimination Ð and one in that they were experiencing stigmatisation sample taking the drugs. three live below the poverty line Ð despite and discrimination as a result of their HIV ‘It is therefore not surprising that 41% of the fact that mortality rates for HIV have infection. those using these drugs had taken breaks or declined dramatically in Australia over the ‘It is fifteen years since the Grim Reaper "holidays" from the relentless daily drug last few years. Campaign raised the spectre of HIV regime regardless of the impact these This finding is contained in the latest infection for the Australian public,’ said La breaks had on their health,’ Dr Grierson La Trobe University research report, HIV Trobe’s Dr Jeffrey Grierson, said. Futures 3: Positive Australians on investigator on the project. ‘And we seem In Australia the reporting of AIDS Services, Health and Well Being, launched to be no closer to a sound public awareness diagnoses (the end stage of HIV infection) recently by the Minister for Health and of the nature of this disease so that we can peaked in 1994 and has been declining Aged Care, Kay Patterson. deal fairly with those affected by it.’ ever since Ð a picture that has given those The report was prepared by the Discrimination occurred in many areas. living with HIV a new optimism about the University’s Australian Research Centre in More than one in three people had future. Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS). Its experienced discrimination in relation to ‘However, unless the social and economic findings cover important aspects of living medical treatment, particularly breaches of circumstances of those who experience with HIV such as health status, treatment confidentiality and refusal of treatment. day to day difficulties with HIV infection use, access to services, finances and Nearly one in five had faced harassment can be improved, this optimism may well discrimination. and lived with fear of violence or had be short-lived.’ experienced discrimination at work. More

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 5 EDUCATION

Japanese literature in English CD-ROM FOR AUSTRALIAN VCE STUDENTS

1000 Ð to the winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for literature, Oe Kenzaburo, one of Japan’s best-known modernwriters. Other writers featured include Oda Katsuzo who witnessed the bombing of Hiroshima and has written in graphic detail about the short and long term effects of the horrific blast. ‘Reading the works of these writers will give Australian students an insight into some of the enduring themes in Japanese history and culture and enable them to engage in a lively manner with "difference",’ Dr Pandey says. ‘Such understanding is essential if we are serious about introducing different facets of Asian culture into our schools. ‘There is no compulsion for teachers to introduce the Japanese module into their English course, but they will help their students understand a lot more about Japan if they do. ‘It will help them to understand how, for example, the dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to capture the imagination of the Japanese in creative terms, and why this often comes out in apocalyptic themes,’ she said. Dr Pandey: atomic bomb attacks help explain apocalyptic themes. ‘Australian students have long been able to What forms the Japanese outlook on life? Among them will be a Japanese literature read translations of non-English European Why, for example, do modern creative module containing English language classics, from Macchiavelli through Japanese animation films and ‘manga’- translations of the prose and poetry of 10 Chekov to Victor Hugo, and so have style comics contain so much violence and famous Japanese writers. The module will gleaned some notion of the history and have an underlying apocalyptic theme? contain texts, a brief analysis of the texts, culture of the Italians, Russians and information about the writers and their French. According to La Trobe University lecturer period of history Ð and lots of illustrations ‘But we have never used literature as a way in Japanese, Dr Raj Pandey, Australian to provide life and interest. secondary students will never know the of understanding Asian history and culture. reasons unless they acquire knowledge of Dr Pandey recently completed the We should be using literature as a means of Japanese literature Ð and through that of mammoth task of selecting the Japanese understanding our most important trading Japanese history, culture and values. writers and preparing the descriptions, partner.’ historical and cultural backgrounds, and Originally from India, Dr Pandey did her Dr Pandey, from the University’s finding the illustrations. The result was a PhD at the Australian National University Department of Asian Studies, has done painstakingly researched module of 20,000 on the writings of Kamo no Chomei, a something definite about it. words. major literary figure in medieval Japan. Through her initiative Australian teachers She worked as a contractor to the She believes colonialism caused people in will have, for the first time, an opportunity Curriculum Corporation which prepared Asia to look to Europe rather than to present their students with a cross the CD-ROMs for the National Asian sideways to other Asian countries for section of Japanese writers as part of the Languages and Studies in Australian cultural exchanges. VCE English curriculum. Schools Taskforce. ‘We had more cultural exchange between In a program to be introduced in mid 2002, The writers she selected range from the India and Japan in the eighth century when secondary teachers around Australia will author of the first known novel ever written Buddhist monks exchanged visits than we have available a CD-ROM presenting by a woman Ð The Tale of Genji by did when I was growing up. It is important authentic Asian source materials. Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the for Australia to participate in this cultural imperial court, published around the year exchange between Asian nations.’

