GradLife

inside

WHITLAM PRIME MINISTERIAL COLLECTION Significant donations from veteran speechwriter Graham Freudenberg

YOUNG WOMEN OF THE WEST AWARD The story of Najeeba Wazefadost

CHANGING THE DYNAMICS Lindsay Charles’ engaging project with the Aboriginal community

CHARTING 25 YEARS A published history of UWS

GRADLIFE BENEFITS FOR ALUMNI

from one Prime Minister

to another VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 redefining the Labor character JUNE 2011 GradLife

CONTENTS

From one Prime Minister to another 4 Veteran speechwriter makes donation to Prime Ministerial Collection 6 Najeeba – a young woman of substance 7 Changing the dynamics 8 London calls sound researcher 10 Behind the camera 11 Charting 25 years of history 12 Opinion piece: who or what is feeding the public debate on racism? 14

UWS NEWS 15 • UWS graduate takes Archibald Prize 15 • Gail Jones rings up five bells 15 • UWS research scores highly in national era report 15 • UWS Chancellor installed 16 • Boost to Indigenous employment and engagement 17

GRADLIFE 18 UWS Alumni GradLife benefits 18 UWS Foundation match alumni gift 19

ALUMNI ONLINE 19 Alumni social networking online 19

Working towards a better future for western Sydney 20

Military history through one family’s eyes 22 Mark’s drive to improve 23 Accountants build numbers 24 Climbing the ladder to partner 25

RECENT EVENTS 26 • UWSLA annual occasional address 26 • UWS open forum: should Australia keep growing? Immigration & multiculturalism seminar 26 • CAN function – pay vs passion 27 • December and April graduation ceremonies 27 • Business Masters information evening 27

UPCOMING EVENTS 28

Keep in touch 28

GradLife, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751 Australia www.uws.edu.au/alumni Email: [email protected] Tel: 02 9678 7670

Design: iMedia and Design Services, UWS Office of Engagement and Partnerships.ALU2475 Editorial: Freya Purnell Alumni Relations: Robert Wendon, Rosemary Turner Alumni Enquiries: Rosemary Turner Tel: 02 9678 7668 Editorial Enquiries: Wayne Hickson Tel: 02 9678 7511 © Copyright 2011 No responsibility is accepted by the University, publisher or printer for the accuracy of the information contained in the magazine. Staying connected with friends, colleagues and business networks is an important part of the benefits of keeping in touch with your UWS Alumni Chapter.

It is exciting to see new graduates of the University reaching out, using the skills and talents they have developed at UWS, and making a real difference in their communities here and abroad.

In this issue of GradLife you will read the story of a courageous UWS graduate, asylum seeker and human rights advocate Najeeba Wazefadost, recently named Young Woman of the West.

Ed Husic, now the Federal Member for Chifley and the first UWS graduate to enter Federal Parliament, tells of his love for western Sydney and his plans for the region.

From the University of London, UWS graduate Sonia Wilkie speaks about her UWS experience at MARCS Auditory Laboratories, and how her studies here have helped establish her ground-breaking research as a PhD student at Queen Mary College.

You will also enjoy the story of Jet Wilkinson, who has made her mark in the Australian television industry as a Sydney-based producer and director since graduating from UWS, and also the story of UWS graduate and artist Ben Quilty who won this year’s prestigious Archibald Prize in Sydney.

GradLife provides a great opportunity to stay in touch with other successful UWS alumni and with recent events on campus and in alumni chapters.

Why not enjoy the range of alumni benefits offered free of charge through the UWS Alumni GradLife Benefits Scheme by simply registering your interest with UWS Alumni?

I hope you will continue to stay connected with UWS through 2011 and in to the future to share with us how you are making a difference in your world.

Professor Janice Reid AM Vice-Chancellor University of Western Sydney

Professor Janice Reid AM Vice-Chancellor University of Western Sydney from one Prime Minister to another

The Whitlam Institute, based THE WHITLAM LEGACY ‘To promote equality, to involve within the University of the people of Australia in the Through events such as the Whitlam Western Sydney, recently Oration and other initiatives, the decision-making processes of honoured its namesake and Whitlam Institute commemorates the our land, and to liberate the life and work of one of Australia’s most one of the great Australian respected Prime Ministers by bridging talents and uplift the horizons champions of political and the historical legacy of Gough Whitlam’s of the Australian people.’ social reform, The Hon. Gough years in public life and the contemporary relevance of the Whitlam Agenda to At the Oration, Whitlam Institute director Whitlam AC QC, through public discourse and policy. Eric Sidoti made reference to the three the Inaugural 2011 Gough great aims of the Whitlam program, set Whitlam Oration, delivered by Gough Whitlam first won the Federal out in one of Australia’s great political seat of Werriwa in 1952, and became speeches in 1972. the Prime Minister, The Hon. leader of the Australian Labor Party in Julia Gillard MP. 1967, a position he held until 1977. He ‘These are to promote equality, to involve became Prime Minister in 1972, the the people of Australia in the decision- Held at the UWS Parramatta campus on first Labor leader to win the House of making processes of our land, and to 31 March, the Prime Minister delivered Representatives election since 1946. liberate the talents and uplift the horizons this major national address on her of the Australian people. It is those chosen topic of ‘Walking the Reform In government, he instituted a range same three aims that drive the Whitlam Road’ – in so doing, becoming the first of far-reaching reforms – among them, Institute,’ Sidoti said. serving Prime Minister to speak at a abolishing conscription and withdrawing UWS campus. troops from Vietnam, establishing Although unable to attend the Oration diplomatic relations with the People’s personally, Mr Whitlam addressed the Planned as the first of a series of annual Republic of China, commissioning gathering through a recorded message, lectures by leaders of national and an inquiry into Aboriginal land rights, expressing his gratitude to the Prime international standing, the Whitlam assuming financial responsibility for Minister ‘for the honour she confers on Oration has been three years in the tertiary education and abolishing fees, the Institute by delivering the inaugural making. Professor Janice Reid AM, Vice- establishing universal health care through lecture’. Chancellor of the University of Western Medibank (now Medicare), reducing the Sydney, said the University could voting age to 18 years, instituting equal ‘The Whitlam Institute exists to help in ‘not have been more thrilled or more opportunities for women in Federal the great and continuing work of building honoured’ that the Prime Minister was Government positions, and transforming a more equal, open, tolerant and able to launch the series. the legislative and administrative independent Australia. These values are relationship between the state and at the heart of the Whitlam legacy,’ he Providing members of the Western federal governments. said, exhorting friends and supporters of Sydney community with a unique the Whitlam Institute with characteristic opportunity to hear first-hand from Prime However, his Prime Ministership came vigour to ‘maintain your enthusiasm’.’ Minister Gillard, the event was attended to an end in 1975 when, in what by a dazzling array of dignitaries, remains one of the most dramatic Professor Reid also highlighted why the including Margaret Whitlam and other events in Australian political history, the University of Western Sydney made such members of the Whitlam family, former Whitlam Government was dismissed a fitting location to discuss the ‘road to Prime Minister Bob Hawke, former NSW by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, reform’. Premier Nick Greiner, the Hon. Peter following a refusal by the Senate to Garrett MP, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek pass the Government’s bills. Although ‘A university in western Sydney was MP, Jim Spigelman, Chief Justice of Whitlam resigned from Parliament imagined by Gough Whitlam at a time the Supreme Court of New South following successive electoral defeats in when the people of the region lacked Wales and former senior adviser and 1975 and 1977, he continued his public schools and hospitals, and had houses principal private secretary to Whitlam, life for decades through academic and that were not sewered, and when federal and speechwriters and advisers Graham diplomatic appointments. governments took little interest in the Freudenberg and Evan Williams. burgeoning cities of the states,’ she said.

June 2011 4 GradLife REDEFINING THE LABOR CHARACTER In her address, Prime Minister Gillard reflected on the work of Gough Whitlam, ‘the restless reformer’, in transforming the Labor Party’s structures, platform and support base, so it was once again fit to govern.

‘I see the Whitlam period of leadership as one which regenerated the idea of the Labor Party as a vital institution in Australian society. A great force for fairness in our country which must in a very profound and serious way be true to itself, to its best self,’ the Prime Minister said.

Making reference to the ‘shattering but expected’ defeat of the NSW Labor Government in the March election, Ms Gillard dismissed the idea that the party had lost its philosophical footing, and said her role as Federal Labor Leader requires the clear articulation of the party’s vision.

