JANUARY|FEBRUARY 2005

La Trobe UNIVERSITY Bulletin Secrets of our Ice AgeAge hunters

Top award for uni teaching La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin Malcolm Rimmer TO HEAD IN THIS ISSUE Top teaching award for School of Business Eleanor Wertheim 3 New approach to children’s Leading Australian educator, researcher and A Bachelor of health care 4 writer in the fields of management, industrial Arts graduate External surveys confirm relations and human resources, Malcolm from Oxford La Trobe research strength 5 Rimmer, has been appointed Professor University Increased opportunities and Head, School of Business, at La Trobe with a MA for regional students 5 University. from Warwick Appointments in zoology Professor Rimmer, also well-known as a University, UK, Professor Rimmer is a and marketing 6 commentator in Australian business media, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of is the former Professor of Human Resource Australia. He was awarded a Centenary Medal Management at Deakin University. in 2003 in recognition of his distinguished Research in Action academic career. His research interests include high Cave find may reveal performance work teams, trade union power, From 1996 until 2002 he was Head of more about Ice Age hunters 7 industrial relations reform and historical the Bowater School of Management and Grant for new system to aspects of industrial relations. Marketing at Deakin University. Prior to that, purify water 8 from 1990 at Monash University, he served He has published eight books, one as sole Breaking new ground as Professor and Director of the National Key in mitochondrial research author, three major research monographs and 9 Centre in Industrial Relations. Less work, same income numerous research reports, book chapters and for graziers? 10 refereed journal articles. From 1983 he was at the Australian Graduate School of Management, University Professor Rimmer has been involved in of New South Wales, following ten years Home alone – and loving it 11 executive development programs for more in the Department of Industrial Relations at Awards for musculoskeletal than 20 years, and has substantial experience Sydney University. research 12 in distance education and senior academic • Aged care: new book administration. queries old truths 13 Educational web for the common good 14 Crisis! Unravelling the Master of moral role of journalists 15 Travel information: Wine & Wine Making it more mobile 16 Appreciation course launched

knowledge of wine, its characteristics spanning traditional and new-world areas, and an appreciation of the culture, history and use of wine.

Animal bones Ms Kosky and Mr De Pieri launching the new course. It has been designed for professionals excavated from in wine marketing, hospitality and tourism, Tasmania’s Kutikina La Trobe University is offering a new Master wine business management or independent Cave on the Franklin of Wine and Wine Appreciation course. consultancy, as well as those with regular River are being Launched by State Education and Training involvement and a keen interest in wine examined to throw Minister, Lynne Kosky, during a ceremony at consumption and presentation. new light on Ice Age the Hotel Windsor in Melbourne, the unique hunters, see page 7. Mr Corby says the course advisory program provides high-level educational links committee comprises members of the across the wine, food, hospitality and literary Australian wine industry, including Mildura’s The La Trobe Bulletin is published ten times a year by the Public Affairs Office, La Trobe University. sectors. Stefano De Pieri – who is also a member of Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Course organiser, Mr Lindsay Corby, says the La Trobe University Council and Chair Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia the venture has been supported by Victorian of its Mildura Regional Advisory Board. Tel (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 wine and hospitality industry professionals Email: [email protected] The course has three levels: Graduate Articles: Noel Carrick, Ernest Raetz keen to see Melbourne develop as the ‘keeper Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master Photos: La Trobe University DPI, of knowledge’ in these industries, thereby Design: Campus Graphics, 62096 Degree, offered part-time over three years with La Trobe University. capitalising on, and adding value to, their class times outside normal working hours. Printed by Work & Turner. competitive edge. He says the main aim • Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin of the course is to provide comprehensive

2 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 NEWS Top teaching award for Eleanor Wertheim

A TROBE UNIVERSITY The awards, valued at Dr Wertheim teaches and and teaching children to handle psychologist, Dr Eleanor $40,000 each, celebrate those co-ordinates professional conflict constructively. LWertheim, has won the who have ‘demonstrated the psychology courses and Peace-making, Dr Wertheim latest ‘Australian Award for highest levels of dedication, postgraduate coursework says, starts in the playground. University Teaching’ in the professionalism and enthusiasm programs. She also teaches This project helps children to Biological Sciences, Health and for their efforts on behalf of negotiation skills to law and learn how to meet their own Related Studies category. their students’. They also aim legal studies students. With needs while considering the She was one of six national to raise the status of university a PhD in clinical psychology needs of others around them. teaching. from the University of The second is research into Connecticut, she joined Education eating disorders and concerns La Trobe in 1982. Her teaching Minister Nelson about body image, especially is informed by internationally- congratulates among adolescents and women Dr Wertheim recognised research leadership suffering from conditions like at the awards in two fields. ceremony. bulimia. She has developed The first is conflict programs designed to prevent resolution, including factors these disorders. that lead to forgiveness and Dr Wertheim also won the reconciliation. She has lectured 2004 Australian Psychological UN staff and diplomats from Society Directorate of Science around the world on preventive Excellence in Teaching Award. diplomacy and peace making. A colleague, Adjunct Professor She is also a key figure in an Ross Day, also received an ambitious two-year project award from the Society, for Teaching Award winners Dr Wertheim, an Associate to support Victorian primary his extensive contribution to announced by Federal Professor in the School of school teachers in enhancing Australian psychology. Education Minister, Dr Psychological Science, is relationships in their schools • Brendan Nelson. a Fellow of the Australian ‘I congratulate those Psychological Society who academics and institutions specialises in clinical, health recognised for their and peace psychology. She commitment to excellence in is a pioneering member university teaching,’ Dr Nelson of Psychologists for the said. Promotion of World Peace.