6 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 RESEARCH

PRICINGPRICING PRECIOUSPRECIOUS

WATERWATER WetWet andand drydry economiceconomic argumentsarguments

Water is an important input to the This is also why authorities have resorted difficult to divert water from some low- Australian economy but not a limiting to restrictions and encouraging a valued agricultural uses to more highly factor for economic or population growth, conservation ethic, rather than relying valued urban uses. While Australia is not says Dr Robert Dumsday. solely on price to achieve rationing. dry in per capita terms, its rainfall is more A senior lecturer in La Trobe University’s In addition, infrequent restrictions avoid variable than that of other countries. Hence Department of Economics and Finance, Dr the excessive costs of building storages to it has the highest per capita storage in the Dumsday argues Australia is well endowed withstand rare situations like a once in a world Ð equivalent to three Olympic with fresh water resources on a per capita 100-year drought. swimming pools for every Australian. basis. Water use in Australia increased by about stores roughly four to five times In addition, Australia has become a world 25% from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s more drinking water per person than New leader in water demand management and but Melbourne’s consumption remained York and London. So costs of storing water the development of water institutions. static as more conservative use offset can be substantial, especially if we consider the environmental costs. Dr Dumsday assisted with the recent population growth. Inquiry into the Allocation of Water In terms of average rainfall Australia is one Many of our contemporary problems in Resources, conducted by the Environment of the world’s driest countries, a simple water use and misuse go back to legal, and Natural Resources Committee of the measure used to justify building dams and constitutional and institutional constraints, Parliament of Victoria, and spoke on the irrigation systems. says Dr Dumsday. ‘States’ rights’ can be a serious impediment to efficient water topic at a Melbourne Water seminar on But in terms of average available water per 'Water Management and Conservation'. markets. Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin head of population Australia has more crosses four States and decisions on water ‘The gains of water-use reform are already available water than most other countries, use in one State affect the options and becoming evident in the urban sector. It is about double that of the US and five times outcomes in other States. time to face the more difficult challenges that of the UK. Trading is essential for efficient water use. of consolidating reform in rural areas,’ he We use between 12% and 20% of available says. It exposes the value of water in its fresh water. This varies, with the Murray- alternative uses, to all users, whether they Because water is such an essential input for Darling Basin being close to full trade or not. Water reform agenda create irrigation and many industrial and commitment, but the resources most problems for rural Australia, he says. domestic uses, demand is often ‘price under-utilised are in northern Australia. inelastic’ Ð taking quite an increase in price About 75 % of our water goes for to achieve a given reduction in demand. agriculture and horticulture compared with about 42% in the US. It should not be too Continued page 10

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 7 TEACHING MATHSMATHS IN IN FOCU FOCU

of mathematics that has been too common teaching and learning, he has published a A friendly in the past.’ large number of papers. For three years Professor Sullivan has been He has long maintained an active interest involved in the Early Numeracy Research in education in Papua New Guinea, having conversation Project that investigated mathematics written maths textbooks from first grade to teaching in primary schools. One of the sixth grade for PNG primary schools. Mathematics classes should constitute a key findings of that project was that Since his appointment at La Trobe he has friendly conversation between students and students who are in classes where teachers begun a two-year research project with the teacher rather than a monologue from the communicate in this way are more likely to Victorian Department of Education and teacher. learn mathematics well. (See also page 4.) Training seeking to improve education for Does this sound like a revolutionary new Well-known internationally for his Koori students. approach to teaching mathematics? research on education and in particular Working with researchers from Deakin and ‘Not so,’ says the newly appointed Head of mathematics teaching, Professor Sullivan Griffith universities, Professor Sullivan is La Trobe University Institute for comes to La Trobe after 18 years at examining appropriate teaching strategy Education, Professor Peter Sullivan. Australian Catholic University and its for incorporating all students in the predecessor institutions where he was ‘It is merely applying the results of classroom community. Head of the School of Education for nine research which indicates that teachers must years, and the University of Technology in ‘We aim to ensure that the classroom find out what each student already knows, Lae, Papua New Guinea. strategies and teaching are so constituted and then build upon that knowledge. that Koori students and others do not feel He is at home in Bendigo, having taught at ‘This does not come about by a teacher isolated,’ Professor Sullivan said. Eaglehawk High School from 1976 to standing up front and imparting facts in a 1980. The research is under way in four schools, one-way direction. There has to be at Werribee, Bendigo and two from other interaction in a friendly and trusting Professor Sullivan’s international profile is rural areas. atmosphere in which students build on reflected in his position as treasurer and a ‘We are looking at ways teachers set the their knowledge. Students have their own committee member of the International context for classroom activities that are ways of approaching mathematics and Group for the Psychology of Mathematics appropriate, and these often come down to teachers must appreciate this. Education and as one of four editors of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher very basic things. ‘Such an approach to mathematics learning Education. A frequent speaker at national ‘For example, an enterprising teacher used will go a long way to eliminating the fear and international conferences on maths a police identification parade during a