‘The historic mission of our political party is to ensure the fair distribution of opportunity. From the moment of our inception our mission has been to enable the son of the labourer, the daughter of the cleaner, to have access to the same opportunities in life as the son of the millionaire, the daughter of the lawyer. Creating opportunity and enabling social mobility has required different policies in every age,’ she said.

Ms Gillard also foreshadowed some tough measures in the 2011 Budget, which she said will be focused on making the right decisions for the country, for families and for jobs, even if they are difficult and potentially unpopular.

‘Above all else, like Gough, I am a complete optimist about the future of our country. I do not believe in being afraid of the future. We best combat fear by taking deliberate steps to shape the future together, a future of opportunity for all,’ she said in closing.

To watch the Inaugural 2011 Gough Whitlam Oration visit www.whitlam.org.

GradLife June 2011 5 veteran speechwriter makes donation to Prime Ministerial Collection

One of Australia’s greatest or in the handwritten Q&As between ‘We are incredibly fortunate and proud to the two in preparing for major press be the recipients of these personal items speechwriters and most conferences in the midst of some of the from one of Australia’s political legends. trusted political advisers has most turbulent moments of that time,’ These documents are currently in the donated many significant items he said. process of being digitised so, most importantly, they can be accessed by all from his personal archive to At a recent event organised by the Australians for generations to come.’ the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Whitlam Institute and hosted by Collection, housed at the Gleebooks, Freudenberg discussed his To access the Whitlam Prime Ministerial donation and experiences with Rodney Collection online, follow the links from Whitlam Institute within the Cavalier, former Education Minister in the www.whitlam.org University of Western Sydney. Wran and Unsworth Governments. Originally a journalist in Sydney and He said that he decided it was the GEMS IN THE COLLECTION Melbourne, Graham Freudenberg was right time to donate his papers as he appointed press secretary to Arthur turns 77 next birthday, and the Whitlam Among the boxes of historical Calwell, then the leader of the Australian Institute was ‘the obvious place’ for material Graham Freudenberg Labor Party (ALP) in 1961. From them to be housed. While he has kept has donated to the Whitlam Prime there, he served as speechwriter and his collection of papers with him over Ministerial Collection are: confidante to a ‘who’s who’ of Australian the years, making the donation has »» An original proposal for the 1972 politics, including Gough Whitlam, Arthur required spending time to ensure they ‘It’s Time’ campaign, from the Calwell, Bob Hawke, Neville Wran and are properly filed and analysed for the agency Hansen-Rubensohn- Bob Carr, among others – who he said first time. McCann-Erickson. There were ‘were all great speakers in their own only ten copies of the proposal in right’. Asked about the highlight of his career, existence at the time, and as far as perhaps not surprisingly, he nominated the Whitlam Institute is aware, this Freudenberg witnessed the rise and fall the time working with Gough Whitlam. is the only publicly-available copy in of the Whitlam Government at close Australia. quarters, and was involved in shaping ‘My relationship with Gough was »» A letter dated 22 February 1974 some of the most significant speeches of undoubtedly the highlight of my life, from Prime Minister Gough Whitlam the modern political era – including the and actually the most productive and to then-NSW Premier Sir Robert historic ‘It’s Time’ speech of 1972, which constructive. The years with Neville were Askin seeking consent to construct helped sweep Gough Whitlam and the the most joyous. But my years with a federally-funded metropolitan ALP to victory. Gough are the core years,’ he said. railway line that ‘will radiate from Parramatta to Hoxton Park, Castle Eric Sidoti, Director of the Whitlam Freudenberg’s donation will become Hill and through Carlingford to Institute, said after a lifetime of making part of the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Epping.’ (longhand) notes for speeches and Collection, which includes books, papers »» A draft speech with handwritten campaigns and collecting political and memorabilia gifted by Whitlam and notes by Gough Whitlam, which ephemera, Freudenberg’s collection has other donors. was delivered following the double national significance, and the donation dissolution election of May 1974. will add depth to an already rich archive. ‘The Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection »» A 1985 handwritten Christmas card is already one of the nation’s more to Freudenberg from Gough and ‘These documents offer illuminating important repositories of Australia’s Margaret Whitlam, despatched insights into Gough and Graham’s political history, housing among other while the Whitlams were based in almost symbiotic relationship, which can things, the original Letter of Dismissal, Paris following Gough Whitlam’s be seen in the progression of notes and and Graham’s generous donation is a appointment as Australian drafts as a major speech develops; very welcome addition,’ Sidoti says. Ambassador to UNESCO in 1983.

June 2011 6 GradLife Najeeba – a young woman of substance

Human rights advocate and ‘Spending time at UWS, I could see the ‘Give everybody a chance sharing of different cultures between UWS graduate Najeeba people, the sharing of experiences to be heard.’ Wazefadost was named the and stories regardless of race, country, Najeeba believes that by sharing their colour, religion – everybody was giving winner of the Young Women stories and receiving help and support, each other a chance to learn. This is many Afghan people will be able to of the West award at a special what I admire about UWS, this is what I overcome the same barriers she and ceremony at UWS Parramatta love about UWS, because you can see her family once faced. ‘There are a lot people getting along with each other,’ in March. The awards were of women in my community who are she says. created by the University of still living in fear, they are still living in the past trauma of war, and they are still very Though she had no background in Western Sydney to celebrate abandoned and depressed. They are still Science, Najeeba completed her the global centenary year of living in the past, but it is the future we degree successfully within three years. should be focusing on,’ she says. International Women’s Day. She is now hoping to study Medicine, undertaking a second degree in ‘There are still a lot of Afghans living in Najeeba, who arrived in Australia with Nursing in the meantime to gain clinical Australia who have a lot of difficulties her family by boat in 2000 as a 12-year- experience. ‘It’s the best opportunity for even raising a family – because of old asylum seeker from Afghanistan, me to understand hospital policy and language barriers, and access to health, graduated with a Bachelor of Medical the relationship with the nurses, the employment and education. So it’s really Science from UWS in 2009. doctors and the hospital, so once I enter important to make sure the children to become a doctor, I will already be are educated and can contribute to Before she came to Australia, Najeeba familiar with the environment.’ wasn’t able to access education. Australian society. Since I have been given a lot of opportunities in Australia Following a period in a detention centre, She says despite their difficult start in to educate myself, I can use this to help she spent several months studying Australia, when she learned to speak them in future.’ intensive English, before entering high English, she promised her family that school in Year 8 and moving through to she would be a positive, active member ‘My message to other young people is Year 12. Her aim was always to go to of the community and contribute to this please, give everybody a chance to be university, and with a strong commitment country as an Australian citizen. ‘When I heard, because once their real voice to social work, her goal is to become a got that award, I was given the message comes through, people’s hearts will doctor. that I am reaching that goal, where I can be touched. We know that there are look at Australia and say, “One day I was many asylum seekers living in Australia, Najeeba says she and her family faced that refugee you were trying to reject coming from different countries including many obstacles as they tried to start their and send back to my country, but today Afghanistan.’ new life. ‘I came from a country that was I am doing something where you can be all in dark, where I did not have one single proud of me”. good memory of childhood, but I came ‘But the reason for that is they have been in war and persecution. It’s all to Australia with a hope that I was going Not only is Najeeba pursuing her own about giving those people a chance to to start a new life with peace, security career goals, but she is an active have their stories heard, and once they and safety. Then when I was placed in a member of her community – she works are, I’m sure there will be an instant detention centre, I started to get a very as an Afghan Youth Support Officer peace and friendship between people. It negative image of Australians, and began with the Bamiyan Association and is always easy to respect people when judging everyone the same,’ she says. ambassador for Amnesty International, you are all the same, but a person is and was recently nominated to become strong when they can respect someone Going to school and particularly president of Hazara Women in Australia, else for the differences they have.’ university changed those perceptions, as a group supporting women from her she found many different people from a ethnic minority in Sydney. variety of cultures.

