CQUniversity is partnering with Pioneer State High School to develop extra learning opportunities for high school students through an innovative new program.

The recently launched Learning Excellence at Pioneer (LEAP) program will help gifted and talented students flourish through specialised enrichment projects which are linked to a number of displine areas at CQUniversity Mackay.

CQUniversity Head of Multimedia Associate Professor Steven Pace, Pioneer State High School principal Joel Buchholz, Pioneer State High School students, CQUniversity engineering student Tony Maggi, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Dr Arun Patil and student Sasmit Dahal.During Year 8, students will work with CQUniversity staff and students on projects relating to Health Sciences, Engineering, Creative Arts and Multimedia and IT.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and Head of Campus at CQUniversity Mackay, Professor Pierre Viljoen said students will have the chance to establish a familiarity with CQUniversity and will be able to apply and extend their learning in a university setting.

"We see this partnership as an important investment in the future leaders of this region," Professor Viljoen said.

"By working with the students, staff and community of Pioneer State High School, CQUniversity hopes to break down the barriers between high school and higher education."

The first intake of LEAP students will start in 2014.

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) Bachelor of Theatre students will tap their way into audiences hearts as they prepare for their second major production of the year, 42nd Street.

One of Australia's top music theatre directors and choreographers Thern Reynolds, who is based in Sydney, has been working with students as they prepare to showcase the Broadway musical production.

Thern Reynolds (middle) with students Daniel Simpson and Laura Garrick. Head of Theatre at CQUniversity, Dr Judith Brown said a key feature of CQCM programs is that students benefit from the guidance, direction and mentoring by renowned visiting artists and directors.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to welcome professionals in the industry who provide inspiration, insight and expertise to enable students to reach for the stars and realise their potential - and this year is no exception."

Set in a Broadway theatre of the 1930s, 42^nd Street is a show full of lively tap dancing, that tells the story of a young dancer and her rise to stardom in a Broadway show. It includes the musical hits You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me, Dames, I Know Now, We're In the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off to Buffalo and Forty Second Street. 

"This stunning production showcases the talents of our students in acting, singing and dancing," Dr Brown said.

"It's shaping up to be a fantastic production for a wide range of audiences."

The first show will kick off on Thursday, 1 August at 7.30pm and will continue on Friday, August 2 at 11am and 7.30pm, Saturday, August 3 at 2pm and 7.30pm and Sunday, August 4 at 2pm at the CQCM Theatre, Boundary Road, Ooralea.

Tickets are selling fast, so be quick to avoid disappointment. For ticket sales or more information, phone 4940 7800.

Students during rehearsals.

The Australian Institute of Physics has engaged young people in physics through its free Queensland  Youth Lecture Tour 2013, held at CQUniversity Rockhampton and video linked to CQUniversity Mackay.

Aimed at year 10 to 12 students and science teachers (and open to other interested participants), the one-hour lecture was supported with practical demonstrations by Professor Christian Langton.

Professor Christian LangtonProfessor Christian Langton (from the Queensland University of Technology) developed the technique of broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) for the assessment of osteoporosis. His presentation described how Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging and Characterisation R&D within Queensland is enhancing medical diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Langton was awarded a DSc in 2007 for his extensive research contributions to the science, technology and clinical utility. He has been awarded a number of Professional Fellowships including Australian Institute of Physics, Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, Institute of Physics, Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine, and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, along with being made an Affiliate of the Royal College of Physicians.

Congratulations to CQUniversity Noosa Nursing lecturer Carina Anderson who gained a trophy at the Noosa Toastmasters Club annual awards ceremony recently...

Carina is congratulated by Toastmaster of the Year Tim Topalov

Carina received her Most Improved Speaker trophy for making remarkable progress in each of the five speeches she has given so far, including:

• 1. Icebreaker speech

• 2. My life as a ski instructor

• 3. Be what you want to be (plug for CQUniversity...)

• 4. Make a difference to your health and the environment: Ride your bike

• 5. Introducing Stanley (another CQUniversity plug)

Staff, students and interested members of the public are all welcome at a Diabetes Week awareness event to be hosted at CQUniversity Rockhampton on Wednesday, July 17.

This is a Queensland Health initiative in partnership with CQUniversity and Medicare Local.

LINK for a larger image of the event flyer

Participants are encouraged to come along to the campus Health Clinic for blood pressure and health risk checks from 11am.

At 12.30pm there will be a walk from the Health Clinic to the highway and back, followed by a barbecue lunch featuring healthy kebabs. Gold coin donations will be accepted for a diabetes kids camp.

Remember to bring some walking shoes and a hat. Water and sunscreen will be provided.

Organisers say that the CQ region incidence for diabetes is amongst the highest in Queensland. The 2011 Fitzroy region CQHHS data reports that 12,314 individuals were affected, and 6.27% (or 7046) individuals are affected within the Rockhampton Regional Local government area. The majority have type 2 diabetes and, for each individual with the disease, we know there is another not yet to be diagnosed.

Details are available via Veronica Mills on 4930 9009.

CQUniversity's Professor Helen Huntly has been invited to join a national advisory panel for a proposed project seeking funding from Australia's Office of Learning and Teaching.

The project aims to design, trial and evaluate the validity, reliability and impact of a Guide for the Assessment of Professional Experience of pre-service teachers. The Guide is to be theoretically grounded, evidence-based and aligned with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate).

Professor Helen Huntly

Bundaberg-based Professor Huntly, who is Dean of Education & The Arts, said she was pleased to receive the invite.

"Given the importance of professional experience within teacher education programs, it is vital that mentors are provided with the support required to make informed judgements.

"The assessment guide proposed through this project will provide an important foundation for the further enhancement of the already high quality teacher education programs we have in Australia, including our own at CQUniversity."

The advisory panel expects to confirm funding by November this year to enable a series of meetings in 2014.

Paramedics have once again been voted the 'most trusted' profession and CQUniversity's Paramedic Science educators have just sailed with flying colours through a site evaluation visit by the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA)...

LINK for a larger image of our Paramedic Science educators and visitors from the CAA

Program leader Anthony Weber says Readers Digest published their Most Trusted Professions list recently, with details via www.readersdigest.com.au/most-trusted-professions-2013 .

He said the CAA Paramedic Education Accreditation Scheme had provided glowing feedback after its July site visit to evaluate the CQUniversity program.

Dean of Medical and Applied Sciences Professor Grant Stanley said the CAA panel included senior Ambulance Service Executives (from various states including Queensland) and senior academics.

"They praised and commended many aspects of our program, staff and operations but what really stood out, for them, was the tremendous teamwork and engaged learning," Professor Stanley said.

"They were astounded by the spirit of cooperation across the whole team i.e. paramedic academics, professional staff, technical staff, academics providing the service teaching, etc.  otherwise known as teamwork.  They complimented what I have observed and known for some time - that is the tremendous teamwork and collegiality that exists in our School.

"We are the only distance education paramedic program in the country and the panel admitted to their scepticism (before the visit) about how effective this can be as a learning modality.  They left the University convinced that this is the way forward for education and that we are setting the standard for distance education in Australia." 

Social work, counselling and psychology professionals are invited to converge on Bundaberg for a professional development workshop by world-renowned health professional and life coach Dr Russ Harris.

CQUniversity is supporting delivery of this Queensland Health initiative by hosting the 'Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' workshop at Bundaberg Campus.

The workshop on the weekend of July 20-21 could also interest general health practitioners and Allied Health students, as it can assist those working with clients who are experiencing a range of difficult thoughts and feelings, including those experienced after a traumatic event. 

For registration please contact annabelle_heggaton@hotmail.com .

Since 2005, Dr Harris has been providing ACT training for over 14,000 Australian therapists, coaches, and other health professionals. He has also authored four ACT-based self-help books, and two ACT textbooks. The Happiness Trap is the most widely-translated ACT book in the world; now available in over 30 languages.

For details phone Madonna Chesham via 0433 313 902.

CQUniversity academics Professor John Rolfe and Dr Jill Windle have made a major contribution to a Scientific Consensus Statement on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Statement was released this week along with Reef Plan 2013 and a 2011 Report Card, following the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum in Brisbane. You can read the Scientific Consensus Statement.

Dr Jill Windle and Prof John Rolfe

Professor Rolfe was one of the lead authors on the Scientific Consensus Statement, as he was responsible for working on the economic and social factors affecting landholder adoption of best management practices. Dr Windle also made a major contribution to that chapter.

Both of these contributing academics are based on Rockhampton Campus.

Reef Plan 2013 sets the scene for work for the next five years. It is available on the Reef Plan website .

Rockhampton music lovers have a great opportunity to hear world-class music, with Aussie jazz legend James Morrison performing at North Rockhampton High School Assembly hall from 12.30pm on Sunday, July 21.

Fresh from his role as Queensland Music Festival (QMF) Artistic Director, Morrison will join the students and staff of CQUniversity's Bachelor of Music (jazz and popular) for a special performance presentation as part of the 2nd annual CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival.

James Morrison - Photo provided courtesy of Queensland Music Festival

He will also perform alongside two guest clinicians for the festival who are world-class trumpeters and recording artists, Bob Coassin and Jeff Jarvis.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend for only $10 for adults, $8 for concesson and $3 for school-aged children, with tickets available at the door.

The CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival culminates in a Finale Concert featuring performances from all participating jazz bands, with around 200 young stars on show.  This year, the Festival has attracted bands from the Rockhampton and Yeppoon regions as well as groups from as far north as Mackay and as far south as Brisbane.

Throughout the concert, from 7pm on Sunday July 21 at the NRHS Assembly Hall, there will be additional performances from ensembles from the Bachelor of Music program at CQUniversity and the presentation of awards to outstanding soloists and sections. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for concesson and $3 for school-aged children.

This opportunity is presented by Yamaha Music Australia, Creative Capricorn, Queensland Music Festival, and the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) based at CQUniversity.

Details are available via Jason Smyth-Tomkins on 07 4923 2247. LINK to the QMF promotion page.

Jason also has details about CQCM's Jammin' opportunity for high school students to gain a 'jazz and contemporary popular music experience' on CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus from September 21-23.

LINK HERE for details on Bob Coassin or LINK HERE for details on Jeff Jarvis

In the words of the famous Styx song; Domo arigato Mr Roboto!

One of Australia's foremost educational robotics specialists, Dr Damien Kee has been invited to visit Rockhampton as a guest for the 11th annual CQ Junior Robotics Competition hosted at CQUniversity's Community Sports Centre on July 26.

Since 2003, Damien has been conducting robotics workshops for teachers, educators and students throughout Australia and in overseas countries.  In 2007, his Domabotics initiative was awarded the Peter Doherty Award for excellence in Science Education. See http://www.domabotics.com/ .

Dr Damien Kee

Dr Kee has been heavily involved with the RoboCup Junior competition since 2001, at a local, state, national and internation level. In 2009, he was elected Chairman of RoboCup Junior Australia, and Technical Chair of the RoboCup Junior International Rescue Committee.

Damien is the author of several teacher resource books and is the former editor-in-chief of http://www.thenxtstep.com/, a website providing resources and support for users of LEGO Mindstorms around the world.

He is a member of the LEGO MINDSTORMS Community Program, a group of about 80 people around the world who consult with LEGO to make the MINDSTORMS system a better product.

Damien holds a PhD in Robotics and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, both from the University of Queensland, Australia.

The Rockhampton event is open to all primary and secondary school students within Central Queensland, including the area from Mackay to Bundaberg and out west to Longreach.

Entry is free for participants, friends, family and other interested spectators.

LINK for a larger image from a previous competition in Rockhampton

Registrations close at midnight on Monday July 22.

Click here for information on getting started as a participant

Click here for Information on getting started as a teacher or parent mentor

Click here to subscribe to the mentor mailing list

More details are available via http://www.cqu.edu.au/engage/cq-junior-robotics-competition

CQUniversity's Sherry-Kaye Savage has her eyes wide open to future opportunities thanks to her involvement in a Global Voices initiative.

She took time out from her daily life as a Physiotherapy student and Indigenous Widening Participation staff member on Rockhampton Campus to be one of six Australian delegates for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. This experience followed briefings by senior politicians and government officials in Canberra.

Sherry-Kaye Savage - back in Australia but with her eyes open to global opportunities

"Being thrust into this political world at the United Nations really opened my eyes to what happens behind the scenes in formation of policy and procedures," she said.

"I'm hoping to continue this sort of interest and will see where the opportunities can take me now."

Sherry-Kaye says her highlights included being part of a range of caucus discussions - including those on Indigenous Women in the Pacific and Indigenous Youth - and networking with other Indigenous delegates from around the world.

"We have common struggles and are working towards the same things," she said

"It was great seeing the steps of putting forward statements and documents for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples next year."

Another highlight for Sherry-Kaye was meeting with the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the UN Development Program, Helen Clark.

Sherry-Kaye Savage (third from right) with former NZ PM Helen Clark at the United Nations

"Helen Clark invited us into her office and was really interesting; she also had a really great view from the 34th floor of her UN building," she said.

Meantime, environmental economics PhD researcher Megan Star also represented CQUniversity during a recent Global Voices Initiative; in her case at the recent Nairobi Study Tour on Sustainable Development in Kenya. Ms Star's Study Tour visited several UN institutions in Kenya before travelling in the field to observe projects on the ground.

The Global Voices Project is a Student Services and Amenities Funded partnership between the Global Voices organisation and CQUniversity.

Applications will soon open to be part of Global Voices overseas delegations from October 2013 to February 2014. Details will become available via http://www.globalvoices.org.au/ .

Sherry-Kaye Savage (second from left) at the United Nations

Better sleep health could be a significant factor in addressing the health and wellbeing of Indigenous children and young people. However it has yet to be strongly considered.

That's according to CQUniversity researcher Dr Sarah Blunden, who has co-authored an article on this topic in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Dr Sarah Blunden

Dr Blunden says there's clear evidence that sleep problems in children are associated with deficits in academic performance, attention and learning, emotional regulation, behaviour and mood regulation, along with increased likelihood of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, bodily health problems and psychological health issues.

"While there is a paucity of comparable data for Indigenous children, some studies are beginning to report similar findings. Recent findings on the sleep of Indigenous children suggest that this group may also be encumbered with a higher prevalence of sleep problems," Dr Blunden says.

She says that data from various studies show that, compared with non-Indigenous children, Indigenous children report poorer sleep quality, decreased sleep duration, worse sleep hygiene, increased sleepiness, and more instability and irregularity in sleep-wake patterns, particularly in 'get up' times.

"Furthermore, these sleep problems were related to aggression, withdrawn behaviours, thought problems and internalised behaviours, reduced reading ability and numerical skills.

"Considering that sleep is one of the key requirements of good health, it is only logical that it should be explored, investigated and improved, and that doing this might have positive impacts on these children's lives."

Dr Blunden says health-related lifestyle interventions have been shown to be successful in the past. Such interventions could be targeted at an individual or community level.

"If they have a positive impact on even a single child, this would be an improvement on what is happening at present ... exploring whether sleep interventions would be an acceptable method ... might be worth the effort," she says.

Dr Blunden says research funding and cross-institutional and multidisciplinary research efforts into understanding Indigenous sleep are necessary "so we can attempt, through sleep, to close the gap".

LINK HERE for the full article in the Medical Journal of Australia

Dr Blunden is a clinical sleep psychologist and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research at CQUniversity's Appleton Institute in Adelaide.

Do Aussie TV trends reflect property trends in major markets like Sydney? ...

CQUniversity Property academic Dr Garrick Small has reviewed data on the screening years for 17 major TV programs focused on real estate, property sales or renovations.

LINK for a larger image of this Property TV table

From 1999-2005 there was a surge in auction-focused programs, including Auction Squad, Hot Property and Hot Auctions.

Then followed a lull for a few years before real estate TV started to surge back around 2008, with programs including Domestic Blitz, Hot Property and Selling Houses Australia.

The past few years seen a renaissance for property TV with the stalwart Better Homes and Gardens joined by Dream Build, The Renovators, Selling Houses Australia, Location, Location, Location, Grand Designs Australia, House Rules and The Block.

"Rising interest in property in the early 2000s falling off around 2005 reflected a hot market and optimism," Dr Small says.

"There was more stay at home interest from 2007 with renovations rather than buy and sell, reflecting the more sombre and restrained community post-GFC.

Dr Garrick Small

"Perhaps there's also a little jittery interest trying to talk up the market in recent years. The causality could be tricky here as my belief is that there is no fundamental upside left in most market (new/expanding mining towns and targets for military/government investment excepted) and the little growth that has been kicking about is more hope than reality."

CQUniversity is setting up face-to-face tutorial support for property students who have access to its Sydney CBD Campus.

The president of Australia's peak adult learning body, Professor Barry Golding has visited Rockhampton for a forum calling for a reassessment of adult education in Australia.

CQUniversity hosted the forum at its Ron Smyth Building in Quay Street.

Forum participants L-R Professor Barry Golding, Jan Crowley, Assoc Prof Bobby Harreveld, Shelley Truscott and Sally Thompson

Professor Golding, President of Adult Learning Australia (ALA) was one of the keynote speakers at the Building Rural and Regional Communities through Adult Education Forum.

This event was organised in partnership with CQUniversity Australia and also featured the ALA CEO Sally Thompson as MC.

At a time when Australians are dropping out of the workforce at unprecedented rates, one half of adults in paid work have completed no formal qualification since leaving school and a significant proportion of Australian adults have inadequate literacy to deal with the everyday demands of work and life.

The situation is worse in regional and rural Australia with young people living in rural or remote locations almost 50% less likely to hold either a higher VET qualification or university degree than those in other areas.

With so many people lacking the basic skills to effectively take part in and contribute to society, Professor Golding is calling for industry and government to refocus on the wider role of adult education.

"Adult education is about changing lives, building and sustaining communities, and ensuring that every Australian has the opportunity to develop or acquire new life skills; build confidence through knowledge and contribute to our diverse and rapidly changing society - lifelong and lifewide," says Professor Golding.

The forum was all about building communities through learning and highlighting the benefits of adult and community education in rural and regional communities.

It explored the partnerships between formal learning providers (such as TAFEs and universities) and non-formal community-based organisations, which deliver many socio-economic benefits including health, social, leisure and financial outcomes.

About Adult Learning Australia

Adult Learning Australia is the national peak body for Adult and Community Education. Its vision is for equitable access to lifelong and lifewide learning for all Australians.

'Lifelong learning' means learning beyond school throughout the adult years via the formal education system, in workplaces and through community participation.

'Lifewide learning' means developing the skills and knowledge required to engage in meaningful work, to participate fully as a citizen in a vibrant democracy, to live in harmony in a diverse, multi-cultural and rapidly changing society and to manage one's health and personal wellbeing, particularly in the senior years.

Adult Learning Australia is a not-for-profit entity with both organisational and individual members in all states and territories. Details are via: http://www.ala.asn.au/ or info@ala.asn.au .

Australian Olympic swimmer and come-back king Geoff Huegill was awarded an honorary Master of Sports Science degree on Thursday, July 4 for his contribution to the sporting industry.

View photo slideshow here

The five times World Champion butterfly swimmer returned to his hometown of Mackay to be conferred with the award at CQUniversity's Graduation Ceremony.

Geoff Huegill addresses the audience at the CQUniversity Mackay Graduation ceremony. Huegill was also guest speaker for the event, addressing more than 100 graduating students, to give an insight into his inspirational climb to the top and his well-publicised challenges along the way.

 LINK to 'Graduate Shae shares love of sport with Skippy'

CQUniversity PhD graduate Philip Tsang is hosting a major Social Media conference which has attracted speakers from 35 countries and more than 400 delegates.

The 18th International Education and Technology Conference and reception are being held in early August at Hong Kong's renowned Peninsula Hotel as part of its 85th Anniversary.

Prof Philip Tsang

Details are via http://www.socialmedia2013.org/ .

Professor Tsang graduated in 2000 with his PhD in Communications/Informatics from CQUniversity and is now recognised world-wide for his academic research and leadership.

CQUniversity PhD candidate Michele Lastella has been representing Australia in the emerging sport of beach soccer and hopes to play at Olympic level one day.

His latest tournament with the Beach Socceroos is the Asian Cup in Haiyang, China, for six days from July 10.

Michele Lastella pictured playing against the UAE in Qatar earlier this year. Photo by official photographer Manuel Queimadelos

Michele says the Aussies will try to qualify for the 2015 FIFA World Cup. There's also a chance that beach soccer may be accepted into the Olympics in time for the Games in Rio in 2016.

Meantime, Michele is involved in starting an Adelaide beach soccer competition towards the end of this year.

When not engaging in his sport, Michele investigates sleep behaviour in elite athletes. He's based at the Appleton Institute in Adelaide.

LINK for details on the emerging sport of beach soccer: http://www.beachsoccer.com/

One of Australia's leading athletes is throwing his support behind CQUniversity's plan to deliver more sporting facilities for the Mackay region...

Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill said the proposed Mackay Regional Sporting precinct, to be developed at the CQUniversity campus in Ooralea, will give up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to grow their sporting potential in their own hometown.

Chancellor Rennie Fritschy confers the honorary Master of Sports Science degree on Geoff HuegillHuegill, who grew up in Mackay and still has family here, said young sportsmen and women from regional centres are facing the hard decision of leaving family and friends behind to further their sporting careers. Huegill moved to Brisbane at the age of 12 in order to swim for Australia.  

The dual Olympic medallist and five times World Champion butterfly swimmer was Mackay today (July 4) for CQUniversity's Graduation Ceremony, where he was conferred with an honorary Master of Sports Science degree for his contribution to the sporting industry.

More than 100 graduating students were treated to an address by the inspirational swimmer, who was also guest speaker for the event.

Geoff Huegill chats with fans at the Mackay Graduation ceremony

With endorsement from one of Australia's most respected athletes, plans for the Mackay Regional Sporting Precinct are forging ahead after the facility recently received the tick of approval by the Mackay Regional Council and University Council.

The state-of-the-art precinct will feature an Olympic-size swimming pool, ice skating rink, athletics track and field, gyms, sports bar and chiropractic clinic.

CQUniversity Mackay's Head of Campus and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) Professor Pierre Viljoen said the precinct would be beneficial for the entire region, as well as tying in closely with the programs offered at CQUniversity.

"This facility will provide much needed facilities for sporting clubs, organisations, schools and the general community, as well as offer strong links with CQUniversity's learning and teaching, research and service delivery," Prof Viljoen said.

"Students who study at CQUniversity will not only be using the precinct for social and cultural activities but also to further their learning and practical skills as we look at the many innovative ways in which we can tie our programs in with the daily operation of this facility."

LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

Prof Viljoen said the future of the project is dependent on financial and other support from all levels of government, industry, business and community.

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LINK to 'Olympic Champion Geoff Huegill awarded honorary degree'

LINK to 'Graduate Shae shares love of sport with Skippy'

Long-serving IT specialist Ken Diefenbach has shaved off his beloved moustache to get his favourite music theatre role...

The CQUniversity staff member will play the clean-faced 'Pharoah' in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (a character modelled on Elvis Presley).

Ken Diefenbach prepares for his musical theatre role

Presented by Yeppoon Choral Society, Joseph will be performed at Yeppoon Town Hall on July 20 and 21 and on July 26 and 27.

Ticket details are available via 0478 053 248.

Shae Holmes may be one of CQUniversity Mackay's highest achieving students for 2012 but she's also on a par with Graduation guest speaker and Olympic athlete Geoff Huegill when it comes to her passion for sport.

Shae joined Huegill on stage at the CQUniversity Mackay Graduation Ceremony on July 4, when she delivered the ‘Response by Graduates' speech. More than 100 students were awarded their graduation testamurs at the event.

Shae HolmesGraduating with a Bachelor of Learning Management (Early Childhood Education) with Distinction, Shae is also one of the region's leading female golfers.

Since completing her degree at the end of 2012, Shae has been working at Emmanuel Catholic Primary School as a Year 3 teacher and says she is relishing the opportunity to fulfil her dream to educate young people in the community.

"Each day 26 children walk in with a smile and are excited to learn new things," Shae said.

"I had a great experience during my schooling life and want other children to experience the same.

"Teaching is also an occupation that offers a new challenge each day."

Shae, who has lived in both Dysart and Mackay, attended school at Emmanuel Catholic Primary School and Holy Spirit College.

While her teaching career is now her main focus, Shae said she won't give up competitive golf and is always finding ways to better her game.

"I've been playing golf for 10 years now and although it seems like a sport that is not traditionally for females, I have made many friends from all over Australia through the sport."

Michael Clarke is preparing for his graduation tomorrow with CQUniversity's Graduation Coordinator Sandii Gabel. Shae has represented and won numerous tournaments for North Queensland. She has also travelled all over Queensland and Australia to participate in competitions. She says she's thankful for the opportunities she has gained from the sport.

LINK to 'Olympic champion Geoff Huegill awarded honorary degree'

People throughout Queensland have access to a free seminar about 'Keeping Moving in Older Age', showcasing research on pain, osteoporosis and exercise.

The seminar is open to all who are interested in aging in the community. It will be held from 1pm-3pm on Tuesday July 16 at CQUniversity Rockhampton (with live streaming videoconference links to campus venues in Mackay, Emerald, Noosa, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Gold Coast and Brisbane).

LINK for a larger image

Participants will hear from University of Queensland leading experts, Professors Jenny Strong, Jennifer Nitz and Dr Tim Henwood about pain and chronic disease in older age and the importance of keeping active.

This presentation is hosted by the Queensland Division of the Australian Association of Gerontology, in conjunction with the Health Collaborative Research Network (of which CQUniversity is a member, along with Curtin, QUT and UQ).

This event is free but registration is important. For registration details and room venues, please email enquiries@aag.asn.au or visit www.aag.asn.au .

CQUniversity's Office of Indigenous Engagement recently hosted a visit from the Oodgeroo Unit of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), at Rockhampton Campus.

Professor Anita Lee Hong, Director of the Oodgeroo Unit, and Lone Pearce, Project Officer, met with Office of Indigenous Engagement staff to discuss employment issues and best practice models for engaging Indigenous people within the higher education sector, including governance matters.

Prof Anita Lee Hong, Oodgeroo Unit, QUT and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks, Office of Indigenous Engagement, CQUniversity.

Prof Lee Hong is Chair of the Indigenous Employment Reference Group, QUT, and they are currently in the process of developing the 2013-2016 Indigenous Employment Strategy.  She additionally shares responsibility of the Indigenous Employment and Recruitment portfolio within the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC) (Aboriginal Corporation) with Professor Stanley Nangala at the University of South Australia. NATSIHEC (AC) is the peak body in Australia on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education.

Lone Pearce, Oodgeroo Unit, QUT and Dena Dodd-Ugle, Office of Indigenous Engagement, CQUniversity

Given the release in 2011 of the National Indigenous Higher Education Workforce Strategy (NIHEW) and the recently released Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, stakeholders are all working towards incorporating the report and review recommendations in their institutions.

Prof Lee Hong and Lone Pearce will be presenting a report of information gathered from a range of Australian universities at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC) meeting in Townsville in July 2013.

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said that "the Office of Indigenous Engagement will have representation at the forthcoming NATSIHEC meeting in order to hear first-hand the best practice models of Indigenous engagement within the higher education sector".

 
Sandra Creamer and Marina Mikecz, Office of Indigenous Engagement, CQUniversity

CQUniversity leads the nation with a success rate of 75% for the latest round of ARC Linkage research funding, compared with an average success rate of 39% for all applications considered across Australia.

The funded projects will improve the reading levels of at-risk students, boost the train driver workforce and avoid bush fires caused by electrical sparks.

Deputy VC Hilary Winchester welcomes fresh research engagement with industry

"CQUniversity may be undergoing some internal changes but it can also welcome a share in $579,000 of fresh research funding, alongside news that it is the second fastest growing university in Australia," said Professor Hilary Winchester, the Deputy VC for Academic & Research.

"Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants enable academics to collaborate with industry specialists and other innovation end-users. This is an outstanding outcome for CQUniversity with three of our four submissions successful."

Professor Bruce Knight who is affiliated with Mackay Campus and Noosa-based Professor Mike Horsley will share $150,000 to merge theoretical and practical aspects of teaching reading through assimilating research with teachers' pedagogical knowledge and experiences to ensure sustainable, differentiated classroom reading interventions for all P-3 readers, particularly at-risk students. Their grant is shared with the Uni of New England and the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Adelaide-based Dr Anjum Naweed, Associate Professor Matthew Thomas and Professor Drew Dawson will draw on $234,000 to bring together Australia's leading hi-tech simulator company and Australia's leading rail human factors research team to 'reinvent' rail driver training technologies and techniques for the 21st century.

Rockhampton-based Professor Peter Wolfs will lead a $195,000 grant to improve fault detection in electrical distribution networks to avoid catastrophic bush fires. His grant brings together Western Power as the industry partner and Curtin University researchers.

"All of these are important projects - research engaged with industry on matters of regional and national significance," commented Professor Winchester.

Whether you're after textbooks, biographies, cookbooks or juicy romance novels, the CQUniversity Library Society's annual second-hand book sale is sure to impress even the fussiest of readers.

The book sale will be held in conjunction with CQUniversity Mackay's Open Day celebrations on Sunday, August 18.

CQUniversity Library Society members Helen Page, Dawn Eastwell and Jocelyn Wood sort out the huge variety of books on offer. Library Society members, who will celebrate the group's 20^th anniversary in November, have been busy collecting and sorting a variety of good quality second-hand books in preparation for the sale.

Book sale coordinator and committee member Kati Norman said they will still be accepting books from the community up until August 2.

"We're looking for textbooks, children's classics, fiction and non-fiction books,"

"If the books are in relatively good condition, we are happy to take them."

The Library Society is a volunteer organisation run by community members to raise funds for the CQUni Mackay Campus Library to help purchase resources.

They also offer bursaries to local students to help them cope with the financial burden of university study.

Guidelines for book donations:

• no dictionaries, encyclopaedias or magazines
• no pick-ups - please drop books off during library opening hours

For more information, please call the Library Society on 4940 7536.

10,000 Steps workplaces challenges the mining industry to move more.

The state's mining workforce will put its best foot forward when it signs up to Queensland's 10,000 Steps Challenge.

Director of the 10,000 Steps Program, Dr Mitchell Duncan said mining workers would join the many other Queenslanders who have already joined the program and started to improve their physical activity levels.

‘‘There's little doubt that Queensland's mining industry has always contributed significantly to our lifestyle and economy,'' Dr Duncan said.

‘‘Unfortunately, the nature of the work for many in the mining industry means limited physical activity, long periods away from home as well as limited control over what they eat.

‘‘The aim of this challenge is to encourage mining workers to improve their health and wellbeing by increasing their levels of physical activity.''

Dr Duncan said employers would also benefit from the challenge.

‘‘Workplaces will welcome the safety, financial and cultural benefits of a healthier workforce,'' he said.

"The program will see participants clip a pedometer to their belt or waistband so they can count the steps they take each day before, during and after work."

‘‘The goal is to increase the number of steps taken each day and for many people 10,000 steps per day is a good goal."

Dr Duncan said he would encourage the mining industry to make the investment in their staff's health.

‘‘The only cost involved is the purchase of good-quality pedometers,'' he said.

‘'It's also an idea to add challenges and incentives for you staff like creating team walking challenges.''

In Queensland, the 10,000 Steps Program is funded by the Department of Health and, as a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health. 

If you'd like to become a 10,000 Steps member or find more information about the program, visit http://www.10000steps.org.au/ or download the free 10,000 Steps iPhone app ‘iStep log'.

Visit www.10000steps.org.au to find out where to purchase your pedometers and information on bulk order discounts.

The 'track and trigger' system that Australian nurses use to recognise and respond to rapid patient deterioration could have some weak points...

That's according to CQUniversity Masters Research student Andrea Reid, who has explored nurses' experience with early warning systems within acute care hospitals.

Andrea Reid - Photo courtesy Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service

Her study results will inform policy makers and educators when developing strategies to facilitate the early recognition and escalation of the deteriorating ward patient.

"The findings from this study suggest there are a series of points where the process can fail on the way to getting the patient seen," Ms Reid says.

"Participants identified contextual factors impacting on their practice as: education and training, knowledge and experience, and working conditions and environment.

"These factors impacted on their decision making and ultimately effective communication for successful escalation to get the patient seen in time."

Ms Reid's thesis is in final review before submission to examiners. She is employed as a Nurse Educator at the Rockhampton Hospital and has been nursing for 22 years.

Track and trigger systems rely on periodic measurement of patients' vital signs (tracking), with a predetermined calling or response criteria (trigger) when a certain threshold is reached.

Physiological track and trigger systems (single parameter, multiple parameter, aggregate weighted scoring and combination) have been developed throughout the world and there are now a large number and wide variety of track and trigger (TTS) systems in place, with many variations having been made by each hospital facility.

"Given the success of these track and trigger systems is largely depending on the role of the nurse, exploration of the nurses' understanding of these early warning systems is important," Ms Reid says.

"A purposive sample of 14 registered nurses from across Australia agreed to share their experience by participating in individual interviews.

"Participants reported that while they understood the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS/EWS) system is a tool to communicate severity of illness, results to date show participants' main aim when using this tool is to get the patient seen and keep the patient safe.

CQUniversity is hoping to combine emerging wireless sensor network technology with animal behaviour research to boost the reproductive efficiency of northern Australia's beef cattle production systems...

Project leader Dr Dave Swain says there's a PhD student opportunity in this field thanks to a new scholarship open for applications, underpinned by an emerging partnership between Telstra and CQUniversity.

Professor Hilary Winchester (centre) with Telstra representatives Lydia van Niekerk and John Llorente, discussing support for research addressing regional issues

The Telstra-funded PhD student will work with Dr Swain to extend work that has been done to explore how remote automated measures of social behaviour can be used as indicators of reproductive performance.

Anyone interested in applying for the PhD scholarship can contact Dr Swain via d.swain@cqu.edu.au .

"The challenge for cattle producers is to be able to measure data that can be used improve cattle reproductive performance," Dr Swain says.

"This PhD project will address a significant industry problem."

CQUniversity spokesperson Suzi Blair says Telstra has selected the University as a partner because it understands the enormous impact of research focused on specific regional problems, challenges and opportunities.

"Telstra is being visionary in backing our region through the provision of this scholarship, as research is a key to our future prosperity in CQ," Ms Blair said.

"The establishment of the Telstra Research Scholarship represents a significant investment in the potential of the CQ region. It is great to see a major corporate backing our region in this way and providing financial support for the pursuit of new knowledge."

Telstra representatives Lydia van Niekerk and John Llorente recently met with CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Hilary Winchester to hand over the first of three payments for the Telstra Research Scholarship.

Professor Winchester expressed the University's appreciation of Telstra's partnership and ongoing support and interest in CQUniversity.

"CQUniversity greatly values the deepening of our mutual relationship for the benefit of our region," Professor Winchester said.

Prof Hilary Winchester with Telstra Area Sales Manager John Llorente

Younger protagonists and settings appealing to the teen market are closing the gap between adult and children's fiction...

That's according to CQUniversity Masters researcher Denise Beckton, who presented a paper at the Popular Culture Association of Australia and Zealand conference in Brisbane recently (June 24-26).

Masters researcher Denise Beckton

Ms Beckton's paper - Mum, what's a Blow Queen?: Tracking the emergence of the Steamies Genre - tracks how the emerging category of New Adult fiction is changing the way books have traditionally been categorised by age.

"This new and increasingly popular category and the sexualised sub-genre within it, known as 'Steamies', presents possible implications to many areas of society," she says.

"The New Adult classification is aimed at the 18-25 year old market; however, the impact of an increasing adult readership within Young Adult fiction, makes for a blurring of lines when it comes to appropriateness of reading material aimed at a younger target audience.

"Younger protagonists and settings appealing to the teen market are closing the gap.  Additionally, market segmentation, consumer demand and an ambiguity between YA and NA fiction is fuelling contention around the issue."

Ms Beckton is based at CQUniversity's Noosa Campus under the supervision of Professor Donna Brien. She is writing a Young Adult/crossover novel and a related dissertation exploring the new sub-genres of fiction being read by, and written for, this market.

"General anxiety about levels of violence and sexuality in the media and its impression on young people has seen interest groups such as parents, teachers and the church voice concern about the content and impact of such forms as films, computer games and social media," she says.

"In these discussions, the novel has been historically shielded from censorship to some degree, and its consumption instead supported by campaigns to view the written word as an instrument of inspiration and positive cultural change.

"The fast-changing sub-genres within contemporary Young Adult (YA) fiction are, however, leading to a wide range of emerging themes and concepts that are, moreover, being read by an increasingly younger market."

Ms Beckton's conference paper analyses a successful and controversially themed popular novel - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

"A case study of the emerging ‘Steamies' genre (aimed at the recently established ‘New Adult' market) will elucidate evidence of parallel indicators that have the potential to impact upon the YA field," she says.

"The implications of this discussion are relevant to a wide range of stakeholders in YA popular fiction: authors, publishers and their marketing departments: readers and their families; teachers, lecturers, librarians and curriculum designers; scholars of YA fiction, and others including researchers in the tertiary sector."

Award-winning Spanish film ‘No' will be screened on Friday, July 5 at 7.30pm in the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) theatre.

The film is about the dark days of the Pinochet dictatorship and follows the story of Rene Saavedra's fight for democracy to set Chile free.

Critics say the film is a mesmerising, realistic and hilarious view on the politics of power and the power of ideas.

Don't miss this film night, hosted by Film & Arts Mackay in partnership with the CQUniversity Mackay Library Society at the CQCM, Mackay campus, Boundary Road.

There will be complimentary beverages and light supper provided. Library Society members and students are $8, non-members $12. Library Society Membership is available for $25 per year.

CQUniversity Paramedic students have started what they hope will be an annual 'Bloody June' tradition, donating blood and funds to the Australian Red Cross.

Event organiser Cheniel Steinscherer said 'Bloody June' raised $194 from T-shirt sales and prompted 13 donations of blood and blood products.

Event organiser Cheniel Steinscherer and (inset) the event T-shirt

"As a combined effort, CQUni student paramedics have potentially saved the lives of 39 Australians, as well as donated funds to an organisation that provides support for countless Australians and their families each year," Cheniel says.

"The dengue fever outbreaks in FNQ somewhat hampered our efforts as they would not accept donations of whole blood, only plasma, and to donate plasma you must have a donor history with the Red Cross. But this only makes us more excited to know everyone who was turned down to donate this year, will hopefully participate next year and make it an even more successful event."

CQUniversity's Office of Indigenous Engagement is undertaking two Widening Tertiary Participation projects to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in tertiary education...

Marina Mikecz and Kathryn Webb discussed the Widening Tertiary Participation projects

The projects are:

Engage in Education - Community Aspirations Program (CAP-ED) which acts as a precursor to the existing Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP), focusing on building the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through small manageable learning projects.

Correctional Centre Undergraduate Pathways (CUPS) which aims to provide pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students residing in correctional centres to complete higher education qualifications. The project acknowledges that there are specific conditions in correctional centres and remote and rural communities that make engagement in an online learning environment difficult.

Marina Mikecz, Office of Indigenous Engagement is the Project Officer working on these projects.

Alan Nicholson, Department of Education Training and Employment (DETE) and Brett Heath, CQUniversity

"The CAP-ED project will improve retention in the TEP and have a long-term impact on fostering Indigenous cultural capital within the University and the wider community," Ms Mikecz says.

"The CUPS program will address access issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students residing in correctional centres and will improve their participation, retention and completion rates in tertiary study."

The Office of Indigenous Engagement is facilitating key stakeholder and community meetings for these projects and kicked the first meeting off in Rockhampton. A range of services and community members who work with disengaged youth attended.

Commenting on the first meeting, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said that "it was great to see such support for our first meeting and such commitment to improving participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in education".

The next meeting is in Woorabinda in coming weeks, with meetings in other communities to follow.

Alan Bird, Darumbal Community Youth Service

Mining is crucial for the economy but the fly-in-fly-out and drive-in-drive-out lifestyle can impact on relationships, families and communities.

With this mind, CQUniversity Psychology student Abby Chapman is surveying the experiences of resource sector employees and their partners.

Psychology student Abby Chapman has a survey focus related to the resource sector

"We are interested in finding out about your relationship satisfaction and perception of family functioning in connection with your FIFO/DIDO lifestyle," she says.

Participants will be required to partake in a 20-30 minute survey about employee work and roster satisfaction, partner relationship satisfaction and family dynamics.

Those who complete the confidential survey (via http://surveymonkey.com/s/FIFODIDOemployeeandpartner ) can go into the draw to win one of two $50 Coles/Myer vouchers.

To be eligible to complete the survey you must be an employee or a partner of someone working in the resource/mining sector engaging in FIFO/DIDO roster arrangements. Individuals must be in a current relationship and be over the age of 18.

Questions about the project can be addressed to Ms Chapman via abby.chapman@cqumail.com.au or Professor Drew Dawson at drew.dawson@cqu.edu.au .

Based in Rockhampton, where the resource sector has a huge economic significance, Ms Chapman has drawn on several influences to shape her fourth-year project.

She not only works for Relationships Australia as a child contact support worker, but her father runs a labour-hire company, and her sister's husband is a DIDO worker with the LNG industry.

Abby Chapman

"I've also found there's not been a great deal of research yet on this specific topic," Ms Chapman says.

Longer-term, Ms Chapman is also interested in the field of child developmental psychology, working with children and their families.

Congratulations to Karen Wade, the new District Director of Nursing for the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service...

Ms Wade was previously Director of Nursing for Mater Mackay for 21 years, after working her way up the ranks from a junior nurse role. She also spent 12 months as Mater's Executive Director of Nursing for the region including Rockhampton and Mackay.

Among her range of health qualifications, Ms Wade has a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) degree from CQUniversity. Her mother, three aunts and sister were all nurses too.

Karen Wade - Photo courtesty CQHHS

It's always interesting when you ask 'who has travelled a long way' to reach a Nursing residential school at CQUniversity...

A residential program for third-year Nursing students, hosted at Rockhampton Campus this week, included participants from around Australia, while others represented Zimbabwe, Portugal, the Philippines, Nepal, India and Canada.

CQUniversity campuses at Mackay, Bundaberg and Noosa also hosted residential schools, with around 300 students in total involved across the four campus programs.

L-R Joylyne Tafirenyika (Zimbabwe), Gyanu Maya Pun (Nepal), Jonathan Taniwa (Canada), Apple Gayle Naniong (Philippines), Jignesh Rami (India), Darlene Joanna Fabian (Philippines), Nirmala Shah (Nepal), Shalimar Batucan (Philippines) and Isilda Luis (Portugal via Sydney) 
LINK for a larger image 
Professor Kerry Reid-Searl (centre) with Res School participants

CQUniversity is listed in second place behind Australian Catholic University in a table showing 'winners and losers in Australia's demand driven system'...

The Australian newspaper published the table on its website this week (June 26) listing the percentage increase in student applications.

LINK for a larger image of students arriving for Orientation Week

ACU had a 36.77% increase, with CQUni on 28.22% and the University of Tasmania on 26.71%.

Six universities, including the Australian National University, had negative growth in applications.

CQUniversity's success follows significant investment in new degree programs and facilities across its campus network.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said, while the University faces challenges with a shortfall in the international student market, it is important to stop and reflect on "what has been quite an extraordinary accomplishment that we have achieved over the past three years".

"Since the introduction of the demand driven system (which many experts said would be the death of regional universities like CQUniversity), we have outperformed the domestic growth of almost every other institution to become the second fastest growing university in Australia," he said.

"A 28% growth in applications is a university-wide achievement. It has been driven by an investment in new courses, infrastructure and equipment. It was motivated by a need to make the domestic operations self-sufficient from international student revenue. And it was achieved by all areas of the university working incredibly hard and smart towards an ambitious goal.

"Today we have more domestic students than at any other time in our history."

Seventeen high school seniors were not daunted by the challenge of making a motor from household items, programming a robot and operating a conveyor belt...

The cream of maths and physics students from the Rockhampton and Gladstone regions converged on CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus this week for an Engineering Link experience.

Miguel Pengel from Toolooa High in Gladstone shows EngLink organiser Greg Millican his progress on building a motor. LINK for larger images

CQUniversity is proud to be a major sponsor of the event and local industry representatives also lent a hand.

The CQ Engineering Link Project is a key student recruitment event for CQUniversity to promote engineering programs.

LINK for a larger image

The event provides the opportunity to engage with year 11 and 12 Maths and Science students who are making decisions about their future careers and what university they will choose. It's an effective platform to promote careers and tertiary study in the field of engineering and mining technology.

The CQ Engineering Link Project is an initiative of the Engineering Link Group and, since its inception in 1994, it has grown to be the exemplar in Queensland and Australia for introducing secondary school students to the discipline of engineering. It has since expanded to cater for both year 11 and year 12 students.

Students also have the option of staying at Rockhampton Student Residences during the program.

More information is available via  http://www.telg.com.au/Project-Calendar.html

Victoria Plains' Madeleine Morgan is no stranger to the challenges faced by small businesses.

The third-year Bachelor of Accounting student grew up on her family's cattle property and has first-hand knowledge of operating a business thanks to her mother's local dance company.