Perfect night for Opera in the Alps A perfect night, wonderful setting, capacity crowd, beautiful music – and $4,000 raised for the tsunami appeal. These ingredients ensured the success of ‘Opera in the Alps’ held in the grounds of La Trobe University, Beechworth on 22 January. ‘You could not have had a more perfect combination to ensure a memorable event,’ said Beechworth campus Director, Ian Burke. A crowd of more than 4,000 heard opera classics and popular songs from diva Marina Prior, tenor David Hobson and young performer, Jacob Cunningham. They were backed by a youth orchestra conducted by Tommy Tycho and a 90-voice choir. Staged by Autralian Music Events, Opera in the Alps is held annually at La Trobe’s Beechworth campus. The event began nine years ago when 150 people attended the inaugural performance at Mt Buffalo Chalet. •

Marina Prior performing on the Beechworth campus. Photo: Rob Lacey La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 3 NEWS New approach to children’s health care In December, The announcement came Service Strategy could be refocusing on outpatient and after the State Government based. Dr Leggat said that ambulatory services and a Premier Steve had commissioned La Trobe the most important finding in broad capacity in paediatrics. Bracks announced University’s Health the review was the lack of a It appears these funding the appointment of Management Group to prepare co-ordinated system for child constraints have limited a report entitled A Review of health in Victoria. the development of a Victoria’s first ever Victorian Paediatric Services. ‘We found that Victoria is far comprehensive package of care Minister for Children. This was one of a number behind other States in thinking for children and adolescents of studies the Government about child health and for this throughout Victoria. commissioned to coordinate reason we recommended that Another major problem and integrate services to give the Government adopt a total discussed in the report is the children the best possible start child health focus,’ Dr Leggat transition from adolescent to in life. said. adult services. For example ‘The appointment of such a The review found that there are 21-year-old patients minister was totally consistent Victoria had a range of with chronic diseases still being with the recommendations we appropriate, quality services treated at the Royal Children’s made in the review advocating for children and adolescents, Hospital. ‘The system needs to more coordination and a whole particularly in acute hospital ensure transition is available of government approach to and community-based early when required,’ it said. child health,’ says one of its childhood services. But Another is the lack of principal authors, La Trobe it pointed out that there differentiation in emergency senior lecturer in Health were major gaps in service care between adults and Services Management, Dr coordination, rehabilitation children. Emergency Sandra Leggat. and chronic care services for departments of major hospitals children and adolescents. have staff and facilities often ‘Victoria has a rather old unsuitable for the needs of fashioned outlook on child children. health in that it spends The review found that many resources looking for people children’s health services were who may have problems rather fragmented and uncoordinated, than developing coordinated suggesting lack of planning and services covering the whole service integration needed for spectrum of child health. a responsive child care health This results in many gaps in system. our health service system for It also pointed to a significant children,’ Dr Leggat said. shortage of paediatric-trained ‘There is limited focus on allied health practitioners and community paediatrics. This a possible future shortage gap appears to have limited the of paediatricians and nurses ability of the system to develop specialised in paediatrics. coordinated services to respond The authors of the review to the kinds of illnesses now applauded the appointment more prevalent. Children are given the best start in life The Cluster Leader for of Sherryl Garbutt as the new ‘Although we have known by a focused, coordinated approach to La Trobe University Health Minister for Children, with about the “new morbidity” in service planning and delivery. Services Management, an Office for Children to be child health for many years, Associate Professor Judith established in the Department with a change from infectious Dwyer, Dr Tony Cull, who of Human Services. diseases to conditions more since publication of the review They say the evidence has associated with early childhood has become executive director been clear, that children are and lifestyle, our system has of the Royal Children’s given the best start in life been slow to respond. This is Hospital, and Dr Leggat through a focused, coordinated because our system is hospital prepared the review for approach to service planning rather than community based,’ the Department of Human and delivery. Dr Leggat said. Services. • In one of its major criticisms, Its purpose was to provide the review said that in the acute information on which the sector, service development Metropolitan Health Strategy was focused on inpatient beds. and the Victorian Rural Human Today child health required

4 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 NEWS

External surveys confirm La Trobe research strength

Recent external evidence has certified the prestigious standing of La Trobe University in the international arena.

‘Naturally, this is very pleasing,’ the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne said, ‘but what is of particular significance is the Professor Osborne high ranking of La Trobe as a research-based university’. The Times Higher Education ‘Top 200’ survey in the UK which Professor Osborne said: ‘Whatever the imperfections of such ranked La Trobe at 142 in the world generally, accorded the “league tables” – and there are many – they do represent an University fifth position in Australia on the critical criterion of important measure of peer evaluation. It is thus very pleasing that research citation indices. La Trobe University has figured so strongly in all four of these rankings.’ Complementing this information Professor Osborne noted that in ‘The Swiss Centre for Science and Applied Technology Studies’ The other two surveys were: survey (reported in the AFR 4-5/12/2004) La Trobe was ranked The Shanghai Jiao Tong (People’s Republic of China) ‘Top 500’ seventh in Australia. in which La Trobe was ranked 12 in Australia, and the Melbourne ‘This high position in the Swiss survey ranking was very Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research ranking much research-related. For a relatively new University without a of Australian universities, where La Trobe came in at 9 or 10, medical faculty this is a remarkable result and will, I hope, act as a depending upon which table is selected. stimulus to all at La Trobe to strive for still greater success on the ‘It is also pleasing to report,’ Professor Osborne concluded, research front in the coming year.’ Four independent rankings of ‘that of the Innovative Research Universities - Australian Group universities were published last year and in all of these La Trobe (IRU-A), comprising La Trobe, Macquarie, Newcastle, Flinders, figures prominently. Griffith, and Murdoch universities, all figured strongly in the various rankings.’ • Increased opportunities for regional students

