University of Wollongong Community Connections University of Wollongong Special Supplement November 2010

Spotlight on Volunteers

Celebrating Tim Gray Habitat for Humanity “After we built the house in Nepal we had a house Volunteers dedication ceremony. The whole village turned out - a truly awesome and amazing community event.” Community contributes to Sharyn MacKenzie UOW’s Success SCARF “I feel joy and By Kate McIlwain privilege at Hundreds of community volunteers contribute being able to to many important aspects of campus life at the make a positivee University of Wollongong each year. contribution to the resettlement of African refugee families They range from the volunteer “patients” who help in the Illawarra.” UOW medical students develop their diagnostic skills to people who serve on administrative boards and committees, bringing their outside skills and Sally experience to the University. Stevenson Other volunteers work with students on their Indigo resumes and job interviews to prepare them to enter Foundation the workforce through the Career Ahead mentoring program, while the University also enjoys a high level “Whenever of consultation with Indigenous elders. I see photos of the young These are just a few examples of the ways in which UOW Chancellor Ms Jillian Broadbent (centre) with Award recipients (left - right) Murray Reid, Hazara girls of volunteers contribute to UOW. So while the annual Susan Young, Estrella McKinnon and Mike Archer. Central Afghanistan in a classroom with books Chancellor’s Awards in October recognised the and teachers, I know what we are doing is efforts of four individual volunteers who received the worth every ounce of effort we put in.” 2010 awards, the emphasis was on celebrating and Chancellor’s Awards thanking the hundreds of volunteers who contribute to UOW in so many ways. recipients Sue Chancellor Jillian Broadbent hosted the Celebrating Maidman Volunteers event to recognise voluntary service Illawarra by community members and graduates of the Murray Reid is a founding director of the Susan Young is a bilateral cochlear recipient Cancer University. Awards were given in two categories – University Recreation and Aquatic Centre who started a Cochlear Implant Support Carers voluntary contribution to the University and voluntary (URAC). A Chartered Accountant, he has Group in the Illawarra in 2008. The network “The best contribution to the community. contributed expert fi nancial advice and time for has now grown into the Cochlear Implant countless meetings, awards nights and various Club and Advisory Association and Susan thing is when Murray Reid and Mike Archer received the two formal and informal discussions since 1998. continues to manage this branch and also someone University awards and Susan Young and Estrella contributes at a state level. comes out of the clinic and tells me they don’t McKinnon won awards for their contribution to the Mike Archer has been a member of a number have to see the doctor for 12 months – I feel community. of community committees that have helped Estrella McKinnon’s voluntary work in the as happy as they do.” broaden community representation and Illawarra community has spanned a 30-year Speaking at the ceremony Ms Broadbent said community input on new University proposals period, where she has worked as a Justice of community involvement was a key part of the and developments. The Public Affairs Manager the Peace available to the migrant community University’s strategic plan into the future. Paul Wand at BlueScope Steel has also participated in and as a consultant to various multicultural Woolyungah “For example, we’ve had 140 volunteer patients and working groups to address strategic issues, and women’s groups. She has helped Indigenous that component of volunteers from the community is including the development of the University’s promote justice and equity for the migrant Centre an important part of teaching those young doctors to Community Engagement Strategic Plans from community by advising on services, legal have experience in the medical profession,” 2008 though to 2013. rights and activities to generate income. “There is an she said. obvious gap in circumstances Ms Broadbent also said the University deeply valued between its partnerships in the community. Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said strong “This is about honouring the link between our Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. “There were a large number of nominees for the community backing is one of UOW’s key strengths. city and our region and our volunteers. I feel I feel positive when I am able to work in awards and according to the panel they were of a “What a wonderful set of stories that you can multiply honoured to be Vice-Chancellor of a university addressing this disadvantage.” very high quality, so I want to congratulate all those by pretty much anyone in this room,” he said of the that has so many people who are making this who were nominated,” she said. winners’ citations read out at the ceremony. contribution.” Aunty Kate Davis South Coastt Women’s This is about honouring the Health and Welfare link between our city and our Aboriginal Corporation region and our volunteers. “I have strength and faith for myself and – Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton others. It’s not about what I do, it’s who I am.” UOW Community Connections Grant Projects

GRANT RECIPIENT PROJECT PROJECT

Professor Sandra Jones, An educational resource for peers of students with Autism Centre for Health Initiatives Spectrum Disorders Community Partners: This research project seeks to increase the awareness and Dapto High School, Wollongong understanding between secondary school students and their High School peers with autism spectrum disorders. It will also develop strategies for teachers and support workers to facilitate social interaction between these students.