GradLife June 2011 7 changing the dynamics

UWS graduate Lindsay With the 1,000 Inmate Beds project, When the correction centre was the department decided to take a opened, a similar committee structure Charles, a senior project different approach, first engaging with and approach to employment was manager with NSW Public the local Aboriginal communities in used, resulting in 20 per cent of the Works, has a passion for Nowra and Cessnock two years before correctional officer workforce and 10 per construction was due to begin. A cent of the staff overall coming from the improving Aboriginal outcomes consultative committee was formed with local Aboriginal community. within the construction representations from the community, industry. Her efforts were and funding for training and employment ‘Normally in gaols there are very few services was sourced through the Aboriginal prison officers,’ Lindsay recognised last year when Department of Education, Employment says. ‘In Nowra, around 25 per cent of the ‘South Coast Correctional and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). the inmate population is Aboriginal, so Centre – Increasing that’s going to have a significant impact ‘The word went out to the community, on those inmates, particularly when it Aboriginal Participation in and courses were offered so that people comes to reoffending.’ Construction’ project won a could make sure they were skilled up ahead of the project commencing,’ The vast majority of the people NSW Government Premier’s Lindsay says. employed through the program are Public Sector Award, in the long-term unemployed, and it helps to category of ‘Engaging with the Builders contracted for the project provide young people with a step up agreed to work with the Aboriginal into employment and break the cycle of Community’. participation plan, which specified that unemployment. ‘Some have never had they interview from the Aboriginal lists a job, so getting them to TAFE is very Lindsay undertook a Bachelor of first, but there were no targeted or important. It starts the mindset of regular Building at UWS part-time between identified positions that had to be filled. hours that they haven’t been exposed to 1993 and 2000, while working at the since they left school. So the purpose is NSW Department of Public Works. As On the South Coast Correction Centre twofold – to give them training and get a mature-age student and one of only project, where construction was them job-ready,’ Lindsay says. two females in the course, she excelled, completed in December 2010, 10 per graduating first in the course with First cent of the workforce involved was With a very motivated community behind Class Honours and was awarded the Aboriginal – well above the target of 6 it, the South Coast project has had a first Australian Institute of Building medal. per cent originally set for the project. flow-on effect, as the RTA has adopted a similar employment program since She now serves as the project manager ‘With no targeted jobs, the most I’ve construction of the correction centre for one of the largest projects the state ever heard before is 5 per cent, so that was completed. Lindsay says one of the is undertaking – the $300 million 1,000 really was staggering,’ Lindsay says. members of the Aboriginal consultant Inmate Beds project. The project, which committee in Nowra reported that began in 2006 and is due for completion Don Jessop, Managing Director, last year, the local high school had 39 next year, includes gaol construction Shoalhaven Community Development Aboriginal students complete Year 12. works at a number of different sites, Limited, who was involved in brokering including the South Coast Correctional relationships around employment ‘She believed that the success of this Centre at Nowra and the new Cessnock services with the local community from program is one of the reasons for this, as Maximum Security Centre. As the project the project’s inception, says over 75 they can see a reason to go to school. manager, Lindsay is responsible for per cent of these workers came from They realise there is a helping hand into the total delivery of the project, from the local community – of particular that first job,’ she says. inception to occupation. importance as the Shoalhaven area has very high rates of unemployed amongst Don agrees that the project has According to Lindsay, one of the its Aboriginal residents. been extremely beneficial, with the priorities is engaging with the local model initiated in the Shoalhaven now Aboriginal community on employment ‘There were around 17 indentured adopted in five other contracts with the opportunities, particularly when the apprenticeships, which are still running. Federal Government. ‘It is providing a department is building in a regional area. It very much changed the dynamic of healthy outlook in terms of introducing In the past, this has taken the form of employment for Aboriginal people in the income into that community, and requiring builders to employ a certain area of Shoalhaven,’ Don says. spreading opportunities throughout that percentage of Aboriginal people. community,’ he says.

June 2011 8 GradLife ‘I think one of the basic tenets Importantly, particularly in regional areas such as Nowra which were struggling is to be honest, and never economically, a gaol brings jobs to the promise anything that you community, during both construction can’t guarantee to deliver.’ and operation. ‘A gaol injects $2 million into the local economy in salaries alone,’ Lindsay says.

‘Socially, the aim is to bring inmates back to their point of arrest, because one of the key factors in reducing recidivism has been found to be keeping that connection with family together, particularly when inmates are nearing release.’

Having learned from their experiences in Nowra, the project team was able to avoid some of the pitfalls and build on the successes. Accordingly, the proportion of Aboriginal workers in the construction workforce at Cessnock has increased to over 17 per cent.

Lindsay says there were a number of critical success factors for this project, including ensuring community members are involved in the selection process, and that the applicant’s family is behind them.

‘Many Aboriginal communities have felt let down in the past and, as a result, they are not quick to trust. I’m not Aboriginal, and it is people just like me who have come along before and disappointed them. But I think one of the basic tenets is to be honest, and never promise anything that you can’t guarantee to deliver.’

It was also important that the quality of what was being delivered to the client was never compromised. ‘It is not social work, and the Aboriginal community was made quite aware from the beginning that there was not going to be any tokenism. Any Aboriginal workers on these sites were coming into real jobs, rather than jobs just created for them, and they had to earn the right to be there. We were all speaking the same language right from the word go.’

GradLife June 2011 9 London calls sound researcher

Inspired by the international ‘My research is focusing on which ‘Having the opportunity to work in both parameters of sound are used in groups allows me to work with a diverse impact of the work undertaken these looming scenes; the degree and range of researchers, and by bringing at the UWS MARCS Auditory envelope that are used; how the audio together the different backgrounds Laboratories, UWS graduate corresponds with the visual movement it spurs innovative ideas and novel of the object; the amount of dynamic approaches to research questions,’ Sonia Wilkie is now pursuing a and perceptual qualities desired; and the Sonia says. ‘Being in an active research PhD at Queen Mary, University environment’s level of reality or hyper- community allows me to participate of London. reality.’ in other researchers’ projects, or collaborate with them outside of the core Sonia, who completed a Master of ‘Living in London is so university work, on digital arts events or creative projects such as installations or Arts (Honours) research degree at the energising. It’s such a vibrant MARCS Auditory Laboratories in 2008, performing in concerts.’ is now researching elements of sound city, constantly buzzing with for the development of psychoacoustic- social and intellectual events.’ Queen Mary also boasts an extensive based audiovisual software for use as a portfolio of patented software and technologies. post-production tool in film and gaming. Developing psychoacoustic audio software requires interdisciplinary ‘This was appealing, as it’s extending the One of the ways creators of multi- knowledge and experience, and while impact of your research, and giving it a dimensional worlds make their films or Sonia gained a strong foundation in practical real-world application so that games more realistic is by presenting auditory perception and psychological the concepts are not just theoretical,’ objects moving on an approaching methodology during her time at MARCS, Sonia says. trajectory towards the viewer – otherwise she wanted to further develop her known as audio-visual looming. computer programming skills and gain a And enjoying the sights and sounds Examples of this can be seen in 3D films deeper understanding of acoustics and of one of the world’s great cities is where it seems objects leap out of the audio digital signal processing. screen, or in games, where objects are an added bonus for Sonia. ‘Living in London is so energising. It’s such a thrown towards the player. She was attracted to Queen Mary vibrant city, constantly buzzing with because of its international scholarly social and intellectual events. Whether ‘The extent that viewers can perceptually reputation and several dynamic research it’s being able to attend seminars held by immerse and progress through these groups working in her field (including the science academies and museums, environments is reliant on many the Interaction, Media & Communication to the special exhibitions at the galleries elements, including the simultaneous group, and the Centre for Digital Music). presentation of auditory visual sensory or the quirky underground electronic information and the degree that music scenes, it’s an inspiring city to live algorithms integrate the sensory stimuli and work in.’ parameters, all which individually vary in real time,’ Sonia says.