IN THE FIRST of a number headquarters at the Bendigo all three recent international teaching areas to be re-located of important initiatives to campus; and secondly the reviews.’ when new facilities become strengthen its regional mission, consolidation of the University In the review of research- available in the next two to La Trobe University has as a single institution based universities by the three years. The changes, he announced the finalisation embracing five multi-campus Swiss Centre for Science and said, will help the University of a plan to align academic Faculties. Technology Studies, La Trobe deliver new courses, such as programs across all campuses Professor Osborne said University was ranked seventh a planned expansion of the of the University. that it was vital for students in Australia. Bachelor of Business and In announcing the decision, at regional campuses to have recent changes in the delivery the Vice-Chancellor, Professor access to academic programs Renewed commitment of psychology. Michael Osborne, said the on a par with those at the to Shepparton Professor McDowell said alignment process had been metropolitan campus and La Trobe is working with all a complex exercise and he that a series of multi-campus La Trobe University has levels of government to find highlighted the positive Faculties seemed to be the best renewed its commitment to its the best long-term solution for contribution made by all vehicle for such an aspiration. Shepparton campus. its higher education needs in sectors of the University. ‘In this context it is highly Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Shepparton. He also welcomed He drew attention to two significant that La Trobe Professor Graham McDowell, the Federal Government’s significant features of the University is the only regional said the University plans to recent commitment of $1.5 alignment process – firstly, university to be ranked relocate its administration million towards this cause. • the creation of a new Faculty amongst the most prestigious centre and academic staff to of Education, to have its universities of the world in new premises. He expects

La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 5 PEOPLE part in Royal Society and leadership. He also served Royal Geographical Society for eight years on the Federal Personal Chair expeditions to Brazil. He Government’s Endangered later worked at the Research Species Advisory Committee. for insect conservationist Institute for Biological Control His extensive contributions to in Ontaria, Canada, before zoology have been recognised joining La Trobe University higher animals. Professor New with awards including the as a lecturer in zoology. has written more than 360 Royal Entomological Society’s Professor New has been research papers and over 20 Marsh Christian Trust Award President of both the Australian books on entomological and for Insect Conservation in 2003, Entomological Society and conservation topics, and the Ian Mackerras Medal the Entomological Society including Insect Conservation: of the Australian Entomological of Victoria, and President of an Australian Perspective Society, in 1988. the International Society of published by W Junk, The Professor New is a world Neuropterists. He has served Hague; Introduction to authority in three distinct on the editorial boards of many Invertebrate Conservation areas of entomology. These Australian and international Biology (Oxford University are studying the systematics scientific journals, including Press, Oxford) and Butterfly (evolutionary interrelationships, ten years until 2002 as Conservation (Oxford diversification and change) regional editor of Biological University Press, Melbourne). and biology of two groups Conservation, and is currently of insects: Psocoptera, small He has also given more than editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dr Timothy New, a global insects that live on bark and a dozen key presentations Insect Conservation. pioneer of insect conservation, internationally in this field leaves, and Neuroptera, of For five years, until 1992, has been appointed to a during the last decade – the which the best known examples he chaired the specialist group personal chair as Professor of latest as opening speaker at an are lacewings, important on butterflies and moths of the Zoology in the School of Life American Museum of Natural predators of crop pests; as Species Survival Commission Sciences. Formerly Reader History symposium in New well as his expertise in insect of the World Conservation and Associate Professor at the York last year. conservation. Union (IUCN). The Union University, he joined La Trobe His research has involved Professor New holds a BSc draws its membership from in 1970. extensive field work, and has with first class honours and a 140 countries, generating Insect conservation is taken him from South America PhD in insect ecology from environmental conventions, a critical discipline often to the Indonesian volcanic the University of London. global standards, as well as overlooked due to a focus on island of Krakatao, and many In the late 1960s he took scientific knowledge and parts of the Pacific region. • Professor of Marketing appointed

Geoffrey Operations Management at Coventry Durden, an expert University, UK. in international Professor Durden’s research projects include marketing evaluating export service quality in Asia, based specialising in on a study he has carried out in Taiwan, and a cross-national five-nation study on export information use. and cross-cultural His work has been published in leading research, has been international marketing journals, including appointed Professor the Journal of International Marketing and of Marketing in International Marketing Review. He has La Trobe presented many of his research findings abroad, University’s at meetings of organisations including the Graduate School of Academy of International Business, USA, and Management. the European Marketing Academy. As well Professor Durden, as extensive experience in undergraduate and who is Head of the postgraduate teaching, Professor Durden has Graduate School of specialised in executive development programs Management at La and distance learning. Trobe, previously At La Trobe, and previously in New Zealand, served as Visiting he has encouraged interaction between students Professor of and local businesses, with MBA candidates Marketing. From 1974 to 2001 he worked at developing international marketing plans to help Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, firms maximise their export profits. where he was Director of Postgraduate Studies • in Marketing. Prior to that, he was lecturer in