8 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 TEACHING

others, have indulged their passion for seeking solutions to mathematical problems. Society members also come from others universities, Melbourne, Monash, RMIT as well as banks, and even the Boeing company. SS Dr Cairns and two ex-students, Grant Armstrong and Con Lozanovski, launched the society in early 1998. Since then it has devoted each year to a special theme. In 1998 it was Galois Theory, in 1999 Probability and Measure Theory, in 2000 the Riemann Hypothesis and 2001, the Fundamental Theory of Algebra. The theme for 2002 is the Continuum Hypothesis. Apart from a congenial setting in which people can share their ideas, and broaden their knowledge of mathematics and its history, the society gives students and younger members an opportunity to gain experience in presenting and discussing mathematics in a friendly environment. At the functions, two or three people each give 20-minute presentations. Some use a small blackboard, but others are more imaginative. One person summarised the history of mathematics lesson to illustrate mathematical concepts in the form of a differences in individual heights. The Quintessential short play and there have been readings of teacher did not realise that this may not be prose and poetry. a reasonable context for a student who had been exposed to the custody system. mathematicians For example, author Tom Petsinis presented an extract from his fictional ‘In addition, a teacher’s classroom Swift to their several quarters haste then memoir The French Mathematician. And demeanour Ð whether intended or not Ð The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, aire, fire; the society has its own resident artist, can be threatening to some students. We And this ethereal quintessence of heaven founding member Con Lozanovski, who came across a simple example of a teacher Flew upward…and turned to stars donates a painting every year to the guest who appeared to be talking down to Numberless as thou seest. speaker at the annual Christmas meeting of students because of her habit of holding - From Milton’s Paradise Lost the society, which is held on the Bundoora her chin high.’ campus. The first workshops for this new program Many members of La Trobe University’s Why the name, the Quintessentialist were held in Bendigo in April. School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences are quintessential mathematicians Society? For the ancient Greeks, says Dr In another early initiative, Professor Ð and they can prove it! Cairns, there were four elements, or forms, Sullivan led a group of teachers from the in which matter could exist: fire, air, water They are members of a group run by the Bendigo area in a series of six professional and earth. development television programs for the Department of Mathematics called the ‘Aristotle added a fifth essence: Department of Education and Training. Quintessentialist Society. quintessence, ether Ð more subtle and pure This was part of a state-wide middle years Convened by Reader and Associate than fire, and possessed of an orbicular Numeracy Research project. Professor, Dr Grant Cairns, the society motion, which flew upwards at creation meets fortnightly in a Collingwood café to Professor Sullivan said the Institute for and formed the basis of the stars. Education also plans to run courses over discuss mathematics informally over ‘Hence the word stands for the essential five La Trobe campuses and to streamline dinner. principle or the most subtle extract of a the administrative processes. Usually about 25 lovers of mathematics, body that can be produced. Horace speaks about half of them La Trobe staff and The Institute for Education is in of "kisses that Venus has imbued with the students, attend the functions. La Trobe’s Faculty for Regional Development quintessence of her own nectar",’ says Dr at Bendigo. For almost four years pure and applied Cairns. mathematicians, statisticians, students and

