ISSUE 14 SPRING 2010

VICE-CHANCELLOR TO LEAVE A RICH LEGACY THE FUTURE OF SPORT AND SCIENCE GAYS AND LESBIANS IN COMMUNITY SPORT BUDDHISM MAKES HAPPY SCHOOLKIDS CONTENTS

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A BRILLIANT SPORTING FUTURE 4 Victoria University is ready to lead the way 10 in the future of sport science and education. FLYING DUTCHMAN 10 Professor Hans Westerbeek is catapulting Australia’s sports research onto the world stage. TRAINING WITH THE DOGS 14 The partnership between two western suburbs icons just got a lot bigger.

PUBLISHER GLOBAL GRADUATES 16 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT Homesickness is no deterrent for our alumni DIRECTOR, MARGOT BURKE building their careers all over the world. VICTORIA UNIVERSITY PO BOX 14428 MELBOURNE VIC 8001 AUSTRALIA HIGH ACHIEVERS 18 ©VICTORIA UNIVERSITY What our first Achievement Scholarship CRICOS PROVIDER NO. 00124K winners are saying about uni life. DISCLAIMER: VIEWS EXPRESSED IN CONNECTIONS ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND PERSONS STOP! IN THE NAME OF HEALTH 20 QUOTED, AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE Research points to a future of using your OF VICTORIA UNIVERSITY. mobile to fight unhealthy shopping. THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

CONTACT US PHIL KOFOED, MANAGING EDITOR T +61 3 9919 4956 18 E [email protected] PO BOX 14428 MELBOURNE VIC 8001 AUSTRALIA WWW.VU.EDU.AU

COVER PHOTO LITTLE MINDS LETTING GO 21 HANS WESTERBEEK, DIRECTOR OF VICTORIA An ancient religion has been making a UNIVERSITY’S INSTITUTE OF SPORT, group of primary school children less uptight EXERCISE AND ACTIVE LIVING (ISEAL). and a good bit wiser and happier. LIZ’S LEGACIES 22 After seven years at the helm, outgoing Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Harman reflects 22 on her time at VU. KIDS KICK GOALS 26 The Bulldogs Friendly schools program is promoting healthy living to primary school children.

2 CONTENTS WORKING IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM 28 WELCOME Many undergraduates are choosing to Welcome to the University’s latest Connections do their practical placement at Florida’s magazine. Walt Disney Resort. As you can see, it has a larger format and a COMING OUT TO PLAY 30 radical new design. In many ways, this is a fitting time for the University’s key corporate magazine Is homophobia in youth sports becoming to take on a new look, as it heralds a change a thing of the past? to the strategic marketing direction that the University is taking. ART & TRAUMA 31 31 Government changes within vocational education PhD candidate Anne Riggs is using art to and training, and higher education will result help those suffering grief, loss and trauma. in a highly competitive, demand-driven tertiary education environment from 2012. This will present both challenges and opportunities for education providers competing to retain their market position and build their market share. VU’s marketing and recruitment strategies need to be refined to meet these challenges and make the most of the opportunities. By optimising our marketing resources across the University we can look forward with confidence to achieving a fifty per cent growth target of 75,000 students 34 by 2016. And what better way to promote this growth than with the $68 million Sports Precinct that opens early next year at Footscray Park Campus. It will bolster our international credentials in sports research and training. Inside Connections is a six-page feature on the significance of this exciting development that places VU firmly at the vanguard of sports science and education. Among the many other features in this edition is a profile of Hans Westerbeek, the director of our new Institute for Sport, Exercise and Active Living; a story about our new training facilities at Whitten Oval, the home of our longstanding partner, the A CAUSE FOR HONOUR 32 Western Bulldogs; profiles of six recent graduates now working in exciting positions overseas; and Two leading Melbourne figures are the a profile of a Sudanese refugee who graduated latest to receive honorary doctorates Sport has more legitimacy in Law after surviving a harrowing childhood in from Victoria University. than it did in the past. It has his home country. LEGAL LIAISONS 34 now come into its own through And, of course, we pay tribute to Vice-Chancellor business, tourism and the Elizabeth Harman, who retires in December Law/Science graduate Kot Monoah draws after leading the University for the past seven strength from his experiences as a refugee arrival of lifestyle and health years. Professor Harman will leave behind a to make a difference to young people. as concerns for us all.” very different University to the one she joined in 2003. She has made significant and diverse RUNWAY REVOLUTION 36 contributions to VU. On behalf of the University, Students wow style-savvy audiences I extend my best wishes on her retirement. with fashion, modelling and beauty. In January, Peter Dawkins will join us as our new Vice-Chancellor. Professor Dawkins has had a distinguished academic career, which includes STUDY & PLAY 38 management and leadership roles at universities in the UK and Australia, and with the Victorian Balancing sport and study is par for the Government. course for our elite athlete students. I hope you enjoy this edition of Connections. NEW BOOKS 4411 38 Chancellor George Pappas A selection of recent book and journal releases by members of the University community. IN BRIEF 4422 News snippets from other areas of the University.

WELCOME 3 A BRILLIANT SPORTING FUTURE ANDREW MCKENNA

With a $68.5 million Sport and Learning Precinct building about to open at its Footscray Park Campus, and recently launched Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University has confirmed its reputation at the vanguard of sports science and education.

The new Sport and Learning Precinct includes 4 SPORT state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, among the best in the world. An AFL Grand Final draw is a rare beast, Payne has worked as a sports scientist with and when it happened this year players elite athletes, but over the last 10–15 years his and fans faced an anxious time. Sports focus has shifted to community advocacy, public commentators, journalists and trainers health and encouraging physical activity in filled the airwaves and newspapers with the community. This is virtually a mirror of the their angle on the draw. University’s journey. Victoria University’s sports While the teams gave the outward appearance capacity has spread into the new field of active that it was business as usual, no doubt both living – healthy lifestyles for everyone. clubs dispensed plenty of sports psychology, Professor Hans Westerbeek, from The Netherlands physical training and outright media spin. via stints at La Trobe and Deakin Universities, Amid the flurry of activity, what was clear was is director of the VU’s Institute of Sport, Exercise The fact that such that professional sport these days is much more and Active Living (ISEAL). He is excited and says organisations are keen to than just beating another team or breaking a others at the University are too by the myriad develop a partnership with record: facilities, sponsorships, training, sports possibilities around advancing Australians’ health us is an indication that what’s psychology, media relations, mental as well as and wellbeing, and improving the performance happening here is second physical health, all play a part. of elite athletes in this country. to none in this country.” What came through loud and clear was this Under Westerbeek’s directorship, ISEAL has massive event that could stop a city twice in eight built on relationships with major sporting bodies days was not about blokes kicking a ball around in Australia and internationally, such as the a paddock. It is bigger than any other Melbourne Australian Institute of Sport – the peak training event, employing huge numbers of people from body for the nation’s elite athletes – the German the athletes themselves through to business, Sport University and the Union of European support networks and media professionals. Football Associations. And Victoria University has positioned itself well “The fact that such organisations are very keen to to train professionals like them. The University’s develop a partnership with us is an indication that focus on research puts it at the forefront of every what’s happening here is second to none in this aspect of sport in our culture, and is bringing country,” Westerbeek says. genuine health spin-offs for the people of To further its engagement with industry and Melbourne’s west and the rest of Australia. the community, the University has grouped “Victoria University was established to service ISEAL, the School of Sport and Exercise Science, our region, to meet its educational and research the TAFE School of Sport and Science, and the needs, and we have a mandate to translate VU Sport and Fitness Department under one that into practice,” says Pro-Vice Chancellor umbrella, or cluster. of Research and Research Training, Professor State sporting institutes, and top sports clubs and Warren Payne. community organisations are already signing up “We were set up explicitly to serve the to be a part of the future of sport and science at community, it’s in the University Act the University. and our mission statement, and we are And Melbourne’s west has more to smile about demonstrating that.” with SportWest. It is a concept that puts a spring Payne was one of the first physical education in the Dutchman’s step. The idea originated as students to graduate from Victoria University’s a partnership between Victoria University, the predecessor institution in 1977, where he Western Bulldogs Football Club and Maribyrnong became a tutor and lecturer until the mid-1980s. Secondary College, which offers a specialist sports The sports program was established there in program to students. 1974, and today the University’s sports focus is But with recent investments of close to $300 exceptionally strong. Certainly, the University million in the region in sport and recreation started at the right time, when sport research education, training, research and infrastructure, was in its infancy and taking off worldwide. and billions more slated for investment over The University’s Physical Education graduates the next 20 years, it is clear that a much bigger now number in the thousands. movement is at play. “Because physical education was strong here, Lead West, Western Health, the Victorian Racing it grew into sport science,” Payne says. Club, the Department of Education, the Victorian “There’s been good leadership across the Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry University ever since, and over the last 30 years Groups Australia are some of the locally-based Victoria University has had a pre-eminent organisations that have jumped on the wagon Physical Education program.” and become involved in developing SportWest.

SPORT 5 When SportWest arrives, Melbourne’s west will emerge as a nationally and internationally recognised sporting hub. “The big picture idea is that as a collective, we would be able to advance sport and physical activity beyond what can be done when you’re just an outpost at an education institution,” Westerbeek says. He believes SportWest has the potential to bring enormous benefits to sporting clubs and the community. “The spin-off opportunities from a dedicated sports hub include attracting new business to the west, creating new jobs, and bringing in business investment and educational opportunities,” he says. “It will also create massive research opportunities and the chance to trial new programs to help minority groups integrate into the community, and help those with chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity to get their health back on track.” The pillar of the University’s future as a national leader in sports education and research is the $68.5 million Sport and Learning Precinct at the Footscray Park Campus. When the project is complete, it will gather five sport and exercise disciplines into a single location. The architecturally striking building features a central plaza with a large learning commons including a dedicated sports library, as well as a grand external terrace with views over the Maribyrnong River. Five years in the making, the facilities are transforming the look of the campus and will position ISEAL’s research capabilities as among the best in the world. Research and teaching will be conducted across many disciplines, including sport and exercise molecular biology, motor learning and skilled performance, biomechanics, and exercise physiology. Planned to open in March 2011, the building will include 26 state-of-the-art labs with the latest in high-tech instrumentation that can duplicate all kinds of environmental conditions. Besides teaching and research on professional and amateur athletes, the labs will have a broader focus on people from all walks of life: children, adults, people with disabilities and older people; in natural and extreme environments; and in health and disease. The University is paying more than a nod to sustainability, as the building incorporates five-star environmental considerations. A thermal labyrinth under the floor pre-cools air before recirculating it through open-plan workspaces to reduce air-conditioning costs, and a central void provides considerable natural light. The building’s toilets and showers use harvested rainwater. Victoria University has long recognised that by being involved in sport and physical recreation, Australians can address their own health problems. Older people and those with disabilities need professional fitness programs and services, and Australia needs more professionals to conduct research into sports injuries and lifestyle diseases. The University will build on its reputation for training skilled osteopaths, exercise physiologists, 6 SPORT sports psychologists, nurses, aged care specialists and a host of other professionals. But the University has couch potatoes in its sights as well, because community sport and recreation is central to its community building and public health agenda. A link between physical activity and physical health may seem self-evident, but in this evidence-based era, everything needs research to support it. A recent US Surgeon General’s report noted that physical activity could improve the mental health of people reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Those of us who exercise know we can feel better mentally afterwards, so it’s hardly an astonishing finding, but hard evidence is crucial to researchers and academics. “Unlike unstructured physical activity, such as walking the dog, organised sport has a social element which has a mental health benefit over and beyond its physical health benefits,” says Payne. “Victoria University is looking at the whole role of sport, and it will have the research to back up its recommendations.” At the Federal level, the Government’s agenda of social inclusion, and a recent sport policy paper, Australian Sport: The pathway to success, indicate how important it regards participation in sport and recreation. In The Australian earlier this year, executive director of the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ian Hickie, wrote of Australia’s health care system: “We need substantive change. Tinkering at the edges will have no long-term effect… It is predicted that the US health system will collapse by 2020 due to the unrestrained growth in healthcare costs. Projections for Australia suggest unless we act now we will face the same calamity in the period after 2040.” Sport, active living, healthy recreation: they are some of the answers to this problem on tomorrow’s doorstep. Go to any sports ground in the country on a Saturday and you’ll see unpaid volunteers in their thousands: mums, dads, coaches, managers, umpires, canteen workers.

