may June 2008

Child protection studies go global

Neuroscientists recognised for obesity research

New media scholarships

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 1 3/6/08 10:02:34 AM LA TROBE UNIVERSITY news

IN THIS ISSUE Home theatre Home theatre – the end of spaghetti junction 2 Mr Boardman says his concept was more Respect for diversity begins The end of complex then just incorporating wireless in schools 3 sensors. ‘The sensors had to be resistant to New media scholarships 3 interference from other wireless signals, Indonesian alumni win awards 4 spaghetti so I needed to source high-quality chips,’ National superannuation – he says. ‘I did some research and found a reflections on the birth company in England that made high-quality of an idea 5 junction? wireless chips for streaming audio, and College life connects with Electronics graduate Glenn then built a circuit around the chip to make the world 6 Boardman has won the 2008 Victorian it work.’ Dubai womens’ art 6 Institution of Engineering and Technology He also had to figure out how to make it Student Prize for designing wireless Research in Action easy to use by developing intuitive controls, speakers that can reproduce hi-fi sound good compatible with other hardware in the Soil test for safer enough for home-theatre systems. nuclear waste 7 entertainment unit – and how to ensure it In the era of cordless, mobile, and Neuroscience tackles wouldn’t ‘overcook’ itself. obesity epidemic 8 infrared, Mr Boardman asked himself: ‘It also had to look good, so there were Social maps strengthen why persist with meters of cords from the many elements I needed to figure out as I support for abused children 10 amplifier to the speakers of his surround- went along.’ sound system? Having ticked all those boxes, Mr Child and family welfare His answer won the University’s annual Boardman had to find a reasonably priced, studies go global 11 Hooper Awards – which showcase the high-quality amplifier that could accept Dig probes Ned Kelly drama 12 Department of Electronic Engineering’s audio inputs from a range of audio-visual Higher education plans for most outstanding developments – and then devices used in the home. Goulburn Valley 12 so impressed his professional colleagues With the prototype now working Widely quoted, top economist state-wide that he took out the Victorian beautifully in his lounge room, he intends to joins La Trobe 13 prize. develop his project for the consumer market. Global push for sustainable ‘Glenn found a hole in the home theatre business education 13 ‘There really aren’t any Australian audio market,’ says his supervisor, Darrell Elton, Forget me not – servicing your companies. My challenge is launching memory for old age 14 lecturer in Electronic Engineering. ‘The a high-end home theatre product to an Viewpoint: The great water only similar products available are wireless audience other then the “in-the-know” audio debate 15 computer speakers, and they don’t have hi-fi market on the internet,’ he says. Keeping Olympic athletes quality.’ • in top form 16 Mr Boardman and his new wireless speaker system.

Cover: Child protection studies go global, see stories pages 10 and 11.

The La Trobe University Bulletin is published by Media & Communications, La Trobe University. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 Email: [email protected] Articles: Rhonda Dredge, Adrienne Jones, Ernest Raetz, Mikhaela Delahunty Photos: La Trobe University PDI Design: Campus Graphics, 84154 La Trobe University. Printed by Work & Turner. Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin 2 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 2 3/6/08 10:02:35 AM news Respect for diversity begins in our schools

The new project Photo: Kabir Dhanji extends to teachers, students and other members of primary school communities high-quality, long term professional development in the areas of cultural diversity and conflict resolution. ‘This enables them to build strong school communities where diversity is embraced and valued,’ Professor Wertheim says. ‘Conflict and

The project team, from left, Merlyne Cruz from the Centre for Equity and Innovation differences between in Early Childhood, La Trobe’s Professor Wertheim and Jo Hutton and Elizabeth people are a part of life, Freeman, University of Melbourne. and offer rich opportunities for developing awareness and n award-winning project understanding the values, needs, interests by La Trobe University psychologist and cultures of other people. Professor Eleanor Wertheim and her A ‘However, if handled badly, conflict colleagues aims to help teachers ‘build’ schools that respect cultural diversity. can lead to damaged relationships, intolerance, racism, aggression – and this ‘If we are to continue to advance as is often exacerbated between groups from a prosperous society, social cohesion is different cultural backgrounds. critical. It is therefore as important to ‘By beginning at an early age boost the capabilities of our schools in through schools, we can encourage a Our world respect for cultural diversity and ability more peaceful society which embraces Mr Boardman and his new wireless speaker system. to handle differences between people differences between people and cultural in crisis and groups, as it is to teach maths and groups, one that has the skills to sciences.’ integrate differing values and interests in La Trobe offers new media Professor Wertheim is highly constructive ways.’ scholarships respected both as an educator and Professor Wertheim says the original psychological researcher for her work Kenyan-born freelance project involved twelve Melbourne on conflict resolution and health issues. photojournalist Kabir Dhanji and Megan primary schools. It has now been extended She is among a select group which has Byrne from The Age newspaper have to another ten schools and will be won a coveted ‘Australian Award for been awarded the La Trobe University evaluated during 2008 to 2009 with the University Teaching’ and the Australian Centre for Dialogue’s first annual Media help of the new research grant. Psychological Society’s ‘Excellence in Scholarships. Teaching Award’. • The project is being conducted with The scholarships enable them to The new project – Creating researchers from the University of attend the Centre’s ten-week Our World culturally respectful primary schools: Melbourne (Faculty of Education and in Crisis course. Now in its seventh year, Enhancing relationships through Centre for Innovation and Equity in the course is led by Joseph Camilleri, strategic professional learning – has Early Childhood) in partnership with Professor of International Relations and been supported by funds from the Federal the Scanlon Foundation, Catholic Director of the Centre for Dialogue. Government’s Australian Research Education Office Melbourne, Australian The course comprises ten weekly Council. Psychological Society and two primary evening sessions. It is held at the schools (Haig Street Primary School, It is based on earlier research for Fitzroy headquarters of Australian Heidelberg, and St Anthony’s Primary which Professor Wertheim and her Volunteers International (AVI) and School, Alphington). collaborators won the Australian • draws on the resources of supporting Psychological Society’s Robin Winkler Community Psychology Award. Continued page 6

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84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 3 3/6/08 10:02:36 AM news

