MARCH/APRIL 2007 La Trobe UNIVERSITYBulletin HEALTH DIVIDEND from cell La Trobe make-over University 40 years young La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE La Trobe University – 40 years young 2 Report into credit disputes 3 Global Finance Conference 3 Corporate sustainability planning 4 Help for horticultural industries 5 Communication link with Mildura 5 Re-building tsunami-affected communities 6 Women’s honour roll 6 Research in Action La Trobe University Should I eat the fish I catch? 7 Understanding cell make-over 8&9 First trial of caseload midwifery 10 – 40 years young New Director of Health Sciences at Bendigo 11 Forty years ago this March, breakthroughs in science and become leading Abortion link with partner violence 11 La Trobe University was writers, composers and environmentalists. ‘We have much to be proud of at La Trobe 40th Anniversary officially opened. University,’ Professor Parish concluded. La Trobe – a genial gentleman 12 ‘Building on our reputation and tradition of Changing roles for rom a modest initial intake of 552 excellence, La Trobe is well positioned for changing times 13 students in 1967, the University future success.’ Master Plan has served well 14 has grown into what we know it • The ART of turning forty 16 to be today – one of the country’s Fleading and highly regarded universities, home to more than 26,000 undergraduate LA TROBE - THE MAN and postgraduate students including approximately 3,000 international students AND THE INStitutiON from more than 90 countries. As part of its 40th Anniversary Year Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger the University honoured the life of its Parish said: ‘The 40th Anniversary is a namesake in a public lecture, La Trobe distinct milestone for the University and we the Man – La Trobe the Institution: can marvel at the vision of our founders and Two Histories. the achievements of our staff and students Chaired by historian, Professor over that short timeframe, creating a Marilyn Lake, the guest speakers were University that is recognised internationally Dr Dianne Reilly, La Trobe Librarian for the quality of its graduates and the at the State Library of Victoria and excellence of its research. author of Charles Joseph La Trobe: La Trobe University – ‘La Trobe has attained a world-class The Making of a Governor; and 40 years young, see research reputation in numerous fields. two former La Trobe historians, Dr stories pages 12-16. The University consistently translates its William Breen and Professor John Cover background: research achievements into addressing Salmond – see reports pages 12-16. La Trobe University’s social, economic and environmental issues, Other activities for staff and students Bundoora campus working in close collaboration with industry during construction in during the anniversary week included a the late 1960s. and community. The University has many ‘Short Flicks Retrospective’ on student Design Greg Nelson. joint research activities, including significant theatre and film, a historical photo international collaboration. exhibition, ‘Reflections on La Trobe’, The La Trobe University Bulletin is published ten times a ‘These past 40 years, 117,278 students year by Marketing & Promotions, La Trobe University. a debate between staff and students Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. have graduated from La Trobe University. and a trivia night: ‘Blast from the Past Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, Many of these graduates have chosen to –1967 Onwards’. La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 work overseas in more than 100 countries Plans are also underway for other Email: [email protected] and are making a significant impact in local, Articles: Ernest Raetz, Rhonda Dredge, staff and student activities on each Adrienne Jones national and international communities. campus throughout the Anniversary Photos: La Trobe University PDI Design: Campus Graphics, 77100 ‘Amongst other things, our graduates year. Details will be posted on the 40th La Trobe University. run Australia’s top banks and publishing Printed by Work & Turner. anniversary web page. • Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin houses, have made internationally-hailed 2 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 NEWS Report into credit disputes Call for better education, regulation and support La Trobe University study has recommended education campaigns Atargeted at credit providers to help them handle complaints, and at vulnerable consumers to increase their awareness of services that can assist with credit problems. The study – Dispute Resolution for Credit Consumers – calls for consideration of additional regulation, both for the credit industry’s internal handling of complaints and for external The La Trobe study reviewed ‘fairly’ satisfied. Of the 40 per also considered benchmarks dispute resolution. It also VCAT and CAV credit dispute cent who were dissatisfied, for dispute resolution and recommends consideration be files and surveyed consumers 30 per cent were ‘very complaints handling, and made given to industry-based external for their impressions about dissatisfied’. Some consumers recommendations based on dispute resolution schemes. matters such as fairness considered it an impersonal best practice standards. The report was prepared of process and outcome, environment and said at times It concludes that additional by a team headed by La Trobe timeliness, accessibility, cost its processes were confusing. research is needed into credit University Law Professor, and effectiveness. It said user CAV was mostly perceived disputes involving ‘vulnerable Tania Sourdin, a specialist in satisfaction was a criterion in as friendly and helpful. For consumers in vulnerable alternative dispute resolution. determining whether or not a example, the majority of regions’. The way in which It was launched in March by process was effective. the interviewees felt that consumer credit matters the Victorian Minister for Professor Sourdin said CAV got at the facts (77.6 are handled in Magistrate Consumer Affairs, VCAT was generally perceived per cent), was impartial courts also required further Mr Daniel Andrews. as fair and that outcomes had (83.7 per cent), and examination. Apart from speeding up and met expectations: 60 per cent produced a fair outcome • streamlining current processes, of the sample was ‘very’ or (73.2 per cent). The report the report also suggests re- establishing the consumer credit ‘hotline’ for debt counselling and advice about disputes, China focus for Global Finance Conference and the funding of legal aid representation through he President of of Law and Management China and the rest of the VCAT, the Victorian Civil and China’s Economic for leading finance world, spoke on China’s Administrative Tribunal. T Cooperation Center, professionals, educators, and future economic reforms. Professor Sourdin said Mr Cao Baijun, and former policy makers. The theme of Professor the study analysed the Director-General of the Conference organiser, Moore’s presentation was the effectiveness, accessibility and World Trade Organisation, La Trobe Law School Head impact of globalisation with procedural fairness of dispute La Trobe University Adjunct Professor Gordon Walker, reference to the rise of China. resolution processes offered Professor Mike Moore, were said it was attended by nearly The two other keynote through VCAT and Consumer the keynote speakers at the 200 delegates, and papers speakers were Dr Geof Affairs Victoria (CAV). It was 14th Annual Global Finance were presented by speakers Stapledon, Managing designed to assist policy makers, Conference in early April. from more than 37 countries. Director, Institutional the Department of Justice, CAV, Held in Australia for the Mr Cao Baijun, whose Shareholder Services, VCAT and credit consumers first time, the conference centre fosters business to ensure processes function as was hosted by the Faculty co-operation between Continued page 4 effectively as possible. La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 3 NEWS Companies need to know more about sustainability planning A study into corporate Her research team helped industry itself in promoting sustainability the water company develop reporting, the reporting team coordinator’s responsibility has a sustainability report and role on the industry sustainability task revealed a lack of integrate those issues into force, as well as competition from other knowledge about how decision making to improve water companies.’ sustainability performance. Professor Adams carried out a joint ‘sustainability goals’ and ‘And we gained insights into study last year into sustainability ‘best practice’ how the process of preparing a reporting by 200 UK and Australian sustainability report can lead to firms. It found that more than two thirds can be integrated into improved performance and the of companies in Australia provided strategic planning. hurdles faced by organisations in no quantified data on performance or doing so.’ identifed specific targets for these areas. Led by La Trobe University Apart from insufficient knowledge She said the long-term survival Professor of Accounting, Carol Adams, about how to integrate sustainability goals and international competitiveness of it was carried out over several months in and practice into strategic planning, the Australian companies depended on their a water company and will be published researchers found other impediments ability to limit social and environmental