June 2011 10 GradLife behind the camera

As a kid, Jet Wilkinson This hard work has certainly paid off for To be a successful director, Jet says Jet, who considers herself ‘really lucky’ it’s most important to be able to loved watching ‘behind the in that she hasn’t been out of work since understand and manage people, and scenes’ shows on TV. Now, she left uni and started directing. Jet have good negotiating skills. ‘You have as a Sydney-based director acts as her own agent, and says having really got to be able to chat to people, experience with serials like Neighbours and understand what their needs are and producer, she is the one and Home and Away, which shoot 48 for the production, and then act as the running the show behind the weeks a year, helps to keep her in work. mediator, to say, ‘How can you give me scenes. ‘I’ve been very fortunate with producers, something within your capacity for us to especially the Seven Network, who achieve this?’ Everyone has their own Since completing a Bachelor of Arts at continue to employ me.’ personality and approach, and you have UWS, majoring in Communications with to learn how to click into that,’ Jet says. a specialisation in media studies and These days, there’s no such thing as film theory, she has worked consistently an average day for Jet – she might be Good script analysis and interpretation in the Australian industry for the past working on set or location, in which skills are vital for aspiring directors. 15 years, directing Australian television case a very early start and a 12-14 hour ‘You’ve got to have a great vision, not drama series such as City Homicide, workday is guaranteed, or she might just for the one scene, but for the project All Saints, Home and Away, and be doing research, as she is on the overall. So it’s having that creative Neighbours. In 2009, Jet was nominated day we speak, hunting for locations in capacity, as well as the people and at the Australian Director’s Guild Awards Melbourne’s bar and restaurant scene. negotiation skills to achieve your vision.’ in the category of Best Achievement in And as the TV and film industry is Direction for a Television Drama Series. Whatever is on the agenda, Jet says notoriously tough to break into, a thick she just loves every day. ‘I feel like a big skin, passion and strong self-belief are Jet has also spent time in the non-stop kid, because I essentially come to work essential, according to Jet. world of live TV, as senior producer and play pretend. Every day is such a for Foxtel’s Channel [V], where she highlight because it’s such a fun industry ‘If you love what you do, and you give spearheaded live-to-air shows for music to be a part of, creating different worlds,’ that energy and are willing to put in the events like the Big Day Out, Homebake, Jet says. hard yards, people want to work with the ARIAs and WaveAid. you and have you on their team. You There’s no question though that it is hard also need persistence. I endured a lot While the dream for many might be to work, and especially when working in live of no’s before I received any yes’s! You shoot a short film and be catapulted TV, high pressure. ‘With drama, where have just got to keep calling and banging onto the set of a major movie, the you are working with scripts and actors, on those doors. Never give up. and reality of what it takes to make it in and you do multiple takes of a scene, believe in yourself.’ the Australian industry can look rather shooting one 30-second scene can take different. Now regarded as one of a new up to two-and-a-half hours,’ she says. Jet’s schedule is fully booked for the wave of young directors making their ‘With live TV, there is no take two. You rest of the year, working on new TV mark, Jet began at the very bottom – as have got to be on the ball and get what shows such as the ABC’s Crownies and a production runner on Home and Away. you need as it goes through. You are Channel 7’s Winners and Losers. Just to ‘Having that degree certainly helps to never going to get a band to do a song keep things interesting, there is always get your foot into the door, and then you again at the Big Day Out if you miss a side project on the go. Jet has written work your way upwards,’ she says. ‘You something.’ a feature film script and is working on have to know what you want and work generating some funding and finding a hard to get it.’ producer for the project.

GradLife June 2011 11 June 2011 12 GradLife charting 25 years of history

On 30 January 1989, the The history will also reflect the work Among the themes which are already undertaken by governments over many emerging from the research, and which Board of Governors of years prior to the establishment of UWS, will be explored through the history, the University of Western to provide educational and other social are the response to demographic Sydney met at Werrington services into the west. expansion through the federated model, the tension between innovation and for the first time, marking the ‘What makes it such a great story is that necessity, leading to cycles of revision official foundation date of the everybody was trying different solutions. and restructuring, and the emergence of institution. It really begins back in the 1950s, the University from the turbulence of the with attempts to try and deal with the 1990s as a mature institution. The University will celebrate the 25th massive expansion of western Sydney anniversary of this date in 2014, and and how to provide services to the area, The history will be published in a variety as part of the celebrations, a history of and in particular, after Gough Whitlam’s of formats – as a printed book, a the University of Western Sydney will be period, how to bring a more equitable series of websites highlighting different published. solution to higher education access,’ Dr elements of the history, and a series Hutchinson says. of e-book chapters with embedded Historian Dr Mark Hutchinson, who has video and audio for a more accessible particular expertise in the social history ‘There is a sense in which experience. of intellectual movements and higher UWS picks up all of those education, has been employed by the ‘The idea is to create something that University to undertake this important local histories and articulates is open and that continues to build project over the next two years, which them for the western suburbs. through alumni telling these stories and connecting themselves to the he describes as ‘a work by the University It is a very important institution on its own past and its own future’. University’s history, but at the same time, in that regard.’ to be a contribution to the new picture of While the University officially began its life higher education, with regard to which 25 years ago, the story stretches back ‘It provides insights into how Australian UWS is a very distinct and important much further than this – encompassing society wrestled with much bigger experiment,’ Dr Hutchinson says. its preceding institutions and historic issues. It also picks up the history of the sites such as the Female Orphan School, great reform movement of the 1970s. ‘I think it is important for people to Hawkesbury Agricultural College and In New South Wales terms, UWS is look up from all those struggles, of Colleges of Advanced Education at arguably the most significant product trying to make a complex institution, to Westmead and Milperra. of all those people who tried to bring understand what a fantastic story this is. about equity and fairness and openness It involves all the key figures in modern These institutions all have their own to education. They also had very strong Australian history, all the big issues of stories, according to Dr Hutchinson. ‘For ideas about culture, the role it plays in post-war, consumer, migrant Australia, example, the Female Orphan School local communities and all the difficulties and it is really about humans struggling is one of the oldest institutions in the which went into that.’ to bring those together to give form to country. It goes right back into the those visions.’ colonial roots, and the building itself was Dr Hutchinson is in the midst of his built by Samuel Marsden, so it is quite research for the project, with several a remarkable history to appropriate,’ he hundred hours of oral history expected says. to be gathered from University staff, students and alumni by the time this ‘There is a sense in which UWS picks up phase is completed. This material will all of those local histories and articulates then form part of the University archives. them for the western suburbs. It is a very He says his aim is to not only write the important institution in that regard.’ history of the University’s first 25 years, but to lay a foundation for the historians who will come along in the institution’s 50th and 100th years to chart the development of the University in the future.

GradLife June 2011 13 Opinion Piece: Who or what is feeding the public debate on racism?

Over Sunday lunch a few weeks ago, Although there were many optimistic This is in contrast to the groups seen as my grandma took a strong stand on findings from the research –– for more deserving, including people with the demonstrations at the Villawood example, most Australians (87 per cent) a mental illness, the elderly and people Detention Centre in Sydney. ‘Terrible think cultural diversity is positive –– the with disabilities. behaviour,’ she said. ‘Why didn’t they media immediately focused on what they just wait their turn in the first place?’ saw as news-selling findings. Professor Dunn refers to these as That my normally compassionate, well- the ‘hierarchies of sympathy’. These informed 87-year-old grandma was One of these, apparently newsworthy hierarchies can also be seen in the making such a strong statement and findings, was that some 40 per cent of media and the political arena. An asking the question made me wonder survey respondents expressed some analysis of departmental and ministerial where it was all coming from. concern about a close friend or relative media releases, as well as transcripts of marrying a person of Muslim faith. media interviews, by Klocker and Dunn, The Challenging Racism project found asylum seekers were discussed undertaken by the University of Western While this was not included on the media in overwhelmingly negative terms, Sydney recently released national data release, it was nonetheless tracked frequently associated with ideas of about racial attitudes and experiences of down and became the most frequently illegitimacy, illegality and threat. racism. The release of data was timely; cited statistic. The focus on bad news heated discussions about the place of is, of course, unsurprising and not at all More than ever, asylum seekers asylum seekers arriving by boat and the new. What is worthwhile thinking about have become a political issue. When compatibility of Muslims and Australian though is the relationship between politicians are asked to justify their culture were appearing in the media on a the media, political discussions, and policies on television shows like Q&A, regular basis. people’s everyday lives. by and large the right to be treated as a human being fails to get a mention. In addition, a new Multicultural Policy One issue that attracts ongoing media was released by the Federal Government and political attention are the so- Are politicians responding to public on 16 February 2011, exactly a week called ‘boat people seeking asylum in opinion, and their polling data? Or is it prior to the release of the data. The Australia’. If my grandma is anything to the public who are being led astray by previous national Multicultural Policy go by, public attitudes towards the boat politicians? What role does the media expired in 2006, so the establishment of people interacts in a dynamic way with play in shaping attitudes? I believe it’s all a new policy was well overdue. media and political discourses – the idea of these things. And with all this going that asylum seekers are a social problem on, there’s not much room in the public It may have been the timing of the circulates through these spheres. consciousness to empathise with asylum release of the new research, or perhaps seekers. My grandma’s comments are simply the potential for a national study In his lectures at UWS, Professor Kevin testimony to the current level of public on racism to raise controversy, but Dunn, Head of the School of Social discussion about ‘boat people’. nonetheless the research attracted Sciences, often cites research done for significant media attention, and after a the National Human Rights Consultation, Jacqueline Nelson (pictured) few days of being inundated with media which found that almost one in three requests, researchers on the project people believe asylum seekers deserve is a Researcher and HDR were left thoroughly exhausted. less protection of their human rights than Candidate in the Challenging they currently receive. Racism Project at the University of Western Sydney.