Most sport and recreation in Australia is organised the forefront of sport, sport science and sports at the community level, involving hundreds of education,” says Payne. “ISEAL will focus on thousands of just such volunteers. But if you’ve structured, competitive sport for the first part, but been involved in any of those clubs, you’ll know it is also working under the broader umbrella of the legal, health and safety concerns can be a exercise and active living. nightmare. Even the paperwork is daunting. “We’re looking at sport right across the whole The community has an ever increasing hunger continuum. We’re encouraging people of all ages for knowledge and leadership skills. Victoria to be active, helping them to understand how and University’s research and education programs what are the benefits. We’re working on engaging place the University in an ideal position to meet the whole community.” that need. And while there are plenty of claims The Pro-Vice Chancellor is also quick to that sport and recreation programs build character point out that any cultural cringe that once and community, keep kids off the streets and existed around sport has shifted – seismically. prevent youth delinquency, there are still barriers. He highlights the strong links between sport They include race, ethnicity, gender, sexual and business and, especially in Melbourne, orientation, income, age and ability. The University between sport and tourism. “Melbourne has an is working on overcoming these too. events-based tourism strategy,” he says. “If you Victoria University is perfectly placed to produce think about it, it’s either sport or the arts. We have graduates who can work in this brave new world the Grand Prix, tennis, the Melbourne Cup, the by promoting active lives, health and active leisure AFL finals series. Sport plays a predominant role for everyone. Graduates can help lift barriers to and is a strong component of Victorian tourism. participation, and put the right training into the There’s been a rise in the professionalism of sport top athletes. “We’ve always seen ourselves at and the involvement of sport in business.” SPORT 7 Sport, he says, has more legitimacy than it did it’s integrated into our education programs. in the past, and while it’s always been there, We’ll train our students to act in a professional it has now come into its own through business, manner. We’ll look at the positives and negatives tourism and the arrival of lifestyle and health in research and translate that to our students and as concerns for us all. community partnerships. We’ve recognised that we need to round our education in a community “Sport-related research is now being undertaken setting.” not only by sport scientists, but by mainstream scientists. Sport histories are being written by To that end, the University’s students participate mainstream historians. Sport has gained its in a Learning in the Workplace and Community legitimate place in our culture. If there was an (LiWc) program, which constitutes 25 per cent of issue around legitimacy and a cultural cringe their assessment. In turn, business and industry from those within sport, that has shifted.” inform course development, to ensure subjects are relevant and up to date. The sale of broadcasting rights, too, has become a crucial source of income for many sports, as “Victoria University has always had strong corporate sponsors see sport as a major vehicle contacts with the community of the western for marketing their products and services. suburbs,” says Payne. “We have now created Volunteer sports associations are starting to use a two-way flow between business and students, professionally trained business managers and so they understand each other. scientifically accredited coaches. “As a University, we have a mandate to serve So Victoria University is plunging into a brilliant our community by educating students, engaging future world of sport, where athletes are elite, with industry so that students can meet industries’ couch potatoes have burned off their fat, and needs. Today’s university education has evolved, we all stand cheering from the sidelines. and it is grounded in the community. But what are the negatives? “Graduates will not only understand the educational perspective, but the community, “There is a dark side to sport, in relation to industry, business and the broader community injuries, drug-taking and some spectator perspectives,” says Payne. behaviour,” says Payne. “But Victoria University will identify the positives and work to reduce “This is a broad education in action.” the potential negatives. How can we reduce So sport at Victoria University has become a the incidence of injuries, how can we reduce combination of education, leadership, foresight, antisocial behaviour? PROFESSOR WARREN PAYNE, PRO-VICE CHANCELLOR community partnerships and perhaps even good OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING. “We’re going into it with our eyes open. We’ll timing. What’s more, the University is leading a research and advocate for sport, and make sure change in community attitudes. NEW SPORTS LABS

ThE nEw Sport and Learning Precinct Sport and exercise molecular biology research houses 30 new research labs across happens in a series of integrated laboratories myriad disciplines. that analyse muscle cells and detect tissue Exercise physiology, for testing and improving proteins and hormone levels. Gene and human performance, is undertaken at nine protein expression labs will be important for connected laboratories. Among the key features understanding muscle function and for possible is an altitude hotel, where up to 16 athletes can use in identifying sporting talent. live in low-oxygen environments and where sleep Motor learning and skilled performance is studies can be conducted. If only it had been carried out at a large sports court laboratory available for the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, with lights and cameras fixed to an overhead where the altitude (2240m) created difficulties grid to monitor sport decision-making skills. for many of Australia’s endurance athletes. Researchers will project life-size images of a An environmental exercise lab can test up to netball game, for example, and access decisions, 10 athletes under variable heat, humidity and timing and pass execution data. oxygen conditions. A specialist heat chamber Motor control and biofeedback includes can precisely regulate humidity and heat during performance testing, as well as acclimatise laboratories for monitoring and observing athletes who will compete outside Australia. heart rate and brain wave responses to various procedures. Biomechanics includes an impressive lab with a 10-metre-high ceiling, moveable cameras In a simulation lab, researchers will explore how and lighting, and force platforms under the floor. the brain is involved in muscle movement and This lab can be used to conduct high-speed fatigue. A shielded copper-lined Faraday Cage, filming to analyse the movements of football to block out external static electric fields, will be players, golfers, runners or javelin throwers, used for measuring fine electrical activity in the 8 SPORT as well as gait and balance in the elderly. brain and skin. It will also create massive research opportunities … and help those with chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity to get their health back on track.”

SPORT 9 ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT

The director of Victoria University’s new Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living is an expatriate with the vision, energy and talent to not only address community health issues through active living but catapult Australia’s professional sports research onto the world stage.

PROFESSOR HANS WESTERBEEK, DIRECTOR 10 PROFILE INSTITUTE OF SPORT, EXERCISE AND ACTIVE LIVING. Today, Westerbeek has cleared enough time from Professor Hans Westerbeek hopes he the meetings, roadshows, phone calls, media might get to have his scheduled swim today. interviews and report writing that he faces most It’s a reasonable expectation since the pool days for his one-hour swim. is only a few minutes’ walk from his tiny Footscray Park office that is now crammed “I knew when I started this job that I would be a with books, brochures, signed and framed jack-of-all-trades and would need to keep many football jerseys from various codes and balls in the air,” he says. “Down the track we can countries, and a lonely swim bag. decide what balls can be dropped, but not now.” Since accepting the role of director at Victoria He concedes that at age 45, it’s getting a bit University’s much heralded Institute of Sport, harder to look the part as well as talk the talk Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL) in early when you’re recognised worldwide as an expert in 2010, the Dutch expatriate has been working the business of sports. Over the past few weeks, non-stop to build an organisation aimed at he has undergone a strict de-tox diet of fruit and producing world-class research and scientists vegetables to slim down his lanky frame, which in every imaginable aspect of human movement, was “just on the border of taking a wrong turn”. performance and health. Still, with his direct gaze, on-again off-again Among the 30 state-of-the-art labs now nearing micro-goatee, and smartly shaved head, his completion at the $68 million Sport and Learning look is less modern athlete and more old-world Precinct not far from his office will be an altitude European. In fact, with the right Renaissance hotel for low-oxygen training of elite athletes, robes, he could have stepped from a Rembrandt a cavernous biomechanics lab to analyse and painting in the Rijksmuseum. The appearance suits film a golfer’s swing or a senior’s balance, his job as the cool business brains behind ISEAL’s and an interactive sports court to study the white-coated scientists and researchers. decision-making skills of a netballer. Equally “The others in the institute are genuine sports important will be areas for endemic community scientists. I’m the odd one out because I bring health problems, such as diabetes and obesity. a background in sport business and strategic More than five years of planning went into the planning, which perhaps makes me more suited high-tech precinct, heralded as the future of to the director’s role.” sports learning and research. ISEAL’s new home Over the past 25 years, Westerbeek has built will take up a large part of the main building. an international career investigating an industry ISEAL partly emerged from VU’s Centre for that is estimated to be worth up to a trillion dollars Ageing, Rehabilitation and Exercise and a year (depending how it’s measured), which Sport, and has brought together about 70 extends from Saturday afternoon junior soccer of its researchers, professors, lecturers and matches to the global spectacle of the Olympic postdoctoral fellows who feel they can benefit Games. Westerbeek and his team are riding a from, or contribute to, the new institute. wave of worldwide obsession not just with the high-performance end of the industry, but also Many of these associates are already at work with the use of sport and exercise as drivers to on dozens of studies funded as the University’s advance community health and wellbeing. priority research investment projects, or in TOP: PROFESSOR HANS WESTERBEEK at the 2010 australian grand prix at albert park. partnership with government and industry Just how a displaced Dutchie found himself at organisations, such as Tennis Australia, the the heart of Australia’s sport research scene is ABOVE: PROFESSOR HANS WESTERBEEK takes time out during a dutch government delegation trip to south CSIRO and VicHealth. part good fortune, all hard work. africa in relation to world cup football.

bottom left: PROFESSOR HANS WESTERBEEK at a proffessional soccer club in holland.

The others in the institute are genuine sports scientists. I’m the odd one out.”

PROFILE 11 Westerbeek grew up in the small town of Hoogeveen in north-eastern Holland before moving to study in nearby Groningen. He played most sports – badminton, tennis, European handball, basketball and his favourite, soccer – and just slid by in academics. The natural path for such an active young man was direct entry into Groningen’s Academy of Physical Education and a career as a PE teacher. This was the start of a lifelong career in sports, but Westerbeek quickly realised it would not be in a school gymnasium. He completed a research masters degree in human movement sciences in 1991, and was then recruited by Freia Sciences Services, a non-profit organisation linked to the University of Groningen. There, he managed a project to establish a commercial postgraduate program that would focus on the business side of sports, a direct contrast to the lab and science-based sports education of the time. “The common perception in those years was that sports management and sports marketing were a frivolous adaptation of what was being done in business schools, and not a genuine industry in its own right.” To see how revered sports people were in this country and how it dominated just about everything was remarkable.” At age 26, Westerbeek not only proceeded to set up the program (which is still running almost 20 years later) but also establish several boards and associations for sport management education in Holland and across Europe. In 1994, through a growing network of worldwide contacts, he learned that Deakin University was recruiting lecturers for their fledgling sports management programs. With little academic teaching experience and information gleaned about Melbourne’s attributes from travel brochures, the plucky Dutchman successfully landed a job over a phone interview, becoming one of Deakin’s first sports marketing lecturers for its Burwood Campus. Only three days before he left Holland with his one-way ticket to Australia, he married his long-time girlfriend, Loes, so she could join him later on a spouse visa. He didn’t realise exactly how deep he had thrown himself in. “The first six months I was in basic survival mode. I needed to prepare three or four lectures in advance so I knew the material, and I quickly realised my English wasn’t really as good as I thought.” Via Mentone and Elwood, Westerbeek settled in Yarraville, randomly picking the Western Bulldogs as his AFL team, their determination against all odds mirroring his own early will to succeed. At his first game he immediately saw a difference between the Australian and Dutch sports cultures. “In Holland there was not the same real appreciation for high performance sport, but to see how revered sports people were in this country and how it dominated just about everything was remarkable.” Over the next 15 years, Westerbeek’s career path went straight uphill, and plans to spend only a year or two in Australia quickly changed. He remained at Deakin for a decade, lecturing, completing an MBA he had started in Holland, then a PhD in cross-cultural sports marketing. In 2004 he joined La Trobe University, advancing quickly to the head of its School of Sports, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and helping establish its undergraduate and Master of Sport Business degrees. It’s not surprising he was tapped on the shoulder to consider applying as ISEAL director. Watching him operate, it’s clear Westerbeek is a man who likes to keep busy. On top of the university teaching and management roles, he has written dozens of sport business textbooks that have been translated into several languages and are now in classrooms from Greece to Korea. He has written more than a hundred articles and papers, and presented at countless conferences. Westerbeek also acts as an international sport research consultant, working with organisations such as the Dutch Royal Football Association, FIFA, the AFL, Cricket Australia and BMX Australia on branding, sponsorship, investment and membership.

12 PROFILE Perhaps his most interesting client was a wealthy sheikh in the United Arab Emirates who wanted to transform an amateur Abu Dhabi soccer club into an internationally competitive team. (Unfortunately, the sheikh wanted immediate results and impatiently bought himself Manchester City Club for $700 million instead.) In the midst of this, Westerbeek insists on time for family life with Loes and his young children, Emma, 3, and Luca, six months. Currently the family is packing up its Port Melbourne home to return to Europe for two months for Westerbeek’s annual fractional appointment at the Free University ....his most interesting client of Brussels, a position he secured while at La Trobe University and which was a wealthy sheikh wanting ISEAL’s selection committee thought would be useful for him to continue. to transform an amateur Abu In Brussels he hopes to complete his next book, which contains a Dhabi soccer club. He impatiently first-of-its-kind “sport business power index”, ranking 22 countries on bought Manchester City Club their capacity to hold major sports events. It’s just the kind of scientific for $700 million instead... data that Commonwealth Games officials needed to prove Delhi was the wrong choice, he says. Dominating all Westerbeek’s thoughts though, is getting ISEAL right. Expectations are high across the University, but he insists the institute and its high-tech facilities are larger than VU. “This is a very exciting opportunity to engage with local and international partners, grassroots community clubs, government, schools, and other researchers to make ISEAL a world leader in sport and sport science.”