Professor Lori Lockyer, AIME – Connecting to Success Faculty of Education This project aims to ensure that transport arrangements for Community Partners: Indigenous students and mentors involved in the Australian AIME Wollongong, Careways Indigenous Mentoring Experience Wollongong project continue. Community, participating It will also develop a better model for the transport network that schools in the AIME will allow for reduced fi nancial load on partnering schools. Wollongong Project

Dr Sue Duchesne, Faculty of Opening doors between families and schools Education, Bega Education This project seeks to open doors between families and schools SCARF volunteers Sarah Chisholm and Ingrid Errington with GreenCONNECT refugee participants Laurent Centre in Eden by identifying parental beliefs, aspirations and practices and Tee Bu. Community Partners: Eden of the local community about their involvement in children’s Public School, Eden Preschool, education in the various stages of school. Eden Childcare Centre, Eden The project will help develop a range of strategies to engage Marine High School, Eden families in their children’s education, leading to improved Community grants Land Council educational outcomes for students.

Professor Will Price, Faculty Illawarra Science on Show – enriching community help refugees of Science understanding of science in the Illawarra region Community Partners: Illawarra This project will improve access to the research and teaching Science Teachers Association, resources of the University’s Faculty of Science. The project Wollongong Science Centre team will create a tailored collection of materials and education gain job skills resources. This project will increase the accessibility of resources like the Howard Worner Collection and the planned By Kate McIlwain Hobbit and Climate Change, Geode and Fossils exhibits. The University of Wollongong’s latest round of one of the successful applicants. Community Engagement Grants are designed to Dr Karen Walton and Improving the nutritional status of clients of Meals on Wheels Led by UOW Faculty of Science student Ingrid Associate Professor Karen services have far-reaching consequences – from helping Errington who volunteers at Strategic Community Charlton, School of Health Illawarra refugees gain key employment skills to Assistance to Refugee Families (SCARF), This project will provide information on the nutritional status of Sciences boosting nutrition in Meals on Wheels and reducing GreenCONNECT will help Illawarra refugees to gain homebound clients of Meals on Wheels services in the Illawarra the risk of cancer in people with disabilities. important job skills through an ongoing recycling and identify ways the service can be improved to better target Community Partners: Northern program at festivals like the Illawarra Folk Festival Illawarra Meals those older adults most at risk of malnutrition in the community. The Community Engagement Grants Scheme (CEGS) has provided over $50,000 in 2010 to fund and Viva La Gong. on Wheels It will also develop and evaluate the introduction of a ‘snack seven diverse projects – each a partnership between Started by SCARF earlier this year, it aims to pack’ program and nutritional screening resources pack. University staff or students and community partners provide refugees who have been removed from with a clear community benefi t. the labour market with a bridge back to work by Dr Elias Kyriazis, Dr Alan Reducing the incidence of cancer in people with mild improving employability. Pomering and Heather intellectual disabilities by providing information and resources “This is a fantastic example of the University being Marciano Centre for Research for early detection and cancer prevention really engaged with the local community,” said UOW’s grant funding will help GreenCONNECT to in Socially Responsible organiser Leanne Crouch, who is UOW’s Community pay the wages and continue the recycling programs This project will develop a guide for people with mild intellectual Marketing Engagement Manager. that have already proved a success. disabilities, learning diffi culties or low literary skills to learn how Community Partners: Cancer to participate in skin cancer checks, bowel, breast and cervical “We’re working together on actual issues and needs The program provides experience in Australian Council NSW, Disability Trust, cancer screening. of the community.” workplace conditions, training in fi rst aid and occupational health and safety, and the chance to NSW Council for Intellectual It will develop communication resources promoting Cancer UOW established CEGS in 2005 to encourage and Disabilities, Department of Council information and an introductory guide for organisations support community engagement projects, and practise English skills on the job. Human Services, Greenacres, who want to provide information that meets the needs of the since then more than $250,000 has been awarded It also helps to reduce the waste produced at Illawarra Forum disability sector and broader community. to 34 projects. different festivals around the Illawarra. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Rob “At the beginning of the year we had a team of 24 Ingrid Errington, Faculty of greenCONNECT Castle said it hadn’t been an easy task to decide this from the refugee community around Wollongong Science This project supports the development of the GreenCONNECT year’s seven recipients because of the quality of the that helped sort the recycling at the Illawarra Folk Community Partner: Strategic recycling team. See main story for further details. 27 applications. He said the seven projects chosen Festival,” Ms Errington said. represented diverse community causes and were Community Assistance to “That was a massive success – only eight per cent very worthy of being funded. Refugee Families (SCARF) (of the rubbish) went to landfi ll. So we thought that The GreenCONNECT recycling team (pictured) was we could turn that into a more ongoing project.”