Sarina Community Bank Branch Director Ralph Johnson presents Madeleine Morgan with her scholarship. Madeleine says her full-time job, along with her study at CQUniversity, allows her to fulfill her passion of supporting other local businesses and their involvement within the community.  

While juggling her studies, Madeleine has also been working as a full-time trainee accountant with local firm Flor-Hanly, where she predominately deals with businesses that operate in primary production and sugar cane farming industries.

The former St Patrick's College student has recently been acknowledged for her contribution to the community, thanks to the Sarina Community Bendigo Bank scholarship worth $4000.

Madeleine said the scholarship will provide much-needed support during the remainder of her program at CQUniversity.  

"The scholarship will allow me to further my knowledge through purchasing textbooks and other resources for university," she said.

"I've been inspired by the bank's community involvement and its ongoing commitment for local education, support and work experience for young people like me."

Madeleine is currently a Student Ambassador for both CQUniversity and CPA Australia. A keen dancer, Madeleine is trained in tap, modern jazz and ballet.

The Sarina Community Bendigo Bank is proud to deliver the $4000 bursary for the second time in 2013. The scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled at CQUniversity in any Business or Information Technology related bachelor degree.

Chair of Sarina Community Bendigo Bank's Board of Directors Ralph Johnson said he hoped the scholarships would assist students from regional areas to obtain a tertiary education, further their career and engage with their community. 

"Madeleine has an outstanding work ethic and a hugely positive attitude," Ralph said.

"We are delighted to award our scholarship to Madeleine as we can see excellent outcomes and commend CQUni for its support."

To find out more about the scholarships, please contact the CQUniversity scholarship department on 4923 2786 or the Sarina Community Bendigo Bank's Branch Manager Roanna Brady on 4943 2634.

Emma Scott grew up on a cattle property an hour west of Moranbah, where she was home schooled by her mother, with occasional help from governesses.

She's now progressing well in her Nursing degree on Rockhampton Campus and has gained one of the scholarships* provided by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to encourage students interested in 'non-mining' disciplines who demonstrate the need and desire to contribute to their local region.
VC Scott Bowman congratulates Emma Scott on her BMA scholarship

Emma says home schooling offered little time for socialising but had other advantages.

"I got to spend time with my mother every day in our old donga (which we called our school room) having laughs and sometimes even learning to draw pictures when we felt we needed a break," she recalls.  

"A more recent milestone is that I have already done some backpacking overseas and have travelled around the United Kingdom. While there, I worked and lived upstairs in a bar/motel based in London. It wasn't an easy ride I can tell you, but the challenge of getting around the world independently and knowing that you are the only one that controls the destiny of what your trip is going to entail, really opened my eyes up.

"When I got back from my travels, it was time I decided what I wanted to begin studying. Being a country girl, I needed a career that could take me rurally and also be flexible with my lifestyle for when a family came into the picture. That's the main reason studying nursing was a stand out to me; it ticked all the boxes as to what I needed and also what I was suited to. I'm a hands-on type of person who loves caring for and fixing anything.

"The BMA scholarship has helped assist me in my studies and I am therefore extremely grateful. Being at an advantage to significantly decrease my university debt, allows me to concentrate more on my studies rather than worrying constantly about how I am ever going to repay my university fees when I graduate. Being carefree in this way is a true blessing."

* BMA has awarded 13 of these scholarships in 2013. The Program offers 10 Community Scholarships as well as five Indigenous Scholarships, for students enrolling in non-mining related study programs like nursing, teaching, healthcare or business. Each of the scholarships provides up to $5000 per year to cover educational expenses for the duration of the recipients' study programs. The BMA scholarships were designed to alleviate skills shortages and build capacity in key service areas throughout the communities in which BMA operates. They encourage increased enrolments from people with disabilities, those who are female, those of low socio-economic status, those who are rural or remotely located, or those who identify as being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Details are available at www.cqu.edu.au/bma or via 07 4930 9456.

CQUniversity has hosted a component of a two-week study tour for senior officials from resource-related faculties in Mongolia, Peru, Indonesia, the Philippines, Zambia, Mozambique and Ghana.

The VIP visitors spent a day at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) located near Rockhampton Campus.

LINK for a larger image of the overseas visitors and one of their CQUniversity hosts Kim Harrington (pictured fifth from left in back row)

They were keen to find out how Australia's university system works in partnership with industry for research and teaching, including the funding models involved.

LINK for a larger image

Professor Brenda Happell has been putting CQUniversity's mental health nursing team on the map again.

As CQUniversity's Engaged Research Chair for Mental Health Nursing, her recent visit to the UK, Ireland and Finland was exhausting but fruitful.

CQUniversity's Engaged Research Chair for Mental Health Nursing, Professor Brenda Happell

In three and a half weeks, Prof Happell visited three countries and eight cities, took 13 plane flights and five train trips, and stayed in nine different places.

Highlights included a visit to the Institute of Psychiatry and meetings with Professor Len Bowers and Debbie Robson. Prof Happell also met Dr Mark Haddad from City University.

An abstract for a presentation about the 'similarities and differences in nurses' attitudes to the physical health care of people with a mental illness' has already been submitted for the Network of Psychiatric Nursing Research conference to be held in the UK in September.

The team from CQUniversity's Centre for Mental Health Nursing Innovation (CMHNI), including Chris Platania-Phung and David Scott, plan to write this up and submit to a refereed journal.

The physical health care of people with mental illness was also the focus of discussions with Professor Patrick Callaghan from the University of Nottingham. The team is currently looking for funding opportunities to support this important bi-national work.

Professor Happell says her visit to Dr Eddie McCann at Trinity College, Ireland is likely to result in collaborative research about the sexual needs of service users in long-term forensic facilities, led by CMHNI PhD candidate Chris Quinn.

"The focus of the visit to the University of Salford was to explore creative ways to involve service users in the education of nurses for mental health practice, with Professor Tony Warne and Dr Sue McAndrew," Prof Happell says.

"Then it was off to the 2nd European Mental Health Nurses Conference in Turku, Finland. Two hundred and fifty delegates represented 25 countries from Europe and beyond. The keynote and plenary sessions were high quality and a sobering reminder of the many challenges facing mental health service delivery across the world, with the similarities frequently being greater than the differences."

On behalf of the CMHNI team, Prof Happell presented research findings from the survey of nurses in mental health regarding physical health care, and from the impact of Louise Byrne's innovative teaching in Recovery for Mental Health Practice.

"The papers were well received and CQUniversity is now even better known beyond our borders," Professor Happell says.

Prof Happell has been on sabbatical since January 2 and has also focused on writing grants, publications and books, including a second edition of the textbook: Introducing Mental Health Nursing: A Service User Oriented Approach. She will back on campus on July 1.

Hundreds are expected to visit CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus on July 28 for the annual Bike4Life Charity Ride.

The event goal is to boost participation in cycling to improve community health and well-being, while raising funds for local charities.

There are circuits ranging from the 5km kids' event on campus, up to the 20km Ergon Energy Tour of the Town, the 60km Frenchville Sports Club Challenge, and the 100km Joncris Sentinel Services Beach Bash.

Details are via http://www.bike4life.org.au/ or bike4liferockhampton@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/bike4liferockhampton .

Registrations are now open for the 11th annual CQ Junior Robotics Competition, scheduled to be held on Friday July 26 at the CQUniversity Community Sports Centre in Rockhampton...

This event is open to all primary and secondary school students within Central Queensland, including the area from Mackay to Bundaberg and out west to Longreach.

Action from a previous Junior Robotics event

Entry is free for participants, friends, family and other interested spectators.

Registrations close at midnight on Monday July 22.

Click here for information on getting started as a participant

Click here for Information on getting started as a teacher or parent mentor

Click here to subscribe to the mentor mailing list

More details are available via http://www.cqu.edu.au/engage/cq-junior-robotics-competition

CQUniversity's Noosa Campus graduation ceremony has catered for 75 graduates, including Sunshine Coast locals and others who travelled long distances to celebrate their study milestone...

Some graduates came from other Queensland areas and even interstate for this event held at the Maroochy RSL Events Centre on June 13.

CQUniversity Chancellor Rennie Fritschy, graduation guest speaker Graham Wilkinson and Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman.

LINK also to Annerley focused on a 'more sustainable' child protection workforce AND
Tessa travels from Adelaide to Sunshine Coast to celebrate graduation

Two of those attending marked completion of doctoral awards.

Angelina Ambrosetti earned a Doctor of Education award for her research on Reconceptualising mentoring using triads in pre-service teacher education professional placements.

Annerley Bates earned a PhD for her research on Graduates developing sustainable professional practice in the field of statutory child protection.

Participants in the ceremony heard a guest address from Graham Wilkinson, the Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery Services, for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.   

......
Annerley Bates celebrates her PhD...
Angelina Ambrosetti celebrates her PhD  

To celebrate Earth Day 2013, the CQUniversity Emerald Learning Centre once again partnered with Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Cooperative (CHRRUP) and the Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) to highlight the benefits of this important day.

CQUniversity Emerald Learning Centre Operations and Project Manager, Gai Sypher chose to continue last year's theme, ‘The Community Garden'.

LINK for a larger image of the Duaringa Community Garden

"Last year was such a success with the launch of the Emerald Community Garden we decided to run a vermiculture and composting workshop to expand on the skills necessary for developing a permaculture system," Ms Sypher said.

The workshop was hosted by the Sapphire Gemfields Community Garden Club and was a huge success.

Community gardens around the world have been credited with an array of beneficial outcomes for participants, such as environmental education where participants learn about sustainable urban agriculture, biodiversity and improved waste management; and opportunities for training, employment and local economic development in the form of markets and food cooperatives. Nevertheless, the most significant and widely reported benefits are associated with individual and community health and well-being.

To ensure that the whole of the Central Highlands region could benefit from this incentive, the second part of the Earth Day Project saw the development of the community gardens at Duaringa and Springsure.

"The willingness and excitement of the community to develop these gardens is encouraging and shows that people do care about the environment and a healthier lifestyle. I hope to continue the University's partnership with this project next year," Ms Sypher said.

Vermiculture talks

A CQUniversity academic has a lead role on a new project aiming to give coursework masters students access to a 'creativity skills' MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)...

Professor Donna Brien is a chief investigator for a $50,000 seed project grant funded by Australia's Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT).

She says that while only a proportion of the funding will come directly to CQUniversity, "we are trialling what we hope is a killer idea for next year's full proposals round".

This will be the fourth 'Learning and Teaching' grant that Professor Brien has held as chief investigator. All these grants (previously funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council and Carrick Institute) explore aspects of creativity development and directly feed into Professor Brien's postgraduate teaching in the creative industries discipline area.

Professor Donna Brien

This includes creative project work in the Graduate Certificate of Creative Industries, and Masters and PhD theses by creative project and exegesis (interpretation), all of which are taught out of CQUniversity Noosa Campus and externally.

Professor Brien, who heads the Creative and Performing Arts Research Special Interest Group of the Learning and Teaching Education Research Centre (LTERC), says that this project will not only provide cutting-edge insights to improve postgraduate learning and teaching at CQUniversity. It will also generate some paid research experience for LTERC postgraduate students working in the creative industries area.

LINK HERE for the Learning and Teaching Education Research Centre OR HERE for more on the Creative Industries and Creative Enterprise programs.

CQUniversity has supported young Gladstone women interested in the minerals and energy industry, during a Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy It's all about ME (Minerals and Energy) program...

The QMEA event was held recently at CQUniversity Gladstone, catering for 80 Year 10 girls interested in engineering and career options.

CQUniversity's second-year Mechanical Engineering student Chantel Selmanovic (seated, left) with Arrow Energy Community Officer for Gladstone Melena McKeown (seated, right) and high school students at the event. Second-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Co-op) and Diploma of Professional Practice (Engineering) student Chantel Selmanovic took part in the program, providing first-hand knowledge and advice on her experience as a University student. She also took part in the hands-on demonstration of Direct Motor (DC) activity.

The program is designed to increase student awareness of the minerals and energy industry and the career opportunities that exist in the resources sector, as well as forming part of the strategy to address skills shortages faced by the sector, promoting industry diversity and ensuring sustainability.

Students mixed with industry representatives and were provided with career information sessions, as well as hands-on activities including spot welding, oil shale projects, environmental science testing and experiments.

For more information visit http://www.qmea.org.au/projects-2/its-all-about-m-e/ or phone Tammy Grady on 0428 750 029.  
The students take part in welding workshops.

The Central Highlands Regional Council recently hosted two Mozambican visitors in Emerald for a six-week internship focused on community engagement and development...

This has been possible with a partnership between CHRC, the Centre for Social Research in Mining based at the University of Queensland, and the International Mining for Development Centre.

L-R Heleminha Chirinzane (Intern), Lynda Lawson (CSRM), Mario Romao (Intern), Gai Sypher (CQUni Operations and Project Manager)

CQUniversity Emerald Learning Centre's Operations and Project Manager, Gai Sypher was involved in the program as a community contact person.

Ms Sypher said ‘Partnerships in Action', the practical part of the program, included visits to the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, the Australian Agricultural College and the CQUniversity Learning Centre, as well as a number of regional mines.

"All the learning has not been one-sided because we have all learnt a lot about each other's systems and culture," Ms Sypher said.

Lynda Lawson (from the University of Queensland's Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining) visited Emerald to check in on the interns and was delighted with the facilities available in Emerald. She is keen to develop future partnerships with CQUniversity. 

CQUniversity's Widening Participation team hosted the annual Great Race across Rockhampton Campus this week.

The race is designed to engage high school students in a range of problem-based learning team activities, in order to enhance their knowledge about the University and its resources.

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Australian artists often present revealing perspectives on our understandings of ourselves, others and the world we share.

The rich variety of Australian stories told through contemporary art was the theme of a recent art exhibition.

Independant Member for Gladstone Liz Cunningham, with CQUniversity's Owen Nevin and Sue Smith.CQUniversity Gladstone celebrated its 35^th anniversary with the exhibition drawn from the University's own art collection, entitled '35 x 35: Works from the CQUniversity Art Collection'.

The event attracted Gladstone leaders and residents, as well as staff and students from the Gladstone Campus, who were treated to a guided tour of the artworks by CQUniversity's Art Collection Manager, Sue Smith.

"The University has been collecting art for 40 years, recognising the crucial role artists play in telling a variety of Australian stories and inspiring creativity and enquiry," Ms Smith said.

She said the artworks on view referred to diverse topics including Queensland's economic development, appreciation of the natural environment, social commentary on Aboriginal self-determination, and astronomical exploration of deep space.

"The variety of works in what is now a collection of around 700 works is amazing, and emphasizes the University's view that art is a way of bringing people together through sharing diverse ways of looking at the world," she said.

CQUniversity's Owen Nevin officially opens the Gladstone art exhibition. ...
Visitors to the exhibition learn more from CQUniversity's Art Collection Manager Sue Smith during the floor talks.

Universities Australia says investing in Australia's universities is investing in Australia's future - but that future is now under threat. CQUniversity is a UA member and supporter of the 'Smartest Investment' campaign.

Details are available via: http://www.smartestinvestment.com.au/

UA says universities are crucial for our future, ensuring we are people ready, not just shovel ready - by driving the skills, science and research we need to remain competitive:

• Our graduates are worth an extraordinary $170 billion to our economy annually.

• Our universities employ over 100,000 staff and directly contributing $22 billion to our GDP (1.6 per cent).

• At around $15 billion each year, international education is Australia's largest export earner after resources.

• Australia has less than 0.3 per cent of the world's population but we account for over three per cent of the world's scientific research.

• Australia has produced 12 Nobel Prize winners

Every day over one billion people around the world rely on Australian discoveries to make their lives, and the lives of others, better.

University research and innovation leads to new products, services, industries and ways of doing things. Almost 70 per cent of all public sector patent applications come from universities.

Our universities are making the aspirations of Australians a reality:

Universities provide opportunities for a generation of young people - equipping them with the knowledge and skills for tomorrow's economy.

Universities provide the opportunity for young Australians to improve their lives with research showing that 88 per cent of families aspire for their children to go to university.

Our universities are a vital pillar of local economies:

Universities are significant contributors to their local communities by providing local employment opportunities, building vital infrastructure and even through local community and sporting grants.

In the regional areas alone they:

Directly employ over 10,000 Australians and are often the biggest employer in their local area.

Are providing the opportunity for increasing numbers of regional Australians to gain advanced skills and knowledge at university, enrolling over 100,000 students.

Closely collaborate with regional business and industry, helping diversity and transforming their local communities.

Contribute over $2 billion to regional economies each year.

Undertake research that has a strong regional focus but is of national and international significance. For example, regional university research has been central to the competitiveness of Australia's agricultural sector.

The importance of universities to our future competiveness is growing rapidly:

More than half the jobs created in the Australian economy this year will require a university qualification.

High skilled jobs are growing 1.6 times faster than low skilled ones.

By 2025, there could be a shortfall of 2.8 million higher skilled qualifications needed by industry and the economy.

As global competition intensifies, we must diversify and grow by creating new industries to transform our economy and strengthen our society. In short, we must build a new pillar of the economy.

The strongest nations in our region are investing in their best resource - their minds - by driving skills, science and research at universities.

Yet our universities, and Australia's future prosperity, is under threat:

There have been $3.8 billion in cuts made to universities and student support since late last year.

The latest OECD figures show our public investment in tertiary education as a percentage of GDP is ranked just 25th out of 29 advanced economies.

Since 1995, other OECD countries have, on average, grown their investment in university education and research by over 200 per cent more than Australia.

The time to act is now to stop us falling behind:

We must ensure we have a smarter and stronger Australia by proper public investment in our universities by supporting our University Australia's Smartest Investment Campaign

Through the campaign every Australian can send an email directly to their local MP calling for them to increase investment in universities, not cut it.

Website: http://www.smartestinvestment.com.au/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/smartestinvestment

Twitter: @investinausunis (#investinunis)

University education is the Smartest Investment you can make:

One extra dollar invested in tertiary education grows the economy by $26 and grows tax revenue by $8.

University education and research provides a strong base on which to build a new pillar to grow our economy (ensuring we are people ready, not just shovel ready) - the time for action is now.

Remember, investing in universities is investing in our future.

Leading geologists and coal mining industry researchers have converged in Mackay this month for the 2013 combined Bowen Basin Geologists' Group (BBGG) and Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) Meeting.

The event was held over two days at CQUniversity Mackay on Monday, June 17 and Tuesday, June 18.

The event had a strong focus on the continued commitment by the mining industry to research and development, despite the current downturn.

The Bowen Basin Geologists' Group at a recent site meetingRepresentative of BBGG, David Edwards, said the event attracted a large number of experts across a broad range of organisations to discuss continued research collaboration between the mining industry and peak research bodies such as ACARP, to make the mining industry safer and more efficient.

ACARP is an industry-funded organisation, with a mission to research, develop and demonstrate technologies that lead to the safe, sustainable production and utilisation of coal.

Representatives from ACARP also discussed current research that is being done in the Bowen Basin, as well as opportunities for research grants.

The event also recognised contributions to the coal industry and the advancement of knowledge of the Bowen Basin through the Leichhardt Award.

CQUniversity is in a unique position to provide training and education for the mining industry through a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. For more information on these offerings, visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/explore.

CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement Professor Bronwyn Fredericks recently visited BMA's corporate office in Brisbane and offered a facilitated discussion in their board room on ‘diversity in the workplace'.

Prof Fredericks spoke about the nature of diversity, offered examples of best practice and said that employers, organisations and co-workers need to ask themselves ‘why not', rather than ‘why', when considering diversity within work environments.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks visits BMA's corporate office in Brisbane. "I was impressed with their genuine interest in how to increase the number of people from diverse backgrounds in their workforce and their willingness to discuss practical strategies for recognising and valuing diversity within their various work environments," Professor Fredericks said.

During Professor Fredericks' time in Brisbane she also visited CQUniversity's Brisbane Campus and met with BMA's Paul Travers (Indigenous Engagement) and Executive Director of Indigenous Partnerships with the Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE), Angela Leitch.

They discussed the Queensland Government's Indigenous education initiatives and possible opportunities for DETE, BMA and CQUniversity to work together to improve education pathways for Indigenous people.

Paul Travers (BMA), Angela Leitch (DETE) and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks (CQUniversity). "BMA is committed to increasing opportunities for Indigenous people and working with others such as CQUniversity to better deliver education outcomes on the ground," Mr Travers said.

"I look forward to CQUniversity strengthening our relationships with Government and BMA as we work towards ‘closing the gap' in education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians," Prof Fredericks said.

People living and working in the Mackay region are now able to add to their industry experience in areas such as business, management, mining, health, education and government with postgraduate Management education offered by CQUniversity.

Both the Graduate Certficate in Management (GCM) and the Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) are being delivered in the form of coursework supported by workshops at CQUniversity's Mackay Campus.  The GDM offers an accessible pathway to an MBA with an additional specialisation in ‘Project Management in Infrastructure & Resources' now on offer.

The GCM covers the management of people, operations and finance via the study of three courses and can be achieved in 10 months while working full time.  

Those who wish can continue on to the GDM via three additional courses from the suite of electives, which now includes new courses in:

• Mining Law
• Project Management for Mining, Plant and Owners of Large Assets
• Mine Planning and Processes

On-line applications for Term 2 will close at midnight on June 23, 2013 and can be made now via this link: https://applyonline.cqu.edu.au/faces/views/applyonlineWelcome.xhtml

The Graduate Certificate of Management recognises that industry experience is highly valuable and also offers a fantastic networking opportunity for participants.  For more information please  contact Robyn Collins on 49407459 or email r.collins2@cqu.edu.au or Lyn Forbes-Smith on 49407867 or email l.forbes-smith@cqu.edu.au

Are your bones healthy and are they likely to remain healthy? ...

You can find out more while contributing to a new national survey exploring whether Australians' nutrition, sunshine exposure and physical activity habits are in line with the latest healthy bone guidelines from Osteoporosis Australia.

CQUniversity's Excercise and Sports Sciences program has devised the online survey so it is available to anyone aged over 18.

Excercise and Sports Sciences lecturer Dr Aaron Scanlan is an advocate for healthy bones

Head of Program for Medical and Exercise Sciences, Dr Brendan Humphries says the survey will provide valuable information for researchers and health promotion specialists.

You can LINK to the Healthy Bones Survey or visit the website below:

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1frtX7kF9gV4zom7V_CxNQhdwPAA9yoSlEKmPns6E3-o/viewform .

CQUniversity has celebrated the achievements of its outstanding alumni in their professional field or community service activities, through the inaugural Alumni Awards...

The winners of the Distinguished Alumni, the Young Achiever Alumni and the Volunteer Alumni awards were Ian Coombe (Bachelor of Business, 1986), Chris Shields (Bachelor of Engineering Coop, 2004) and Justin Power (Master of Sustainable Development, 2007).

L-R Ian Coombe, Chris Shields and Justin Power

Development and Alumni Relations Directorate (DARD) Director Suzi Blair said she was pleased with how many staff members engaged with the awards as nominators, nominees or referees.

"We have learned a lot about our alumni by conducting the awards and look forward to showcasing their achievements to grow the University's reputation, and also to engaging closely with the winners," Suzi said.

"We are open to any feedback our colleagues may have that will help the awards be successful - please let us know what you think."

"We particularly want to thank David Beddoe, Tanya Fleming, Andy Bridges, Bronwyn Fredericks, Geoff Higgins, Leone Hinton, En Li, Samara Lovekin, Larelle Fabbro, Melanie Birks, Judith Brown and Kerrie Thompson who all took on the important role of nominators - this demonstration of support for the awards and the CQUni alumni in your networks is much appreciated."

The winners will be officially presented their awards at the Rockhampton campus graduation ceremony in October.

Congratulations to the 2013 Alumni Award Winners:

Ian Coombe

The Distinguished Alumni Award is conferred in recognition of outstanding leadership qualities, and a commitment to excellence.

Citation: Ian has a distinguished career as a Certified Practising Accountant and has also made a significant contribution to regional Queensland, through key leadership positions in the areas of sport, commerce and community service. Ian is currently the Chair of Community Solutions Group - a provider of diversified services and community asset development, with a specific focus on regional Queensland. He has had a long relationship with Central Queensland Rugby Union and is currently chair of this organisation. Ian also played an integral role in establishing and developing the tri-ennial Beef Australia event in Rockhampton. Ian's commitment to sharing his leadership expertise and passion for development has had a significant, positive impact on his communities.

Chris Shields

The Young Achiever Alumni Award is conferred in recognition of significant early-career achievement.

Citation: Chris is an engineer who has been committed to pursuing education and development opportunities since his time as a student. By the age of 26 - only four years after graduating from University, Chris had gained a broad range of experience, sufficient for him to fulfill the requirements to obtain his Chartered Professional Engineer and Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland accreditation.

Chris is a role model for younger staff and an able team member when working with experienced colleagues. Chris' early career achievements are a testament to his active seeking of opportunities to improve his knowledge, skills and networks in his chosen career. 

Justin Power

The Volunteer Alumni Award is conferred in recognition of significant voluntary contributions to CQUniversity and the community.  

Citation: Justin is commended for being an outstanding member of the Central Queensland community. He is Chair of the Diocesan Development Fund committee and the Emmaus College Board, as well as displaying exemplary participation on the CQUniversity Rockhampton Regional Engagement Committee as a member and Chair. In this role, Justin develops networks and actively engages with people across the academic, administrative, student and alumni communities. He is tenacious in pursuing outcomes and his ideas have created improved accessibility to CQUniversity for our communities.

Hundreds of students have made the most of opportunities to provide feedback during the annual VC Student Forums series, held online and at CQUniversity campuses and study centres ranging from Cairns in the north to Melbourne in the south.

Participants made plenty of constructive suggestions, discussing everything from policing of smoking to course availability.

CQUniversity welcomes ongoing student feedback, including questions, suggestions and thoughts via communicate@cqu.edu.au. In coming months, students will gain updates on actions taken as a result of their feedback.

LINK for larger images. VC Scott Bowman chats with students at CQUniversity Sydney Campus

Paramedics working for state ambulance services or private industry now have an opportunity to advance their careers as safety specialists through a new specialist program at CQUniversity.

The Bachelor of Paramedic Science (EMS Occupational Health and Safety) will assist practicing paramedics to gain formal qualifications in the growing field of occupational health and safety.

Paramedic science students Cassie Fraser and Skye Krobath check out the University's teaching ambulance. “Occupational Health and Safety is a now a popular career move for many paramedics looking for career advancements both in state ambulance services and in private industry,” explained CQUniversity’s Paramedic Science Professor Brian Maguire.

“This new specialist program is a win-win for both students and employers. Students gain by having additional career opportunities, while employers benefit by having specialists who have been academically prepared for that specific safety role.

“Graduates from this program will be multi-capable. They will be able to respond to emergencies and also help to keep workers safe and healthy.”

The traditional roles of paramedics are also changing. The practice of paramedic services is increasing in specific business areas such as mining, construction, leisure and recreation. In addition, organisers of activities that are regarded as high risk such as motorsports, film and TV productions, and major sporting events, increasingly hire paramedics for these events.

Given the increase in demand from industry, and often the remote nature of these projects, having the highest level of emergency patient care with an associated diverse occupational health and safety role is highly regarded.

The program is a three-year part-time program available via distance education. The program is open to suitably qualified paramedics who will be given advanced standing in the course for credit of prior learning.

For further information about the Bachelor of Paramedic Science (EMS Occupational Health and Safety) call 13CQUni 132786.

CQUniversity Bundaberg is today hosting the CQ Engineering Link Project, designed to give secondary Maths and Science students an introduction to the discipline of engineering...

Students are participating in a one-day program with a range of hands-on activities, workshops and talks from industry representatives and CQUniversity academics and university students.

The CQ Engineering Link Project is an initiative of the Engineering Link Group. Since inception in 1994, it has successfully engaged with secondary students to help them make decisions about their future careers and what university they will choose.

The event is an effective platform to promote careers and tertiary study in the field of engineering and mining technology.

This is the first year CQUniversity's Engineering degree program has been available at Bundaberg Campus.

More information on Engineering Link is available via  http://www.telg.com.au/Project-Calendar.html

Rockhampton coaches, athletes and parents have free access to top coaches with a lifetime of experience at local, state, national and international level.

All interested people are welcome to attend a series of Coach and Athlete Development seminars on various Wednesday evenings scheduled between June and November at CQUniversity's Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct. Each seminar will run between 5.30pm-6.30pm.

Boosting sports performance

Enquiries are via Assoc Prof Peter Reaburn on 07 4923 2621 and RSVPs are via events@cqu.edu.au.

Panelists and presenters include:

• Steve Anderson (Former NRL Premiership Coach and International Rugby Performance manager, Brahmans Rugby Coach)
• Barbara Ahmat (Capricorn Claws Netball Coach, Board Member Netball Queensland)
• Ken Tucker (National and International Cycling Coach)
• Shane Kingston (Australian Junior Swim Team Coach)
• Kerrie Smyth (National and International Trampolining Coach)
• Peter Reaburn (Coach and Athlete Educator)
• Rob Stanton (Former National Powerlifting Coach)
• Amanda Fielding (Former Head Coach, Australian's Women's Volleyball Team)

The remaining Wednesday evening session topics:

26 June Coaching styles, qualities of respected/successful coaches

10 July Planning and evaluating your training plan

24 July Secrets to creating a positive team / squad culture

7 August Using sport science on the paddock

21 August Tips to help designing a training program

4 September How to implement training methods

18 September Tips in analysing technique and teaching skills

2 Oct Sharpening mental skills and nurturing life skills in athletes

16 October Promoting sports nutrition and recovery in athletes

30 October Keeping athletes injury- and illness-free

13 November Travel tips for coaches and athletes

If you're shopping online, are you more likely to buy fresh fruits and vegetables if they are pictured in someone's hands? ...

Is it possible to deduce the weight, texture and hardness (or softness) of a product viewed in a photo? Does the colour of the packaging play a part?

These are the sorts of questions being asked by CQUniversity research higher degree candidate David Harris who is working out ways to alleviate the resistance to buying fresh foods in an online environment.

Mr Harris will be carrying out some online surveys in coming months and anyone interested in helping out can contact him via d.p.harris@cqu.edu.au or use a standard computer to visit the survey site http://cqu.products.questionpro.com/ .

Researcher David Harris gets in touch with his subject matter while model Mikaela McTier-Browne shows how fresh produce can look in a photo. LINK for larger images

His research is being supervised by Dr En Li and Dr Kylie Radel.

A recent Victorian Supreme Court decision should sound as a warning for those interested in buying into residential complexes where short-term accommodation sits alongside permanent residents in the same block...

The Court recently decided that, from a building code perspective, it is not the length of stay that matters when deciding whether accommodation is being used as a dwelling or being used in a more 'hotel-like' commercial manner that would require more building work, including fire safety measures.

Dr Kristy Richardson from CQUniversity's Property program says the Building Code of Australia operates nationally so the Court finding has implications in other states..

She says unit buyers should be aware about the mix of tenancy and consider whether issues could arise.

"Indeed, sitting behind the recent court appeal were complaints made by permanent residents about the noise and other issues of the short-term residents in the building.  Those complaints were unable to be resolved through body corporate governance mechanisms," she said.

"Inspection of the body corporate by-laws are a necessity to ascertain whether there are any restrictions on the use or the minimum term for which the unit may be rented out.

"On the other hand, if a person is seeking to buy a unit in an apartment complex for investment purposes they need to take care to ensure that the by-laws permit this and that the management of the complex together with any disputes that might arise over any use of the apartment can be effectively dealt with."

Associate Professor Kristy Richardson

Dr Richardson says that the recent case involved a Mr Salter, the owner and manager of some units in a residential tower located at Docklands in Melbourne.

"The local Council gave Mr Salter a building notice indicating that the use of the units as serviced apartments for short-term accommodation contravened the occupancy permit that had been issued for the premises.

"The premises were classified under the Building Code as a Class 2 building meaning that the building contained two or more sole occupancy units each being a separate dwelling.   The Council did not consider the units owned by Mr Salter as meeting the definition of ‘dwelling' because those renting the apartment did not have connection with the premises considering the short-term nature of their stay.

"The Council assessed the use of the apartments as a Class 3 or a building which 'is a common place of long-term or transient living'. The Council required Mr Salter to stop accepting short-term accommodation or carry out the building work required to convert the apartment to meet the building requirements of a hotel under the Code.

"Mr Salter appealed the issue of the notices before the Victorian Buildings Appeals Board but was unsuccessful.  The Building Appeals Board considered that the nature of the use of the apartment for short-term accommodation meant that the apartment was not being used for residential but commercial purposes so was more akin to hotel-style accommodation.

"Mr Salter then appealed to the Supreme Court of Victoria.  The Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Building Appeals Board considering that the short-term use of the apartments did not automatically make the commercial aspect of the apartment hotel-like.  The Supreme Court did not regard the short-term stay of people in the unit as relevant to its classification in the sense that just because people stayed on a short-term basis it did not mean that the unit was not a ‘dwelling'.  The Court did not regard that the serviced unit use of the unit represented a need to change the building classification from Class 2 to Class 3."

CQUniversity's reputation for gambling research is paying off with three fresh project grants worth a total of $330,000 secured in the space of one week...

One of these new projects, led by Dr Phillip Donaldson, will seek the first ever validated tool for assessing the stigma associated with gambling; comparing the stigma 'felt' by gamblers with the actual level of judgment levelled at gamblers by those in the wider community.

"A scale that measures stigma related to gambling behaviour will provide researchers, policymakers, industry bodies and clinicians with a tool that contributes to a growing understanding of the gambling experiences of individuals and the impacts of gambling on communities," Dr Donaldson says.

Dr Phillip Donaldson

"We will be able to better understand how stigma is experienced by both recreational and problem gamblers, and how this might affect people seeking help for their gambling problems."

The 'stigma' research led by Dr Donaldson will progress thanks to $55,000 from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, with help from co-authors, Dr Talitha Best and Erika Langham.

Dr Donaldson is also on the research team for a $132,000 Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation grant project examining electronic gaming machine (EGM) environments that contribute to excess consumption and harm.

Led by Associate Professor Matthew Rockloff, the project team also includes Dr Matthew Browne, Dr En Li and Erika Langham. They will systematically analyse the environmental contexts of online, mobile and venue-based poker machines to determine which combinations of environmental and contextual features contribute to excessive gambling consumption and harm.

CQUniversity's Experimental Gambling Laboratory researchers are also involved in a new $143,000 project for the design of poker machine pre-commitment features, which is preparatory work for a trial in the Australian Capital Territory. This project is funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and will also be led by Assoc Prof Rockloff.

Drawing on more than a decade of study and experience, Brisbane's Annerley Bates has focused on the best ways to build a sustainable child protection workforce in a segment of the social work and human service profession where attrition rates have been challenging...

Annerley's doctoral research involved interviews with recently qualified Queensland statutory child protection workers who had been on the job between three weeks and 12 months after graduating.

        LINK also to Tessa travels from Adelaide to Sunshine Coast to celebrate graduation

Annerley Bates has focused on a sustainable child protection workforce

She has detailed recommendations about nurturing and supporting new graduates through orientation, training, supervision, mentoring, debriefing and the provision of career pathways.

"I wanted to show how graduates from various disciplines transition, develop and sustain their practice from the role of a student to a professional in the first twelve months of clinical practice," Annerley said.

Due to graduate with a PhD at CQUniversity's Noosa Campus ceremony on June 13, Annerley has completed all of her social work studies by distance education. Her journey through the undergraduate and postgraduate programs has taken around 12 years.

Annerley's first job was in child protection and she subsequently worked as a counsellor for Relationships Australia before gaining her current role as a Senior Social worker at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

When she graduates, Annerley will have become the first Social Work student to progress through her bachelor, honours and PhD completely at CQUniversity.

Her PhD thesis was supervised by Dr Daniel Teghe at CQUniversity, and Professsor Sandy Taylor from University of Tasmania

Annerley's latest project is building a family of her own as she is expecting her first child later this year.

* CQUniversity's Noosa Campus Graduation will be conducted in the Events Centre at the Maroochydore RSL Club.

CQUniversity graduate Tessa Benveniste has two previous degrees but she's still prepared to travel all the way from Adelaide to the Sunshine Coast to celebrate her latest qualification...

Tessa has chosen to attend CQUniversity's Noosa Campus graduation ceremony on June 13 to mark completion of her Honours degree in Psychology, achieved through study at the University's Appleton Institute in Adelaide.

LINK also to Annerley focused on a 'more sustainable' child protection workforce

Tessa Benveniste

During her Honours year, Tessa explored whether children's knowledge of sleep had a bearing on their sleep outcomes. She was supervised by Dr Sarah Blunden and Dr Kirrilly Thompson.

She continues to be based at the Appleton Institute where she's fine-tuning the topic for her PhD research, under the supervision of Professor Drew Dawson and Dr Sophia Rainbird.

"Broadly speaking I'll be looking at social factors around the transition of students from Indigenous communities coming to city schools and universities, and then back again to their communities, including whether their relationship with city students is helpful or not, as well as the impacts of their leaving on their home communities," Tessa says.

"I'm really enjoying the experience of studying at the Appleton Institute."

Before enrolling with CQUniversity, Tessa completed degrees in Medical Sciences and Psychology with Flinders University and the University of South Australia respectively.

Tessa will have some additional supporters at the Noosa Campus graduation ceremony (due to be held in the Events Centre at the Maroochydore RSL Club).

"My parents and my 88-year-old grandmother (who has supported me a lot with my studies) are coming with me. They are really the reason I am going to the graduation!" she says.

CQUniversity Noosa and Noosa Biosphere Ltd have successfully co-hosted the Balance-Unbalance international conference...

Dr Susan Davis (right) with Conference co-chairs Dr Ricardo Dal Farra and Leah Barclay

Balance-Unbalance took place from May 31 to June 2 within the UNESCO Noosa Biosphere Reserve - at CQUniversity Noosa, with satellite events conducted at The J Theatre (Noosa), and Lake Cootharaba as part of Floating Land 2013.

This element was part of a large installation titled 'Urban Flock' by Todd Ingalls and Mary Bates Neubauer. LINK for a LARGER IMAGE

Academics Dr Susan Davis and Angelina Ambrosetti helped to stage and research an innovative project involving Sunshine Beach State High School students, who performed an interactive drama titled Water Reckoning.

Conference participants in the CQUni Noosa lecture room

Dr Davis, who is also Noosa Biosphere Chair and a conference organiser, said the Water Reckoning drama was presented both live and online through an international Rolling Role Drama Project involving schools across the world. It will also be assessed during a London conference on 'drama for learning' in July.

"Well after about 18 months of planning it happened and the buzz at the end of the conference was so positive with many people saying it was one of the best conferences they had ever been to, and that included many in leading international cities," Dr Davis said.

"They appreciated the combination of the academic program, workshops, the friendly people, the installations and experiences of going out to Floating Land, to the gallery and getting a feel for the place. 

"It will take some time to work through the flow-on and possibilities that arise for us from this experience, but we are sure there will be many positive outcomes."

There are some more photos on the homepage of the conference website http://www.balance-unbalance2013.org/ and the abstracts and full papers (submitted before the conference) are already online http://www.balance-unbalance2013.org/program--proceedings.html .

A conference session in the Collaborative Learning Lab 
Part of the Water Reckoning project performance      
LINK for larger images

A group of Sydney students have been giving up their time to help new students on campus.

The Student Mentor and Leadership program, which has been running for a number of years, provides an avenue for mentors to share their wisdom and experience with new students. 

Susan Loomes (right) with campus staff Dr Marc Brennan (centre rear) and Sonia Chen (centre front) and mentors L-R Duy (Dave) Hoang Nguyen; Sudan Chandra Subedl; Olga Saboureau; Tha-Nuttaporn (Anne) Sukanantatham; Komalpreet (Kim) Kaur; Cong Tung (Ken) Nguyen; Thanh (Stella) Tran; Jia(Jacy) Xu; Yamuna Khatri

New students agree that having a mentor has really made a difference, as they have someone to call on if they have a problem or don't understand something.

From the mentor's perspective, it's not only satisfying but provides them with work relevant experience. They develop not only their leadership potential and interpersonal skills but also their teamwork and networking ability.

Campus Director Susan Loomes thanked the mentors for their hard work and reinforced how important their role is, and how it makes a difference to the overall student experience.

Each student was presented with a certificate of appreciation and movie tickets.

Trustees of the John Villiers Trust, Darvell Hutchinson AM and Marcus Langford recently had the chance to inspect CQUniversity's new teaching ambulance during a visit to Rockhampton Campus.

Signage on the ambulance recognises support from the John Villiers Trust, which fully funded the vehicle. John Villiers was a Queensland pastoralist who supported various charities through his lifetime and bequeathed his estate to enrich the lives and social spirit of Queenslanders.

L-R Lisa Hurring from Paramedic Science, Darvell Hutchinson AM and Marcus Langford from The John Villiers Trust and Professor Brian Maguire from Paramedic Science

This teaching ambulance is just one of many factors which put CQUniversity's Paramedic Science degree at the forefront of high-fidelity training and simulation.

The vehicle has been coach-built and fitted out in line with ambulance services throughout Queensland, so students will get a feel for working in a functional vehicle before going on clinical placements. It is valued around $240,000.

Prof Brian Maguire explains the ambulance capabilities to Darvell Hutchinson AM from The John Villiers Trust

Paramedic Science senior lecturer Anthony Weber says "the ambulance is another form of simulation that allows our program to be innovative in simulated learning environments".

"The new vehicle will also be involved with research looking at physiological fatigue levels of paramedics performing a simulated cardiac arrest scenario," Mr Weber says.

"It will be used by first-year students as an orientation to ambulance and ambulance equipment, the second-year students will utilise it for performing procedures and skills in the back of a moving ambulance, and the third-year students will use it for a scenario week at the end of term 2. 

"They will be dispatched around campus to a simulated case, whether it be a road traffic crash or medical case.

"All scenarios will be recorded and students will reflect and be debriefed on their performance."

CQUniversity is the only Australian university offering the Paramedic qualification through distance education, using innovative techniques and equipment to facilitate blended learning for both distance and on-campus students.

The University offers conversion degrees for existing paramedics looking to update and upgrade their qualifications, including several streams of specialisation to accommodate the various aspects of professional development. Our Occupational Health and Safety Specialisation for paramedics is the only one of its kind in the world.

Marcus Langford (left) and Darvell Hutchinson AM inspect the ambulance equipment 
The visitors chat with L-R Lisa Hurring from Paramedic Science, Deputy VC Hilary Winchester and Prof Brian Maguire from Paramedic Science  

School musicians will have another opportunity to swing into action thanks to the second annual CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, scheduled for July 20-21 at the North Rockhampton State High School Performing Arts Centre...

World renowned jazz musicians James Morrison, Bob Coassin and Jeff Jarvis will help inspire the young musicians as special guests for the event.

LINK for a larger image

This opportunity is presented by Yamaha Music Australia, Creative Capricorn, Queensland Music Festival, and the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) based at CQUniversity.

Details are available via Jason Smyth-Tomkins on 07 4923 2247. LINK to the QMF promotion page.

Jason also has details about CQCM's Jammin' opportunity for high school students to gain a 'jazz and contemporary popular music experience' on CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus from September 21-23.

Some of the participants in last year's Schools' Jazz Festival

More than 2200 runners and walkers took part in the annual Rocky River Run on Sunday (June 2), ensuring more funds flowing to help reduce suicide risk in young people, thanks to a partnership between CQUniversity and the Rotary Club of Rockhampton.

The two organisations have established the Rockhampton River Run Foundation for Prevention of Anxiety and Depression.

Some of the CQUni contingent for the Rocky River Run

The Foundation will help fund a study aiming to provide, and evaluate, services for anxiety-disordered youth and families at the Psychology Wellness Centre on Rockhampton Campus. This will boost the reach of effective intervention services and have a longer-term impact by reducing rates of depression and suicide risk in young people.

Rotary has confirmed that, due to the event's overwhelming success, it will be setting aside another $10,000 from this year's run, meaning there will now be at least $20,000 available for the Foundation in the 2013/2014 financial year.

LINK also to Getting runs on the board for youth mental health

CQUniversity staff member Melinda Scott was part of the University contingent at the Rocky River Run. Being fairly new to Rockhampton she enjoyed being able to see the 5km section of the journey.

Sean Peckover and son Hayden (on left) with other competitors Miles Logvik (5km winner) and Jason Paull

"My motivation was to get involved in a community event, meet a few other people from CQUniversity and contribute to a good cause," she said.

Meantime, Dr Damian Ryan said his motivation was more about staving off 'ever fast approaching middle age' and 'keeping the grey matter well oxygenated through exercise', while he enjoyed the weather, the view from the bridge and the finish line.

Another CQUni staff member Sean Peckover has taken part in the River Run every year, usually in the half marathon as preparation for the Gold Coast Marathon.

"This year my seven-year old son Hayden wanted to run the 5km with me, so we ran together in the aim of breaking 30 minutes (which we did - 29.12). It was a great atmosphere at the finish as usual!"

Crowds at the 5km start (top) and 2km start (bottom). LINK for larger images

CQUniversity is leading a national research team awarded an Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) grant to identify the key issues for regional transport systems (air and road) arising from the cumulative impacts of resource sector growth.