June 2011 14 GradLife UWS news

At the launch of the novel at Sydney’s for Cultural Research (CCR) and the UWS GRADUATE TAKES Gleebooks, Professor Jones explained Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment ARCHIBALD PRIZE that the idea for her novel came during (HIE) –– achieved the top mark of five. one of her first visits to the iconic city. On a late night ferry from Balmain to Circular UWS research across the categories of UWS Graduate Ben Quilty has taken out Quay, a couple of lines of Kenneth agriculture, civil engineering, performing this year’s prestigious Archibald Prize in Slessor’s poem of the same name came arts, and creative writing and literary Sydney. to mind and inspired her to write. studies all achieved ranks of four, also putting them ‘above world standard’. A former UWS Bachelor of Design Coming from Perth, Professor Jones graduate (2002), Quilty beat 800 other says she had no idea that Slessor’s ‘Of the 21 broad research disciplines artists to claim the $50,000 contest poem was so well known, or that it that UWS is research active in, the with his portrait of Margaret Olley. Quilty was studied as part of the NSW school majority were rated at or above world regards Olley, as an artistic mentor who curricula. For fans of the original, she standard, which is very pleasing,’ says helped him mature as an artist. hopes her book will be seen as a Professor Andrew Cheetham, UWS Pro tribute or a homage, and will hopefully Vice-Chancellor (Research). Now based in the Southern Highlands, encourage people to return to the poetry. Quilty also won the 2009 Doug Moran ‘Our highest performing areas, cultural National Portrait Prize with a portrayal of Professor Jones’ previous novels have studies and plant biology, are competitive singer Jimmy Barnes. Quilty has been received a plethora of literary prizes, with the best in Australia and the world. known for portraying the darker side of including the WA Premier’s Award for Only two other institutions scored five in being young and male, painting pictures Fiction, the Nita B. Kibble Award, the cultural studies - the University of Sydney of V8 cars, skulls smoking cigarettes, Steele Rudd Award, the Age Book of the and the University of Queensland. snakes, and scowling faces. Year Award, the Adelaide Festival Award for Fiction and the ASAL Gold Medal. ‘These results demonstrate the depth In his prizewinning painting of Ms Olley, She has also been shortlisted for the and strength of the UWS research her face is just a blank canvas with just a Miles Franklin Award three times. program, and confirm the effectiveness few bits of paint to define her features. of the University’s strategy to selectively ‘Five Bells’ is published by Random concentrate research strength with GAIL JONES RINGS UP House. significant research investment to boost research activity and quality.’ FIVE BELLS UWS RESEARCH SCORES The report also highlighted a number Professor Gail Jones, an author and HIGHLY IN NATIONAL of disciplines where the performance academic at the University of Western of UWS research was ‘world standard’, Sydney, has released her latest novel, ERA REPORT including: pure mathematics; physical which critics have tipped as ‘one of the chemistry; microbiology; nursing; most exciting and refreshing literary UWS research scored highly in the urban and regional planning; education offerings’ of 2011. Australian Research Council’s (ARC) systems; specialist studies in education; Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) human geography; cognitive sciences; At UWS, Gail Jones is a Professor evaluation, with two of the University’s other studies in human society; film, within the Writing and Society Research key research areas, cultural studies and television and digital media; historical Group. ‘Five Bells’ is her fifth work of plant biology, labelled ‘well above world studies; and linguistics. fiction, following the critical acclaim of standard’ and achieving a score of five, ‘Black Mirror’, ‘Sixty Lights’, ‘Dreams of the highest ranking possible. ‘This ERA result positions us well Speaking’ and ‘Sorry’. for the next stage of our research The ERA 2010 National Report is the development, which includes recruiting ‘Five Bells’ is told over the course of first comprehensive assessment of another 500 new academic staff over a single Saturday at Sydney’s Circular the research quality within Australia’s the next five years.’ Quay. It allows readers into the minds universities, measuring it against research of four unique individuals as they arrive carried out by other institutions around More information on UWS Research is at the tourism hotspot, and as the story the world. It found the University’s cultural available at www.uws.edu.au/research unfolds it delves deeply into the personal studies and plant biology research histories and tragedies of each. concentrations –– the University’s Centre

GradLife June 2011 15 UWS chancellor installed

The University of Western Sydney The Secretary of the Department of He serves on the Boards of AMP and invited members of the Greater Western the Prime Minister and Cabinet from Corrs Chambers Westgarth. In the not- Sydney community to celebrate the 2003-2008, Professor Shergold was for-profit arena, he Chairs the Australian official installation of its new Chancellor, the nation’s most senior public servant, Rural Leadership Foundation and is on Professor Peter Shergold AC in March. serving four Prime Ministers and eight the Boards of the National Centre for Ministers in both Labor and Coalition Indigenous Excellence and the General Professor Shergold was installed as governments. Sir John Monash Foundation. He also UWS Chancellor by the Governor of Chairs the Board of the National Centre NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie During this time, he established the for Vocational Education Research. Most Bashir AC CVO, at a special ceremony Office of Multicultural Affairs, headed recently he has been asked to head the at the Parramatta campus. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministerial Expert Group on Gambling. Commission (ATSIC), and was Secretary With a distinguished academic and of government departments, including In 2005, Professor Shergold was elected public service career that spans over the Department of Education, Science a Fellow of The Academy of Social three decades, Professor Shergold and Training. Sciences in Australia. He is a Fellow of brings a wealth of knowledge and the Australia and New Zealand School of experience to his role with the University. Professor Shergold has a Bachelor of Government and of the Institute of Public Arts (First Class) from the University of Administration Australia. Hull in the United Kingdom, a Master of Arts in History from the University of In 2010 the UWS Board of Trustees Illinois and a PhD in Economics from the elected Professor Shergold as London School of Economics. successor to Mr John Phillips, who retired in December after almost 10 years of service as Chancellor.

June 2011 16 GradLife The funding builds on a successful Minister Arbib and Ms Owens had the BOOST TO INDIGENOUS partnership between UWS and the opportunity to meet with a number EMPLOYMENT AND Federal Government that has seen 20 of Indigenous trainees of the existing traineeships and six cadetships initiated programs who have been employed by ENGAGEMENT since 2008. UWS as well as their hiring managers, finding their stories inspiring and Federal Minister for Indigenous The announcement was made at the motivating. Employment and Economic Female Orphan School on the UWS Development, Senator Mark Arbib, and Parramatta campus, and was attended Minister Arbib praised the work of Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens, by UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor the University and the success of have announced $570,000 in funding Janice Reid AM, along with Mr Mick the project, which has created job for a new employment and engagement Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait opportunities for Indigenous Australians project for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, across the University as well as local Islander peoples at the University of industry partners, members of the employers, ranging from business Western Sydney. University’s Indigenous Employment and administrators to human resource Engagement Advisory Board, DEEWR officers. The funding will help boost employment representatives, UWS Indigenous trainee opportunities for Indigenous Australians hiring managers and other senior staff, Ms Williams said the Government’s across the Greater Western Sydney and representatives from the University’s support will help continue to strengthen region – the largest urban Indigenous Badanami Centre for Indigenous the University’s commitment to being an population in Australia – by creating ten Education. employer of choice for the Indigenous cadetships, six traineeships and five population of Greater Western Sydney. direct employment opportunities as part The event showcased the successes of a three-year project. of the Indigenous Employment and For more information on the Indigenous Engagement office, headed by its Employment and Engagement office It also includes an ‘Elders on Campus’ Director Ms Melissa Williams. please visit: http://www.uws.edu.au/ initiative, which will see Indigenous indigenous_opportunities/indigenous_ Elders provide leadership, cultural employment_and_engagement support and mentoring of students and staff across the University’s campuses.

GradLife June 2011 17 UWS Alumni GradLife benefits

The UWS GradLife Alumni Benefits program is back and better than ever. Members should now have received their new-look GradLife Card, featuring the historic Female Orphan School site at the UWS Parramatta campus, and begun taking advantage of the great benefits on offer.