6 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 RESEARCH IN ACTION

Famous cave find may reveal more about Ice Age hunters

hen Tasmanian Aborigines were Her research is supported by the harvesting game such as wallabies and confronted by the last Great Ice Tasmanian Aboriginal Lands Council and a wombats.’ WAge 20,000 years ago, how did $47,000 Australian Institute of Aboriginal A recent pilot project by Dr Cosgrove they make a living in the harsh conditions and Torres Strait Islander Studies grant. at a nearby site came up with a surprising on the edge of the southern ice? Ms Garvey, Dr Richard Cosgrove, a finding: humans at the time hunted in The answer to this question may come senior lecturer in La Trobe’s Archaeology mid-winter, indicating they planned to kill from a new study by La Trobe University Program, and Dr Anne-Pike Tay of Vassar animals at a time when their fur was in postdoctoral archaeology researcher, Jillian College, New York, will investigate the prime condition and they had maximum Garvey. Kutikina Cave material for information fat. This suggests that these people were Ms Garvey will analyse animal bones about the behaviour of humans living there not mere puppets of the environment. excavated from one of Tasmania’s most during the height of the last Ice Age. An article about Dr Cosgrove’s pilot famous Ice Age sites, Kutikina Cave on the Ms Garvey said that, in relation to the study appeared in Nature Australia in Franklin River. history of human December last year. The cultural heritage value of the site behaviour, the Ms Garvey will extend was one reason why the High Court of contents of the cave The prehistoric importance this line of research, Australia in 1983 stopped work on the rated in importance of the animal remains has to determine whether Gordon-below-Franklin dam that would with material found animals were taken otherwise have flooded the cave. in several caves in not been fully realised. for their bone marrow France. In 1981 Dr Kevin Kiernan, from the – a highly nutritious University of Tasmania, Professor Rhys ‘Analysis of the bones, stone tools and and sought after food source – or for Jones, ANU, and Mr Don Ranson of other fragments will give us information other reasons. She will do this by closely Tasmania National Parks and Wildlife, about the hunting behaviour of humans examining bone fragments which provide excavated 250,000 fragments of animal living in the area which at the time of the evidence about butchering strategy and age bones and 25,000 stone tools at the site. last Ice Age was covered in glaciers. of the animals. Early analysis showed the bones dated ‘We will investigate how people lived ‘The bones and stone tools used can back more than 20,000 years and were part under extreme conditions in which provide quite specific details about the of the glacial human diet, mainly Bennett’s temperatures were between minus 15 C to behaviour of the humans who used them,’ wallaby and wombat. ‘However, until now, plus 4 C. she said. the prehistoric importance of the animal ‘We want to discover whether these Ms Garvey’s project is part of a La Trobe remains had not been fully realised,’ Ms people were opportunistic hunters or University-Vassar College project initiated Garvey said. engaged in planned and systematic hunting, by Drs Cosgrove and Pike-Tay. • La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 7 RESEARCH IN ACTION Grant for new system to purify waste water

he Biotechnology Research basis for monitoring and Centre at La Trobe University, controlling waste water TBendigo has started a three- plants. year project to develop and ‘We will scale up this evaluate a new and revolutionary process to pilot plant process to purify waste water. operation, allowing its Professor Bob Seviour has performance to be assessed received a $230,000 Australian in treating effluent from Research Council grant over three a full-scale conventional years to develop a microbiological activated sludge plant,’ he process to remove phosphorus, a says. major pollutant which causes blue Professor Seviour green algae and other problems, believes the project will from rivers and lakes. lead to a process with the The grant follows a grant of potential for a wide range $396,000 over three years from of phosphorus removal, the Victorian State Government’s cheaper and more flexible Smart Water Fund, awarded in May than systems now available. last year. onstruction, or Existing methods of removing Cconversion of phosphorus require costly and conventional plants to such complex plants which usually use a new system, is complex, chemical processes, most of which slow and expensive, he are unpredictable and unreliable. says. For example, a plant These processes are based on to service about 100,000 cycling the ‘biomass’ – the polluted people, like that in Bendigo, water – through alternate anaerobic would cost more than $50 and aerobic reactor zones. million. ‘If we can develop a fully aerobic For this reason, cheaper system, capable of being added and better understood onto the end of a conventional technology for EBPR would treatment plant, it would make be economically attractive protection of rivers and streams – especially for less wealthy more feasible and cheaper,’ countries where algal bloom Professor Seviour says. and other problems are often severe because of Professor Seviour is developing agricultural practices. an aerobic system conceived, in principle, by Professor Ron Bayly ‘Thus this system should and Dr John May, formerly of be readily exportable,’ he Monash University. Now retired, says. both men will act as unpaid A research associate, Dr consultants to the project, to help Joe Ahn, whose salary will with experimental design and data effluent from a conventional treatment be funded by La Trobe until analyses. plant, the process reduces phosphate mid 2006, will set up, maintain and run the Their aerobic process, says Professor concentration to a level which will not system. Michael Beer, a research officer Seviour, is ‘revolutionarily different’ allow algal blooms to develop in receiving and Sarah Schroeder, a PhD student, will from conventional ‘enhanced biological bodies of water into which the treated also be involved. The ARC funds will also phosphate removal’ (EBPR) systems water is discharged. be used to employ other researchers. • because it is carried out in a single reactor. Professor Seviour is seeking to In this new system, selective pressures understand the structure and function of on microbes are applied in a totally the microbial communities selected under different way than in conventional systems, aerobic conditions to determine which which have been operating for three are the polyphosphate accumulating decades. Laboratory tests show that, with organisms, and so provide a rational

8 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 RESEARCH IN ACTION Breaking new ground in mitochondrial research

