CASE Circle of Excellence Silver Award Winner ISSUE 6: Spring 2014 DIVINE APPOINTMENT Theology graduate Father John Sanderson is deployed to Afghanistan YOUNG GUN ACU’s Meg Lanning captains the Australian women’s cricket team SECRET KEEPER Criminal law lecturer and retired barrister Graham Thomas QC on keeping a low profile when you’re in the spotlight The art The of many gifts ofinclusion Emma Donovan’s Studio ARTES 10 EDITOR Regulars Features Alisse Grafitti EDITORIAL TEAM Amy Ripley Caitlin Ganter Jen Rosenberg Sara Coen PUBLISHER Chrissa Favaloro DESIGNER Elizabeth Koudsy CONTRIBUTORS Professor Greg Craven Professor John Foot Associate Professor Michael Ondaatje GOT A STORY? 08 14 [email protected] 02 06 ACU alum is published yearly for graduates and friends of ACU. VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME A BUSY YEAR FOR TEACHER The views expressed are not EDUCATION necessarily those of the University. Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven on 03 the eternal quest to improve the quality of Cover: Emma Donovan, Managing IN THE MEDIA our teachers Director of Studio ARTES Cover photography: ACU in print around the country Tristan Velasco/Chello 10 Back cover: Young girl on the 04 DIVINE APPOINTMENT Thai-Burma border NEWSBITES Theology graduate Father John Sanderson Back cover photography: The latest news and announcements at ACU is deployed to Afghanistan Tristan Velasco 08 12 RESEARCH BITES SECRET KEEPER A look at some of our latest research Criminal law lecturer and retired barrister Graham Thomas QC on keeping a low profile when you’re in the spotlight 14 THE KING LEGACY More than 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, the struggle continues 16 YOUNG GUN ACU student Meg Lanning is the new captain of the Australian women’s cricket team Words: Alisse Grafitti / Photography: Paul McMillan Photography: / Alisse Grafitti Words: 02 22 17 28 34 GAME OF GENDERS WEIGHT LIFTING WARRIORS TEAM PLAYER Honours student Caitlin Francis looks at A group of prostate cancer survivors Hanging with the boys from Chelsea FC fantasy, females, and Game of Thrones are fighting to get back their fitness, is all in a days work for sports scientist and their life and ACU student Jo Clubb 18 THE ART OF INCLUSION 30 35 The many gifts of Emma Donovan's CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NOW I AM FOUND Studio Artes MAYAN COLLAPSE It’s been a rocky road from rags to luxury Dr Duncan Cook travels to Belize to explore fashion for one ACU MBA graduate one of the more recent theories on the 20 decline of the Maya IN HIS STRIDE 36 ACU sprinter Jarrod Geddes is trackside 31 G-DOG + HIS HOMEBOYS in Jamaica with Usain Bolt Father Greg Boyle has spent more than RAMPING UP RESEARCH 25 years in the toughest part of LA, Professor Wayne McKenna, Deputy working his own brand of gang intervention 22 Vice-Chancellor (Research), is leading ITALIANS AND THE BEAUTIFUL the revitalisation of research at ACU 37 GAME Professor John Foot reflects on sport 32 25 YEARS FOR ACU and national identity In 2015, Australian Catholic University FIFA ON BOARD will reach a special milestone The Future in Youth program has grown 24 beyond all expectations since its launch BORDER LIFE in 2010 Photographs of ACU’s work on the Thai-Burma border 33 BRISBANE BOOM Two new state-of-the-art facilities at ACU Brisbane mark the next stage of growth for the campus Words: Alisse Grafitti / Photography: Paul McMillan Photography: / Alisse Grafitti Words: welcome t is my pleasure to welcome you to the latest issue of ACU Alum, to providing current students with the same opportunity. Our our dedicated alumni magazine. As an important part of our students are involved in programs that have them undertaking university community, I hope you will enjoy reading about ACU’s pro bono law work, teaching soccer to children in East Timor, and growth, fascinating research, talented students, and the work of volunteering with welfare agencies in Florence – just to name a few. Iyour fellow graduates. Continued support for our scholarship fund has enabled us to You will see in this edition that we have been busy here at ACU. offer scholarships and bursaries which recognise outstanding Since 2008, student numbers have nearly doubled in size. We have achievement, and provide access to university for those who gained a campus, a law school, many new staff members, and a might otherwise be excluded. In 2014, more than 63 new students plethora of buildings and teaching and learning spaces. benefited from these awards. Now we are turning our attention to research. While the University I am extremely proud of the links we share with our graduates, has always had a respectable research base, we have now many of whom are spread all over the world. You play a vital role prioritised the intensification of research over the next five years. in our future success as