The University of Wollongong has had its position as one of the top two per cent of universities in the world confirmed by its performance in three prestigious international rankings: QS World University Rankings 2010 Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities 2010 TOP 2% IN THE WORLD Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010 These rankings provide a comprehensive assessment of universities across a range of criteria, including research excellence, employer reviews and degree quality. www.uow.edu.au/about/awards

UOW CRICOS: 00102E UOW Community Connections

Broadcast Journalism High achievers inspire students lecturer and Master of Arts By Kate McIlwain & Bernie Goldie candidate. A rugby league star and a 22-year-old woman who started a construction business that now operates Shawn Burns is no across Australia and China helped to motivate a stranger to working group of high school students taking part in the closely with the University of Wollongong’s young leaders forum. community. Before his academic life, Over the last few months UOW has been inspiring he was the State young people from 150 schools in the Illawarra and STAFF News Director at surrounding regions to become the community PROFILE WIN Television in leaders of the next generation through the Elevate Wollongong and Young Leaders Forum. Shawn a media advisor The program runs over four leadership development Burns to a local federal days at UOW, with the fi nal event to be held on politician. Thursday 25 November. “My background has always been local Over the four days, students media, whether its been in the Illawarra were encouraged to gain new working with WIN Television, or in any other experiences and learn new area, I’ve worked in local media,” he said. skills that would help them to Above: Students hard at work making paper bags in their urban slum family at the Elevate “So I stay connected with our community adapt and lead in any situation. Young Leaders Forum. Left: St George Illawarra Dragons player Ben Creagh spoke about because I interact with and monitor local Activities included experiencing his leadership experience. media very closely.” life in an urban slum made out of cardboard boxes, and learning footballers coming through eventually end and they need to be equipped for life Shawn’s community connections have about the African principle of the ranks. outside football. infl uenced how he teaches and prepares his Ubuntu which is a humanitarian students for the world of television journalism. One of the ways he has shown Carly, who is also a commerce student, spoke about concept that focuses on the leadership is by combining her experience starting a multinational construction “When you’re dealing with young journalists, connections and openness his professional football career business at 18. I think it’s important that they have a good, between people. with a part-time Bachelor of Buying a tower crane is not high on most teenagers’ clear understanding of the community in At the latest Elevate session, the Commerce at UOW – where he is agenda, but after receiving an inheritance from her which they live,” he said. students heard from young leaders who are an ambassador for the Dragons and UOW’s formal mother and being guided by her uncle who worked This year, the University launched UOWtv already succeeding – St George Illawarra Dragons partnership. in construction, Carly did just that and is now a to broadcast video content online and on player Ben Creagh and 22-year-old entrepreneur Ben was one of the fi rst Dragons players to combine director of her own multi-million dollar company. screens across campus. As part of his Carly Garard. football with study, and has encouraged a number Carly said her mother had been the cornerstone of teaching, Shawn instructed journalism Through a question and answer format at the forum, of