( Vice-Chancellor's Column )

The new academic year has 1960s and 1970s as strong research based, provided an opportunity to innovative and comprehensive universities. We welcome many new students have developed ways of making ourselves to the University as well as distinctive by adopting alternative organisational cominuing students returning structures and innovative approaches to teaching to complete or progress their and learning, research and community studies. In addition, I warmly engagement, and by actively recruiting students welcome new staff members, from more diverse backgrounds than are typically many of whom are from found in longer-established universities. outside the Central Coast and the Hunter, to their IRU Australia will use the resources of the six 'new' university. universities (Q increase and extend the activities of member universities in research, teaching and The commencement learning, international programs, commercial ceremonies at Callaghan and enterprises, regional initiatives and engagement Ourimbah this year were very with business, the professions and communities. successful, including the Our universities will continue to stress the Faculty based functions. importance of a strongly student-focused learning By now, I hope that new environment, with schemes to promote access, students have been inducted equity and diversity> and place emphasis on into the operations of the multiple modes of delivery, integrating the new University, and have a good working knowledge educational technologies into high-quality face-to­ of life at a large research intensive university, set in face teaching and online learning. The relationship MarchiApril edition distinctive regional locations here in Newcastle and between the universities will evolve rather quickly on the Central Coast. Increasingly of course, our this year, with initial meetings focusing on Editorial enquiries students may be located in countries around the identifying obvious areas for cooperation, phonelfax 49561869 world, as they undertake academic programs online collaboration and benchmarking. This relationship or mob 0412 128727, or at one of our partner locations in South East Asia will not be an exclusive one to the detriment of email prklb@alinga. or here in Australia. current or future plans for partnership in specific newcasde.edu.au. areas with other universities. I hope that you join Display advertising A major feature this year of our new domestic with me and the University Council in welcoming I enquiries to Dianne undergraduate enrolments has been that the this new cooperative development. . Taylor on 4921 8641 University continues to be a 'first choice university' and classified ads to for students. The University has attracted 11 percent I have personally worked at two other IRU Kate Grady on of all first preferences to the University Admissions Australia universities (Griffith and La Trobe), and 49216856. Centre (UAC), for III individually named degree have been closely familiar with the plans and programs. In addition, UAl's for every program objectives of these and others in our group. May Publisher except 11 at the University have increased from I invite you to participate in this exercise when the Christina Murdoch those of 2002, and the following programs required opportunity becomes available. I hope you, like a UAI of 90 or more: physiotherapy, psychology, me, recognise that it is an important step forward Editor occupational therapy, medicine, biomedical science, for us to participate strongly in this new enterprise Kim Beinon combined law degrees, speech pathology and all and cooperative activity. combined degrees. On a more difficult matter, at the time of writing Writers Increased preference demand has been this column, Australia had just entered a war in Kate Grady experienced for many programs, in particular, association with the US and Britain. Irrespective of Leigh Wallis teaching, nursing, other health professions, your personal or political views, I am sure that Cae Pattison business and the arts. each of us recognises the gravity and potential international impacts of this decision. I take the Photography There are of course some down sides to this view that this is a major tragedy and an action that Chris Patterson • increased popularity, which are reflected in the cannot be justified under current United Nations Keith Davey increasing number of students who miss out on rules and procedures, nor on moral or ethical places at the University. Of 8987 first preferences grounds. k Vice-Chancellor of a major Australian Cover received for entry to the university, 6157 offers university, I have serious concerns about the impacts were made in the main round, leaving 2830 Staff were rewarded for of this action on our standing internationally, both scudenrs without an offer. Given that 77 percem their exceptional servic as an individual university and as a sector, of our domestic undergraduate studems come [0 the University at a committed to the internationalisation from the Hunter and Central Coast, there is a ceremony to present of education and research, and to peace and major shortfall of more than 2000 places for the Vice-Chancellor's goodwill to all people. prospective local students in the 2003 round. Awards for General Let us all work towards peace, tolerance. respect Staff Excellence last I am pleased to announce here the establishment for all people of the world, and international month. Story and and our membership of a new group of Australian engagement and cooperation, rather than wat caption of our cover universities named Innovative Research and suffering in the Middle East. shot, plOll1 Universities Australia. Flinders, Griffith, La Trobe, Macquarie. and Murdoch universities share with us Roger S Holmes a common history of being established in the Vice-Chancellor and President

---- 2 UNINEWS ( People & Places ) Students enrol online for the first time

The University's online enrolment facility allows for the acceptance ofUAC offers," he said. "In April last year we introduced students to search and select courses they want to online course variations and changes to address for undergraduate students. study, add them to their program and enrol from Online enrolment has been the final stage in a conversion to web based home or a computer with internet access student services. Notification of exam results, class timetables and electronic anywhere in the world. handbooks have been available for some time through web access."

Within two weeks of the new facility going live, The major benefits of the online system is that students are in control of the over 18,600 students had accessed the online process and can choose to access and complete their enrolment in their time system, including students from as far afield as and from anywhere in the world. When a student enrols online the Ireland, Munich and Hong Kong. All information is simultaneously recorded on the University's student system undergraduate and postgraduate coursework NUSTAR, which means the faculties and schools have instant access to students enrolled online for the first time this year, information on enrolment numbers and course demand. The student receives with a few exceptions in some courses at a receipt number and email confirmation so they know their enrolment has Grad.SchooLcom and some off shore programs. been completed.

David Donnelly from Student Administration "The system even allows students to advise the University that they want a Services says the new online enrolment process break in studies, change their area of study, or that they have graduated from for 2003 follows the successful online processing of their program," David said. "It saves an enormous amount of paper and time UAC acceptance of offers last year. for both students and administration staff. Nothing is lost in the mail and there are no delays in sending or receiving material. The feedback we have "We believe we were one of the first universities received so far from the students has been overwhelmingly positive." in New South Wales to introduce an online system

Staff join students in peace rally

University staff held an anti-war rally at the Callaghan campus in March in protest at the threat of Australian involvement in a US-led war against Iraq.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Social Work Brian English told a crowd of around 200 staff members at the rally that he could not support a war where Australia was the aggressor.

"There has been no other occasion in Australian history where we have taken part in a war that has not been either in our own defence or in response to a request from an ally for assistance," he said. "Even in Vietnam, although we now know we were deceived by government, we believed we were asked to be there by the Vietnamese people."

He called on staff to speak as loudly and as often as they could against the war to impress upon Prime Minister John Howard that the Australian times to do so. The world is watching not Iraq but "Iraq is not the people do not suppott his declaration of war. the exercise of American power." problem. The Associate Professor in history Wayne Reynolds Staff and student unions joined together to form told the rally that the war has very little to do with the University Peace Forum to coordinate action at problem can be Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction. the University against the war. The group was found in American "Iraq is not the problem," he said. "The problem working in a cooperative manner with the Hunter can be found in American policy and behaviour Peace Forum - an umbrella group that brings policy and behaviour since the dawn of the atomic bomb." together a range of organisations and individuals since the dawn of opposed to war - to promote the No War case. The USA is the only weapon-State in the world the atomic bomb." that has declared itself prepared to use nuclear A public meeting on 'Why this war is wrong' was weapons in a first strike, he said. held in the Griffith Duncan Theatre on March 15 with speakers including writer Richard Neville, "Not only do they have a policy to use nuclear James Singleton of the United Nations Association weapons, they have historically threatened many and government scientist Robin Batterham.