The team has been awarded $91,443 to focus on the implications of transport infrastructure across the economic, social, environmental and safety domains in the northern Bowen Basin region in Central Queensland.

Some of the key issues for the coal mining industry include productivity interruptions during flooding due to employee inaccessibility; fatigue risk and road safety for non-resident employees; and the liveability impacts of resource-based communities due to congestion of freight and passenger transport networks between mining communities and their service hubs.

Project lead Dr Susan Kinnear is working with CQUniversity colleagues Dr Delwar Akbar and Julie Mann in a team including Professor Prem Chhetri from RMIT, Dr Phil Smith from UQ and ACARP project mentors Mahdi Mason (from Caledon Coal) and Madeleine Verdich (from Rio Tinto).

Dr Kinnear said that the research project is of national strategic importance because, even though the case study location for the project is the northern Bowen Basin region of Central Queensland, it is anticipated that the research results will be transferable across a range of other regional mining operations (e.g., Surat and Galilee Basins, Hunter Valley, Pilbara).

"What is also important is that this research is in partnership with other universities within Australia and in the long term will populate environmental and social impact assessment statements by resource sector proponents," she said.

Professor Chhetri said that a key feature of the project will be to use whole-of-region stakeholder consultation to focus on finding solutions to emerging transport issues.

"This research will benefit the coal mining sector by generating datasets that will be useful in designing and delivering a more effective transport network," he said.

"In particular, the data can be used to underpin strategic decision-making and investment by both private and public entities delivering an integrated roadway system, comprising amongst others continuous haulage, logistics and equipment."

The ACARP project is entitled The cumulative impact of growth on regional transport infrastructure: Central Queensland case study. ACARP is a research program of the Australian Coal Research Ltd (ACR) which is a company established by the Australian black coal industry to manage all aspects of the program.  ACARP's mission is to research, develop and demonstrate technologies that lead to the safe, sustainable production and utilisation of coal.

Marlene Longbottom is passionate about Indigenous Australians giving up tobacco smoking and improving Indigenous health outcomes. She was invited to present a seminar for the Office of Indigenous Engagement on this year's World No Tobacco Day...

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks with Lexie Jarrett from the CQUni Health Clinic

Marlene is a Yuin woman from the Shoalhaven region in NSW who started her health career as an Aboriginal Health Worker in Rockhampton. She is finalising a Master of Applied Science and is about to embark on a PhD embedded in the Vulnerable Families project she is currently leading at the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUHI) based in South-East Queensland.

L-R discussing No Tobacco Day are Peta Steedman, Marlene Longbottom, Prof Gregory Gass and Assoc Prof Julie Hickin

As explained by Marlene, Indigenous Health Workers (IHWs) are vital members of the healthcare team, providing culturally safe and secure services to Indigenous communities. Their role is to provide a broad range of services, including clinical services and health education and information ensuring the exchange of health information occurs so that individuals and communities make informed decisions about their health care. The perception that IHWs should know better and lead by example is often a harsh, daily reality encountered by IHWs who smoke. 

Marlene's presentation highlighted research undertaken in three remote Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. It covered IHWs smoking, the barriers to stopping and potential strategies for change through the views of IHWs, by bringing forth their voices.

Marlene Longbottom and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks

CQUniversity Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said that "Marlene's work is important when one considers that over half the adult Indigenous population smoke, and that smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (1 in 10 adults worldwide)".

"Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. We wanted to support this message this year," Prof Fredericks said.

CQUniversity Music Theatre graduate Paul Tabone recently shared the stage with three of the greatest tenors of all time, Plácido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Andrea Bocelli, in a sold out performance at the Arena in Verona, Italy, on June 1...

The former Ingham boy studied Music Theatre at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music on CQUniversity's Mackay Campus.

Paul Tabone (pictured right and middle right) with performers in Verona including Andrea Bocelli (white shirt) and Placido Domingo (grey beard). LINK for larger images

In 2011, he performed the supporting principal role, Squelch in Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to the acclaimed Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies. After successful Sydney and Melbourne seasons the $9.8 million production was filmed by Universal Pictures International and is currently screening in cinemas and available on DVD & Blu-Ray in over 75 countries.

"I have been so blessed," states Paul, who gives thanks for the massive amount of support he receives from his family, friends, teachers and mentors every day.

"I'm not scared of hard work either," he adds.

Since graduating from CQUniversity's Conservatorium, Paul has been constantly employed in opera and musical theatre productions, an enviable trait for any young artist.

Paul Tabone pictured performing with CQUni academic Judith Brown at the CQ Conservatorium of Music Theatre

When Love Never Dies wrapped its Australian season he decided to move to Europe to pursue his career and further study as a lyric tenor, in where else but Italy.

Inspired by possibly the greatest tenor of the last century, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul headed overseas to commence study. He has studied with Internationally renowned Baritone Renato Bruscon and has studied in London, Wiesbaden, Milan and Florence.

Early in 2013, Paul auditioned for the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation in Modena Italy, a very convenient 15 minutes away from his current base in Reggio Emilia. The Foundation is directed by Signora Nicoletta Mantovani (Maestro Pavarotti's wife, who is also the Director of the Foundation and a prominent producer in Italy).

Signora Mantovani was won over by Paul's talent and has provided him with invaluable support.

On June 1, Paul represented the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation along with four other young tenors at the ‘sold out' event in Italy's biggest entertainment venue, the Arena in Verona. He shared the stage with Plácido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Andrea Bocelli in this concert; with an audience of 20,000 in celebration of the life of the great Maestro himself, Luciano Pavarotti.

In early May, Paul was announced as the recipient of the prestigious Brian Boak Developing Performer Bursary with a $10,000 prize. The Empire Theatre Foundation (Toowoomba) is the trustee for this prestigious scholarship. The Foundation's goals reflect those of the late Mr Brian Boak (prominent arts patron and supporter of young talent) to foster appreciation and involvement in the performing arts. The bursary is offered to talented young performers to achieve their goals.

"I am touched and blessed that the Trustees of the Brian Boak bursary at the Empire Theatre Foundation, considered me worthy enough for such a prestigious bursary. It is with support such as this, that I am able to fulfill my goals to become an internationally recognised lyric tenor," said Paul.

Currently Paul is mentored by Australian soprano (now internationally renowned) Jessica Pratt. Paul also currently studies with Jessica's father, Phil Pratt, who was the teacher and mentor to Jessica's success.

Twenty-six organisations have worked together to deliver the first report card for the Fitzroy Basin, focusing on the collective health of rivers, creeks, the estuary and marine environment...

CQUniversity academics Professor John Rolfe, Associate Professor Larelle Fabbro, Dr Claire Sellens, Dr Nicole Flint and Cassie Jones have been involved in producing background technical reports.

The Partners get together to launch the Report Card

The report card developed by the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health uses the best available science to assess waterway health for the Nogoa, Isaac, Connors, Dawson and Mackenzie river systems and the Fitzroy River estuary, as well as reporting on the condition of the marine environment.

The website is now live via: http://riverhealth.org.au/

Results were scrutinised by an independent science panel chaired by Professor Barry Hart to ensure that methods used for assessment were relevant to Fitzroy Basin waterways.

Partners invested almost $1 million to establish the Partnership and deliver the first report card for the period from July 2010 to June 2011. They supplied data collected via existing monitoring programs, which represent a collective investment of almost $10 million.

Professor Rolfe said CQUniversity was proud of its contribution as a major partner to achieving the Fitzroy Partnership's aim to provide a more complete picture on river health via the public report card.

The full report card, reporting area overviews, detailed data sets, additional information, river stewardship and grading information are available at www.riverhealth.org.au .

The Isaac River pictured beside the Peak Downs Highway

The 2010/11 report card will provide valuable information for comparison in future years as more report cards are produced.

Report Card results will be showcased at the Emerald Show June 4-5, Rockhampton Show June 7-9, and Biloela Shopping Centre June 13-15.

Fitzroy Partnership staff will also run several rural barbecues to offer the opportunity to discuss report card results and local waterways in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

For full details on sessions or to confirm your spot visit www.riverhealth.org.au/news or if you would like to offer to host a barbecue on your property, please call the Partnership staff on (07) 4999 2823 or email nathan.johnston@riverhealth.org.au

Fitzroy Partnership for River Health -

Major Partners: Fitzroy Basin Association (host organisation), Queensland Government, Peabody Energy, BMA, Rockhampton Regional Council, Anglo American, Santos, Rio Tinto, CQUniversity, Xstrata and Arrow Energy.

Partners: Jellinbah Resources, Vale, Wesfarmers, Central Highlands Regional Council, Idemitsu, Origin Energy, Stanwell, Isaac Plains Coal, New Hope Coal, Yancoal, CQG Consulting and Cotton Australia

Associate Partners: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland Resources Council, Agforce

Staff from CQUniversity's Office of Indigenous Engagement and the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) recently began the recruitment of student mentors at Rockhampton Campus...

AIME matches university students in the role of mentors with Indigenous students studying in secondary schools. Through the mentor relationship, CQUniversity students will be offered a unique opportunity to engage hands-on with Indigenous Australia, while developing their leadership, communication and cultural training and gaining practical experience.  

Discussing AIME are L-R learning management student Daniel Shaw, Prof Bronwyn Fredericks, Jess Timms, Dr Pamela CroftWarcon and AJ Thompson. Daniel was in KISS make-up as a participant in Relay for Life on campus

AIME provides a dynamic educational program that gives Indigenous high school students the skills, opportunities, belief and confidence to finish school at the same rate as their peers.

The program has proven to dramatically improve the chances of Indigenous kids finishing school. AIME also connects students with post Year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment.

AIME's goals for all Indigenous students involved in the program are to: increase Year 10 progression rates; increase Year 12 completion rates; and increase progression to university.

The program has also proven its ability to strengthen the links between universities and local high schools. It supports teachers to become more optimistic about tertiary education being a real option for their Indigenous students; and through a strong relationship with AIME, parents' belief in their child's chances of pursuing a university education is increased.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said "I was impressed with the enthusiasm shown by students at CQUniversity to sign up to be mentors for the AIME Program".

AJ Thompson discusses AIME with learning management students Mitch Bell and Jacob Borich

"This is an example of where students of the University are giving back to others within the region. I am really proud of the students who have made the commitment to be mentors," Prof Fredericks said.

To find out more about AIME go to: http://www.aimementoring.com/about/program/

Anyone who has considered becoming a researcher and those who are curious about the breadth of current and potential research projects have a great opportunity coming up in Gladstone.

Everyone is invited to come along and help celebrate 35 years of CQUniversity Gladstone with a Research @ CQUniversity day on Wednesday, June 5, from 11:45 am until 6.30 pm. 

Wastewater researcher Ben Kele is on the agenda for the Gladstone event. He's pictured showing volcanic rocks used in filtration systemsVisitors can find out more about CQUniversity's research capacity at Gladstone, the benefits of (and how to go about) engaging research, the capacity of research beyond Central Queensland and how to become a Research Higher Degree student.

Participants can hear more about CQUniversity's current research projects such as: Shiftworker Fatigue, Ecosystems, Gladstone Skilled Migration, Early Childhood Education, and Mechanisms to improve housing affordability in Gladstone.

For details on the presentation timetable and other features of the day, visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/research/event/ .

Award winning 'early childhood' researcher Dr Gillian Busch is also on the agenda for the Gladstone event

Chancellor Rennie Fritschy recently conducted official openings for the CQUniversity Sydney's new Distance Education Study Centre and Student Recreation Area...

He was joined by Campus Director Susan Loomes and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Higher Education) Professor Graham Pegg, who has since retired. Also in attendance were industry partners, special guests and alumni.

LINK for larger images: The Chancellor recently conducted official openings for the new Distance Education Study Centre and Student Recreation Area at CQUni Sydney Campus

The Distance Education Centre has been established to support CQUniversity's large cohort of distance education students in Sydney, through a combination of face-to-face support, provision of study spaces and enhanced access to CQUniversity systems.

The Student Recreational Area is a newly refurbished space designed to enhance the student experience. The multi-purpose recreation area provides outstanding facilities for social occasions and student events.

Both these new area further enhance the facilities and support provided to CQUniversity students, both on and off campus.

CQUniversity will work with state high schools in the Bundaberg and Mackay areas as part of a Regional Universities Network (RUN) pilot project to overcome barriers hampering maths and science education in rural, regional and remote Australia...

RUN has been awarded a federal grant of $898,880 for the one-year pilot project: RUN Maths and Science Digital Classroom: a Connected Model for all of Australia.

The project objectives are to develop a virtual centre for school support in mathematics and science that will deliver innovative modes of engagement, support and expertise to students and their teachers in schools in regional and rural Australia. The connectivity for the Virtual Centre will also form the basis for professional development of teachers.

The grant under the Government's Australian Maths and Science Partnership Program (AMSPP) was announced by the Minister for Higher Education and Skills Sharon Bird on May 28. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said RUN gave CQUniversity a springboard to network across Australia, bringing the best available national expertise together to focus on challenges facing rural and regional areas. Professor Bowman noted CQUniversity had a reputation for mathematics excellence, reflected in its 2012 ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) 'well above world standard' rankings in Mathematical Sciences and Applied Mathematics.

RUN Chair Professor David Battersby said rural, regional and remote Australia faced many impediments to the effective teaching of maths and science.

Follow the Regional Universities Network on: Twitter: @RegUniNet & Facebook: www.facebook.com/RegionalUniversitiesNetwork

"Schools in rural, regional and remote Australia struggle to maintain equivalent educational standards in science and maths as compared to those in metropolitan areas," Professor Battersby said.

"Barriers to effective education include lack of infrastructure and support for teachers, high staff turnover, and difficulty filling vacancies with specialist staff.

"The project will address these issues and involve schools in regional and peri-urban Australia where there are high proportions of disadvantaged students, and where, arguably, the challenges and needs are the greatest. However, once developed, the model will be readily scalable and replicable to any educational context nationally."

Professor Battersby said he was delighted with the grant which will lead to RUN's six universities partnering with more than 20 schools, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) to encourage the study and teaching of maths and science in regional Australia.

"This project will create an interest in science and maths amongst regional students and their teachers that can be applied to real world tasks and challenges.

"A virtual centre using existing technology and high-speed broadband, where available, will link Year 9 and 10 students from their classrooms to experts in our universities and partner organisations.

"A range of maths and science activities, including collaborative experiments, will be delivered.

"The virtual centre, complemented by in classroom training, will form the basis for the professional development of teachers through engagement with experts, building on the well established intensive mathematics education program offered by AMSI.

"A national, two-day teacher professional development program will be held at each of the RUN partner universities and be facilitated through the PICSE program, which encourages the study of agricultural and related sciences.

"The RUN universities have strong track records in the attraction and support of significantly diverse student constituencies that include high proportions of disadvantaged and underrepresented students. Four of the universities have been at the forefront of distance (external) education and outreach for more than three decades and are now leaders in online education.

"RUN forms a powerful, collaborative network which will enhance the study and teaching of maths and science in regional Australia, and hence make a substantive impact nationally," Professor Battersby said.

CQUniversity researchers are part-way through a six-month trial of a specialist nurse position focused on the physical health of people with a mental illness...

The trial of a ‘cardiometabolic health nurse' - possibly a world first - has been developed in light of figures indicating that people with a mental illness face a lifespan almost three decades shorter than those from the general population.

Professor Brenda Happell

Researchers led by Professor Brenda Happell at CQUniversity's Institute for Health and Social Science Research and Centre for Mental Health Nursing Innovation, believe that a focus on treatments for mental illness can lead to under-treatment of physical health factors leading to cardiac disease and diabetes.

The cardiometabolic health nurse role will address this by linking people with a mental illness with primary health care providers. This will involve referrals to doctors for routine blood tests such as cholesterol and diabetes screening, referrals to dieticians and exercise physiologists for lifestyle advice, and referrals for dental and sexual healthcare. The cardiometabolic health nurse will co-ordinate and follow up on these referrals leading to better physical healthcare for those with a mental illness.

The current trial represents a partnership with Central Queensland Mental Health Service and is funded by the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation. It involves voluntary referrals.

The spirit of Reconciliation Week (May 27-June 3) is alive and well in CQUniversity.

The Office of Indigenous Engagement selected Reconciliation Week to launch its consultation process towards developing CQUniversity's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

CQUni Council member Dr Robyn Minchinton with Professor Bronwyn Fredericks from the Office of Indigenous Engagement

The theme for this year's week is 'Let's Talk Recognition' which focuses on how Australians can better recognise each other and recognise the histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said that "starting off CQUniversity's Reconciliation Action Plan consultation this week through talking offers us all a time to reflect on our histories, cultures, contributions and achievements and what we want for the future".

The consultation will be based on CQUniversity's Reconciliation Statement developed in 2002.

"When the Statement was developed, the University was one of the few universities with such a commitment to meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is time now to re-energise the Statement into a Reconciliation Action Plan," explained Prof Fredericks.

Staff, students, Elders and community members were encouraged to provide feedback on what should be in the Plan, both verbally and by writing down ideas on a long sheet of paper stretched across several tables. Professor Fredericks said the ‘consultation' would happen in other parts of the CQ region in coming months to give a wide range of people input.

L-R Dena Dodd-Ugle (CQUni Office of Indigenous Engagement) with Barbara Hatfield from Qld Health and CQUni staff members Julie Mann and Sandi Worsley

The launch, talk of reconciliation and recognition of shared histories was shared over the tastes of emu, kangaroo and crocodile cooked in contemporary styles. For example, the menu included crocodile in rice paper rolls with pineapple chilli dressing, emu san choi bow and more. For some people this was the first time they had tried Indigenous foods.

Other CQUniversity Reconciliation Action Plan consultation events will be held in Mackay, Bundaberg and Gladstone and through ISL links to other campuses. For details visit www.reconciliation.org.au/

Sandra Creamer from CQUni's Office of Indigenous Engagement (second from left) with L-R CQUni students Kiha Bonney and Donna Reid, and Yeppoon High student Ivannah Stanley 
CQUni Council member Dr Robyn Minchinton, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks from CQUni Office of Indigenous Engagement, Barbara Hatfield from Qld Health and Alan Bird, Darumbal Community Youth Service  
Dena Dodd-Ugle from CQUni's Office of Indigenous Engagement with Samantha Lawson and Heidi Lawson from the Iman Nation and their friend Carrington Edwards 
Professor Bronwyn Fredericks addresses participants in the consultation event 
Participants were encouraged to write ideas on a long table 
Alan Bird from Darumbal Community Youth Service with Sandra Creamer from CQUni Office of Indigenous Engagement 
Barbara Hatfield from Qld Health with Narelle Pasco (representing the National Congress of Australia's First People) and Kaylene Butler from Kima Consultant 
Didgeridoo player Mick Ambyrum with Clem Domic from Glenmore Primary School 
Special foods included (from top down) croc in rice paper rolls, emu san choi bow and kangaroo

The University Book Club's latest reading is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and new members are welcome at the next meeting from 5.30pm on Monday, June 17.

The club meets at the top level of the CQUniversity Library on Rockhampton Campus and meetings usually end around 7pm.

The meetings up until the end of the year are: 
 
July 15: Christina Stead, The Man Who Loved Children
August 19: Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending
Sept 16: Janette Turner Hospital, Charades
Oct 21: Participants' choice
Nov 18: Anna Funder, All That I Am

Spare copies of the book will be held at the main desk of the library and the books can also be purchased at a discount at the University bookstore on campus.
 
Details are available from Susan Yates via 0410 878 536 or syates57@hotmail.com .

"We are a friendly group and we do not expect that members should necessarily have read the entire book for the month," Susan says. "At our last meeting, one person had not read Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, but she still enjoyed our discussion."
 

CQUniversity's geology team is baffled by an assortment of minerals and specimens that were brought to the University by Volle Posa, a travelling fossicker who is based inland from the Sunshine Coast.

Volle, originally from Croatia, says he has been fossicking for 66 years.

Volle Posa` and CQUniversity's Dr Andrew Hammond with rare minerals.Dr Andrew Hammond, Senior Lecturer in Geoscience said he would be interested to see what is picked up when he takes the specimens down to CQUniversity Rockhampton to use x-ray florescent technology (XRF) on the minerals.

"We will be able to find out the elemental compositions of these minerals using our XRF equipment," Dr Hammond said.  

"These minerals have been created in very unique geological environments and are very rare so it will be very interesting to see what their geochemical compositions are and postulate as to how they were created."

Dr Hammond said it will also be a good opportunity to seek other expert advice from geologists from across the region when the combined Bowen Basin Geologists' Group and Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) Conference is held at CQUniversity Mackay in June.

Rockhampton Communities for Children and CQUniversity have hosted this year's ‘Romp in the Park' which is a children's festival designed to help bring the community together. ‘ROMP' was held in the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.

Photos contributed by Peter Lawrence ...

CQUniversity Sydney graduate Shakir Karim is proud to have received more career recognition from his employer SAI Global; this time in the shape of a 'Most Valuable Player for March and April 2013' reference in a company newsletter.

Over a period of more than five years, Shakir has often been recognised for his 'valued' work as a member of the NSW Professional Services team, where his daily responsibilities include court filing, stamping and registration work.

Shakir Karim

SAI Global provides organisations around the world with information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement.

Shakir has been juggling his work at SAI Global with research towards his Master of Informatics, for which he is analysing Bangladeshi consumers' E-Commerce security and privacy satisfaction in small to medium-sized business, under the supervision of Dr Ergun Gide.

The Bachelor of Information Systems (2006) and Masters of Information Systems (2008) graduate grew up in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, before moving to Australia to study with CQUniversity.

Thirty-five secondary school maths teachers recently converged in Gladstone to gain insights on the use of mathematics for project management.

CQUniversity project management specialist Richard Egelstaff discussed the use of mathematics at various stages of the project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, scheduling, budgeting and assessing risk.

CQUniversity academic Richard Egelstaff with Gregory Hage from Toolooa State High School (left) and Farshid Paymon from Tannum State High School

The twilight professional development session was facilitated by Ruth Kinslow from the Queensland Centre for Professional Development in recognition that teachers are often challenged to explain the application of classroom maths in the real world.

LINK for a larger image 

Six CQUniversity students are among 25 Indigenous students from around Queensland who have been awarded Arrow Energy scholarships of between $5000-$10,000 to help them with their university studies...

The students were recently presented with their awards by Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes and Arrow CEO Andrew Faulkner, at the launch of Arrow's Reconciliation Action Plan at QUT Gardens Point.

Clockwise from top left Allanah Hunt, Yarrndji Gapu Ingra, Elyce Wykes, Stacey Budby, Margaret Hornagold and Lauren Roth

The scholarships allow students to access academic support resources such as stationery, textbooks, internet access and IT as well as travel, accommodation and living expenses.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said she was pleased with the outcome of the Arrow Energy Scholarship round for 2013 and congratulated the recipients.

"Scholarships such as these can make a huge difference to students in terms of supporting them to stay at university and to get the important equipment they need to fully participate," Professor Fredericks said.

LINK HERE for more Arrow Energy Scholarship photos

Yarrndji Gapu Ingra of Gladstone has started the first year of his Bachelor of Engineering Co-op at CQUniversity after completing his schooling at St Brendan's College in Yeppoon. Yarrndji was inspired to become an engineer after attending an Indigenous engineering summer school camp. He is a proud Gooreng Gooreng man and is extremely passionate about the environment. Yarrndji is looking forward to applying his Indigenous knowledge and perspective during a long and successful engineering career.

Margaret Hornagold of Rockhampton is studying for her Bachelor of Laws at CQUniversity. Margaret is a descendant of the Southern Barada and Kabalbara. She has been a prominent leader and community advocate for many years, was elected as an ATSIC Commissioner and received an Australia Day award in recognition  of her work in Queensland Corrective Services. For the past 12 years she has successfully lead an Indigenous community organisation in Rockhampton. Margaret plans to use her law degree to ensure contract law protects the rights and interests of non-government parties.

Lauren Roth of Bundaberg is in the first year of her Bachelor of Nursing at CQUniversity. She began her career as a primary health worker at the Bundaberg Indigenous Wellbeing Centre. Originally from Eidsvold, Lauren is a very proud Wakka Wakka woman. Upon completing her studies she plans to work in a remote Indigenous community across the state.

Recipients and official guests gather at the scholarship presentation event

Elyce Wykes of Dundowran Beach is in her second year of a Bachelor of Medical Sonography and Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography at CQUniversity. Post-study, she intends to seek placement in a remote area to provide good access to medical care. Elyce has been a model student - in her first year of study she scored five high distinctions and two distinctions for her coursework. She intends to improve further on this success as well continuing to volunteer in various community projects.

Stacey Budby of Robina has started her Master of Management (International Business) at CQUniversity after graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Management) in 2010. One of Stacey's goals is to work for an international company and have a senior position to influence the company to make sound social responsibility policies and procedures towards Traditional Owners and landowners.

Allanah Hunt of Toogoolawah is in her second year of a Bachelor of Arts at CQUniversity, majoring in creative writing, literary and cultural studies. Living in the Brisbane Valley, she is completing her studies through distance education. Allanah has already finished her first novel, which was highly commended at the National Indigenous Writing Competition. As an accomplished writer she plans to pen many novels and short stories portraying the plight of Indigenous people and promoting the beauty of Indigenous culture.

The scholarships are part of Arrow's two-year $780,000 commitment to provide Indigenous scholarships and high school bursaries.

Arrow CEO Andrew Faulkner said all recipients were from Traditional Owner groups in the areas that Arrow operates in.

"Arrow is very mindful of Traditional Owners' connection to the land and believes they should benefit from the state's coal seam gas (CSG) boom," Mr Faulkner said.

"These scholarships are a direct and targeted action towards overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in Queensland long-term."

Around 30 students from CQUniversity's Aviation program recently engaged with the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter team in Bundaberg.

Aviation Senior Lecturer Ron Bishop says the students spent over two hours getting instruction on the BK117 Kawasaki Helicopter and the equipment on board, including how it works in a search and rescue mission.

Aviation senior lecturer Ron Bishop and Psychology lecturer Dr Talitha Best help escort the students visiting the AGL Rescue Helicopter

"Demonstration on that aircraft and the Bell Longranger on search and rescue techniques and the importance of procedures gave our students an insight into the environment they may be exposed to during their careers as aviators," Mr Bishop said.

Second-year Aviation student Kail Huth said "it was great to get around the pilots and aircrew who were involved in the Bundaberg flood rescue and recovery and learn from them".

LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

Gladstone residents are invited to a free art exhibition celebrating the 35th anniversary of CQUniversity operations in the harbour city.

Fittingly, the '35x35' exhibition features 35 artworks produced over the past 35 years representing two themes: Visions and Portraits of Australia and Places of Australia.

One of the exhibition works - Joe Furlonger Fisherman with Japanese Supertanker on the Horizon 1983 Oil on canvas. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Richard Dunlop, 2013

Visitors are welcome at the exhibition space upstairs in the Leo Zussino Building on Gladstone Campus anytime from 9am to 4.30pm on weekdays from May 31 to June 21.

A featured work - Shane Fitzgerald Keppel Sands 2002 Type C photograph. Purchased 2013

--- The 35th Anniversary CQUniversity Art Collection Exhibition has been curated by the University's Art Collection Manager, Sue Smith, who will introduce each of the pieces during a special exhibition evening from 6pm (for a 6.30pm start) on June 18. 

Ms Smith said the Visions and Portaits theme features "artworks which seek an understanding of ourselves, others and the activities and world we share".

"Places of Australia features realistic and abstract works which reflect the unique flora, fauna and environments and striking landscapes - tranquil, dynamic and vibrant - of Australia."

A featured work - John Coburn Sun Music 1989 Colour screenprint. Purchased 1989 

The Regional Universities Network, of which CQUniversity is a member, is holding the inaugural Digital Rural Futures Conference at the University of New England in Armidale from June 26 - 28.

The Conference will exchange ideas and case studies and explore the opportunities and challenges for agriculture in Australia's digital economic future.

A national broadband infrastructure offers enormous opportunities for Australia's agricultural sector.  It will enable new ways to improve farm productivity through smart on-farm technologies, access a greater range of information and services, help create new market opportunities for our agricultural products and expertise, and improve the quality of life for rural Australians.

In turn, connected smart farms, and their supporting industries will play a significant role in Australia's digital economic future.  Smart farms will create a new generation of smart services, that will create new jobs and economic opportunities to support the future growth of rural Australia.

The Conference will explore key themes focusing on technology and the advancement of agriculture as an important member of Australia's digital economic future:

Smart technology and systems on the farm will explore new ways to improve farm management through the appropriate use of i sensors and sensor networks, immersive and sentinel vision and communication technologies, far-end control and autonomous systems (including UAVs and robotics) for environment and agricultural production

Better use and sharing of information will explore new approaches to improving access to and sharing of information for better decision making in the agricultural and natural resource sectors. This includes the use of  cloud-based services, data sharing systems, crowd sourcing and citizen science, and remote surveys.

New smart services for the rural sector will explore how new digital services will provide better decision-support and advisory services for farmers such as remote veterinary and agronomy expertise, open up new market opportunities to reach new consumers and value-add to agriculture output, as well as allow rural Australian improved access better health, education and social services.

Smart Farms, Education, Extension and Outreach will focus on how online learning and education will ensure rural Australia has access to the necessary skillset to take advantage of technology, the role of next generation teleworking and the role social media can play in staying connected with the world.

The Regional Universities Network is encouraging participation from farmers and farmer groups, business leaders, rural advisory services, regional councils and development groups, government agencies and researchers/academics in the higher education sector.

Information on the conference and registration details are at www.une.edu.au/smart.

CQUniversity is the co-host and major sponsor of the International Engineering and Technology Education Conference (IETEC), being held for the second time, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam between November 3 and 6. 

The Conference will explore issues related to the global future of engineering and technology education. It aims to identify and explore the latest trends and developments. 

CQUniversity's Arun Patil addresses the audience at the IETEC event in 2011. It will feature active participation and formal and informal networking, including dynamic keynote addresses and interactive sessions, workshops and panel discussions.

Dean of CQUniversity's School of Engineering & Technology, Professor Euan Lindsay, will be keynote speaker at the conference.

IETEC'13 brings together a wide range of engineering and technology education stakeholders from around the globe to explore the building of new capacities in engineering and technology education that are essential in creating environmentally and socially sustainable 21st century economies.

IETEC'13 is jointly organised by CQUniversity, the University of Technical Education HCMC Vietnam, the Universiti of Teknologi Malaysia, Deakin University Australia and Tomsk Polytechnic University, Russia.

For more information on submitting a paper, or registration visit the website http://ietec-conference.com/ietec13/  

CQUniversity Australia is taking action to improve its ongoing financial sustainability, in the wake of government funding cuts and a continuing international downturn.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman said the University, which has in recent years enjoyed sector-leading growth in domestic student enrolments, is proposing to undertake a voluntary separation process from Monday.

"I have consistently stated that CQUniversity is one of the fastest growing universities in Australia for domestic students, and I stand by that statement," Professor Bowman said.

"Over the past few years, we have introduced around 30 new academic programs, built and refurbished a host of state-of-the-art teaching facilities, and improved our research output and quality immensely.

"However, the University will suffer a significant financial hit over the next two years, with the Federal Government's ‘efficiency dividend' reducing funding by 2 per cent in 2014 and 1.25 per cent in 2015.

"This will be compounded by the government's decision to impose caps on tax deductions for self-funded postgraduate study, which is likely to have a direct impact on our bottom line.

"It all occurs at a time when our international student enrolments - once a significant revenue stream for the University - are at a near-historic low, due largely to post-GFC global conditions and a higher Australian dollar.

"I am confident that the proposed voluntary separation process announced today will allow the University to make some immediate savings that it can factor into the next phase of its Strong to Great journey."

Professor Bowman has invited staff to provide feedback ahead of the proposed voluntary separation process, which will be open to all continuing staff.

"We will consult heavily with staff, students and community stakeholders as part of this process, and we have invited and encouraged feedback from all parties," Professor Bowman said.

"The University is committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for all stakeholders, particularly its students."

CQUniversity Noosa is cementing its place as the campus for Noosa and the wider Sunshine Coast, with enrolments rising by more than a third in the past year...

A recent $2.5 million expansion, the roll-out of several new programs, and a campaign targeting local school leavers and TAFE students has seen this year's term one enrolments at the popular Noosa Campus reach 367- compared with 274 in 2012.

Multimedia student Dean Simonds finds the climate for study just right in Noosa

CQUniversity Noosa Head of Campus Professor Mike Horsley said a new Bachelor of Multimedia Studies program and on-campus Nursing degree had seen the biggest increases.

"This is the second year we've offered a wholly face-to-face delivery option for our nursing students," Professor Horsley said.

"That and the lure of our new hospital labs and simulation equipment has been a strong incentive to study nursing on-site at the Noosa campus.

"A lot of effort has been put into targeting school leavers at local high schools and students at TAFEs about the programs and facilities on offer - which is starting to pay dividends.

"Our solid reputation as an outstanding research campus is another key drawcard - we now have the most research intensive staff of all CQUniversity campuses, with five full professors and three associate professors."

Professor Horsley said Noosa's reputation as a lifestyle destination was also drawing students keen to enjoy a unique lifestyle while they get a degree.

"It is certainly a beautiful part of the region and anecdotally I hear regularly that students are attracted by the sun, surf and relaxing lifestyle," Professor Horsley said.

Former Townsville resident Dean Simonds moved to Buddina to study multimedia at TAFE last year and didn't think twice about staying when he heard CQUniversity was introducing a bachelor-level program.

"Representatives from CQUniversity visited the TAFE and gave a really impressive presentation about the new program - it was exactly what I wanted to do," Mr Simonds said.

"I really enjoy the lifestyle here, have made some really good friends and started working so I was really happy to stay on the Coast."

Mr Simonds said the smaller Noosa Campus provided greater exposure to CQUniversity staff.

"I think the smaller campus helps us to connect with the tutors and lecturers," Mr Simonds said.

"They are always looking to consult with students and take our opinions about the course and facilities seriously."

Direct from New York, Peter Saide brings his new one-man show exclusively to Mackay for his one-and-only Australian appearance.

Peter is well known to Mackay audiences for his fabulous singing voice and stage presence. Presenting My Folks, with CQ Conservatorium of Music's Dr Judith Brown on the piano, this show is sure to impress.

Broadway performer and former student Peter Saide will perform in Mackay.As one of the most talented performers to graduate from CQCM with a Bachelor of Music Theatre, Peter toured south-east Asia with Lea Salonga in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, before starring as Bob Gaudio in the Jersey Boys in Las Vegas.

Peter is currently residing in New York and has starred in two off-Broadway productions. As this will be his only Australian appearance, you will need to book early to avoid disappointment.

The two rare performances will be held on Friday, 24 May from 8pm and Saturday, 25 May from 3pm at the CQ Conservatorium of Music Theatre on CQUniversity Mackay Campus, Boundary Road, Ooralea.

Tickets for adults are $25, for concession $20 and Con Friends, Students and Children are $15.

Phone CQCM on 4940 7800 for bookings.

Ruth Pape is a woman on a mission.

The mother-of-three says she hopes the enormous sacrifice to leave her family and undertake further study and advocacy work in Australia will bring better health care and awareness of breast cancer - as well as more screening equipment - to the women of Papua New Guinea.

Ruth and Professor Laszlo Tabar (Mammography Course Director) at the 2013 Tabar Conference.Ruth obtained her Medical Imaging qualifications in Papua New Guinea and spent six years working between public hospitals and private clinics where she x-rayed thousands of women having breast cancer checks.

"It was very sad but a lot of the women I saw did not know about early detection and by the time anything was picked up, it was often too late," she said.

Ruth said there was also a lack of qualified mammographers in PNG and equipment to screen women was rare. There are only two hospitals in PNG with CT and mammogram equipment.

"The equipment is old, some has stopped working and there was no-one qualified to use it, so it was just sitting there idle."

Ruth is now completing her Master of Health Science at CQUniversity, under the supervision of Professor Phillip Ebrall, Dr Kelly Spuur and Caroline Falconi, through an Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) scholarship.

Her husband and three small children aged 5, 4 and 16 months remain in PNG.

"When I got to Australia I cried every day for a month. I thought, why have I left my babies?"

But Ruth says her determination to continue the relentless work in health care and early detection of breast cancer was for her own daughters and the women of PNG.

Her research thesis is Mammographic Parenchymal Patterns of New South Wales North Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Ruth says her research is important as the study will allow research into breast tissue density as a strong predictor of an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

She will also be able to use her research in PNG.

"With the high rates of breast cancer, the only way to reduce is with early screening which could save a women's life."

"Only the PNG women who can afford the best treatment will get the proper medicine required; not everyone has the luxury of better healthcare."

Ruth says she would like to arrange for machinery for the four regions of PNG, possibly by accessing older models from Australia which are no longer in use here.

"Most of the women in PNG that I saw came from villages and they have to wait for transport and so I spent a lot of time working late making sure they got their results and letting them know whether they needed extra tests.

"I didn't mind because the women felt free to express themselves and their problems to me."

Since coming to Mackay, Ruth says she values the connections she has made with a local church and has found support within the CQUniversity community.

"At home I was so busy supporting my children and working full-time and looking after family, so this is my first chance to rest."

Ruth's definition of ‘rest' has her spending late nights and early mornings writing her thesis paper. For the next few months Ruth will be analysing data from BreastScreen NSW North Coast to contribute to her thesis report.

"I have to do this for the women of PNG as well as my daughters - I hope they know later that I have made this sacrifice for them."

Witness some of the incredible talent coming out of the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) as they host the Sunday Series on Sunday, May 26 from 3pm.

Supported by the Con Friends, the Sunday afternoon concert series will be an afternoon of great entertainment and a way to support budding professional artists at CQUniversity.

The afternoon includes pizza, wine or soft drink in the Con Friends courtyard and plenty of entertainment throughout the afternoon.

Tickets can be purchased at the door. Adults are $10 and students are $5.

Congratulations to organisers and teams attending the 2013 Relay for Life held at CQUniversity Rockhampton over the weekend. Almost 130 teams raised around $250,000 for Cancer Council Queensland.

Relay for Life is an overnight community event for participants who relay non-stop as they celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost, and fight back against the disease by raising important funds.

Current holders of BMA Community and Indigenous Scholarships were recognised during student awards held recently across the network of CQUniversity campuses.

The scholarships are provided by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to encourage students interested in 'non-mining' disciplines who demonstrate the need and desire to contribute to their local region. BMA has awarded 13 of these scholarships in 2013.

L-R BMA representatives Paul Travers and Mary Bulger flanking BMA Indigenous Scholarship recipients Sharona Kemp (centre left) and Kaitlyn Busk (centre right)

The Program offers 10 Community Scholarships as well as five Indigenous Scholarships, for students enrolling in non-mining related study programs like nursing, teaching, healthcare or business.

Each of the scholarships provides up to $5000 per year to cover educational expenses for the duration of the recipients' study programs.

The BMA scholarships were designed to alleviate skills shortages and build capacity in key service areas throughout the communities in which BMA operates. They encourage increased enrolments from people with disabilities, those who are female, those of low socio-economic status, those who are rural or remotely located, or those who identify as being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

BMA scholars acknowledged during student awards ceremonies included Mikaela Richardson, Gaboratanelwe Salima, Sharona Kemp, Kaitlyn Busk, Rebecca Crichton, Samantha Farnes, Sharni Orr and Pamela Kerr. Other BMA scholars include Kelsey Moulds and Emma Scott, with Tegan Bull and Selina Tapim due to start from next term.

Details are available at www.cqu.edu.au/bma or via 07 4930 9456.

BMA's Mary Bulger with Community Scholarship recipient Mikaela Richardson 
Professor Pierre Viljoen congratulates BMA Community Scholarship recipient Rebecca Crichton 
Professor Pierre Viljoen congratulates BMA Community Scholarship recipient Samantha Farnes 
Pictured during the Emerald student awards are L-R Che Mason - Manager HR from Gregory Crinum Mine, BMA, Sharni Orr BMA Scholarship Recipient, Pamela Kerr BMA Scholarship recipient and Peter Dowling - Principal Communities, BMA 
BMA Community Scholarship holder Gaboratanelwe Salima is congratulated by VC Scott Bowman

As CQUniversity marks 40 years providing distance education in NQ and FNQ, Cairns business executive Dr Ray Hamey has extolled the benefits of external studies for career advancement...

Dr Hamey has spent decades as a distance education student, with multiple degrees and professional qualifications across business, commercial law, taxation, accountancy, aviation, education and music. He's studied at a range of universities, including CQUniversity.

Dr Ray Hamey chats with CQUniversity's Cairns-based Senior Marketing and Engagement Officer Jodie Savina as they review the vast range of distance education options. CQUniversity now has a Distance Education Study Centre in Cairns and has been offering external studies in North Queensland for 40 years

He is currently the CEO/CFO for Sierra Accounting & Consulting Pty Ltd in Cairns and has over 30 years' experience in the strategic and operational financial management of diverse and complex organisations. He has even run aviation companies, has lectured at several universities, has contributed to a radio show and has published magazine articles.

Nowadays Dr Hamey also works for a government-funded 'mentoring for growth' program and is a director of the Weipa Medical Centre.

Dr Hamey said he was pleased to see CQUniversity providing additional support with its new Distance Education Study Centre in Cairns.

"My motto for prospective students is ... don't act like a toad ... educate yourself and look sharp," he says.

Dr Hamey also encourages distance education graduates of CQUniversity's predecessor institutions - Capricornia Institute of Advance Education, University College of Central Queensland and University of Central Queensland - to keep in touch with the Alumni section via alumni-enquiries@cqu.edu.au .

Dr Ray Hamey at CQUniversity's Distance Education Study Centre in Florence Street, Cairns

CQUniversity has been helping to lead a project enabling researchers located throughout Australia and even overseas to collaborate on participant-based projects involving multiple participants, all within a secure, ethical environment...

The NeCTAR-funded project Quadrant is a cloud-based project management and data collection tool built specifically for researchers to manage participant-based research projects and data within a centralised and secure online environment. (It was recently released in Beta). Details on NeCTAR are via https://nectar.org.au/about-nectar .

Quadrant is easy to use and is designed for researchers who use qualitative and mixed-method research methodologies in the disciplines of health, humanities, social science, politics, marketing, communications, sociology, education and anthropology.

Quadrant is available now. It is free to use until June 30, 2014. Go to http://www.quadrant.edu.au/ for details.

Quadrant project director and manager Hamish Holewa said researchers can say goodbye to USB sticks.

"Researchers can say goodbye to spreadsheets, email, USB keys and file sharing as Quadrant makes it easy to collect, view and track the progress of research data at all points throughout the project. All researchers can manage their research project from one participant to 1000s of participants," he says.

"We believe that researchers should be able to collaborate instantly without barriers across institutions, the country and the world. Research collaboration software should be easy to use, intuitive and self-managed."

The Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) is the lead agent of the Quadrant project and this project is supported by the National eResearch Tools and Resources Project (NeCTAR), an initiative of the Commonwealth being conducted as part of the Super Science Initiative and financed from the Education Investment Fund, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. The University of Melbourne is the lead agent for the delivery of the NeCTAR project.

Quadrant is available now. It is free to use until June 30, 2014. Go to http://www.quadrant.edu.au/ for details.

The CQUniversity Student Association hosted its annual Market Day recently, bringing organisations, businesses and community groups on campus to share their offers and services with students.

Academic, Advocacy and Support Officer for the CQUniversity Mackay Student Association, Michelle Whiley, said a great variety of organisations and businesses set up a stall on campus and were available to speak to students.

Guests from the education and health sectors recently attended the launch of a new Medical Sonography Suite at CQUniversity's Brisbane Campus at 160 Ann Street.

The ceremony was followed by the launch of a new Distance Education Study Centre at the campus.

L-R Sonography student Lauren George and lecturer Heidi Croxon

Pioneering ultrasound scientist Dr Robert Gill conducted the official launch of the Sonography Suite. Dr Gill was Deputy Chief of the CSIRO Division of Physics when he retired in 2005.

CQUniversity's new state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation sonography suite features Philips iU22 3D/4D technology and an extensive array of phantoms (simulated body torsos) including the new Kyoto obstetric phantoms. There is digital technology with use of interactive whiteboards, science labs with 3D anatomical models and multimedia communication between campuses.

The Distance Education Study Centre has been established to support CQUniversity's large cohort of distance education students in Brisbane, through a combination of face-to-face support, provision of study spaces and enhanced access to CQUniversity systems.

The Sonography Suite will facilitate the delivery of the Sonography Program in Brisbane, ensuring students are ‘work ready' upon graduation. LINK HERE for details on CQUniversity's Sonography programs

L-R Sonography lecturers Heidi Croxon and Michelle Fenech, Sonography discipline leader Anita Bowman, guest speaker Dr Robert Gill and his wife Margo who is also a sonographer 
Guest speaker Dr Robert Gill with VC Scott Bowman 
CQUni staff members Carissa Dennis and Macushla Miller 
Macushla Miller from Brisbane Campus with student ambassador Amanda Walsh 
Sonography student Cassandra Gardner 
Guests assemble for the opening 
Foetal anatomical models in the Anatomy lab 
A room set up in the Sonography Suite

CQUniversity researchers have bottled themselves up on a tropical island to come up with treasured journal articles that are ready to publish.