This afternoon, Westerbeek is meeting with Australian Institute of Sport “These days, children do not have as many opportunities for unstructured Professor Damian Farrow, who works half-time between VU and his Canberra play, and if parents aren’t putting them into clubs and teams, many are not labs, to talk about intellectual property arrangements and joint projects. very active at all.” As Westerbeek discusses their “multi-tiered objectives”, he quickly sketches Westerbeek has spent his whole career investigating the power of sport, boxes connected by arrows, eventually drawing heavy circles around one but he despairs when it’s used “as the playground of the filthy rich”. He has section and declaring: “We need to nail this bit to attract the most funding written scathing attacks in the media about how lavish events such as the and get the most projects.” World Cup are missed opportunities that could make a real difference to Directly after that, he meets with the CEO of Softball Australia who is looking the health and welfare of local communities. for ways to reshape the profile and high performance programs of a sport “Unfortunately, there are far too few visionaries and far too many people that is already achieving impressive results on the world stage, despite using sport for their own interests or careers.” Australia’s small talent pool and no real softball culture. It’s the kind of remark you expect from someone whose lifelong reflections Westerbeek is delighted when he learns the organisation wants to relocate its on the growing and changing nature of sport have even affected the way he headquarters to Melbourne’s west, an emerging powerhouse of growth and reads the newspaper. potential. ISEAL is a key part of SportWest, an affiliation of regional sport, health, education and community organisations that includes the State’s first “I still enjoy watching a good match, but I don’t turn immediately to the elite sports school – Maribyrnong Secondary College – the Western Bulldogs scores on the back page anymore. The pages I am interested in are the social and Western Health. Westerbeek expects ISEAL’s research will help address commentary and business pages where sport is analysed, or the policy pages some of the west’s acknowledged problems in health, and build a sport and to see how sport can integrate into the community and fit into a much, much exercise culture for its residents. bigger picture. ISEAL fits into this perfectly. ” sa pientNitro VIC 1046 VIC pientNitro

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PROFILE 13 TRAINING WITH THE DOGS DANIEL CLARKE

They’ve got closer access to the Bulldogs, which means they are exposed to lots of injuries and pathologies that are less common in the general public.”

VU’S nEw world-class vocational education leading sports science, research and education world class’’, and that he is excited by the growing facilities at the western Bulldogs’ whitten institutions and one of the nation’s most elite partnership of “two institutions and icons of the oval will bring unparalleled benefits for sporting clubs. western region of Melbourne’’. students and AFL players. The new facilities comprise teaching spaces “This partnership and these facilities provide an The blossoming marriage between two of and staff facilities for VU’s School of Sport and unparalleled opportunity to bring to life real-time western Melbourne’s most respected and iconic Exercise Science, and the University’s Institute educational experiences that can make a true organisations has been set in stone after new of Sport, Exercise and Active Living. They also difference to the performance of an AFL team and world-class training and education facilities were include remedial massage therapy teaching and the educational outcome of a student,’’ says Rose. opened at Whitten Oval in July. consulting training rooms for vocational education “Both our players and students will benefit from students in the School of Sport and Science. The new $8 million Sport and Recreation Learning world-class support that no other AFL club or Centre in West Footscray is a groundbreaking joint The Whitten Oval development also complements tertiary institution can lay claim to. initiative of Victoria University and the Western the new $68.5 million Sport and Learning Precinct “All this leads to a strengthened partnership that is Bulldogs Football Club. at VU’s Footscray Park Campus, to be officially developing into a long-term marriage where both launched early next year. Victoria University’s premises at Whitten Oval partners are not only growing together but equally are central to the partnership and the co-operative Western Bulldogs CEO Campbell Rose says the flourishing in each other’s development.’’ work undertaken between one of Australia’s new Whitten Oval facilities are “nothing short of

14 PARTNERSHIPS ABOVE AND TOP: REMEDIAL AND SPORT MASSAGE STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AT THE NEW WHITTEN OVAL FACILITIES.

LEFT: THE GRAND ENTRANCE TO THE NEW WHITTEN OVAL FACILITIES.

VU School of Sport and Exercise Science lecturer School of Sport and Science educator Kevin Skillen It is currently taking bookings between 9.30am Dr Rob Aughey says the Whitten Oval facilities says the large vocational education teaching facility and 4pm, Monday to Thursday, with one-hour provide an opportunity for VU students to learn can accommodate 70 students at a time, plus 12 consultations costing only $25. alongside a range of sports and recreation new massage tables. It also houses seven massage “A student will do an assessment of the visitor, professionals, as well as having access to leading- consulting rooms, which are being used by students find out what is causing the pain or discomfort, edge sports science technologies. for consultations with members of the public. do some testing and try to ascertain where it’s “To be working on the same site as elite “The students love it,” says Skillen. “They just can’t stemming from,” he says. “They will then perform professional athletes is unique,’’ says Aughey. believe that it’s such a bright, vibrant facility with the treatment, and if they need any assistance “This new development is just the physical all brand new state-of-the-art equipment. they can pop their head out the door and get the embodiment of how close the partnership is and teacher’s attention. “They’ve got closer access to the Bulldogs players, how important it is for the University. which means they are exposed to lots of injuries “I don’t think you’d get that kind of treatment “The great thing is we’re able to use the new and pathologies that are less common in the for $25 anywhere else. We’re expecting an influx facilities for field-based teaching as well. It’s general public. This allows them to learn and use of interest.’’ designed as a multi-purpose area. We can use it different techniques to treat them.’’ To make an online booking for a one hour consultation, for studies and research in motor learning and Skillen says the new Whitten Oval facilities have go to www.vuremedialmassage.clickbook.net or for skilled performance, biomechanics, as well as allowed the School of Sport and Science to open further information, phone 03 9919 6310. exercise physiology.’’ the clinic for longer hours to service the public.

PARTNERSHIPS 15 GLOBAL GRADUATES CANDICE NEUMANN

Aussies are well known for travelling overseas MARK JAKSON: LUCY MARA: to work, embracing the opportunity to MADRID, SPAIN DUBLIN, IRELAND Bachelor of Business (Tourism Bachelor of Science (Biomedical experience other cultures and reside in cities Management) – VU, 2008 Sciences) – VU, 2006 throughout Asia, Europe or the Americas. Where are you working? The United Where are you working? I’m based For many, it is almost a rite of passage. Nations World Tourism Organisation in Dublin, travelling all over Ireland (UNWTO) as an Online Marketing as a sales consultant for Synthes Victoria Univeristy alumni are no different. Co-ordinator for Asia and the Pacific. [orthopedic implant company]. I advise I work with some fantastic people who surgeons and nurses on sophisticated Six graduates tell us about their overseas jobs have taught me so much in the short orthopedic spine, craniomaxillo-facial and what it’s like working in a foreign country. time I’ve been here. I’ve been very (skull, jawbone and face) and thoracic lucky to work on a variety of projects (middle-spine) implants. I find it They also speak of their VU experience, and with the freedom to be as creative exciting to play such an integral role in offer a few tips for other Aussies working in as possible. It’s been very rewarding the surgery running smoothly. foreign countries. dealing with high-profile tourism How’s life in Ireland? Ireland takes leaders from 29 countries. a fair bit of getting used to, but it has How’s life in Madrid? Madrid is an certainly grown on me and I love it amazing city with great culture and now. It’s a beautiful country and so night life. It’s an international city, is close to the rest of Europe. very central in Europe for travelling, Why did you choose VU? I chose has friendly people, and great food VU because it had a mid-year intake and wine … the list goes on and on. to Biomed and I got accepted. The The 35 degree days are fantastic too, course offered interesting subjects and however a pool is essential. a diverse range of career prospects. Why did you choose VU? I knew VU What’s the most important lesson was a leader in tourism studies and you learnt at VU? The Biomed had a great co-operative education course was great and the lecturers program. are excellent. Most importantly all the What’s the most important lesson subjects we covered are relevant to the you learnt at VU? VU made it very job I do now. Making the effort to learn the clear that I needed a good mixture of What advice do you have for other local language is tough, but work experience and study, which has expats? My expat experience was … it is the window to the soul allowed me to land some great roles tough at the beginning but well worth of the country you live in.” at Tourism Victoria and UNWTO. all the hard times and effort. Stick with What advice do you have for other it and it will eventually work out, and expats? Always have a jar of Vegemite remember home will always be there if with you for times of homesickness. Try you want to go back! and explore as much as you can, and Where is your favourite place on immerse yourself in the local culture. Earth? So far, Montenegro has been Where is your favourite place on my favourite place. It’s incredibly Earth? So far I would have to say Rio beautiful and unspoiled, and the de Janeiro in Brazil. It’s one of the few people are so friendly and helpful places I’ve been to that felt as if it had even though they don’t speak English. its own pulse and identity. Its natural I am nowhere near seeing all the beauty, great beaches, smiling faces, places I would like to visit, so it might mix of cultures and amazing party be a different choice by this time scene also help. next year!

16 ALUMNI NICK GRANT: EARL JAMES: SHANE BRACKEN: ELIZA LETSCH: HALIFAX, CANADA AMSTERDAM, SINGAPORE GL ASGOW, UK Bachelor of Arts (Sport Administration) THE NETHERLANDS Bachelor of Business (Hotel Master of Arts (Communication and Professional Writing) – VU, 2001 – VU, 2002 Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) Management & Catering) – VU, 1996 Where are you working? The Halifax /Bachelor of Business Where are you working? For Detpak, Where are you working? I am an 2011 Canada Winter Games, as (International Trade) – VU, 1998 an Australian packaging company Executive Officer for the National Health Service – Education for Manager of Fit-Out and Capital Where are you working? based in 35 countries. I am the Scotland. When I moved to Edinburgh Projects. I am responsible for the The International School Hilversum, Regional General Manager for Asia in 2005, it was to work for The temporary build of 13 competition which is about 30 minutes from and responsible for eight countries Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s venues, two training venues and six Amsterdam. I teach Economics and and three brands in Asia. I have Signet. This organisation is based non-competition venues, including am year leader for the final-year seven General Managers and a total in The Signet Library on Edinburgh‘s the athletes’ village and the media of 120 staff in my team. Most of all group of high school. I’m also doing Royal Mile and is as grand as the and volunteers centres. I am also I enjoy working with and developing my Masters at the University of Bath. title suggests. As part of my work responsible for several capital projects, the capability of our staff. How’s life in Holland? Great. I attended two royal visits, met heads including building an outdoor speed Holland is a compact country at the How’s life in Singapore? Singapore of state and lunched with Lords. skating track, ski hill upgrades heart of Europe, and Amsterdam is a is great. It’s an easy place to live in, and modifications to most of the How’s life in Scotland? Life in lively world city where lots of events the weather is always hot and the tax competition venues. Scotland is utterly amazing. In 2007 happen. I enjoy being able to ride my is much less than at home! Singapore I met a lovely journalist, Steven How’s life in Canada? Canada is bicycle anywhere – rain, hail or shine. has many Australian expats, so you Raeburn, fell in love and we now a beautiful country and I have been It’s too bad we lost the World Cup. really don’t feel that homesick. have an 18-month-old daughter Eve lucky to see a good chunk of it. I’ve Why did you choose VU? I liked Why did you choose VU? I originally Alida. It has been a busy, exciting and been here since October 2007. I lived the idea of studying Asian Studies, worked in the food and hotel industry exhilarating five years! in Vancouver for two and a half years as I thought it would help me have a and wanted to progress my skills Why did you choose VU? In the late before moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia. career overseas in Asia. It probably in running businesses rather than ‘90s I was stuck in a rut in the finance Why did you choose VU? The BA did help, but I ended up in Europe – working in them. One of the reasons sector. I had the world’s most boring of Sport Administration appealed not a bad compromise. I chose VU was because it offered job – allocating superannuation to me as it wasn’t like a lot of other an industrial year to get experience contributions. Professional Writing What’s the most important lesson courses that are so ‘big’ you don’t get as I learnt. My course gave me the sounded much more interesting than you learnt at VU? As I’ve gone on the opportunity to know many people. opportunity to get the basic knowledge pension data entry, any day. to be an educator, it has to be the Our course was lots of fun and I made and then get the right job. intrinsic value of education. What’s the most important lesson some great friends at VU. What’s the most important lesson you learnt at VU? You never stop What advice do you have for other What’s the most important lesson you learnt at VU? The right mix of learning – it doesn’t end with your expats? Try as much as possible to you learnt at VU? To make the academic and industry experience is undergraduate degree. Keep your engage with the local culture. Making brain active and enjoy discovering most of opportunities and never very important. the effort to learn the local language something new. say “never”. is tough, but ultimately rewarding as it What advice do you have for other What advice do you have for other What advice do you have for other is the window to the soul of the country expats? It takes at least six months expats? If you make a few errors expats? Always keep your eyes you live in. Having said that, my Dutch to settle into your new surroundings, in your new home, just learn and open to the world, embrace the make new friends and feel is still a work in progress – maybe it accommodate the differences rather opportunities you have been given and always will be. comfortable. So don’t succumb to the than just grab the first plane back. never forget where you come from. Where is your favourite place on homesickness too early! Also, make In Scotland I found out the unspoken Where is your favourite place Earth? That’s such a tough question. sure you get your salary package right queuing rules pretty swiftly – barging on Earth? I love getting back to There are so many places I’ve felt – this can make the difference between straight to the front of the bus or Melbourne. There’s something really moved by; small Italian villages, living or just existing overseas. bar doesn’t endear you to the angry, pretty special about coming home the solitude of a Trappist monastery, Where is your favourite place on waiting locals! and seeing your friends and family. the sunrise over the Mekong at Luang Earth? Cape Town, South Africa. It’s Where is your favourite place on And there’s nothing on Earth like Prabang, the awe inspiring age of been a long time since I have arrived Earth? I don’t have a favourite place sitting in the MCG and watching the Tasmanian forests. I’m not sure I can in a city and stopped just to look at so because everywhere I have visited has Boxing Day Test. choose a favourite place. many spectacular sights. had something to offer.