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 9 NEWS

PRICING PRECIOUS WATER Ð from page 7 ‘Forces leading to lower ‘real’ (net of inflation) water prices include competition policy and the activities of the Australian ‘Historically, irrigation water prices were ‘Price increases may do nothing for the Competition and Consumer Commission, based on the running costs of supply, with environment. It is preferable to use more improved water markets and opportunities capital costs of infrastructure funded by direct interventions, such as charges on for trade, productivity improvements and governments. drainage water or water-borne pollutants to improved institutional arrangements. ‘This is commonly viewed today as being address environmental concerns. ‘Forces leading to higher real water prices undesirable and there is emphasis on “full ‘Unless there is a mechanism for farmers include uncompetitive practices by water cost recovery”. This emphasis is to be compensated for transferring water to companies and government agencies to misdirected. Prices should be based on the environmental purposes, savings in water increase profits and revenues, removal of scarcity value of water, as determined by use from improved efficiency will tend to cross-subsidisation of water use and the market forces of supply and demand, be distributed to other farmers, rather than increased costs of meeting rising not on a cost plus basis. to the environment,’ Dr Dumsday says. environmental standards.’ ‘Many rural water users are in a weak ‘If governments simply transfer water All things considered, Dr Dumsday position with respect to water rights. savings from farmers to the environment concludes, we should not have any Governments seem reluctant to agree to without compensation, the incentive for increases in real water prices in the future. these rights before embarking on new irrigators to cooperate in further water In fact, if our performance is good enough, trading or transfer arrangements. saving is diminished. it may be possible to see falling real prices ‘ Environmental custodians should also ‘Environmental agencies should be in there for water while at the same time improving participate in water markets because it is bidding for water, based on rational our environment. simplistic to argue that water prices should assessments of the value of the water to the rise to meet environmental objectives. environment. Standard names for better health care

The new ‘Standards Australia’ Health name that person wants to be known as. registered as names rather that what Care Client Identification standard for The new system is not there to check or they really are: titles. And it finally Australia and New Zealand, a total re- to verify the identities of people who resolves the old problem of how to write of the previous Patient want to be known by a certain name. It standardise the use of O’ in Irish names. Identification standard, is due for is their right to be called the name they ‘Our system finally eliminates confusion release in mid 2002. want to call themselves. about the correct use of the apostrophe,’ La Trobe University health informatics ‘However it enables health care Ms Grain says. expert and lecturer in the School of providers to put on record that person’s Another way it helps is in later Public Health, Ms Heather Grain, was health history, even though that person identifying babies whose birth is one of four major contributors to the has used a different name when treated registered in hospital before the baby is final draft of the complex document that previously,’ she said. given a name. Such babies are still for the first time codifies the It allows medical staff to access the registered with their mother’s name management and use of client names in previous health records while with the prefix ‘baby of’ to allow the Australia’s health system. preserving the person’s right to the parents time to finalise naming of the She represents both La Trobe and health name they are currently using provided baby consumers in general on the Health the patient authorises such access. Perhaps the greatest benefit will be the Informatics Committee of Standards The new standard also solves problems compilation of accurate statistics for Australia, and also on a sub committee that arise in the accurate recording of epidemiological purposes Ð recording known as the Working Party on many names, both European and non- the extent of diseases in the community. Identification and Linkage that European. Previously, somebody could be admitted produced the final document from a For example, one is the problem in to a hospital with diabetes, and later to draft prepared by the Victorian Health another hospital with the same disease, Department. Western countries of correctly identifying people of Chinese origin, but under another name. In the past, ‘For the first time, the new standard some of who maintain the tradition of this has confused records of the number allows for the identification of people the putting their family name first, and of cases of that disease. same way in all different software others who now put their given names ‘We always knew the number of cases packages used by all organisations in first. admitted to hospital, but we never knew health care in Australia,’ Ms Grain said. There has been additional confusion how many of the cases were the same ‘It enables the development of software when such words as Tran and Sri come person. The new standard will eliminate to identify readily anybody who presents up on medical records. Often they are this,’ she said. for health care Ð irrespective of the

10 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 NEWS

SPORTS INJURY in the body and the mind What happens to an AFL footballer’s mental state when he is injured?