His Lippo Group He says a milestone employs some next year, for his Group and 35,000 people and Indonesia, will be a new generates more comprehensive cancer centre than US$2.5 billion named after his father, the in annual revenue first such private centre in from ventures which Indonesia. It will be assisted in include a network its work by the Mochtar Riady Dr Riady, right, receives his award of banks and Institute for Nanotechnology, from Australia’s Ambassador to financial services a cancer research institute Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer. – the original core established in 2006. business set up by Dr Makmur Sunusi Dr Riady’s father, directs the Indonesian Alumni win Mochtar Riady, in the Government’s efforts to fight 1960s – and today poverty, protect children and extends into a wide people with disabilities, the inaugural awards range of areas from elderly and those with HIV nternational Employment and Workplace property development, Aids and narcotic problems, Ibusiness leader, banker Relations. The awards department stores and in order to strengthen families and philanthropist Dr James recognise outstanding talent, insurance to IT, multi-media, and communities across Riady was one of two achievements and contributions healthcare, hotels and tourism the country’s thirty-three La Trobe University alumni made to Indonesia by the development. provinces. who took out prizes at the 30,000 Indonesians who have Dr Riady is founder An Indonesian delegate recent inaugural Indonesian studied in Australia. and chair of a non-profit to the UN High Commission Australian Alumni Awards Dr James Riady is Deputy education foundation which on Human Rights, Dr Sunusi held by the Australian Chairman of the Lippo oversees three universities and has been recognised by the Government in Jakarta. Group which includes twenty eighteen schools, a teacher President of Indonesia for his Dr Riady, recipient of listed companies in Asia as training college that provides work with vulnerable children. an Honorary Doctorate of well as other businesses and scholarships to its 400 Indonesia has 68,532 Letters from La Trobe in partnerships in America and students, and aims eventually orphanages and thirty-eight September 2007, won the Europe. to establish 1,000 schools in high-level institutions under Australian Alumni Award He is also Chairman of the poorest parts of Indonesia. the care of his Ministry. He for Entrepreneurship which AIG Life, Jakarta, Deputy Dr Riady has also set has formulated a new child recognises innovative and Head of the Indonesian up Indonesia’s largest non- adoption policy to prevent entrepreneurial business Chamber of Commerce and government hospital group, international misuse of people in Indonesia. Industry, a former diplomat four hospitals and a specialist adoption and a program to Dr Makmur Sunusi – and ambassador for Indonesia, clinic with plans for nine monitor all orphanages to help Director General of Social and a former non-political more hospitals, part of a stop exploitation of children. Services and Rehabilitation member of MPR (Indonesia’s US$500 million expansion to His programs for street in the Ministry of Social top Peoples’ Consultative create more than 4,000 new children have set up ‘open Affairs and a lecturer at the Body). healthcare jobs in Indonesia. houses’ in twelve cities, funded Department of Social Welfare by the Asian Development at the University of Indonesia Dr Sunusi, right, accepts his award. Bank. After the 2004 tsunami, – who holds Masters and Dr Sunusi issued an emergency Doctorate degrees in social policy to prevent trafficking of work from La Trobe University child victims and set up fifty- received a special Inspiration four children’s centres for child Award. Dr Sunusi was victims in Aceh. recognised for his influence on At his initiative, a memo- social welfare development in randum of understanding has Indonesia. been signed between La Trobe La Trobe University University and the Indonesian nominated both men for the Ministry of Social Affairs, awards, which were presented to deliver social work higher by Australian Education degrees and research for the International, the global arm of Ministry and Indonesia. the Department of Education, •

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84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 4 3/6/08 10:02:38 AM news National superannuation REFLECTIONS ON THE BIRTH OF AN IDEA

For seventeen years until unions interesting for me because I was the world’s best and worth emulating in February 2000 Bill Kelty – then Secretary interested for some time, but he gave me the USA. The Chinese are keen on it. of the Australian Council of Trade Unions a greater dimension to their activities: ‘People have been kind enough – strode the national stage, a key player in understand their history, analyse the to suggest that it is the result of the industrial relations, re-shaping economic reasons for the decisions, and know the partnership between the ACTU and policy and superannuation reform. conflicts, their purposes, their ideals.’ government – and particularly Paul As a prologue and coda he appeared Mr Kelty said Donald Whitehead Keating and me. on stage at La Trobe University; first was ‘the very last person I would have ‘Let me take you to Donald briefly as a graduate in Economics in expected to be in awe of, as he was an Whitehead’s Stagflation and Wages Policy 1969 and then, in April this year, when he adviser to the Liberal Party and the in Australia, published in 1973, but first returned to deliver the occasional address Employers’ Association. I was on the discussed between 1967 and 1969. to some 230 graduates at their award opposite side, Labor Party since 16, with ‘It is not by chance that Gary Weaven ceremony. a burning ambition to work for the trade (former assistant ACTU secretary ‘I have in essence three things to unions’. now executive chair of Industry Fund say,’ he told the graduates, their families ‘He taught me the fundamental process Services), Ian Court (chair of the and friends. ‘First, the significance to of applying logic to the process of analysis Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees) and myself all went to La Trobe – all were involved in the creation and maintenance of superannuation. ‘We merely set alight the fire. The idea had been stoked. This is an idea that

Bill Kelty at the graduation ceremony: an idea that this University can rightfully own.