ALUMNI 17 HIGH ACHIEvERS JESSICA JURY

A new scholarship program is supporting the further education of students from schools across Melbourne’s west.

ThE FIrST recipients of VU’s new Achievement Scholarship program entered the realm of university life with great enthusiasm earlier this year. Victoria University’s Achievement Scholarship program offers two scholarships to each school (50) in Melbourne’s west – one scholarship for a student enrolling in higher education and a second for a student enrolling in vocational education (TAFE). Students from schools across the municipalities of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham applied for the inaugural 2010 scholarships. Assessment is based on academic achievement, and demonstrates VU’s commitment to the development of Melbourne’s west by providing opportunities for students to fulfil their educational potential. The scholarships provide funds for the duration of the student’s course, with undergraduate students receiving $5,000 a year, and vocational education students receiving $2,000 a year. Scholarship winner Dion Johnson attended Sunshine College last year. He first heard about the scholarship at school assembly. “It was pretty easy to apply, and all I had to do was work really hard in Year 12,” he says. “My teachers really believed in me, which also helped.” Johnson’s hard work, particularly in his favourite subjects, Health, Psychology and Biology, paid off. He is undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Nutritional Therapy), which he hopes to use to become a nutritional therapist or secure a future in teaching. In addition to his motivation to become a clinical dietician or nutritional therapist, he jokes that he chose the degree because “science is knowledge and knowledge is power”.

18 SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIP WINNER DION JOHNSON. Scholarship winner Natascha Hruschka attended Bayside Secondary College in Newport. When asked about the application process she humbly declares, “I decided you’ve got to be in it to win it. And to my astonishment, I was chosen”. But Hruschka’s selection for the scholarship was not based on luck – she pushed herself to achieve the results she needed. “The best thing about winning the scholarship I decided you’ve got to be is having a sense of self achievement,” she says. in it to win it. And to my “I feel very proud and assured that when you astonishment, I was chosen.” put in the effort you are rewarded.” Hruschka’s desire to become a teacher developed at a young age when she began helping her younger brother with his homework. Her teaching placement at a school as part of her first-year studies is furthering her ambition to become a great educator and instil her love of learning in her future students. “I love being a student at VU,” she says. “Everyone is really friendly and I’ve met some great people. University is quite different to high school; you need to be more independent, which I like.” The Victoria University Foundation is seeking to raise $1.2 million a year to support the scholarships, which are an Australian-first of their type. The Western Bulldogs has committed to donating one dollar from every member, every year, to help fund VU’s scholarship programs.

RICH PICKINGS Victoria University is committed to providing access to education, with a range of scholarships for prospective and continuing students across all levels and fields of study. VU offers the following scholarships: • 100 Achievement Scholarships to school students throughout Melbourne’s western region • 455 VU Access Equity Scholarships across higher education, TAFE, vocational education and postgraduate studies. This is the highest number of Access and Equity scholarships of any Victorian university • Travel grants for students to study abroad on exchange, with more than 60 active student exchange agreements around the world For information about domestic scholarship eligibility and criteria visit www.vu.edu.au/scholarships For information about travel grants and international scholarships, follow the links at www.vu.edu.au/current-students

SCHOLARSHIP WINNER NATASCHA HRUSCHKA. SCHOLARSHIPS 19 ShoPPErS TEmPTEd by fatty foods could soon receive a red light warning on their mobile phone before placing unhealthy products in their trolley. The new interactive technology, developed to help fight obesity and high blood pressure, has been successfully tested by Victoria University researchers in supermarkets across Melbourne’s western suburbs. During a recent eight-week trial conducted by VU School of Biomedical Science honours student Carla Battaglia, 17 overweight shoppers used mobile phone cameras with a special application to scan barcodes on a variety of packaged foods that were destined for their trolleys. Within seconds the shoppers received a ‘traffic light’ rating of the sodium and saturated fat content of each product from a database of recommended serving values determined by the National Heart Foundation. The red, amber or green signal on the mobile phone’s interface indicates an unhealthy, neutral or healthier product choice based on the individual’s age, body weight and blood pressure levels. The research participants, each with a Body Mass Index of more than 25, undertook the four-week observational stage of the research, completing weekly three-day food consumption diaries followed by a trial stage where they scanned and purchased foodstuffs. The study found 40 per cent of participants changed their purchase because of the information they were provided via their mobile phone and more than 90 per cent indicated that such a system would be useful to their needs if more products were included. Only breads, breakfast cereals and biscuits were used as part of the study. Nutritional Therapy senior lecturer Dr Michael Mathai says many supermarket products carry bar codes which are administered by not-for-profit DR MICHAEL MATHAI AND HONOURS STUDENT CARLA BATTAGLIA. organisation GS1 Australia, giving them potential to be added to the system. “What we know is that very few people read nutritional information on food packs because they’re complicated and generic,’’ Dr Mathai says. “Our program offers a simple colour-coded rating system based on your individual body weight and age.The results of the study were very encouraging. We saw a downward trend of salt and fat intake in our participants. SToP! “Clearly they were being educated by it and once you get an idea about what is in the food you’re eating, you can transpose that information to other products. It’s part of the campaign against obesity and part of the in the name education process.’’ Dr Mathai says he was “pleasantly surprised” that the participants, who were aged between 45 and 55, adapted quickly to the technology, which was developed by VU’s School of Engineering and Science. of health! “All you need is a camera on your phone and wireless internet connection. The only thing that interrupted them was the odd problem with internet DANIEL CLARKE reception within a supermarket. The scanning process is also not something you have to do in the supermarket if you’re in a rush. You can scan the products after purchase in the comfort of your own home and make educated Overweight shoppers decisions about whether you will buy that product on your next visit. We also prove that virtual traffic see this technology as crossing language barriers because the whole program is based on numbers and symbols.’’ lights can put a stop Dr Mathai says VU and GS1 Australia are now working with Novotel St Kilda to unhealthy eating. to test the practicality of including the bar coding information system on hotel meal menus. “Hotels such as Novotel tend to have a rotating menu so they know what is in each of their meals, but for consumers it can be a total mystery. We’re 40 per cent of participants adapting the program for restaurant food, which will open up many more opportunities for us.Most of the big food manufacturers are saying this is the changed their purchase way to go because they see it as another way of competing. They understand because of the information that people want to know what is in their food and want it to be healthy. they were provided via their We have no idea how big this program could be, but everyone we’ve spoken mobile phone.” to is supportive and thinks it is very innovative.’’ The project was supported by GS1 Australia, Schepisi Communications, Acratus and Diabetes Australia.

20 BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE LITTLE MINDS LETTING GO DANIEL CLARKE

DR SUE SMITH WITH A five-year study looking at the effects of teaching young schoolchildren Buddhist STUDENTS FROM PRINCES HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL WHO HAVE religious practices found that the ancient religion produces happier students. BEEN PRACTISING BUDDHISM.

ThE cUSTomAry sounds of young to record student reaction to meditation. Children “One surprise was that many of the students started voices and excited squeals coming from drew a happy, neutral or unhappy face before and practising meditation in their own time, for example Victorian classrooms are being replaced after each meditation session. before playing sport or before classroom tests.’’ by a peaceful spiritual quietness. “You can’t expect all children to be able to Smith says Buddhist teachings are grossly Students in 12 primary schools across Melbourne verbalise their feelings, experiences and thoughts under-represented in schools, pointing to the have been dropping their crayons and pencils for so this was a totally private, non-competitive fact that Buddhists in Melbourne outnumber 30 minutes each week to meditate and learn skills way of getting feedback and, more importantly, other religious groups such as Muslims and Jews. to develop wisdom and kindness. developing their capacity to observe the “There is reluctance among many Buddhist changeability of their minds,’’ says Smith. people to identify their practice of ethics and Victoria University PhD graduate Dr Sue Smith contemplation as religious. But we’re not here has just completed a five-year study – the first “Consistently the children were marking to convert people to Buddhism.’’ of its kind – into the effects of Buddhist religious themselves in the positive category after education on students, which was introduced to meditation. Even if they marked the same face Part of Smith’s study looked at how and where select schools in 2005. Her thesis reveals that twice they would often say that although they Buddhist education can fit alongside the Victorian students from Years 3 to 6 consistently rated didn’t feel much better, they were definitely calmer. and national education policies. themselves happier after their weekly meditation They’d mention that their mind felt brighter, they were “The classes fit well with values education and session. It also improved their concentration, less worried, and had less bad stuff to think about.’’ personal learning and thinking processes. enabled them to better cope with anxieties Mindfulness practices are increasingly being and regulated their emotions. They felt greater Smith says the regular classroom teachers at each added to social and emotional learning and kindness towards themselves and others. Dr Smith school noted positive changes in their students. positive education programs – two educational says the positive results shows Buddhist education “The teachers said the students now had another concepts that borrow from Buddhist traditions. has an “important place’’ in education and can strategy to cope with bullying by finding space be incorporated more widely into the curriculum to affirm their own values and choose their “Mindfulness is a secular application that comes without being religious. behaviours, turning the bullying experience into directly from the Dharma (doctrine). Worldwide these have become known for stress-reduction, “Volunteer teachers from the Buddhist Council something positive and becoming more resilient. and studies with children in clinical settings have of Victoria focused on two main things during Children who’d been tremendously unhappy shown that these can assist young people with the lessons: values and meditation,’’ says Smith. started feeling more calm and children with very poor self esteem were becoming more confident. Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD), “The children really enjoyed the ethical folk tales, anxiety and aggression issues. creative play and meditation, but more importantly “One Year 6 student said to me: ‘These classes they were making some very thoughtful comments are quite different from other parts of our “This five-year study indicates that when children about being awakened to the potential of their schooling. Usually we are trying to cram more learn to meditate at a young age they develop minds and attitudinal change.’’ Smith devised a information in. Here there is time to clear it out’. a strong personal commitment to develop their self-reporting technique called a ‘Happiness Scale’ There’s a resoundingly positive message in that. wisdom and kindness.’’

PSYCHOLOGY 21 LIZ’S LEGACIES ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT

After seven years at the helm of one of Australia’s largest education institutions, Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Harman will say goodbye to Victoria University in December. She will leave behind a rich legacy after steering the University through substantial – often tumultuous – change and transformation.

The disunity I saw when I first arrived: the campus versus campus; city versus west; TAFE versus university; is now gone.”

VICE-CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR ELIZABETH HARMAN.

ProFESSor ELIZABETh hArmAn insists on having whiteboards “There was a definite belief that VU should aspire to a research-based at her meetings. For someone well known for big-picture thinking ‘Cambridge on the Maribyrnong’ and downplay its cross-sectoral nature, and far-reaching visions, it’s the best way to illustrate her plans, whereas I didn’t see that at all,” she says. develop strategies and workshop her ideas. “My concept from the beginning was to celebrate our traditions and create After seven years as vice-chancellor of Victoria University, the cluttered ‘One VU’ with a distinctive brand and name. We needed to tear down the whiteboard in her Footscray Park office spells out the 64-year-old’s last artificial divides between TAFE and higher education and develop pathways months before she retires, her final duties methodically organised in columns for students to move between those sectors.” headed with ‘consolidate’, ‘communicate’ and ‘celebrate’. Dr Rob Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Services) says there was vast “I need to get enough of a blueprint on the table to give Peter something to symbolic power in those early plans. “For the first time, there was strong will move on from,” she says of her successor, Professor Peter Dawkins. from the very top to bring together two sides of the University that had failed to maximise the benefits of working together and were divided by suspicion The radical transformation of VU under the energetic leadership of the and lack of mutual understanding,” he says. New Zealand-born Harman has attracted praise, but also controversy. Aided by her strong partnership with the University Council, Harman – who When she arrived in Melbourne’s west in October 2003 after five years quickly became known around the University simply as “Liz” – implemented a as deputy vice-chancellor at Perth’s Edith Cowan University, Harman range of governance and management reforms that spanned the two sectors, recalls perceiving “a slightly schizophrenic institute that imparted a sense and brought together a powerful senior team who shared her beliefs. A single of apology”, given its location in the west of Melbourne and its 90-year Education Research Board was established in 2005 to replace separate history of mergers. academic and vocational education boards.