UNINEWS 3 ( People & Places ) Training tomorrow's health professionals

Professor Mike Capra, who last month took up information about scholarships. He will also the key position as Head of the School of Health look at consolidating research programs of Sciences. wants to develop research and research the School and building them up, which will be training in the School. helped by the appointment of two new Chairs.

Mike has extensive academic experience gained "We have appointed Chairs in Occupational at seven universities in four countries - Australia, and Environmental Health, and Nutrition New Zealand, Fiji and the United Kingdom. He and Dietetics," he said, "which will help to has held significant research and teaching positions strengthen the School's research profile, and at national and international level at established will look forward to other similar appointments universities in Sydney, Otago, Birmingham and to the School." Melbourne as well as emerging universities, including the University of South Pacific and Mike has participated in the development of Queensland University of Technology (QUT). research policy at a national level as a member of the Research Strategy Sub-Comminee of Over the past 17 years, Mike has made significant the National Occupational Health and Safety contributions to the QUT in health and science as Commission and Chairman of the Sea World Research and Rescue a teacher, researcher and as Director of the Centre Foundation Incorporated. He has published extensively during his career for Biological Population Management. He and has obtained research funding in excess of $1 million from government developed policies for the management and and non-government agencies. allocation of research funding to the Centre and for the management of research training. At international level, Mike has participated in research development activities with the Ministry of Agriculture in Fiji, as well as providing research and "I've been involved with a professional doctorate training advice to the Minister of Health and the Vice-Minister of program at QUT and I hope to participate in one Environment in Mozambique. at Newcastle," he said. "We already have a strong professional base in Newcastle. Professional "There are a lot of opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate level doctorate is a win/win situation, with the student overseas," he said. "I have carried out Occupational and Environmental Health being able to complete research that is work-based work in Fiji, Malaysia, Viemam and Mozambique and I think that my and the employer benefiting from that research." connections will help the School to esrablish nerworks. I know that Occupational Health and Safety have a very successful Singapore program and I'm looking Mike says there is already a group in the Faculty at the potential to establish programs in other Asian countries." of Health working to establish a professional doctorate program and that he is keen to At Faculty level, Mike believes it's quite a plus to have so many different contribute to its development and implementation. disciplines grouped together. It provides opportunities to interact with other health professions on cross-disciplinary projects. "It is an area that I can see developing in Health Sciences and for the professional groups that "Newcastle is in a unique position with its mixture of health related comprise it," he said. ''I'd also like to encourage disciplines," he said. "Being together in one Faculty leads to a lot of potential the development of PhD programs in the School." interaction and cooperation in research, and hopefully in teaching as well."

While acknowledging that it is hard to get people Mike says the School of Health Sciences will become a leading force in in professional areas to commit to research, he providing health professionals in the disciplines of nutrition and dietetics, hopes to build research onto undergraduate environmental and occupational health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy degrees by keeping people interested during their and medical radiation science, to the Hunter, Central Coast and ultimately, studies and by facilitating their access to and nationally and internationally.

University Club under new management The University Club has reopened with a new menu featuring gourmet burgers, fresh salads, seafood and pasta dishes, Club specials, delicious desserts and coffee All prices under $15. Bookings and pre-orders accepted.

Catering for luncheons, suppers, cocktail parties, and other functions is also available in the Club's restaurant and function room, for 20 to 150.

EFTPOS, VISA, MASTERCARD accepted Monday to Friday 1l.30am to 2.00pm Ph: 49215886 Inza Catering

---- 4 UNINEWS ( Teaching & Learning) The state of space science in Europe

The Director of Science of the European Space from the NewMag Experiment Agency (ESA), Professor David Southwood, ,ustrall"n Micro-Satellite delivered a seminar at the University last month on the focus of space science in Europe.

Europe has emerged in the past decade as the second space power and Professor Southwood told staff and students how the ESA has moved beyond near-Eanh space to become active in all major fields of space science.

"We have lots of plans to explore the solar system. which has so far only been done by Russia and America," he said.

Professor Southwood was in Australia for the commissioning of an ESA deep-space antenna at New Norcia, 130 kms north of Perth. The 35 metre diameter antenna is the first site in a proposed network of sites, with another currently being built in Cebreros in Spain. A third antenna j'lJared space - Professor Brian haserfrom the UnifJersitys space Physics Group (right) catches up will be built somewhere in the Americas, either in witb long-lime colleague DaVid Soutbu:ood Chile or the desert region adjacent to the Rocky Mountains in North America. scientific programs associated with all ESA missions. These missions include "We are putting the antennas at points around SOHO (the Sun), Cluster 11 (Earth's magnetosphere), Mars Express, Venus the Earth that will allow us to have the whole sky Express, Rosetta (comets), Hipparcos {star positions}, XMM-Newton (X-ray covered," Professor Southwood said. uk we now astronomy), and ISO (infrared astronomy). use very narrow radio beams, we need to be able to pinpoint where a spacecraft is very accurately." He came to Newcastle to visit Professor Brian Fraser from the University's Space Physics Group. Brian met David in 1969 in Ottawa, when the two Professor Southwood has had a long and active young scientists both won scholarships to attend a conference. They have research career in space science, mostly at Imperial stayed in touch over the years. College, London. He has worked on NASNs Galileo mission to Jupiter, the joint ESAJNASA "David's seminar was on the progress of space science in Europe and was Ulysses mission to the Sun and Jupiter, and more open to students and others from across the Faculty of Science and IT and recently was principal investigator for the the University," Brian said. "It is important for Australian space science to magnetometer experiment on ESA's Cassini interact with world space agencies at this time. We have just launched mission to Saturn. As Director of Science at ESA our first satellite in 35 years, FedSat, and need to continue to maintain our since 2001, he is responsible for implementing the international contacts."

Noel Pearson delivers law lecture

This year's Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was delivered by Noel Pearson, Chairman of the Cape York Land Council and Team Leader of Cape York Partnerships. Mr Pearson's lecture looked at High Court decisions on native title in the cases of Ben Ward and the Yarta Yorta people.

Professor Ted Wright, Dean of the University's School of Law, said they were delighted to attract a speaker of Mr Pearson's calibre.

"He is, without doubt, one of the pre-eminent Indigenous leaders in this country with an unswerving commitment to the empowerment of his people. In whatever forum he finds himself, Noel Pearson always speaks with passion, insight and integrity," he said.

Ben Ward's and the Yarta Yorta cases are bO(h central to the ongoing Aboriginal land claims process. Mr Pearson argued that the High Court had abandoned its 'time-honoured' methodology of the Common Law when dealing with the cases. Vice-Cbancellor Roger Holmes congratulates Noel Pearson The Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was established in 1993 to mark the arrival of the follOWing tbe Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture first group of Bachelor of Laws students at the University. It is an annual event delivered by an eminent lawyer at the commencement of each academic year.

UNINEWS 5 (Partnerships ) Transform Rail Interiors sponsor students

being a foundation sponsor of the University of Newcastle Industry Scholarship Scheme (UN1SS), a participating sponsor in the commerce program with the School of Business and Law, and employing 12 graduates of the University.

"The company recognises that motivated and resourceful people add significantly to a business, and that such people can often be found at university," Dr Webster said. ''As well as our five existing engineering and accounting scholarship-students, Transform employs seven additional part­ time students from the engineering, computer science and MBA programs. We are also moving to establish four new final year engineering scholarships. The University has been integral to the company's development."

The company focuses on the design and manufacture of components for passenger rail vehicles - everything from linings and seats to lighting, public address systems and even nose cones and drivers cabs. They employ around 150 people including around 20 engineering staff.