research project has probed the Ms Ruddock talks with Western relationship between physical injury and Bulldogs captain Chris Grant and psychological wellbeing. player Matthew Robbins, right. At the rear are Western Bulldog Luke Penny Supervised by Mr Paul O’Halloran and Mr with La Trobe's Mr O'Halloran, left, Mike McGartland, both lecturers in and Mr McGartland. La Trobe’s School of Public Health, Ms Mandy Ruddock is conducting the research for a doctoral thesis. The project monitors all 42 players on the Western Bulldogs senior list, and several other AFL clubs have expressed interest. Ms Ruddock said the project was being carried out in two stages. The first, a retrospective study, was completed during the 2002 pre-season. Players completed detailed questionnaires that included questions about their expectations should they be injured. ‘We questioned them about coping mechanisms and also about the roles they could expect to play in the club should injury keep them out of the side. ‘Medical, training, coaching and management staff are also involved because their role and their attitudes are very important to players Ð as are the attitudes of the players’ families and friends,’ she said. The second phase is a longitudinal study. It began at the start of the 2002 AFL season and Bulldog players will be closely monitored for the entire AFL season. ‘If a player is injured, he fills out more detailed questionnaires as well as being personally interviewed at regular intervals during periods of injury. ‘We anticipate that information from these studies will be of direct benefit to players How serious can the psychological, the physical affect of injury assume major when dealing with the stress associated emotional and behavioural effects be when proportions. with injury. Outcomes from this research injury adversely affects his form, or worse, La Trobe University researchers are will be useful to clubs when designing forces him out of the team? working with the Western Bulldogs in a their injury rehabilitation program.’ These days when AFL players are full-time major scientific investigation into how Ms Ruddock expects to analyse the results professional sportsmen whose sporting and players cope psychologically with injuries. and present a report to the Western often private lives are under constant They believe it is the first time in the long Bulldogs Club before the start of the 2003 public scrutiny, the non-physical as well as history of Australian football that a pre-season.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 11 GRADUATION

HEART ATTACK Men and women do it differently

Research by La Trobe University, Bendigo while most men in the sample described PhD graduate, Helen Aikman, has revealed the pain as "fearful".’ differences in the physical Women were also quicker to tell someone symptoms of heart attack, as well as else of their symptoms, call an ambulance differences in the way men and women or seek other transport to get there. respond to those symptoms, and seek treatment. ‘On average, women arrived at hospital almost twice as quickly as did the male Dr Aikman, a lecturer in nursing in the sample, regardless of whether they thought La Trobe Faculty for Regional they were having a heart attack or not. On Development at Bendigo, conducted the average, only the men who thought they research as part of her doctoral thesis. She were having a heart attack got to hospital received her doctorate during the recent as quickly as the women.’ graduation ceremonies. Dr Aikman said this was the opposite of all She said her study involved analysing the known overseas data on this topic, and the experiences of a sample of regional men only other Australian study on delay in and women who had heart attacks and getting to hospital had found no difference identifying the symptoms experienced, between men and women. their responses and the influence of others in their seeking of treatment. The research may help health practitioners Dr Aikman: differences in symptoms and increase their understanding of cardiac responses. ‘Women were more likely to report arm illness and patient responses, as well as pain,’ Dr Aikman said, ‘and most described education programs. the pain as tiring, exhausting and heavy,

Respecting difference in a ‘globalised’ world

Graeme Castleman was recently awarded with a Bachelor of Arts degree, also in the prestigious DM Myers University religious studies. The couple met and Medal as most the outstanding married during their studies. Mrs undergraduate honours student at La Trobe Castleman plans to study Christian University, Bendigo. theology and enter the Anglican His research explores comparisons priesthood. between Christian and Islamic theology. The couple were among more than 900 He is now studying for his PhD in this field people who graduated at La Trobe, while also tutoring in Greek mythology Bendigo, recently. and Islam at the University. Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean at Mr Castleman said there was renewed La Trobe, Bendigo, Professor Les community interest in religious and Kilmartin, said eight graduates from philosophical studies as more people Singapore attended the ceremonies after sought to question modern values. completing studies ‘Research such as this aims to help people offshore. identify the harmonies in different world ‘These students are examples of the views while still respecting the differences success of the University's offshore between them Ð and this is becoming more programs. Through technology and Mr Castleman receives his degree at a recent important in an increasingly globalised innovative course programs more than 100 graduation ceremony. world.’ students have been able to complete For Mr Castleman the graduation degrees at La Trobe, Bendigo, this year ceremony was a double celebration while living in their own countries. because his wife, Kirsty-Skye, graduated

