UOW 322 Supplement 5/9/08 3:31 PM Page 1 Community Connections University of Wollongong - Special Supplement - September 2008 Connecting UOW with our schools 400 take up Challenge More than 400 high school students all girls’ schools competing – Wollongong’s St Mary from around the Illawarra took part in this year’s Star of the Sea and Frensham from Mittagong. High School Challenge at the University of “We need to address the critical shortage of Wollongong. scientists and engineers in Australia and events like This collaborative event is now in its second this Challenge will help boost numbers emerging year and is held to encourage more students to from schools into these fields,” Professor Fazel study the critical areas of science and maths. Naghdy said. For the Challenge, schools from the Illawarra, UOW’s Faculties of Informatics, Engineering and Southern Sydney, the Shoalhaven and the Science assisted in running the challenge. The Southern Highlands competed in maths and Rotary Club of Wollongong and UOW provided science events over two days, with one winner volunteer supervisors and the Challenge is run in each day. Day one saw Bowral High School conjunction with Engineers Australia and the score the highest total of points against seven University of Newcastle. other schools to claim victory and day two’s For the competition, students are allocated one winner was Keira High School. or two tasks and assessed on how well they Illawarra and South East Challenge complete these tasks and compete with students Co-ordinating Committee chair Professor Fazel from other schools. The challenges this year “The hands-on competitive nature of the Solutions and Technology, Tyree Industries, Naghdy said that the Challenge was a lot of fun included building and flying an airship, solving a Challenge allows students to experience the BlueScope Steel and the Roads and for the students who participated and provided mystery maze and building a chair for a three creative side of science and engineering in a fun Traffic Authority. them with an insight into the working world of kilogram doll. atmosphere. It is aimed mainly at Year 10 Winning smiles – Keira High School’s team science and engineering. Coordinator Dr Zengxi (Stephen) Pan said that students but schools are welcome to include celebrates after winning this year’s High In a field traditionally dominated by males, the Challenge represented a unique opportunity for younger children to make up teams. Schools Challenge at the University of organisers were particularly pleased to see two young people in our community. The Challenge is sponsored by CSC GIS Global Wollongong. UOW’s UniConnections program is information about the Early Entry process, Workshop de-mystifies Law expanding into its third year in the Illawarra. The scholarships, support services offered by UOW By KATE McILWAIN program was developed to benefit students who and information about Woolyungah Indigenous experience regional, economic and or social Centre. disadvantage. Faculty of Law Dean Professor Luke It focuses on disadvantaged students attending McNamara says students who think studying Law schools in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, and has is out of their reach get the chance to find out two co-ordinators – one based on the main UOW more about the profession at these workshops. Wollongong campus and the other based at "The legal profession has traditionally been UOW’s Shoalhaven campus. associated with privilege. But, from the day that The program began at the Shoalhaven Campus we opened our doors to students in 1991, the in 2004, and has been in operation in the Illawarra UOW Faculty of Law has been committed to the since 2006. Illawarra Coordinator Lisa Hutton said principle of enhanced access to legal education,” the University had been working closely with Professor McNamara said. disadvantaged schools to develop both on campus “The workshop was designed to give high and off campus activities. school students a first hand look at what it might As part of the aim to improve education for be like to be a university student, exploring an students from disadvantaged backgrounds, interest in law and the role that it plays in our UniConnections has formed an Illawarra Interest societies. Some students will settle on the goal of Group, which is developing ideas for future earning a place in a Bachelor of Law degree. programs and activities that will help school Some might decide that law is not for them.” students achieve more. “Either way, the students who participate in Recently, the Faculty of Law hosted a workshop the workshop have had a chance to talk to Law Professor Luke McNamara pictured with two Law student volunteers from the that gave students the chance to observe a Law lecturers and Law students, and will be better UniConnections Law Workshop, Anthony Connor (centre) and Michael Butler. Lecture, meet with Faculty staff and ask questions placed to decide whether a university place is about studying Law at UOW. They received something they want to strive for." Do you have Mondayitis EVERY Monday? To find out more call 1300 367 869, email Do something about it. [email protected] or visit www.uow.edu.au A postgraduate qualification from UOW can open up a world of opportunities and point you in the direction of a job you love. Do something different in 2009; apply for Postgraduate study at UOW today. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG CRICOS: 00102E UOW 322 Supplement 5/9/08 3:31 PM Page 2 Community Connections - University of Wollongong - Special Supplement Community Engagement Grants A diverse group from the Illawarra community community benefit. will benefit from UOW’s 2008 Community The six winning recipients of this year’s Engagement grants. grants were announced at a ceremony on The grants are awarded for UOW projects September 5. The winners share in total that are collaborative - working with a funding of $50,000 administered by UOW’s community partner – and that have a clear Office of Community & Partnerships. Grant recipient Project Dr Sim Kim Lau – Faculty Supporting children with cerebral palsy - This project will address the of Informatics needs of children with cerebral palsy (CP) between the ages of four to Community Partners: 10. A DVD resource kit will be developed to help children with CP to Wollongong Hospital, South do home-based stretching exercise programs in a fun and engaging East Sydney Illawarra Area way. The DVDs will be distributed in the Illawarra and South Coast Health Service (SESIAH), region as well as through the SESIAH, and be made available to The Disability Trust children with CP Australia-wide through a project website. Pictured at the recent Southern Principals Council meeting at the Innovation Campus: (left to right) Andrew FitzSimmons – Dapto High, Steve Bouvet – Figtree High, Col Harris – Oak Flats High, Stephen Goodley – Warrawong Ms Debbie Langton – Young people and the impact of government fines - The project will High, Peter Jones – Kanahooka High, Mark Webster – Illawarra Senior College, Ron Heffernan – Corrimal High, Martin Faculty of Law look at how government fines affect young people. Research into fines, Arrowsmith – Woonona High, Dr Peter Bailey – Illawarra Sports High and Bruce Sander – Bulli High. Community Partner: mainly train fines, and how these impact on lives will look at current Illawarra Legal Centre law enforcement, debt recovery strategies and possible strategies that could reduce the number of fine-related court cases. Principals praise school, Ms Isabelle Potter, Graduate Establishing a representative community of patients in Volunteer School of Medicine, Faculty Patient Programs for medical education at the Graduate School of University connections of Health & Behavioural Medicine in Wollongong and Shoalhaven - This project will expand Sciences the Volunteer Patient Program at the Graduate School of Medicine. It By KATE McILWAIN Community Partners: aims to establish a community of patient volunteers that is reflective of Illawarra Women’s Health the cultural make-up of the local Illawarra and Shoalhaven Principals from the Illawarra region “Even though some of these programs Centre, ALCO – The Spanish communities. The project aims to improve both the relationship gathered at the University of Wollongong’s new are still in their infancy, the University is and Latin-American between the Graduate School of Medicine and the local multicultural Innovation Campus (iC) recently for their expanding them and making sure they fit Community Organisation communities, and the care offered by non-Indigenous Australian quarterly Southern Principals Council meeting. with our school’s needs,” he said. health professionals. Principals from Southern NSW, from the Mr Goodley also said that UOW was an Illawarra to the NSW/Victorian border, met to important player in helping schools to face Dr Ernie Blackmore, Blakwrite Symposium - This symposium will focus on creative discuss how the 41 schools in the region can new educational challenges. Woolyungah Indigenous development for Indigenous writers, publishers and editors located work together to share training and development “We’re about to embark on issues like the Centre throughout Australia. Held at Campus East, the Blakwrite Symposium between schools. school leaving age being raised, and to will include keynote addresses and workshops focusing on the topics Community Partner: UOW hosted the August event to highlight the address this we will certainly be looking of editing and publishing; poetry; prose; and scriptwriting.