While originally planning to offer only one summer scholarship to evaluate the skills an industrial design student could bring to their business, Transform were so impressed with Doug and Alison they decided to give them both a chance.

Ian Webster (right) wit/) Doug Helman alldAlison Howard "Engineers often use 3D modelling to develop and refine ideas, but this approach can be quite constraining and inefficient in the preliminary concept Two industrial design students are the latest stage," Dr Webster said. "The industrial design students, by the nature of their to benefit from a series of scholarships and training, were able to rapidly capture ideas on paper, and produce multiple sponsorships by Newcastle company Transform variations on a theme. The relative merits of the different concepts could Rail Interiors. then be evaluated before committing to a particular solution. Their skills complemented our existing engineering expertise and significantly enhanced Doug Helman and Alison Howard, who are the design process." beginning their final year in industrial design at the University, each won a $3,000 scholarship The summer placement was such a success that both Doug and Alison have and a lO-week placement at the company that been offered part-time work with the company during their final year of study. provided them with valuable industrial experience. Alison, who came to the University from the Central Coast to study industrial design, says the placement was 'brilliant'. Engineering Manager for Transform Rail Interiors and former electrical engineering lecturer at the "I really enjoyed it. It gave me an opportunity to put into practice the things University Dr Ian Webster, said that the company I've learned at university. The people are great and it was a beneficial had significant ties with the University, including experience all around," she said.

UNISS team implement CSA innovation

A team of four engineering scholars on industry The UNISS group has also created a web interface so the client will be able to placement with Computer Systems of Australia check the health of their computer network. The new system, which kept the (CSA) has designed and implemented a new four busy for their entire summer vacation placement, is up to the testing phase. monitoring system for the company over the University's summer break. Stuart has been sponsored by CSA for the past three years and was involved in the development of the remote monitoring service. The former Led by fourth year computer engineering Merewether High School student is a great proponent of the UNISS scheme. student Stuart Webber, the team members are all sponsored by CSA under the University of "UNISS definitely prepares you well for what you will do on the job," he said. Newcastle Industry Scholarship Scheme (UNISS). "Splitting my time between study and work placement has progressed my They were involved in designing and professional skills way beyond what would have been possible with just implementing a new system that splits monitoring university studies." of remote client computers between CSA's base CSA's Manager of Corporate Services and Human Resources Libby Schneider in Lambton and the clients' sites. said the company became involved in the UN ISS program four years ago.

"CSA provides a service to their clients that "We saw its potential to develop well rounded and industry experienced monitors their computer networks and alerts graduates," she said. "It works for both the scholar and the sponsor. them to any potential failures," Stuart said. "We By providing opportunities the sponsor can aid in promoting personal have created a device that can be put at the clients' development skills as well as industry experience for the scholar, which site and written software that will allow it to ultimately can lead to a career with the sponsor on complet~on of studies." collect data and send it back to CSA for analysis."

---- 6 UNINEWS ( Research & Research Training) Research targets boys literacy

Three University researchers have won a grant from the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) to research ways to develop boys' literacy through community literacy.

The cross-disciplinary research project, funded with a $45,000 grant under DEST's innovative project initiative, will target 10 priority primary schools in the Lake Macquarie district to address the problem of boys under-performing. Dr Julie McLeod from the School of Education contacted the other researchers, Penny Crofts from the School of Social Sciences and Deb Hanman from the Family Action Centre, to help her with the project.

"One of the issues identified as a problem with Collaborators (1-1") deb Hm1IJuI1l, Julie Mcleod and Pem~J' Crofts boys' literacy is that the texts they are presented with to read at school don't interest them and acknowledge that literature happens in a whole range of contexts. A comic, another is the lack of role models for literacy at for instance, can have words that are just as complex as the words of a more home," Julie explains. "There are lots ofliterary traditional text. We should be building on home practice in schools." accivities involved in the home. Dads are reading newspapers, brochures, instructions to assemble Julie, coordinator of the Bachelor ofTeaching/Bachelor of Arts (Primary) things - these are real texts." program, is accustomed to collaborative projects having instigated a School, Family and Community Studies course, which is taught by Social Work In the first stage of the research project, a lecturers. Rising out of Julie's doctoral studies, the course acknowledges coordinator will carry out an inventory for literacy that primary teachers not only work with children, but with families and in a community context that will create a record communities as well. The students undertake a range of service learning of what men read and write in their everyday lives. projects in school communities across the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, The inventory will help fathers to see themselves Taree and Maitland districts. as literary people, which is important to their acting as role models for their sons. "The perception of a need for teachers to work more closely with communities arose from my doctoral research, when I followed teaching The second stage of the research involves final interns into their first two years of teaching," she said. "From that I talked to year education students taking the community people in Social Work about the possibilities of a course and we really worked assets inventory and using it to develop a specific well together. We discovered the similarities between the philosophies of literacy skills program for boys in primary school. social workers and primary teachers and learned a lot from each other."

"This is a critical age for boys, who not only need The DEST project will be carried out this year with the proposed classroom literacy skills, bur self-confidence in themselves as resources for teachers to utilise in improving boys' literacy to be available by literary beings," Julie said. "Schools need to March next year.

Ground-breaking Australian trial

Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health The ANBP2 followed 6,000 patients over four years and found a 17 percent Professor John Marley has played a major role in greater reduction in cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, in men aged the Second Australian National Blood Pressure between 65 and 84 taking ACE (Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme) inhibitors, Study (ANBP2), one of the largest medical research a new treatment for high blood pressure, compared with those on diuretics. studies undertaken in Australian general practice. An estimated 70 percent of men and 67 percent of women aged between 65 The ANBP2, involving 2,000 GPs and 6,000 and 74 have high blood pressure, and the risk increases with age. The results patients, is a groundbreaking research study of the study demonstrated that outcomes are improved when hypertension in providing clear recommendations for the the male elderly is treated with an ACE inhibitor rather than a diuretic. Patients management of high blood pressure. The study without risk factors such as diabetes should start treatment with diuretics. was a joint initiative of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA), the "The ANBP2 study united general practitioners and specialist areas of Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging, research, showcasing Australian research internationally and forging strong Merck Sharp and Dohme (Australia), the National links with prestigious medical research institutions throughout the world," Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Professor Marley said. academia, general practitioners and hypertension Together with previous related studies, ANBP2 is set to influence revisions to specialists. Professor Marley was a principle the World Health Organisation Disease Management guidelines, which define researcher in the leading research group. the best practice for treating high blood pressure for doctors globally.

UNINEWS 7 ( Ourimbah Campus ) Worms provide the perfect bait for success

How does a young woman become a worm farmer and develop it so enthusiastically that she wins an award for it? Milada puts her success down to the fact that she shared a vision for the worm farm (situated at Dora Creek on Lake Macquarie) with her father.

"We could both see the potential in farming marine bait worms for the recreational fishing market," Milada says. "The fact that we were both involved in the project made it happen."

Milada noticed that people were removing worms from the environment, particularly beach worms, and thought that if they could grow the worms under controlled conditions, it could provide a sustainable bait.

"We have just been through our first summer when there is the greatest demand for worms and are pleased with the response to our product with sales nationally as well as in Asia, Japan and the USA where there is a huge interest in recreational fishing," she said. "Even though the farm is only small at the moment - eight ponds producing two tons of worms each year - we hope to grow and expand into the export market."