Thanks to support from the Health Collaborative Research Network, academics from a range of health and health-related fields got together on North Keppel Island to focus on ‘writing up' their projects.

LINK for larger images

A key goal is to raise the quality of CQUniversity research publications to world standard or above for consideration by the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) process.

One of the participants, Assoc Prof Trudy Dwyer said the fields represented included nursing, speech pathology, occupational therapy, sociology and psychology.

"We had great peer mentorship and cross-discipline collaboration. It was a very collegial event," she said.

Another participant, Assoc Prof Monica Moran said "the weekend was about having an opportunity to work in a supportive environment and within a genuine community of practice, allowing us to move beyond the isolation of academic writing".

One of the facilitators, CQUniversity's HEALTH CRN Professorial Research Fellow Lynne Parkinson said the event was an opportunity for "serious work in a seriously beautiful setting".

The participants could also draw on the wisdom of visiting facilitator Professor Desley Hegney (the HEALTHCRN Coordinator from Curtin University who is also Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Program Co-ordinator, Vulnerable Populations, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), and Professor of Nursing, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth).

CQUniversity lecturer Dr Betul Sekendiz recently visited the Fitlink stand at the Australian Fitness & Health Expo in Sydney to support our new partner in fitness education and certification.

This year`s Expo was visited by 37,391 people including national and international athletes, the public and exhibitor personnel.

Dr Betul Sekendiz visits the Fitlink stand at the Expo

The Exercise and Sport Sciences Program at CQUniversity has formed a relationship with Fitlink Australia, which gives bachelor degree students the opportunity to gain added certifications.

After completing first-year courses, students will have the opportunity to attend a short practical-based workshop to gain a Certificate III in Fitness qualification.

Furthermore, after completing second-year courses, students will have the opportunity to attend a short practical-based workshop to gain a Certificate IV in Fitness qualification.

For more information please visit http://www.fitlink.edu.au/ or

LINK HERE for details on the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences .

For details on the Expo visit http://www.fitnessexpo.com.au/

Presentation of Campus Director's Awards will be a feature of this week's Melbourne Graduation Ceremony conducted by CQUniversity.

The ceremony will be held from 1.30pm on Friday, May 10, at The Grand Ballroom of the Hilton on the Park in Wellington Parade.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Ailsa Lamont

CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Ailsa Lamont will deliver the guest address while Master of Information Technology graduate Phillip Yan Jue Zhang will deliver a response on behalf of graduates.

Mr Zhang was one of the Campus Director's Award winners, along with Bachelor of Business (Management) graduate Zohra Moh M Said.

A total of 67 graduates will celebrate their achievements during the ceremony.

If well managed, state leases should be an excellent form of public/private partnership: with the public contributing the land and the private utilising it productively.

That's according to Associate Professor Garrick Small from CQUniversity's Property program who says that infrastructure and social investment tends to improve the rental value of land.  He was commenting in the wake of resource industry interest in leasing and operating the Port of Gladstone (following State Government consideration of the Costello report canvassing leasing of ports).

Assoc Prof Garrick Small

"So if the state builds infrastructure, then in a leasehold environment, it gets the benefits of higher rents (to pay for them)," Assoc Prof Small says.

"This is an extremely efficient mechanism that fosters economic development and keeps private investment needs lower because the land (a major capital item) can be kept off private balance sheets thereby reducing capital (and debt) requirements. Selling of state land makes any chance of this mechanism ever working impossible.

"Overall the question hinges on the theoretical problems of abandoning useful state assets against the reality of governments granting crazy discounts to its tenants (and then crying poor)."

Assoc Prof Small says that selling rather than leasing is a politically attractive move, regardless of party alignment because it frees up funds in the present at the expense of future generations.

"However, the state selling off its property assets means selling off: (1) a potential perpetual income stream, (2) a sound level of control for future land use.

"State leasehold rents have been notoriously badly negotiated with rents falling well below market. This is often the result of political pressures (people are effectively voting in their landlords and folks either side of the political fence like cheap rents and will vote to get them).

"In NSW a few years back they discovered that much of their minor pastoral leaseholds (small bits of land leased to landowners, often unformed roads) had rents about 4% of market. The rent did not even cover the cost of collection. The government decided to quietly offer to sell the lands to the tenants for 4% of market prices or if it was not taken up then the rents would be jacked back up to market.

"In the ACT Canberra in the 1970s ground rents raised less per block than other freehold states earned per block from local government rates (even though the land was leased from the government and valuable)."

Dr Small says that liquidating leases like the above might make sense, but represents a betrayal of the government to charge market rents for their actual (legal) interest. The responsible strategy would be to gently return rents to market.

He commented on the example of the Wik case where the 'real dynamic' was not the possibility of the existence of customary rights persisting through leasehold, but that tenants were scared that rents would be brought to market by Indigenous owners and they had structured their property investments on the basis that the government would never do that.

Several Zontians were on hand to congratulate Amy Weise on winning a Zonta Club of Rockhampton encouragement award during the recent student awards ceremony.

Amy earned the award by gaining the highest GPA for first-year study in the Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree.

Amy Weise is congratulated by L-R Cathy Neilsen-Lee, Kaye Clark and Carry Lee

CQUniversity is giving prospective students the opportunity to find out about mid-year study and career options at the upcoming Mid Year Information Sessions across all of its campuses in Australia on Tuesday, May 7 from 4pm to 7pm.

With more than 120 degrees available to start studying in July, the sessions will allow people from anywhere in Australia to access immediate information, advice and support regarding education and training at CQUniversity with staff waiting to answer questions.

The locations for on-campus information sessions are:

• CQUniversity Brisbane, 160 Ann Street, Ground Floor Reception
• CQUniversity Bundaberg, University Drive
• CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Study Centre, 66 Florence Street
• CQUniversity Gladstone, Bryan Jordan Drive
• CQUniversity Mackay, Boundary Road
• CQUniversity Melbourne, 108 Lonsdale Street
• CQUniversity Noosa, 90 Goodchap Street, Noosaville
• CQUniversity Rockhampton, Bruce Highway
• CQUniversity Sydney, 400 Kent Street, Ground floor Marketing & Recruitment

If you can't make it to the sessions, you can join the conversation online from anywhere in Australia on Wednesday, May 29 from 4pm to 7pm. The CQUniversity Appleton Institute in Adelaide will hold their on-campus session at that time.

To join the online chat click here

CQUniversity Australia has made another giant leap towards finalising its half-billion-dollar merger with CQ TAFE, with the Federal Government today announcing it would ‘unlock' $73.8 million to support the project...

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott Bowman said the much sought-after funding would help to transform post-school education and training across Central Queensland.

After confirming the merger funding. VC Scott Bowman and Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore chat with CQUniversity staff member Ray Kearney in an Engineering workshop

LINK to details on the campus network

"I sincerely thank the Commonwealth Government for unlocking these crucial funds, which are absolutely essential to a successful merger with CQ TAFE," Professor Bowman said.

"With this funding in place, I am confident that we can now finalise discussions with the Queensland Government and take the last few steps towards making our dual sector vision a reality.

"We are not home and hosed with the proposed merger just yet, but the finishing line is now definitely in sight.

"At the end of this process, we will have transformed the landscape of post-school education and training in Central Queensland and equipped the region's future workforce for all the opportunities that lay ahead."

Professor Bowman said plans for the merger - which represents around half a billion dollars in assets and government financial support - would not have advanced so far if not for the support of the wider university and TAFE communities.

VC Scott Bowman gives media an update on the merger

"I would like to thank staff, students and stakeholders of both CQ TAFE and CQUniversity, who have been so patient and supportive in awaiting this announcement from Canberra. I'm really looking forward to working with all of you in the months and years ahead.

"I'd also like to thank all community members, regional development organisations and others who have thrown their support behind the proposed merger to date. Your ongoing commitment to the project is truly appreciated."

Once negotiations with the Queensland Government are finalised, major projects that will soon get underway include a major overhaul of the flagship Mackay TAFE campus ($12m), a new state-of-the-art engineering hub in Mackay ($16m), stage two of the public-access CQUniversity Health Clinic in Rockhampton ($16m), and a unification of teaching technology across the entire University and TAFE networks .

CQUniversity estimates that these projects will create up to 500 new construction jobs, and that the resulting dual sector university will create around 120 additional jobs over its first five years.

At a glance - CQUniversity dual sector statistics

 At a glance - Major dual sector infrastructure projects soon to be underway

‘If a picture paints a thousand words...' is the theme for the next Judith, Stuart & Friends concert to be held on Wednesday, May 8 at the CQ Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) Theatre from 5.30pm.

Head of Theatre at CQUniversity Dr Judith Brown will look at the ways in which music can depict visual ideas including pictures and scenes.

The concert will feature some of Mussorgsky's famous piano work 'Pictures at An Exhibition' as well as performances by CQCM students and local community artists including Jennifer Bee on marimba, Belinda Rooney on flute and Bianca Johnston on saxophone.

The free concert will begin at 6pm, with the Con Friends bar open from 5.30pm for pre-concert drinks. The CQCM Theatre is based on CQUniversity Mackay Campus.

CQUniversity is aware that many of its students and prospective students are digital natives so it's splitting with the tradition of a standard photo competition - literally.

For the next six weeks, the University will encourage entries for an 'Explore Your Options' social media photo sharing competition.

Details are via http://www.cqu.edu.au/explore/explorecqucomp

Students and prospective students will be encouraged to take photos using Instagram, Split Pic, Dubblen or any other photo smartphone application that enables multiple images/split images.

Entrants can share as many photos as they like throughout the contest by hash-tagging #explorecqu . Any photo with the hashtag #explorecqu will appear on CQUniversity's Facebook Instagram tab and will also post on the Facebook and twitter feed.

The first prize picture chosen by a judging panel (with criteria based on creativity, fun, originality and the picture's relevance to career decision/studying) will win $500 in travel vouchers.

Weekly winners ($20 prize packs) will be selected based on the funniest/most liked photo which will be determined by the amount of Facebook likes the photo receives.

The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (CDFVR), CQUniversity, will host its 9^th annual Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum on May 8 & 9, 2013 at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre, Alfred Street, Mackay.

Thanks to the success of previous years, registrations are now full for the 2013 ‘Olgeta Yarn Up' event.

The forum has provided a good platform for discussion in previous years. Day one of the forum will focus on the topical and controversial subject of the Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs).

Palm Island Mayor, Alf Lacey and Mayor of Cherbourg Ken Bone will talk about the impact of the AMPs on their communities. A discussion on the impact of the policy on children, families and communities will follow. 

Day two will concentrate on Culture and Healing for children, women and men and will be led by keynote speaker Professor Judy Atkinson, a member of the Healing Foundation.

Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research,  Heather Nancarrow said the forum aims to bring community members together to celebrate the good things that are being done by Indigenous people themselves to end domestic and family violence and to provide networking and information sharing opportunities.

This year's ‘Olgeta Yarn Up' will include a ‘hard yarn' session about the alcohol management plans. Participants from communities across Queensland will have the opportunity to have their say and discuss their own experiences of the policy.

Details for the event can be found on the CDFVR website http://www.noviolence.com.au/forum2013/registration.html  or by phoning CDFVR on 49407834.

CQUniversity first-year Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) students each received an industry scholarship from the national Chiropractors' Association of Australia to support their attendance at the annual conference of the International College of Applied Kinesiology, held recently over three days in Cairns.

The conference attracted more than 150 delegates from Australia, as well as 14 other countries, and included orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists and dentists as well as chiropractors. 

Hannah Place, Fraser McClymont, Brodie Buckingham, Debao Deng, Josiah Westbrook with PipTed (class mascot), Sam Little and Meagan Wallace at the Conference. Head of Chiropractic Science at CQUniversity, Professor Phillip Ebrall, who mentored the activity, said there was immense learning value in students attending quality scientific meetings of this type early in their learning program.

Prof Ebrall said another benefit was the rich opportunity students had to form links with industry leaders across the world.

Professor Ebrall addresses the students at the CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Study Centre. In addition to attending the formal sessions, the students participated in learning review and debrief sessions held at the CQUniversity Distance Education Study Centre in Cairns.

A morning tea has been held to congratulate John Maxwell Memorial Scholarship winner Sarah Biskupski, who is the third recipient since the annual award was first offered.

Those attending included members of the Maxwell family, The Rock CEO Andrew Paynter and staff who once worked with Mr Maxwell.

Recipient Sarah Biskupski with The Rock CEO Andrew Paynter

Valued at $5000, The John Maxwell Memorial Scholarship has been established by The Rock Building Society in partnership with CQUniversity Australia to honour the late John Maxwell and his contribution to the Rockhampton region.

It is earmarked to recognise the academic achievement, career aspirations and community service of a student enrolled in their first year of an Accounting, Accounting/Business or Laws/Accounting degree at CQUniversity.

Recipient Sarah has had the confidence to tackle a double degree in Accounting and Business thanks to support from the scholarship. She is focused on her studies but still finds time to coach a girls' soccer team based at her former school, Emmaus College.

John Maxwell helped establish The Rock as a Central Queensland icon and was an integral part of the business for 43 years. He served as its first general manager, became a director in 1975, and served as deputy chairman from 1981 before becoming The Rock's Chairman in November 2007.

As a prominent Central Queensland businessman, John also practised as an accountant in Rockhampton for more than 35 years and was senior partner in the accounting firm Maxwell and Cameron Pty Ltd.

Sarah Biskupski is congratulated by L-R CQUniversity Accounting Head of Program Martin Turner, her mother Carolyn and The Rock CEO Andrew Paynter

The Rock CEO Andrew Paynter described John as a ‘people person',

"John constantly helped and supported others, and his family and friends were paramount. His generosity also extended to the wider community.

"The Rock Building Society has established the scholarship in acknowledgement of John's professional accomplishments, thirst for knowledge and his desire to help others.

"The Rock is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and operate. The John Maxwell Scholarship is the perfect opportunity to honour a great man, as well as support the youth of Central Queensland. We wish Sarah all the best in her studies."

CQUniversity's Development and Alumni Relations Director Suzi Blair says scholarships play a major role in helping students succeed at University.

"We'd appreciate hearing from any individuals or organisations who can see the benefits scholarships make possible," Ms Blair says.

"I'd be delighted to hear from anyone via phone on 4923 2871 who is interested in contributing in this way."

Townsville student Jayde Luke said studying a Bachelor of Nursing at CQUniversity is her first step towards a potential career in Midwifery.

With two young boys aged three and six, the busy mother said it was time to start thinking about her career.

Townsville's Jayde Luke passes the scrub test at the Residential School in Mackay. "Ever since my two boys were born, I have been a stay-at-home mum. My husband is in the Army and can be away from home for lengthy periods at short notice, so on-campus education was not an option."

"I love the fact that I can become qualified and still be there for my family."

Although studying by distance education can be challenging with a young family, Jayde said the recent Residential School in Mackay allowed her to apply her skills in the new Nursing and Midwifery Laboratories at CQUniversity.

"I definitely under-estimated the work involved but it is not bothering me due to the fact that I love learning something I am passionate about which is the human body and communicating with people."

"The lecturers are all there to help and so are other distance students who in the same position as me so it works great - I am organised, motivated and still get to be home for my family."

She said enrolling in the nursing program at CQUniversity was a no-brainer.

"I love interacting with people and most of all helping others, so I thought nursing would be perfect.

 "Since the start of my degree I told myself I would put everything I had into my studies, so I could look back after three years knowing I gave it my all."

With her first clinical placement coming up next month, Jayde said she is looking forward to learning more from professionals in the industry.

"Placement is what I've been looking forward to when I first looked into nursing."

"The fact that I get to practice what I have been learning in the first year makes everything worthwhile."

To find out more about enrolling in a mid-year distance education program, visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/explore

The Federal Shadow Minister for Universities and Research, Senator Brett Mason visited CQUniversity Rockhampton this week for meetings with senior staff, chats with students and tours of key facilities.

During his visit, the Senator inspected the new Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) and Health Clinic building.

Deputy VC Professor Hilary Winchester (centre) welcomes Senator Brett Mason and LNP candidate for Capricornia Michelle Landry to Rockhampton Campus

He later lunched with key education leaders from the University, schools and TAFE sectors.

Senator Mason was not on his first visit. He was on Rockhampton Campus in 2011 when the Health Clinic was under construction and expressed an interest in seeing it as an operational facility and learning about proposed future stages of development.

Nowadays, the female-dominated jobs have become degree-qualified; while male jobs in skilled trades require apprenticeships and trade qualifications.

That's according to CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Hilary Winchester who was delivering a professorial lecture at the Rockhampton Student Residences recently.

Professor Hilary Winchester at the professorial lecture on Rockhampton Campus

Entitled 'Green stockings and glass ceilings', the lecture reflected on decades of changes relating to 'women in academic life' drawing on examples from Prof Winchester's own career.

"Blue Stockings' was a term once used for Oxbridge women (academic/frumpy etc) but Prof Winchester made the 'green stockings' reference to shed light on a time when she was the only woman employed in her department.

"As I left, I was told that the men used to take bets on the colour of stockings I would wear - and green stockings were worth the most (probably the rarest!)," she recalled.

"I was really talking about the shift of women into the academic workforce, the growing proportions at higher and higher levels, and then some of the management and leadership challenges and myths for women. So it's really a reference to women being such rare birds!"

Prof Winchester concluded by noting "the glass ceiling has become higher as more and more women have gone into the workforce".

 
LINK for a larger image of one of the slides shown during Prof Winchester's lecture 
LINK for a larger image of one of the slides shown during Prof Winchester's lecture

CQUniversity has welcomed the Queensland Government's approval of a development scheme for the CQUniversity Rockhampton Priority Development Area (PDA).

The announcement from the Department of State Development Infrastructure and Planning can be found here.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the PDA approval signalled a dynamic, new phase for the University.

"Being able to create a sustainable and fully-integrated village around the campus will be the ultimate form of engagement with the community," Prof Bowman said.

"The opportunities to partner our academic offerings and students with businesses that are hard-wired into the University community will unlock tremendous economic potential within this region."

Prof Bowman said this is an exciting opportunity for CQUniversity and Rockhampton "however the campus has its own very distinct identity, so it's important the University consult with staff, students and traditional owners to ensure we don't lose what makes this campus so special".

"After a period of consultation with stakeholders, CQUniversity is now in support of the revised plan. We believe the new plan will benefit the University and create a more vibrant atmosphere on campus - which will in turn help us to attract more students locally, from outside the region and internationally.

"This announcement signals the beginning of what will be an ongoing process which CQUniversity will lead. I will be sure to keep you up to date with any information as soon as it comes to light and we will continue to consult with the University community."

Anyone with questions about the plan and what it means for Rockhampton Campus can email communicate@cqu.edu.au for feedback from the VC or Deputy VC Alastair Dawson.

For more information about the CQUniversity priority development area please refer to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning website.

Noosa's Joanna Dell has gained the confidence to enrol for a Bachelor of Social Work thanks to a foundation program known as STEPS - Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies.

She was able to study STEPS on campus at CQUniversity Noosa before completing it by distance education.

Joanna Dell took the right 'steps' towards a degree

Ms Dell, who has a background in the hospitality industry, had wanted to do a degree for several years but was doubtful whether she could fit the study around family and work.

"STEPS gave me confidence in myself and my ability to return to study. It has allowed me to realise my potential," she says.

"It has given me a solid foundation for successful university study and a head start for my degree as I know the expectations and have not had to spend time navigating the systems and procedures, which can be overwhelming returning to study after so many years. Things have really changed since I was last in a classroom."

Ms Dell says the enthusiam and encouragement of STEPS staff have reignited her love for learning.

"I started with just a vague idea of what undergraduate course I wanted to do and the Uni staff guided me giving me invaluable advice on career outcomes etc so I was able to explore all possibilities."

The next STEPs testing sessions (for 2013 Term 2 entry) will be held at the Bundaberg, Brisbane, Gladstone, Mackay, Noosa and Rockhampton campuses on May 8. Details are via www.cqu.edu.au/steps .

Louis Beavis did not have to travel far from Spring Hill to find a springboard to a Uni degree. It was only a short journey to Brisbane's CBD to enrol in the Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program at CQUniversity's Brisbane Campus in Ann Street.

After completing high school in Mackay around a decade ago, Louis travelled around with the construction industry and moved to Brisbane in 2010.

Brisbane-based STEPS student Louis Beavis with his partner Tiffany who recommended study at CQUniversity

He met his now partner Tiffany, who is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychology with CQUniversity via distance education, and she recommended he consider CQUni for study.

Louis enrolled in STEPS based at CQUniversity Brisbane Campus to build his pathway towards a Physiotherapy career.

"Because Physiotherapy is a very competitive field, I am committed to achieving the best possible results in all my STEPS courses, in order to successfully earn entry in 2014," he says.

"Essay writing has been a feature of STEPS. Most undergraduates haven't had the luxury of completing this course and gaining vital tools necessary for constructing such a common assessment item; what an advantage I have!"

The next STEPs testing sessions (for 2013 Term 2 entry) will be held at the Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay, Noosa and Rockhampton campuses on May 8. Details are via www.cqu.edu.au/steps . This is the first year STEPS has been offered at Brisbane Campus.

With only just over a month to go until the first ever TEDxRockhampton event kicks off at CQUniversity Rockhampton, the organising team are putting the finishing touches on what will be a marvellous line-up of speakers.

Attendees at the event on May 25 will hear from an internationally acclaimed TED Fellow, a grazier and rural educator, a Gen Y advocate and dreamer, local business identities, and a trailblazing teacher - to name a few.

About TEDx

Sarah Jane Pell

Sarah Jane Pell is an artist, researcher and diver, and one of only two Australian TED Fellows. Sarah will be exploring underwater interactions and extreme spaces - what the future of extreme sports and arts may look like.

Mick Alexander

Mick Alexander is a pasture and grazing specialist who works within the Queensland and New South Wales agricultural industry. He is passionate about grazing and farming best practices, and will be speaking about how healthy soil relates to healthy humans - how farmers and agriculture are a solution for the future.

Harvee Pene

When local QLD Mastermind group founder Harvee "HP" Pene found himself (in true Gen Y style) too impatient and lazy to work hard and wait for the future he wanted, he made a fascinating discovery for how to Be, Do and Have anything you want! 

Trudy Graham

Local educator Trudy Graham believes that kids can do amazing things - if you keep it real. Trudy will be sharing from her experiences as a principal and cheerleader for the younger generation by way of the Fingerprint Projects.

Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks - so stay tuned! All speaker information and bios are available on the event website at http://www.tedxrockhampton.com/.

TEDxRockhampton is also proud to announce CQUniversity's Rockhampton campus as the venue for the event. Room 1.28 of Building 32 in the University's Arts & Humanities precinct will be host to 100 of Central Queensland's best and brightest as they take A Glimpse into the Future.

TEDxRockhampton Curator Treassa Joseph says the support of CQUniversity has really helped the event get off the ground.

"CQUniversity has been very generous in their support from Day 1, and we know they are as committed to the future of Central Queensland as we are."

There are less than 20 attendee places left - so if you want to be a part of TEDxRockhampton 2013, make sure you don't miss out by registering.

You can nominate yourself to attend at http://www.tedxrockhampton.com/ and register to stay up to date with all the latest plottings via our social media channels - facebook.com/TEDxRockhampton  and twitter.com/TEDxRockhampton . 

CQUniversity Mackay Student Residential students dressed in their best 'red carpet' attire at their first annual Mackay Student Residence Ball on Saturday, April 20.

The F-Block carpark was transformed for the event, with nibbles and drinks served upon arrival, and a buffet dinner provided.

The Mackay Red Frogs were present on the night and supplied a DJ free of charge.

Director of Student Residences at CQUniversity, Kay Brodel, said it was a great opportunity for students to relax and celebrate their achievements so far.

"The event was organised superbly by the students, with support from the Student Residence office. It's the first time in history that the Mackay Residence has held this type of event."

"With the end of term exams looming, the ball was a nice opportunity for students to escape from the books for a few hours and enjoy each other's company."

CQUniversity is once again a sponsor for the Taste of the World Festival presented by the Central Queensland Multicultural Association (CQMA) at Rockhampton's Riverside Park.

This year's event is scheduled from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 1.

The multicultural choir in action last year

It will feature Master Chef Demonstrations, Cooking Competitions, Stalls and Entertainment. All participants are welcome, either to taste, cook, sing, dance or sell. Details are via 0438 751 974 or cqma_inc@hotmail.com.

Other sponsors include the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Multicultural Affairs, Rockhampton Regional Council, the Queensland Government, and Rockhampton East Rotary.

Taste buds will be tempted again this year

Two CQUniversity students have been recognised in the state's capital as 2013 Brisbane International Student Ambassadors.

Azadeh Faaliyat from Iran and Edward Kasamba from Uganda are among 33 new advocates from 29 countries. They were congratulated by Brisbane City Lord Mayor Graham Quirk recently.

Edward Kasamba, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Azadeh Faaliyat at City Hall. As part of the program, the ambassadors will share what it's like to study and live in Brisbane - and their educational journey at CQUniversity.

Azadeh is studying a Master of Management (International Business) while Edward is studying towards a Master of Business Administration.

Edward said since coming to Australia in 2012, he has been able to explore parts of central and northern Queensland. He is looking forward to his time as a student at CQUniversity

"Australia's education system ranks among the top ten in the world and as a country, Australia ranks among the top five in the world by standard of living index."

"Those facts alone were enough to convince me about my choice for Australia as a study destination. I would definitely like to live and work in Australia when I complete my studies. It is a very beautiful country and I appreciate the way of life of the people in Australia."

CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman congratulated Azadeh and Edward and looks forward to hearing about their experiences.

Cr Quirk said the ambassadors were selected from 178 applicants; a 140 per cent increase since the program began in 2009.

"International education is Brisbane's biggest export industry, injecting $5.1 billion into the local economy and generating more than 20,000 local jobs.

"These enthusiastic international student ambassadors will help us grow the industry even further by promoting Brisbane as a leading study destination in their countries of origin."

The 2013 program includes students from countries including China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka and the USA; and for the first time in the program's history, students from Bosnia, Cambodia, El Salvador, Italy, Libya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Cr Quirk said the honorary appointments were for one year. In that time, the ambassadors will use a variety of social media and digital tools, including Facebook, Twitter and the recently relaunched Study Brisbane website, to communicate their real life experiences.

"International students contribute so much to Brisbane and not just on an economic level. They help create a cosmopolitan, vibrant city and strengthen our network with cities around the globe, creating lifelong relationships," he said

The student ambassador program was established by Brisbane Marketing's Study Brisbane (http://www.studybrisbane.com/) program in 2009 and is open to both domestic and international students in Brisbane.

CQUniversity Bundaberg recently hosted local high school teams competing in a major Science & Engineering Challenge.

Entrants came from Shalom College, St Luke's Anglican School, North Bundaberg SHS and Gin Gin SHS.

Regional Chair of the Bundaberg Challenge Coordinating Committee, Dean Clarke says the winning school, St Luke's, is eligible to compete in the state Super Challenge Series. Gin Gin was runner-up.

"It is nothing short of inspiring to see the way our local students attack some of the difficult problems devised by the University of Newcastle," Mr Clarke says.

"The event itself would not be the success it as without the help of Education and Engineering students from CQUniversity and members of the West Rotary Club who gave their time on the day to supervise the challenge events."

The Challenge runs in every state and territory of Australia. In 2012, over 20,000 students participated nationally.

Competitors gather for the Bundaberg leg of the challenge  LINK HERE for details on the Challenge OR LINK for details about our Engineering and Technology programs

The Challenge is a nationwide outreach program conducted by the University of Newcastle and the local community aimed at inspiring young people to consider a career in the sciences, engineering or other technology-related areas. The Challenge is a practical day of fun, teamwork and discovery.

Challenge supporters include Rotary Clubs, Engineers Australia, Ausgrid, the Australian Government, Coal & Allied, the Electric Energy Society of Australia, and NSW Trade & Investment. Local sponsors of the challenge were JKR Electronics (your local Jaycar Electronics authorised stockist), the Rotary Club of Bundaberg West, Engineering Australia - Burnett branch and of course CQUniversity.

The Federal Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) provides core funding for the Challenge.

"The Australian Government has been a long-standing partner in the Challenge, recognising the significant contribution the Challenge makes to promoting science-focused careers to young Australians," said Thomas Collins from DIISTRE.

"Through the Inspiring Australia program, the Australian Government has provided $5 million in funding for science engagement activities nationally, including $450,000 for the Challenge through to 2014, to further inspire Australia's goal of a more scientifically literate and engaged Australia."

The Challenge is now a regular part of the school year and highly valued by science and technology teachers.

Domestic and family violence services in Mackay are inviting the public to witness a hypothetical scenario to gain a better understanding of the effects that domestic and family violence has on individuals and families.

This free hypothetical event is being held on Thursday, May 16 from 9am at the ‘Space' located at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) and is part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month activities.

Annie Webster (Qld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, CQUniversity), Kristyn Everett (Everett's Family Law) and Jude Marshall (Domestic Violence Resource Service) discuss the hypothetical. Kristyn Everett from Everett's Family Law will take on the role of moderator, telling the chilling story of Troy and Sharon, a young Mackay couple whose relationship exhibits non-physical abuse in the early stages of their marriage and escalates to physical abuse.

As the story of Sharon and Troy unfolds, expert panel members from a range of domestic violence related services in the region will be asked to draw on their knowledge and explain how they would respond.

Panel members include: Heather Nancarrow (Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, CQUniversity), Jude Marshall (Domestic Violence Resource Service), Andrea Sauer (Sexual Health and Sexual Assault Service), Dr Nicole Higgins (Southside Medical Centre), Bernadette Buckley (Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services), Rowena Lacey (Queensland Police Service), Samantha Harper (Family Law Centre) and Kathy Cave (Lowanna House).

The event is free, however participants need to register as seats are strictly limited. All community members are welcome, and morning tea will be provided.   A resource expo is attached to this event and a range of resources and service providers will be available on the day.

To register for this important event visit http://noviolence.com.au/registrations/hypothetical/register.html  or http://www.noviolence.com.au/ and follow the link or call Lauren Pattie on 49 407834.

Sixteen Thai students aged between 12 and 20 are visiting Rockhampton region on an ‘Education and Cultural Exchange' tour.

Hosted by local ‘homestay' families and based at CQUniversity's English Language Centre, the visitors will brush up on their English, network with local high school students and visit tourism attractions throughout the region between April 21 and May 10.

There'll be plenty of room for romping at Rockhampton Botanic Gardens during the annual children's festival known as Romp in the Park.

CQUniversity learning management (early childhood) students traditionally take a key role in organising and staging this event, offering a morning of fun activities for young children and their families.

LINK for a larger image

This year's event will be held from 9am-1pm on Friday May 24 with details available via rompinthepark2013@gmail.com .

The CQUniversity Law program will once again be actively involved in Law Week in Rockhampton, with another mock trial of the 'three little pigs' on the agenda...

Law students, staff and local barristers will conduct the mock trial in the historic Supreme Court building in East Street as part of a wider celebration of Law Week, from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Friday May 17.

Mummy Bear was a witness in last year's Goldilocks mock trial

Other activities proposed include a multidisciplinary panel discussion, courthouse tours and information stalls.

Rockhampton Solicitor and Special Advisor to Law at CQUniversity's School of Commerce and Law, Wayne Jones says this is an ideal activity to focus attention on the University's innovative Bachelor of Laws degree, the first online law degree in Australia that has been optimised specifically with wireless access in mind.

CQUniversity is leading the way by enabling Australian students to study law for free via iTunes U, with the full degree optimised for access via tablets.

Students who like the free iTunes U materials enough to enrol in a degree can become eligible for a free iPad, providing wireless access to all course materials as well as interactive online support. LINK for detail on our Bachelor of Laws degree

Sherrie Lee was recognised for her service in remote areas of Nepal whilst enrolled as a CQUniversity Nursing student...

Now the recent graduate has teamed up with Ricco Yasso (previously from Tanna Island) and Vicki Platts (also a graduate from CQUniversity), together leading efforts to bring basic healthcare to Tanna Island in Vanuatu.

Sherrie and Vicki both juggle full-time Registered Nurse positions at Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital with management committee positions for Bridging Health Inc. Ricco Yasso also works full-time while dedicating time to the charity, holding the position as Vice-President.

Donations can be made to Bridging Health Inc via Bank of Queensland BSB 124 001 (account number 219 593 42).

Sherrie Lee, Ricco Yasso and Vicki Platts share a goal to help on Tanna Island

"Bridging Health is a recent registered incorporated charity formed after an ex-villager of Tanna Island, Vanuatu, approached a nursing student to provide healthcare to their community," Sherrie says.

"The initial idea was developed after seeing local village children playing with infected leg wounds and the community having inadequate healthcare available to successfully enable good wound healing.

"From this observation, planning commenced to develop a charity to meet the community's needs of providing basic healthcare. This vision is to help less fortunate communities by offering healthcare by qualified health care professionals, instigating a healthier future."

Bridging Health Inc is now planning free health clinics, with the first scheduled for June/July next year, allowing ample time to prepare and gather resources.

"Bridging Health Inc will undertake various fundraising activities allowing for the purchase of much-needed resources, as well as recruiting many enthusiastic and qualified healthcare and non-healthcare professionals," Sherrie says.

Sherrie can be contacted via infobridginghealthinc@gmail.com or 0438 121 617 if anyone would like to offer help with the project.

LINK for details about our Nursing programs

A Tanna Island child who could benefit from next year's health clinics

Twenty-nine first-year Nursing students, studying by distance education, spent time learning important skills, as part of their first residential school program at the CQUniversity Mackay Nursing & Midwifery Laboratories recently.

Students travelled from areas including Townsville, the Atherton Tablelands and NSW.

Nursing student Jayde Luke passes the scrub test. Residential School and Nursing Lecturer Sandy McLellan said the students learnt about washing a patient in bed and in the shower, bedpan use, manual handling, patient observations, patient feeding, communication skills, documentation, holistic care and much more.

The students will be going on placement in Term 2 after the next residential school...
Students learn how to correctly make a bed for the clinical environment.  

LINK for details about our Nursing programs

CQUniversity Noosa Multimedia tutor Ulrike Sturm has Papua New Guinea on her mind as she strives for her PhD...

LINK HERE for audio from Ulrike's interview with Radio Australia

Ulrike is not only examining the work of PNG artist Mathias Kauage (1944 - 2003) as an insight into the role of contemporary art in PNG. She will also produce a body of creative work, in response to her own experience of spending some of her teenage years living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Some of Ulrike's work will be featured in an exhibition entitled 'True Stories from the Studio: new work from the art faculty of SCIT', showing from April 26 to June 1 at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery. Details via 5459 4645 or email gallery@usc.edu.au

Ulrike Sturm

Born in Berlin, Ulrike arrived in Australia with her family at the age of three and grew up as an Aussie.

"After completing my Bachelor of Visual Arts and Master of Fine Arts at the University of Sydney (Sydney College of the Arts), I chose CQUni for my further studies because I feel strongly that the academic staff here are very encouraging and supportive and I like the feeling of a smaller campus," she says.

"I have lived in Noosa since 2011 and although I sometimes miss the easy access to galleries that you have in big cities, I just love the climate and lifestyle here. I am a casual tutor in Multimedia at CQUni, Noosa campus and I also teach art history and theory at the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE, Noosa campus."

Ulrike's art will feature in an exhibition from April 26 to June 1 
Ulrike's art will feature in an exhibition from April 26 to June 1

CQUniversity Bundaberg academics Ron Bishop (Aviation) and Associate Professor Matthew Rockloff (Psychology) have been named in the national Top Ten for the UniJobs Lecturer of the Year awards.

Topping more than 4000 nominees from around Australia, Mr Bishop came in at number 6 with Dr Rockloff at number 10.

"It's a privilege to be in a job that stimulates people to learn, and for me to play a small part in contributing a future filled with passionate life-long learners," Dr Rockloff says.

"I'm very grateful to the students who nominated me, and touched by their recognition of my efforts."

Matthew Rockloff (left) and Ron Bishop both made the national Top Ten for the Lecturer of the Year Award run by UniJobs

Based on votes by students and fellow staff members, the award recognises lecturers who have gone 'above and beyond' in their efforts to better the lives of their students and campus communities.

More than 100,000 votes were cast for the latest UniJobs competition, making it the most popular award to date.

The award, now in its sixth year, is an initiative of www.UniJobs.com.au with details of all Top 10 nominees from each university available via http://www.lectureroftheyear.com.au .

LINK HERE, HERE and HERE re AVIATION programs or HERE for PSYCHOLOGY programs

We all know how exciting it can be to watch a really great movie trailer. But what if you could capture the same level of interest in books?

The LitVids 2.013 Book Trailer competition is happening again for 2013, as part of the popular Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival in Mackay.

Author Tristan Bancks will be in Mackay to workshop with students. The competition aims to get people interested in reading the book rather than watching the movie by creating a short piece of multimedia which brings the book to life on screen.

LitVids is sponsored by CQUniversity and Mackay Regional Council, and is part of the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival.

The event will bring noted Young Adult author and book trailer extraordinaire Tristan Bancks to Mackay to present two workshops.

Workshops will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 5pm to 7.30pm at the Gordon White Library (brain food supplied) and Saturday, May 18 from 10am to 3pm using CQUniversity's multimedia labs.

The full-day workshop will use specialist software available at CQUniversity, with the help of CQUniversity's Head of Multimedia Program, Associate Professor Steven Pace. Attendees will have the opportunity to create and submit their book trailer on the day if they wish.

Bookings are essential for both workshops.

The competition is open to anyone aged between 12 and 19 who is interested in film-making or animation or multimedia in general and would like to go into the running to win some cash.

LitVids 2.013 winners will be announced during the launch of the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival on Wednesday, July 17 at Whitsunday Anglican School.

The LitVids 2.013 Book Trailer competition is now open and will close Monday, June 24, 2013.

Download a registration form here. Once the completed form is delivered to your library or school, with parent/guardian signatures if necessary (for under 16s), you will receive your LitVids 2.013 pack with all necessary information and 1GB USB on which to submit your entry.

You can view all of last year's entries here: https://vimeo.com/litvids. 2013 entries will be in the same spot, just under a new album.

Find out more information here http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/libraries/for_youth/litvids

Creating a music theatre production at CQUniversity's Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) may look like chaos but, according to Head of the Theatre program Dr Judith Brown, it is really a well-oiled machine...

"Each student in the Bachelor of Theatre degree has a role to play in getting the show onto the stage," she said.

The cast of Brigadoon during a rehearsal performance. And it's no different for CQCM's first major production for 2013 - Brigadoon - which takes to the stage this Friday.  

Since the start of April, the cast, crew and staff have been working full-time every day to create the sets, costumes and props as well as learn the choreography and staging for every scene.

Brigadoon is a broadway classic, set in the highlands of Scotland. While this musical is well known to music theatre fans in Mackay, it is new to the students at CQUniversity, and they will bring a fresh and exciting approach to this heart-warming story of love and sacrifice.

The linchpin of music theatre productions at CQUniversity is the professional director who is brought in to work with the students.

"It is just not possible in a regional area for our large cohort of students to get work experience in a professional theatre company," Dr Judith Brown said.

"But we can bring the professionals here to Mackay to work with the students."

This year, Australian actor and director Jason Langley has been working with students full-time, every day.

"This is the shortest amount of time I've had to direct a show but it's been great so far," Jason said.

"The students' work ethic has been fantastic and they are all working hard to produce a terrific show."

Jason has been mentoring students in every aspect of the theatre world and ensures they work to professional standards in a professional setting.

The performances are all held at the Conservatorium of Music Theatre on the Mackay campus of CQUniversity, Boundary Road, Planlands.

Performances are on Friday 26^th April 11am and 7.30pm, Saturday 27^th April 2pm and 7.30pm and Sunday 28^th April 2pm. Phone 4940 7800 for bookings and information. 

Mahatma Ghandi's famous phrase - 'the future depends on what we do in the present' - was a key message on responsible approaches to tourism development given by a CQUniversity academic at the global conference of the United Federation of Travel Agents in Malaysia this week.

Steve Noakes, Head of CQUniversity's tourism and hospitality program, was an invited keynote speaker at the conference, which drew delegates from all continents.

Steve Noakes addresses the international conference

Green demand for responsible approaches towards tourism continues to grow, with a recent Trip Advisor (2012) survey of US travellers indicating that almost three quarters will make environmentally friendly travel choices and over half often make eco-friendly travel decisions, such as their choice of hotel, transportation, or food source.

"It's becoming increasingly evident to travel agents whose business is to sell tourism and travel products that green initiatives are important to both the consumers and the suppliers of services," Mr Noakes says. "They are certainly an increasing priority for hospitality businesses that are trying to reduce their environmental footprint."

Mr Noakes reminded the delegates of another of Gandhi's well known statements, relating it to unsustainable forms of mass tourism:  ‘Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed'.

CQUniversity offers tourism courses within its degrees: Bachelor of Tourism, Bachelor of Business (Tourism) and Bachelor of Hospitality Management.

Steve Noakes addresses the international conference

Tradies can jump into the second term of an Engineering degree with CQUniversity thanks to a new ‘diploma' pathway.

Head of Program Fae Martin says people with a relevant trade diploma can get advanced standing, shaving up to six months off their journey.

"Our degrees also give them the flexibility to juggle work and study meaning they can have an income while upgrading their professional qualifications," she says.

Meantime, students can enrol in Built Environment mid-year for the first time. Details are via www.cqu.edu.au/explore

New Zealand's decision to legalise gay marriage could see a spike in trans-Tasman tourism, according to a tourism expert...

Steve Noakes, Head of the Tourism and Hospitality program at CQUniversity, said frustrated Aussie same-sex couples could likely travel to New Zealand in their droves, giving the Kiwi tourism industry a healthy jolt.

Gay and lesbian events may be a bonus for tourism

He was speaking this week from the global conference of the United Federation of Travel Agents' Associations currently being held in Kuala Lumpur.

"The power of new technologies and social network marketing is already opening up new niche market opportunities that mainstream travel agents are wanting to sell, such as tour products suited for the same-sex traveller market," Mr Noakes says.

"The same-sex travel market is not new," explained Noakes, noting the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) based in Florida was started 20 years ago in 1983 by gay and lesbian travel agents. It now operates in over 80 countries on all six inhabited continents.

"Research indicates that the gay and lesbian travel market is a higher yielding sector than most others.

Steve Noakes has been attending an international tourism conference

"Danish scholars Ballegaard and Chor found in 2009 that while the diverse travel motivations of homosexual people seem to be in line with those of heterosexual tourists, aspects of feeling safe and accepted, frequenting gay space, and meeting at gay/lesbian events are important while they are on holiday. Gays and lesbians might avoid certain destinations because of their sexuality.

"Research in the USA indicates that the gay/lesbian tourist will spend around US$1000 more on their holiday travel than does his/her heterosexual counterpart. 'This market also seems to take more holidays more often than their heterosexual counterparts," Mr Noakes says.

He says that gay/lesbian tourism is, first and foremost, tourism.

"While gay/lesbian tourism is a niche market, it still operates under the same business environment that mainstream tourism does.

"Successful destinations are those that provide the quality of service and experience their markets want - no matter what the customer's nationality, colour, religion, race or sexual orientation may be."

Steve Noakes

CQUniversity research has shown that beach use by Brisbane residents in southeast Queensland is worth $1 billion. This is in addition to the value of domestic and international tourism in the region.

This research by Dr Jill Windle and Professor John Rolfe has estimated that Brisbane households make approximately six million daytrips and three million overnight trips to the beaches in southeast Queensland (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay) each year.  The annual economic value of these trips was calculated at $1,039 million.

Beach use is worth a billion

The overall value of beaches on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts was similar ($450 million) but overnight trips were a more important component of value on the Gold Coast and daytrips were more important on the Sunshine Coast.  The value of overnight trips in Moreton Bay was estimated at $130 million.

Beach recreation in other parts of the Queensland coast is also important, with Brisbane households making approximately 300,000 overnight trips per year to central and northern coastal areas.

This estimate of recreational value is an important component of the economic value of beaches that is not captured in standard tourism estimates based on financial accounts of commercial operators. For example, the activity of local residents, who use the beaches most frequently, is generally not recorded in the records of commercial operators, but has significant economic value.

This research was supported by a University Merit Grant and has been submitted for publication in an international journal.

LINK for a larger image 
Dr Jill Windle and Prof John Rolfe

CQUniversity Mackay is supporting the Zach Mach Mackay Adventure Challenge 2013, to be held on Saturday, May 11.

Organised by staff at the Mackay Christian College, the event will pay tribute to Zach Roberts, a popular young student, who sadly passed away at the age of 18.

The challenge is a point-to-point race consisting of almost 100km in total - 20km of mountain biking, 10km of paddling, 60km of road cycling and a 10km run - from Teemburra Dam to the Bluewater Lagoon.

CQUniversity campus will be the ‘transition' zone between the cycling and the running challenge.

Registration closes on Saturday, May 4. For more information, or to register, visit http://zachmach2013.wordpress.com/.

Contact: Jacqueline Greentree, Alun Tunnah or Peter Lister on 4963 1100 or zachmach@mccmky.qld.edu.au

Staff and students took part in a ‘speed networking' event as part of an initiative hosted by the newly formed Mackay Campus Life Committee on Wednesday, April 17.