me of this University and its teachers; (to) think about each issue from a Professor Whitehead second, the case for bravery and the cost number of perspectives. However, of meekness; third, never give up the at no stage did he discourage me from this University can rightfully own. Some enthusiasm and spirit of youth.’ having a passionate belief and an ideal.’ own a literary masterpiece, others own a Mr Kelty said he came to La Trobe Mr Kelty said Donald Whitehead scientific discovery. This University owns not just because it was close to his home was ‘an important figure, even in this superannuation.’ University a little understated and ‘but because I believed that it could give • Mr Kelty has also been a member of the greater opportunity to working class kids, understood’. National Labour Consultative Council, of which I was proudly one’. ‘All ideas have a genesis – someone Director of the Reserve Bank and a ‘This University gave to me the stokes up the genesis of an idea. There Director of the Superannuation Trust greatest gift of all – access to the two are others who set it alight.’ of Australia. He is a Director of Hotel finest teachers of my life – Professor Leisure Tourism Trust of Australia and Donald Whitehead in Economics and Fourth largest fund of Linfox, an AFL Commissioner and a Professor Ross Martin in Politics. management business member of Australians for Just Refugee He described Professor Martin, who ‘Today Australia has a national Programs. taught at La Trobe for nearly forty years superannuation system – nine per cent Professor Donald Whitehead’s memory and is now a friend, as ‘Australia’s best of people’s earnings as a minimum go lives on at the main Melbourne campus at student and teacher of trade unions, into superannuation. It has meant that Bundoora where a building named in his recognised for his expertise in many we have spawned the fourth largest fund honour houses the School of Business. countries’. management business in the world. Some • ‘Ross did not have to make trade commentators would regard it as one of

La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 5

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 5 3/6/08 10:02:39 AM news

‘These programs develop La Trobe visitors be inscribed Dubai women employability skills for on the monument with their show their art Colleges students,’ says Deputy Director deceased relatives. of Residential Services, Dr ‘We are helping our An art exhibition connect Michael Shortland. students connect with the featuring works by twenty ‘The students keep journals world,’ says Dr Adams. ‘We students from Dubai Women’s with the during their trips and tasks are also demonstrating an College recently provided the are assessed. Our aim is to ethical framework for good people of north-west Victoria build on students’ needs. corporate citizenship that will with rare glimpses into the world They like to get involved in help them and the University richly diverse lives of people down-to-earth developmental in the years ahead.’ from another culture. Community awareness programs.’ More than one thousand The week-long exhibition at is one of the major aims Last year students made students live in three colleges Stefano’s Gallery resulted from of college life at La Trobe an educational relationship University – not just among a presentation at a genocide on the Bundoora campus between La Trobe University students on campus, but in the conference in Bosnia. They – Menzies, Chisholm and and Dubai Women’s College, global community as well. spent three days at a village Glenn – as well as Graduate that had been ‘ethnically House, University Lodge and part of the Higher Colleges of Last year ninety-five cleansed’. The former Waterdale Apartments. About Technology in the United Arab La Trobe students living in population of 300 had been 15 per cent are international Emirates (UAE). residential colleges travelled reduced to just 13. students and most of the rest The relationship was forged overseas in small groups to The students went with the come from rural Victoria or by La Trobe Mildura campus assist in development work. idea of building a new school. interstate. executive director, Kent This year the numbers will Instead, villagers requested a The culture of volunteering Farrell, who spent seven years swell to 150. monument to their dead. The crosses all of the University’s teaching in the Emirates. Head Projects in Thailand, India, students raised $8,500 for its campuses. Bendigo students of Graphic Arts and Design, Cambodia, Nepal, Kenya and construction. have formed a community Neil Fettling worked closely Bosnia have included raising Dr Ron Adams, Director volunteering group called with Dubai Women’s College funds for building a school, of Residential Services, led Ressie Angels. They kicked to bring the exhibition to work in orphanages, setting the group to Bosnia. He was off the year by shaving their Victoria. up a handicrafts shop and moved by the experience, heads to raise money for the • teaching English. Students particularly when the villagers Leukaemia Foundation. have raised $30,000 for asked that the names of the • New media Cambodia alone. scholarships Continued from page 3

Kate Hawkins from Menzies College, Bundoora campus, organisations including AVI, working at Lea Mirvana Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya. Oxfam Australia, Pax Christi, Psychologists for Peace, the Asia Education Foundation, the Islamic Council of Victoria, World Vision and the Victorian Council of Social Service. Professor Camilleri says the scholarships are offered annually, both as a learning experience and an opportunity to participate in a cross-fertilisation of ideas on world affairs with the wider community. The winners were selected from Australian and Australian-based foreign correspondents, through media organisations and the Sydney- based Foreign Correspondents Association, of which La Trobe University is a key sponsor.

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84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 6 3/6/08 10:02:40 AM Research i n a c t i o n Soil test for safer nuclear waste Australian know-how is being used in a French laboratory, part of a European Union funded project dealing with the long-term stability of nuclear waste in underground storages. The work, at Grenoble University, is based on a process for measuring the redox reactivity of soils developed by Associate Professor Ewen Silvester, a chemist at La Trobe University’s Albury- Wodonga campus. Dr Silvester, right, has proven the concept on synthetic iron oxide minerals in laboratories of the Department of Environmental Management and Ecology, and the technique is now being tested on iron-containing clay minerals in France. ‘Decisions on the location of nuclear waste storage are largely based on geological considerations,’ Dr Silvester says. ‘This work deals with the geochemical stability of the storage environment, particularly the mobility of radionuclides in clay mineral chemistry,’ Dr Silvester says. soils. Better understanding of geochemical Union in its bid to solve the potential ‘The experience will develop her skills conditions will lead to safer storage. environmental problems associated with in chemistry, and will no doubt inspire ‘Our work was originally focused nuclear waste.’ and motivate her for the future – and they only on the geochemistry of iron in these The next phase of the project, he says, will be used here at the Albury-Wodonga systems, and the role of iron in controlling will be the development of a prototype campus to further the study of clay radionuclide speciation and mobility. device that could be used in any soil or mineral systems.’ ‘Instead, what we have developed is a sediment system. Ms Klein, below, describes it as a generic technique, and ultimately a device, The European connection with ‘fascinating field of research’. T‘ here is which aims to provide information about La Trobe was established by Dr Silvester definitely a future there for me,’ she says. the redox potential of many other soils.’ during the early nineties when he spent ‘There is a lot to be done.’ Redox potential, he explains, is three years at Grenoble University on a • tendency of a soil to accept (oxidise) or post-doctoral fellowship. donate (reduce) electrons. ‘To measure this in soils and sediments Maintaining the is notoriously difficult due to the poor French Connection electrical contact between soil particles and This connection has been maintained, the sensing electrode,’ says Dr Silvester. So with funding from the Agence Nationale he came up with the idea of using a “shuttle pour la Gestion des Dechets Radioactifs molecule” to transfer electrons between the – and by the visit of Annaleise Klein, a soil particles and an electrode, amplifying La Trobe BSc student working on the the signal so that it can be measured. project, who spent February in Grenoble. ‘The principle may sound simple, but ‘This was a fantastic opportunity for it has taken three years of laboratory work Annaleise who worked in the laboratory to get a result that could help the European of Professor Laurent Charlet, an expert in La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 7