Milada will put her prize money back into the business to begin building 16 Try and conjure an image of the person who was more ponds in the next year or two. named Rural Woman of the Year and you might imagine a woman who is enterprising, courageous, Currently the marine worms being cultivated are a close relative to the beach resourceful and determined, but worried about the worm, known as the tube-worm (genus Onuphidae). In about a year the effects of drought, the welfare of stock and worms, which are extremely attractive to saltwater fish. grow to a length of 25 dwindling financial returns. centimetres in ponds about 60 centimetres deep that mimic the sea floor.

This year's winner has all of these qualities and "They don't breed easily," says Milada, "and you have to have the conditions more, but is far from the stereotypical woman on just right. We have to take the water quality into consideration and feed them the land. In fact she spends a great deal of time a high protein diet of pelletised phytoplankton feed, almost like a fish farm." around water and grows small and slimy creatures! She and her father have broken ground with their harvesting methods by She is Milada Safarik, a 23 year old Master of putting the worms to sleep, which prevents them becoming stressed and Marine Science student at the University's creates a better product. ' Ourimbah campus and a worm farmer. "We are able to use 99 percent of the available worms that are sold either live Named winner of the Rural Industries Research or preserved." she said. "This allows us to farm in a sustainable manner and and Developmenr Corporation (RIRDC) Rural also remain environmentally responsible. They also make great food for Women's Award for 2003 by NSW Premier Bob aquaculture fish farms as they contain specific fatty acids that fish need." Carr and NSW Agriculture Minister Richard Amery, Milada was presenred with a $15,000 Milada's focus is firmly fixed on the worms from an academic point of view. cheque at a ceremony held in January. They are the subject of her Master's thesis.

The presentation was the culmination of a "Where I always looked at everything from a scientific aspect, now it has gruelling selection process that came down to two turned towards aquaculture," she said. "The challenge will be to bring the two finalists from150 applicants from across NSW. together. I hope through my research to be able to contribute to the farm and Milada was then required to make a presentation to also the biological knowledge of this species." the judges.

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---- 8 UNINEWS ( Teaching & Learning ) Teachers rewarded for total commitment

Two of the University's most committed teachers acknowledged across the State. have won this year's Awards for Excellence in As well as having a 92 percent Teaching. Awarded by a Sub-Commirtee of the employment rate for graduates, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Portfolio we have the highest proportion Comminee, the teaching awards recognise of students selected for the excellence in teaching activities. Targeted Graduate program." Julie McLeod from the School of Education and Ken Sutton began his career in an Ken Sutton from the School of Behavioural Sciences engineering trade (patternmaking) teach different disciplines and have different before he trained at Newcastle backgrounds but they have one thing in common College of Advanced Education. - a belief in a holistic approach to teaching. After teaching technology education in high schools Julie, coordinator of the Bachelor of TeachingI for 17 years, Ken completed Bachelor of Arts (Primary) program, says that postgraduate studies in education good teachers need to understand their students. at the University and worked part­ "You need to get to know what their needs are and time in tertiary education for a then support those needs with your teaching," she number of years. He took up said. "It is important to really care about the whole his position as lecturer with the student. Learning about the students as their University 13 years ago. program coordinator, helps me plan for the two core "I began my University teaching courses within the degree that I also coordinate." career with industrial arts and Julie began her teaching career in a one-teacher design and technology trainee school in the lower Hunter, where she says she teachers. An opportunity arose had to learn fast what it is to accommodate to teach computer applications individual differences and plan for them. This including Computer Assisted was a 'disadvantaged' school that made it even Design (CAD). I moved on to more of a challenge for her to make learning fun, specialise in CAD and taught it exciting and successful for the students. at an advanced level for a number of years. In addition to trainee "I was then asked to teach at a demonstration teachers, I taught CAD to chemical school, where you had to be highly organised and mechanical engineering and understand why you are doing something students, building construction in the classroom in order to justifY your teaching management students and to a practice," she said. ''I'm enthusiastic about mixture of industry personnel in teaching and modelling best practice in teaching." short courses with a colleague."

Julie came to the University to teach full-time in Ken's interest in teaching 1992, looking for a challenge. She has co-authored computing developed into teaching two books - 'Planning for Learning' and common computer applications to 'Enriching Learning' - to support the University's students across the former Faculty education students, which are now being used in of Science and Mathematics and around eight other Australian universities. later across the Faculty of Science and Information Technology. After completing a Master's degree externally He is the Callaghan coordinator of a large Faculty computing course, which through Deakin University and her PhD through also attracts students from other faculties. the University, all while juggling work and parenting three children, Julie is well attuned to "I have always been interested in many areas of technology but I became the needs of mature aged students - who make up particularly enthusiastic about computer technology around 1985 when I almost half of the students in her program. She is began to recognise its application to technical drawing, data analysis and currently working on a major research project desktop publishing. I appreciated computers as creative and precise tools and I with the Department of Education, Science soon realised that I would enjoy teaching others to use them," Ken explains. and Training to try and identifY what's making the difference in numeracy outcomes in the State's Ken has a strong link with psychology and the largest cohort of students he primary schools. Work she has done on improving teaches come from this discipline. He is doing a PhD under the supervision numeracy in schools was reflected in the new of Associate Professor Andrew Heathcote and his thesis is titled: The mathematics syllabus to begin in NSW primary Acquisition of Complex Mental Rotation Skills. The focus is the practice effect schools next year. on speed accuracy. "I really feel we are starting to make a difference in Ken has been involved in many aspects of teaching including presentations education in NSW," Julie said. "Newcastle primary at teaching-related conferences, teaching grants, committee work and course teaching graduates are highly sought after because development. He is a strong supporter of teaching and course evaluations they are well prepared for a range of different by students, colleagues and employers as a means of improvement. primary contexts and that is now being