12 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 GRADUATION

La Trobe teaches teachers from Alice Springs

A La Trobe University course run in Alice Springs has helped seven mature-age indigenous students gain their Bachelor of Teaching degrees. The graduates Ð who already had considerable experience as teacher aides at the bilingual Yipirinya School for Aboriginal children in Alice Springs as well as in a variety of other employment and training roles Ð are shown here after their recent graduation on the University’s Bendigo campus. The course followed an association originally forged five years ago between La Trobe and the Institute for Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs. Head of Arts and Education at the La Trobe Faculty for Regional Development at Bendigo, Dr Barry Brockley, said the The Alice Springs graduates, from left, Beverley Angeles, Jody Kopp, Cecily Palmer, Dean Briscoe, program helped the group further their Carmel Ryan, Kym Thompson, and Tisha Carter. teaching knowledge and skills, and gain a university teaching qualification without Several have been employed as teachers at The course was largely funded by a grant having to travel long distances for study. the Yipirinya School, Alice Springs, where from the Structured Training and they had previously been teacher aides, Employment Project (STEP) from the Co-ordinated from the Institute for while others have found work as teachers Commonwealth Department of Education at Bendigo, the course was in other Aboriginal community schools. Employment, Workplace Relations and taught by staff who spent periods of block This is the second group of Central Small Business to Yipirinya School teaching in Alice Springs. Dr Brockley Council. Yipirinya is an independent, said the seven graduates are strongly Australian Aboriginal people to receive La Trobe qualifications. The first Aboriginal controlled bi-cultural school. committed to the educational development La Trobe also contributed. of their people and communities. completed a Graduate Certificate in Management.

First Japanese graduates in aged care Seventy year-old nun, Sister Shigeko University’s School of Nursing and Tomii, 70, from Tokyo, left, and Ms Masae Midwifery’s International Program. Akiyama, from Hojo City in Ehime They are shown here before the ceremony Prefecture, right, were among the first with Head of School, Ella Lowe. Program group of 22 Japanese aged care workers Director, Mr John Field, said La Trobe had who graduated from La Trobe University designed the two courses to meet steadily recently. increasing demand for aged care and Sister Tomii was awarded her Bachelor of advanced nursing in Japan. Aged Care degree and Ms Akiyama was The program is offered in collaboration the top graduate of the group. The group with The Nissoken Group, which focuses received La Trobe degrees undertaken by on educational programs and publications distance education through the for nurses in Japan.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 13 NEWS

LA TROBE STUDENTS REACH OUT to Cambodia’s children

their parents murdered, been physically and sexually abused, abandoned, and suffered malnutrition. The orphanage saves some of these children from being sold into prostitution or slave labour.’ Above: children in the grounds of the orphanage. Right: Ms Cooke with four of the orphans. The College’s affiliation with the Students at La Trobe University’s Menzies money will be to used to build a new orphanage began early last year, following College have adopted an orphanage in orphanage for 100 children. a visit to Cambodia by College Head, Dr Phnom Penh. The orphanage cares for The students who went to Cambodia are Michael Shortland. approximately 53 children ranging from 2 Aleisha Carroll, Ashley Morphet, Narelle Menzies College is continuing to raise to 18 years of age. Cook, Julie Hill, Lauren Secombe, and funds and more students plan to visit Six students from the college Ð one of Alison Hocking. Cambodia in late November. three residential colleges on La Trobe’s Ms Cook, Community Programs Officer at ‘The target this year is $10,000 and we main Melbourne campus at Bundoora Ð Menzies College, said: ‘During our stay need all the help we can get,’ says Ms went to Cambodia earlier this year to work we built up a special relationship with the Cook. as volunteers at the Australia-Cambodia children and had our lives touched and Foundation orphanage. changed dramatically. People wishing to donate to the appeal During their visit, at a ceremony hosted by ‘Many were orphaned because their should contact: Narelle Cook or Michael the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, parents died of disease or were killed Shortland on Tel: (03) 9479 1072. they handed over $5,000 raised by college during the coup of 1997. Some have seen students over the past 18 months. The OLA AWARD FOR ‘MOST STIMULATING LECTURER’ Students of Open Learning Australia, ‘His style of distance education teaching is OLA, have named La Trobe University’s highly personal,’ the magazine said. ‘Hindi Dr Peter Friedlander, left, as their ‘most students are offered weekly telephone stimulating lecturer’. tutorials and Buddhism students have the The OLA student publication, Dialogue, option of attending on-line tutorials.’ called on students to nominate The magazine noted Dr Friedlander ‘inspirational’ lecturers. Dr Friedlander, regarded the nature of studying religion as who teaches Hindi Language and Buddhist ‘quite personal with students examining Studies, came out tops. their own lives within the context of their His OLA students come not only from all studies’. over Australia but also from France, ‘If they have gone to that sort of trouble Austria, Nepal, Singapore and the USA. then I feel they deserve an appropriate Dialogue said that Dr Friedlander was one response,’ he says. of the few Hindi language specialists in Dialogue quoted a student, Erina Booker: Australian universities. An OLA lecturer ‘I was extremely inspired by Dr Peter since 1997, he has developed both the Friedlander. I could not have had better Hindi Language and Buddhist subject communication with, and inspiration from, streams. a lecturer.’