Two La Trobe University researchers in different fields are breaking new ground by bringing a computational approach to mainstream molecular biology to improve knowledge of the workings of mitochondria. They have received an ARC grant of here lies the problem, and here is where $240,000 over three years to throw light on computer science is being introduced,’ Diagram of a a key unresolved problem in cell biology Professor Hoogenraad said. mitochondria. – how a cell determines when it has the ‘Human mitochondria have between right amount of mitochondria to carry out 1,000 and 1,500 different proteins, encoded ‘However, while the computer will be its correct functions. by a subset of the 30,000 genes in the an extremely valuable tool, anything the The unlikely combination comprises nucleus of each cell. How does a cell computational approach brings up will Head of Molecular Sciences and Professor co-ordinate the activities of 1,500 genes? have to be verified in the laboratory. In of Biochemistry, Nick Hoogenraad, and There must be some kind of ‘master bringing together the two disciplines of senior lecturer in Computer Science switch’ which controls all these genes. biochemistry and computer science there is great potential synergy in the nascent field and Computer Engineering, Dr Dianhui ‘We are using both a laboratory- of bioinformatics. Wang, a specialist in data mining and based molecular genetics approach and computational intelligence techniques for a computational approach to examine ‘The results of our work will provide bioinformatics and multimedia information a large number of genes encoding information on the process of ageing processing. mitochondrial proteins to try to find some as this process is associated with a loss Their’s is a new approach to unifying information by which this control in bio-energetic function and other mitochondrial research Professor mechanism may occur. conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease in which Hoogenraad has carried out with the help ‘The computational aspect of this mitochondrial oxidative metabolism is of ARC and other grants since 1974. research is to process the information implicated. Mitochondria, Professor Hoogenraad we believe is embedded in the genes. All explains, are ‘organelles’, highly these genes ‘dance’ to the same tune – the ‘It will also provide an excellent training specialised structures essential for the physiological push – and we are using ground for research students to develop a viability of cells. They contain the the computational approach to find new set of unique and valuable skills.’ • machinery to generate most of a cell’s paradigms for finding this information. Professor Hoogenraad and Dr Wang: ‘The results of our energy, but also play essential roles in work will provide information on the process of ageing.’ synthesising compounds needed by the cell, and contain critical regulators of programmed cell death. Mammalian cells must have the right amount of mitochondria to perform certain functions, and the amount of mitochondria varies depending on the circumstances of the cell. For example, the cells of a bear hibernating in the cold of winter, or a rat running on a treadmill become more packed with mitochondria. The action of the cold or the exercise provides a physiological ‘push’ and the animal responds by making more mitochondria. ‘There must be a mechanism that senses the physiological push and this is what we are seeking. But

La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 9 RESEARCH IN ACTION LESS work, SAME income for graziers?

Dr Waschik: win-win for graziers and the environment

ustralian graziers in arid and semi- would benefit as the land removed from producing zones, Pastoral (the arid and arid zones could reduce their work direct economic production would recover semi-arid inland), Wheat-Sheep (central Aload, maintain their income – and over time and become a better habitat for NSW and south-west Qld) and High enhance the environment at the same time. native fauna and flora. Rainfall (between the Great Diving Range According to Dr Robert Waschik of The researchers used a computer model and the east coast). La Trobe’s Department of Economics known as Computable General Equilibrium The model showed that arid and semi- and Finance, this win-win-win situation to examine the economic implications for arid zone graziers would benefit most could be achieved if graziers in these biodiversity of agricultural land retirement because wool and sheep meat were their zones embraced the Federal Government’s from wool production in Australia. only products. There was much less direct National Reserve System (NRS) program Earlier research by Dr Fraser had economic advantage to farmers in wheat- by which land is removed from direct indicated that agricultural land retirement sheep and high rainfall areas because their production and set aside for ecological might offer in some circumstances a land use was much more diversified. purposes. means of achieving NRS objectives cost For example, if farmers in the wheat- Dr Waschick bases this claim on research effectively. sheep zone reduced wheat production, it he has carried out with former La Trobe o the researchers were not surprised would have minimal effect on world wheat colleague, Dr Iain Fraser, who now that their modelling confirmed the prices because Australia was only one of a works at Imperial College, University of Seconomic benefits to arid and semi- number of major producers. London. Their study is to be published in arid zone graziers from the Australian Dr Waschik said there appeared to be a forthcoming issue of the journal, Land Government’s stated objective of ensuring only one reason why land retirement in Economics, (University of Wisconsin that a comprehensive, adequate and arid and semi-arid zones might not have Press, US). represented system of protected areas that the desired economic effect. This would be As Australia produces 74 per cent of contain samples of all regional ecosystems caused by ‘slippage’ – farmers clearing and world raw wool exports, they argue that be established. bringing into production more land to make any reduction in wool production would In 1996 Federal Government established up for that retired under NRS or increasing reduce world supply – and under the basic the NRS program to achieve this. Between production on their reduced holdings by rule of supply and demand, the price would 1996 and 2001 the Government allocated more efficient use of available resources rise. $85 million to buy land – but funding since including labour. For example, if production fell by 10 per 2001 has been significantly reduced. This would have the effect of elevating cent, prices would rise by the same figure Dr Waschik said that the modelling production to the previous level, in turn – and at the same time the environment encompassed the three main wool reducing the price of wool. • 10 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 SOCIETY Home alone – and loving it

Do you live alone? And if so, do you like it? And who cares?

Answers to the first two A world specialist on how report, Diversity and Change in questions may depend on we live, Professor de Vaus, Australian Families, launched personal taste or circumstances will supervise a three-stage late last year by the Minister – but the answer to the third is investigation. for Family and Community important to help governments The first stage will examine Services, Senator Kay Professor de Vaus plan social policy and housing. existing census and survey data Patterson. This is the reason why and the second will involve ‘These include the decrease ‘In determining the causes La Trobe University him and two PhD students, Ms or delays in partnering, the and consequences of the sociologist, Professor David Lixia Qu and Ms Jody Hughes, death of a partner, break-up of increase in living alone, the de Vaus, has been allocated an and others, interviewing a relationship, young people study will help identify those ARC Discovery grant totalling hundreds of people who live leaving their parents’ home, who are at risk and assist with $380,000 over five years to alone. and those who simply like to effective targeting of support determine which Australians The third stage will be a live alone. and interventions. live alone, why, and the social, national survey of people living ‘There is another interesting ‘It will also help economic and infrastructural alone or who have lived alone, category – those who have a governments to adopt realistic consequences. possibly part of the federal- partner but choose to live apart. housing, building and social ‘One of the major questions government funded survey of This is known as the living- policies.’ is whether the increase in Household, Income and Labour apart-together group and is a Professor de Vaus expects the numbers of people living Dynamics Australia (HILDA) relatively new phenomenon the report Living Alone in alone is a sign of social which has been going since which we believe exists mostly Australia, will be completed by fragmentation and isolation, or 2001. among those affluent enough to the end of 2009. whether it reflects new ways ‘Obviously there are many afford two residences.’ • of forming relationships that reasons why individuals live After analysing government Documenting change are not based on households,’ alone,’ says Professor de Vaus and other information, Professor in Australian families Professor de Vaus said. who recently completed a de Vaus and his team will visit hundreds of people who A new book by La Trobe live alone to find out whether University Head of Sociology, their situation is transitional Professor David de Vaus, or permanent, why they live provides a snapshot and alone and what types of social valuable information on trends relationships they have. in Australian family life during ‘We know that in Western the last 30 years. Europe, about one third of Titled Diversity and Change households have only one in Australian Families: person. In Australia about a Statistical Profiles (see quarter of households have main story), it provides a just one person and this is comprehensive picture of life expected to grow to a third in Australia. Topics cover within the next 20 years. We family and household types; also need to know the ratio of marriage; fertility; relationship cases in which living alone breakdown; spending; time is a preferred arrangement or use; caring for children, has come about by force of older people and those with circumstances. disabilities; and work. ‘Another important question Launching the book late last is whether living alone reflects year, Senator Kay Patterson, the increasing trend in our Minister for Family and society towards individualism. Community Services, said it will prove invaluable to Australia’s government, community, welfare, business and academic sectors. •