UNINEWS 9 Awards recognise outstanding service

Vice-Chancellor's awards for general staff excellence "Susan upholds and exhibits the very same ethical principles that underpin were presented to three individuals and two teams, with human research ethics," he said. a third group highly commended, in a ceremony held in the Great Hall last month. Professor Tim Roberts from the Faculty of Science and IT presented an award to Andrew Bish. Andrew joined the Space Physic.s Group at the University in The Vice-Chancellor Roger Holmes said the awards were October 1999 as an electronic engineer and was given the task of building established in 1998 to recognise and reward outstanding the magnetometer instrument, NewMag. The instrument, constructed jointly and exceptional service or work performance from the by the Space Physics Group and the Institute of Geophysics at UCLA, was University's general staff. launched on Australia's microsatellite FedSat in December last year.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the award selection "In addition to assembling hardware electronics, Andrew also designed a committee Brian English said there had been a record 19 computer software system to test NewMag at UCLA from his University office nominations this year. here in Newcastle, through internet connection," Professor Roberts said. "This saved the project both time and money." "We were extremely impressed with the quality of all nominations, which showed the commitment and Andrew worked on the integration and assembly of FedSat at Auspace Ltd in dedication of staff across the University," he said. Canberra and was one of three engineers responsible for successfully completing FedSat on time for its launch on a Japanese rocket by the Susan O'Connor, Human Research Ethics Officer in the Japanese Space Agency NASDA. Research and International Division, received an individual award for her professional, thoughtful and "It is a tribute to the dedicated work of this team, and particularly Andrew, conscientious service to researchers, students and the that fedSat is now orbiting the Earth every 100 minutes at an altitude of 800 wider community. Presenting the award to Susan, Deputy kms," he said. Vice-Chancellor Ron MacDonald said she is regarded as an outstanding research ethics officer amongst her peers The third individual award was presented to Jenny Smith, Personal Assistant and is often consulted by those in similar positions with to the Director of Faculty Services for Education and Arts. The Faculty's Deputy other universities. Executive Dean Sandra Sirasch said Jenny's helpful manner and knowledge of the University made her an invaluable member of the team, particularly since the restructure which saw four faculties amalgamate into a new and very large one. "She has continually demonstrated her commitment to colleagues, other staff The two-man team of Ken Oliver and Domanic Lieb, who and students within the Faculty of Education and Arts, and has 'lifted the bar' advise students on machinery and techniques in the in the area of service delivery," she said. "She has shown the same level of Industrial Design Workshop, was highly commended for commitment to the Faculty Research and Research Training Committee, where their efforts to make their workshop safe and welcoming. she often processes late arriving material as well as providing relevant information to members of the committee and students alike." Above: The Vice-Chancellor pressents individual awards to The seven members of the Wollotuka Administration Support Team were Andrew Bish, Susan O'Connor and Jenny Smith recognised with awards for their efforts in having Wollotuka perform well Cover image: above the national benchmarks as a provider of support to Indigenous Back row: (left to right) students. During an exceptionally busy year last year, the team had ensured Dominic Lieb, Peter Boyd, Roger Holmes, Brian English, Rod Hill, Gavin Smith, Willy Wilson and Paul Clark outstanding service. Each of the staff members has maintained an active involvement in the Aboriginal community, which helps Indigenous people to 3rd row; (left to right) feel part of the University and overcomes the alienation possible when Ken Oliver, Susan O'(onnor, Jenny Smith, Andrew Bish, dealing with a large organisation. James Doolan, Leanne Ayers, Gordon Aitken and Kyle Nicholas 2nd row; (left to right) Fifteen members of the Security Services Team were recognised for their Adelle Grogan, David Newham, Darlene Deitsche, service and initiatives, which keep staff and students safe and secure on Cheryl Newton, Suzie Cole and Graeme Wallace campus. Vice-President (University Services) Linda O'Brien said the team Front row: (left to right) provides a wide range of services not only to the University, but also to Mandy Kelly, Brooke Kenny, Mervyn Allan, Robert Metz, William external clients including the Forum, Pacific Power, KU Child Care Centres Clough, Michael Bromelow and Terry Ford and the University Union.

"The Security Services Team not only patrol the University to make sure everything and everyone are safe and secure, they also provide a shuttle service in the afternoons during term time, escort staff to cars in the evening, and provide cash escort services on a regular basis," she said. "They patrol on foot, in cars and are soon to implement a security bike patrol service to access all areas of the University." ( People and Places ) Australia's first Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics

Professor Sandra Capra joined the Programs and Chair of the Teaching and Learning Faculty of Health's School of Health Committee. She implemented and evaluated a Sciences last month as the first Professor variety of major curriculum reviews and reforms of Nutrition and Dietetics in Australia. at QUT, including the introduction of the Doctor of Health Science program and a group of new Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of graduate certificates. Health John Marley said Professor Capra brings to the position 30 years of "The School of Health Sciences will create experience in all aspects of dietetics national and international leadership in teaching at a national and international level. and research in Nutrition and Dietetics," she said.

Professor Sandra Capra has extensive In addition to her countless leadership roles in academic and professional experience professional and government bodies including the " ••.'.' ..... \''.~ "', teaching at five universities, holding a national presidency of the Dieticians Association \ .\ PhD in nutrition and as an accredited of Australia, Professor Capra was recently awarded ~, practicing dietician, throughout Australia the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). She and overseas. Over the last decade, was honoured for her service to community health she has published extensively in international journals, reviewing research through the advancement and promotion of proposals for the National Health and Medical Research Council, Queensland dietetics, as an educator and researcher. Health Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, Prince Charles Research Foundation and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Research Foundation. "The appointment of the first ever Professor in Australia, emphasises our commitment to Professor Capra comes to Newcastle from the Queensland University of providing premium education research and Technology (QUT), where she was an Associate Professor in the School career opportunities in the field of Nutrition of Public Health, as well as Deputy Head of School, Director of Academic and Dietetics," Professor Marley said.

Outstanding contributions honoured

The University honoured its exceptional graduates University who ha~ made a most substantial and at the Godfrey Tanner Memorial Convocation significant contribution to the national andlor Awards dinner held last month. The dinner was international community. named in recognition of Godfrey Tanner's outstanding contribution to Convocation. Mrs Janice Vadnjal is the Hunter Area Health Organ and Tisssue Donor Coordinator, graduating Professor Warren Pengilley, Professor of Law at from the University with a Diploma of Applied the University, is the winner of the Convocation Science (Nursing) and a Bachelor of Nursing. Medal for Professional Excellence. Mrs Janice Vadnjal, Hunter Area Health Organ and Tissue Through her extensive experience in the nursing Donor Coordinator, received the Newton-John profession. Ms Vadnjal obtained an Intensive Care Award for outstanding contribution to the region. Certificate with excellence in clinical practice.

Professor Pengilley's academic qualifications During her close work with Intensive Care Unit include a Bachelor of Arcs and Bachelor of Laws theatre staff and the families of donors and from the University of Sydney, Doctor of recipients, Mrs Vadnjal recognised the need for a Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University, Master systematic yet compassionate way of dealing with of Commerce and Doctor of Science from the traumatic events such as brain death, and organ University of Newcastle. His extensive career donation. As a result, she was instrumental in the encompasses academia. private legal practice and establishment of an area network of hospital involvement in Government through the based donor coordinators. Foundation Commissions of the Australian Trade The Newton-John Award recognises Mrs Vadnjal's Practices Commission. new and innovative approach to clinical practice.

Throughout his career. Professor Pengilley has Also presented at the dinner were the Newton­ janice Vadnjal authored and co-authored some 20 books and over John Memorial German Prize to Nadja Krueger, 300 refereed articles, primarily in the field of trade the Newton-John Memorial Music Prize to Peter practices. He has delivered lectures and conference Guy and the University of Newcastle Convocation papers both nationally and internationally. Prizes to students from each of the five faculties in The Convocation Medal for Professional recognition of their outstanding contributions. Excellence is awarded annually to a graduate of the

~12 UNINEWS ( Research Centres ) Centre combats the effects of cancer on large scale

Cancer is a national health priority area in Australia, with around 345,000 new cases diagnosed annually and 34,000 deaths, accounting for 27 percent of all deaths in Australia. Improvements in treatment for cancer, however, have meant a significant growth in the number of cancer survivors and a group of Newcastle researchers is working to improve their long-term wellbeing. The Centre for Health Research and Psycho­ oncology (CHeRP) has been working to reduce the burden imposed by cancer through its research on cancer prevention, supportive care and doctor­ patient communication, since it was established in 1988. Director Associate Professor AfafGirgis says 15 years of operation is quite an achievement for the Centre, which operates in a competitive field.

"We are the acknowledged leaders in the field of behavioural and psychosocial research into the effects of cancer," she said. "We have guaranteed funding from the Cancer Council (NSW) to continue our research to June 2006, as weB as grant funding for several of our studies."

Smoking, a major contributor to cancer rates in Australia, has been an important focus of CHeRP's research, with studies aimed at targeting Dr Afa! Girgis at u:ork -photograph republisbed COUl'teJ)! of the Neu:castle Herald key groups such as pregnant smokers and youth.

"We are trialing innovative ways of encouraging Afaf says the Centre, which is based in the School of Medical Practice and people to stop smoking and to remain quitters, Population Health in the Faculty of Health, was founded by its inaugural particularly through using nicotine replacement Director, Professor Rob Sanson-Fisher, who is considered to be among the products and tele-marketing of quit strategies." leading behavioural scientists in Australia and internationally.