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 7 3/6/08 10:02:44 AM SWEETNESS LIGHT

Neuroscience illuminates new ways of tackling the obesity epidemic La Trobe University neuroscientist Richard Weisinger’s decade-long research into nutrition and body weight found itself in the glare of world-wide media attention recently suggesting that popular blood pressure drugs may one day be re-badged to combat obesity. And waiting in the wings of his first- floor laboratory on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora is a new project that takes a ‘hair of the dog’ approach to the same problem – probing by-products from sugar refining in the quest for a ‘natural’ anti-obesity drug. The reports of a ‘promising miracle weigh-loss pill’ based on blood pressure drugs followed publication of his research in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the US. So far the drugs – called ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors – have been primarily tested on laboratory mice and rats for their weight loss effects. Experiments by Dr Weisinger, an associate professor in psychology, and other scientists from La Trobe, Deakin University and the Howard Florey Institute found that mice lacking angiotensin II weighed twenty per cent less than their normal counterparts and had fifty to sixty percent less body fat, particularly in the abdomen. They also processed sugar more quickly, suggesting they were at lower risk of diabetes. Dr Weisinger – who worked with La Trobe colleagues Dr Mark Jois from Agricultural Sciences and Denovan Begg from the School of Psychological Science – told leading science writer Leigh Dayton from The Australian that the link between weight loss and ACE came about purely by chance in earlier experiments. ‘Our group was using an ACE inhibitor with animals to study the 8 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 8 3/6/08 10:02:46 AM Research i n a c t i o n

effects on blood pressure of a complex ant-oxidant qualities in keeping our blood- ‘Western Diet’ and the benefits ofO mega-3 biochemical pathway called the “renin- vessels healthy. Several different extracts fatty acids, as well as the neural pathways angiotensin system”. Unexpectedly, the have been produced from molasses, each that mediate disease and how they are SWEETNESS mice and rats got skinnier. When I saw containing their own unique combination altered by diet. He and members of his the body weight was down I said that’s of polyphenols. laboratory are also probing how biological phenomenal. We should get right into that. ‘We are hoping to show that these systems influence eating patterns, cardio- And that’s what we did.’ polyphenols in waste products from sugar vascular and neural function. They are LIGHT Angiotensin II is a very potent chemical refining can be used to improve body interested in the neural pathways that that cause muscles around blood vessels to weight and insulin sensitivity. control a person’s ‘body weight set point’ contract, thereby narrowing them which ‘Our aim is to determine the influence and factors that influence it. leads to high blood pressure. of each of these extracts on body For the last three years Dr Weisinger Dr Weisinger explains that fat cells composition and insulin sensitivity and has also led an international team in a store excess energy for times when food their mechanisms of action and to gather $277,000 National Health and Medical is scarce, which is rarely an issue in basic scientific information that may make Research Council study that has helped modern western society. They also contain the sugar industry more health-oriented establish the benefits from consuming the renin-angiotensin system that helps and productive.’ Omega-3 fatty acids. These are found in regulate formation of fat cells and the This, he says, ultimately would fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, ability of fat cells to store fat, in addition have enormous implications for human certain types of tuna and salmon and in to their well-known influence on blood health and disease. It would also be the oils of soybeans, canola, walnut and pressure and blood volume. Drugs that of great national benefit for a billion flaxseed. block a key step in this system can cause For example, Dr Weisinger’s work weight loss, but how they do this is unclear. with laboratory rats has helped establish Various experiments by Dr Weisinger Waste products from that Omega-3 fatty acids are important and colleagues over many years have sugar refining may to pregnant and nursing mothers. He has explored this question in laboratory mice shown that putting a pregnant healthy engineered to lack the gene that encodes help improve body female rat on a low Omega-3 fatty acid the key angiotensin converting enzyme. weight and insulin diet resulted in poorer milk and less The results, published in PNAS, healthy offspring who develop high blood confirm the critical role of this system sensitivity pressure as adults. on the growth of fat tissue and suggest a ‘Humans evolved as hunter-gatherers mechanism by which drugs that interfere dollar industry whose main product, with a fatty acid diet in which Omega-3 with the system might spark weight loss. refined sugar, is calorie rich but nutrition and Omega-6 fatty acids (found in animal Given widespread concerns in much poor – and a major contributor to the fats and oils, most vegetable fats and of the developed world about body weight ever increasing problem of obesity and oils and dairy fats) existed in roughly and health, Dr Weisinger expects that metabolic syndrome which has huge costs equivalent amounts,’ says Dr Weisinger. human trials based on these results may for the Australian health system. ‘But in modern Western society we now well start within a year. But he is quick to consume between ten and twenty-five times caution that pressing this existing class of fatty acids in diet more Omega-6 than Omega-3 fatty acid. blood pressure drugs into service against Dr Weisinger came to La Trobe’s School This becomes a major problem because obesity is unlikely to be a panacea, or lead of Psychological Sciences in 2005 from both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids to a ‘miracle’ pill. the Howard Florey Institute, where he compete for the same metabolic enzymes.’ ‘I don’t think we’ll see it added to the maintains an honorary appointment. The Omega-3 and body weight studies water supply any time soon. There are He also continues research ties with the also involve collaborations with scientists issues of not inconsiderable possible side Southwest Foundation for Biomedical from Deakin University, the University of effects that doctors have to weigh up today Research, San Antonio, Texas. His studies Melbourne, the Hungarian Academy of when they prescribe these drugs for high examine links between the progression Sciences and the University of Peradeniya, blood pressure.’ of disease and early diet, particularly the Sri Lanka. • Second ‘ace’ But Dr Weisinger reveals he may well have a second ‘ace’ up his sleeve. He has applied for a research grant to probe by- products from sugar refining – polyphenols found in molasses – and, perhaps, use these to develop a ‘natural’ drug. He says molasses are a significant waste stream of the sugarcane industry and very rich source polyphenols, Dr Weisinger, rear, with different from those found in tea, cocoa or colleagues Denovan Begg, left, and Lauren Stahl red wine which are often touted for their demonstrating equipment used to measure body fat. La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 9