La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 11 PEOPLE Awards for Recognition for musculoskeletal research sociologist La Trobe Musculoskeletal Research Centre’s Dr Nicholas Taylor, SENIOR LECTURER IN SOCIOLOGY, Ms Katy Richmond, Dr Nora Shields and Dr Karen Dodd have won a Business and has won an award from the Australian Sociological Association Higher Education Round Table award for outstanding achievement (TASA) for her ‘Distinguished Service’ to the discipline, spanning in Research and Development Collaboration. It was presented by some 40 years. Ms Richmond has taught at La Trobe since 1966. the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Peter She has served as president, secretary, and treasurer of McGauran. the Association, and was a founding member of its women’s The researchers helped devise a program of physical activity section. In 2002, she helped bring the International Sociological for people with disabilities, drawing on the skills of clinical Association World Sociology Congress to Australia, in Brisbane, researchers, business people, service providers and local and she has organised three national sociology conferences at communities. The program has been praised both for the health La Trobe, including, last year’s TASA conference. and social gains achieved by those taking part and its wider • economic benefits. La Trobe University Head of Physics, Professor Peter Dyson, right, helps ‘Sun At a recent Sports Medicine Australia conference in Alice and Science’ summer students with one of their projects on the main Melbourne Springs, two researchers from the Centre took out two major campus at Bundoora, see story below. prizes. Ms Ebonie Scase won the NSW Sporting Injury Committee prize for best young investigator, for work on injury prevention. She wins a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to present her work at the American College of Sports medicine conference in June. Dr Kate Webster was awarded the Asics prize for best clinical paper, dealing with lower limb injuries. And two PhD students in the School of Physiotherapy, Simone O’Shea and Fiona Dobson, have won the prestigious Menzies Scholarship in Allied Health Sciences, presented recently by Sir Ninian Stephens. •

Summer science camp draws students from afar MIXING SCIENCE with fun in Institute of Physics, and the powered cookers for summer involved in hands-on activities the sun at La Trobe University Science Teachers Association barbecues. building useful devices is a proved irresistible for 40 senior of Victoria. Dr Ng says she began the good way of fostering their secondary students this summer. Organiser, Dr Wan Ng, camp three years ago to show interest in science,’ she says. From city and country Victoria, lecturer in science education school students the relevance A solar science website six of them this year also came in the University’s Institute of science learning, particularly has been developed for the all the way from Singapore. for Education, says the camp at years 9 and 11 levels when program, see www.latrobe.edu. The students and some of provided four days of action- many ‘tune out’ of science. au/solar, featuring curriculum their teachers took part in the packed learning about science Apart from Singapore, a school activities for teachers to use in University’s annual ‘Sun and in an exciting, relevant and in Malaysia is planning to send the classroom. Science Experience’, a highly interesting manner. 30 students next year. Dr Ng has been awarded successful camp-style program Students built solar-powered ‘Tapping into students’ $10,000 federal government sponsored by the Faculty of devices including battery interest in solar energy and grant to upgrade her Science, Engineering and chargers for re-charging their environmental issues and qualifications in education for Technology, the Australian portable disc players and solar- giving them a chance to be gifted children. • 12 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 HEALTH Aged care New book queries old ‘truths’ book praised in examples from clinical practice. skills and knowledge – and reviews for challenging Professor Nay – who is also that care is being compromised Apreconceived ideas by Director of the Australian by the increasing number of most health care professionals Centre for Evidence Based unregulated providers replacing that it is their responsibility Aged Care – says reviewers registered and enrolled nurses. to decide the type of care have commented favourably on It also raises the issue that provided to older people, has this use of vignettes and case care decisions should be won the Australasian Journal studies to link ‘theory’ with the made by older people, not on Ageing 2004 Book Award. clinical nursing of older people health professionals, noting Titled Nursing Older People: in their own homes and in that professionals entering Issues and Innovations, the book residential and acute care. people’s homes to provide was edited by La Trobe Head The book reveals that most care may actually disrupt care of Gerontic Nursing, Professor older people live in their own arrangements. Rhonda Nay, and colleague home – and questions the Professor Hegney said the Sally Garratt, Adjunct Associate perception that they cost more book also makes the point that Professor in the Gerontic when they need acute care. older people, especially those Nursing Clinical School. As one reviewer, Professor with chronic disease, are more The book points out that Desley Hegney from the likely to manage their own the proportion of people over University of Queensland’s medications better than health 65 years of age that health Medical Faculty, noted: professionals, (and that) ‘older professionals deal with, will ‘Insufficient research has been people who self-manage their increase exponentially over the carried out to support this care, will not be interested in next 20 years. assumption and (it) may be what the health professionals It features contributions by that older people, despite their think they need, rather they will La Trobe staff, including Dean longer stay, actually cost less in be the decision-makers with of Health Sciences, Professor the acute care environment.’ regard to their care’. • Stephen Duckett, and draws Professor Hegney said the on research by the various book also highlights that nursing Professor Nay authors, combined with real-life older people requires special