While participants were not sure exactly what they were getting themselves into, they gathered as strangers and left as friends after an hour of general conversation.

Mackay staff and students take part in a speed networking eventThe HOT Topic had a total of 20 students and staff seated opposite each other, with three minutes to talk about a whole range of topics relevant to campus life.

The aim of the event was to create a closer connection between academic and professional staff and students, as well as to find out exactly what staff and students like and dislike about campus life.

Participants were given time to take notes, which will be used by the committee to develop a plan going forward.

Given the enthusiasm for the HOT Topic, it is hopeful that this can become a regular event on campus.

Former Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music students Sophie Phillis, Juliane Di Sisto and Tim Moxey have been handpicked from thousands of Australian singers to work with international celebrity artists after their success at the blind auditions for the hit reality television show ‘The Voice'.

Sophie Phillis

Sophie has joined Delta Goodrem's team, Juliane has joined Ricky Martin's team and Tim has joined Seal's team.

Sophie and Tim both graduated from a Bachelor of Music in 2008 while Juliane graduated from a Bachelor of Jazz Studies in 2005.

The students have gone on to work in other parts of the country since graduating from CQ Conservatorium of Music.

Sophie, a 26 year-old nurse from Emerald, is a single mother of one who performed a stunning Kelly Clarkson song ‘Beautiful Disaster'.

Juliane, now from Tasmania, sang ‘Good Luck' by Basement Jaxx. By day she works as a singing teacher and by night she performs in a duo and a funk/jazz quartet. She began classical singing lessons at age nine.

Family man Tim Moxey performed the classic hit ‘I Want to Know What Love Is' by Foreigner.

The 27-year-old Sydneysider is a full-time singing teacher and part-time pastor at his local church. Tim recently launched his first album ‘Stargazing' with Australian piano legend Mark Isaacs.

Juliane Di Sisto

He met his wife while studying music and together they have two small children.

To support CQUniversity's former Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music students Sophie, Julianne and Tim, tune into ‘The Voice' on Monday and Tuesday from 7pm and Sunday nights from 6.30pm on the Nine Network.

Tim Moxey   

CQUniversity student Jessica Kahl hopes to influence, inspire and represent women's involvement in a traditionally male-dominated profession, as well as make a positive impact on her community, society and environment through her work as an engineer.

Jessica is in her first year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Co-Op) at CQUniversity Rockhampton and has already decided to specialise in civil engineering.

Jessica Kahl"When I graduate as a civil engineer, I would like to be involved in planning designs and maintenance of physical infrastructure systems including the construction of buildings, bridges, transport, water resource systems, harbours and railways," she says.

Despite not having done Physics in school, Jessica says she is enjoying learning from scratch thanks to the supportive network of engineering students and staff.

"I am loving every bit of it! The course consists of Maths, Physics and Engineering skills with a range of tutorials, labs, workshops and lectures," she said.

"In the first few weeks we were put into groups to construct a skyscraper out of only 50 pencils and tape without it toppling over on a 10 per cent incline, as well as holding a 500ml water bottle on top."

Jessica is also designing and building a rainwater tank with different strengths of concrete, as well as constructing an electrical project.

The former Rockhampton Grammar School student has had a positive start to her university experience, being the recipient of four scholarships including a $20,000 ‘Supporting Women Scholarship' from the Minister for Education, a $3000 Queensland Rail Institute scholarship, a ‘Dream Big Scholarship' with Brown's Consulting, and a Vice-Chancellor's prize consisting of a $500 CQUniversity Bookstore voucher.

The ‘Dream Big Scholarship' allows her to work as a cadet engineer in a paid capacity while on the university holidays.

While Jessica still has four years of study left, she is looking forward to seeing where her career will take her.

"Civil engineering offers a flexible, well-rewarded and diverse career with the chance to work and travel all over the world, which is what I aspire to have and do after my graduation.

"By using my qualifications after I graduate, I would help promote and influence women's involvement in engineering and ultimately create an outreach program to inspire and involve female youth in the rewarding career."

US Consul General Niels Marquardt made a point of meeting a range of CQUniversity students during his visit to Rockhampton Campus this week. Professional Communication student REBECCA SCHICK had the chance for a one-on-one interview to produce this report ...

US Consul General Niels Marquardt meets CQUniversity students L-R Tarina Scoleri, John Lowry, Leah Millar and Bonita Thomson

US Consul General Neils Marquardt visited the Rockhampton Campus as part of his second trip to the city. One of his purposes for the visit was to see one of Queensland's major universities.

LINK for details on the US Consul General

Mr Marquardt is a highly qualified man who has attended different universities and has shared that if, whilst he was studying, he was aware of CQUniversity he would have considered it for his tertiary education.

"Most Americans would know Sydney, they'd know Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and Brisbane, Melbourne but Americans would not know regional centres like Rockhampton.

"If you wanted to study Marine Biology or anything, like veterinary science, there are a lot of things that would lend themselves particularly well to this location but it is a question of getting the word out."

American students come to many different places in Australia and Mr Marquardt expressed that he believes for an American student attending a regional university, it has many benefits.

"You probably get more out of the experience by coming to a regional university where you are more unusual and you are more special."

The US Consul General addresses CQUniversity staff and students during a luncheon reception

As there are many rewarding things about attending a regional university in Australia, for Mr Marquardt, there are many differences to the way in which an American university works compared to an Australian institution.

"When you turn 18 it is just part of our culture that you would choose some place and go away and live in a dormitory, which is usually on the campus run by the university.

"To me that is the biggest difference," Mr Marquardt expressed, "in America we have this notion of going away to college".

Many Australians do not move away to go to university which is something foreign to Americans, which makes a regional university rather appealing. 

Mr Marquardt voiced that it is not normally in the Australian culture to move away to participate in university, which is the best part about having regional universities. 

"Having something that's close or even nearby opens doors that are critical to keep open."

Professional Communication student Rebecca Schick had the chance to interview the visiting VIP

He also was impressed with the quality of the distance education that is an option for many students, which is a quality that is not as advanced in America; something that can be learnt by America.

"Not only do you provide education for people right there, you have set-ups with the technology in these places, where someone out in Longreach or Winton, can enrol and be a full-time student at many different universities like Central Queensland University."

The relationship between America and Australia, according to Mr Marquardt, is a great relationship across the board. There are areas where the relationship could possibly continue to grow.

"We could easily double the number of Australians studying in America either as exchange students or going there for a degree and it wouldn't be disproportionate to the relationship."

We today, as a region, share a positive relationship with America and Mr Marquardt has stated if we just keep growing what we're doing and trying to protect it and expand it, we can continue to keep a good relationship.

CQUniversity research has shown that the 2011 floods and other extreme weather events in Queensland did not have a major impact on the holiday plans of most Brisbane residents.

This research by Dr Jill Windle and Professor John Rolfe, supported by a University Merit Grant, was published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management.

Dr Jill Windle and Prof John Rolfe

After the summer of 2010/2011 was characterised by extreme weather events* in Queensland, the authors surveyed Brisbane residents, who are an important source of domestic tourism in Queensland.  Approximately 70% of overnight visitors in the State are local residents, and Brisbane is the largest population base in the State.

"A survey of Brisbane residents found that the holiday plans of 84% of survey respondents were unaffected by the 2011 weather events," Dr Windle says.

LINK for a larger image

"Those affected were more likely to change the timing of their holiday (avoid the wet season) rather than change their destination.

"This means the impact on tourism operators, from the Brisbane market, would have been relatively low. This should be an encouraging finding for tourism operators as it might result in more activity outside the peak season of school holidays. It also implies that if climate change does result in increased frequency of extreme weather events in the summer season, then the impact on domestic tourism within Queensland might not be as great as some tourism operators anticipate."

* In late December 2010 and early January 2011, heavy rainfall produced a series of floods across the State. Three quarters of the State was declared a disaster zone and many thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. Brisbane city experienced the worst floods since 1974. Three cyclones crossed the coast; including the category 5 Cyclone Yasi. These events had a devastating impact on the tourist industry.

Fourteen first-year students studying a Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) will attend the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) International Conference in Cairns, to hear from some of the world's most experienced practitioners.

CQUniversity is a major sponsor of the international conference, which is held annually in different parts of the world.

CQUniversity's first-year Bachelor of Chiropractic Science students with Dr Tony Rosner (centre) and Prof Phillip Ebrall (right)The conference will give students the chance to hear from international presenters on a wide range of topics including Applied Kinesiology, Stress Incontinence, Parathyroid Function, Adrenal Gland Dysfunction, and Retained Neuro-emotional Injury.

First and second-year Chiropractic Science students in Mackay also had the opportunity to work with conference presenter, Dr Tony Rosner (Director of Research from ICAK, Boston), this week.

Dr Rosner spent time workshopping with students regarding current scientific concepts underpinning chiropractic science, as well as meeting with professional chiropractors in the region.

The Conference will run from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21 at the Cairns Convention Centre.

All past, present and potential members of the Central Queensland Multicultural Association Inc are welcome to attend a members' barbecue and celebration of 'heroes' who have completed a chronic disease prevention program known as 'Swap It'.

The function from 2pm-7pm on Saturday April 27 at the barbecue hut beside the Amphitheatre on Rockhampton Campus is open to all who register beforehand.

Registrations for the event are via Ombir on 0413 592 386, Pauline 0429 724 006, Premila 0428 736 883  or Dawn on 0438 751 974 or email to cqma_inc@hotmail.com .

LINK HERE for details on the Swap It program which is a partnership between CQMA Inc and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.

CQUniversity OHS students travelled from as far afield as Singapore to attend a four-day residential school in Rockhampton recently. They were left with lasting impressions thanks to a presentation by Alan Newey, who shared his experiences following a horrific work injury.

Event organiser Elise Crawford said the school gave second-year OHS students the chance to be assessed on a range of practical skills.

Guest speaker Alan Newey shows OHS students a prosthetic limb

"Students conducted risk assessments, performed workplace inspections at various local businesses, delivered oral presentations and facilitated learning experiences on various OHS topics," Ms Crawford said.

"The students collaborated in groups, worked together in teams, and individually took advantage of forming new connections and relationships to strengthen their OHS professional practice networks.

OHS student Stevie Tucker checks for hazards

"This year, a special event was organised for the first evening. Alan Newey from chatsafety.com.au was invited to present his personal story on ‘the human side of safety'.

"It was my hope that Alan's story would help to inspire the students to strive for best-practice in their current and future OHS professions, which I believe it has."

Ms Crawford said a pizza reception enabled students to meet the guest speaker while networking with representatives from the participating local businesses.

"The four Rockhampton businesses which engaged with CQUniversity this year were: Rockhampton City Council, B & J Car Sales, the Little Zebra Childcare Centre and Boral Asphalt Plant. These partnerships with our local businesses are important because they enhance the students' learning experience by providing real work environments, by which students can learn about the risks to health and safety in a variety of settings, in a very real and meaningful way."

Team 13 wins top marks - Kerry Story, Leanne Smith, Donella Swanton and Stevie Tucker 
Students facilitate learning experiences: Sam Faulker tapes Kerry Story's fingers together, to emphasise the importance of hand safety 
L-R Alan Newey (Presenter), Mick Huestis (Regional OHS Manager - Boral Construction Materials), Mark Harriss (student), and Michelle Dalzell (OHS Officer at Boral Asphalt - Rockhampton) 
OHS student Ben Matthews inspecting electrical tagging and testing 
Team work - left to right: Lachlan Wong, Andrew Luhrs and Sandra Wylie 
Alan Newey (presenter) and Sandra Wylie (student)

OHS students pictured on campus - left to right: Andrew Luhrs and Lachlan Wong

Ben Matthews (OHS student) handles the prosthetic arm

CQUniversity Alumnus Philippa Hindmarsh is setting off on a 300km journey through Cambodia to raise money for the education of children in the developing country...

The renowned track cyclist recently completed her Bachelor of Accounting degree and hopes to teach children about financial literacy along the route of her journey. She now works as a financial analyst for Aurizon.

Ms Hindmarsh is due to leave for Cambodia on June 3 and plans a fundraiser on May 3 at Victoria Park Bowls Club. Details are available from Philippa via 0432 921 013 or you can donate via www.cufa.com.au/piphindmarsh .

Philippa Hindmarsh 
Pip pictured during her time as a junior cycling champion

Considering a zombie apocalypse can be a fun way to consider preparations and responses to vector-borne illness, such as malaria, west nile virus and dengue fever.

That's according to Brian Maguire, Professor of Paramedic Science at CQUniversity, who has been interviewed for the Brain Food Daily YouTube program.

 
Prof Brian Maquire

Around 60 students, staff and community members gathered on Rockhampton Campus recently to hear from visiting Tibetan meditation master and author Lama Choedak Rinpoche.

As part of the talk hosted by the Multi-Faith Centre, the visitor encouraged the audience not to get bogged down or be blinded by faith in institutional religion. He cautioned against denigrating people who have different beliefs as heretics, non-believers or infidels.

LINK for a larger image

"The only thing that matters is how we treat each other ... with kindness, compassion and tolerance ...fear-mongering does not work," he said.

"We should be seeking with reason rather than blind acceptance and child-level preaching; nailed down by chapter and verse. Our love and friendship should not be affected by differences but enhanced and nurtured ... we should be seeing good in others and giving equal opportunity to their beliefs.

Lama Choedak Rinpoche spoke in detail about the 'law of cause and effect' underpinning Bhuddist beliefs.

LINK for a larger image

"The Dalai Lama tells us that humanity can live without religion and meditation, but cannot survive without human affection," he said.

Addressing Christianity, the visitor said the real good work of Christians happened "not in church but out in the street with generosity and charity".

About the speaker: Renowned Tibetan meditation master and best-selling author, Lama Choedak Rinpoche is founder of one of the most established Buddhist centres in Australia. He leads weekly meditation and philosophy classes in Canberra and conducts regular retreats throughout Australia and New Zealand. His teachings are offered from the heart, spiced with the richness of his experience, dedication and realisation.

 
LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

A total of 115 graduates attended this week's Bundaberg ceremony for graduates of CQUniversity at the Moncrieff Theatre...

Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman with L-R Grant Stevenson (Bachelor of Business [Marketing] with Distinction); Katrina Lane-Krebs (Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education); and Ruth Pickton (Bachelor of Environmental Science). Grant, Katrina and Ruth are also CQUni staff members

They heard from guest speaker Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian who is a senior elder of a Kabi Kabi clan/family, a traditional owner and member of the Gurang Gurang and Terabalang Bunda peoples. Cheri is also a Director of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre in Bundaberg, and has this year taken on the newly established role of the Centre's Chaplain as well. She has worked and studied abroad and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Indigenous and Community Health and a Master of Criminal Justice.

The Savvi Voce singers entertain graduates and guests

Official guests attended representing the Queensland Police Service, Bundaberg Regional Council, TAFE, Education Queensland and the CQUniversity Regional Engagement Committee.

The CQUniversity Bundaberg graduation medal was presented to IT graduate Joel Mortensen in recognition of his outstanding academic record and contribution to the University and community.

An address on behalf of graduates was delivered by Dianne Barrett, who has completed a Bachelor of Learning Management (Secondary and Vocational Education and Training).

Guest speaker Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian  
LINK for a larger image 

CQUniversity has hosted and helped to stage a 'three-in-one' workshop for teachers, which achieved a 100% participant satisfaction rate.

Despite being held on one of the wettest days on record, Rockhampton's first 'Diabetes/Asthma/Epilepsy Chronic Disease Management in Schools Workshop' reached 64 teachers and associated education staff.

L-R workshop organiser Veronica Mills (Qld Health District Diabetes Clinical Nurse Consultant based at CQUniversity Health Clinic) with Qld Health School Health Nurses Friederike McCartney, Beverley Hewett and Hilary Peters

It involved three of CQUniversity's Allied Health professionals, four district school nurses and two diabetes educators, and drew on support from Professors Ysanne Chapman and Kerry Reid-Searl. Key district school nurse participants included Friederike McCartney, Beverley Hewett, Hilary Peters and Sally Minto, along with co-organiser Gail Steindl (Ed Qld Clinical Nurse).

Speakers included:

Leah Grice - Asthma Educator for Asthma Queensland;

Lisa Todd- Epilepsy Action Australia (from Sydney office);

Veronica Mills- District Diabetes Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Exercise Physiology students Emma (left) and Rebecca (far right) with L-R workshop organiser Veronica Mills (Qld Health District Diabetes Clinical Nurse Consultant based at CQUniversity Health Clinic) with Qld Health School Health Nurses Friederike McCartney, Beverley Hewett and Hilary Peters

More veteran cyclists should consider weight training to prolong or even improve their performance, to avoid injury and also to boost bone mineral density to avoid osteoporosis...

That is according to CQUniversity researcher Campbell Macgregor who recently won the prestigious 2013 International Clinical Scholar Award from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Assoc Prof Peter Reaburn (left) congratulations Campbell Macgregor on his international award

The respected ACSM peak body selected Mr Macgregor's project on The Effect of Age on Training Practices in Veteran Cyclists: An Australian Study as its top submission this year.

As a reward, he wins airfares, accommodation, conference registration and dinner tickets for the ACSM conference in Indianapolis from May 28-June 2.

Mr Macgregor's study of Queensland cyclists aged over 35 found there was no tapering off of training kilometres, even with cyclists aged up to 70.

"Older cyclists are keeping up the miles," he said.

"We found that cyclists aged 45-55 tended to train for one day less each week but they compensated by boosting their kilometres on other days. This change in training patterns is likely due to a greater intensity in career and family responsibilities in that age bracket.

"On average, veteran cyclists are training between 250-300km each week across three to four days.

"Very few - around 15% - have been regularly using weight (resistance) training when the research suggests they should do so."

Mr Macgregor's Masters of Human Movement Science is being supervised by Associate Professor Peter Reaburn from CQUniversity and co-supervised by Dr Marko Korhonen, a world's leading masters athlete researcher from Finland. Campbell plans to move into his PhD later this year to pursue the effect of resistance training on performance and health of veteran cyclists. He is also on the casual teaching staff for CQUniversity and is based in Rockhampton.

LINK for a larger image

Around 50 staff and students from CQUniversity Melbourne recently took advantage of warm sunshine to visit Fawkner Park for the annual campus sports and activities day...

The event was a huge success, with participants enjoying a variety of sporting activities including cricket, soccer, basketball and badminton.

Among the popular activities were three ‘bike ‘n blend' bikes which enabled students to use furious pedalling to power and blend their own fruit smoothies.

Another highlight was 10 staff taking on two large teams of students in an impromptu, yet fast-paced and highly competitive game of ‘tunnel ball'. . . the students won!

To cap off a great day, a delicious barbecue lunch was enjoyed by all. Many thanks go to staff from all areas of campus that joined in and helped out to make the day a success. Special thanks also goes to Kathleen and Gerald of the Campus Services team for their tireless efforts in organising another very successful student event for the Melbourne Campus.

For more pictures, please ‘Like' the ‘CQUniversity International' page on Facebook.

It's no accident that students have been converging on CQUniversity Bundaberg Campus. They have been attracted by the first residential school based at a new Forensic Investigation Crash Lab CQUniversity has developed there...

LINK for a larger image of students investigating a crane accident

CQUniversity offers a Bachelor of Accident Forensics via its Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses, as well as through distance education.

The University also offers a Master of Accident Investigation (Specialisation) by distance education with specialisations in aviation, road, rail and industrial accident investigation. The first Masters students will come to the lab for their first residential school in May.

Students, staff and volunteers involved in the residential school at CQUniversity Bundaberg

The 18 students attending this undergraduate residential school were able to apply their theoretical knowledge to realistic investigations of a series of accidents involving a car and a jeep, a crane, and some industrial machinery. They were supported by 10 first-year Accident Forensics students from Gladstone, Bundaberg and Brisbane who had volunteered to help by playing the role of crash 'witnesses' and 'media', and by keeping things running smoothly.

Engineering consultancy Clyde Babcock-Hitachi supported the residential school by providing a senior safety manager - David Skegg - to help facilitate the sessions, by sponsoring a dinner, and by donating a perpetual shield for the 'CBH Best Performing Investigation Team Award'. 

The Accident Forensics teaching team has also negotiated to secure a second-hand airliner and a railway locomotive which should both feature in future residential schools at the lab.

There are plans in future to transfer wreckage from real accidents into the crash lab so that students can experience the reality of accident scenes in a controlled environment.

 
This scenario featured a Jeep donated by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. ANCAP has also pledged delivery of a 2013 Subaru Forester for the campus facility 
Second-year student Alice Leeson, from Rockhampton, prepares to lead an investigation during the Bundaberg residential school 
First-year student volunteers (left to right) - Wayne Bisset, Donna White, Danika Royle, Simone Finnerty (who all travelled to from Brisbane to volunteer) and Janey Scarth-Johnson (who travelled from Gladstone). 

Charles Gorton from CBH (centre) and lecturer Yvonne Toft (right) present the perpetual shield to L-R Duncan Bewick, Larry Cameron and Stacey Barry

The Mackay community is invited to hear how the region will fare in relation to global economics when CPA Australia and CQUniversity host ‘Global Events, Local Impacts' at CQUniversity on Tuesday, April 16 from 5.30pm.

The seminar will attempt to understand the effects of a range of current global financial and economic events on the future of our region.

Guest speakers will touch on the phenomenon of connectedness on a large-scale in today's world; where a minor event in one area can have almost immediate, sometimes unexpected consequences in another area, whether it is via social trends, spreading of a disease or people's movement.

Recently appointed CEO of Mackay Regional Council, Barry Omundson and Director of Results Plus Business Solutions Tim Miles will present their views on our economic interconnectedness and possible impacts on Mackay.

The event is free of charge but participants are required to pre-register via the website http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/.

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 16 from 5.30pm in the Cook Lecture Theatre.

Music lovers are welcome at the Big Night In concert at CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus, from 7.30pm on a Friday evening (April 12).

Tickets are available at the door but phone bookings are also available via 4940 7800.

Hamming and jamming it up ahead of their 'Big Night In' are L-R Zak Scerri, Monique Pearce, Elissa Finn, Dann Frost and Natt Day

Entry is Adults $12, Concession $8 and Children $5 for this showcase of the talents of jazz and popular music students from the Bachelor of Music program.

This energetic concert features fast moving and high energy sets of jazz, pop and rock standards.

L-R Zak Scerri, Dann Frost, Monique Pearce, Elissa Finn, Ben Harper, Ana Tuilovoni and Natt Day

LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

Young South Australian workers are encouraged to respond to a new health and safety survey, as part of a push to help young people get involved with their own safety in the workplace.

This is in response to previous research indicating those aged 12-25 are at higher risk of injury yet have little knowledge of workers' rights.

Young workers are encouraged to respond to the survey

LINK HERE to reach the survey or HERE and HERE for the survey social media pages.

This innovative new project will incorporate social media, integrate with the education system and employers and, most importantly, empower young workers to be resilient rather than vulnerable.

Funding from SafeWork SA will enable an education and advocacy strategy drawing on collaboration with young workers and key organisations including business, unions, educational institutions and SWSA inspectors.

South Australia¹s Youth Work Health and Safety Strategy project will be led by CQUniversity researchers Associate Professor Verna Blewett, Dr Jessica Paterson and Dr Sophia  Rainbird.

"Drawing on world's  best practice through collaboration with international researchers, this innovative strategy will lead to a cultural shift in the way that youth Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) is approached," Assoc  Prof Blewett says.

"The project will enable young people to drive the agenda through self-advocacy.

SafeWork SA Senior Project Officer (Safe Communities) Meegan Brotherton (white shirt) with L-R Dr Sophia Rainbird, Assoc Prof Verna Blewett and Dr Jessica Paterson
"Real case studies will provide 'me-too¹ stories which are known to have a powerful influence as a means of engaging emotions and providing examples for action.

""They should be able to experience safer workplaces right from the beginning of their working lives."

Assoc Prof Blewett says the strategy will incorporate 'safe reporting and advocacy points' and involvement of the education sector to deal with the problem of under-reporting of youth WHS issues.

Other project innovations will include development of problem-solving skills in young people and the linkage of WHS training to topics that young people are interested in.

"Our collaborative approach will ensure key stakeholders ­- including young workers themselves - are invested in the strategic action plan and therefore increase the likelihood of its successful implementation," Assoc Prof Blewett says.

The CQUniversity research team is based at CQUniversity's Appleton Institute in Adelaide.

CQUniversity Noosa recently joined Noosa Biosphere for a program launch ahead of the ‘Balance-Unbalance 2013' international conference.

Balance-Unbalance 2013 will be held in conjunction with 'Floating Land' from May 31-June 2 and will focus on how the arts and technology can be used to explore environmental and sustainability issues.

About Balance-Unbalance 2013 International Conference

Dr Sue Davis joins Ben McMullen and Carolyn Beaton to show off the new conference shirts

The interdisciplinary conference will feature panels and featured speakers, paper presentations, transdisciplinary performances and virtual presentations from leading international researchers and practitioners.

Dr Ricardo Dal Farro from Concordia University in Canada was the creator of the Balance-Unbalance conference concept and is international conference director for the 2013 event.

CQUniversity Senior Lecturer and Noosa Biosphere Chair Dr Susan Davis believes hosting this event will be a highlight for the region.

"We were very proud to launch the program for Balance-Unbalance at the beautiful Bark Design studios," Dr Davis says.

"Cr Russell Green launched the program and identified how this bringing together of key national and international thinkers and creatives was very significant for Noosa. This is especially as we contemplate ways to utilise the opportunities to maintain the community's aspirations for a sustainable future under a new Noosa Council."

"Leah Barclay shared key highlights of the conference program, and we also heard from Balance-Unbalance originator and co-convenor Ricardo Dal Farra, who skyped in from Montreal."

Balance-Unbalance 2013 will run over three days, with the Friday event at The J featuring keynote panels with leading international thinkers including Tony Fry and Andrea Polli. The Friday evening will be a special Pecha Kucha Night event hosted in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance. The Saturday and Sunday program will run at CQUniversity Noosa Campus.

Over 100 presenters will be sharing over 60 papers, 25 performance/installations and 30 panels/trans-disciplinary activities. The conference is sponsored by CQUniversity, Sunshine Coast Council, Floating Land, Tourism Noosa and Noosa Biosphere Ltd.

For more information see the conference website http://www.balance-unbalance2013.org/

The Prior Learning International Research Centre (PLIRC) is based out of Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC.

Dr Ros Cameron (bottom left) with other PLIRC board members and SUMMIT presenters from a range of countries

Dr Cameron, the Head of Discipline for HRM at CQUniversity, has been a PLIRC board member since 2009 when the research centre was established, along with other board members from OECD/France, UK, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Canada.

All board members were funded to attend and present at a recent SUMMIT 2013 Conference in Canada. Dr Cameron spoke on Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and human resource management: Learning from Downunder.

"SUMMIT participants were very interested in the use of RPL as human resource practice in industries across Australia and especially those partnerships between VET providers, industry, government and unions," Dr Cameron says.

PLIRC was awarded a very competitive research grant from the Canadian government to put on the conference in conjunction with BCPLAN, a group of educators, employers and unions from throughout BC who are developing a Province-based strategic plan for RPL (or as the Canadians call it PLAR!).

PLIRC was awarded the research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC), the federal funding agency for university-based research and graduate training in the social sciences and humanities in Canada.

10,000 Steps Workplace and the Queensland Government's Workplaces for Wellness Initiative are teaming up to find the most physically active workplace in Queensland's transport industry.

The competition will pit participating workplaces against each other over a six-week challenge, during which transport workers will be urged to find opportunities to move more and to record the number of steps they take.

There's little doubt that Queensland's transport industry contributes significantly to our lifestyle and economy. Whether by road, rail, sea or air, over long or short distances, we all rely on our transport workers.

The nature of the work for many in the industry means limited physical activity and long periods of sitting, and these factors can have negative effects on a worker's health. The aim of this competition is to encourage transport workers to improve their health and wellbeing by increasing their levels of physical activity, and for workplaces to experience the safety, financial and cultural benefits of a healthier workforce.

To find out more visit http://www.10000steps.org.au/ or phone 07 49 306 751

About the 10,000 Steps Workplace Challenge

The 10,000 Steps Workplace Challenge involves teams completing ‘virtual' walking journeys. Some workplaces like to add some extra ‘healthy' competition into their challenge, pitting branch against branch or department against department.

The distance walked is tracked using a 10,000 Steps pedometer, the 10,000 Steps website and Challenge Map.

The only cost is for the purchase of pedometers. A good quality pedometer is the key to making sure your steps are accurately recorded. Visit the website ( http://www.10000steps.org.au/ ) to find out where to purchase your pedometers and information on bulk order discounts. Participants will receive support at each stage of the challenge and will have access to some great resources via the 10,000 Steps website.

Competition details

The competition will be conducted over any six-week period between April 2 - June 14 this year. The competition will be open to all Queensland workplaces within the transport industry, including but not limited to; road, rail, maritime and aviation transport. Workers employed as part of the infrastructure and operational divisions as well as those who provide direct support to the transport industry are also encouraged to participate.

The winner of the competition will be the workplace that records the highest average steps per employee at the end of the six-week challenge. The key will be having as many employees as possible moving more each day. The winning workplace will not only receive bragging rights, but will be prominently featured in a high profile state-wide publication; on the 10,000 Steps website and social media platforms, and they will also receive a trophy for their efforts.

10,000 Steps Workplaces is a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

To find out more visit http://www.10000steps.org.au/ or phone 07 49 306 751

After nearly a decade of working with wild grizzly bears in North America Sarah Elmeligi decided that to take her research to the next level she would need to visit Rockhampton. No kidding, she's come to Rocky from the Rockies.

It all becomes clearer when she explains that grizzly bears hibernate between November and March - preventing field studies - and that her main supervisor, Owen Nevin, and a committee member, Dave Swain, are based at CQUniversity.

LINK HERE for audio from Sarah's recent interview with ABC Radio

Sarah Elmeligi pictured on campus in Rockhampton and also in the Skoki Valley of Banff National Park. Inset: Sarah's photo of an orphaned male grizzly Sarah plans to retreat to Rockhampton each hibernation season to analyse her data and write her thesis. She'll spend April to October in Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks (Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho) collecting data and studying the bears during their active season.

The overall aim is to find ways to balance the national park visitor experience for hikers with the bear's habitat requirements. Using GPS tracking data from both bears and hikers and remote cameras on hiking trails, along with hiker surveys, Sarah will create a series of management recommendations that are good for bears and good for people.

Luckily for Sarah, Parks Canada already attaches GPS collars to bears for other studies, using culvert traps and tranquilisers to achieve what would otherwise be an impossible task.

"Bear management is effectively people management. We seek to maximise visitor satisfaction and access to hiking trails and minimise the potential negative impact on grizzly habitat use," Sarah says.  "With the GPS collars, the location of each bear is emailed to Parks Canada every two hours, providing a wealth of data."

Two decades ago, Sarah focused her bachelor degree studies on animal behaviour and ecology before progressing her Masters thesis on 'Bear-viewing Tourism' just under 10 years ago. 

Throughout her Masters, she also worked as a community outreach coordinator alongside First Nations rangers and British Columbia Parks staff to implement a grizzly bear monitoring program. After brainstorming with stakeholders she came up with the visitor centre theme - 'Bear-ly Inhabitated Culturally Rich'. She led the design, creation and construction of the visitor centre including the development of educational signage and brochures for several First Nations communities on the northwest coast.

Sarah then spent several years working for environmental non-profit organisations in western Canada aiming to influence land-use planning and decision making to be more conservation focused. She worked as a conservation project manager with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), which bridges the USA and Canada. While focused on the Cabinet-Purcell Mountain Corridor stretching from Montana to British Columbia, her role included developing an Avian Conservation Strategy across the whole Y2Y landscape.

Most recently, Sarah has worked as a senior conservation planner with the Southern Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Her achievements include working with other environmental organisations to successfully have the grizzly bear listed as threatened under the Alberta Wildlife Act.

Around 150 professionals and researchers involved in mining rehabilitation and environmental management are converging at CQUniversity Rockhampton for a major workshop...

This Central Queensland Mining Rehabilitation Group (CQMRG) event has both retrospective and future-focused topics encompassing mine site water management and analysis, mines and farms as neighbours, evaporative fans, hydraulic erosion control, conservation of biodiversity, and monitoring of mining using macroinvertebrates.

L-R workshop participants included Dr Karuna Shrestha and Assoc Prof Larelle Fabbro from CQUni with CQMRG coordinator Brenda Berry, chairperson Stuart Ritchie and Geeta Gautam Kafle from CQUni (far right)

CQUniversity presenters include Professor Kerry Walsh, Assoc Prof Nanjappa Ashwath, Assoc Professor Larelle Fabbro, Dr Karuna Shrestha, Dr Susan Kinnear and Dr Claire Sellens.

The workshop is being held on campus on Thursday and Friday, with a gala dinner scheduled on the Thursday night across the highway at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP).

This is the 50th CQMRG workshop to be held over the past two decades. It is being hosted by CQUniversity's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS).

A Central Queensland academic says Queenslanders should be ‘gravely concerned' about the potential ramifications of the recent Callinan review into the State's Crime and Misconduct Commission.

Fitzgerald Inquiry expert and CQUniversity lecturer, Celeste Lawson, said the recommendations currently being considered by the State Government, could  leave the public oblivious to serious cases of potential high level corruption.

Celeste Lawson - LINK for larger image

"With a history of high profile corruption amongst Queensland police and Queensland politicians, people have a right to know who is being investigated in order to make informed voting choices," Ms Lawson said.

A total of 17 recommendations were provided to the State Government about the CMC after a review by former High Court Judge Ian Callinan.

Mrs Lawson, whose research expertise includes the period of the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption in Queensland, said Queenslanders should be most concerned about two of the key recommendations.

"The first prohibits media publication of details of CMC investigations until after a case is finalised. The second charging people who make vexatious complaints to the CMC," she said.

"Both of these concepts have the potential to either place a veil of secrecy over serious cases of corruption; or deter genuine whistleblowers from lodging complaints because they fear retribution."

While Ms Lawson acknowledged the media could sometimes go too far in vilifying people facing investigation, she believed the recommendations might go against the spirit of the Fitzgerald legacy.

"Queenslanders should not forget that police and political corruption was rife in 1987 at the time of the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

"This is why the CMC (formerly Criminal Justice Commission) was established in the first place. The public at that time had a right to know that our top police and government ministers were involved in potential corruption.

"Twenty-five years on, the public's right to be informed remains unchanged. It is about accountability. Of course there are exceptions, but people have a right to know that important public figures are linked to corruption allegations.

"Unfortunately, vexatious claims against public figures are often made by political parties for political gain.

"However, the new recommendations to charge informants for baseless allegations will only serve to deter genuine whistleblowers  from coming forward.

"Back in his time, Tony Fitzgerald wanted whistleblowers to be able to come forward without fear of persecution," she said.

"We have seen cases where politicians have used the CMC process as smear campaigns against other candidates. That is a serious issue. But if genuine whistleblowers are frightened to speak up, potential corruption may never be identified.

"Likewise, without the ability of the media to report on investigations, serious matters of public concern would never come to light."

"It's this balance of public accountability that the CMC was developed to provide.

"Most court cases are open to the public on which the media can report. It's ludicrous to place a blanket media ban on all matters before the CMC."

Ms Lawson made it clear that she was not defending recent actions by the CMC, but was highlighting the underlying principles of the watch dog body.

"They have made mistakes, but the principles under which the CMC were established should be upheld.

"Without broader freedom of the media to report the names of those under investigation - provided it's in the public interest - there's a real risk of a potential cover up and a lack of accountability over all.

"The media must behave ethically. They should not vilify those accused or whistleblowers, but it is also unacceptable for allegations against high profile people, who are accountable to the public, to be hidden in a shroud of secrecy."

Gambling may be stimulated by a fear of death and problem gamblers may be especially susceptible to 'death-related' cues.

That's according to a survey which backs the theory that, as a consequence of 'terror management', thinking about death inspires urges to gamble.

Assoc Prof Matthew Rockloff

CQUniversity researcher Associate Professor Matthew Rockloff says survey respondents with severe gambling problems who were cued to think about their eventual death had significantly greater urges to gamble than those who were not cued.

"Gambling is an 'escape' from self and the uncomfortable recognition of human frailty," Assoc Prof Rockloff says.

"It's an open question whether death cues also intensify actual gambling behaviours such as bet size, betting speed, persistence and money spent."

Assoc Prof Rockloff is Deputy Director of the Institute for Health and Social Science Research at CQUniversity, and a member of the Experimental Gambling Laboratory which has been conducting phone surveys across the Central Queensland region.

Other researchers involved in the survey include Dr Phillip Donaldson and Dr Matthew Browne from Bundaberg Campus and Dr En Li from Rockhampton.

CQUniversity will recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of its alumni with the launch of its new CQUniversity Alumni Awards.

The Alumni Award program, to be launched in April, is also designed to contribute to career and networking opportunities for alumni.

CQUniversity staff members are encouraged to nominate outstanding alumni in one of the following three categories: Volunteer Alumni, Young Achiever Alumni (for people 35 years of age or younger) and Distinguished Alumni.

Alumni can also self-nominate for an award.

The new awards are a great opportunity for Schools to show off their high achievers, and for CQUniversity to celebrate its alumni achievements with the wider communities.

Information about the awards, entry guidelines and nomination forms will be available on the website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/engage/alumni/awards

The nomination period is open from April 6 to May 12.

CQUniversity senior lecturer Dr Susan Davis has been researching significant Queensland playwright George Landen Dann...

Dann wrote a number of award-winning plays between the 1930s and 1970s, with several of those focusing on the plight of Aboriginal people.  He spent the last 20 years of his life living on the Sunshine Coast, initially at Coolum and, in the 70s, in an old house on Lake Weyba Drive.

Dr Stephen Carleton (UQ), Dr Sue Davis (CQUni) and Prof Veronica Kelly (UQ) at Playlab's 'New Vintage' launch in Brisbane

"I originally became interested in Dann when I heard that he had died in Eumundi," Dr Davis says.

"That initiated a research and investigative process that is still ongoing but is also coming to fruition through two projects."

LINK for Dr Davis' research blog

Playlab press in Brisbane recently launched its 'New Vintage' Collection, a series of digitally-published plays of significant Australian works. This collection includes four works by George Landen Dann and Dr Davis has written the introductions for those publications.   LINK HERE and HERE for Dr Davis' introductions for the 'New Vintage' Collection.

"We are also in rehearsals at present for a rehearsed reading of one of George's plays that was based on a character and the landscape of the Sunshine Coast," Dr Davis says.

"The Orange Grove was written while George lived at Coolum and was inspired by a woman he met who lived on the tea-tree flats near the Maroochy River.  It was broadcast on ABC radio in the late 1950s and early 1960s and recognised as one of his major works.  Its subject matter draws from the great literary themes of love, betrayal and revenge while reflecting on the costs of progress for the little people who become sacrificial pawns in the business of development.  The April 13 reading at Noosa Arts will feature an outstanding cast with professional actor/director Kate Foy and some of the cream of Sunshine Coast acting talent."

The Noosa Arts website for April 13 has details on The Orange Grove reading: http://www.noosaartstheatre.org.au/productions/ournextproduction.aspx 

CQUniversity Rockhampton student and staff member Sherry-Kaye Savage will soon be wearing a third hat as one of six Australian delegates selected to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, as part of the Global Voices Initiative...

Sherry-Kaye has already travelled to Canberra for a pre-departure briefing in Parliament House, which occurred alongside the turmoil of now infamous Crean leadership spill.

Sherry-Kaye Savage checks her itinerary for the United Nations forum in New York

Before the politicians were distracted, she was part of a group of Global Voices delegates briefed by a range of politicians including Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Labor's Kevin Rudd. There was also time for afternoon tea with the Governor-General at Government House.

The Canberra visit include mentorship for Sherry-Kaye's chosen specialty research topic for the Forum - mapping the disparity in health and mortality rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in relation to type 2 diabetes and its link to cardiac and renal issues.

There's a natural affinity for a health topic as Sherry-Kaye graduated from a Human Movements degree and is now enrolled in Physiotherapy at CQUniversity.

The keen student juggles her study with employment as the University's Indigenous Widening Participation Officer. In this role she can draw on her family heritage encompassing Aboriginal, Torrest Strait Islander and South Sea Islander backgrounds.

While looking forward to two weeks of official forums at the United Nations in New York, Sherry-Kaye is also planning a few days off to enjoy the Big Apple in summer as she will be there between May 18-June 2.

She has previously visited New York on the way to and from an overseas student exchange experience at the University of Windsor in Canada, thanks to an Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP).

* More details about the forum are available via http://www.globalvoices.org.au/ Another CQUniversity student - PhD candidate Megan Star - has been selected to attend the Global Voices Nairobi Study Tour on Sustainable Development from June 22 to July 1 in Kenya.

CQUniversity Learning Management students enrolled in 'The Arts' course recently applied their learning around media to a real-life context.

The students filmed themselves with smartphones and worked with ABC Open Producer Lisa Clarke to create a digital story about life as a university student.

You can LINK HERE to view the result or watch the embedded ABC video below. Video Credits: Emma Aeschlimann, Sarah Bobart, Ruby Hackfath, Trina Hartley, Emily Humphrey, Antoinette Langley, Rachael Macgregor, Melanie Manawatu, Brooke McLeod, Alexandra Murdoch, Karina Pellegrinet, and D'Arcy Schnitzerling.

Life as a university student by CQUniversity Gladstone from ABC Open Capricornia on Vimeo.

CQUniversity recognises the need for specialised teaching to assist nursing students transitioning from the TAFE Diploma for Enrolled Nurses to university study.

As the TAFE-qualified students come directly into the second year of the CQUniversity Nursing degree, the new program is designed to address gaps in their specialised knowledge and to ensure they acquire a high order critical thinking approach to their studies, while at the same time acknowledging skills they bring from their previous study and work life.

LINK for a larger image of these residential school participants

Around 60 distance education students transitioning from being an Enrolled Nurse to university life converged on Noosa Campus recently to attend their first residential schools.

The residential schools allowed them to hone their reasoning, critical thinking and collaboration skills while absorbing specialised knowledge and forming study relationships with other Enrolled Nurses.

Noosa academic Carol McPherson, Lecturer and Transition to Nursing Studies Course Coordinator, says the residential schools were a success as they helped students gain confidence about their study requirements and future career aspirations.

LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

CQUniversity is one of only two Australian universities accepted as founding members of a new global Consortium of Collaborating Universities established by The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT-CCU).

It joins more than 20 universities from Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, Australia and the South Pacific for the newly-formed Consortium, housed at Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) in Lusaka, Zambia.

CQUni's Steve Noakes delivering a tourism policy and strategy workshop for UNWTO in East Africa.

Participating universities have agreed to collaborate in giving third and fourth-year university students the opportunity to research and write essays on the various dimensions of 'Peace through Tourism'.

A selection of the best essays being published by LIUTEBM will be made available to participants at the 2013 General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), being hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls in August 2013.

CQUniversity is one of only a few universities in Australia that has Affiliate member status with UNWTO, the peak intergovernmental agency for global tourism.

"The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) has emphasised the importance of drawing on the ancient wisdom, knowledge, and values of Indigenous Peoples," explained Steve Noakes, Head of the Tourism and Hospitality program at CQUniversity Australia.

"These types of international engagement activities assist a multicultural institution such as CQUniversity in our ongoing commitment to enhance the cultural competence of our students and staff."

The key area of research this year for IIPT-CCU will be 'Methods of conflict resolution and reconciliation in the ancient traditions of Indigenous Peoples'.

Student essays will also suggest how these methods might be applied in current conflict situations and the role that tourism, culture, and sport can play in contributing to the enhancement of these methods.

Students at participating universities are being invited to submit a paper up to 2500 words. A selection of the best papers will be published by LIUTEBM, with students and their teaching staff being identified as the authors. For further information, contact Steve Noakes  s.noakes@cqu.edu.au or tel 0418 774 295.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

IIPT (http://www.iipt.org/ ) is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation; an improved quality of environment; the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction; and the resolution of conflict. Through these initiatives, it aims to help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT is dedicated to mobilising travel and tourism, the world's largest industry, as the world's first 'Global Peace Industry', an industry that promotes and supports the belief that 'Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace'.

CQUniversity lecturer and researcher Dr Ezaz Ahmed has been invited to be a member of the inaugural Research Advisory Panel of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), Australia's apex and largest HR association for HR professionals.

The AHRI conducts and supports research activities with the intention of building the capability of HR professionals in Australia.

Dr Ezaz Ahmed

In order to continue to raise the standard of AHRI's research activities, the AHRI Board of Directors and Council of State Presidents have recommended the establishment of a research advisory panel. The panel will comprise leading academics from Australian universities representing both generalist and specialist areas.

Dr Ahmed, from the School of Busines and Law, will contribute to AHRI's research projects on 'Diversity and high performance'; 'HR competency'; and 'Youth, Indigenous and LGBTI inclusion in the workplace'.

A strong supporter of collaborative research initiatives, Dr Ahmed is involved in research projects examining relationships among managerial leadership, employees' psychological contract, performance management, and ethical decision making.