CHeRP's work includes several scudies looking "Rob had a vision and took the group with him, steering the Centre to at the psychosocial impact of cancer. be internationally recognised as a leader in behavioural research," she said.

"We examine the broad spectrum of patients' needs, As well as being an important research group, the Centre also trains including information, psychological support, postgraduate students. An external review of their program noted that communication, daily living, spiritual and financial CHeRP was an Australian leader in training behavioural scientists. issues. Once we know what the areas of need are, we develop and test strategies to improve them, with "To develop a workforce in behavioural science, it's important that we take a a focus on strategies that can be implemented into lead in training them. We offer scholarships to attract high-level PhD students existing systems whete possible." CO CHeRP and at anyone time, we have about 4 PhD students and between 18 and 25 staff working on research projects." The Centre is embarking on the first Australian population based longitudinal study to examine Maf has been working in the Centre since it was established and has been survivorship issues, the NSW Cancer Survival Study, Direccor since 2001. Born in Egypt, she came to Newcastle when she was 12 which began this year with $441,000 funding from and studied psychology at the University. Her PhD research was in the area of the National Health and Medical Research Council. psycho neuro-immunology, examining the effects of personality The study will look at cancer survivors from six characteristics and relaxation therapy on the immune system. Her move to months after their diagnosis with the disease co five CHeRP involved a big shift in thinking as she moved away from concentrating years later to identify how physical, emotional and on the individual and into population-based research. social effects of cancer change over time. CHeRP's work aims to have an impact at the population level, ego encouraging "We will examine how these issues change for people to protect their skin from the sun in order to reduce skin cancer rates, developing guidelines to promote more timely access to palliative care for those patients over that time," Maf said, "and try CO identify whether there are particular sub-groups who need it, and training clinicians to better communicate with their patients. ego rural patients or patients with a particular "Once I was swept into that way of thinking," Maf said, "I realised that it was disease, who are more in need of different much more likely to make a difference at a bigger level." services at various times in their cancer journey."

UNINEWS 13 (People & Places ) Achieving a career goal

There are rare days when "In Law, because it was a small, newer Faculty, we Faculty Services Director of drew together the su'pport staff of the Faculty Business and Law Julie Office and the Department of Law," Julie said. Kiem contemplates "This maximised the efficiency of the sneaking out of her office administration and really formed a model for what the back way. became the role of the Faculty Services Director."

It often takes Julie half an Julie, who completed a Diploma of Tertiary hour to negotiate the Education in 1990 and a Master of Tertiary corridor and walk to her Administration from the University of New car. But that is the price she England in 2001, believes it's important to pays to uphold what she continue learning. sees as one of the most important aspects of The University's latest restructure, with the leadership - approachability. formation of the amalgamated Faculty of Business and Law, saw Julie face one of the biggest "The more you are available challenges in her working career. She cook up the as a leader, the more people position of Faculty Services Direccor in early ask of you," she says. "You December 200 1. need to respond to the concerns of staff. A good "For this position to work, it has to be at a senior leader should also be level because the person needs to contribute to the authentic and energetic and strategic decision making of the Faculty and be I hope that I am. What you able to hold discussions with senior academic staff 'see is what you get." particularly Heads of Schools. The Direccor Faculty Services also has to convey to the general "Nothing can There is more to Julie than meets the eye, staff that they are here to support the academic however. She is a genuine University success story endeavour and ensure a high standard of succeed unless with a long list of achievements. administrative support is provided."

your team is with· Julie began work as a Junior Stenographer in the She says the Faculty has very supportive people at University's then Department of Civil Engineering the top, with the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Deputy you and understands when she was 16 years old. She had done a year at Executive Dean forming part of a cooperative what the goals of secretarial college after leaving St Aloysius Girls team that ensures o'ngoing support is provided to High School in Hamilcon. staff and students. the Faculty and the "I came from a big family and we were expected to Julie, who is a big believer in the one-University University are ... go out and get a job as soon as we could," Julie says. concept, has tried to break down barriers to create We need to have a cohesive team for Faculty-wide service delivery In 1974, Julie moved from Civil Engineering co the that is inclusive of staff at the Central Coast and at a shared belief in Planner's Division, under Don Morris, as a University House. Business and Law is involved in stenographer. It was in these early years that she a pilot of the Managing for Performance scheme. what we are trying formed an ambition co climb CO the top of the She works cooperatively with her 50 or so staff University's administrative tree - to become a '10'. to achieve." and has held two half-day forums to involve them While she was considered a junior employee until in planning. she mrned 21, Julie became a departmental secretaty at the age of 19. She did the Open "Nothing can succeed unless your team is with you Foundation Course when she was 20 and cook and understands what the goals of the Faculty and four years to complete her Bachelor of Arts part­ the University are," Julie said. "We need to have a time, majoring in English and history. Julie was the shared belief in what we are crying co achieve." first member of her family to complete a degree. Julie not only makes herself available to her staff in In 1984, with her BA studies behind her, Julie the corridor, she also communicates via a weekly returned to work in Engineering as an Faculty-wide emall bulletin, BLink, and delivers administrative officer before becoming Faculty comprehensive reports on all her areas of Secretary for Architecture. In 1988, she was head­ responsibility at meetings. In her first 12 months in hunted to be the inaugural HECS Officer and the position, she has overseen the development of a oversaw the implementation ofHECS. In 1989, new website, an undergraduate marketing plan, a she filled another inaugural position as Prospective corporate look for the Faculty's brochures, banners, Student Liaison Officer during the difficult year etc, a staff development policy, and placed her staff. that saw the amalgamation of the University with Relocation of the Faculty Student Services Office the Humer Institute of Higher Education. In and the Newcastle Business School Office should 1994, she accepted yet another inaugural position be completed by the beginning of May. as Executive Officer to the newly-established Faculty of Law. ''I've achieved a career goal," Julie says. "Now I want to consolidate what I'm doing here."

---- 14 UNINEWS ( People & Places) 25 years of 2NUR FM

Radio station 2NUR FM opened in March 1978 and chis year celebrates 25 years on air with its future looking brighter than ever. As a locally owned radio station, 2NUR FM created history as the first community and FM station to serve Newcastle and the Hunter, relying on the invaluable support of dedicated volunteers. Beginning its broadcasting in temporary accommodation at the University, the station raised $180,000 in 1989 from business and corporate sponsors towards a new purpose built site on campus. The earthquake halted proceedings until 1994 when 2NUR FM finally moved to its current location in the Language Centre on the Callaghan campus: A successful/earn at 2NUR -john MeGahm, Felidty Biggins, Stanley Brain, Mel Lamont, Warren Facing near closure in 1999, the enormous Fuller, Mike Webb, jenny Matthews and (below) Graham Wi/son community support for the station saw the University Council extend their deadline under alternative to the commercial and ABC radio stringent conditions that a firm base for financial stations and has formed a solid parmership suscainability would be achieved. In December that between the University and the community," John year, Mr John McGahen was appointed as Station said. "Continual format refinement ensures that we Manager. With 35 years experie~ce in the radio maintain our high standard of broadcasting, which industry behind him, John's brief was to turn is important to consolidate a loyal listener base and the financial situation of the stHunter region with a fresh, new "By redesigning and rebuilding the format, 2NUR and unique approach to radio listening for the next, FM has successfully re-positioned itself as a real 25 years and beyond."