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although only eight per cent of those were living with one or both parents. Ninety per cent listed one or more siblings. Social maps • For a small percentage, parents are not even on the social radar. They did not list either parent, although all had at least strengthen support for one living parent. More than half did not mention their fathers. abused children • Friends are often described as being hen asked to draw a ‘map’ of some as young as six years of age. unsupportive, with only twenty-six per the important people in his life, Ms Frederico says children in Shane’s cent of children describing one or more Weleven-year-old ‘Shane’ did not group were asked to draw maps when friends as providing practical support. mention friends, and put his mother on they first entered the program. These were Ms Frederico says more extensive the outer as someone who had failed to then used as a baseline for six-monthly trialling is needed before the usefulness provide him with emotional and practical progress reviews. of social maps as an assessment tool can support. ‘We can use these maps,’ she says, ‘to be fully determined. However, anecdotal Two years later – after regular and see what the children’s support networks evidence from clinicians has been intensive help to deal with trauma caused are at one stage, and then re-evaluate overwhelmingly positive about its role in by abuse – Shane’s ‘social network map’ them later. In Shane’s case, we are now providing base-line evaluation of young was radically different, reflecting that he had been able to return home to live with his mother, and had begun to control his anger to the point where he could make, and keep, supportive friends. Shane (not his real name) is one of 102 children at the Victorian Government- funded ‘Take Two’ program providing therapy for children traumatised by abuse, to benefit from the trial of social mapping as a new evaluation method. Associate Professor Margarita Frederico, Head of the School of Social Work and Social Policy and the principal research and evaluation consultant to Take Two, says social network mapping is beginning to prove its value for assessing formal and informal support networks for traumatised children and young people Demonstrating the mapping technique: and whether they can draw on these La Trobe’s Margarita Frederico, left, relationships for emotional and practical and Berry Steet’s Carly Black, research officer of ‘Take Two’. support. Used with other measures, social mapping helps therapists evaluate the seeing a young person who is doing much people’s social supports and allowing most effective methods for rehabilitation, better. He is stable at school, has friends, them to open up about relationships that taking into account the children’s own is no longer moving from placement to are important to them. perspectives. placement – and his social network maps Ms Frederico says a separate project Of 1,232 young people up to eighteen reflect these changes through his own is underway in partnership with the years of age who have been assisted by eyes.’ Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency the Take Two program since its inception Ms Frederico says Take Two only uses and Take Two to determine culturally- in 2004, Shane and the other children mapping with children deemed likely to appropriate ways to assess the social in this pilot group are the first invited to benefit. Therapists use the map to talk and emotional well-being of Aboriginal contribute to their rehabilitation with the about what the young person is going children. help of social mapping. through. The social map was developed in the The Take Two program is funded by the United States and has been used there the children’s social State Government under the auspices of for more than eighteen years to evaluate maps have revealed: Berry Street, in partnership with La Trobe social and emotional supports, primarily University, the Austin Hospital, Mindful • Family members are highly signi- (Centre for Training and Research in for adults. ficant to a child’s view of the world, even Developmental Health) and the Victorian It was introduced to Take Two in to children who do not live with their Aboriginal Child Care Agency. 2004 for young people. The La Trobe families. Sixty-eight per cent included • researchers believe they are the first to use their mothers in their social maps, the technique so extensively with children, 10 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 10 3/6/08 10:02:47 AM news

At the Padua conference, from left, Carlina Black, Annette Jackson, Robyn Miller, Minister Lisa Neville, Dr McNamara, Jane Harrison, Gill Callister (Executive Director, Mental Health and Drugs Division, Department of Human Services) and Margarita Frederico.

Child and family welfare studies go global

ew and stronger links country study of intervention experts in out-of-home care Nbetween policy-makers outcomes in community-based from around the world, will and researchers around family centres. greatly help the review I am Sharing their the world were forged at The La Trobe-Berry Street leading into Victoria’s out-of- research an international research partnership also paved the home care system.’ Eight staff and postgraduate conference on child, youth and way for the University’s role Dr McNamara says the students from the School of family services held in Padua, in a cross-national study of conference was so successful its Social Work and Social Policy Italy in March. parenting programs, launched first target of 350 participants gave papers at the conference. Lecturer in Social Work, at the conference. had to be extended to 480. PhD student Robyn Miller, Dr Patricia McNamara, says Victoria’s Minister ‘Attendees included Principal Practitioner, Child the conference identified for Community Services, researchers from emerging Protection and Family Services an area of unmet need in Lisa Neville, attended the Eastern block countries Branch in the Department international child and family conference. She said she had such as Slovakia, Slovenia, of Human Services, made a research and provided a been heartened to hear the Hungary and Armenia. Also keynote presentation outlining springboard for greater cross- positive comments made represented were China, Nepal Victoria’s success in arresting national collaborations. about reforms under way in and other Asian nations, the growth in demand for child Researchers and policy- Victoria. While no system was who are often left out of the protection services. makers in the UK and US ever perfect, she said other international research loop.’ Head of the School, especially, she says, are keen Australian and international La Trobe’s role in the Associate Professor Margarita to forge links with researchers jurisdictions were looking Padua conference goes Frederico, and her team, in Victoria following the at what was happening in back five years when Dr reported on the Victorian- dissemination of their findings Victoria. McNamara was asked to Government-funded ‘Take in studies of preventative child ‘If we continue our focus become a foundation board Two’ therapeutic intervention protection programs and a on earlier intervention, on member of a new organisation program for children range of therapies. meeting the therapeutic needs for advancing knowledge in and young people under Dr McNamara, a key of children, on improving the residential care, foster care and observation or care within the organiser of the four-day way we maintain linkages for their alternatives for children State’s child protection system conference, said La Trobe’s Aboriginal children with their and youth with psycho-social (see also previous page). participation capitalised on community and culture – all problems – the International ‘Take Two’ research the University’s involvement of which feature in our new Association for Outcome manager, Annette Jackson, in cross-national research legislation – and if we continue Based Evaluation and Research senior researcher Carlina collaborations over the past to do this in partnership in Family and Children’s Black, Aboriginal research five years. between Government and Services. officer, Jane Harrison and area This work received strong community services, then we manager, Trish McClusky, all support from practitioners will achieve a system that is presented findings related to and policy-makers, especially doing its best for vulnerable the ‘Take Two’ program. her colleagues at Berry Street children, young people and Dr Lloyd Owen presented Victoria, Dr McNamara’s families in Victoria. his doctoral research on partners in the Melbourne ‘The lessons I have learnt interventions with adolescents component of a recent seven- from this opportunity to meet in the welfare system. • La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 11