to treating depression. The Bouverie Centre – part of La Trobe University’s Faculty of Health Sciences – is a specialist mental Family focus for health service that takes a family-orientated approach to research and therapy. depression study It is conducting the project in conjunction with local Community Health Centres and general practitioners, with funding from A PROJECT THAT BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER to fight ‘Beyond Blue’, the National Depression Initiative. the effects of depression is being piloted in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Run by the Bouverie Centre, it aims to improve the Dr Couchman says while there has been increasing community understanding of families who have a member with depression, awareness of depression, there is still insufficient recognition of its and how these families can help them recover from their condition. impact on families. ‘Family members can end up feeling lost and helpless as they struggle to make sense of what is happening to Coordinator of the study, clinical psychologist, Dr Grace their relatives, and how they can assist.’ Couchman, says if the pilot proves successful, the technique • will complement existing medical and psychological approaches

‘Tall treatment’ linked to reduced fertility Research at La Trobe to tall adolescent girls to reduce The findings also have impli- An eight-member research University’s Mother and Child their adult height to decreased cations for understanding team, of whom three are current Health Research Centre has fertility in later life. The use of reproductive biology. The staff members of La Trobe’s linked a height-control program oestrogens to reduce the potential suggestion that oestrogen Mother and Child Health for tall girls to impaired fertility height of tall adolescent girls exposure during puberty Research Centre (MCHR), and in later life. began more than half a century might program reproductive three are former members, has The research linked a therapy ago and has been used in the potential in later life opens new published the result of their in which oestrogen was given USA, Europe and Australia. opportunities for understanding project in the British medical female fertility. journal, The Lancet. • La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 13 VISITORS Educational web for the common good

lobally available MIT’s core business, he said, Other developments in information, with new active free course materials was on-site education, charging educational technology learning laboratories, where Gsuch as lecture notes, students not for course content, discussed by Professor shorter instruction sessions reading lists and assignments but for their interaction with Abelson included ‘active are followed by students … a world-wide network of staff who are research leaders classroom learning’ and carrying out supervised shared, remote laboratories in their fields, for learning, strengthening the public interactive hands-on computer for electronics, physics and and for certification of that mission of universities through simulations. chemistry experiments … on- learning. ‘intellectual commons’. ‘Initially this could be ideal line assessment tools and open- He said the advent of These, he said, offered greater for some large lectures, in source repositories for research information technology and knowledge sharing, while subjects like physics, where MIT results … the information economy has ‘creative commons’ maintained research has already demon- All this, and more, spells sown confusion about the role flexible copyright protection strated clear learning benefits, university outreach on a mega of the University as a public and freedom for authors, and possibly in other fields, scale. institution and ‘civilising’ artists and educators in the where active learning results are face of increasingly restrictive World-renowned information force in society. Some people still being assessed.’ legislation. • technology specialist, educator today saw universities simply and visionary, Professor Hal as factories that produce e also outlined new ways of Abelson from Massachusetts educational content. Hinstitutional collaboration Institute of Technology Dreams by many universities made possible by web (MIT), put the case for these of making money from selling services and other information developments – which at first course material online – unless technology, thereby creating seem a radical departure from they were primarily in the and supporting an ‘extended the increasingly common business of remote of distance university community’. ‘business’ model of the modern education – were illusory. ‘If Head of La Trobe Computer university – during a recent universities just want to sell Science and Computer visit hosted by La Trobe stuff on the web, then they Engineering, Associate University. should become publishing Professor Samar Singh, Delivering a seminar on companies,’ he said. said La Trobe was pleased educational technology and Professor of Computer to be able to host Professor institutional change on the Science and Engineering Abelson’s visit and help main Melbourne campus at at MIT, Hal Abelson is expose students, staff and other Bundoora, he said that since co-director of the ‘MIT- Australian educators to his 2001 MIT has been a global ideas. pioneer and exponent of ‘Open Professor Ian Robinson, who Courseware’. heads La Trobe’s School of MIT now publishes Engineering and Mathematical material from some 900 of Creating and Sciences, said his school its courses free of charge was examining plans to for use worldwide (Spanish supporting an affiliate with MIT’s extended and Chinese speakers are extended university campus network, through an translating some of the courses) ‘Australian Hub’ when this is and has research and education community. set up. alliances with Microsoft, ‘We are keen to go ahead Hewlett-Packard, Cambridge with co-operative projects to University and the University generally share our knowledge of Singapore. and teaching resources. In ‘Giving away courses has particular, we are keen to take Microsoft iCampus Alliance’ turned out to be a much better on board and extend the ideas in educational technology business decision for MIT,’ of active learning to set up a and co-head of MIT’s Council Professor Abelson said. ‘It more “active” learning culture, on Educational Technology, was not about altruism, but and contribute to projects and which coordinates these leadership. Course materials laboratory facilities on the developments. He is also a can usually not be sold for web.’ founding member of ‘Creative much, but giving them away This, Professor Robinson Commons’, Public Knowledge Professor Abelson speaking at has helped us achieve strong said, may eventually help and the Free Software La Trobe University in January. support from the community replace large lectures where Foundation. and from foundations.’ students passively absorb

14 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 VISITORS Educational web for the common good Crisis! Unravelling the moral role of journalists