Student named Apprentice of the Year Second year Mechanical Engineering student career in naval architecture. His mechanical Aaron Carle was named Australian Business engineering studies are in preparation for entry Apprentice of the Year at the national training to the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania. awards at the end of last year. "I grew up on the water near Taree and my family Aaron, an Indigenous student who came to the were fishermen, so I was always around boats and University after completing a Certificate III in into all sorts of water sports," Aaron said. "The boat and shipbuilding at the Hunter Institute of Nemesis is the best Australian made boat for wake­ TAPE. wants to become a naval architect. His boarding." award was the only one received by NSW at the national awards. While Aaron found the switch from TAPE studies to University a bit daunting, he said he received good The award topped off a year of high achievement support from the Faculty of Engineering and Built for Aaron. who also won State and regional Environment and from Wollotuka. the University's apprenticeship awards, a $6.000 award from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Centre. He won an Engineering Harvey Knox Opportunity Fund, and statewide Aid scholarship, which is jointly sponsored by Wollotuka and the Faculty. recognition for his work on Nemesis, a boat that won the Australian Maritime Services Ski Boat "I took part in the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme offered by of the Year award last year. Wollotuka. which was really helpful in my first semester."

Aaron helped to design and build Nemesis while Aaron completed his first year of University study with a swag of distinctions working as an apprentice shipwright with one-man and credits. This continued the pattern he set during his TAPE studies, which operation Jacana Marine. The excitement of the he completed with distinctions. He was the first Indigenous student to design process, as well as the hands-on experience complete the Certificate III in boat and shipbuilding at Hunter Institute and of building Nemesis, awakened his interest to a says he plans to be an ambassador for the Indigenous community in educational, employment and social arenas.

UNINEWS 15 ---- (Teaching & Learning ) Students win national law competition

Both Emma and Mathew are enrolled in the Law School's Professional Program. which provides its students with the opportunity to work at the University's Legal Centre, interviewing clients and researching cases under the direction of academic staff who are also the Legal Centre's solici(Ors.

"Working at the Centre gives students a real insight into the law and enables them to gain invaluable 'hands-on' experience," Professor Wright explained. "In Emma and Mathew's case it has clearly paid dividends."

One of the competition judges, Mr Frank Astill from Sydney University, said Emma and Mathew really made a big splash.

"They knew how to ask questions and probe in a diplomatic way," he said.

Emma and Mathew said they were overwhelmed at the reception for their Two Newcastle law students are set to take on style of client interviewing. the world in the International Client Interviewing Competition to be held in Durban, South Africa "Having discussed strategies with our opposing teams after the competition [his month after winning this year's Australian and listening to the national judges' feedback on our performance, we realised Competition, which was held recently at the that our style of client interviewing promoted a more 'client friendly' University of Tasmania. approach to the interviewing process," Emma explains. "Clearly, our real experiences with clients in the legal centre contributed greatly to our ability Emma Renshaw and Mathew Jennings defeated to immediately assess the client and respond to their individual needs. Though teams from 12 other law schools to take out the I've since become more aware of the academic nature and traditional competition. Professor Ted Wright. Dean of the importance of the international competition, I refuse (0 give in to pressure School of Law said that the School was extremely and conform (0 a more traditional notion of interviewing!" proud of Emma and Mathew. Emma says that when it comes (0 the international competition, she and "It's a tough competition with students training Mathew will continue to keep an open mind, maintain a flexible strategy and for months beforehand and as this is the first time adapt their language and explanations according (0 the kind of client they are that Newcastle has entered, it represents a real presented with. "Putting the client at ease, rather than knowing all the milestone for us." answers, is what it's all about."

Aboriginal elder expounds education

Aboriginal elder and former manager in the Australia prepared to stick his neck out and do something for Aboriginal Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Les Ridgeway, people and for that he was ostracized." stressed the importance of a good education when Mr Ridgeway became the only Aboriginal regional manager of a DAA office he spoke (0 Aboriginal Studies students at the University last month. when he took up a position at Griffith. He said that the local Aboriginal communities in Griffith had no sewerage or town water supplies and drew Mr Ridgeway, now retired, was (he first Aboriginal their drinking water straight from the Lachlan River. person employed as a public servant in New South "1 set about building beautiful brick veneer houses with solar systems for Wales. He visited the University (0 deliver a lecture on the changes in Aboriginal public policy during electricity, brought town water, sewerage, curb and guttering, and tarred roads the Whidam years and the development of the into the communities using the Whidam government's money," he said. Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs Mr Ridgeway was critical of the civil servants and bureaucrats who managed (OM). A Worimi nation elder, Mr Ridgeway said the DAA, saying they set Aboriginal people up for failure by setting them he had been forced to attend mission schools as a tasks for which they were not adequately trained or resourced. He said that child, where he learned to sing well but was not given today the billions of dollars spent on Aboriginal affairs mostly goes to the necessary skills to prepare him for public life. maintaining offices, with very little funding finding its way to Aboriginal Despite his limited schooling, Mr Ridgeway people, who are still living in squalid conditions across NSW worked as an Aboriginal welfare officer and met "Under the Whitlam Government, we were able to improve conditions for Aboriginal activist Charlie Perkins, at Moree, Aboriginal people with better facilities for health, housing and education," during the 'freedom rides' of the early 1970s. Mr Ridgeway said. Perkins recruited him to join the newly-formed DAA and he went to Canberra. When Gough Gough Whitlam had also abolished unjust laws and signed agreements to Whitlam's Labor Government won power in 1972, return land to Aboriginal people. he boosted spending on Aboriginal affairs from "But there is still a lot to do and that's why 1 keep telling school children that it $44 million in 1973 to $200 million in 1975. is vital they get the best out of the education system available to them," Mr "1 think it was the undoing ofWhitlam," Mr Ridgeway said. "Without education, there will be no way to break out of the Ridgeway said. "He was the only Minister in bureaucratic rubble we have got around us."

---- 16 UNINEWS ( People & Places ) Awaba site helps recover Aboriginal history

When Nola Hawken stood on the shores of Lake Macquarie with her sisters, their families and friends in March 2000 for a naming ceremony for what has been informally known in the Swansea area as Margaret's Bay, they celebrated the discovery of their family history that had previously been lost to them. The sisters had known they were of Aboriginal descent when they were growing up hut it wasn't until they had to arrange the funeral of their uncle that they began to find out about their ancestors. They were able to trace their lineage back to the early 1800s to an Aboriginal couple known in the Swansea area as Old Ned and Queen Margaret. The latter was the subject of many books and newspaper articles.

The story of Margaret and Ned and of the quest by Sisters: (l-r) lRah Armstrong, Nola Hawken and Kerrie Brauer disoovered their kinship their descendents to reclaim their family to Queen Margaret, illustrated below history, is one of the many fascinating resources on the University's Awaba website, which was coordinator David Andrew Roberts said the Awaba site was developed in launched in October last year. conjunction with representatives from the Newcastle Awabakal Aboriginal community. The site's Indigenous editor, Vicki Grieves, lecturer in the School of Aboriginal Studies, is a historian ''All the people who have worked on the site are locally based writers and who specialises in Aboriginal family history. She is scholars - some from the University and some from the community," he said. a first class honours graduate, currently completing "It is a work in progress and includes the first ever publication of the Gospel a PhD thesis that explores issues in her own family of St Mark in Awabakal, from the 1837 manuscript of the Reverend history in the time of British takeover of Threlkeld, a famous character in local history." Aboriginal lands from the Hunter to the Manning Rivers. Vicki says that it is not uncommon for The University is emerging as a leader in the study of Threlkeld's work and Aboriginal people not to know the details of their has just purchased a book he wrote in 1850 to complete his collected works, own family history. held in the Archives and Rare Books section of the Auchmuty Library. David, who completed an award-winning Honours thesis on the Bells Falls' "There has been a lot of work done recently on Aboriginal massacre and a PhD at the University on the history of the this secret history - when Indigenous peoples' Wellington Valley, said Gionni di Gravio from the Archives had been family histories have been appropriated by non­ generous in his contributions to the Awaba Aboriginal people as local folklore, it has the site, as had the web team impact of further dispossessing Aboriginal from the Faculty of people," Vicki said. "It is part of the decolonising Education and Arts, process to have Aboriginal people take control Rebecca Buchanan and of their history again." Geoff Burrowes.