22 LIZ’S LEGACIES The single-VU philosophy culminated in Making VU, a $10 million strategy announced in 2006 as the most sweeping of the University’s transformations. Created by 100 VU leaders deliberating over ways VU could be more responsive to Australia’s workforce demands, the strategy required all students to move from the classroom to the workplace for at least one-quarter of their assessments. It paved the way for a mammoth reorganisation of the University’s 700 courses – which range from hairdressing certificates to PhDs in pure mathematics – into industry and community clusters such as health, creative industries, sports and recreation, and financial and economic services. Professor Greg Baxter, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning and Teaching) says the strategy anticipated national reforms that years later recommended improved integration between vocational and higher education, as well as better access and outcomes for students from low socio-economic backgrounds. “By organising VU’s courses into coherent ranges that seamlessly linked across sectors, VU has been able to reach a point where now 20 per cent of students enrolled in a VU degree course have already graduated from a previous VU TAFE award,” he says. Harman also acquired the crucial job of what she describes as “basic housekeeping” to address a woeful lack of integrated record keeping and internal policies, revealed by the well-reported fraud and legal cases she inherited. “There was no University-wide policy machinery when I arrived. We went policy-mad and machinery-mad to set up education policies and systems, student records and research policies to build up missing internal systems.” On the research front, Harman was presented with well-advanced plans for VU and its then-partner, Austin Health, to build a Victoria Institute of Biotechnology at VU’s Werribee Campus as the foundation for a VU medical school. Those plans soon fell by the wayside when researchers would not relocate to the west. “There was a fair bit of Melbourne establishment that said VU was not the place for medical research,” she says. “I quite deliberately decided that a medical school was not a priority for VU at that time.” Instead, she and other VU leaders identified areas for targeted excellence where the University could shine by establishing new and internationally respected institutes and research centres. Harman convinced Council to polish up faded strengths from predecessor institutes like sport science, and to set aside $15 million over five years for priority research innovation projects in forward-looking fields relevant to the west and the world, such as sustainable water use, logistics and strategic economic studies. Fast-forward five years. VU has now aligned its research and partnerships to a strengthened identity – reflected by a name change in 2005 that dropped the ‘of Technology’ tag of the past to become simply ‘Victoria University’. As examples of its new partnerships, VU has joined Western Health and Melbourne University to build a teaching, training and research centre at Sunshine Hospital where a focus on musculoskeletal and diabetic research will tie in with health science programs at Footscray Park and nursing programs at St Albans. New educational partners such as Le Cordon Bleu have energised the University’s vocational hospitality programs; the Western Bulldogs AFL Club has joined VU in community-building and education programs; and LinFox and City West Water have forged high-level logistics and engineering partnerships with VU. VU had a budding international reputation in 2003, but it was bolstered during Harman’s tenure. While she never wavered in her passionate support for the University’s western Melbourne heartland nor its multicultural 50,000-member student body, Harman realised that a strong VU required a global focus. She took her first overseas trip for the University in 2004 to obtain direct understandings of key partners in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and continued to build offshore partnerships and twinning programs in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Malaysia. Years later, those arrangements helped cushion VU from a slump in international student enrolments, and are now the University’s largest source of non-government revenue.

TOP: PROFESSOR HARMAN OUTSIDE THE SOON TO BE OPENED SPORT AND LEARNING PRECINCT AT FOOTSCRAY PARK CAMPUS. RIGHT: “I’LL LOOK BACK IN A YEAR AND KNOW 23 I’VE MADE A DIFFERENCE.” – PROFESSOR HARMAN. Harman also saw value in opening the world to domestic students. In 2005, The creation of Friday Forums – briefings with mid-level leaders – was she helped establish a $500,000 travel grant program so VU students could an important positive outcome of the 2008 announcements, she says. afford an overseas experience at a partner institute. Since 2003, more than “The first meetings were feral; people didn’t understand and they were 1200 students have taken advantage of the Victoria Abroad program. justifiably upset,” she says. “But from February 2009, the group started VU’s strong partnership with the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP) came growing in its understanding, acceptance and ownership. They are now after Harman noticed the largely Hispanic-student institute on the Mexican-US dealing with it – not as victims, but participants.” border had similar challenges, opportunities and missions as VU. Its president, Harman is excited about items in her ‘celebrate’ column. An obvious jewel Diana Natalicio, says she knew “from our first conversation that Liz would be a in her crown will be the completion of $40 million worth of world-class sport great partner in pursuing mutual social equity interests and in creating better and exercise science facilities set to open early next year at Footscray Park. educational opportunities for historically under-represented students.” The facilities will draw researchers from around the world and position VU Both leaders stress that equity and excellence go hand in hand. The two as a global centre of sport excellence. universities now share many projects that the OECD has recognised as excellent At the Sunshine Campus, VU received $40 million from the Federal practice, including a ‘students as staff’ program that provides on-campus Government’s Education Investment Fund to develop a state-of-the-art employment for students, including job swaps between the two organisations. building and construction centre, and offer training from 2011 in areas of Many of these activities are listed under Harman’s whiteboard ‘consolidate’ recognised skill shortages. column and are expected to strengthen and evolve under the stewardship Harman is equally proud of the many programs introduced under her tenure of the new vice-chancellor. that have directly affected staff, students and the external community. Nearly But she lists two hard-hitting announcements of 2008 under ‘communicate’, 200 babies and their families have benefitted from a generous staff paternal knowing they’ll follow her into retirement with less acclaim. She regrets leave scheme set up in October 2004. The VU Achievement Scholarship that news about changes at two outer campuses – closure at Sunbury and Fund, launched in 2010, is paying to educate two students a year from every withdrawal of higher education at Melton – were announced within weeks secondary school in the region – about 50 schools. of a separate announcement about workforce restructuring, then mistakenly A Community Gateway outreach service provides free career and course linked together. counselling for residents who may have never thought of bettering their future “I’ve been drained and exhausted by two years of trying to get the University opportunities. Projects such as Access and Success, designed to build the through the hard yards of understanding why this was necessary and how aspirations of local secondary-school students, and others that address the it will help for the future.” desperate need for improved health in the region, have been championed by Harman. Harman wants to set the record straight that the campus closures were a result of long Council deliberations following strong evidence from Today being Friday, Harman has invited senior staff to her office for a late external consultants that showed the two campuses were not only financially afternoon catch-up, complete with wine and cheese. Professor Rodger Eade, unsustainable, but unwanted by students. a 35-year veteran of VU who has worked closely with Harman, says staff are never quite sure whether “they’ll leave with only a warm inner glow fuelled by The Sunbury report indicated that only six of every 100 Sunbury higher the wine and the weekend’s Bulldogs’ prospects, or with four weeks work – education students were enrolled at VU’s Sunbury Campus, another 20 were as sketched on her office whiteboard – to be completed by Monday.” attending a different VU campus, and the other 74 were at other universities. Harman acknowledges it’s time for a change – for the University and for Claims that the University was abandoning the west were wrong, she says, herself. She is ready to swap her sophisticated wardrobe for more casual evidenced by new partnerships in the local municipalities of Hume and clothing better suited to gardening, oil painting or time in the northern Melton aimed at secondary school programs and training. Queensland sun with Frank, her husband of 40 years. Harman says VU’s future will focus on a “strong spine of campuses” from “My last few years at VU have been much harder than I expected, the CBD through the University’s heartland of Footscray to Sunshine, but I’ll look back in a year and know I’ve made a difference,” she says. St Albans and Melton, with a spur to the outer west region of Werribee. The consolidation will direct more resources to fewer sites for a richer student “The disunity I saw when I first arrived: the campus versus campus; city versus experience, and create a “hubbing” of higher education and vocational west; TAFE versus university; is now gone. VU is a living institution and will training course clusters at single locations. go on without me. But absolutely, this journey has been worth it: for myself, the students, the research and the communities we serve.” “There isn’t another metropolitan university in Australia that had 13 campuses in a radius as small as ours, and every university understands these economies are not sustainable.” Of the second hard-hitting item in her ‘communicate’ column, Harman says it was crucial that VU examined how its 4500-strong workforce was operating in light of recent Commonwealth Government changes to its funding base. A three-year project to redefine roles, retrain staff and end service duplication is expected to save about $8 million a year by improving productivity and providing better services. Harman acknowledges academics want to hold on to existing workload models, but says there’s a gradual meeting of minds. “If you look back on this a decade from now, people will say it needed to happen and it’s important it happened, and they’ll take it for granted,” she says. “Nothing has shaken my conviction or the conviction of senior management that we had to take both these journeys, especially as we move toward a competitive environment in 2012.”

24 LIZ’S LEGACIES VU is a living institution and will go on without me. But absolutely, this journey has been worth it: for myself, the students, the research and the communities we serve.”

LIZ’S LEGACIES 25 PROFESSOR HARMAN CHATS WITH STUDENTS AT A CAMPUS CAFETERIA. kids kick goals with doggies ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT

Aussie Rules footy is being used as a model to keep primary school students active, healthy and engaged in learning.

hUndrEdS oF primary school students across melbourne’s west are learning about healthy and happy living in an innovative program run by the western Bulldogs, Victoria University Bachelor of Education students, the Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Victoria. The Bulldogs Friendly Schools program delivers multi-pronged messages to grades 3 and 4 students about the importance of not only building fitness, but also developing leadership skills such as fair play and teamwork. Natalie Vernuccio, Projects Co-ordinator in VU’s School of Education, says the program offers much more than footy clinics and player visits. “It is well recognised that Melbourne’s west has a higher level of disadvantage, and we can use footy as a model to keep students active, healthy, happy and engaged in learning,” she says. “The program is aimed at building physical, social and educational outcomes.” Now in its third year, the eight-week program comprises a footy skills unit, which also includes leadership and healthy eating lessons, plus two Bulldog player visits and an excursion to a free AFL footy game. Forty VU partner primary schools in Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melton are participating in the program. They are offered a choice of two streams: Footy in Schools and Multicultural Schools. The Footy in Schools stream communicates the importance of regular physical activity, football The players provide the consistent skills, leadership and nutrition. The Multicultural message of not only doing Schools stream offers more of an introduction your best in football, but the to football, and was developed for schools importance of doing your best with a high proportion of students from diverse in all areas of your schoolwork.” cultural backgrounds.

26 COMMUNITY PROFESSOR FOOTBALL IF YOU’RE looking for expert analysis on anything to do with Australian Rules football, Professor Football has the answers. Professor Football is the name given to 14 VU academics who have expert knowledge across a range of sports, with a special focus on the Australian Football League (AFL). The group is drawn from the University’s School of Sport and Exercise Science, and Institute for Sport, Exercise and Active Living, and they are regularly contacted by the media for expert commentary. In a bid to provide the public with more informed football debate, VU has taken Professor Football online via a self-titled blog on the University’s website. The blog operates The exciting part of both programs is that students throughout the AFL season. receive two visits from Bulldogs players who not only Professor Football blog: practice footy drills with the children, but also discuss www.vu.edu.au/media/afl-footy-experts leadership and the importance of healthy eating. All activities in the program are managed and run by VU’s Bachelor of Education students as part of vU’S PROFESSORS their teacher placement. OF FOOTBALL To develop their own leadership skills, the student PLAYERS, FITNESS AND SPORTS SCIENCE teachers receive personal development training Rob Aughey: Physiology, fitness and injury from VU, while staff from AFL Victoria and the Alan J. Pearce: Optimising athletic warm-ups, Western Jets Football Club provide training in strength and conditioning football skills, which leads to a Certificate 1 in Football Coaching. Con Hrysomallis: Weight training, injury prevention and protective equipment Pan Barnes, a final-year Bachelor of Education Kevin Ball: Biomechanics and skill acquisition student, helped implement the program at Altona Meadows Primary School this year. She says it has CULTURE AND SOCIETY many benefits, including introducing kids to an Tom Clark: Football commentary, writing and activity that many do not routinely play or watch. promotions “The kids love it,” she says. “It gets them out of Matthew Klugman: The role of fans in sport and football as a religion the classroom and learning about something different.” Robert Pascoe: Social history of the game Bob Stewart: Fans, fandom, code management Bill Reid, the school’s principal, says his students John Weldon: Media relations, football are eager to be involved. culture, football humour “When the players visit, they provide the consistent DRUGS, ETHICS AND THE LAW message of not only doing your best in football, but the importance of doing your best in all areas Dennis Hemphill: Violence, player welfare and ethics of the sport of your schoolwork,” he says. Matt Harvey: Football governance and politics All program activities link to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards, which is the curriculum for FOOTY HISTORY Victorian skills in areas such as English, maths, Rob Hess: History of the game and its ethnic and physical, personal and social learning. dimensions For information about the Bulldogs Friendly Schools WOMEN IN SPORT program, contact Natalie Vernuccio on (03) 9919 2037 Caroline Symons: Women in sport, gender, or [email protected] sexuality and homophobia FOOTY STATISTICS AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS Tristan Barnett: Sports performance modelling and statistics; performance analyst LEFT: WESTERN BULLDOGS RUCKMAN AYCE CORDY GETS INVOLVED WITH THE BULLDOGS FRIENDLY SCHOOLS PROGRAM.