He is also part of a large CQUniversity Merit grant and early career researcher's grant project that identified key social and economic contributions of skilled migrants in regional Australia and key dynamics of employees' management in the resource sector.

Dr Ahmed has been keynote speaker at an International HRM Conference in Malaysia and at the 2013 Harmony Day celebration organised by Gladstone Regional Council.

Endicott College's oceanfront campus boasts three beaches and plenty of scenic beauty.

Aussie student Sarah McDonaugh enjoyed the campus environment but she was also interested in developing her academic experience, when she visited the Massachusetts institution on exchange recently.

LINK for a larger image of Sarah McDonaugh

Rockhampton-based Sarah is enrolled in a Bachelor of Learning Management (Secondary and VET) degree with CQUniversity. She received $5000 in scholarship support from the University to enable her exchange.

"When I get my own classroom I'm keen to draw on this exchange experience to develop students who are worldly and want to explore the world," she says.

While in the United States, Sarah travelled to key cities and tourist attractions, all the way from the Canadian border down to Florida.

Only a generation ago, children spent more time walking, cycling and just generally playing in and exploring their neighbourhood independently, without adult supervision...

Nowadays many children are faced with the opposite scenario; they are frequently driven to the destinations they used to walk or cycle to and spend less time playing and exploring their neighbourhood.

CQUniversity PhD candidate Stephanie Schoeppe has completed in-depth research about how independently mobile children are these days and how this impacts their overall physical activity levels and health.

She will give a FREE talk about her results in a Research Unplugged format, from 6pm-7pm on Thursday April 18 at the Parkers Function Room of Rockhampton's Criterion Hotel. Finger foods will be provided.

Anyone keen to attend the presentation on ‘Physical inactivity in Australian children - why we should encourage them to walk, cycle and play outdoors' can RSVP via j.douglas@cqu.edu.au or on 4923 2184 or via the Facebook Event page -  http://www.facebook.com/events/580916278586934/  .

Stephanie Schoeppe with a heart rate and activity monitor used in her research

Research Unplugged is presented by the Institute for Health and Social Science Research (IHSSR).

Ms Schoeppe's talk will discuss the prevalence and benefits of children's (8-13 year olds) independent mobility and active travel in the neighbourhood environment. This includes findings from the Australian projects ‘Children's Activity, Travel, Connectedness and Health (CATCH)' and 'Independent Mobility, Active Travel and Children's Health (iMATCH)' which were partially conducted in Rockhampton schools.          

After completing her Masters in Germany in 2002, Ms Schoeppe worked at research centres at the University of Sydney and offices of the World Health Organisation in Germany and Switzerland between 2003-2010 before joining the Centre for Physical Activity Studies at CQUniversity.

There was a healthy boost for collaboration with Japan's Saitama Prefectural University recently.

CQUniversity Associate Professor Monica Moran, from Occupational Therapy, hosted Dr Midori Shimazaki and Dr Ako Yoshinaga from Saitama's School of Health and Social Services.

Saitama Prefectural University (SPU) has a long history of interprofessional health education and the university recently received funding from the Japanese Government to ramp up national and international collaboration and research activities. Midori and Ako visited CQUniversity Rockhampton to observe the many interprofessional projects in operation and to discuss the logistics of developing student and staff interprofessional exchange projects.

Lived Experience Mental Health academic Louise Byrne (right) and Assoc Prof Monica Moran welcome Ako Yoshinaga (left) and Dr Midori Shmazaki to Rockhampton Campus

Right from the start, the visitors were able to experience CQUniversity's cutting-edge approach to interprofessional collaboration and simulation for health education, including the innovative MASK-ED^TM  simulation package used alongside a high-fidelity manikin.

The visitors toured the new Allied Health teaching spaces and visited the CQUniversity Health Clinic where they received a formal Japanese welcome from the clinic team followed by afternoon tea and a Q&A session with the many students completing interprofessional fieldwork experience.  

Lived Experience Mental Health academic Louise Byrne and Assoc Prof Moran briefed Midori and Ako on the CQUniversity Interprofessional Mental Health Collaboration with Queensland Health -  Developing and Implementing Innovative Solutions for Clinical Training Placements in Mental Health, and introduced them to the concept of Lived Experience Academics and recovery lead approaches. The visit culminated with a meeting with senior University staff to discuss ongoing collaboration and engagement opportunities.

L-R Anthony Weber from Paramedic Science and Assoc Prof Monica Moran from Occupational Therapy with Dr Midori Shimazaki and Ako Yoshinaga during their tour of Rockhampton Campus 
The 'masked educator' (aka Prof Kerry Reid-Searl) is checked by Paramedic Science academics Darryl Holley and Anthony Weber  
Anthony Weber ushers in masked educator Professor Kerry Reid-Searl 
The element of surprise shows on the visitors' faces after the un-masking of Professor Kerry Reid-Searl after a simulated health exercise

Commenting on news that Bundaberg residents have boosted their poker machine spend despite enduring record flooding, Associate Professor Matthew Rockloff says the latest State Government proposals are unlikely to stem the broader flow of gambling across the State.

Based at CQUniversity's Experimental Gambling Laboratory, Assoc Prof Rockloff says the State Government is describing its latest policy proposals as 'cutting red tape'.

Assoc Prof Matthew Rockloff

"Simply changing some features of the regulation to be more lax does nothing to cut red tape, however. Bet limits are still in place, for instance, they're just moving the yard-stick higher. Similarly, opening times will still be restricted - but the opening times will be earlier," he says.

"In fact, this is a boldly pro-industry initiative. Our data shows that the public has largely negative views about gambling, and these negative views are even held by people who gamble. As such, this cannot be seen to be a popular set of measures to anyone except the gaming industry."

Assoc Prof Rockloff was commenting on government figures showing Bundaberg's pokie spend in the January-February period has increased from $7.3 million in 2011 to $7.9 million in 2013.

The researcher says this was not a surprise as gambling, like alcohol sales, is remarkably resistant to tough times.

First-year Science student Hollis Brandt is keen to translate her academic, cultural and community achievements into momentum towards her desired career in renewable energy.

With help from a Vice-Chancellor's Academic Excellence Scholarship, Hollis has enrolled at Bundaberg Campus and intends to follow up her Bachelor of Science degree with study in the field of Engineering.

Hollis Brandt pictured on campus

"I'm keen to help develop improved methods of harnessing energy and reducing the pollutants emitted from carbon-based energy sources," she says.

"Although my priority is green technology I am excited to engage in all aspects of chemical engineering."

Having insulin dependent diabetes has sparked Hollis' involvement in numerous charity events combating diabetes, cancer and bullying.

While she was a student at Gin Gin State High, where she was school captain, Hollis also excelled at violin, saxophone and singing in school musicals and a vocal quartet. She introduced recycling, led fundraisers and took part in maths and technology challenges, interschool soccer and quiz competitions. While still at school, Hollis became a member of the Bundaberg Youth Orchestra and String Ensemble.

She has won a range of school and community awards.

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Some of Australia's leading carbon farming specialists have visited CQUniversity to hear of the latest relevant research in their field.

Carbon farming encompasses a range of processes enabling organic material to be locked into the soil, or even boosted, thus improving soil quality while reducing carbon leakage into the atmosphere.

Stuart Larsson (Mara Seeds), Barry Wilson (FEECO), Michael Kiely (Carbon Farmers), Louisa Kiely (Carbon Farmers) and Dr Surya Bhattarai (CQUni)

Hosted at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP), a full-day program of speakers addressed the topic.

Visitors included husband-and-wife duo Michael Kiely and Louisa Kiely from Carbon Farmers of Australia, Barry Wilson from FEECO International and Stuart Larsson from Mara Seeds.

CQUniversity speakers included Professor David Midmore (carbon smart biofertiliser); Professor Kerry Walsh (rapid determination of soil carbon); Tanka Prasai (carbon smart biofertiliser from chicken manure); Professor John Abbot (facilities for biochar R&D); Assoc Prof Nanjappa Ashwath (land-based applications of biochar); Thakur Bhattarai (a community and catchment perspective); Kalpana Pudsaini (evaluation of biochar); Assoc Prof Mohammad Rasul (pyrolysis research); Dr Sandrine Makiela (soil health); Dr Karuna Shrestha (compost tea); Dr Surya Bhattarai (potential projects).

CQUniversity and the Rotary Club of Rockhampton have signed up to ensure proceeds of the Rocky River Run will continue to help prevent anxiety and depression, reducing suicide risk in young people...

The two organisations have established the Rockhampton River Run Foundation for Prevention of Anxiety and Depression, consolidating a relationship developed between Rotary and the CQUniversity Psychology Wellness Centre.

Rotary Club of Rockhampton President Neil Malick and Professor Kevin Ronan sign the agreement

The Foundation will help fund a study aiming to provide, and evaluate, services for anxiety-disordered youth and families at the Psychology Wellness Centre. This will boost the reach of effective intervention services and have a longer-term impact by reducing rates of depression and suicide risk in young people.

Rotary Club of Rockhampton President Neil Malick says the club has been pleased to direct proceeds from the annual Rocky River Run to support the Psychology Wellness Centre over several years.

"We are looking forward to stepping up the project to enable CQUniversity to broaden the interventions and to expand outreach into the wider community," Mr Malick says.

"There is no better outcome than to help our local young people."

Foundation Professor in Psychology Kevin Ronan says depression is a prominent risk factor for youth suicide.

"One of the most prominent risk factors for depression in youth is anxiety in younger childhood.  In fact, research documents the fact that anxiety tends to precede depression in development.  Anxiety is also a documented risk factor for suicide," he said.

L-R Rotarians Julie Blair, Terry Loague and Neil Malick chat with Prof Kevin Ronan and Assoc Prof Bernadette Moore, Director of the Wellness Centre

"We have the tools to respond to this problem: interventions built around cognitive behavioural/social learning principles have been shown to greatly reduce anxiety symptoms in children."

Professor Ronan says the Foundation seeks to reduce barriers to engagement with children through increasing outreach and by reducing costs for the service.

"We are keen to find if 'lighter touch therapies' produce the same outcomes as longer more involved therapies?  A related question is whether these lighter touch interventions can be delivered to parents to assist them to help their child manage and overcome their anxiety, versus having parents bring their child in for the services."

Details about the next Stanwell Power Station Rocky River Run in June are available via www.rockyriverrun.com with online registration now open.

The Psychology Wellness Centre is an intern training and research centre. It offers help with everything from couples counseling and parenting advice to anger management and therapy for stress, anxiety and depression. A large range of therapy, consultation and assessment services are available at a low cost and the initial assessments are free of charge.

Bookings can be made via wellnesscentre@cqu.edu.au or (07) 4923 2233 or via the Centre website www.cqu.edu.au/wellnesscentre .

Kristy Botting may have attended school on the Sunshine Coast but travelling with her father to inland Indigenous communities has helped shape her career aspirations.

Now in her first year of tertiary study at CQUniversity Rockhampton, Kristy has enrolled in Physiotherapy and initially planned to make this a stepping stone to a medical degree.

Kristy Botting in Physiotherapy class

"I'm enjoying Physiotherapy so much that I might continue in this career path now," she says.

Kristy gained a glimpse into the lives of Aboriginal people as her father worked in various Indigenous communities in western Queensland.

"I've seen first-hand the gap in health services out west so I am keen to help in these communities once I start my professional career," she says.

When not studying, Kristy enjoys volleyball and is on the events committee for the Rockhampton Campus student residences.

The new Bachelor of Physiotherapy program is being delivered via campuses in Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

Physiotheraphy students have the benefit of connections with other Allied Health students through some shared foundation courses with the disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Podiatry and Speech Pathology, alongside physiotherapy-specific courses from day one of the program.

Discipline Lead for Physiotherapy Associate Professor Kenneth Chance-Larsen says Physiotherapy is a popular choice of study, because of the combination of hands-on practical skills, communication and evaluative skills.

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"Our program includes a minimum of 25 weeks on clinical placement, where the students will 'learn on the job' whilst supervised by qualified physiotherapists, and this will take place in a variety of settings and locations," Assoc Prof Chance-Larsen says.

"There is a real and well documented need for physiotherapists in regional, rural and remote Queensland. Local hospitals and private physiotherapy practices can't get enough physiotherapists, and the national workforce data show clearly that people away from the metropolitan areas have vastly inferior access to healthcare, including physiotherapy. Our new program is one little step towards closing the gap!"

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Merilyn Luck is a quiet achiever who has devoted the better part of a lifetime to ways of improving her local community.  She has made an outstanding contribution through her active involvement and support of the arts, the Anglican Church and CQUniversity over a period spanning more than 40 years.

CQUniversity has recognised Merilyn's contribution by conferring the Honorary Award of Companion of the University, during the recent graduation ceremony in Rockhampton.

Community stalwart Merilyn Luck is recognised on graduation day

Merilyn's involvement with the Rockhampton Art Gallery began in the late 1960s as one of the inaugural donors who contributed towards an acquisition fund to establish an art collection for Rockhampton, responding to a call from a group led by the then Rockhampton Mayor Alderman Rex Pilbeam.  Her generosity, along with that of other donors including her husband Frank, enabled the gallery to acquire a number of significant works by a series of highly renowned Australian artists including Arthur Boyd, John Brack, Fred Williams, Sidney Nolan and John Percival.

Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of Merilyn and other like-minded supporters, in the 1970s the artworks in the Rockhampton Art Gallery collection quickly grew to over 300 pieces, forming the nucleus of what is today, one of the most significant and valuable collections in regional Australia.  Merilyn continued her involvement to become one of the mainstays of the Art Gallery as a Trustee from 1994 and as Chair of the Rockhampton Art Gallery Trust from 2007 to the present.  Under her vigorous and astute leadership of the Trust, the gallery has gone from strength to strength, instigating two important biennial art prizes, the ‘Gold Award', named after another generous benefactor to both the Gallery and CQUniversity, Moya Gold, and the ‘Baynton Award' for Central Queensland artists, the first such prize solely for artists from this region.

Merilyn has also been a stalwart of the Anglican Church in Central Queensland over many years as a lay Minister, Dean's Warden and Parish Councillor as well as a generous donor to the St Paul's Anglican Cathedral restoration fund.

Besides her own personal contributions, Merilyn also played a key role in identifying and approaching other potential donors as a Director of the Central Queensland University Foundation in the 1990s, helping to lay the foundations of the University as it is today.  In recognition of her lifelong contribution to the arts and the community generally, Merilyn was the 2012 recipient of the Rockhampton City Council's Australia Day Cultural Award.

Merilyn Luck's legacies include one of the best and most active art galleries in regional Australia, an engaged and active local Anglican Church and a dynamic local university that is truly in touch with its local community.

After growing up in Austria, Margit Nezold developed a career in veterinary science and travelled the world treating animals.

Nowadays she has Australian residency and family ties in Queensland but ongoing back problems led to a decision to change careers.

Margit Nezold takes part in a practical session on Rockhampton Campus

Margit has enrolled to study the new Physiotherapy program at CQUniversity where her prior studies of animal anatomy and physiology have proven to be a useful foundation.

"As a veterinarian the equipment is often heavy and the animals unpredictable in their movements, whereas in physiotherapy you can find a comfortable position for working on patients," she says.

Margit has four years of study ahead before emerging with her new profession but she can gain some locum work as a vet in the meantime.

The new Bachelor of Physiotherapy program is being delivered via campuses in Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

Physiotheraphy students have the benefit of connections with other Allied Health students through some shared foundation courses with the disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Podiatry and Speech Pathology, alongside physiotherapy-specific courses from day one of the program.

Discipline Lead for Physiotherapy Associate Professor Kenneth Chance-Larsen says Physiotherapy is a popular choice of study, because of the combination of hands-on practical skills, communication and evaluative skills.

Margit Nezold in her Physiotherapy class

"Our program includes a minimum of 25 weeks on clinical placement, where the students will 'learn on the job' whilst supervised by qualified physiotherapists, and this will take place in a variety of settings and locations," Assoc Prof Chance-Larsen says.

"There is a real and well documented need for physiotherapists in regional, rural and remote Queensland. Local hospitals and private physiotherapy practices can't get enough physiotherapists, and the national workforce data show clearly that people away from the metropolitan areas have vastly inferior access to healthcare, including physiotherapy. Our new program is one little step towards closing the gap!"

Rice has been a controversial crop in Australia, as most farms rely on flooded fields which use large water allocations and produce climate-changing methane gases. However, proponents of flooded rice fields could face a dry argument if CQUniversity researcher Dr Surya Bhattarai has his way.

LINK also to Rice work if you can get it - CQUni extends research partnership

Surya checks his sample crops

Surya has started trials to find the genotypes best suited to Australia's wet-dry climate cycle.

Rice growing takes only 100 days from seed to harvest and Surya believes certain types can get enough soil moisture through rainfall during the wet months to sustain them to harvest, even if there are several weeks without any rain.

Surya is investigating rice genes controlling highly elastic physiology, helping to adapt rice genotypes to fluctuating soil moisture regimes (wet and dry cycles) experienced in the field during the wet season.

"Some varieties in the current test are showing a yield potential up to 8 ton/ha, which should be very attractive to spin off the industry based on upland rice cropping in central and northern Queensland," he says.

"Growing rice in the wet season not only produces environmentally friendly rice and contributes to new industry but also potentially minimizes the runoff and deep drainage from the paddocks with insufficient cover during the wet season; hence there are more positive outcomes for the reef health if the industry is developed in the watershed of the Great Barrier Reef."

Surya is based at the Centre for Plant and Water Science within CQUniversity's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS).

CQUniversity's Bachelor of Musical Theatre students will begin rehearsals for their first major production for 2013 when they welcome Australian actor and director Jason Langley at the start of April.

Jason will arrive in Mackay to begin working with students on the production Brigadoon.

Australian actor and director Jason Langley will arrive in Mackay on April 8 for the start of rehearsals for Brigadoon.Jason spent the first half of his career as an actor in theatre, musicals and television. He then added directing to his credits.

As an actor he has most recently been onstage in No Way To Treat A Lady for which he received a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Last year Jason directed How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and was director for the Australian touring production of Breast Wishes.

CQUniversity CQ Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) students are currently learning the music for Brigadoon, a Scottish fantasy about a town that disappears into the Highland mists and returns for one day every one hundred years.

It includes the songs Waitin' for My Dearie, I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean, Almost Like Being in Love, and My Mother's Weddin' Day.

The production is a tribute to simplicity, true love and goodness, which is hidden from the ordinary traveler.

The production will be performed on Friday, April 26 at 11am and 7.30am, Saturday, April 27 at 2pm and 7.30pm and Sunday, April 28 at 2pm at CQUniversity's CQ Conservatorium of Music theatre.

Tickets are now available for adults $30, concession $25, Con Friends $20, Students/Children $15, and Family (two adults, two children) $80.

For more information, contact CQCM on 4940 7800.

CQUniversity has been helping to take the pulse of the regional health system by hosting three 'liveWELL CQ' feedback sessions on behalf of the Central Queensland Primary Care Partnership (CQPCP).

The Q&A sessions held at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) across from CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus have been designed to stimulate ideas, encourage dialogue and cultivate actions.

Stakeholders have included the University, CQPCP, Medicare Local, Centacare and the Queensland Government.

The final of the three sessions covered Fly In Fly Out - the impact on the health of our communities.

This session was Chaired by Carmel Marshall, Planning and Development Manager at Centacare Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton, and the Process Observer was Thalep Ah Mat, CEO of Bidgerdii Community Health Service.

Panel members included:

Professor Lee Di Milia (CQUniversity);

Laura Barnes - Deputy Director at the Health and Community Services Workforce Council;

Kurt Heidecker - CEO Gladstone Industry Leaders Group;

Dr Ricki Jeffery - Diocesan Director - Centacare Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton;

Mr Mick Shearer - Regional Executive Director, Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

 
Professor Lee Di Milia (left) with panel members involved in the liveWellCQ session 
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CQUniversity Gladstone staff, students and family members embraced the Harbour Festival parade circus theme as a chance to promote the University's 35th anniversary of operations in the city...

Ringmaster and Head of Campus Professor Chad Hewitt leads the way

CQUniversity's anniversary will also be recognised on big screens during Harbour Festival stage entertainment over the Easter weekend.

The University will have a presence during the festival market stalls too, including a showcase for the Mobile Education Trailer (MET) used by the Widening Participation program. Members of the public will be encouraged to visit the MET to complete an online My Career Match survey that matches individual personality types to possible future career pathways.

More details via http://www.gladstoneregion.info/events/festivals-and-celebrations/

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The CQUniversity community put their thinking caps on for a night of trivia at the Mackay campus recently, to support the Mackay Student Social Club and the Mackay Library Society.

Around 60 students, staff and community members took part in the trivia, with some baffling questions thrown in for good measure - thanks to Academic Learning Centre lecturer Frank Armstrong.  

Trivia participants from the Ganadores Team L-R Nathan Thomason, Mikaela Bella, Joel Cashman, Brittany McCarthy, Kirra Farquarhson and Zahrah Andrews. Quizmaster and MC for the night, student Pancho Garcia had everyone entertained and kept the night moving along.

The winning team, Liquorice Allsorts, was made up of students, staff and Library Society members.

Organiser Kati Norman (part-time student and Library staff member) and Elliot Jennings (student and President of the Student Social Club) said the event came together thanks to the support of those involved.

They thanked the Library Society members for assisting to set up the venue, donating prizes and supplying food. Michelle Whiley from the Student Association also enabled the organisers to use the Refectory and took photographs on the night.

Kati said plans are underway for a bigger and better Trivia Night in Term 2.

CQUniversity students in the Emerald region have benefited greatly from attending academic workshops at the Emerald Learning Centre under the direction of Nursing and Midwifery lecturer Teresa Sander.

"Distance education is often the best option for people who are looking for flexibility," Teresa said, "and we need to ensure all of our students, both internal and distance, can reach their potential by providing academic assistance for them."

Students gathered at the Emerald Learning Centre for a weekend workshop

The workshops provide advice on referencing and academic writing while providing the chance for students to network with their peers.  This helps reduce stress levels and develops a sense of belonging.

Teresa has timetabled the workshops on weekends to allow working students to attend.  Whether students have questions regarding course profiles or assessment tasks, the workshops aim to assist them in fulfilling the course requirements.

The workshops have been very well received by students who have attended and have produced some excellent feedback.

"This workshop was excellent and helped me so much. I don't think I would have written my first assessment with such confidence if I hadn't attended this," said Arts student, Melanie Ohl.

Teresa intends to continue running regular workshops at the Emerald Learning Centre for any students who wish to attend.

Lecturer Teresa Sander

What started as a series of women's networking breakfasts on campus has morphed into a book celebrating Inspirational Women of Capricornia.

CQUniversity's former Academic Registrar Barbara Lawrence took the initiative to organise the breakfasts and encouraged the featured speakers to lend their stories for the book, which includes photography by Peter Lawrence and cover design by Christopher Lawrence.

Some of the featured women at the book launch L-R Tracey Wust, Melinda Scash, Libbie Wilson, Jenny Smith, Gwenda Freeman and Margaret Hornagold

CQUniversity staff member Kris Jones has been acknowledged for gathering the stories and compiling the book.

Featured women include Lillian Lever (Koorana Crocodile Farm), Melissa Adams (Qld Police), Lyn Anderson (Roseberry Community Services), Margaret Hornagold (Darumbal Community Youth Services), Meaghan Gallagher (Salvation Army), Jacquie Mackay (ABC Radio), Janet Quaife-Ryan (Principal Psychologist, Quaife Ryan and Associates), Mary Carroll (Capricorn Enterprise), Gwenda Freeman (Red Cross), Melinda Scash (Rton Girls Grammar School), Jenny Smith (Red Cross), Tracey Sweeney (Qld Health Service District), Libbie Wilson (Keppel Bay Marina), Tracey Wust (Hillcrest Rton Private Hospital).

CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research) Hilary Winchester officially launched the book this week in the presence of many of the featured women.

The book will now be provided free of charge to high schools, women's groups, municipal libraries, information centres and a variety of other sites. It is hoped the messages of inspiration and motivation will reach young girls and also women who may be considering further study or career changes.

The launch audience included several young women from Rockhampton Girls Grammar School 
Prof Hilary Winchester launches the book 
L-R Kris Jones, Peter Lawrence and Barbara Lawrence helped conceive and produce the book

CQUniversity Mackay has welcomed the campus' first multi-faith chaplain, in an effort to ensure students are better supported in their learning journey.

Reverend Renier Van Der Klashorst (better known as ‘Reno' among the students) will spend two days each week looking after the spiritual and emotional needs of students and staff.

CQUniversity Mackay's new Chaplain Reverend Renier Van Der Klashorst, with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research) Professor Hilary Winchester and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and head of Mackay campus, Professor Pierre Viljoen. "My services are not aimed at a particular religion. Anyone is welcome," Reno says.

"As Chaplain, I respect the religious reality of any person that I meet."

Reno has already immersed himself into university life, taking part in many of the Orientation Week activities and meeting with new students.

CQUniversity Mackay's Head of Campus and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) Professor Pierre Viljoen said he is pleased to welcome Reno, who will be part of the Student Support Services team.

"CQUniversity is an open University which accepts students from all walks of life," Prof Viljoen says.

"Renier will serve an important role in supporting students and staff at CQUniversity Mackay."

Reno is also working part-time as district coordinator for the Scripture Union, ensuring that State schools in Mackay, and their chaplains, are resourced with programs that fit the needs of the school.

Formerly from Pretoria in South Africa, Reno, his wife Marguerite and three children spent five years in Perth before moving to Mackay.

Reno works Monday and Friday at the University and students are free to make appointments between 10am and 12.30pm on Mondays.

CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research) Professor Hilary Winchester has been appointed as a 'specialist' by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.

Professor Winchester recently travelled to Hong Kong to join a panel considering accreditation for a new degree-granting institution.

Prof Hilary Winchester (third from left) on the multinational accreditation panel in Hong Kong

"For a new institution, it involves looking at everything from financial viability to physical resources to policies and processes, admissions and IT systems," she said.

She has previously acted as a HKCAAVQ reviewer for program accreditations and institutional reviews, and chaired audit panels for Hong Kong City University and Hong Kong Baptist University a few years ago.

In 2011, Professor Winchester won the Australian Higher Education Quality Award and has been both a chair and panel member for audits by the Australian Universities Quality Agency.

CQUniversity recognised the vital need for innovation before most others. It reaches out to students who otherwise were beyond practical access to university degrees.

That is according to former High Court Judge Hon Michael Kirby AC, CMG who was addressing this week's Rockhampton Campus graduation ceremony (Thursday, March 21) after having the honorary degree of Doctor of the University conferred on him.

Hon Michael Kirby meets students enrolled in CQUniversity's Laws degree

LINK HERE for the full guest speech by Hon Michael Kirby

"Increasingly, Australia's universities are teaching potentially huge audiences of students in Asia, the Pacific and Gulf States.  These are students who thirst for education from native English speakers," said Mr Kirby, who served twice as Acting Chief Justice of Australia.

"CQU is well positioned to help meet that market.  It is good now to see our politicians recognising this potential in our universities.  It is a potential to take the CQU model far from Rockhampton so as to build a new virtual Colombo plan, providing access for students to institutions throughout our nation, to tap the high tertiary standards Australia offers.

"The universities of the future will not be fusty places of cobwebbed libraries and aged bunsen burners.  They will be state-of-the-art technology connected to minds that have already adapted to the true challenge of using techniques of virtual classrooms to bring knowledge to millions who would otherwise have been deprived.  Potentially, this will be a great equaliser. 

"With our ‘fair go' philosophy in Australia and ‘our can-do' attitudes, we in Australia are well poised to meet this challenge.  It will be good for our relationships with others.  It will also be good for our economy."

For many graduates, things are looking up for career prospects

Around 220 graduates attended the CQUniversity graduation ceremony at the Community Sports Centre on Rockhampton Campus.

Honorary awards were conferred on Hon Michael Kirby (Doctor of the University), Australia's Auditor-General Ian McPhee PSM (Doctor of the University), agricultural researcher Andrew Rank (Honorary Doctor of Applied Science), and arts community stalwart Merilyn Luck (Companion of the University).

PhDs were awarded to seven graduates: Mary-Anne Jones (comparative study of water quality); Subhash Hathurusingha (biodiesel from beauty leaf trees); Sabine Flenady (cellular immunity in marsupials); Leonie Barnett (parasites of marine snails); Vineela Challagulla (bio-prospecting microalgae for oil production); Sadia Khan (solar photocatalytic disinfection of aquaculture systems); and Kenneth Bruce (professionalism of financial planners).

Graduating with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz and Popular) with Distinction, Ross Crear delivered the closing address on behalf of the graduates.

PhD graduate Sadia Khan 
Phd graduate Subhash Hathurusingha sums up his feelings for a TV crew 
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Steffanie Swain accepts congratulations after graduating with her Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Business (Management)  

Holly Dalton's decision to study a health-related program is already paying off, as she relishes her new experiences at University.

The former Proserpine State High School student is studying a Bachelor of Medical Sonography and Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography thanks to a BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd (BMC) Scholarship through CQUniversity Mackay.

LINK here for more BMC and CQUni helping students build their career

Cannonvale's Holly Dalton is enjoying her time at CQUniversity. The scholarships provide students with free accommodation and meals at the new student residence at Mackay Campus. The support is worth $60,000 to $80,000 per student for the duration of their studies. 

"I wanted to do something in health and I thought sonography would be an interesting career path to take," Holly says.

"I have found the program to be really interesting so far and I love loving at Res in Mackay - it's great being so close to University and it's a good environment to be studying in."

Holly said the scholarship will take financial pressure off her during her time at university.

"I haven't had to rush out looking for a job or worry about money, meaning I can focus more on my studies which has helped a lot because there is so much content in the program that I need to study."

Holly wants to stay in the Mackay and Whitsunday region and work in a hospital setting upon completion of her program.

"I would like to thank BMC and CQUniversity for this very generous scholarship," Holly said.

CQUniversity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal's National Planning Commission (NPC), taking advice from the national body on the priority of topics for the developing nation...

This consolidates more than a decade of relationship building between the University and Nepal.

Deputy VC Prof Hilary Winchester farewells Dr Phul Subedi on the eve of his latest visit to Nepal, where he will return with the signed MOU

The NPC sets national priorities, and the MOU provides a link to this umbrella body for feedback on research proposals.  For example, AusAid has boosted its funding allocation to Nepal (approx. $35 million in 2012) for projects and postgraduate training.

"An NPC stamp of approval will improve the chances of our projects being funded," says Professor Kerry Walsh, Director of CQUniversity's Institute for Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS).

CQUniversity already engages with Nepal with projects including:

- Nursing student support for remote health clinics;

- an AusAid-funded waste-reduction project associated with fresh fruit and vegetable markets and chicken production; and

- an AusAid-funded project on improved supply chain management in mandarin production.

Meanwhile, the NPC has recommended preparation of a project that addresses conservation issues in the ‘Churia' (mid hills) region.

Dr Phul Subedi is welcomed to Nepal by citrus traders and growers during a recent visit

CQUniversity researcher Dr Phul Subedi, who has been a linchpin in the developing CQUni-NPA relationship, says the University has developed a range of links with Nepal, providing depth of knowledge of the Nepalese context.

"Several Nepalese scientists have visited CQUniversity's Centre for Plant and Water Science (CPWS) for short-term hands-on training in post-harvest horticulture and supply chain management under a Crawford traineeship award," Dr Subedi says.

"Currently more than dozen Nepalese students are enrolled in PhD and Master degrees by research programs in the CPWS. Half of them are involved in horticulture-related research projects for their thesis. It is expected that after completion of their studies, they will return home to their own country and organisations, although some scientists have continued as CQUni Postdoctoral Research Fellows."

Prof Kerry Walsh is welcomed to a village in Nepal

Dr Subedi says Nepal is well known as a mountainous country.

"In our mandarin project, one of the activities is to establish 'agro-eco-tourism' in mandarin growing areas and to encourage citrus growers, traders and professionals from Australia to visit these villages as a tourist to share ideas," he says. 

Back in 2011, CQUniversity's Nepalese postgraduates were proud to present project updates to visiting Nepalese NPC representative Ram Sharma, with topics including 'bioethanol potential of Agave tequilana', 'biochar application for improving soil health and plant growth', 'food security and agriculture in the Nepalese villages of Dhankuta District of Nepal'; 'selection of native species, and development of establishment techniques for revegetation of disturbed sites in Queensland', 'implication of forest carbon payments on the well-being of people and climate change mitigation'; 'oxygation in different soil types, emitters depths and crop rooting morphologies', and 'a goal-based architectural style for wireless sensor networks'. 

Agro-eco-tourism is on the agenda

Sunshine Coast academics at the cutting-edge of education research are playing a key role in modernising Vietnam's primary and secondary schools...

The researchers from CQUniversity's Noosa-based Learning and Teaching Education Resource Centre (LTERC) are currently training senior Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training officials and university staff on textbook and curriculum development.

Professor Mike Horsley (centre) with visiting Vietnamese education officials Khanh Nguyen Cong (left) and Doan Van Ninh are working to modernise the Southeast Asian country's teaching system.

Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the teaching program is part of a Vietnamese Government initiative to replace their current student resources with the kind being developed at LTERC.

LTERC Director Professor Mike Horsley said the courses covered LTERC's research on how educational resources could incorporate digital technologies.

"Today's textbooks can encompass interactivity and multimedia technologies more than ever before," Professor Horsley said.

"They now have digital components such as links to websites and online exam cafes, as well as interactive CDs and DVDs.

"This is something that's entirely new to the Vietnamese education system, so we are sharing our skills and knowledge with their policy-makers and resource developers to help them adapt these techniques to their needs."

Mr Horsley said LTERC was chosen to deliver the training from a tender process that included the world's foremost educational institutions.

LINK for a larger image of Prof Mike Horsley with his Vietnamese visitors

"LTERC researchers are renowned worldwide for their expertise in learning research," Professor Horsley said.

"The centre boasts multiple award-winning academics with peerless experience in the areas of curriculum and textbook development.

"That LTERC was chosen to help guide the future of education in Vietnam is further recognition that we are world-leaders in this field."

Khanh Nguyen Cong, from the Hanoi National University of Education, was part of a delegation that undertook courses this week, the third group since the program started last month.

Mr Cong said current teaching methods in Vietnam were still very traditional.

"Vietnamese teachers still mostly use blackboards and traditional textbooks," the Director of Hanoi University's Education Quality Assurance Centre said.

"We're aiming to learn as much as we can about how to design new textbooks that are more focused on electronic technology.

"Then we can go back to our colleagues and develop content suitable for Vietnam and raise the standard of education there."

CQUniversity Mackay welcomed twelve Year 10 students from Calen District State College for their two-day Uni Skills program this week.

Uni Skills is a structured Engage Education program run by the CQUniversity Widening Participation team. This program aims to provide students with insight into higher education and its benefits.

As part of their program, students participated in a campus tour, academic writing sessions, career planning and experiential activities in the areas of Geoscience, Business and Chiropractic Science.  

They also heard from a guest speaker from the CQ Institute of TAFE, who spoke about the school programs available to senior students and the potential pathways from TAFE to university.

LINK here for more Film project helps teens focus on Uni transition

Close encounters with some of Africa's wildest animals may not sound like your typical university experience, but third-year Bachelor of Science student Jessica Scoble is living proof that not all learning needs to be done in the classroom.

Jessica spent 22 days experiencing the world of wildlife conservation in Southern Africa in early 2013, through the University of Pretoria's Centre for Wildlife Management's Eco Life Wildlife Management Expedition, as part of her program with CQUniversity.

Jessica gets up close to the elephantsThe expeditions are in the form of a camping safari where students interact with rangers, veterinarians and researchers working in the field. Students can also earn six credits on successful completion of the expedition.

Visiting Pretoria, Johannesburg, the Drakensberg Region, Loksop Dam, Hoedspruit and many more areas of South Africa, Jessica learnt about management plans for private and national reserves in those areas.

She says the highlight was getting up close and personal with some of Africa's amazing wildlife.

"Handfeeding vultures, kissing a hippo, feeding a chameleon a live worm from my mouth, holding a tarantula, patting cheetahs and lions and getting accosted by monkeys are all good memories," she says.

"We visited an elephant centre where we participated in an interaction and also rode the elephants. We also visited animal rehabilitation centres and witnessed a calf being delivered by caesarean section.

"We dedicated three days to game drives in Kruger National Park and participated in darting, where we were able to dart a moving target from a helicopter.

"Survival was also an aspect where we familiarised ourselves with navigation and also plant identification."

While Jessica has seen her fair share of Australian wildlife (she has been a registered snake handler for the past five years), she said nothing prepared her for the environment she was exposed to during her study tour.

Close up to a herd of elephants"Kruger National Park was very special, the wildlife and the smell of the bush is just incredible," she says.

"Sleeping in tents and listening to the sounds of the bush veld are experiences on their own as well that I treasured."

CQUniversity's Science lecturer Dr Delma Clifton suggested the program to Jessica last year and said it was a great opportunity for students to apply their theoretical studies in a practical setting.

"The expeditions are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students who are interested in that field of work."

Before the expedition Jessica also travelled from Kenya in East Africa to Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana with her partner, who proposed to her.

She said the program was really easy to be involved with and she would recommend to anyone.

"I have made heaps of friends, and potentially academic contacts, from the experience and had lots of fun."

Jessica was part of a study tour in South Africa. To find out more about Eco Life Expeditions, visit http://www.ecolife.co.za/

Laura Rowley from the CQUniversity Widening Participation team recently hosted a group of Year 8 students from Calen District State College for their inaugural Hero's Journey Program.

During their two-day visit to Mackay Campus, the budding young film makers produced films depicting the story of how they might overcome challenges faced during the transition to university.

Year 8 students from Calen District State College take part in their film project

Students worked in small groups completing scripts and assigning acting and directing roles.

A film presentation and awards evening will be held in April at Calen District State College to showcase the films to the students and their families, teachers and friends.

CQUniversity's Widening Participation Program Manager, Melinda Mann-Yasso says Calen District State College has participated in the University's Engage Education programs since 2011.

"The school has a strong commitment to raising and supporting its students' aspirations towards higher education," she says.

"The relationship we have built with the College is very valuable.  We are keen to continue offering opportunities such as the Hero's Journey film making project and the subsequent Engage Education programs to students in order to increase their knowledge of university and other post-school options."

Calen State High School Year 10 students also spent time at CQUniversity Mackay as part of the UniSkills program.

Further information regarding CQUniversity Widening Participation activities is available online at: www.cqu.edu.au/wideningparticipation

LINK for a larger image 
LINK for a larger image

CQUniversity senior lecturer Dr Roslyn Cameron is providing national and international leadership to champion 'mixed methods research' for the business and management disciplines.

Dr Cameron is the Mixed Methods Research Special Interest Group (SIG) Co-Convenor for the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, along with Professor Ray Cooksey (University of New England).

Dr Roslyn Cameron (second from right) pictured during a Mixed Methods Research Workshop in Brisbane with Prof Ray Cooksey (UNE), Prof Mark Saunders (UK) and Prof Anneke Fitzgerald (Griffith)

In addition, she is collaborating with the research methods 'SIGs' from British Academy of Management (BAM) and European Academy of Management (EURAM) to edit a Reader on Mixed and Multiple methods.

The Gladstone-based Head of Discipline for HRM was recently one of four facilitators for a Mixed Methods Research Workshop for ANZAM in Brisbane.

During late March, the Prior Learning Research Centre (PLIRC) is flying Dr Cameron to Vancouver in Canada to present at a SUMMIT 2013 Conference, with the topic being Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and human resource management: Learning from Downunder. Dr Cameron is on the board of directors for the PLIRC.

Rockhampton's Sarah Biskupski has the confidence to tackle a double degree in Business and Accounting at CQUniversity thanks to support from the John Maxwell Memorial Scholarship worth $5000.

The John Maxwell Memorial Scholarship has been established by The Rock Building Society in partnership with the University to honour the late John Maxwell and his contribution to the Rockhampton region.

Sarah Biskupski on campusSarah is only the third student to receive the annual scholarship. She is focused on her studies but still finds time to coach a girls' soccer team based at her former school, Emmaus College.

CQUniversity's Development and Alumni Relations Director Suzi Blair says scholarships play a major role in helping students succeed at University.

"We'd appreciate hearing from any individuals or organisations who can see the benefits scholarships make possible," Ms Blair says.

LINK also to Memorial scholarship helps turn tragedy into hope

In the space of only 12 months, CQUniversity's campuses in Rockhampton, Mackay, Bundaberg and Gladstone have contributed more than $450 million worth of gross regional product* and household income to their regions, along with the equivalent of 2130 jobs.

And that's despite the survey year (2011) falling during a relatively quiet time for campus construction. In the years either side of the survey year, tens of millions more was spent constructing Mackay's student residences, library, medical imaging laboratories, chiropractic facilities, and nursing and midwifery laboratories, and Rockhampton's innovation and research precinct, health clinic, library refurbishments, and engineering precinct refurbishment.

"It's a strong result and it would have been a fantastic result had the survey included our construction projects in Mackay and Rockhampton in the years either side of the survey year," Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman commented.

"It really shows our regional universities are economic powerhouses providing energy and momentum to their local economies."

The figures come from a survey commissioned by the Regional Universities Network to gauge the economic contribution of its six member universities to their local regions.

Even though the survey excluded CQUniversity's contribution to encouraging people living in the region to undertake higher education, making its estimates extremely conservative:

 -          Rockhampton Campus was found to have contributed $229.5 million in gross regional product, $138.3 million in household income, and the equivalent of 1700 full-time jobs.

 -          Mackay Campus was found to have contributed $27.7 million in gross regional product, $14.6 million in household income, and the equivalent of 172 full-time jobs.

 -          Gladstone Campus was found to have contributed $15.9 million in gross regional product, $9.6 million in household income, and the equivalent of 108 full-time jobs.

 -          Bundaberg Campus was found to have contributed $19 million in gross regional product, $11.6 million in household income, and the equivalent of 150 full-time jobs.

CQUniversity has also had a significant impact in boosting the proportion of the regional populations with a university qualification, which also boosted average incomes. Between the 2006 and 2011 Census periods, Rockhampton's proportion with a university qualification climbed from 14.1% to 14,4%, Mackay's climbed from 11.3% to 11.8%, Gladstone's climbed from 11.4% to 12.2% and Bundaberg's from 9.4% to 11%. Average incomes for those with a bachelor degree ranged between 1.3 times higher and 1.6 times higher (than the average income for the overall workforce).

The Regional Universities Network members are CQUniversity, Southern Cross University, University of Ballarat, University of New England, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast.

The survey found that, overall, the RUN universities contributed $2.1 billion in gross domestic product, $1.2 billion in household income, and the equivalent of more than 14,000 full-time jobs to the Australian economy.

* Gross regional product is the sum of the industry value added for all industry sectors plus value added from final demand (household and government consumption expenditure, capital formation, exports and changes in inventories).

CQUniversity is helping to take the pulse of the regional health system by hosting three 'liveWELL CQ' feedback sessions on behalf of the Central Queensland Primary Care Partnership (CQPCP).

The Q&A sessions are designed to stimulate ideas, encourage dialogue and cultivate actions.

Dr Susan Williams and Dr Mitch Duncan took part in a recent liveWell CQ feedback session

The University is a member of CQPCP and backs its goal to identify, develop and implement innovative, enduring strategies to improve health outcomes.

CQPCP is hosting the sessions at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) in Ibis Avenue, across the highway from the University's Rockhampton Campus.

For details please contact rhodda@cqmedicarelocal.com

The remaining liveWELL CQ sessions scheduled are:

• - Partnering In Action - local examples of best practice partnering Tuesday March 19 5pm - 7pm
• - Fly In Fly Out - the impact on the health of our communities Tuesday March 26 5pm - 7pm
•   
  The liveWell audience and panel during the first session 
  The liveWell session one panel

Opposing teams argued for and against the proposition that Students Should Be Paid To Study during a Great Debate on CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus this week.

 A barbecue lunch was on sale, with all proceeds going towards the Salaam Baalak Trust, which helps the street children of Delhi.

The debating featured the Affirmative team of Jenny 'Take No Prisoners' Roberts (University Secretary), Justin 'The Nuke' Kann (Arts student and VP of the Student Association) and Dale 'The Hit Man' Trott (OHS lecturer) facing off against the Negative team of John 'One-Punch' Fitzsimmons (Literary & Cultural Studies lecturer), Emily 'The Assassin' Lawless-Pyne (Education student), and Alastair 'The Hurrican' Dawson (Deputy VC International & Services).

Students from the opposing teams, Emily Lawless-Pyne and Justin Kann 
The debate drew a crowd to the amphitheatre 
L-R Dale Trott, Justin Kann, Jenny Roberts, VC Scott Bowman, John Fitzsimmons, Emily Lawless-Pyne and DVC Alastair Dawson

CQUniversity Mackay's Emma McGuire will visit the United States in August to pursue a semester-long exchange program, as part of a new partnership between CQUniversity and Southern Utah University (SUU).

The third-year Bachelor of Theatre student, who specialises in Musical Theatre, will streamline her current program to meet the requirements of SUU's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre, where she will complete the remainder of her degree.

CQUniversity's Emma McGuire will head to Southern Utah University to begin an exchange program in August.Originally from Yeppoon, the 23-year-old said she was looking forward to the new experience.