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 11 3/6/08 10:02:48 AM news New dig probes Ned Kelly drama ites relating to one of 3D laser imagery, geophysics of what happened Australia’s best-known and photogrammetry to record during the siege.’ S mystery historical events – Ned Kelly’s the site and its contents. All Project historian, author Illustration: Basil Pardo last stand at Glenrowan in artefacts are being catalogued and Kelly specialist Alex around this north-eastern Victoria – have and analysed in La Trobe’s McDermott – who is writing ever since they died in that been excavated by a team of Archaeology laboratories on his PhD thesis at La Trobe hotel – we can at least put to archaeologists including forty the main Melbourne campus at on Melbourne’s founding rest the enduring myth that La Trobe University students. Bundoora. After this they will myths – expects that finds they escaped the fire and lived The widely-publicised be conserved and stored by from the Glenrowan dig will out their lives as drovers in dig, by Adam Ford of Dig Heritage Victoria. help give Australians a better Queensland,’ he says. International Pty Ltd and Professor Murray says understanding of themselves, Mr McDermott has also Professor Tim Murray, Head of the dig is as much about through differentiating truth studied closely Ned Kelly’s the University’s Archaeology Jerilderie Letter and published Program, was carried out in a book on the subject. He says May for the Rural City of the events at Glenrowan reveal Wangaratta. a man ‘pushed by two years of The archaeologists outlawry to an extreme edge, excavated by hand the most shown by the attempt to derail significant sites from the 1880 an entire police train, and the Glenrowan Siege, including the elaborate yet impracticable Ann Jones Inn, where police a r mou r’. and the Kelly gang faced off in ‘When the plan went wrong a ten-hour shoot-out, looking and the train was forewarned, for burnt or buried relics and Kelly refused to turn back. other artefacts. Confrontation ensued, and we Although tourists are now have the chance of taking believed to have scavenged any apart – piece by piece – the likely surface artefacts, a bullet re-examining the drama and from legend in critical events moment to moment realities of cartridge case believed to date historiography of Australia’s of history. that event.’ from the time of the siege had Ned Kelly story as it is about The Glenrowan dig follows been found previously – and the archaeology. Mystery and efforts by Melbourne forensic remnants of bullets were ‘What we’re really speculation scientists to identify remains dug up on the first day of the pursuing is new information recovered from a mass grave ‘If we find out irrevocably at the former Pentridge Gaol month-long excavation. about the place that can what happened to Steve Hart With the help of local be integrated with more to establish the hanged bush- and Dan Kelly, for instance – ranger’s final resting place. volunteers, the team used state- traditional historical sources and there’s been a shroud of • of-the-art technology including to enhance our understanding

the people of the and Shepparton grow,’ said Goulburn Valley. Professor Johnson. Plans for He said La Trobe Mayor Eric Bott said: ‘It is would contribute fantastic to see La Trobe shares two million dollars our vision. Council has a Goulburn to Federal and State long-term strategy for tertiary funds for a new education in Shepparton and Valley campus building. the University’s presence in maximise higher education ‘There are many our city is a major part of that.’ unveiled opportunities, enrolments more important elements to He said it would help bring the development of Shepparton people into the area and keep Vice-Chancellor and research prospects in Shepparton. as a learning city, and these young people in the country by Paul Johnson and Greater all have “partnership” providing more extensive study Shepparton City Council Professor Johnson said the as their bedrock – and I options locally. Mayor Eric Bott have signed a move was an important step look forward to seeing the • memorandum of understanding towards establishing better partnership between La Trobe for both organisations to access to higher education for