ABOVE AND ABOVE LEFT: PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS FROM MELBOURNE’S WEST GET ACTIVE. COMMUNITY 27 WORKING IN THE MAGIC “Working for Disney was an amazing experience. Living in the happiest place on earth – KINGDOM most of the time – is just that.” ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT VU students are gaining world-class experience at the world’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate.

28 WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING To anyone who is even thinking of something like this, my advice is: just go for it!”

TOURISM MANAGEMENT STUDENT JOSHUA THORNEYCROFT DURING HIS SIX-MONTH STINT AS A DISNEY RESORT LIFEGUARD.

FEw comPAnIES are so widely respected tourism or business programs, but any student “The most rewarding thing I’ve got from being for their staff training and work ethic can apply. No previous experience is necessary, a VU student is the opportunity to broaden my that by just mentioning their names just a desire to interact with other people and have horizons by participating in overseas experiences,” former employees are elevated a motivation to learn. Barry Broons, VU manager says Thorneycroft. “To anyone who is even to the top of job interview short-lists. for Work Integrated Learning in the Faculty of thinking of something like this, my advice is: just The disney corporation is among them. Business and Law, says 25 VU students and go for it.” graduates were hired by Disney this year. The company’s international program recruits Jessica Bond, 22, was hired for a six-month thousands of university and college students “A few started mid-year, but most will commence position selling Disney merchandise after she from around the world each year for entry-level in January 2011. Being able to provide our finished her Bachelor of Business in Hospitality positions at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. students with a world-class experience that can and Tourism Management in 2009. She says enhance their industry skills as well as their More than 50 Victoria University students have while the unlimited rides on days off, opportunities personal maturity is the main reason VU supports participated in the program, going behind the to meet people from around the world and other the program,” says Broons. scenes of the Magic Kingdom to work for up to perks have provided lifelong memories, the a year at the 122-square-kilometre resort. Typical VU students hired by Disney can gain academic experience also presented challenges. She says jobs include lifeguarding at a resort pool, operating credit toward their degrees and are eligible for participants must share furnished staff apartments a ride, selling merchandise, serving food or a travel grant to cover costs. Once at Disney with up to seven other people, and careful working in hotel reception. Some staff get to pose World, they can enrol in the company’s classes budgeting is required to manage the pay – for photos and sign autographs as a costumed in business or hospitality, or Disney ‘secrets’ in equivalent to an entry level position in Australia Mickey Mouse or other Disney characters. Disney leadership, marketing or guest services. VU’s – from which about $100 a week is deducted recruiter Javier Reyes says the program highlights Work Integrated Learning program, part of the for accommodation. the company’s strong emphasis on cultural diversity. University’s commitment to workplace learning About 50 nationalities are represented among the for all students, offers recognition for the service- Disney also has strict staff behaviour and dress resort’s 60,000 staff, known not as employees, oriented skills students develop on the job and rules, and staff under 21 are not permitted but ‘cast members’. their new technical and professional abilities. to drink alcohol because it is against the law “Jobs for international students are all VU Tourism Management student Joshua in Florida. entertainment-related with heavy guest contact,” Thorneycroft, 24, spent six months working as a Despite all that, Bond says she has no regrets. Reyes told hopeful VU students at a Footscray Disney resort lifeguard in the first half of 2010. He Park Campus recruitment session earlier this year. “Working for Disney was an amazing experience. followed this with four months study at a VU partner Living in the happiest place on earth – most of “We don’t just expect you to do a job; we want institute in Mexico. When Thorneycroft returns to you to be part of a story.” the time – is just that.” Australia at the end of this year he will work at VU Applicants need to have completed at least as an international exchange advisor, helping the For information about the Disney International their first year of study or be a recent graduate. University promote the Disney experience as well Program, contact VU’s Centre for Work Candidates generally come from hospitality, as VU’s other overseas study opportunities. Integrated Learning on 03 9919 4889.

WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING 29 COMING OUT TO PLAY CANDICE NEUMANN

Gay activist Eric Anderson, a leading researcher on sport and sexuality, believes homophobia in youth sports is fast becoming a thing of the past. DR ERIC ANDERSON, EXPERT ON HOMOPHOBIA IN SPORT.

whEn dr ErIc Anderson came out of the But despite his personal feelings, Anderson, closet in 1993 he had no idea how brutal now a sociologist at the University of Bath in the consequences would be. The then 25 the UK, has made a career out of studying year old was a distance running coach at a masculinities, sexualities and homophobia. HOMOPHOBIA californian high school, and the revelation He has conducted research in both the US that he was gay led to what could be called and UK, interviewing students, teachers and SURVEY a hurricane of homophobia. coaches involved in many different sporting codes, including rugby, football and soccer. THE FIRST comprehensive survey of the The vilification culminated three years later in He has interviewed more than 100 gay athletes experience of gay, lesbian, bisexual and a violent attack on an athlete he was coaching. on their experiences of coming out, including transgender (GLBT) people in community “One of my straight athletes was brutally, the reactions of their teammates. He says that sport in Australia has found that despite brutally beaten because his coach was gay,” while the public largely focuses on homophobia improvements in attitudes, discrimination Anderson says. The beating, meted out by among high-profile professional athletes he and abuse is still widespread. Released in an American football player, left the athlete is more concerned about the homophobia May this year, the research was undertaken by a team from Victoria University and hospitalised with fractured facial bones. It had a experiences of the millions of young adults in La Trobe University. The survey of 307 profound impact on Anderson’s life. recreational, high school and university sports. GLBT self-identified adults found: “I would have had less anxiety and anger if it had His findings overwhelmingly suggest been me who had been beaten,” he says. homophobia in youth sports is fast becoming • More men (26%) than women (9.9%) Anderson’s anger propelled him back to university a thing of the past. He claims that homophobia reported there were sports they would to complete a PhD examining homophobia in in sport is not just in rapid decline, but that it is like to play but didn’t because they sport. “After I came out I saw how sport had trained becoming stigmatised. He says the sea change feared abuse in attitudes is proliferating through sport at all American football players to be so homophobic, • Almost half of the participants in levels. However, not all of his peers agree. so violent and just such nasty men,” he says. mainstream sporting clubs were not ‘out’ Almost two decades on, Anderson is considered “People who have read my research say I’m (46%), a third (33.5%) were ‘out’ to some one of the foremost researchers in the field overly optimistic and that their experience as a co-players, and 20.5% were ‘out’ to all gay or lesbian person doesn’t match my research of sport and sexuality. He is also a prominent • Verbal homophobia was reported by spokesman in the US and the UK on gay athletes, findings,” he says. “But we tend to get stamped 42% of those surveyed and of these, 87% appearing regularly on radio and television and with the period of time we grew up in, and these reported that homophobia affected them in the print media. people are forgetting that their experience was in some way 20 years ago.” Anderson was a keynote speaker at The Worlds of • Sexism was reported by 42.7% of those Football conference hosted by Victoria University While Anderson’s research of homophobia may surveyed, more commonly by women and in September. The conference, which brought have been sparked by pain and bitterness, his particularly by transgender participants together football researchers from all over motivation to continue that research is to spread • A majority of those in queer sporting Australia and around the world, explored gender the word that attitudes have changed. clubs reported their clubs had policies to and sexualities, memories and identities, and the “I want to say to the gay and lesbian community, promote the safety and inclusion of GLBT global and local worlds of all codes of football. ‘Wake up and look around you, we’re doing people, but only 12.1% of participants “Football is known as the beautiful game,” great,’” he says. “That’s not to say we don’t from mainstream clubs reported their Anderson says. “But I don’t think so. I actually have a way to go, but we are really cranking.” clubs had similar policies don’t like sport. Most sports sociologists are fans Anderson is the author of more than 20 academic The full report, including recommendations, but I make no pretence that sport is a good thing articles and book chapters, and several books, is available on the VicHealth website: or teaches us anything useful at all. We’d all be including the award-winning, In the Game: http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au better off spending our time and money developing Gay Athletes and the Cult of Masculinity, community theatre and other forms of recreation.” (State University of New York Press, 2005).

30 SPORT Art can help us understand and acknowledge sorrow and loss, by providing the space to find clarity and express deep feelings.”

art & trauma ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT

Artist and PhD candidate, Anne Riggs, has an optimistic outlook and big smile for someone who has made grief, loss and trauma the focus of her research and work for the past 15 years.

From hEr highett home and art studio, expression that offers solace and meaning. “Her work shows how art-making can produce riggs looks at how art can uncover trauma She works with participants mainly in mosaic new forms of self-knowledge and self-expression buried inside some of the most vulnerable and clay because these materials are more easily that sit alongside more conventional approaches people in society and help restore wellbeing. used by inexperienced artists, and offer a broad of talking one’s way through trauma toward Riggs’ interest in trauma grew from her Victoria scope for expression. healing and recovery,” says Grossman. University Fine Arts Masters degree, which While writing her doctoral thesis, The Creative Earlier this year, Riggs put together a museum- focused on World War I and the long-term Space: Art and Wellbeing in the Shadow of style exhibition of hundreds of pieces of her own consequences on soldiers and their families who Trauma, Grief and Loss, Riggs worked with a work for the Monash Medical Centre’s Art Space. experienced loss and grief. In 2004, her study group of women who had been sexually abused, The culmination of her PhD, the works included grew into an exhibition – Ritual, Light and Land: mostly as children, as a way to confront their An Artist’s Journey through the Western Front – painted bones, childrens’ clothing encased in long-buried feelings. at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. plaster and ceramics, cocoons, and a chest of Participants reported that the art sessions were drawers filled with artistic secrets as metaphors to “Unless the profound impact of trauma is tackled articulate pain, trauma and loss. after events such as war, the effects can pass on powerful, uplifting experiences. Riggs later through generations in the form of violence, abuse photographed the mosaics, using the photos to “The work is a contemplation of the long-term or dysfunction,” says Riggs. make a now annual calendar published by the impact of trauma, the losses, the distortions, and South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Abuse. For several years, Riggs has combined an interest the seemingly miraculous beauty that remains in community art with her exploration of trauma Riggs’ research is a cross between art and within people who have been carelessly and by devising and facilitating art projects for abused psychology, and follows other interdisciplinary brutally treated,” says Riggs. women, the disabled, and the mentally and studies within VU’s School of Social Sciences Riggs’ own childhood was one that she feels chronically ill. and Psychology. It is described by her “grateful for”, having grown up as one of seven “Art can help us understand and acknowledge supervisor, Associate Professor Jenny Sharples, children in a loving home. “Our parents always – perhaps better accept – sorrow and loss, by as a “groundbreaking development”. knew where we were and always took an interest providing the space to find clarity and express Associate Dean of Research and Training, in our wellbeing,” she says. Her artistic leanings deep feelings,” she says. Associate Professor Michele Grossman, says Riggs’ were developed in her 20s during an eight-year Riggs is careful to ensure that the art created work offers original and important insights into stay in London, which included studying at by participants is not clichéd, but a personal the nexus between creativity, trauma and healing. St Martin’s School of Art.

FINE ARTS/PSYCHOLOGY 31 SIncE 1993, VU has been conferring honorary degrees honoris causa – Latin: ‘for the sake of the honour’ – to honour those who have made significant contributions to a specific field, to the University or to society in general. Recipients have ranged from prime ministers and ambassadors to principal players in organisations that support the disadvantaged in our community. Earlier this year, VU paid tribute to two leading Melbourne figures by awarding them each with a Doctorate of the University, honoris causa, at graduation ceremonies at Flemington Racecourse. Transport and logistics magnate Lindsay Fox and Harness Racing Victoria chair Ken Latta can now add Doctor to their lengthy curriculum vitaes. Lindsay Fox, who founded international logistics company Linfox, was honoured for his outstanding achievements in the transport and logistics industry, his contribution to the community through his sustained efforts to reduce unemployment across Australia and his campaigning against youth suicide. “There are two forms of education – one is experience and one is academia,’’ Dr Fox said after the presentation. “It’s taken me 73 years to get academic acclaim, and I’m quite proud of it.’’ He started his business in Melbourne in 1956 with one truck, delivering soft drinks in summer and fuel in winter. Today the massive Linfox Logistics operates more than 1.8 million square metres of warehousing and nearly 5000 vehicles across 10 countries. More than 15,000 staff deliver sophisticated supply chain services to a wide range of leading businesses. Dr Fox has been a long-time supporter of apprenticeship training and is active in the Federal Government’s Apprentice Kickstart Program and a cause its Keep Australia Working campaign. for honour DANIEL CLARKE A transport magnate and a major player in the development of Victoria University are the latest to be honoured by VU with honorary degrees.