Being a member of the UWS GradLife program entitles you to a range of special alumni benefits, including discounted GradLife membership to the UWS Library and Gym, discounts at the UWS Bookshop, as well as invitations to special University events. A list of our most popular benefits has been provided in the table below for your information, and a full list is available online via the GradLife website. Female Orphan School, 1813 – UWS Parramatta Campus

All graduates of UWS are eligible for a GradLife Card, so visit www.uws.edu.au/GradLife to apply for yours today. FEATURED BENEFIT BENEFIT DETAILS Discounted annual membership to any of the UWS Campus Libraries for $50 (as UWS Library Access Discount opposed to $100 full fee). This includes book borrowing rights, as well as access to a limited range of electronic sources not currently available to other subscribers. UWS Bookshop Discount 10% discount on all purchases. UWS Connect Fitness Gym Discount Alumni to be offered same price as students for membership of UWS Connect Fitness facilities. Travel Discounts through exclusive Exclusive comprehensive alumni travel portal through World Travel Professionals. UWS Alumni Portal Careers and Employment Services Free continuing access to career services and UWS Career Hub, with the potential to CareerHub build this service into a significant resource for both students and alumni. GradLife members will receive invitations to various UWS Alumni Events – Chapter Invitations to UWS Alumni Events Functions, Reunions, Seminars, Networking Opportunities, and other alumni activities, and Networking Opportunities including opportunistic discounts to theatre and sporting events, UWS Exhibitions and specific UWS Anniversary events. Access to information on GradLife members will receive information and any available discount on upcoming Discipline Specific Professional professional development opportunities facilitated by various alumni chapters and networks, including Law, Engineering and Education. Liaison with UWSCollege and Development Activities UWS Colleges to inform of professional development courses as they become available. Volunteering and Mentoring Help UWS students through the Aspire Program and a range of volunteering Opportunities opportunities currently under development by UWS. iSubscribe Five to 10 per cent discount on i-Subscribe prices. Discount Magazine Subscriptions E-Newsletter and Alumni Alerts Members will be kept up-to-date with the latest UWS Alumni news and promotions through a quarterly e-newsletter. Through staff at the UWS Alumni Unit, alumni can reconnect with old classmates, Keep In Touch with Friends search for long lost university chums, or make contact with those who were in their course, area of study, or graduating class. Coming Soon Keep an eye out for our new Health Insurance Discount benefits to be available soon.

For more information and the entire list of benefits please visit www.uws.edu.au/GradLife

June 2011 18 GradLife alumni online

John Phillips AO, Chairman of the UWS Foundation UWS foundation

match UWS ALUMNI FACEBOOK FAN PAGE alumni gifts Our Facebook Fan page continues to grow with over 1,500 fans! The Foundation Board, made up of UWS alumni are giving to We hope to continue to grow the volunteers from our local community, page, so spread the word! support future generations recognises the great impact alumni of students from Greater gifts have in motivating and inspiring Find us on Facebook at our students. The Board have therefore Western Sydney through www.facebook.com/UWSAlumni committed to match all gifts from alumni the Alumni Scholarship to support UWS students. Fund – and these gifts are set to become even more “Our aim is to be able to say that any student from Greater Western Sydney meaningful to our students with the skills and motivation to attend with the UWS Foundation university is able to do so, without committing to match all gifts concern for cost. Our alumni are important partners in pursuing that goal. from alumni. They are great role models for our current students and for future generations of Scholarships play a crucial role in young people in our community. We are ensuring all students have the chance proud to be working with them to give to access and make the most of their more students the opportunities they FOLLOW UWS ALUMNI university studies. But even more deserve.” – John Phillips AO, Chairman motivating is that others believe so much of the UWS Foundation ON TWITTER in the potential of our students they More than 600 followers! are willing to invest in their future – and The gift of knowledge is one of the when these supporters are graduates most effective ways of empowering We encourage all Twitter users to of this institution the message becomes our students to embrace opportunity, follow us. Tweet us @UWSAlumni, incredibly powerful and inspiring. growth and change. As a supporter and help us spread the news even of the Alumni Scholarship Fund you further by re-tweeting (RT) our The Alumni Scholarship Fund was are a partner in our vision, helping our posts to your followers. established in 2009 and has benefited students to reach their full potential. from the support of many graduates Follow UWS Alumni on Twitter at since that time. In 2011, we look forward Thank you to all those graduates who www.twitter.com/UWSAlumni to awarding the first alumni scholarship, have so generously contributed to the and to supporting many more students Alumni Scholarship Fund. every year from now. You can give now to support the The UWS Foundation is committed to Alumni Scholarship Fund by visiting supporting our students, in partnership www.uws.edu.au/alumnigiving or with our graduates. completing the form enclosed.

GradLife June 2011 19 working towards a better future for western Sydney

Not only was Ed Husic MP, ‘It’s just a huge honour to represent the ‘The good thing about Twitter is that it’s area I’ve grown up in,’ he says. pretty robust. There are a lot of people Federal member for Chifley, who are very direct and frank about part of the first wave of During his first year in Parliament, Ed’s their views, but that’s what you want. I students to graduate from the focus has been building his network deliberately use Twitter as a way to get of links within the electorate by ideas and be challenged, because I think University of Western Sydney, working with community groups and it’s good to have a lot of people thinking but he is also the first UWS neighbourhoods, as well as contributing about the big issues affecting people graduate to be elected to to ‘big ticket’ projects such as the and the country,’ Ed says. National Broadband Network and Federal Parliament. encouraging the development of Trade ‘People have raised issues with me Training Centres. that I have been able to represent ‘At a personal level, I’m very proud of onwards to other places and it has been that achievement, because I have always The fortunes of young people are a a really vibrant way to spruce up our been such a big fan of my old university,’ particular focus for Ed, as Chifley has democracy.’ Ed says. one of the highest proportions of young people aged 15-24 of any electorate in Some of the highlights of his Having grown up in Blacktown, where the country. time in Parliament so far include he still lives, Ed says he was attracted making headway on some big to UWS ‘because it provided us with a ‘Ensuring young people stay in school local commitments on health and university literally in my own backyard’, longer and build their own personal infrastructure, speaking on key debates, and he began studying a Bachelor of base of skills is important on so many and at a personal level, being sworn in. Arts in Applied Communications in 1988. levels, not the least of which is that they hold onto jobs longer, they are more ‘Only just over 1,000 people have While he originally planned to work as a satisfied in work, and are able to sustain been able to sit on the floor of the journalist, after graduation Ed ventured themselves and their families into the House of Representatives as elected into public relations before deciding future,’ he says. representatives, and it’s been an to move into community-based work, amazing experience and one that is very taking up a job with the then-Department Ed is also keen to provide a platform humbling,’ Ed says. ‘The community of Social Security as a migrant liaison to showcase the talents of young element has been another of my officer working with migrant communities people, and to this end, he has initiated personally enriching experiences – in Western Sydney. the Chifley Youth Award (the Whitlam working to help reinvigorate, in some Institute’s Eric Sidoti was part of the way, the faith of individuals in the Later, he held adviser and chief of Award judging panel), which provides capacity of government to deliver for staff positions for the Ministers for those who have been noted for their them at a personal and a neighbourhood Communications, Arts and Tourism, and community involvement and leadership level.’ later the NSW Minister for Water Utilities with the opportunity to voice their Regional Development, Small Business views on what they would like to see This thread of community work has run and the Illawarra, as well as senior roles changed in their local area. He has through Ed’s career, with involvement with the Communications, Electrical been encouraged by their willingness to in community groups such as the and Plumbing Union, including a period engage. Blacktown Migrant Resource Centre and as National President, with a focus on the Mt Druitt Community Legal Centre, helping workers in Australia Post and ‘If you indicate that you are willing to which he says is motivated by the Telstra. spend the time and, importantly, to listen, concept that ‘big problems get solved young people do open up,’ Ed says. when a lot of people get involved’. Following an unsuccessful first run for Federal Parliament in 2004, Ed was Ed has demonstrated his fresh approach ‘It’s really good to tap into that energy elected in the seat of Chifley in 2010. to the democratic process by actively to get things done. I see, on a regular using Twitter as a platform to exchange basis, people making a difference ideas, particularly with young people. because they work together,’ Ed says.

June 2011 20 GradLife For the remainder of his first term, Ed’s priorities are local access to health, education and infrastructure, as well as participating in important debates, such as on climate change.

He is particularly positive about the role of UWS in the development of Western Sydney.

‘UWS has a critical role to play, not only in terms of being able to support the aspirations of young people in the region, but also in the quality of work that it is providing to the community and the economic contribution it makes,’ Ed says. ‘I am a huge supporter of its work, because obviously I can speak from personal experience, but I also know how important it is to the region’s future success.’

Having already made such a significant personal contribution to his area, Ed encourages others to do the same.

‘Certainly getting an education through UWS is a tremendous way to boost your own ability to engage through the local community and economy. But once you have enriched your own skills, staying focused in a local community and being able to give something back is also really important. I think it rounds you out individually and there is a huge multiplier effect in terms of the fortunes and opportunities available to our region.’

‘Certainly getting an education through UWS is a tremendous way to boost your own ability to engage through the local community and economy. But once you have enriched your own skills, staying focused in a local community and being able to give something back is also really important. I think it rounds you out individually and there is a huge multiplier effect in terms of the fortunes and opportunities available to our region.’