12 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 12 3/6/08 10:02:50 AM people Widely quoted, top economist joins La Trobe rofessor Don Harding has equilibrium model of an entire economy where he managed won an award for having the most with direct policy applications – was the Consumer Pcitations for economics research developed at La Trobe. Sentiment in Australia, reflecting the impact and Professor Harding says the breadth Survey for influence of his work. of the Department’s research and policy eight years. The recognition – part of the latest interests is one of its great strengths He uses Thompson Scientific Citation Awards and makes it a very attractive working survey Professor Harding presented at the National Press Club in environment for applied economists. data to Canberra in April – places Professor A graduate from Yale in 2003, study issues where data from official Harding in the top ten ‘most cited’ Professor Harding came to La Trobe from sources is unavailable or inadequate. This researchers in Australia. the University of Melbourne. Before that includes areas as diverse as the effect of Thompson Scientific is one of the he was a senior research fellow at the petrol prices on consumer spending, the world largest publishers of academic Melbourne Institute and Director of its effects of unfair dismissal laws and the research. Each year it measures the Centre for Business Cycle Research. effects of minimum wages. number of times a researcher is cited, Prior to becoming an academic, The most notable example of or quoted, by peers in the pages of its Professor Harding gained policy his innovative use of survey data in journals. According to this data Australia experience as head of policy research macroeconomic analysis and policy is ranks among the top ten nations for the in the Australian Treasury, the Industry the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute influence of its scientific papers. Assistance Commission (now Productivity Inflation Gauge which he jointly created Professor Harding’s five research Commission) and the Australian Bureau with Stephen Koukoulas of TD Securities papers were cited sixty-four times, with of Statistics. and Dr Lei Lei Song of the Melbourne 12.8 citations per paper, making him the His main research interests are Institute. leader in his field of economics. in macroeconomics and applied ‘This seeks to fill the gap that occurs A regular commentator on economic econometrics, with a strong because the ABS produces quarterly issues, Professor Harding is co-creator focus on the business cycle. measures of inflation only. The Inflation of a widely-used monthly measure of Professor Harding is a fellow of the Gauge provides a monthly measure Australian inflation. He joined La Trobe European Area Business Cycle Network of consumer price inflation using an earlier this year, further boosting and, with Professor Heather Anderson, a innovative web-based survey of prices,’ the capacities of the Department of director of the macro-econometric models he says. Economics and Finance and its already and methods program in the Centre for The Gauge also provides data-based internationally renowned group of Applied Macroeconomic Analysis. forecasts of ABS inflation which are research staff. Much of his work investigating the available eight weeks in advance of the Founded forty years ago, the measurement and analysis of business ABS measure. Over the past five years, Department has a broad range of cycles has been concerned with how to these have had an average error of one strengths, including macroeconomics, provide turning-point-based measures of thousandth of one per cent and a standard microeconomics, economic modelling, the cycle with an econometric foundation. deviation of thirty hundredths of one economic methodology, economic He has applied this econometric per cent. Because of its accuracy and policy, development, and agricultural framework to test various explanations of timeliness, the Inflation Gauge is closely and resource economics. Its research the business cycle. watched by the finance sector and policy has gained international prominence and Professor Harding has considerable makers. helped build a strong reputation for the experience with survey techniques, gained • University. For example, the ORANI at the Australian Bureau of Statistics model – the first computable general (ABS) and at the Melbourne Institute

global push for Sustainable business education La Trobe University The University’s Graduate those that have endorsed the Dr Manuel Escudero, is one of the first two School of Management has principles – were announced head of academic initiatives universities in Australia agreed to a set of principles in New York in April. UN at the UN Global Compact, – and among 100 world- for responsible management Secretary-General Ban stressed that from this base of wide – that has responded education unveiled by Ki-moon said the principles 100 institutions, the plan was to a United Nations backed scholars and leading had ‘the capacity to take the ‘to scale and truly embed the global initiative promoting academic organisation at last case for universal values and sustainability agenda in the corporate responsibility and year’s UN Global Compact business into classrooms on training of future business sustainability in business Leaders Summit. The list of every continent.’ leaders’. education. participating universities – Continued next page La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 13

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Continued from page13 Sustainable business education FORGET ME NOT Dean of Law and Management, Professor Raymond Harbridge, said Keeping memory in good order the principles were designed as a framework to improve Baby boomers like have trouble remembering the intent of tasks. curricula and research on names. They also forget to ‘This needs to be issues of corporate citizenship new challenges so carry out planned activities. elaborated in our minds,’ Dr and sustainability, but were they are unlikely These lapses occur even Kinsella says. ‘It helps to add not a substitute for existing to accept any risk though their fund of more information about the accreditation and quality knowledge about the world task to be remembered and to assurance systems. of weakening in remains robust. associate the task with other He said the initiative gives memory as they age. ‘A lot of people are features of the environment academic institutions which fiercely independent and they such as locality. These act as La Trobe psychologist, have become signatories the don’t want to relinquish their additional prompts. We hope Associate Professor Glynda opportunity to help define position in the social structure that the specifics of forgotten Kinsella does not have a cure and implement the principles by delegating memory tasks to tasks are captured in a cascade for memory decline, but she in preparation for the Global others in their work or home of memories. is optimistic that a training Forum of Responsible Manage- group,’ says the psychologist. ‘If the task is very specific program could at least keep ment Education to be held at ‘People very often do then we need to strengthen UN Headquarters in New York ageing memories well- in December. Dr Suzanne serviced. Young, from the Graduate Two memory functions School of Management, will be that are vulnerable to age attending the meeting in New are the abilities to learn York as a member of three new tasks and to retrieve working parties. information swiftly. Any Apart from curriculum difficulties in these areas are development for corporate often compensated by other responsibility and research cognitive skills yet many into sustainable management people become concerned. Some people, she says, pride systems, Professor Harbridge the themselves on their memories, said the initiative focused memory, to particularly their ability on public advocacy and encode it by to remember names. They opinion leadership to rehearsing it might play key social roles advance responsible business at longer and such as secretary of a club practices. La Trobe – which longer intervals. or personal assistant in a is also a member of the Repetition is business. Globally Responsible Leaders not as effective ‘The frequency of the Initiative, linked to the UN as reworking memory lapses can become Global Compact Leaders the memory at particularly challenging for Summit – has a strong intervals.’ them,’ she says. emphasis on teaching led People can Dr Kinsella is part of a by the Faculty’s extensive have memory team with an NH&MRC grant multi-disciplinary research in want to keep on top of dealing issues at all ages, Professor to investigate if memory can corporate sustainability and with the tough tasks such as Kinsella says. Lapses can be be improved with training. responsibility (CSR). managing financial affairs or affected by anxiety, illness, They hope the training will For example, the Graduate moving house.’ stress and a host of other also guard against further School of Management has The memory training physical factors. It’s just that decay into dementia. been running a unit in CSR begins with a discussion the wear and tear of age is of The study will be the first as part of both its Master of about general strategies such particular concern to baby that focuses on improving International Business and as organisation, the role of boomers about to enter their memory in everyday life MBA programs since 2005 and prompts and cues and paying sixties. situations rather than on tests. is embarking on a new, broader attention in busy environments. Training will be held It will ask people to remember program on CSR for 2009. It then moves on to deal weekly over six weeks and tasks rather than lists of words. The School of Business is also more directly with particular comparisons made between Many people, for example, finalising new undergraduate memory issues by focusing on those who are reporting sustainability units. • memory problems and those who are not. • 14 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 14 3/6/08 10:02:53 AM viewpoint