ABOVE: HONORARY DOCTORATE RECIPIENT DR LINDSAY FOX PROUDLY SHARES HIS MOMENT WITH MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY.

32 HONORARY DEGREES SHARED COMMITMENT LInFox And VU signed a memorandum of Understanding (moU) in 2008 to jointly enhance supply chain and logistics capability across Australia. VU’s Institute for Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM) has been working closely WHAT WILL YOU DO? with Linfox to provide quality professional development for staff at operational, management and executive levels. Outcomes for 2010 include: • VU’s Diploma of Logistics is being run in several states in both direct delivery and through distance education through Linfox College • VU is collaborating with Linfox’s Operations Training division to provide the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Warehousing and Storage) • Federal Government recognition of the partnership with a $41,000 grant for the development of an e-learning interactive DVD, which will form a key learning tool for the Diploma of Logistics.

Ken Latta’s degree is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the vocational education sector and for his advocacy on behalf of the western region of melbourne, in particular his role in the development of Victoria University. His work in tertiary education involved not only key reforms in the TAFE sector in Victoria but also a lengthy and distinguished association with VU stretching more than 35 years, which included time as a member of the Council of the University. He held positions including Assistant Director, Footscray Institute of TAFE; Director, Newport Institute of TAFE; and TAFE Regional Manager. ABOVE: DR KEN LATTA (CENTRE) ACCEPTS HIS HONORARY DOCTORATE, PICTURED WITH VICE-CHANCELLOR In 1993 he was appointed General Manager, ELIZABETH HARMAN (LEFT) AND CHANCELLOR GEORGE PAPPAS. TAFE System and Resources in the State Government Education Department. From August to December 2009, Dr Latta A quAlificAtion from VictoriA uniVersity will served as VU’s Acting Deputy Chancellor. giVe you the skills to hAndle the situAtion He recently stepped down as Metropolitan Put your knowledge to good use with a rewarding career Fire Brigade CEO to take up a three-year in law. VU offers courses in Law and Legal studies from contract as the head of Harness Racing Victoria. certificates to degrees. He was also the Executive Director of Victoria To find out how to make VU your preference visit our website or call 1300 VIC UNI. Police for 10 years and has served on the boards “It’s taken me 73 years of CRIMTRAC – which develops information to get academic acclaim, sharing technology to support the effective and I’m quite proud of it.’’ www.vu.edu.au/vtac operation of police services and law enforcement CrICos Provider No. 00124K LINDSAY FOX agencies across Australia – and the Victorian College of Agriculture. Dr Latta has a significant history of providing policing and education services to the community, for which he was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

33 LEGAL LIAISONS JESSICA JURY

After living through years of civil unrest, war and displacement, Sudanese refugee Kot Monoah has gone on to become a university graduate and a respected community worker.

It does surprise people when they find out how quickly I have realised my ambitions.”

34 LAW KoT monoAh is a young man who knows The Victoria Police Multicultural Advisory Unit has what he wants and where he’s going. By the five unsworn (non-uniformed) community liaison vICTORIA’S time the unassuming Sudanese refugee had officers strategically stationed around Melbourne been in Australia for just one month he had in high density ethnic neighbourhoods. Of various COMMUNITY already sought career advice and enrolled cultural backgrounds, they work with new arrivals to study at Victoria University. to Australia, many of whom have limited English language skills. LIAISON “When refugees first arrive it takes a while to find our feet,” he says. “So it does surprise people Monoah and other community officers regularly OFFICERS when they find out how quickly I have realised co-ordinate camps for young refugees that provide a safe environment away from peer and my ambitions.” The Victoria Police multicultural family pressures. They offer an opportunity for Advisory Unit has five community After six years in Australia, the 27-year-old law/ participants to share stories with police and build liaison officers strategically stationed science graduate is now working with Victoria mutual understanding. Police as a community liaison officer, and acting around melbourne. They work with as a mentor to young Sudanese. Australian journey new arrivals to: Monoah’s family became internal refugees – Originally settling in Dandenong in Melbourne’s • build cross-cultural communication displaced within their home country – during eastern suburbs, Monoah’s family soon relocated (providing translation service where needed) civil unrest in Sudan when he was just four years to the western suburbs to ease his commute • improve understanding of Australian laws old. Three years later the family fled Sudan for to VU’s Footscray Park Campus. Support from • help establish trust between them and police Ethiopia. When Monoah was 10, they fled to his family has been instrumental to his positive Kenya to escape the Ethiopian civil war. outlook on life and becoming a valued member The liaison officers also link with community of the Australian community. agencies and leaders, and regularly During the 12 harrowing years of displacement refer clients – who may be victims, suspects “My mother is an amazing woman,” he says. that followed, Monoah grew accustomed to the or offenders – to appropriate services. realities of refugee life, including being exposed to “She taught me from a young age the importance diseases such as cholera, malaria and meningitis, of respect for others. She was a midwife in her and sleeping in the open without shelter. home country and has enrolled in foundation nursing courses at VU. She plans to pathway into “We survived attacks by wild animals, VU’s midwifery program. including leopards, crocodiles and hyenas,” he says. “I vividly remember being attacked by “My father is an inspiration to me. He remains LEGAL in Sudan as a freedom fighter and we stay in hippopotamuses while crossing the Nile. While regular contact. He helps me make the right fleeing Ethiopia, a pride of lions killed a woman CONNECTIONS choices in life and keeps me grounded.” and her baby one rainy night not far from where we were sheltering.” Monoah’s two younger brothers are also at VU’s Law School is engaging students with Footscray Park Campus, studying mechanical the community in four innovative ways through Monoah’s early education was erratic and engineering and civil engineering. Clearly, its Connected Law program. rudimentary. “I remember going with no exercise VU has become a Monoah family tradition. Connected Law consists of four new pilot book, and learning English by writing on sandy programs offering students hands-on soil,” he says. Outside of his day job as a community liaison experience with partners in the community officer, and in his own time, Monoah runs a Corruption was endemic and he recalls and the legal profession. school homework program for young Sudanese being harassed by police from an early age. and coaches a local soccer team in order to “They took our few possessions, even resorting Prisoners’ law library concept bond with youth in the area. to strip searching. Students work with VU partners in the legal He encourages the young people he works community to develop easy to understand It was a nightmare. In Africa, people wouldn’t with to consider their options and view further electronic legal resources for prisoners. report crimes because police were so corrupt education as the key to getting ahead in life. they would do things like charge the individual Community radio media reporting the incident and loot their house rather “The impact of getting a young person to question broadcasting program than investigate the case.” their choices can be enormous,” he says. “Always, Students assist with the development of my advice is to increase your knowledge and don’t materials designed to deliver media law Given these experiences it’s easy to see why many go straight for the money. I tell them they will face training to volunteer broadcasters. refugee migrants distrust Australia’s police forces. challenges at university, but eventually they will But Monoah has a deep respect for the Australian see the fruits of their labour.” Law and family violence project legal system. Monoah has lived through exceptional life Students create legal training materials “Despite my experiences, I soon realised that experiences, graduated from university and designed for victims of family violence. police in Australia are here to serve and help us. become a respected community worker and youth Internet censorship project Now that I’m a community liaison officer, I have mentor. He is widely acknowledged as being an an important part to play in that. exemplary role model, not only for young migrants, Students work with a national non-profit organisation representing internet users but for the community at large. We’re teaching new arrivals that regardless of concerned with online freedoms and rights. ethnicity, if you are in trouble it’s because you On 12 October 2010, Kot Monoah was admitted Issues include internet censorship rules and breached the law.” as a solicitor by the Supreme Court of Victoria. online civil liberties.

LAW 35 RUNWAY REVOLUTION ANN MARIE ANGEBRANDT

It was a cold June evening outdoors, but inside the atmosphere was sizzling with music pumping, cameras flashing and models strutting the catwalk. Victoria University’s Runway Revolution was underway – a gala presentation of the very latest in fashion, hairstyles and make-up.

36 HAIR AND BEAUTY After weeks of preparation by students from VU’s hair and beauty VcAL program, this Emmy AwArd was their night to show what they could do. Victoria University teacher in specialist And more than 150 people had come to the make-up, Erica Wells, led one of two teams inner-city venue to see it paraded before of make-up artists that won an Emmy Award their eyes. in Los Angeles for ‘outstanding make-up’ For most of the Year 11 students, this was the for the 10-part mini-series, The Pacific. first time they could show in a ‘real-life’ event the Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom knowledge and skills they had learned across a Hanks, the mini-series was filmed over range of beauty practices, including hairdressing, 10 months in 2008 in Melbourne, Port make-up, modelling and nail art. Douglas and other Australian locations. The creative teenagers were joined by VU’s It tells the intertwined stories of three Certificate II modelling students and those Marines during America’s battle with the studying the diploma in specialist make-up Japanese in the Pacific during World War II. services. In the preceding weeks, creative The production involved hundreds of extras industries students had lent a hand by requiring huge teams of behind-the-scenes designing and printing invitations and posters. people to look after make-up, hairstyling External partners, William Angliss Institute, supplied and special effects. catering; Melbourne Central provided the clothes “We had to maintain army haircuts and and fashion accessories; and RMIT multimedia do 1940s make-up and hairstyling,” says students did the lighting, video and photography. Wells. “There were also specialised looks The event runs twice a year, marking graduation – applying salt flakes and sweat to make day for some and a mid-course high for others. actors appear dehydrated when they are The atmosphere was sizzling marooned on an island, and keeping track Project co-ordinator and VCAL teacher Paul of cuts and bruises for continuity.” with music pumping, cameras Borovac says students keenly look forward to flashing and models strutting the event as a chance to show their families and Erica has worked on several other major the catwalk.” friends the results of their training. “Every year this productions shot in Australia including, The event grows a little more and becomes that much Thin Red Line, Moulin Rouge, Don’t be Afraid more professional,” he says. of the Dark and Mission Impossible. The VU Diploma of Specialist Make-Up teaches the VU specialist make-up student Zoe Coop, 20, skills that meet the demands of work in film, left Cairns for Melbourne to follow her dream of media and entertainment industries. working as a make-up artist in film and television. She says the event was a highlight of her studies. “I spoke to the teachers before I enrolled and it sounded exactly what I was looking for because of its emphasis on practical experience,” she says. Coop says Runway Revolution helped hone her skills in fashion make up, which was just one facet of her year-long program. In July she was offered two weeks work experience on the set of the television series, Rush, applying fake bruises and blood to actors. “Participating in events like Runway Revolution is important because everything we do is judged by HAIR AND BEAUTY 37 an audience,” she says. VIcTorIA UnIVErSITy has a long history of nurturing elite athletes. Sports men and women who have attended the University in the past include legends such as footballer ron Barassi, golfer Peter Thomson and olympians cathy Freeman (athletics), Jim nevin (cycling) and study Andrew Gaze (basketball). Among VU’s 2010 students are at least 19 elite athletes who represent the University, the state or the country in netball, hockey, cricket, baseball, squash, beach volleyball, judo, golf, athletics and wrestling. & play To support its commitment to student athletes, VU is an active member of the Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) Network, which connects universities and JESSICA JURY sporting bodies across Australia. The network helps members develop policies and academic planning Balancing sport and study to help student athletes balance demanding sporting activities with their academic commitments. is par for the course for VU’s VU also supports its elite athletes with financial elite sports men and women. assistance to ensure they can attend events such as Olympic and Commonwealth Games, University Games and World Championships. Sport Services Co-ordinator Scott Cashmere is VU’s point of contact for EAFU. He knows the importance of supporting athletes while they gain qualifications that will secure their post-sport futures. “Sporting careers don’t last forever, so we need to give our student athletes the best chance at gaining their qualification,” says Cashmere. “Without this framework we may lose students because we simply couldn’t support them through their studies. We offer engagement and flexibility so students can concurrently achieve their academic and sporting goals.” VU’s current elite athletes are enrolled in many disciplines, including psychology, science, teaching and human movement. Here, six athletes offer a small glimpse into their lives.