Martin Woollacott, former foreign editor of The Guardian newspaper in Britain, examined the role of journalists in international crises at a La Trobe University public lecture in January. scene, or reinforce one side of ‘That took the form, prior it, with its suit of authenticity.’ to the fall of Pnomh Penh, of downplaying information Mr Woollacott said Western The morality of crisis reporters involved policy for – and there was some journalists were emerging – about the viciousness of more and more as arbiters of which reporters felt some responsibility, even if it did not the Khmer Rouge and, later, the morality of the actions of of a reluctance to accept their governments, especially specifically involve their own country. refugee accounts of the terrible internationally, sometimes things that were happening in ‘The press corps which covers playing a leading role in setting Cambodia. the terms of the moral debate. crisis stories has been, and is, ninety-nine percent Western. ‘It is this area of moral A Visiting Fellow in difficulty, morality within La Trobe University’s Institute Whether it is seen as benign or malign, Western, particularly morality, which often for Advanced Study, he said preoccupies those reporters that the press corps following American, power and how it should be used, or whether it who carry on thinking over such stories, in spite of its the implications of the stories national and political diversity, should be used, are unavoidable factors in such stories. they have covered for years often projected a common afterwards.’ moral line. It usually favoured ‘That is why foreign crisis intervention, including military reporters are, as well as However, Mr Woollacott intervention, as the crises of moralists, also interventionists. said the biggest question of all, the nineties in the Balkans and Intervention, or the lack of it, is beyond the rights and wrongs Africa showed – although Iraq a central concern.’ of any particular intervention, is whether ‘the long Western had now put a question mark ollectively embraced broad tradition of activism in the over such activism. moral positions can also C world is flawed in principle as lead journalists to one of the ‘This collectivity says, well as in application’. usually forcefully, that a war worst sins – sacrificing truth to is right or wrong, a famine the cause. Formerly Middle East and Asia correspondent for The avoidable, a massacre could ‘The most significant Guardian, Mr Woollacott have been prevented, or a single example of this in my was until recently also that disaster alleviated earlier than experience is the way in which newspaper’s main commentator it was. reporters in Pnomh Penh in on international affairs. ‘On-the-spot journalistic 1975, rightly convinced, in my • debate has the advantage of view, of the uselessness and The full text of his lecture, titled being conducted in visceral immorality of American policy The Journalist and the Moralist, contact with events. It can in that country, allowed that to is available from trump debate far from the influence their reporting of the Tel: 03 9479 2316. Khmer Rouge.

La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005 15 TRAVEL INFORMATION making it more mobile

or travellers, finding the The company says the first location of a restaurant of these products have been For hotel, a museum or art exported to Europe – travellers gallery in a strange city may there can already access travel soon be as easy as reaching for information via their mobile their mobile phones… phones –satisfying consumer A winning team of La Trobe demand and producing a new University Computer Science range of export products with a and Computer Engineering world-wide market. students, as part of their he second winning team Software Engineering Project, Tof students – Lee Baker, have helped Lonely Planet Myles Carrucan, Aaron – one of the world’s largest Fuller, Timothy Gregson, publishers of travel guides Warren Bailey and Mun – add mapping features Lee – developed an Online to existing digital travel Data Backup System, in information. The company collaboration with a firm, Info- eventually plans to make this In, located on the University’s available globally over mobile Research and Development phones. Park at Bundoora. The software has been The company operates a designed to use satellite-based secure online backup service Global Positioning System from two Class A data centre tracking technology to send the locations in Melbourne and co-ordinates of the traveller’s Auckland, for software and location to a server which then hardware manufacturers, retail searches for information, say outlets, disaster recovery on all hotels within a certain consultants and education area, and locates the relevant providers. The students worked maps. This information, which on a new version of the service, includes prices and other to improve the system’s user features of nearby hotels, friendliness, management, is sent to the mobile phone, distribution, compression and complete with directions by data encryption. either text or maps. Mr Marcel Lenhoff, the The system can deal with CEO of Inof-In Pty Ltd, said: areas up to three kilometres ‘I suggested to students that from the location of the mobile they should think outside phone user. It features a screen the nine dots. I can say that David Finlay, said the La Trobe said the business requirement menu with buttons such as they have achieved this.’ He Software Engineering Project for the winning project was ‘where am I’, ‘places to stay’, said Info-In is continuing to provides valuable industry developed in consultation with ‘places to see’, eat, shop, and work with the Department contact for students. ‘The Dr Ron Gallagher, Research ‘entertainment’. of Computer Science and students have the opportunity and Development Manager for Computer Engineering on the The team of seven students to work on real problems to Lonely Planet. – Peter George, Leonardo Di full development of the project. provide adequate and “in time” Dr Gallagher said: ‘The Clemente, Orcun Mayuk, Olga solutions for those problems.’ students have tackled many Two students will be awarded an Diaz Gutierrez, Darshanand He said the project also of the questions, beyond ‘Agenda for New Manufacturing Hurkoo, Pamela Lee and Viet encourages knowledge-sharing requirement expectation, Scholarship’ which provides a Dung Nguyen – won an award between the University and including how much the service stipend to help develop these for best Software Engineering industry. ‘Industry benefits would cost to the mobile user.’ projects further this year. Valued Project at a joint university by increasing its awareness at $15,000, the scholarship has – industry award ceremony Lonely Planet, from its new of student skills, and we gain been sponsored by the Victorian held at the University’s late last base in Footscray, is moving insights into new technological Department of Innovation, Industry year. its traditional text guide books developments in industry.’ to new digital technology: the & Regional Development, Lonely ean of Science, Technology Software Engineering Project web, handheld devices and Planet, and La Trobe University. and Engineering, Professor • D coordinator, Mr Torab Torabi, mobile phones.

16 La Trobe University BULLETIN January–February 2005