younger players to do the same, because the everything she did and she hoped her mother would students on how to work as reporters, camera Ben said he tried to lead by example with younger “football bubble” he and other players live in will be proud of what she has achieved. operators, editors and chiefs of staff to produce weekly news bulletins and feature stories for assessment and to be broadcast on UOWtv. “This is just one way the students and UOW Giving in the spotlight lecturers in the School of Journalism and Creative Writing interact with the community,” By Rachel Dyer and Oxfam’s youth engagement programs. he said. A new lecture series held at the University of The fi nal lecture for the year was presented by “Our radio, print and television students Wollongong throughout 2010 highlighted some of the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Monica go out and provide an extra avenue for the ways UOW’s staff giving program is helping the Richter, and looked at how cities can become more people within the wider community and the community. liveable and sustainable. University to tell their stories and have their Free lunchtime talks called Speaker Spotlight Ms Richter outlined ACF’s stance on issues like voices heard,” he said. Sessions gave staff, students and the community better designed homes, workplaces and cities, Shawn also hopes to impact on the way the chance to hear about the charities supported greater investment in public and active transport, journalists interact with the community by UOW Cares – a workplace giving program which and responses to looming global oil shortages. through his research, which looks at the encourages staff to make regular donations through Ms Crouch said the lecture series was designed to media’s representation of people with the University pay system. raise the profi le of UOW Cares and encourage more disabilities. Community Engagement Manager Leanne Crouch staff to donate. “If there is one thing I could get through to said the lecture series demonstrated how far UOW “UOW Cares provides the charities that we support my journalism students it would be that staff donations go to help the community. with a steady stream of income and better allocation disability is not something people are, it’s “The series included lectures from representatives of funds, due to reduced costs associated with something they have. People aren’t defi ned from four of the program’s charities, speaking on fundraising. And there are no administration fees, by it,” he said. topical issues,” she said. meaning that all of the money donated goes directly “The challenge for journalists is to represent to the charities,” Ms Crouch said. In the fi rst lecture of the series Indigo Foundation people with disability in a fair, honest and chairperson Sally Stevenson spoke about Indigo’s Last year the total funds donated by staff through equal way – not just as a hero or a tragedy, success building and developing schools for young UOW Cares reached $100,000. because there is so much in between.” girls in Afghanistan. – Kate McIlwain Monica Richter from the Australian Conservation For more information about UOW Cares go to: Foundation presented the fi nal lecture of the The second lecture focused on the UOW Equity www.uow.edu.au/about/community/giving/ or contact Speaker Spotlight Sessions. Fund that provides scholarships for students in need Leanne Crouch on 4221 3110.

2010 marks the 11th consecutive year that the University of Wollongong has scored five stars in the categories of Getting a Job and Positive Graduate Outcomes. This demonstrates that UOW is a place where students not only get a five-star education, but a five-star ELEVEN YEARS OF chance of gaining a job at the end of their degree. (2011 Good Universities Guide – Universities & Private Colleges) GRADUATE SUCCESS www.uow.edu.au/about/awards