LIAm AdAmS Sporting careers don’t last forever, so we need to give our 23, CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING student athletes the best chance Bachelor of Exercise Science at gaining their qualification.” “I started in athletics as a junior at school. At the age of 14, I decided to start competing outside of the school system. I came second at the World University Cross Country Championships in France in 2008 and second at the World University Cross Country Championships in Canada this year. I was the first Australian to cross the finish line in the 12 kilometre 2010 Open Men’s World Cross Country Championships in Poland. It was my best performance to date. I chose VU because of its excellent reputation and facilities. It is quite difficult to fit sporting commitments around my studies because I need to average around 140-160km of running a week. But the great thing about studying exercise science and being involved with sport is that I can apply my coursework to my running and my experiences from my sport back into my coursework.” 38 SPORT STAcEy KEATInG 24, GOLF Bachelor of Applied Science “My grandparents got me into golf, and I began playing at the age of 12. I then met my coach and realised that I wanted to play this game for a living. The most memorable thing that has happened to me this year was winning the Australian Amateur, the most prestigious amateur golf championship in Australia. VU was the only university that offered subjects in what I was interested in – golf, golf, golf! And it’s been great to learn all about the science of the sport I love. My plan is to compete professionally in Europe and I hope to be there at the beginning of next year. Yes, it’s been hard at times juggling sport with studies, but in the end it’ll be worth it.”

ELySE VILLAnI 20, CRICKET Bachelor of Education P-12 (Physical Education and ICT Secondary) “As a kid I would play cricket in the backyard with my three older brothers. I just wanted to do everything they did. In 2009 I was selected for the Australian Women’s Cricket Team and toured England for the Twenty20 World Cup. This year I was selected again and in April travelled to the West Indies where we won against New Zealand. The atmosphere was exhilarating! How do I manage studies with my cricket? I just try to be organised. My friends help me catch up on things I miss, and my teachers help me find a way around any clashes. I would love to have my own classroom in a primary school and combine my career aspirations of teaching kids and playing cricket.” dEnnIS IVErSon 29, JUDO Bachelor of Education (P-12) AFL IN THE HALL OF FAME (Physical Education, Health and IT) CLASSROOM In 2002, VU established a Sport Hall of “I’ve loved judo since I was a kid. After I came VU has a long tradition of producing AFL Fame to recognise outstanding performances second in my first competition I never looked player graduates. by retired elite sport players who are VU graduates. back. Some of my recent achievements include Fifteen footballers from the Collingwood, being awarded Australian champion in the Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Essendon, year of under 73kg division for the past seven years, Richmond and Western Bulldogs clubs are induction Athlete’s name Sport and being part of the world team in 2009. currently studying courses in business, law, But my biggest sporting highlight to date would marketing, exercise science and education. 2008 Rachael Dacy Pole Vault be making the 2008 Beijing Olympics team. 2007 Danny Morseu Basketball This will ensure their success will continue I chose VU because it has a great combination long after they’ve kicked their last AFL goal. 2006 Campbell Rose Sailing of subjects that interest me. VU is also a 2005 Larry Sengstock Basketball sports-minded uni and is helpful in assisting 2004 Rebecca Sullivan Judo me with uni work and my own sporting goals. 2003 Mike McKay Rowing It’s difficult to fit my judo in with my studies, 2002 Andrew Gaze Basketball but it comes down to time management and communication. After I do casual relief teaching I hope to settle into a full-time school teaching position within a PE department.” SPORT 39 SInEAd FLAnIGAn 22, BASEBALL Bachelor of Science (Clinical Science Osteopathy) “I began playing baseball with boys and was one of only two girls in the entire competition. At age 13 I realised that I was throwing a lot harder than most of the boys my age. Recent sporting highlights include making the 2010 Australian women’s baseball team to compete in the Women’s World Cup in Venezuela last August, and travelling to Taiwan and Hong Kong as part of the 2010 Aussie Hearts team to compete in the Phoenix Cup – we won gold! In the lead-up to the World Cup, I was training five days and playing two games a week, so it does become difficult to fit baseball in with my studies. But there’s plenty of support and understanding from VU staff. I hope to work as an osteopath and eventually set up my own business. One of my goals is to work with athletes, creating awareness of osteopathy and its amazing benefits. And of course, continue playing baseball and representing Victoria and Australia for as long as I can.”

IVo doS SAnToS 24, JUDO Bachelor of Applied Science “Instead of having me sit at home and make trouble, my dad took me down to our local mEhrdAd TArASh judo club in Werribee. He had done Judo 20, WRESTLING in Portugal before we moved to Australia. I realised that training my butt off and winning Bachelor of Business (Accounting) judo fights was more of a rush than anything “I come from a sporty family – we love all I had experienced, so I decided to dedicate sports. But wrestling was always the main my life to the sport. focus. My three older brothers were involved I recently won the National and Oceania in wrestling, so I wanted to follow them. Championships, both for the second time, In 2009 I won silver at the Raphael Martinetti and I will be competing at the 2010 World World Cup in Armenia and bronze at the Championships. Commonwealth Championships in India in I won a bronze medal at the 2008 and 2010 the 66kg freestyle division. I was thrilled to Commonwealth Championships, and came be part of the team going to Delhi for the 11th at the 2007 World Championships. Commonwealth Games, along with fellow VU student Gene Kapaufs. Playing sport at an elite level and studying is an almighty juggling act. Thankfully, VU has I tried out for the 2008 Olympics team but accommodating and flexible lecturers. I just at 17 I was a bit young, so I’m hopeful that make sure I study like crazy when I am home. by 2012 I’ll be ready. I want to become a secondary school PE It is a challenge managing my sport and teacher and teach young people how sport studies, and working part time. My VU teachers and physical activity can have a positive are understanding and flexible, and the EAFU affect on your life.” provided financial support that helped me get to Delhi. I’m looking forward to my future career in accounting and I’m putting all my efforts into that. But I’ll always be involved in 40 SPORT wrestling, even after I retire from competing.” NEW BOOKS

The Brotherhoods: Inside Performance measurement the outlaw motorcycle clubs in corporate Governance By Arthur veno By Alex Manzoni and Published by Allen & Unwin $35.00 Sardar M. N. Islam Published by Springer $89.95 The definitive account of Australia’s outlaw motorcycle clubs, written by In the global knowledge economy, vU Adjunct Professor Arthur veno, corporate governance, organisational the country’s foremost expert on bikie behaviour and supply chain culture. Bikies consider themselves the performance are becoming last free people in society, unrestricted increasingly important. This book offers by the laws that rule ordinary citizens. a new and innovative quantitative This is as close to firsthand as is ever approach to qualitative concepts of likely to be published. corporate performance measurement, and makes a significant contribution to management theory, and supply chain management and operations research.

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NEW BOOKS 41 IN BRIEF

BOOSTING TRADES TRAINING IN THE WEST More than $31 million will be spent in Melbourne’s west on trade training centres for secondary school students and Victoria University is set to play a big part. VU’s Werribee Campus will be the site for the $9.42 million Wyndham Regional Community Trade Training Centre involving students from eight Wyndham schools. VU will deliver courses in trades ranging from carpentry to hairdressing. VU will also provide training at the $12.9 million Western Access Trade Training Centre planned for five school sites in Brimbank and Maribyrnong. A third centre, the $8.9 million Hobsons Bay Region Trade Centre, is also planned. The centres were recently announced by the federal government as part of its Trade Training in Schools’ program, aimed at helping young people gain technical and trade qualifications in modern facilities while completing their secondary studies. The funding boost complements the $11 million Western Edge Cluster Trade Training Centre now being built at VU’s Melton Campus for vocational training of students from seven local schools. VU IS EXPANDING ITS TRADE TRAINING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MELBOURNE’S RAPIDLY EXPANDING OUTER WESTERN REGION.

TANNER APPOINTED PASSION FOR TRADITION Lindsay Tanner, who retired as the Labor Victoria University has been working with Government’s Minister for Finance at the last the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative in federal election, was appointed in October Geelong to reignite a passion for traditional as the inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at hunting and gathering, and traditional Victoria University. cooking to improve access to healthy foods As well as producing papers and delivering and help close the health gap between public lectures, he will advise the Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. and VU’s senior executives about engaging Funded by VicHealth, the project has led to the with industry and strengthening economic, development of an Aboriginal television cooking industrial and social research relevant to industry series and the publication of a cookbook. and government. The 5000-strong Wathaurong Aboriginal “Victoria University is going to play an community, which spreads from near Anglesea increasingly important role in our changing to south of Ballarat, is also developing a food higher education landscape,” says Tanner. bank and holding regular social cooking events. “I am delighted to be able to contribute to VU Senior Research Fellow Dr Karen Adams the University’s development and growth.” says the rise in the cost of healthy foods had As well as Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, he has put pressure on Aboriginal families, with also been appointed as an Adjunct Professor many running out of food before their next of the University. pay. She says encouraging the development Tanner was well regarded as one of the of community gardens, food shares and the Labor Government’s strongest economic thinkers FORMER LABOR GOVERNMENT MINISTER LINDSAY hunting and gathering of traditional foods is and is widely respected by industry leaders and TANNER IS VU’S INAUGURAL VICE-CHANCELLOR’S FELLOW. vital to healthy eating in the community. economic analysts. Project partners are the Heart Foundation, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Deakin University. Further information: Dr Karen Adams on 03 9919 2849 42 IN BRIEF CONSTRUCTION FUTURES Sunshine Construction Futures is a $40 million and be examples and teaching tools for the vU FACTS project that will train thousands of workers for students as they learn to construct with modern Australia’s booming building and construction environmental design, sustainable materials and industry, an area of national skills shortage. emerging technologies. ENROLLED STUDENTS Construction of the six-green-star-rated facility A key role of the facility will be the upgrading current student population: 49,553 will soon begin at VU’s Sunshine Campus. of students’ language, literacy and numeracy Higher education: 21,087 It will include modern workshops and state-of- skills so that Australia’s next generation of TAFE: 28,466 the-art computer labs for 31 of VU’s current builders, as well as existing workers, will be – and 10 new – vocational building and amply skilled or up-skilled to meet the new Postgraduate: 4921 construction courses. demands of the sector. Apprenticeships and traineeships: 3702 The facilities will include the latest in renewable The project is funded by the federal International students total (2009): 14,681 energy, solar design and water conservation, government’s Education Investment Fund. International offshore: 9766 International onshore: 4915

AWARDS PRESENTED Total awards (2009): 15,321 Higher education: 5201 TAFE: 10,120 Doctorates: 72

SCHOLARSHIPS VU funded Equity Scholarships Total: 355; Value: $375,000

FACULTIES ˚ Arts, Education and Human Development ˚ Business and Law AN ARTIST’S IMPRESSION OF THE SUNSHINE CONSTRUCTION FUTURES BUILDING TO BE BUILT AT SUNSHINE CAMPUS. ˚ Health, Engineering and Science ˚ Technical and Trades Innovation ˚ Workforce Development LIGHTS, CAMERA, BOAT BUILDING ˚ VU College CERTIFICATE WITH A vIEW Emerging filmmakers are learning more about Victoria University is investing $3.4 million to STAFF the business side of their industry through develop best practice boatbuilding facilities Total (2009): 2532 Australia’s first professional development at the new Williamstown Seaworks site. Academics: 620 course aimed at executive producers. The site will become a heritage maritime precinct General: 1361 The Professional Certificate of Executive with VU’s boat building facilities occupying TAFE teaching: 523 Screen Production was developed by Victoria a corner of the site overlooking the harbour. Senior management: 28 University’s Sir Zelman Cowen Centre VU will showcase its boat building training (part of VU’s Faculty of Business and Law) activities at the facility, which will be designed in consultation with the Screen Producers to allow members of the community interested CAMPUSES AND SITES Association of Australia. The first 15 students in boat building to watch trainees in action City Flinders Newport graduated from the six-day program at the and see boats in all aspects of their planning ˚ ˚ University’s City Queen site in July. and construction. ˚ City King ˚ Melton City Queen (site) St Albans Research co-ordinator Pamela Wilson The University offers boat building courses ˚ ˚ Footscray Nicholson Sunshine Endrina says few Australian producers are from certificate level through to diploma. ˚ ˚ exposed to best practice in areas covered Footscray Park Werribee They cover construction, repair and ˚ ˚ by the course, including budgets, business maintenance of boats, working with wood plans, distribution, marketing, and legal and the use of fibreglass and aluminium. considerations such as intellectual property ENQUIRIES rights and contracts. The new facilities will attract students from General enquiries all over Australia and there will be a range of The course is taught by high-profile PHONE +61 3 9919 4000 short courses to attract maritime enthusiasts producers and entertainment professionals. and hobbyists. International student enquiries It is aimed at up-and-coming producers or experienced professionals such as The current boat building activities at the PHONE +61 3 9919 1164 accountants, lawyers and public relations University’s nearby Newport Campus will EMAIL [email protected] be moved to the new facility next year. professionals allied to the screen industry. Alumni relations The course will be offered in Sydney in PHONE +61 3 9919 1017 November and will run again at VU next year. EMAIL [email protected] Contact: Pamela Wilson Endrina www.vu.edu.au/alumni on 03 9919 1864 43 www.vu.edu.au