14 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN JUNE 2002 NEWS

Mario Vargas Gambling to goldfields, Llosa to speak this model is on the move at La Trobe Celebrated Peruvian writer, Mario La Trobe University’s Centre for The project is the latest in a long Vargas Llosa, will visit La Trobe Sustainable Regional Communities has list of applications for the REMPLAN University in October. He will give made available its Regional Economic System since Mr Pinge first developed the public lectures at both the University’s Modelling and Planning System model to examine the economic impact of main Melbourne campus in Bundoora, (REMPLAN) to the Mildura Rural City gaming on the Bendigo . It has been and at the Mildura campus. Council. The model was developed by expanded to model the economic activity Author of 13 novels, as well as a Principal Research Fellow of the Centre, of many regional communities. journalist, literary critic and essayist, he Ian Pinge. Local governments across Northern and has been dubbed the ‘Peruvian The Mildura project has been funded Central Victoria have engaged the Centre Flaubert’. Unlike many of his fellow jointly by La Trobe and the Mildura Rural to develop similar models for their Latin American ‘magical realist’ City Council under the University’s Ð and the model has traveled as far as writers, Vargas Llosa’s fiction has been Industry Collaborative Grant Scheme. where it is about to be described as ‘hyper realism.’ Director of La Trobe University’s Mildura used by the Goldfields Esperance Most of his books Ð from The Time of Campus, Ron Broadhead, said one of the Development Commission. the Hero (1963), the popular Aunt Julia major uses of the model is to enable local It has also been employed by the and the Script Writer (1977) to his latest, planners to estimate the economic impact Department of Natural Resources and The Goats Feast (2000) Ð are set in Peru of changes in industry sectors and the flow Environment for studies into Victoria’s and have been translated into many on effects to other sectors of the local logging industry and by the Department of foreign languages. economy. It will also provide local Infrastructure to investigate the expected Vargas Llosa is also well-known as a economic data not previously available. impact of the mineral sands industry in crusader for democratic freedom and western Victoria. civil liberties in Latin America. A former president of PEN International, for many years he lived in exile after his unsuccessful bid for the Peruvian POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE presidency in 1990. He now lives in La Trobe historian strikes musical note Madrid and London. La Trobe Professor of Spanish, Roy on the Golden Jubilee Boland, says ‘The recent restoration of democratic government in Peru is not concert was one of the major celebrations only a vindication of Vargas Llosa’s marking the Queen’s 50 years on the arduous campaign, but also a throne. celebration of the roles intellectuals can Ms Ward, a La Trobe PhD student, wrote play in the cause of freedom.’ her paper on one of the most famous pieces Mario Vargas Llosa, below visited of music written in Great Britain in the La Trobe in 1993 when he delivered a 20th century Ð Sir Edward Elgar’s Land of key University lecture titled Fiction: Hope and Glory, recognised around the The Power of Lies and attend an world as Britain’s second national anthem. international symposium on his work. The photo, right, shows Ms Ward after the jubilee concert with well-known royal Details about the lectures from historians Dr David Starkey, left and Tel: (03) 9479 2577 / 2428. Robert Lacey. Dr Starkey is President of the Society for Court Studies and presenter of two recent TV series, The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth First. He has been invited by members of La La Trobe University historian, Ms Yvonne Trobe’s History Program to speak at the Ward played a part in the recent Golden University later this year. Robert Lacey, Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II by writing guest editor of the special edition of The the leading paper in a special edition of Court Historian in which Ms Ward’s The Court Historian, published to article appeared, is author of the world- accompany The Society for Court Studies’ wide best seller, Majesty, a biography of Concert of Royal and Coronation Music. Queen Elizabeth II. Performed in Westminster Abbey, the

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