GradLife June 2011 21 military history through one family’s eyes

A chance discovery in the Brent, whose father is Maori, grew up ‘I’m lucky I’ve got that in Australia and served in the Australian UWS Bankstown library Army as a soldier for 10 years. passion for it so it doesn’t started alumnus Brent When he left the defence force, he seem like it’s hard work.’ Kerehona on a journey that began studying at UWS in 2005, first completing a Bachelor of Arts, then a Along the way, Brent has made has taken over six years Master of Teaching (Primary). some important discoveries through and seen him criss-cross his research, with some of New the globe. While hunting for a book in the Zealand’s prominent treaty historians university library, he discovered a acknowledging his work. section of books on New Zealand’s military history, and leafing through However, as an Australian of Maori them, found mentions of four members heritage researching New Zealand of his family serving in various conflicts. military history, he has had difficulty securing funding for the project from This began an intensive research either the Australian or New Zealand project titled Born for War: New governments. Zealand’s Military History – A Family Perspective. Brent, who teaches in With one research trip to go before primary schools in Sydney’s south- he can complete his massive project, west, is writing a historical novel based Brent is seeking financial assistance to upon New Zealand’s military history, fund the final piece of the puzzle. which will consist of three parts – a printed novel (with interactive CD), an He says the academic research and interactive e-book and a documentary. writing skills he learnt while studying at UWS have been critical to being able to Early on during his research for the undertake what many would see as a project, tracing the involvement of labour of love. his family in military actions that have contributed to New Zealand’s history, ‘I’m lucky I’ve got that passion for it so Brent decided that to do his subject it doesn’t seem like it’s hard work.’ justice, it was important to conduct onsite research. Visit www.tumatauenga.webs.com for more information about Brent ‘I committed to travelling around the Kerehona’s writing project. world to every battle site I’m writing about, to make sure the story is as correct as it could be, based on the terrain and so on, and also for the credibility of my research and peace of mind that I’m paying my ancestors proper respect,’ Brent says.

June 2011 22 GradLife Mark’s drive to improve

Managing a 450-bed hospital Essentially, the buck stops with him on To meet the needs of this community, a whole range of activities – staffing, developing services has been a priority, with over 2,100 staff and a budgets, and clinical performance on and a $3.5 million aged care day hospital budget of over $150 million benchmarks such as emergency access, is a new addition to the Bankstown might sound like a huge surgical access, efficiency measures facility. ‘The purpose of that is to try such as length of stay and readmission and support aged care patients at headache, but UWS graduate rates, and clinical programs in areas home longer, so they don’t have to go Mark Shepherd relishes his such as hand hygiene. into residential care or be admitted to role as general manager of hospital,’ Mark says. Mark’s great passion is in clinical Bankstown Hospital. services development and clinical Under Mark’s leadership, Bankstown resource efficiencies. During his time has also developed specialty services Beginning his career as a clinical at Bankstown, he has been working for bowel, upper gastrointestinal and neurosurgery nurse at Royal Prince to improve a number of areas of the pancreatic cancers, and is currently Alfred Hospital, where he managed the hospital’s operation and capability, performing around 40 per cent of Neurosurgical Unit for almost 10 years, to ensure the hospital provides safe Australia’s pancreatic surgery. To support Mark then moved into the management services and good access to the local this area, the hospital’s integrated cancer of area-wide clinical health services. community for all its programs, whether centre has been enhanced and now they be surgical, emergency, rehab or delivers double the number of cancer During this time, he completed a others. treatments such as chemotherapy. Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Management at UWS, and in 2002 ‘We have been working on improving An ageing population is not just a shifted his focus from nursing to our clinical performance. What that problem for the Bankstown area – it is clinical business management. He first means is we are reducing things like one of the key challenges facing the became hospital general manager at falls in hospital, where patients may be entire public health system. Fairfield Hospital in 2005, and moved to injured, and reducing hospital-acquired Bankstown in his current role in 2007. infections. We are ensuring we have ‘The longevity of Australians today has good follow-up where incidents do dramatically increased. That directly His earlier experience has played a key occur, such as complications post- affects health, because the expectation role in his success in management. operatively. We have sound investigation of the public is that we treat people ‘In health, you have got to have an processes to ensure that we investigate well into their ‘90s on occasion with all understanding of the clinical aspects that not only clinical incidents but complaints available treatment modalities that are assist you in making sound business by the public,’ Mark says. available. The longer people live, the or managerial decisions, so they are more health services they require, but we often looking for people with a clinical The demographic of the Bankstown also have a finite budget, so we need to background to take on a variety of area population has some unique needs get more efficient year upon year.’ responsibilities,’ Mark says. which must be addressed with hospital services. ‘This is one of the older To this end, Mark developed and While Bankstown Hospital is one of the populations in metropolitan Sydney, implemented a ‘threshold pricing’ smaller teaching hospitals in the state, but it also has new, medium-density model for orthopaedic joint replacement Mark holds strategic and operational housing, and a very high birth rate,’ programs, which is now utilised in responsibility for all aspects of the Mark says. numerous area health services in NSW facility’s operation. and Victoria, with plans for a further roll- out to the rest of NSW in the coming months.

GradLife June 2011 23 alumni chapter news accountants build numbers

Late last year, UWS ‘The accounting profession has become very much more specialised. In terms of Accounting Alumni gathered how we respond, our curriculum is very for the inaugural Accounting broad, and gives students exposure to a Alumni Function. range of different parts of the accounting profession, which allows them to pick While accounting has been offered at an area that they may specialise in when UWS since 1976, the current School of they graduate,’ Ross says. Accounting was formed in 2000 by the amalgamation of the former accounting ‘For example, if they want to go into departments at UWS Hawkesbury, audit, management accounting or Macarthur and Nepean. Now, around corporate financial accounting roles, we 750 accounting graduates complete expose them to all of that as part of the their studies at UWS every year. course.’

The Accounting Alumni Chapter has With building relationships playing a key been newly established to help these role in career success, the Accounting alumni keep in touch with each other, Alumni Chapter also provides graduates and with the University. with the chance to meet new people and perhaps find some old friends. Associate Professor Philip Ross, Head ‘Being involved with the alumni chapter of the School of Accounting, says, ‘We ‘Being involved with the want to reconnect with some of our is a good networking opportunity for graduates, and to be able to tap into alumni to stay in touch with their fellow alumni chapter is a good the expertise that they have and use colleagues,’ Ross says. networking opportunity for them to enhance the learning experience of students by involving them in guest Last year’s event brought together 60 alumni to stay in touch with lectures. Our graduates are also able to accounting alumni, including a graduate their fellow colleagues.’ provide invaluable input into our current of the very first accounting intake, at courses by being members of our what was then Nepean College of advisory board.’ Advanced Education. There are now plans to hold this event on a biannual The advisory committee consists of basis. representatives from the accounting profession, across public practice and The UWS Accounting Alumni Chapter industry, to ensure UWS keeps pace now boasts more than 200 members, with changes taking place in the sector. and all UWS Accounting graduates are encouraged to join online at www.uws.edu.au/AccountingAlumni

June 2011 24 GradLife climbing the ladder to partner

Last year UWS accountancy His work covers mentoring business managers, benchmarking, and providing graduate Graeme Bellach advice on taxation, self-managed was made business services super funds, business start-ups, and partner at CIB Accountants valuations. and Advisers in Parramatta, He says what he enjoys most about his marking the culmination of his work is that it is not just about looking rise through the ranks from at the numbers. ‘It’s working with clients to get them into a better position, and first-year cadet accountant. make their businesses more profitable,’ Graeme says. ‘I was lucky in that the first firm I happened to join looked after me well, Given the constant changes in the and it was beneficial to continue all the regulatory environment for tax and way to become partner,’ he says. superannuation, learning for accountants Graeme undertook a Bachelor of doesn’t end at university. They must Business in accountancy at UWS part- undertake at least 120 hours of time while working at CIB, taking a full- continuing professional development time study load every second semester every three years to stay up-to-date, and when things were quiet at work. He so Graeme and other accountants at the graduated in 2003. firm keep their knowledge current through regular seminars from a visiting tax ‘With the education you Graeme says the flexibility and structure expert, as well as attending educational get from UWS and the of the UWS degree made it easy to events held by the Institute of Chartered combine study and work in this way, and Accountants in Australia (ICAA). practical experience, he recommends other students do the there is no limit to what same. When he’s not working, Graeme enjoys you can achieve.’ travelling, both within and outside of ‘Because I was studying mainly Australia, as well as playing sport and part-time, I was getting the practical catching up with friends – some of which knowledge from work with the theoretical date back to his university days. knowledge from the University at the same time. It gave me a well-rounded ‘It was a great group of people that experience in my knowledge base,’ he attended UWS; they were really down- says. to-earth, and I still keep in touch with many people I met at uni even nine years ‘It showed me how important it was to later,’ he says. do them both at the same time as you progress, so they blend together well.’ As a shareholder in CIB, he is looking forward to taking a greater role in the As business services partner, Graeme company over time, and is positive now works with small to medium about his prospects. ‘With the education businesses from a range of industries, you get from UWS and the practical with turnover ranging from $2 million to experience, there is no limit to what you $70 million. can achieve.’