"I'll be learning similar things in a completely different environment which will be fantastic.

"I've also always wanted to go to the US; there is something about it that has drawn me in, maybe it's the whole Hollywood and Broadway hype."

Emma will stay in residential housing on campus at SUU and is looking forward to immersing herself into SUU's program and the facilities on offer.

"It's not a big university by American standards but it will be a lot bigger than what I am used to. There's three performance spaces at SUU alone and the facilities on campus are second to none."

Emma has been busy saving to afford the exchange program, and hopes to do some travelling while over in the US.

"I've tried to obtain a good balance between my studies and work to save money for the exchange program because it is quite expensive just to get over there."

"I'm not sure it has kicked in yet, I might start to feel nervous or excited a week before I get on the plane to another country."

During her time at CQUniversity, she has been involved in a range of different productions including acting, singing, and dancing in Sweet Charity and How to Succeed in Business, as well as participating behind the scenes as assistant to the director and assistant stage manager.

"I've sung my whole life but I've really honed my acting skills since coming to Mackay," Emma says.

"I want to pursue film and screen acting when I finish my studies."

Emma says that, while the film and television industry is tough to break into, she is hoping the exchange program will add to her skill set upon graduation.

"It is a hard industry to crack, particularly in Australia where there isn't a lot of work but lots of people wanting to be involved."

"In the US, where the industry is huge, you can be a little fish in a very big pond but I'm hoping I can include an internship in my studies and meet a whole network of people who I can learn new things from."

"That's the main thing, to keep learning new things."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman was special guest for a Capricorn LaunchPad networking breakfast held on Friday, March 15 at the CQUniversity's Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP), across from the main Rockhampton campus.

Professor Bowman spoke about courses for career advancement and University developments in technology, research and learning.

Prof Bowman chats with Capricorn LaunchPad breakfast organiser Brittany Lauga

Capricorn LaunchPad provides a platform for young professionals in the Capricorn Region to lead and inspire community, cultural, commercial, educational, social and personal development, and 'healthy living' transformation in pursuit of the Region's liveability objectives. Details about the organisation via THIS LINK .

As part of the Australian aid program to Nepal, a project has been funded that supports transfer of technologies in vermiculture [the growing of worms] to digest vegetable market wastes, and the pelletising of chicken dung.

Run by CQUniversity's Centre for Plant and Water Science (CPWS), the project is now moving into its second year, and Professor David Midmore was in Nepal recently reviewing progress in the research and development activities.

Prof Midmore (second from right) chats about a field trial studying pesticide residuals on earthworm activity

A day of presentations in Chitwan by the 11 students and some of the co-operators on their activities set the scene for a visit the next day to nearby experimental fields, poultry farms and waste management processing units.

 Overall the progress is very promising, on target, and feeds into plans to purchase a commercial pelletising unit from China, a 20 tonne-a-day vegetable waste facility in the main wholesale vegetable market in Kathmandu, and study of the processed waste as fertiliser for horticultural crops.

Professor Midmore says the project benefits from the high quality guidance afforded by the co-leader Professor Dhatta Dhakal of the Institute for Agriculture and Animal Science of Chitwan Nepal.

Professor Midmore, the CPWS Director, also visited the Head of Post Australian Agency for International Development and First Secretary Ben Reese at the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu, returning to Australia on March 13.

A student shows vermiliquer results 
Vermiculture is key to one of the projects 
LINK for a larger image

Named after the popular Bryan Ferry song, it's no surprise that Avalon Hicks has become a singer-songwriter.

The CQUniversity Master of Environmental Management student has managed to find time to release her own album called Avalon's Mistakes.

LINK here for details avalonmusic.com.au

Photography by Hotchillipix

She wrote all the songs on her 13-track record, apart from three covers, and recorded them in a studio on the Gold Coast while completing her Bachelor of Environmental Management degree last year.

Photography by Hotchillipix

Currently based in Emerald, Avalon plans to continue to juggle music with an environmental career.

You can LINK for a recent ABC Radio interview with Avalon OR Hear some of her tracks via triplej Unearthed

Sharon van der Draai remains hopeful of returning to nursing despite the challenging employment climate in Queensland's health sector.

Based in the Brisbane suburb of Banyo, Sharon recently completed her Registered Nurse Re-Entry to Practice Course online through CQUniversity, including 160 hours of practicums at Prince Charles Hospital and a three-day residential school refresher at Noosa.

Sharon van der Draai

She's relieved to have refreshed her nursing qualification by December last year, within the mandatory 10-year timeframe.

Sharon started out as a hospital-trained nurse in 1990 and subsequently also completed a nursing degree. She worked until 2002 but then took a break to bring up her two boys.

Nowadays, the family is very busy with camping, hiking and outdoor pursuits but Sharon is still keen to return to the workforce.

Many nurses take a break to have families or to try new career options, however they need to refresh their skills before coming back into what is a fast-changing profession.

Former nurses who are keen to return can now apply for a Registered Nurse Re-Entry to Practice Course offered by distance education, with online study. Details are via CQUniversity's Centre for Professional Health Education website at www.cqu.edu.au/engage/cphe . Prospective students should contact the CPHE in the first instance.

This CQUniversity course can arrange clinical placements in the applicant's home region. It's the only course of its type in Queensland and one of only a few in Australia available via distance education.

CQUniversity's course has been approved by the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) and was also accredited via the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

A fresh round of scholarships (each valued at $6000) is now open to Re-Entry applicants who apply by April 19. Details are available via the Australian College of Nursing website www.rcna.org.au/WCM/ or direct via THIS LINK .

Louise Thurecht has had a passion for helping people as long as she can remember and a family tragedy focused her decision to study Occupational Therapy at CQUniversity...

Louise Thurecht on Rockhampton Campus

As a young girl she witnessed her father's battle with terminal cancer and observed the care and support of the medical professions.

LINK for a larger image

"It was during this time that my career aspiration of becoming an occupational therapist grew and the goal of helping people in need and rehabilitating those after sickness and trauma became something of great importance to me," Louise says.

Despite facing challenges during her schooling at St Ursula's College in Yeppoon due to her father passing away, Louise got involved in her school and community life through Anzac Day marches, Clean-Up Australia Day, charity drama events, debating, cross-country running, and the Rotary Club secondary schools' quiz. She also won a senior school Oratory Competition.

Louise also succeeded in getting a high OP score and is progressing into University studies this year with the support of the Vice-Chancellor's Merit Scholarship.

CQUniversity has endorsed a Smarter Regions, Smarter Australia policy statement which details a variety of ways in which government can unlock the full human potential of regional Australia...

Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman this week joined a video-linked launch of the policy by his counterparts across the Regional Universities Network (RUN), which includes Southern Cross University, University of Ballarat, University of New England, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast, as well as CQUniversity.

Details on the policy can be downloaded from http://www.run.edu.au/

VC Professor Scott Bowman endorses the RUN plan during a media conference on Rockhampton Campus following the video-linked launch

The policy statement stresses that, with two-thirds of the nation's economic assets and productive activity located outside Australia's capital cities, along with one-third of the population, the economic and social wellbeing of regional Australia is crucial to the success of the nation.

RUN Chair Professor David Battersby said that by improving opportunities for people to access higher education, RUN universities already help unlock this human potential.

"Adopting the policies we've articulated would contribute to Australia achieving the level of graduate skills needed to ensure its international competitiveness and help strengthen communities across the nation," he said.

"RUN believes that the economic, social, cultural and environmental development of Australia will be enhanced by further building human, social and cultural capital, employment, entrepreneurship, productivity and industry diversification within Australia's regions. This will contribute towards an Australia which is healthy and safe, socially, culturally and economically prosperous, with increased productivity and innovation.

"This document also builds on some of the themes raised last month in the Universities Australia policy plan, A Smarter Australia, with a particular focus on the role that regional universities can play.

"We believe that this nation needs to have a conversation about the role of higher education and we want to play our part in this."

RUN universities teach more than 100,000 students across 29 campuses or 9% of enrolments in Australian public universities. They educate 25% of Australia's regional higher education students, 34% of its distance education students, 16% of its low socio- economic students, 15% of its Indigenous students and 32% of its students in enabling courses.

Vineela Challagulla has completed her doctoral research looking at the potential of 'bio-prospecting' microalgae sourced from water bodies across Central Queensland...

She has also been testing the viability of using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess biomass and the concentration of lipids, the fatty acids which contain hydrocarbons.

Vineela Challagulla is looking forward to graduation on March 21

Her study indentified a local strain of Chlorella vulgaris with promise in terms of oil content and growth rate.

"Bioprospecting of microalgae may be extended to different seasons, locations and water habitats (especially marine, waste waters and hyper-saline) in Queensland," Vineela says. 

She says her use of NIRS was successful for assessing biomass and lipid content and could be further applied to assess the lipids' fatty acid chain lengths and the degree of un-saturation, which play a major role in the quality of biodiesel.

Vineela is now looking forward to graduating at the next Rockhampton ceremony on March 21, having spent four years as a research higher degree student at CQUniversity.

Vineela in the laboratory checking samples

Originally from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Vineela completed her Masters in Microbiology in 2001 and then gained almost eight years of research experience with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, before coming to CQUniversity.

Her PhD has been supervised by Professor Kerry Walsh and Associate Professor Larelle Fabbro.

New PhD student Oscar Santiago is at the vortex of the quest for sustainable treatment methods for coal seam gas (CSG) water.

His research site will be located at Westside's gas lease near Moura, using a pilot plant developed in concert with previous CQUniversity research focused on the management of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and salinity and other contaminants of concern in CSG 'associated water'.

Oscar Santiago (centre) with Ben Kele (left) and Jim Kelly from Arris Water

CQUniversity researcher Ben Kele has paved the way for the fresh PhD study, building on his own projects and experiences running his own company specialising in water treatment (previously known as Midell Water but now rebadged as Arris Water). For details visit http://water.arris.com.au/

Arris, which has an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding with the University, has now bought into Midell Water. The combined companies have a wide range of research and communication skills.

The new-look Arris Water is now sponsoring two research scholarships at CQUniversity, including support for Oscar to complete his PhD project.

While not on site at the Westside gas lease, Oscar will be based at CQUniversity's CQ Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) in Rockhampton.

Mr Kele noted that Oscar is a past student of the ICEWaRM program, for which CQUniversity has provided key content on the formation, production, treatment and management of water associated with coal seam gas (CSG) operations.

CQUniversity Paramedic Science student Samantha Carter does not look forward to attending road accidents, but they have certainly helped fast-track her skills as she nears completion of her degree.

Just a few hours into her second placement with the Queensland Ambulance Service, Samantha was called on to help at a major road accident in the Townsville region. She has also been getting plenty of real-world 'rural' experience in the Ayr region.

LINK also to High-fidelity training a siren call for future paramedics OR Learning 'cuts through' when you've got to face up to realism

Samantha Carter

"As a distance education student I have had to be more disciplined in my study but I'm starting to become more confident thanks to placements with the QAS," she said.

"It's all starting to come together."

Samantha Carter (left) with her Ayr station OIC Simon Davies and mentor Cherith Eames (an Advanced Care Paramedic)

Samantha was one of the pioneering cohort to enrol in Paramedic Science back in 2011 and she is now part-way through her third and final year of the degree. 

The next phase will be attending a four-day QAS induction and completing an ambulance driver's course.

"Once I've done my induction and driver's course I can start applying for casual work with QAS, even before graduating from the degree," Samantha says. 

CQUniversity is the only Australian university offering the Paramedic qualification through distance education, using innovative techniques and equipment to facilitate blended learning for both distance and on-campus students.

The University's new teaching ambulance is just one of many factors which put the Paramedic Science degree at the forefront of high-fidelity training and simulation.

CQUniversity's new teaching ambulance is just one of many factors which put the Paramedic Science degree at the forefront of high-fidelity training and simulation....

The Queensland Ambulance Service was so impressed with the CQUniversity students during their clinical rotations that 23 third-year students have already been offered casual work with the agency.

Paramedic Science students Cassie Fraser (left) and Skye Krobath helped demonstrate the vehicle's equipment

LINK also to A crash course can be helpful for Paramedic students OR Learning 'cuts through' when you've got to face up to realism

Meantime, the degree has attracted more than 380 students, with 75% enrolled via distance education from as far afield as Palm Island and Tasmania and, in one case, from Chiba in Japan. Distance students are able to attend residential schools for hands-on activities.

The John Villiers Trust* Teaching Ambulance has been coach-built and fitted out in line with ambulance services throughout Queensland, so students will get a feel for working in a functional vehicle before going on clinical placements.

Paramedic Science senior lecturer Anthony Weber says the vehicle is valued around $240,000. It will be used by first-year students as an orientation to the ambulance and ambulance equipment, the second-year students will utilise it for performing procedures and skills in the back of a moving ambulance, and the third-year students will use it for advanced scenarios.

"All scenarios will be recorded and students will reflect and be debriefed on their performance," Mr Weber says.

"We are the only Australian university offering the Paramedic qualification through distance education, using innovative techniques and equipment to facilitate blended learning for both our distance and on-campus students.

Paramedic Science Professor Brian Maguire welcomes VIP guest Warren Kellett, Executive Manager Mines, Queensland Ambulance Service

"Our simulation labs feature state-of-the-art $150,000 high-fidelity manikin systems, and we employ moulage trauma make-up techniques, rural and metropolitan industry placements, and Profesor Kerry Reid-Searl's MASK-ED^TM  techniques to further inject realism into our teaching."

CQUniversity offers conversion degrees for existing paramedics looking to update and upgrade their qualifications, including several streams of specialisation to accommodate the various aspects of professional development. Our Occupational Health and Safety Specialisation for paramedics is the only one of its kind in the world.

"We're also involved in research and contributing to the further development of the profession," Mr Weber says.

* Signage on the ambulance recognises support from the John Villiers Trust. John Villiers was a Queensland pastoralist who supported various charities through his lifetime and bequeathed his estate to enrich the lives and social spirit of Queenslanders.

At the launch was Acting Assistant Commissioner of Central Police Region Steve Hollands (second from right) with L-R Steven Coombs, Michelle Baxter and Warren Kellett from the Queensland Ambulance Service  
L-R Lisa Hurring (Paramedic Science Lecturer), Rae Jackson (Paramedic Tech), Professor Brian Maguire (Paramedic Professor), Anthony Weber (Senior Lecturer & Program Leader), Warren Kellett (QAS Executive Manager for Mines), Geraldine Rolfe (Paramedic Tech), Daryl Holley (Lecturer) 
VC Scott Bowman addresses the launch gathering

CQUniversity's Tertiary Entry Program (TEP) gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a choice of being so many different people.

That's according to Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, the University's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement.

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks congratulates Michelle Johnson, who brought her daughter to the ceremony. Michelle is now studying a Diploma of Business at CQUniversity

Professor Fredericks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, Deputy Vice-Chancellors Professor Graham Pegg and Professor Hilary Winchester, other academics and friends and family members joined in celebration with graduates of the TEP program.

LINK also to Charlene proud to return to study on traditional Darumbal country 

AND Potential for earning sparks Stephanie's study journey

"We now look forward to seeing our TEP graduates go on to attend their University graduation ceremony and to pursue a range of careers," Professor Fredericks said.

Professor Bowman noted that TEP graduates were being courted with job offers part-way through their degrees.

"One year of Uni opens up many doors, two years even more, but a full degree gives you such a wide selection of careers," the Vice-Chancellor says.

Many TEP graduates have progressed into CQUniversity studies in a wide range of disciplines, including Engineering (Stephanie Joyce), Arts (Charmaine Miller, Lynette Wishnewski, Matthew Ford), Business (Michelle Johnson, Charlene Mann), Arts/Business (Lee Oram), Education (Kassandra Mogg, Janaya Quirk), Laws (Pamela Herlihen, Bonnie Williams), Nursing (Chloe Sticher-Doyle, Jennifer Keyworth, Gabriella Carte, Keylar Mogg, Gabrielle Rowe), and Social Work (Zara Sturt).

Prof Fredericks congratulates Stephanie Joyce who brought her mum Narelle Pasco. Stephanie is now enrolled in an Associate Degree of Engineering.

Other TEP graduates pursuing a range of study and career options included Peter Barnes, Kelvin Rogers, Anwar Hashimi, Michelle Creamer, Lexie Kyle and Atara Graham.

"The TEP graduation demonstrates that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are developing skills, knowledge and their abilities across a broad spectrum and pursuing their dreams of being who they want to be," said Prof Fredericks.

Janaya Quirk proudly shows off her TEP certificate. She is now studying a Bachelor of Learning Management (Primary) with CQUniversity 
Kelvin Rogers is congratulated by VC Scott Bowman. Kelvin is now in the workforce  
The youngest sister in her family, Charlene Mann (right) celebrates with other family members L-R Robina Mann (second oldest sister), Robert Mann (father), Mae Mann (mother), Melinda Mann-Yasso (oldest sister). Her brothers Malcolm and Robert were absent. Charlene is now studying a Business degree specialising in Tourism. Most of her siblings have pursued higher education through CQUniversity 
Peter Barnes accepts his TEP certificate 
Prof Fredericks gets help cutting the TEP cake from Wade Mann, who conducted the Welcome to Country ceremony  

CQUniversity researcher Dr Sandrine Makiela's quest for healthy soils has earned her the 2013 Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The $20,000 award supported by Horticulture Australia was presented recently during the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook 2013 conference dinner, among other presentations to Science Award and Biosecurity Award recipients.

Dr Sandrine Makiela receives her award from ABARES Chief Scientist Dr Kim Ritman (left) and Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig

Sandrine says her focus is on sustainable farming techniques that are not heavily reliant on fertiliser.

"As a farmer myself, I have an inherent interest in sustainable production systems and the basis of all sustainable farming is healthy soils," she says.

With the help of the award funds, Sandrine's research will investigate how soil microbial communities change over the growing season, using cucumbers as a model horticultural crop. By comparing the microbial status of the soil under organic and conventional practices, the project will shed light on soil health in horticultural systems.

Sandrine would like to hear from cucumber growers (both conventional and organic) who could contribute to the study. She is contactable via s.makiela@cqu.edu.au .

"This research will complement my other research on soil health in grain and grazing systems to give us a clearer picture of soil health across the major farming sectors," she says.

The conference website reports that, beyond academic publication in the field of soil microbiology, Sandrine will run seminars for producers and develop research summaries on the implications of her findings.

With a better understanding of soil health throughout the growing season, producers will have more information with which to guide their farming practices.

Sandrine hopes that the knowledge gained through her research will ultimately lead to productive, healthy soils and farming practices that free farmers from a heavy reliance on fertilisers.

Soils ain't soils ... Sandrine in the field 
Sandrine in the lab 
Sandrine is congratulated by L-R Horticulture Australia Ltd CEO John Lloyd and Horticulture Australia Board Chair Selwyn Snell

Luke Duncan is grateful for a $1000 Engineering Co-op Relocation Bursary to help him relocate from Cairns to Rockhampton, to take up his foundation year studies with CQUniversity.

Luke says his decision to pursue Civil Engineering consolidated after seeing the stresses on bridges during the recent floods in Queensland.

Luke Duncan settles into life on Rockhampton Campus

He's well aware that CQUniversity's Co-op Engineering program includes two periods of paid employment in relevant industries and that graduates have a near 100% employment rate.

Luke managed a seventh place in the recent world titles for sailing (NACRA F18 class) and is looking forward to competing in at least two more regattas off Cairns this year.

Bursary details are available via THIS LINK

CQUniversity has echoed the Australian Council of Deans of Education in welcoming the national approach to broad-based entry requirements, improved school partnership arrangements for professional placements, and a focus on academic graduate standards for teacher education announced by Ministers Garrett and Bowen this week.

Dean of Education Professor Helen Huntly says a national approach to professional experience is long overdue and agrees that these initiatives will drive innovative practice, a range of delivery options, and stronger reciprocal partnerships between schools and providers.

"We agree these initiatives will further focus efforts to build a teaching workforce informed by research and responsive to diverse student populations, parent and community expectations, and the digital economy," Professor Huntly says.

"I am assuming however that this Federal Government initiative will supersede the several State-based requirements that are currently placed on initial teacher education programs, and that the government will cover the implementation and associated costs of the proposed entry regimes.

"As a regional university, at CQUni, more than half of our teacher education students enter their programs from pathways other than directly from secondary school. It therefore makes sense to adhere to the spirit of the National Program Standard that requires universities to offer capacity -building literacy and numeracy experiences (and assessments) throughout all initial teacher education programs. "

CQUniversity Associate Professor Ken Purnell has applauded aims to ensure pre-service teachers have a genuine focus on teaching and particularly on learning gains of all students in their care while on practicums in their degree and once in the profession.

"I would welcome a more professional disposition at the outset of a teaching degree that we then nurture and expand - especially using professional learning in education sites such as schools.  Interest, as the research shows, is just as important as capability in learning," Assoc Prof Purnell says.

"Checking that pre-service teachers start with appropriate dispositions - albeit at a novice stage - and then graduate with expert professional dispositions should be a great step forward.

"One would reasonably anticipate that graduates are in the top 30% of the population in literacy and numeracy (most were in that top 30% to get into university in the first place). Ensuring that they are just prior to  graduation would be useful."

Assoc Prof Purnell says that, given the great diversity of schools throughout Australia and within the teaching profession, if an appropriate assessment framework for practicums that is both effective and efficient was developed, that would be very useful.

"However, this particular issue is rather complex as the standards between people likely to be making judgments using any such framework are likely to vary significantly. This discrepancy about implementing assessment standards is well documented in the research literature. So it is a complex issue to firstly develop such a framework and secondly to have the necessary support to ensure comparability of judgments between teachers (moderation).

"Such a review would be useful to improve the quality of pre-service teaching programs nationally. A former Minister for Education, the Hon Brendan Nelson noted that there were two standout pre-service teacher degrees in Australia at the time (2005): CQUni's and VUT's. So there is likely a difference amongst pre-service teacher qualifications on a national scale."

Staff and students at CQUniversity Melbourne joined in the annual Clean-Up Australia Day event at the Royal Botanical Gardens to help make the city beautiful.

The enthusiastic group of 13 collected bags of rubbish and helped contribute to the clean-up efforts.

Following the clean-up, participants joined the crowd down by the banks of the Yarra River to enjoy the sunshine and a barbecue lunch together.

Melbourne Campus Director Lara Carton thanked all those who participated and assisted in preparations beforehand and those who turned up on the day to make it a great success.

"The Melbourne Campus' participation in Clean-Up Australia Day marks the beginning of an exciting program of student and community engagement activities planned for 2013," Ms Carton said.

The Clean Up Australia Day crew from CQUniversity Melbourne (L-R) Lara Carton (Campus Director), Judy Hui, Mohammad Abbas Ali, Stuart Hartono, Helen Davison, Raza Pirzada, Helen Edwards and Kunal Gupta.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Chair of CQUniversity's Academic Board and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, welcomed the new members of Academic Board at the first meeting for 2013.

Academic Board constitutes the senior academic governance body within the University and is the primary forum in the University for discussion and resolution of all matters relating to and affecting the University's teaching, research and educational programs.

Justin Kann, Prof Bronwyn Fredericks, Assoc Prof William Guo, Assoc Prof Andrew Taylor-Robinson and Dr Jermone Egwurube

The new members include: Professor Kerry Reid-Searl, Dr Jerome Egwurube, Assoc Prof William Guo, Assoc Prof Andrew Taylor-Robinson, Assoc Prof George Stuart, Xiaozhen (Tracey) Wang (postgraduate student representative), and Justin Kann as the nominee from the Student Association Board of Directors. Professor Masud Khan commences his second term on the Board.

The first meeting of Academic Board for 2013 included a brief induction for all members, which included the reasons for Academic Board, where papers can be found, processes and committees, along with roles and responsibilities and the importance of the University's self-accrediting status and TEQSA compliance. The induction is offered at the beginning of every academic year. The induction presentation was provided by Kylie White, Associate Director of Governance.

Academic Board getting ready for 2013

Academic Board is a Standing Committee of CQUniversity's Council and, as such, Council has representation on Academic Board.

Just as Professor Bronwyn Fredericks welcomed the new members of Academic Board, she also acknowledged that it was the last meeting for the Council's nominee, Dr Robyn Minchinton. Dr Minchinton, a medical scientist specialising in haematology with a passion for lifelong learning, innovation and science communication, was thanked for her contributions to Academic Board.

We wish the Academic Board well for 2013!

CQUniversity has once again distributed over 6000 full-colour periodic tables of the elements to regional high schools, to support senior science students.

The donation is the brainchild of science lecturer Leanne Voss who says she hopes the tables will add some colour to classrooms and help students learn, while promoting further studies and careers in science.

Science lecturer Leanne Voss with one of the periodic tables

It's all part of CQUniversity's wider commitment to engage with schools.

Ms Voss said high school students who did not have access to comprehensive periodic tables often resorted to the Internet.

"The periodic tables can be utilised by both teachers and students to support other topics covered in the syllabus, for example boiling and melting points, electronegativity values and electronic structures," she said.

Mackay mother-of-three Kobi Haddow is hoping to help other women have the same positive birthing experiences that she had, when she completes her midwifery program through CQUniversity.   

In between being a busy mum, Kobi completed her Nursing degree in 2010 and went on to do the Queensland Health Postgraduate Program in 2011 through the Mackay Base Hospital, where she spent six months on the medical ward and six months in the Mental Health Unit.

She said that, thanks to her supportive family, her desire to undertake the Midwifery program over the next 18 months was achievable and she was now looking forward to working with other midwives and women in the region.

"The CQUniversity midwifery program stood out for me because it was really flexible and I can choose when I do the practical components.

"The program allows us to work with women throughout the entire pregnancy and after birth."

Kobi said with things constantly evolving in the field, it is an exciting time to be involved with midwifery.

"There is a lot more information available to women these days and they are being given more choice in their birthing options, so I think being able to support and educate families through this process will be really rewarding."        

Midwifery student Kobi Haddow.

CQUniversity Engineering student Angela Tsai has been earmarked as a leader of the future - and she's still only in her foundation year of tertiary study.

During the recent International Women's Day celebration in Rockhampton, Angela was recognised as a Zonta Club 'Young Women in Public Affairs Award' finalist.

Angela Tsai with her Zonta award finalist certificate

The award recognised her volunteering for organisations including Relay for Life, the Red Shield Appeal and the St Vincent de Paul's charity.

Born in Taiwan and raised in the Solomon Islands, Angela has entered engineering in the footsteps of her father. She plans to specialise in electrical engineering with a view to a career in environmental engineering one day.

Angela has already had some grounding in leadership principles during a 'Movers and Shakers' youth camp.

Angela is congratulated by VC Scott Bowman and Deputy VC Hilary Winchester

LINK for a larger image

CQUniversity is leading the way by enabling Australian students to study law for free via iTunes U, with the full degree optimised for access via tablets...

The Bachelor of Laws is the first online law degree in Australia that has been optimised specifically with wireless access in mind.

Professor Stephen Colbran

LINK also to Remote island move no impediment for Laws student

Students who like the free iTunes U materials enough to enrol in a degree can become eligible for a free iPad, providing wireless access to all course materials as well as interactive online support.

LINK for a larger image

CQUniversity became a pioneer in law education in 2012 by providing its Bachelor of Laws as an online degree, in order encourage a wider diversity of students into the profession.  

The flexible nature of the degree and the fact it can be completed in only three years makes it especially attractive to adult students.

Head of Program Professor Stephen Colbran says the CQUniversity program is 'state-of-the-art'.

"We are cloud-based with staff across three states," he says.

"Our students are primarily mature-aged, living in rural and regional areas, with a fair number also in capital cities and overseas.

"We believe in open access, mobile learning and high quality materials."

LINK for a larger image 
You can access this guide via the CQUniversity iTunesU site

It only took a few minutes to make it look as if health programs instructor Melissa Hulme had fallen through a glass door and even less time to return her face to normal..

Welcome to the world of 'moulage' - a simulation technique used to help actors play the part of accident victims.

Melissa Hulme manages to smile through her (luckily) fake wounds

CQUniversity Paramedic Science program leader Anthony Weber says specialised make-up is used to simulate injuries such as burns, protuding bones, major bleeds and wounds caused by glass or nails.

Katie Bird started out working in the hospitality industry but found her true passion when she gained a job in 'before and after school care'...

She embarked on a certificate and then diploma in children's services and secured a role in childcare with Port City Kids in Gladstone, where she is currently a group leader.

Katie Bird

Now a $30,000 'Here for Childcare' scholarship from Rio Tinto Alcan has enabled Katie to enrol in CQUniversity's Bachelor of Learning Management (Early Childhood Education).

"My BLM degree will take me three years because I have transferred credit from my diploma," she says.

"This degree will help Port City Kids because in 2014 it will become compulsory for all long-day care centres to have a bachelor-qualified person employed.

"I am taking one step at a time and I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself with career aspirations. This degree will certainly open doors for me and give me a wider range of career opportunities to choose from upon graduation. For now I am looking to stay in childcare and be a kindergarten teacher."

CQUniversity researchers Dr Scott Wilson and Professor Marnie Campell recently contributed to a presentation on the potential of community engagement activities to reduce and manage marine debris.

Conservation Volunteers Australia Corporate Affairs Director Phil Harrison also helped lead this event, presented with support from CVA, CQUniversity and and Queensland Gas Company.

L-R Patrick Hastings (QGC), Dr Scott Wilson (CQUni), Phil Harrison (CVA), Prof Marnie Campbell (CQUni) and Caitlin Davies (CVA) are pictured during the evening event

The event held in the Leo Zussino Building on CQUniversity Gladstone Campus was designed to interest representatives of community organisations and natural resource management groups.

Dr Wilson presented findings from the 2012 Marine Debris beach and drift card surveys, Prof Campbell presented findings from the social survey on attitudes about littering in Gladstone Habour, and Mr Harrison spoke on building community capacity through community engagement.

A video shown about Mr Wilson's Marine Debris project was produced by a team of CQUniversity MultiMedia students, collaborating virtually in distance mode. They were Benjamin Fisher, John Manderson and Brodie Stephenson from Bundaberg and Kyl Newton from Brisbane. You can see their project below.

The CQUniversity Widening Participation team recently hosted a group of students from Barcaldine State School for their Year 10 Uni Skills Program...

While on the Rockhampton Campus, the visitors took part in sessions on academic writing and educational robotics*, heard from a Defence Force Sergeant and learned about resuscitation in the Paramedic Science labs.

L-R Jazmin Csoma and Zoe Vaughan try out the LEGO engineering activity

Students gained information about career options, the Start Uni Now (SUN) program and scholarships. They also explored the QTAC website, the Moodle online learning environment and visited the local TAFE campus during the two-day program.

Program facilitator, Stacey Hixon says Uni Skills "exposes students to a range of different career options not just university, giving them a taste of university life".

Simon Cumming guides the students through the LEGO engineering activity

"While the students are in Rockhampton they stay at the Student Residences where they dine and interact with university students," Ms Hixon says.

Melinda Mann-Yasso, Acting Program Manager, says "the Uni Skills Program allows students to interact in a range of university learning environments and to access information and equipment designed for university students".

"These experiences are really important for all students but especially those students from regional and remote communities to help them take an active role in making decisions about their futures," she says.

Uni Skills is part of a suite of Engage Education programs delivered by the CQUniversity Widening Participation team to low socio-economic, regional, remote and Indigenous students across Central Queensland, aiming to raise aspirations towards higher education. Details are available via www.cqu.edu.au/wideningparticipation.

* Donated to the University by Bechtel Australia, the AustraliaLego Mindstorms are the next generation in educational robotics and data-logging systems, enabling students to engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a fun and hands-on way.  The robots are very versatile and include a myriad of sensors and functions. They can be programmed by individuals and/or teams to undertake simple tasks, such as moving in response to sound, light commands, touch and motion. They enable teams of students to design, build, program, and test robots.

Kimberley Spinks in the Engineering labs 
L-R Chris Haaksma and Luke Cameron

Suzi Blair is the latest CQUniversity representative invited to join a major regional development board - the Fitzroy Central West RDA Board.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the development of Australia's regions. A national network of RDA committees has been established to achieve this objective.

The Fitzroy Central-West region covers a footprint spanning north of Rockhampton to south of Gladstone, extending out west to the Northern Territory border.

Ms Blair is Director of CQUniversity's Development and Alumni Relations Directorate (DARD) and recently attended her first RDA board meeting.

Bundaberg Head of Campus Professor Phillip Clift already sits on the board of the Wide Bay Burnett RDA and Mackay HOC Professor Pierre Viljoen, who is also Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement), sits on the board of the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsundays RDA. Prof Viljoen also chairs the Study Mackay Isaac Whitsunday body and is on many boards including the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN).

Gai Sypher, Operations and Project Manager for the Emerald Learning Centre, is not only on the board for the Central Highlands Regional Resource Use Planning Cooperative (CHRRUP), she is also a Councillor for the Central Highlands Regional Council.

By lending their skills for community leadership, these campus reps are reinforcing CQUniversity's commitment to become Australia's most engaged university.

Professional motorcycle racer Mike Jones is managing to keep his CQUniversity business degree studies on track while competing in countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Germany, Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

"My primary goal is to become a successful motorcycle racer although I firmly believe that it is necessary to have a secondary career plan," he says.

LINK for larger images of Mike Jones

"Completing my degree allows me to enter another field of work once my motorcycle racing career comes to an end and, additionally, the concepts I learn from my studies are also useful for furthering myself as a racer.

"The theory behind some of the subjects I have studied so far has related a lot to my real-world experiences which I've then been able to apply to the assignment for those particular subjects."

Mike says he manages to take his laptop and textbooks on all his overseas trips and WiFi networks are usually available for internet access.

This year is Mike's first full season competing in Europe in the Superstock 600 category. Even though he's only 19, he's won multiple championships and progressively moved through the category ranks.

"I first rode a motorcycle at the age of three which came as an influence from my father. I continued riding throughout my youth and began competing at the age of nine," Mike says.

Uninews readers can get more information and follow Mike's progress via:

Website: http://www.mikejonesracing.com.au/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mikejonesracingfanpage

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikejonesracing

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikejonesracing/

CQUniversity has officially launched its Appleton Institute Sleep Research Centre in Adelaide.

Politicians, researchers, students and CQUniversity Council members gathered for the event at 44 Greenhill Road in Wayville on Monday (4 March).

Watched by City of Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne, Chancellor Rennie Fritschy cuts a ribbon to launch the new Centre

South Australian Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills Grace Portolesi addressed the gathering before Chancellor Rennie Fritschy cut a ribbon to open the new six-bed facility which has sleep isolation capabilities.

Other speakers included Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills Sharon Bird, CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, Chancellor Rennie Fritschy and Appleton Institute Director Professor Drew Dawson. The guest list included City of Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne.

June Appleton, the widow of CQUniversity's first Vice-Chancellor Dr Arthur Appleton, was also acknowledged and received a gift from the Chancellor to mark the occasion.

Professor Bowman said Appleton Institute not only houses a 30-strong multidisciplinary team providing leadership in sleep and fatigue research, with application across industry, sports and the wider society.

"We are also building a boutique campus which offers an intimate personal education experience," he said.

Minister Grace Portolesi addresses the launch guests

"As well as our sleep laboratory and a rail and road simulation laboratory for applied cognitive-behavioural human factors research, we offer supervision for research higher degree students, honours programs for psychology students and postgraduate programs in rail safety management and fatigue risk management.

"Our hybrid model combines the best of flexible, hi-tech content delivery with old-style tutorials to ensure students are engaging with the material."

Professor Bowman said Appleton will also become a distance education support centre for the increasing number of CQUniversity undergraduate students located in the Adelaide region.

Professor Dawson said Appleton provides a great environment for postgraduate students seeking to work with a world-class team across areas include sleep and fatigue, applied psychology, human factors and OHS, exercise physiology, cultural anthropology, human-animal interaction and statistical analysis.

"We are the ideal place to develop higher degree research students and early career research academics," he said.

"We are building Adelaide's best little university."

Inspecting the new Centre are L-R Chancellor Rennie Fritschy, research officer Larissa Clarkson, Appleton Institute Director Professor Drew Dawson and researcher Associate Professor Verna Blewett 
Visitors tried out the new road and rail simulation laboratory for applied cognitive-behavioural human factors research

CQUniversity's popular Judith, Stuart & Friends series is back in 2013 with the first concert to be held at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) on Wednesday, March 13 from 6pm to 7pm.

The free evening will feature performances by CQUniversity senior lecturer, Dr Judith Brown, on the Stuart and Sons grand piano, as well as dance and vocal performances from the Bachelor of Theatre students.

Dr Judith BrownThe theme for next week's event is ‘Cold History Case - the Mystery of Beethoven's Deafness.' A lock of Beethoven's hair was bought at an auction in 1994 and subsequent forensic tests were able to pinpoint the reasons for Beethoven's sickness and deafness.  The results of these tests were astounding. The mystery will be unravelled through a musical odyssey of his most beloved works.  

The Con Friends bar will be open from 5.30pm for a refreshing drink before the concert.

For more information, phone 4940 7800.

Staff and students at CQUniversity Sydney are making a difference to the lives of the less fortunate through their volunteer work with the Exodus Foundation.

Learning Skills Unit tutor Julia Doyle has been volunteering each Monday at the Redfern Tutorial Centre in the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence since 2011.

CQUniversity staff and students in Sydney help out feeding the homeless. Julia and many literacy volunteers at the Centre have worked with students to improve their reading and writing.  

One student in particular said he hoped he would be the first in his family to attend university, and was so grateful for the program that he fundraised over $2000 to contribute to the Exodus Foundation.

The Exodus Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to empower Australians through community welfare, healthcare and education.

Staff and students at the CQUniversity Sydney campus are heavily involved in working with the organisation, including feeding the homeless at the Loaves & Fishes Restaurant, Night Van and Food Distribution Program.

Julia Doyle

CQUniversity students braved the rain and wind to clean up at CQUniversity Mackay on Sunday, March 3, 2013.

Despite the dreary conditions, volunteers were in good spirits as they helped contribute to the environment and clean up the campus.

CQUniversity students take part in Clean Up Australia Day.CQUniversity Arts student Glen Marshall said he was impressed by the number of volunteers who took part, despite the weather, which dampened the efforts.

"We had got most of it done, but we were out in the rain for the last part," he said.

CQUniversity Mackay students participate in Clean Up Australia Day annually.

"This is where most of us live so it's important for us to help with cleaning it up," he said.

The CQUniversity Mackay campus was sparkling after the clean-up efforts.

An estimated 591,400 volunteers took part in sites across Australia last year.

Many nurses take a break to have families or to try new career options, however they need to refresh their skills before coming back into what is a fast-changing profession...

Former nurses who are keen to return can now apply for a Registered Nurse Re-Entry to Practice Course offered by distance education, with online study. Details are via the Centre for Professional Health Education website at www.cqu.edu.au/engage/cphe . Prospective students should contact the CPHE in the first instance.

LINK for a larger image

This CQUniversity course can arrange clinical placements in the applicant's home region. It's the only course of its type in Queensland and one of only a few in Australia available via distance education.

CQUniversity's course has been approved by the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) and was also accredited via the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

A fresh round of scholarships (each valued at $6000) is now open to Re-Entry applicants who apply by April 19. Details are available via the Australian College of Nursing website www.rcna.org.au/WCM/ or direct via THIS LINK .

CQUniversity is part of a major research project investigating why Aussies throw away nearly 50% of the food they buy, wasting $5 billion and creating 3 million tonnes of garbage each year.

Early findings show Australians are huge wasters of food but have little idea how wasteful they are. Food waste is a term that does not register with most.

The $473,000 Zeroing in on Food Waste project is jointly funded by the Australian Research Council, Zero Waste SA and the Local Government Association. In-kind support is being provided by UniSA, Flinders University and CQUniversity through a series of PhD studies.

LINK HERE for more details or Visit the Food Waste Project page on Facebook

CQUniversity researcher Dr Kirrilly Thompson*, the Project Coordinator, recently spoke about the project in the Zero Waste SA magazine Focus.

"Among the preliminary findings are that few people think they waste food because they simply do not have a sense of what they could be saving," Dr Thompson said.

Dr Kirrilly Thompson

"There might be 50 ways you can waste food but they might only be aware of five. If they are addressing those five they think they're not wasting anything. It's like a glass ceiling."

Dr Thompson said the research had also revealed that anti-waste campaigns should take care using terminology because the phrase ‘food waste' fails to resonate with people.

"They're familiar with terms such as peelings, scraps and leftovers but don't necessarily relate this to wasting food," she said.

According to Focus, the three-year research program will produce guidelines on intervention, communication and public education strategies to address current barriers and to better engage the public in reduction strategies.

Focus reports that the program was due to finish at the end of 2013 but strong interest from additional PhD students means ‘bonus' results will continue to be fed back to program partners for an additional three years.

* Dr Thompson is based at CQUniversity's Appleton Institute in Adelaide.

The signs are promising for advanced years of an Engineering degree to be offered in Bundaberg.

That was a key message for campus and community representatives who celebrated the introduction of the foundation year of Engineering at CQUniversity Bundaberg recently. Those attending included Bundaberg Mayor Cr Mal Forman and councillors, local MPs and industry reps, as well as the students and their parents. More than 20 students have enrolled.

L-R Peter Manson (Bundaberg Sugar Ltd), David Austen (Bundaberg North State High School), Ben Taylor (CQUni Bundaberg Engineering Lecturer), Mike Egan (Bundaberg Regional Council)

Dean of Engineering and Technology Professor Euan Lindsay says there is huge community demand and support for an engineering program in Bundaberg.

"The community has realised the importance of engineers as a result of the record floods experienced in the region," he says.

"Offering this program locally is great for the region because kids can grow up in Bundaberg, go to school in Bundaberg, go to university in Bundaberg and establish their careers as engineers in the Bundaberg region. The community will benefit from their professional skills if they study locally and stay local."

L-R Dean of Engineering Professor Euan Lindsay with Ian Bent from CamIT

Head of Campus Professor Phillip Clift says it has been a long journey to bring the program to Bundaberg and he hopes it can be extended to offer second, third and fourth-year studies.

"Funds for the program were made available because of community demand. Signs are already good with the foundation program in Bundaberg attracting the same number of first-year students as have the programs on offer in Mackay and Gladstone," he says.

"It's a perfect time for students to excel because they can study in small classes, have access to good resources and have their family support. There are plans to establish a purpose-built engineering studio on campus."

Professor Clift thanked Bundaberg Regional Council for providing three scholarships and work placements for students.

The new students started out learning about basic construction methodologies, building structures from pencils and water bottles. They will soon go out to local industry to gain first-hand experience about real-life projects and to find out what working in a professional environment is like.

Prof Phillip Clift addresses people gathered to mark the introduction of Engineering in Bundaberg

Staff from the Office of Indigenous Engagement, Marketing, the Development and Alumni Relations Directorate, and the Academic Registrar Directorate recently had their first meeting to kick-start CQUniversity's roll-out of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME).

Representatives from these areas will sit on the University's AIME Committee.

AIME Committee members L-R Billie Walker, Helen Newell, Robina Mann, Bronwyn Fredericks, Darren Brady (AIME) and Melinda Mann-Yasso

This is the first time that AIME has been offered in a regional area in Queensland. The goals for all Indigenous students involved in the program are to: increase Year 10 progression rates; increase Year 12 completion rates; and increase progression to university.

The program has also proven its ability to strengthen the links between universities and local high schools. It supports teachers to become more optimistic about tertiary education being a real option for their Indigenous students; and through a strong relationship with AIME, parents' belief in their child's chances of pursuing a university education is increased.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement said "AIME provides a dynamic educational program that gives Indigenous high school students the skills, opportunities, belief and confidence to finish school at the same rate as their peers".

"This initiative has proven to dramatically improve the chances of Indigenous kids finishing school. AIME also connects students with post Year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment," she said.

The CQUniversity AIME Committee will meet regularly over the next three years to ensure the program's implementation.

To find out more about AIME go to: http://www.aimementoring.com/about/program/

The first round of interviews for prospective recipients of the BMA Community and Indigenous Scholarship Program were held recently, in anticipation of the start of the university year.

Vincent Cosgrove (Head of External Affairs at BMA), Professor Pierre Viljoen (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Community & Engagement and Head of Campus CQUniversity Mackay) and Narelle Pearse (Regional Economic Development Corporation CEO) were part of the panel who met with students in Mackay to discuss their future study at CQUniversity.

There are 10 Community Scholarships and five Indigenous Scholarships of up to $5000 per year to cover educational expenses for the duration of the recipients' study programs.

CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and Head of Campus Mackay, Professor Pierre Viljoen, scholarship recipient Emma Scott, Head of External Affairs at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Vincent Cosgrove and CEO of Regional Economic Development Corporation Narelle Pearse. The scholarship program was developed as part of a joint commitment between CQUniversity and BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) targeting students enrolling in non-mining related study programs like nursing, teaching, healthcare or business.

Professor Pierre Viljoen said one of the requirements of the program was that successful students will have demonstrated the need and desire to contribute to their local region.

"The prospective recipients who were interviewed, many of whom have chosen to study in the areas of health, education or business, have all shown their enthusiasm in giving back to their community, both while they are at university and upon graduation," Professor Viljoen said.