UOW CRICOS: 00102E UOW Community Connections Events Calender A very special gift Upcoming Events at UOW SPORT By Kate McIlwain 14 November, 2-4pm The University of Wollongong held a Ceremony of Appreciation last week for those who are perhaps Yoga Aid Challenge the University’s ultimate volunteers. This global event will challenge participants to The ceremony celebrated the generosity of people complete 108 Sun Salutes during a two-hour who have donated their bodies to UOW for giant yoga class and will raise funds for The medical and science research through the Body Nelune Foundation and Barnardos. Donation Program. Since the start of the program in 2006, the program Starts 16 November has received 77 donations and more than 500 people from the community have pledged to donate Adult Learn to Swim their body in the future. It’s never too late to join an adult swim class with AUSTSWIM qualifi ed instructors. The simple but moving Ceremony of Appreciation Contact 4221 4194 was a chance for donors families, and future donors to refl ect on the importance of their gift. Speaking at the ceremony, program coordinator Dr 4-21 January, 9am-5pm Darryl McAndrew told guests that donors had given Kidz Sportz Camps the “ultimate gift”. Children can participate in active sport days with “Today is about a celebration of the generosity indoor and outdoor facilities. Flexible booking of community members who are here giving the options, located at the URAC Sports Hub. ultimate gift.” Contact: 4221 8133. “You are making a difference to the education of the All sport events located at the University next generation of doctors and health practitioners,” Recreation and Aquatic Centre, www.urac.com.au he told the audience. Above: Health sciences student William Body chats with guests about the importance of the Body Donation Program. Below: Body Donation Program coordinator Dr Darryl McAndrew and Graduate School of Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said that ARTS although the ceremony was brief and simple, it Medicine receptionist Ruth Morris mingle with guests at the ceremony. marked a gift of great importance. Until 12 November, Digital Media Centre, UOW Innovation Campus. “When our future doctors and health scientists William Body, an honours student in the School of go out into the real world, they have to be able to Health Sciences, spoke to guests about how the FiveFourThreeTwoOne Designers program had made a huge difference to students’ work with real bodies. There is no better training Final works by Master of Creative Arts understanding of the human body. for this than the Body Donation Program provides,” candidates Kate Francis, Jolie Nichols, Sarah Professor Sutton said. He said he was studying with students who Eccles and Tawatchai Salangsingha. He said it was vital for medical and health sciences would one day become physiotherapists, medical students to be able to train for their future careers physicists, nutritionists, radiographers, health Until 12 November, FCA Gallery, Creative Arts by studying human tissue, rather than materials teachers and allied health practitioners – who would Building, Building 25 manufactured to resemble parts of the human body. all use their knowledge studying in anatomy classes to be better health professionals. Professor Sutton also assured the guests at the Lolita Hamilton and Eva Hampel ceremony that the University had protocols to “Thanks to the Body Donation Program these Final works by Master of Creative Arts ensure every body donated was treated with the students will be able to give a better value of care to candidates. utmost dignity and respect. their patients,” William said. Opening 26 November, galleries throughout Creative Arts Building, Building 25. Belljar – School of Art and Design First medical graduates Graduation Show By Kate McIlwain This exhibition will include painting, sculpture, The 2010 summer graduation ceremonies will attendance to welcome the same group of textiles, printmaking, design, photography, motion mark an important milestone for the University of students when they started their degree in 2007. graphics, animation, web design, advertising, Wollongong when the fi rst group of Graduate School magazine publication and installation. In the last four years, hundreds of volunteer of Medicine students join the ranks of UOW Alumni. patients, community groups and forums and For more information on these events see Around 65 students will be the fi rst to hold a rural health placements throughout NSW have www.uow.edu.au/crearts/sad/fca Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery played an integral part in the Graduate School of (MBBS) from UOW. Medicine’s success. GRADUATION The ceremony will be held on December 13, and The University of Wollongong would like to thank 13-17 December, University Hall Volunteer patient Liz Hilton gets a check-up from Her Excellency NSW Governor Marie Bashir will be the Illawarra community for their ongoing support a student at the Graduate School of Medicine. addressing the students. Professor Bashir was in of our future doctors and medical practitioners. Summer Graduation Ceremonies Thousands of new graduates, including the fi rst graduation class from the Graduate School of Medicine, will celebrate their achievement and We hope you have enjoyed this special supplement highlighting aspects of community engagement the University of Wollongong shares with the Illawarra region. the end of their studies with their families.

A postgraduate qualification from the University of Wollongong enhances your undergraduate qualification to make you stand out from the crowd. Applications for BE THE STAND OUT courses commencing in 2011 are still open. Contact UniAdvice for more information on IN YOUR CROWD 1300 367 869 or [email protected]

UOW CRICOS: 00102E