Margaret's great-great-grand-daughters Nola and The Awaba site was Kerry, who are both enrolled in the Bachelor of conceived by Associate Aboriginal Studies at the University, said they are Professor Hilary Carey proud to have their story included on the Awaba site. from the School of Liberal Arts and funded "We're very excited that the site has been put pardy by a Research together properly by historical scholars from Infrastructure Block the University," Nola said. "We are continuing grant and partly by the our journey of learning now and I'm sure that Faculty of Education the Awaba site will become very well known over and Arts. It the years. It's really good for the Newcastle area." complements the The site is a database of historical materials Aboriginal Missions and relating to the Aboriginal people of the Reserves Historical Newcastle! Lake Macquarie region and is a Database site developed collaborative project between the Schools by Hilary. of Aboriginal Studies and Liberal Arts. Project

Visit the site at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/group/amrhd/awaba/

UNINEWS 17 (people & Places ) Seeking to reduce the admin burden

work but we hope to identifY ways we can do it better. Reducing the administrative burden on academic staff was one of the issues to come Out of the University's restructuring process."

The Committee acknowledges that there are a lot of process improvement projects already underway across the University as a result of the restrucmre. However, the scope of the Committee's investigations will be limited to major University­ wide processes where significant gains can be made, including such things as student enrolment, examinations, and course approval and review.

Vice-President (University Services) Linda O'Brien, who co-chairs the Committee, said it is likely that some solutions to improvements identified by the committee will be based on using IT more strategically. EWl1niningpl'Ocesses: (I-r) Ivan Skaines,Johll O'Connor, Linda O'B1'ien,julie Kiem, B1'ian Ellg/isb "However, IT is not the only answer," Linda said. and Kathleen Fa/~)' "It's possible we will look at other universities A committee has been established to investigate ways of streamlining the to identifY examples of best practice in specific University's administrative processes in an effort to minimise the burden on staff. processes. Given the competitive environment we find ourselves in today and with reduced Co-Chair of the Committee, Professor Brian English. said that the project government funding, we need to embrace smart will investigate the extent to which administrative tasks are impacting on the business practices in order to provide better University community. services to our students and staff."

"We plan to engage in a bottom-up process by consulting with those most Project Manager and Director of the University's knowledgeable about the University's administrative processes." Planning and Business Improvement Unit Ivan Skaines, says the Committee will report their The Committee will firstly identify the major University-wide processes to findings to the Sen~or Executive Group by October be included in the review and then seek feedback on each of the identified in time for improvement proposals to be submitted processes to ascertain which might be in most need of attention. for funding under the Strategic Initiative scheme. Consultation with the University community will be undertaken using focus groups with staff in faculties and divisions, and a staff survey of service "We want to free up academic staff to concemrate quality. The information obtained will then be compared with results gained on their core business, which is teaching and from students rhrough the annual Composite Student Questionnaire. The learning, research and community services and feedback from both staff and students will determine the priority processes generally to minimise the administrative burden that need to be investigated further. on all staff," Ivan said.

"We want to reduce double-handling and inefficiencies where they still exist," Other committee members are Heads of School Brian said. "There will always be an administrative component to everyone's John O'Connor and Kathleen Fahy, and Faculty Service Director Julie Kiem.

Play welcomes students First year students were given a humorous insight into uni life during Orientation Week thanks to a new student drama production. The play, Welcome to UNI, was written and designed by second year students Julius Alterator and John McMaster.

"This play is designed to work with other 0 Week activities to make students feel at home and welcome at the University," Julius said. "It focuses on a group of students and explores some of the issues that arise when they first come to uni."

Julius wrote the play at the end of his first year, basing it on his own and his friends' experiences as drama students. The play encouraged audience participation and featured a student cast with sers and costumes designed by students.

---- 18 UNINEWS ( People & Places ) Who pays for the environment?

Will proposed Commonwealth government energy reforms cost the consumer? Will the environment benefit or suffer from the reforms? These questions were the focus of the Australian Energy Forum (AEF), 'Parer-The Consumer and the Environment', held last month at the University.

Former Federal Resources and Energy Minister Warwick Parer chaired an energy review, which suggested scrapping the mandatory renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme that binds fossil fuel energy retailers to buying a proponion of their energy from renewable sources by 2010, and replacing it by carbon emission trading.

The Parer review said the MRET scheme was not the most efficient way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, Greenpeace claim the Forum speakel~~: (I-I) SC()ft Holmes, rrisb Benson,joel Fitzgibbon, Rupert Posner and Paul Breslin scraping of the scheme threatens to kill the renewable energy industry. energy future," he said. "Ie is expected that the forums will initiate research projects and indeed, the first one resulted in an approach by a major industry AEF Director, Professor Scott Holmes, says the group to the University for research." energy forum sought to provide a platform for open debate on energy issues with an aim of Presentations were made by Paul Breslin (Parer committee member), Trish influencing a sustainable national energy policy Benson (Public Interest Advocacy Centre), Rupert Posner (Australian designed to serve the future needs of all Australians. Business Council for Sustainable Energy) and Federal Shadow Resources spokesman and Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, who initially proposed "The Parer Review could have significant impacts the AEF. on the affordability and reliability of energy supplies and the environment and this forum was The Newcastle forum was the first of three public forums, with the second an ideal opportunity to get first hand knowledge (Ownership and Concentration in the Oil and Gas Industry) held in Darwin and contribute to the debate about Australia's on March 13 and the third (Ensuring Coal Sustainability) scheduled to take place at the University on April 11.

Student exchange program

The annual Student Exchange Fair, which showcases the wide range of exchange opportunities available to Newcastle students who would like to study abroad, was held at the University last month.

Pasr exchange student and one of this year's organisers, Daniel MacDonald, says the purpose of the Fair is to attract more Australian students to srudy overseas in the University's exchange programs.

"We send up to 100 students overseas each year, and the hope is to double this number over the next couple of years," Daniel said. "Studying in another country is an amazing and invaluable experience, and students get to make friends and contacts from all over the world."

The exchange program allows students to swap Sll'edisb e.rcbange studenls Emma Gabrielsson and joban Ahlen talk 10 a jeffolfl sluden! aboul places with studems from overseas universities to Cbalmers 7eclmialf University in Gotbenbul'g continue their study for one or two semesters, while experiencing different cultures, learning new languages and making international friends. Many of international students and past Australian exchange students were at the Fair the overseas institutions offer courses that are taught to discuss how to apply for overseas study and what students should expect. in English and designed for imernational students. The University is associated with over 80 institutions worldwide, and offers a Representatives from universities in USA, large number of scholarships to students who want to take advantage of the Scandinavia, Europe and Asia as well as current exchange program.

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