GradLife June 2011 25 recent events

UWSLA ANNUAL OCCASIONAL ADDRESS

The UWS Law Alumni Association (UWSLA) held their seventh annual Occasional Address in Sydney on 19 November 2010. L-R: Adjunct Professor Brian Sully QC; John Juriansz; Guest speakers Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Ms Sandra Kanck Jonathan Adamopoulos; Former Chancellor John The key address was delivered by the and Professor Andrew Jakubowicz Phillips; Justice Peter McClellan, Chief Justice in Honourable Justice Peter McClellan, Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW; Vice-Chancellor Chief Justice in Common Law of the Janice Reid AM; Sir Laurence Street AC, KCMG, QC; Professor Michael Adams New South Wales Supreme Court.

The address was again a memorable The night was well attended and this one, with the event well attended by hot topic forum will be televised on TVS. UWS Law Alumni, students and staff. The guests were delighted to hear the engaging speakers discuss whether our To view more of the photos from the population should keep growing, along night check out the UWSLA website. with the re-adoption of multiculturalism as a national policy, despite concerns Be sure to also keep an eye out on the for the impact on the environment and website for upcoming information on infrastructure OR should we think about L-R: Cevdet Osman Basiacik; Jason Donnelly; Timothy law alumni specific activities and news sustainability as the most important McGrath; John Juriansz; Kieran Ginges in 2011. concern for Australia’s future?

Visit the UWSLA website at The forum was a continuation of the www.uws.edu.au/LawAlumni series which started in 2008 and continues to deal with topical and contemporary social issues, with an UWS OPEN FORUM: aim to bring academia and the Greater SHOULD AUSTRALIA Western Sydney Community together. More information can be found on the KEEP GROWING? UWS Open forum website at IMMIGRATION & www.uws.edu.au/equity MULTICULTURALISM The next forum will be on 9 June 2011 on ‘Multiculturalism, Terrorism and SEMINAR Peace – An Indian perspective’. The international guest speaker is UWS Equity and Diversity held their Dr Priyankar Upadhyaya, UNESCO first forum for 2011 on Parramatta Chair and Professor of Peace Studies, campus in February. Banaras Hindu University with commentary by Ms Julie Owens MP. Hosted by the Director of Equity and Diversity, Dr Sev Ozdowski, the forum featured special guest speakers Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Professor Andrew Jakubowicz and Ms Sandra Kanck.

June 2011 26 GradLife L-R: Guest speakers Jesse McKenzie, Helen Lyons and Scott Stephenson; Freny Tayebjee, Manager of Careers & Cooperative Education

CAN FUNCTION – BUSINESS MASTERS DECEMBER & PAY VS PASSION INFORMATION EVENING APRIL GRADUATION

The last 2010 CAN function was held on The Sydney Graduate School of CEREMONIES 25 November at Parramatta campus, Management (SGSM) hosts three with the theme of Pay vs Passion. personal consultation evenings each The most recent round of UWS Should graduates pick money over their year. Recent research has shown there Graduation Ceremonies took place on passion? Or can they have both and are a large number of managers and the Parramatta Campus in December create their dream careers? professionals who live in the Greater 2010 and April 2011. Western Sydney region, many of them There were three dynamic speakers believing they should be undertaking a More than 4,000 of our newest UWS on the panel: Helen Lyons, who spoke Masters Degree but have encountered alumni made the transition from student about going from Investment Banking barriers to actually enrolling. These to graduate across the ceremonies held to Human Resources; Jessie McKenzie, barriers include life complexity, concerns across the disciplines of study. who decided to pursue his passion with cost, and even a lack of confidence to play poker and put his Business for those that have never been to A highlight of the graduation ceremonies Marketing degree on the back burner; university, or are returning to study after is the occasional addresses. UWS and Scott Stephenson, who accidentally a lengthy absence. Graduands and their guests had the stumbled across ice hockey and opportunity to hear from a range of intertwined his Marketing degree and The consultation evenings provide an distinguished guest speakers including his passion for playing ice hockey by opportunity for prospective students Dr Linda Selvey, CEO of Greenpeace launching the Sydney Ice Dogs’ first considering enrolling in a Business Australia Pacific, Dr Tom Calma, marketing campaign. Masters program to discuss their National Coordinator for Tackling individual circumstances with the Indigenous Smoking, and Dr Robert The event was attended by current and relevant academics. SGSM courses are Lang, CEO of Parramatta City Council, past Careers & Cooperative Education designed to provide flexible learning, just to name a few. (CCE) placement students with their so if time or cost are issues, students guests, volunteer students and the are able to enrol for a single unit to For more information on the latest CCE team. begin the process. Many flexible entry round of ceremonies, or the upcoming and exit points are embedded in the September 2011 ceremonies, please The next CAN Function theme is degrees to cater for changing personal visit the new alumni website at Small Business vs Big Business, circumstances over the time of study. www.uws.edu.au/NewAlumni which will explore the advantages and disadvantages of working in a The most recent consultations were small/medium business compared held in May and August, attended by to a large company when graduates well over 100 prospective students. begin their career. The speakers for Visit www.sgsm.edu.au for more the evening will include Mahmoud information on the next available Kebbie, the Outdoor and Industrial consultation evening. Lighting Marketing Manager for Thorn Lighting, and Kristen Yates, the Human Resources Assistant and Return to Work Coordinator at The Le Mac Australia Group. This event will be held at Parramatta campus on Thursday 2 June 2011 from 6.30-8.30pm.

From Sustainably Managed Forests – For more info: www.pefc.org

GradLife June 2011 27 upcoming events 2011

29 JULY 2011 CENTRE FOR CITIZENSHIP & PUBLIC POLICY SEMINAR SERIES 19 MAY - 15 JULY 2011 ‘Cosmopolitanism, Provincialism, LAY OF THE LAND EXHIBITION Pluralism’ by Nikolas Kompridis, Imagery inspired by the landscape Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy, of Australia and beyond, featuring University of Western Sydney. photographs by Kim Armstrong and Yan 10.00am-12.00pm Zhang, and paintings by Jennifer Gabbay. UWS Bankstown Gallery open Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm SEPTEMBER 2011 UWS Werrington North SPRING GRADUATION CEREMONIES The next round of UWS Graduation 2 JUNE 2011 Ceremonies is scheduled to take place in COOPERATIVE ALUMNI NETWORK FUNCTION September 2011. For more information The next CAN Function theme will be on the upcoming September 2011 Small Business vs. Big Business. ceremonies, please visit the new alumni 6.30-8.30pm website at www.uws.edu.au/NewAlumni UWS Parramatta UWS Parramatta

9 JUNE 2011 OCTOBER 2011 UWS OPEN FORUM UWS LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ‘Multiculturalism, Terrorism and Peace COCKTAIL FUNCTION – An Indian perspective’ by international Further details will be made available closer guest speaker Dr Priyankar Upadhyaya, to this event. To ensure that you receive UNESCO Chair and Professor of Peace up-to-date information on this event, join Studies, Bandaras Hindu University. the UWSLA online at 5.30pm arrival for 6.00pm start www.uws.edu.au/LawAlumni UWS Parramatta UWS Parramatta

For further information on any of the upcoming scheduled UWS events, please visit our website at www.uws.edu.au/AlumniEvents stay connected UPDATE YOUR DETAILS, JOIN CHAPTERS AND STAY CONNECTED ONLINE AT WWW.UWS.EDU.AU/KEEPINTOUCH

The University of Western Sydney (UWS) holds our alumni in high esteem, taking pride in each graduate as they progress beyond their studies and into their chosen career. Assisting more than 130,000 graduates, the objective of the UWS Alumni Unit is to ensure all of our alumni ‘keep in touch’ with their University.

Immediately following your graduation or completion of studies at the University of Western Sydney, you become a valued member of the UWS alumni community. We encourage all of our graduates to update their details online and remain connected with UWS.

GRADLIFE MEMBERSHIP We also invite you to join the GradLife Membership Program to gain access to benefits exclusive to UWS alumni. To find out more, visit www.uws.edu.au/GradLife

June 2011 28 GradLife