and you’re concerned about adjustment, you redistribute the wealth, and not the resource.’ Dr Crase says while the Victorian Government’s north-south pipeline is creating a lot of controversy, he thinks it is a great idea. ‘But the government is pacifying country voters by saying “we’re going to rejuvenate your irrigation district” to help offset this. I think that’s nonsense. Investing a lot of money in infrastructure support is not going to count for much if you have Australia’s thirty per cent less streamflow. values ‘We have a national water plan which relating to the was cobbled together by the former exploitation Howard government at the last minute, of water without the gaze of Treasury, and to many resources. people it’s a significant waste of public ‘Historically money. We’re spending three billion Australians dollars to buy back entitlements and seven thought it a billion dollars on infrastructure. noble thing to ‘So we need to be careful. We are allocate water spending a lot of public money to line to agriculture, to channels or even worse, to actually relocate people underpin and subsidise investments by inland and develop The farmers in their farms, which ultimately an irrigation sector,’ he says. they’ll appropriate when they sell their ‘We think that “high-value” agriculture farms. is fruit trees and grape vines. That may ‘So this is money that is being spent to great be the case now, but what is it going to create quite spurious water savings. I think be like in an era of climate change when it’s not a very wise use of public money.’ we have thirty percent less stream flow? Dr Crase says until the 1980s, the water Vines or trees that need water every year engineer was ‘king’ and policymakers face the real prospect of not having any viewed water as an endless resource for water some years. driving economic growth, but over the debate ‘I’d suggest high-value agriculture is last twenty years, policymakers have more likely to be a system that you can been forced to acknowledge that it is not turn off in a really dry year, sell the water possible to perpetually supply more water When Australian to places like Melbourne, and then in a at a low cost. wet year turn the agriculture back on.’ agricultural values Dr Crase says structural adjustment is Water policy in Australia: The impact of a fact of life. Resources will never stay the change and uncertainty is published by can be a pain in same year in year out. RFF (Resources for the Future) Press, ‘Water is a resource – and if you think based in Washington DC, part of a series the environment about it in those terms it’s going to move on water resource policy edited by Dr around; some industries will contract Ariel Dinar of the World Bank. Severe water restrictions are being and others will expand. That’s how a The book provides insight into the imposed on our communities because vibrant economy is supposed to respond to challenges of institutional change, as well we haven’t come to grips with how we change.’ as lessons on the design of property rights reallocate water away from agriculture, People will protest, he concedes, but for complex resources. It looks beyond says La Trobe economist Dr Lin Crase. often the most vocal are those involved in recent reform, and examines hydrological, Dr Crase, Head of the University’s agriculture who have something to lose. biophysical, economic and social Albury-Wodonga campus, is the editor and ‘The farmer who’s really struggling, factors as well as specific issues, such as major contributor to a new book, Water who wants to get out and sell his water irrigation in the Murray-Darling Basin. policy in Australia: The impact of change rights and get the best price he can, is and uncertainty. obviously a clear contender for selling. Dr Crase discusses the book, and Following a decade researching the What the protesters are really advocating his views on water policy, in an online implications of different water property is to lock that person into poverty. interview, www.latrobe.edu.au/news • rights and commenting on the economic ‘To me a rational policy response implications of water policy, Dr Crase is to help the market better allocate the argues the environment can no longer resource and then, if that generates wealth

La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008 15

84154 Bulletin May08 v5b.indd 15 3/6/08 10:02:54 AM Photo: Emma Snowsill, © Eyes Wide Open Images

He says the triathlon team has a few good medal chances. In events scheduled for 18 and 19 August, Emma Snowsill is one of the gold medal favourites for the women. She won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and has been world champion three times. ‘She’s a world-class athlete,’ says the physiotherapist. ‘She’s had a great injury- free run.’ Brad Kahlefeldt was also a gold medallist in Melbourne. He came third in the world championships and is also a medal favourite for Beijing. ‘If we don’t get a medal the team will be disappointed.’ Mr Alexander runs La Trobe’s popular Master of Sports Physiotherapy program, most of which is done off-campus in clinical placements to suit busy professionals. One of his ex-students is a physio with the English Olympic team while others work for the AFL and have followed him into the Australian Olympic team. ‘My main roles are injury prevention and performance enhancement,’ he says. ‘If an athlete sprains an ankle I treat it and try and prevent further injury. Unless it is treated properly the athlete won’t perform at a high level.’ A sprained ankle may mean just one or two days off training with proper care. A stress fracture is more serious. ‘One of our athletes got a stress fracture and they’re out for three months. We performed our role but sometimes it comes down to training decisions made by the coach and athlete.’ Mr Alexander likens an Olympic performer to a thoroughbred. ‘You are treading a tight line between hard training and tipping over the edge into injury.’ Keeping Olympic A triathlete must swim 1.5 kilometres, ride 40 kilometres and run 10 kilometres. This takes women about two hours and men an hour and fifty minutes. triathletes in top form ‘Athletes of this calibre are a different breed of people,’ he says. ‘Their specific psychology allows them to get to this level For the past eighteen physio to the team, he has so far kept all six members free of major injuries during their and sustain it. They are very dedicated, over- months La Trobe University pre-Games training. achieving, persevering and sometimes can sports physiotherapist An injury, according to the coach’s be obsessive and self-driven.’ Mr Alexander comes out of the Mark Alexander has been blueprint for the team, is a ‘muscular or skeletal symptom’ that puts the contestant competitive sports tradition himself. He ran helping boost the gold out of training for one to two weeks or more. in track events at State level as a teenager medal chances of Australia’s Mr Alexander’s role is to ensure minor and wanted to be an Olympic athlete, but came up against what he calls his ‘genetic Olympic triathlon team – weaknesses are rectified with massage, manipulation, acupuncture and exercise. limitations’. and prevent injuries to team For training camps, Mr Alexander Now, instead of pushing his own sports members. assesses all athletes from head to toe and career, he is keen to put his expertise to good puts programs in place to deal with such use, not just for top athletes but for the public Mr Alexander, a lecturer in things as tight muscles, stiff backs and as well. He is writing a book on back pain for physiotherapy, heads to Beijing stiff joints. the general public – an ailment that affects with the team in August. As sports ninety per cent of people. • 16 La Trobe University BULLETIN May June 2008

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