ambassadors, volunteers, benefactors, We are aiming for better performance in priority research areas, and industry partners. leading to improved research reputation, and overall research In 2015, Australian Catholic University will reach a special milestone rankings. – 25 years of people, learning, and achievements that continue to The initial phase of growth has included the establishment of bring about real change in our communities. five new research institutes, which are already producing some The anniversary will be marked by a series of events in the week impressive work. of 27 to 31 July 2015. All alumni are invited to attend, and I look forward to celebrating and reflecting on ACU’s rich history with you. One of the things I hear most often from our graduates is how your time at ACU opened your eyes to the ways in which you Professor Greg Craven can contribute to your communities. We remain committed Vice-Chancellor Update your details Alumni Office To subscribe to ACU Alum or update your Melbourne Campus keep in touch details, visit the Alumni website at Australian Catholic University acu.edu.au/alumni or email us at 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065 [email protected] Telephone: +61 3 9953 3666 Email: [email protected] Paul McMillan Photography: / Alisse Grafitti Words: Contact the Alumni team We welcome your comments and feedback, Website: acu.edu.au/alumni and would love to hear your story ideas. Facebook: facebook.com/ACUalumni 02 LONG-TERM TEACHER ACU LECTURER TRAINING RETIRES 1The Guardian 2Ballarat Courier 19 February 2014 15 July 2014 THE federal education minister, AFTER 32 years of lecturing at Australian IN THE Christopher Pyne, has signalled his Catholic University’s Aquinas campus, opposition to the “blunt instrument” Dr Mary Nuttall is calling it a day… of raising tertiary entrance scores as he Dr Nuttell worked at the School of launched a review of teacher training. Education as a lecturer and was media Confirming the appointment of the committed to maintaining the link Australian Catholic University vice- between the University, the Catholic chancellor, Greg Craven, to lead the new primary schools and the Catholic ministerial advisory group, Pyne took aim education office. at advocates of higher Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (Atar) cut-offs for people wishing to study teaching at university. SMARTER STUDY 446 THINKING INTO BABIES A SIGN OF 3 POLICE PTSD 4 RESCUED 5 SURVIVAL Daily Telegraph, Sydney Herald Sun, Melbourne The Australian 16 July 2014 1 August 2014 23 July 2014 NSW Police will carry out a major three- HUNDREDS of newborns a year are being NEW data reveals a moderate year study aimed at tackling mental taken from their mothers by Victorian correlation between enrolment growth health issues and post-traumatic stress child protection authorities. and student attrition, but no national disorder in the force. In Victoria, 446 babies under the age crisis. Since 2008, the commencing bachelor student cohort has grown The million-dollar research project will of one were removed from their parents 38 per cent while the attrition rate involve two Sydney universities in a bid by child protection workers in the last has risen from 17.9 per cent to 19.5 to better prepare police officers for the financial year, compared with just 119 per cent… stresses of the job. in 2004-05. Researcher Dr Stephanie Taplin, from The data reveals many success NSW Police got the green light for the the Institute of Child Protection Studies stories of the demand-driven system. study, involving the Australian Catholic at the Australian Catholic University, Australian Catholic University has more University and University of Western said anecdotal evidence suggested than doubled its numbers since places Sydney, after receiving a $500,000 grant an increasing number of babies are were uncapped, yet its retention rate from the Australian Research Council. removed from maternity wards. has fallen less than 1 per cent. THE MENTAL FIGHT EFFECTS OF CLANCY ONE BACK RUGBY LEAGUE OF THE ‘GREAT’ 6 FEARS 7 TACKLES 8 ARCHBISHOPS Herald Sun, Melbourne The Australian Courier Mail, Brisbane 1 August 2014 19 August 2014 3 August 2014 HIGH school students aren't intervening THE brute force of rugby league tackles not EDWARD Bede Clancy, who died early to help bullying victims because they fear only leaves players physically damaged, on Sunday at the age of 90, served as becoming a target themselves. A belief but can cause mental fatigue as well, archbishop between 1983 and 2001, parents and teachers won't act when the research has found. A study published years that saw the church in Sydney problem is reported is also holding them by Sports Medicine Australia in the undergo great change… back. Some even worry victims will turn Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport He also instigated the amalgamation against them.