Mr Cosgrove said the panel members were impressed by the standard of applicants interviewed, representing BMA's key communities of Emerald, Blackwater, Moranbah and Dysart.

"It was great to hear their stories and how they plan to use their studies to give back to Central Queensland - I'm confident we have some very worthy candidates for our first round of scholarships," he said.

Ms Pearse said the scholarships would support students who want to study, work and live locally.

"The scholarships will alleviate the skills shortage and build capacity in key service areas throughout BMA's communities," she said. 

Five Indigenous applicants will meet with panel members including Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, and Paul Travers (BMA Indigenous Relations) in Rockhampton at the end of the month.

The CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Centre was a hive of activity recently as staff and student ambassadors welcomed new students.

The day was part of the CQUniversity-wide Orientation programs held in locations stretching from Cairns to Melbourne. A special Nursing Orientation Day was also held at the Centre.

The CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Centre staff are welcoming new students at Orientation on Saturday, February 16.

Senior Marketing and Engagement Officer at the Centre, Jodie Savina, said staff in the centre had been ‘run off their feet' attending to current and new students interested in a range of different study options.  

"We have been swamped with new enquiries since the New Year," she said.

"Our Paramedic Science and Nursing programs are proving extremely popular for students in the region, many of which are already working in the industry and are looking to upgrade their skills with a university qualification."

Ms Savina said she had spoken to a number of students who had indicated that the distance component played a major role in their decision to return to university.

"Distance education is making it easier for people from all walks of life to access an education and the Centre is one way to ensure our distance education students don't feel isolated."

CQUniversity's Alan Tucker has already spent a fulfilling career in the banking and finance industry but a decision to upskill led him back to university.

The Skills for Tertiary Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program has allowed Alan to begin his Diploma of Business via distance education at the CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Centre. LINK here for story.

Second-year student Shaun Bruce is a member of the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans Academy and says distance education is giving him the opportunity to pursue his dream basketball career, while also ensuring he has a profession to fall back on. LINK here for story.

The Cairns Distance Education Study Centre is now open six days a week for students to use facilities and access assistance from staff and student ambassadors.

For more information, please contact the CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Study Centre on 4031 1572 or visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/about-us/locations/cquni-cairns

Mobility boosts students' fitness for the workplace, according to a visitor from one of Switzerland's top universities.

Professor Robert Buttery spoke with students and faculty at CQUniversity Rockhampton to encourage student exchanges with partner universities.

Prof Robert Buttery chats with students including Jessica Milschus and Sean Burrough during his visit to Rockhampton

"As a result of  the bilateral agreement between CQUniversity and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, your students can experience study in Europe and accumulate academic credit for their home degree with a fee waiver at our university, apart from travel and accommodation costs," he said.

"Students who are well-equipped for the global workplace have a distinct advantage in the job market. Switzerland is ideally positioned with its pole position in global economy rankings and a world-class education system to enhance a student's opportunities."

Students who are interested in exchanges can contact Tanya Rogers via t.rogers@cqu.edu.au

Professor Buttery's institution is based in the Basel area and has three campuses located in towns easily reached by train in under 30 minutes..

UAS Northwestern Switzerland  has schools in the areas of Psychology, Business, Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Work, Art and Design, Music, Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geomatics, and Teacher Education.

Details are available via http://www.fhnw.ch/international

Four months of skills development, weight training and conditioning will be put to the test on Saturday when the 2012/13 CQUniversity Taipans Academy plays its first exhibition game.

The Academy, traditionally focused on individual development rather than squad training, will take on the under-18 North Queensland State team as it prepares for the national championships in April.

The game will tip off at 6pm this Saturday March 2 at Cairns Basketball, 289 Aumuller St. Entry is free.

Academy mentor and Skytrans Cairns Taipans assistant coach, Jamie Pearlman, said the match provided Academy athletes an additional opportunity to showcase their skills.

"The CQUniversity Taipans Academy is a development squad rather than a traditional team, but playing the occasional exhibition game is a great reward for their hard work in the weight room and skills sessions," Pearlman said.

"These kinds of games give our young athletes those extra opportunities to develop their skills and gain further experience," he said.

The CQUniversity Taipans Academy side is led by Taipans development players Shaun Bruce, Matt Andronicos, James Mitchell, Matt Adekponya and Justin Soleimani.

They'll provide stern competition for a younger under-18 North Queensland outfit, which includes current Academy members Beau Hollingsworth and Matt Jellatt.

The state team is in its final stages of preparations for the national championships being held in April.

Pearlman encouraged basketball fans to attend the game to preview Cairns' future basketball talents.

"For fans these games are all about the future of our local game. Hopefully we'll look back having uncovered the next Kerry Williams, Nathan Jawai or Aron Baynes," he said.

CQUniversity Taipans Academy Team #4 Matthew Adekponya (Cairns) #6 James Mitchell (Cairns) #7 Shaun Bruce (Ballarat) #20 Jaylan Bin Tahal (Cairns)  #21 Aaron Bin Tahal (Cairns) #22 Billy Hopkins (Cairns)  #24 Aron Farmer (Cairns)  #25 Justin Soleimani (Kilsyth)  #30 Denzel Kennedy (Cairns)  #31 Daniel Majer (Cairns)  #32 Matt Andronicos (North Sydney, AIS)  #34 Jason Osborne (Cairns).

Beau Hollingsworth (Cairns) and Matt Jellatt (Cairns) will represent the North QLD State Team.

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans Academy team at the official launch last year.

Film and Arts Mackay (FAM) will hold their monthly film night on Friday, March 1 at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM).

FAM will be showing French film Tomboy, which is about 10-year-old Laure and her family who move to a new neighbourhood during the summer. With her tomboy ways and haircut, Laure is easily mistaken for a boy by the local kids.

The film follows the trials and tribulations of Laure as she continues to keep her real identity hidden and passes herself off as "Mikael".

A complimentary beverage and light supper will be provided. Entry fees are Library Society members $8 Non-members $12. Library Society and Gold Membership is available for only $25 per year.

For further details about membership or the film contact 4940 7536 or visit our website

http://www.cqu.edu.au/library/locations/mackay/film-and-arts-mackay

The film will be preceded by a brief AGM for the film group (Film & Arts Mackay Inc).

Simulations training for recognising and responding to the patient who is deteriorating in hospitals has relied on the availability of expensive high-fidelity simulation training centres...

Now researchers are comparing another simulation system that combines the use of a masked educator playing the role of a patient (MASK-ED^TM simulation) with a simulated monitor/defibrillator (iSimulate^TM).

LINK for larger images. Educators are seeking the best simulation tools for cardiac event training

To ensure realism without harming the learner, twin iPads are used with iSimulate software to mimic how the paddles and monitors respond under various conditions.

Research leader Associate Professor Trudy Dwyer says the CQUniversity study is being carried out in partnership with staff from Queensland Health, using the innovative MASK-ED^TM  simulation package and the iSimulate monitor/defibrillator.

To gauge effectiveness of the ‘masked educator' simulations, nurse educators, nursing and medical students and doctors from various departments at Rockhampton Hospital have been trying out the system. 

Key researchers include Assoc Prof Dwyer, Deb Austen and Professor Kerry Reid-Searl from CQUniversity and Michael Guerin and Matthew Johnson from Rockhampton Hospital.

"High-fidelity manikins offer good feedback for cardiac event training but they can cost up to $150,000, lack realism and can be difficult to transport," Assoc Prof Dwyer says.

"We are comparing the cost and effectiveness of using the masked educator along with the iSimulate platform.

"The aim is to pilot a new teaching simulation method for educating nurses and doctors in recognising and responding to the deteriorating patient.

"The significance is that unplanned deaths and adverse events in hospitals are often preceded by a measurable decline in the patient's condition that has either gone unnoticed or unreported. Early detection of the deteriorating patient, initiating a timely response and effective action can save lives."

Assoc Prof Dwyer says that numerous healthcare organisations (including the CQ Hospital and Health Service) have invested in high-fidelity simulation (HFS) rapid response training centres.

"The cost limitations and expertise required to ‘coordinate' these high-fidelity simulation laboratories are challenging and limiting their use as a teaching learning method, particularly in rural settings.

"The simple, yet effective simulation approach, will be tested to determine its effectiveness as a training approach.  

"The possible outcomes include identifying that this approach is effective and can be an option for mobilising effective simulation scenarios in different clinical contexts, including rural and remote, without huge expenses in time or money."

CQUniversity and headspace Mackay are banding together to support new and current university students to ensure they have access to support, information and services for their health and wellbeing...    

In the wake of Orientation Week at CQUniversity, a number of staff members from the University's Student Support Services team, Nursing program and the Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) toured the newly constructed headspace Centre in Wood Street, Mackay.

CQUniversity's Sandy McLellan, Michelle Whiley, Natalie Vonthien, headspace Mackay's Dr Phil Stacey and Sandi Winner and CQUniversity's Cynthy Reese.

Community Development Coordinator at headspace Mackay, Sandi Winner, said the partnership will provide university students with a direct link to mental health care before it becomes a crisis.

"Mental illness affects one in four young people," she said.

"70 per cent of people with mental illness first experience signs or symptoms while still an adolescent so it is very important to recognise these concerns early."

"Additionally, the transition years between high-school and further education are a peak period for young people to be confronted with stress and isolation of university life. If support is not there, it can result in mental health issues that the young person was previously unaware of."

Ms Winner said there are a number of factors that can heighten the pressure that is placed on a university student and it's important that they know where to access support if necessary.  

"Things like stress, finances, changes in support network, like moving away from home or not having a close friend from their peer group on campus, coping with the increased freedom to express themselves while having a greater responsibility and managing time are all issues faced by university students."

headspace Mackay's Community Development Coordinator Sandi Winner and Mackay Youth Reference Group member Courtney Meng at CQUniversity's Orientation Week activities.

Representatives from headspace Mackay attended the Friday Fun Day of CQUniversity's Orientation Week on Friday, February 22 to meet with new students.

Students are encouraged to visit the Student Support Centre in Building 1, Mackay campus for more information or they can call headspace Mackay on 4898 2200 or visit http://www.headspace.org.au/

For young people who may find it difficult to get to a headspace Centre, there is an online centre EHeadspace. To find out more go to http://www.eheadspace.org.au/

CQUniversity said today the release of the university sector's first ever comprehensive higher education policy agenda, A Smarter Australia, is a pivotal step in ensuring that the central role of universities in Australia's future is recognised.

CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Scott Bowman has commended the statement to all political parties as they go about developing their respective policy positions on higher education in the lead up to the election.

Images from the new UA campaign

"A Smarter Australia provides the road map for a smarter, stronger and more prosperous Australia by building on Australia's comparative advantage in higher education," Professor Bowman said.

LINK to http://www.smartestinvestment.com.au/ for details

The policy statement, developed over the past 12 months, responds to four trends driving change in Australian higher education: the emergence of digital technologies; increasing globalisation and growing international competition in the Asian century; the need for economic and industrial renewal and diversification; and the need to arrest declining national productivity. 

Over the past two decades, investment in higher education and research has not kept pace with the rest of the developed world.

"While there has been an increase in the level of investment made in recent years, this has not been sufficient to lift Australia from the bottom 20 per cent of OECD nations for the level of public investment made in universities," Professor Bowman said.

"As a nation we really need to do better if we are to realise the full potential of our higher education system in creating a prosperous future for Australia."

A Smarter Australia calls for a partnership between the university sector and government to establish a practical and pragmatic policy framework around four key themes:

• Increasing Australians' university participation
• Developing Australia's globally engaged university sector
• A powerful research and innovation system that drives economic and social progress
• Increasing investment, improving efficiency and reducing red tape

Universities Australia will mount a public campaign to promote a better understanding of the role and contribution of universities to the economic and social wellbeing of all Australians.

 "Our vision is for a smarter Australia - one that is prosperous, diverse and proud of its inventiveness. We believe that by following this agenda, we can make this vision a reality," Professor Bowman said.

CQUniversity is hosting a leading Japanese scientist who has been showing the way to create flexible, soft and light-weight electronics devices.

His ideas could spawn future generations of focus lens in cameras as well as 'artificial muscles' for robots.

Professor Keiichi Kaneto has studied conducting polymers since the mid-1970s and is renowned in the fields of organic semiconductor electronics and electroactive polymers.

Professor Keiichi Kaneto

LINK HERE to see some commercial products based on Prof Kaneto's research

His research areas include solar cells, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, batteries and soft actuators (which can replace motorised controllers in robotics or medical devices).

Professor Kaneto is also interested in fabrication of devices and the characterisation of organic materials for optical and electrical systems. He has more than 150 publications to his name as well as several patents.

Professor Keiichi Kaneto chats with CQUniversity Electrical Engineering senior lecturer Dr Preethi Preethichandra

His free seminars have covered 'light-weight and flexible electronic devices based on organic materials' and 'conducting polymers' application to artificial muscle and rechargeable batteries'.

Professor Kaneto is currently an Emeritus Professor with the Kyushu Institute of Technology. He will be on Rockhampton Campus until March 1.

During his visit, Prof Kaneto caught up with Electrical Engineering senior lecturer Dr Preethi Preethichandra who has previously visited his laboratories in Japan.

The Office of Indigenous Engagement recently got involved in O-Week activities in Mackay and Rockhampton.

While there are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying throughout Australia, there are a larger number of Indigenous students in the greater Rockhampton, Mackay and Bundaberg areas.

Engineering Co-op student Yarrndji Ingra and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks enjoy the barbecue

The Office of Indigenous Engagement held a barbecue on the Rockhampton campus, which offered an opportunity for commencing Indigenous students to make connections with each other and to visit the Office.

Students got to meet Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, the Indigenous Engagement Officers, lecturers and administration staff.

Some students also brought along other people. For example, one new student brought along her partner and children, and another student brought along her dad.

Fred Power (Bachelor of Laws student) and Sandra Creamer, a lecturer who holds a Bachelor of Laws

Professor Fredericks said this was important "since it is often the other people in our lives who also help us achieve our goals. Going to uni is not just about uni, it also involves the families and communities of students".

CQUniversity's Vice Chancellor, Professor Scott Bowman also dropped by to welcome students and made special mention of Margaret Hornagold who was at the barbecue. Margaret is commencing a Bachelor of Laws and already holds a Bachelor of Arts from CQUniversity.

Indigenous students are enrolled in an incredible diversity of study programs, including accounting, business, engineering, nursing, allied health and law. This represents a major shift from past years.

‘I look forward to seeing the students who are commencing progress through their studies, graduate, and then move on to making an impact as professionals in their chosen fields," Professor Fredericks said.

Rodney Stoter, Liz Stoter and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks 
VC Scott Bowman welcomes Margaret Hornagold back as a Laws student 
O-Week barbecue participants 

The annual Orientation Day for distance students was held recently at CQUniversity's Emerald Learning Centre. It was a day of motivational learning for everyone.

Distance education provides flexibility for students and is often the best option for people who are juggling work and study.

Pictured on Orientation Day at Emerald are :(front row) Briony Dwyer and Tracy Preston and (back row) Sharni Orr, Kate Richardson, Rachele Malone, John Herman and Kathleen Murray

Gai Sypher, Operations and Project Manager says "we believe it is important for our first-year students to know there is a support network here to help them and that is what our Orientation program aims to demonstrate".

"In particular, this helps our distance students reduce stress as they begin their tertiary education," Mrs Sypher says.

"All students in the region, whether they are studying internally or by distance education, are encouraged to use our facilities here at the Emerald Learning Centre. Academic workshops are regularly offered as a support service to our students and all are invited to attend the up-coming workshops on March 9 and March16.

CQUniversity Lecturer from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Teresa Sander says that, as one of Australia's leading distance education universities, "we at CQUniversity pride ourselves on providing quality distance education to our students to produce work-ready graduates".

For further information about CQUniversity Emerald Learning Centre, please contact Rayleen Graves on ph. 4982 0406 or visit the website http://www.cqu.edu.au/

CQUniversity Mackay and Training Queensland recently hosted the first of four regional Training Reference Group meetings for around 30 training professionals.

The attendees included representatives from a wide range of stakeholders in the Vocational Education and Training Sector from both government and private organisations including Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE), CQ TAFE, Group Training Organisations, Registered Training Organisations and Australian Apprenticeship Centres.

CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and Head of Mackay Campus Professor Pierre Viljoen, QCPD's Business Development Manager Lyn Forbes-Smith and DETE Director - Training for CQ Region, Peter McDuff. CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) and Head of Campus at Mackay, Professor Pierre Viljoen, presented a welcome to campus and update on the dual sector merger and vision for the Mackay campus.

The session included an update from Training Queensland and the recently opened Mackay Engineering College (MEC). Lyn Forbes-Smith showcased CQUniversity's Queensland Centre for Professional Development (QCPD) and invited members to consider mutually-beneficial opportunities to partner with the University. 

 Members participated in a tour of CQUniversity Mackay and its facilities, as well as a tour of the state-of-the-art MEC by manager Frank Duthler. 

Tegan Kowitz, Carissa Morgan, Tara Thompson from MRAEL/ACE Apprenticeship Centre

  ...
Megan Sonter and Petra Mould from MRAEL Training
Sonya Osborne (CQ TAFE), Carla Dorante-Johnson (Training QLD), Sylvia Warren (Mackay Engineering College), Peter McDuff (DETE) and Sarah Poole (Training QLD).

Two CQUniversity academics have won a 'best paper' award in India for exploring how medical tourists search for information before embarking on their journey.

Watched by conference delegates from around the world, Anita Medhekar and Leonce Newby discussed that global medical tourism is the fastest growing healthcare service sector.

Anita Medhekar and Leonce Newby with their international conference awards

The authors found that medical tourists use a variety of information sources, of variable quality, hence their search cost and time and search skills are important for selection and assessment of details about the best suited treatment, physician, hospital and destination.

The Rockhampton-based School of Business and Law academics received 'The Paul T. Bruder Distinguished Paper Award' during a VIP-laden ceremony at the 7th International Conference on Healthcare Systems and Global Business Issues sponsored by Jaipur National University (JNU) in India.

The award, named after the conference creator, was presented by State of Rajasthan Health Minister Dr Mahesh Joshi, Chancellor of the JNU Sandeep Bakshi, Vice-Chancellor Professor K.L. Sharma, and Conference Chair Dr Ashish Chandra, a Professor of Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston Texas,  amongst other dignitaries, academics and medical professionals.

The JNU Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor expressed an interest in establishing collaboration with CQUniversity in the allied health/medical education sector.

Ms Medhekar presented a second paper on 'Indian Government Policy to Support Trade in Medical Tourism Services'.

She explored government policy measures to develop, support and promote trade in the medical tourism industry in partnership with private providers, to make this industry globally competitive and sustainable and to ensure India becomes a global health destination.

"The conference held during January is a leader in terms of global healthcare business administration and management related topics," Ms Medhekar said.

Healthcare professionals and academics presented papers in various tracks such as: global healthcare issues, challenges and strategies;  healthcare finance and policy; healthcare education programs; health facility accreditation; health behaviour and pain management; medical tourism; healthcare marketing and communication; human resources in healthcare; global healthcare management education; health insurance and patient satisfaction; hospital management; population and family planning in developing countries; rehabilitation issues;  pharmaceutical products; and medical procedures.

Leone Newby and Anita Medhekar with their awards

The delegates jointly emphasised the dire need to empower and improve hospital management to ensure better and effective healthcare services, healthcare insurance and financing, public health costs and policy, and the need to make people aware of health issues.

In a keynote address, Professor William B. Stroube of Evansville University, USA,  highlighted the need for practical training and awareness about career opportunities in healthcare management education in the view of the growing global hospital and healthcare industry.

Professor Joseph Coyne from Washington State University, USA, who heads the healthcare management education program, also spoke about the dire need for global competencies required in healthcare and hospital management programs .

The conference has links with journals namely: Hospital Topics, Journal of Health Care Management, Health Marketing Quarterly, Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs, and the International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing. 

JNU Chancellor Sandeep Bakshi said the event aimed to "find the most cost-effective means in the healthcare industry deriving from the various strategies being taught in business schools".

"Special attention is being paid particularly to how better healthcare can be provided to children, women, the disabled and the aged," he said.

"The management teaching in the field of healthcare will greatly facilitate the communication between patients, doctors and the hospitals."

Universities can no longer rely on corporate image to impress and this is particularly true for institutions which have ‘virtual' relationships with students.

In fact, universities should be shifting from being product-led (relying on the product to sell), towards a more customer-led approach, and prospective customers are looking for clues about the organisation's capabilities and service quality before purchasing higher education services.

Dr Parves Sultan

That's according to CQUniversity marketing academic Dr Parves Sultan and his colleague Ho Yin Wong from Deakin University who have published their findings on ‘service quality in a higher education context' in the Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics.

The authors also presented their results - based on focus groups and a sample of 528 university students from various backgrounds - to the Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (ANZMAC) in Adelaide.

Dr Sultan said the study shows that students' past experiences may have little or no impact in forming perception of quality.

"Many CQUniversity students maintain an online or virtual contact and have limited opportunity to meet staff or visit campuses," he said.

"Our findings suggest that information received from marketing communication is a more significant factor than past experience in terms of its affect on service quality. Marketing communication information can directly affect perceived service quality in a higher education context.

"Customers look for clues (before purchasing), including, for example, advertisements and word-of-mouth from the physical environment about the organisation's capabilities and quality in terms of provision of services.

"This suggests that the role of providing adequate and reliable information to the students, prior to their enrolment, can have tremendous effects in shaping their perception about service quality of a university."

Universities intending to enhance their image are encouraged to focus both on a formal structure for marketing communication information to show evidence of past performance, and on service quality, seeking consequences of trust, satisfaction and image.

"Overall, the study suggests a three-tiered model that comprises pre-experience, current experience, and post-experience aspects; and establishes the important role of service quality in a higher education context," Dr Sultan says.

"Students' trust positively affects university image in a higher education context. Students develop cumulative effects of trust over the years with their academic and administrative staff and with their institution.

"Trust is a belief and confidence that the service performance and subsequent satisfaction will be identical in future."

Dr Sultan says that student satisfaction has a cumulative effect on institutional image, and that institutional image plays a vital role amongst students when choosing a university.

"Policy makers in the higher education industry can make use of the findings to strengthen their universities' image by reinforcing marketing communications, service quality, and student satisfaction and trust," he says.

"Ignoring the nature and importance of service quality may not be advantageous for universities".

Supporters of the Relay for Life have injected drive into their campaign by posing with a classic car outside the Cancer Council Queensland HQ in Rockhampton.

The photo stunt was designed to promote this year's 'car' theme for the Relay, held each May at CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus.

Councillor Rose Swadling joins other Relay supporters, committee members, team captains and team members to 'drive' home this year's theme

Sponsors have followed suit, with the star prize for this year's Relay raffle being a kids' electric car donated by Tropical Auto Group. TAG has also donated a signed and framed Broncos jersey and a signed and framed Capras jersery as consolation prizes. Second prize for the raffle is a BMA golf bag donated by Coastline BMW.

LINK HERE for a Touch of Paris in Yeppoon Relay for Life fundraiser

Residents of all ages are encouraged to register for the 11th annual Relay scheduled for the weekend of May 18-19.

Relay for Life is an overnight community event for participants who relay non-stop as they celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost, and fight back against the disease by raising important funds for Cancer Council Queensland.

For details contact 4932 8600, email relayforlifecentralqld@cancerqld.org.au or visit www.relayforlife.org.au .

A long-standing supplier of executive recruitment services to CQUniversity, UniRecruit, has partnered with the University to help improve the educational outcomes, employment and life opportunities of Indigenous students.

UniRecruit is donating $30,000 to support a pilot of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) in Rockhampton for the next three years. 

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks and UniRecruit Principal Michael Toohey look forward to the AIME pilot in Rockhampton

UniRecruit Principal Michael Toohey said "our business is all about matching people with opportunities, and working within the higher education sector we are particularly passionate about education and the pathways it can create".

"Supporting the AIME at CQUniversity is therefore a perfect fit for us.  We are delighted to be associated with such a promising initiative that has the potential to deliver life-long benefit to many Indigenous students and their families," Mr Toohey said.

UniRecruit is also encouraging other businesses and individuals to follow suit. 

In receiving the donation, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement, spoke with Mr Toohey about the difference his donation will make to kick-starting the AIME program in the Rockhampton area.

"AIME provides a dynamic educational program that gives Indigenous high school students the skills, opportunities, belief and confidence to finish school at the same rate as their peers," Professor Fredericks said.

"This initiative has proven to dramatically improve the chances of Indigenous kids finishing school. AIME also connects students with post Year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment."

As Director of CQUniversity's Development and Alumni Relations Directorate (DARD), Suzi Blair said partnerships with all kinds of organisations "are very important to CQUniversity and the positive difference we make to people's life opportunities and community development in general".

"It is especially rewarding when businesses we are dealing with to run the University choose to support our work in additional ways - I hope others will follow UniRecruit's lead."

AIME's goals for all Indigenous students involved in the program are to: increase Year 10 progression rates; increase Year 12 completion rates; and increase progression to university. The program has also proven its ability to strengthen the links between universities and local high schools. It supports teachers to become more optimistic about tertiary education being a real option for their Indigenous students; and through a strong relationship with AIME, parents' belief in their child's chances of pursuing a university education is increased.

To find out more about AIME go to: http://www.aimementoring.com/about/program/

Academics from the USA, Sydney and Melbourne have participated in a debate on different types of domestic violence at a public seminar in Brisbane (Feb 21).

The seminar was hosted by the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (CDFVR), CQUniversity and was officially opened by Queensland Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Tracy Davis.

L-R at the typologies seminar are Dr Rae Kaspiew, Australian Institute for Family Studies, Dr Shamita Das Dasgupta, New York University Law School, Michael Johnson, Penn State University, Heather Nancarrow, Qld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, and Dr Jane Wangman, University of Technology, Sydney

The seminar was presented to an audience of 260 participants at the State Library of Queensland, Southbank (Auditorium 1, Level 2). 

CDFVR Director Heather Nancarrow says there is much interest in and increasing debate about the idea of different types of intimate partner violence.  

"Professor Michael Johnson first introduced his typology of intimate partner violence in 1995, distinguishing between ‘intimate partner terrorism' and ‘common couple violence'.  In collaboration with other scholars, Professor Johnson has further developed his theory which now includes five types of violence. Others, including Dr Shamita Das Dasgupta have also developed typologies of violence and we are delighted that Professor Johnson and Dr Dasgupta have accepted our invitation to participate in the seminar," Ms Nancarrow said.

The seminar explored the theory and practice of typologies of intimate partner violence, including a critique and reflections on practice in the Australian context. These perspectives were presented by Dr Jane Wangmann of the University of Technology Sydney and Dr Rae Kaspiew of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.   

"While the idea of typologies of violence seems to offer a plausible explanation for the decades-long debate on gender symmetry in intimate partner violence, the stakes are high if the typology is flawed or erroneously applied.  For example, one type of violence labelled ‘separation-instigated violence' is being applied in family law cases and is seen to be relatively harmless, although separation is known to be a risk factor for domestic homicide," Ms Nancarrow said.

"This seminar enabled policy makers and practitioners to hear first-hand about the promise of, and concerns surrounding typologies of violence."

The Rockhampton Campus Reception at the highway-side entrance to the commercial courtyard continues to be a one-stop-shop for general student queries.

A joint venture between the Student Centres and Division of Marketing, the reception aims to provide students with a central point of contact on Rockhampton Campus.

Student Communications Officer Maegan Dunn says the reception has gradually improved in terms of visibility to current and future students with 'walk-in' queries peaking at 33 on Monday last week.

"Since its opening, staff have been working on transitioning walk-in student enquiries from the Student Contact Centre in Building 5, to allow students to take full advantage of the facilities and resources offered at the Campus Reception."

Purpose-built for student enquiries, the reception is easy to find and includes facilities and resources such as:

¨ Staff to answer enquiries;

¨ access to CQUniversity and associated websites;

¨ prospectuses and brochures;

¨ assignment submission;

¨ and ID Card collection.

With Orientation for Term 1 commencing on the February 18, staff at the reception are preparing themselves for a busy week and welcome all current and prospective students who require assistance.

For Nursing students arriving from Asia, finding their way around CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus was not the biggest culture shock of Orientation Week.

The most confronting aspect would have been meeting a true blue Aussie codger who arrived with pyjama bottoms gaping open and gushing phrases like 'buggered' and 'dry as a dead dingo'.
Newly-arrived Nursing students meet up with 'Stanley' aka a masked educator, Professor Kerry Reid-SearlAfter some initial banter, the codger was revealed as masked educator Professor Kerry Reid-Searl.

This experience was just one of several during a two-day Orientation familiarising newcomers with Aussie jargon and culture.

Associate Professor Trudy Dwyer, Kadie Cheney and Deb Austen devised a treasure hunt for colloquially-named items and locations including a 'dunny' and 'PJs'.

"The students had to phone a special number to find out their next stop on the treasure hunt," she said.

"We also hosted a party featuring Australian foods. It was all about getting them immersed in our Aussie culture and jargon before starting their Nursing studies."

L-R Ada Zhu (China), Crystal Zhang (China), Elly Zhaz (China), Charlie Magne Cruz (Philippines), Pong Trisrivirat (Thailand via USA), Rita Mingue Gao (China), Frank Han (China), Jen Pumihic (Philippines), Jonah Marie Saletrero (Philippines), Xinyu Zhou (China), and Debbie Qiuying Wu (China)  
LINK for a larger image   

Two of our Gladstone-based Education students have been recognised for their volunteer service to the 'ARTIE' (Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education) program.

Named in honour of proud Indigenous State of Origin legend Arthur Beetson, the Former Origin Greats ARTIE program is an Australian Government supported program funded under the Sporting Chance initiative.

ARTIE gives Indigenous students attending selected Queensland secondary schools access to a program that encourages and rewards improvements in school attendance, behaviour, academic achievement and effort.

The program also promotes the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity and awareness amongst its participants, adopting the motto 'Inspire, Encourage, Succeed' to form the basis of strategies aimed to improve the schooling endeavours of participating students.

Brisbane-based ARTIE representative Matt Martin recently travelled north to Gladstone to introduce first-year CQUniversity students to the program. I
ARTIE rep Matt Martin, Education student Josh Kearney, Bill Moloney (Toolooa State High ARTIE program) and Education student Paula McDonaldn his capacity as Former Origin Greats Education Programs Manager, he also presented certificates of appreciation for students Josh Kearney, Paula McDonald, Danielle Smith, Khia Whelan, Tayla Campbell, and Maddeson Greig.

Ms McDonald said that any CQUniversity Education student looking to extend their personal and professional résumé, while developing a worthwhile community project, should seriously consider becoming a part of the ARTIE Academy.

"The extrinsic rewards provided to mentors within the ARTIE program (T-shirts, lunches and meet and greets with current and former NRL stars) are secondary to the valuable work experience, networking opportunities and relationships I have developed through my involvement as a tutor at Toolooa State High," she said.

The ARTIE program has been well received by CQUniversity students, high schools and Indigenous students. It is a wonderful opportunity for establishing networks and partnerships in the community.

Professor Helen Huntly, Dean of the School of Education & The Arts says she is pleased to partner with the ARTIE team in offering this terrific opportunity to pre-service teachers.

"This authentic learning experience adds value to our teaching programs, and we are grateful to the ARTIE team for enabling us to develop such a strong and positive partnership that has great outcomes for all involved," Prof Huntly says.

Details are via: http://www.artie.net.au/

CQUniversity's new Medical Imaging lecturer Karen Finlay says a career in radiography is the perfect blend of the technical and caring components of health care.

Karen will share her many years of clinical teaching experience with student radiographers to develop their skills and allow them to become confident, reflective practitioners.

New Medical Imaging staff member Karen Finlay

"I've been involved in clinical teaching for years and while I enjoy teaching, I decided I would like to get involved in the academic side of radiography."

"To that end, I started on my Masters in Health Professional Education through CQUniversity."

Karen is one of four new academic staff in the area of Medical Imaging and Sonography at the Mackay campus. LINK here for story

Karen is originally from Doncaster, Yorkshire in the north of England. She has spent over five years working in private practices in Redcliffe and Rockhampton, as well as Breast Screen.

Not a newcomer to the medical imaging industry, Karen has spent almost 23 years as a radiographer, specialising in plain film reporting, trauma and forensic radiography and barium studies, as well as diagnostic radiography in the United Kingdom. 

"Radiography is a fantastic profession if you want a blend of the technical, as well as the caring side of health care and if, like me, you're very nosey and like to see what's going on in people's bodies!"

Karen said she is looking forward to meeting CQUniversity students and working with modern equipment in the new Medical Imaging and Sonography Laboratories in Mackay.

"I'm thrilled to be using the Imaging Labs - they contain by far the best, most up-to-date equipment I've ever used in Australia."

A qualified scuba diver, Karen has embraced the Queensland lifestyle and is looking forward to soaking up Mackay's fine weather and seeing more of the region.

CQUniversity has announced the winners of its 'My Journey' video competition...

First-place congratulations go to Ellen Hong Choy, with her inspiring video Future Graphic Designer. Ellen has won $1500 worth of travel crew vouchers and a Cannon PowerShot SX40 HS Digital Camera (valued at $500).

And a close second, winning a $500 Visa card is Courtney Barnes, with her video My Journalism Journey.

You can check out our Top Ten video entries at THIS LINK

Competition winner Ellen Hong Choy

CQUniversity staff members pitched in to keep the energy and spirit levels high among Bundaberg flood victims and volunteers, by handing out food and necessities over a two-week period. 

Trixie James and several CQUniversity staff members were part of a team who offered to help deliver food in the evacuation centre at the Citicoast Church under the banner of ‘Global Care' - a food distribution arm of the church.

Trixie James (second left) with volunteers who helped distribute food and necessities to Bundaberg flood victims. Trixie said that thanks to the generous support of the local community, they were able to feed around 80 evacuees and numerous volunteers, as well as sending food packages out to the community on a daily basis.

"The role turned out to be huge as this was the only place that accepted food donations from the local community," Trixie said.

"We sent out two helicopter loads of food to Baffle Creek as they were completely cut off. We also drove car and trailer loads across to North Bundaberg, via a one-and-a-half hour route, to those residents who were completely cut off due to the instability of the bridges, and we delivered cut lunches to teams who were assisting in the clean-up efforts."

Trixie said the team also set up food hubs in clean-up zones and provided water, biscuits and sausage sizzles for the community who were cleaning in those areas.

"We distributed, and are still distributing, food into schools through the school chaplains and transported pallets of food over to the North Burnett schools as well."

"We had over 500 volunteers assisting us throughout this time and without their help, we might not have achieved what we did."

"It was a huge two weeks - but very worthwhile."

The work is still continuing, with Global Care receiving 22 pallets of food plus 20 tonnes of perishable items. Their food distribution arm is still helping out those in need and there are still plenty who require assistance.

CQUniversity's new Medical Imaging senior lecturer Reshmi Kumar says relocating to Mackay with her young family was like coming back to her homeland of Fiji...

Reshmi Kumar, CQUniversity senior lecturer in Medical Imaging.

Reshmi is one of four new academic staff in the area of Medical Imaging and Medical Sonography at the Mackay campus. LINK here for story.

Having spent the past three years in New Zealand living and working, Reshmi said she always wanted to be part of a dynamic institute like CQUniversity and is looking forward to expanding her research while in Mackay.

"The state-of-art simulation labs and the program offered by CQUni appealed to me and I decided to take the opportunity to teach here," she says.

"I'm most looking forward to being able to help develop the Medical Imaging program further and to get involved in research in the field of medical imaging."

Reshmi has worked as an academic since 2001, with the bulk of her time focused on teaching and some on research.

"I had been involved in clinical work environments for over seven years but since taking up an academic position, I have had limited access as I was more focused on the teaching aspects."

Reshmi is looking forward to working with students in the new Medical Imaging and Sonography Laboratories, which she says are state-of-the art.

"I'm really looking forward to the interaction with students and other colleagues.  I love to hear and discuss about how we are the 'eyes of medicine'.

"I have worked in an academic position in Medical Imaging in Fiji and New Zealand and nothing compares to the labs and facilities that CQUni has to offer to its students."

Reshmi is married with two children, aged nine and 18 months.

CQUniversity Mackay is pleased to welcome four new academic staff in the area of Medical Imaging and Medical Sonography in preparation for the start of the University term...

CQUniversity's medical imaging and sonography team L-R Johnathan Hewis, Caroline Falconi, Reshmi Kumar, Karen Finlay, Heidi Croxson and Shani Watts.

Karen Finlay, lecturer in Medical Imaging is from the United Kingdom via Rockhampton. She brings extensive professional experience, advanced professional credentials and a strong background in clinical teaching. LINK here for story.

Reshmi Kumar, senior lecturer in Medical Imaging, has arrived from Fiji via New Zealand. Reshmi is a seasoned academic, having taught a wide range of subjects in programs in both countries. LINK here for story.

Shani Watts, lecturer in Medical Sonography, is a local addition, already living and working here Mackay. She brings considerable experience in classroom education, curriculum building and professional development coaching as well as her sonography credentials.

Heidi Croxson, lecturer in Medical Sonography, brings a dual professional background as she has also been a radiographer. Heidi's clinical experience is coupled with teaching experience, particularly in the sonography skills laboratory setting.

The new academic staff members will join Caroline Falconi (senior lecturer in Medical Imaging and Head of Program for Medical Imaging, Sonography and Chiropractic Science), and Johnathan Hewis (senior lecturer in Medical Imaging).

Educating midwives for regional Queensland will be the ongoing focus for CQUniversity's new Midwifery program, as commencing students learnt from the industry's best at 'meet and greet' sessions recently.

The ‘meet and greet' sessions were part of residential schools for students commencing the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery - a unique program designed as an educational pathway for registered nurses to become midwives.

Pictured at the Noosa event: CQUni Midwifery students - Madeline Hine, Eliza Crowley, Raeleen Carey, Bronwyn Osmond, Leisha Sanford, Lorraine Johnson, Amber Penny, Janelle Ford, Jacqueline Antwis, Jodie Lee West, Melissa Devonshire, Carly Reincke

CQUniversity's new Head of Program, Midwifery, Associate Professor Moira Williamson**, said the fresh batch of midwifery students for 2013 will be the first to experience a relaunched program, helping them gain midwifery knowledge and skills relevant to regional Queensland. 

Assoc Prof Williamson said the Continuity of Care (CoC) and rural and cultural diversity aspects of the program will prepare students for a range of working environments.

"The Continuity of Care experience is a learning strategy where a student midwife follows a woman through her journey of pregnancy, labour and birth and for a time after birth in a partnership approach," Assoc Prof Williamson said.

"Continuity of Care experiences are part of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines for midwifery education and an underpinning philosophy of all midwifery programs."

During the 18-month program, students will be required to have at least 36 hours of associated midwifery rural practice experience and at least 36 hours of midwifery-related 'culturally diverse' or 'Indigenous care' experience.

CQUniversity Midwifery students can access new resources and state-of-the-art equipment including the new nursing and midwifery labs built at Noosa and Mackay campuses last year.

CQUni academics with a guest L-R at the Noosa event: Jenny Davis (Midwifery/Nursing Lecturer); Robyn Buis (Midwifery Clinical Facilitator); Associate Professor Moira Williamson (Midwifery Head of Program); Keppel Schafer (Midwifery & Neonatal Educator, Nambour General Hospital), Professor Melanie Birks (Deputy Dean, School of Nursing & Midwifery)**Associate Professor Moira Williamson has had extensive midwifery and health care experience both before and during her previous employment at the University of Wollongong where she worked as Senior Lecturer and Sub Dean of the Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences. She has research interests in Midwifery practice and curriculum development, the impact of pregnancy, birth and parenting on fathers and dealing with diversity in midwifery practice.

... 
Mackay Hospital & Health Service staff L-R Rymer Tablou (Nursing/Midwifery Director), Leslie Jenkins (Nurse Educator) student Kobi Haddow, Seana Clarke (Unit Manager) and Greg Coulsen (Nurse Practitioner).

At the Midwifery Industry meet and greet were L-R Linda Barrow, Associate Professor Moira Williamson, Claire Bayliss, Donna Drury, Gwen Cadan, Susan Harris, Leslie Jenkins, Kobi Haddow, Seana Clarke, Susan Edwards, Greg Coulsen, Jenny Davis, Rymer Tablou.

The first calf has been born from a ‘handmade cloning' process which is potentially the first viable cloning method for large-scale improvement of the beef industry...

A simple dissecting microscope and micro blade were used to dissect and reconstruct the embryo to effect 'somatic cell nuclear transfer'.

Professor Gábor Vajta gets to know his latest hand-made cloning creation, known as Eve

The resultant calf was born at Oaklands Stud, Kalapa, during the massive floods at the end of January but is now coping well.

CQUniversity researcher Professor Gábor Vajta established the handmade cloning technology and did the cloning work that led to the birth of  Eve in collaboration with the Australian Reproductive Technologies (ART) facility at Mt Chalmers, near Rockhampton.

Professor Vajta and ART Managing Director Simon Walton joined Oaklands Stud owners Nev and Megan Hansen recently to check Eve's progress at the age of 16 days.

Although Eve technically does not have a mother or father in the traditional sense, her donor cow, birth surrogate cow and wet nurse cow were all nearby at Oaklands.

L-R Megan and Nev Hansen, Professor Vajta and Simon Walton with the valuable donor cow

Professor Vajta says Eve is 99.6% genetically identical to the donor cow, which was (at the time) the most expensive Brangus cow sold in Australia, for $20,000.

"Hand-made cloning requires fewer instruments and less investment than traditional cloning. Work with HMC is faster, easier, and the efficiency higher," he says.

ART Managing Director Simon Walton says the overall goal is to find the best way to commercialise cloning for the benefit of the cattle industry.

"The new technique will continue at an experimental level for a while but longer-term the goal is a viable commercial, industrial application."

This cloning success adds momentum to results in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) ratings announced by the Australian Research Council (ARC) at the end of 2012. CQUniversity was judged to have performed at 'well above world standard' in Agriculture and Land Management.

The donor cow and cloned calf pictured in a parallel stance 
The donor cow 
Prof Vajta starts the process in the laboratory 
Nev Hansen with cloned calf Eve 
Prof Vajta with the donor cow 
Laboratory work close up 

Uni staff, students, community members and representatives of religious faiths including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Bahá'í attended the launch of a new Multi-Faith Centre which will literally bring spirituality closer to the heart of CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus.

Located near the campus flagpoles, the Chancellery building and the bus-stop, the new Centre replaces a 'sacred garden building', which was not only tucked away in a remote part of campus, but was also in need of major repairs.

Anglican Bishop Godfrey Fryar chats with Visiting Multi-Faith Chaplain Shaji Joseph before the official opening ceremony

Visiting Multi-Faith Chaplain Shaji Joseph welcomed others to the launch which included an Indigenous smoking ceremony carried out by Wade Mann, a representative of the local Darumbal people.

This was followed by a lamp-lighting ceremony performed by representatives from several religions, who also provided prayers, readings and reflections on the theme of 'love and compassion'.

Key participants included Anglican Bishop Godrey Fryar, Fr John Grace (Catholic), Graham Duckworth (Bahá'í), Professor Masud Khan (Islam), Associate Professor Nanjappa Ashwath and Priya Ravi (Hinduism) and Rhonda Shuker (Buddhism). 

The new Multi-Faith Centre will provide a location where students and staff can gather for prayer and meditation, appointments with the Chaplain, and other faith-based and spiritual events.

Various speakers spoke about the benefits for people seeking comfort, consolation, prayer and spiritual sustenance.

Representing the Buddhist faith, Rhonda Shuker lights an oil lamp

Key project supporters thanked included Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman, Geoff Clarke from Chameleon Modular Concrete Buildings and members of the Division of Facilities Management and the Multi-Faith Reference Committee.

The building will be open from 7am-9pm each day and will be available for people of all faiths and even people of no faith seeking deeper meaning, reflection, understanding, tolerance and respect.

Witnessing the official opening were L-R Dorothy Rosenberg, Beryl Broughton, Judy Shepherd, Dorothy Moller and Jan Nightingdale 
An external view of the new facility 
Councillor Stephen Schwarten with Priya Ravi (left) and Sheera Abdulla 
LINK for a larger image

Millipede expert Dr Robert Mesibov, a research associate from the University of Tasmania, will be visiting Rockhampton in mid-March to collect millipedes. He and a German colleague are particularly chasing fresh specimens and DNA 'vouchers' of a millipede species last definitely collected in Rockhampton around 1866.

The millipede in question is approximately 25mm long and called a pill millipede (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/imbala/5614999744/ ).

Photo by Imbala on flickr

Millipedes, of which there are more than 10,000 species worldwide, are important detritivores and recyclers.  Pill millipedes are native bugs and quite harmless, feeding mainly on fungi and algae in our forests. 

If you've seen these millipedes in or near the city, please make contact via Dr Bob Newby, CQUniversity School of Medical and Applied Science (b.newby@cqu.edu.au) or phone 4930 9626 and leave a message.

The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (CDFVR) located at CQUniversity Mackay will be the focus of Queensland's contribution to a new National Centre of Excellence to reduce violence against women and their children.

Queensland Communities Minister Tracy Davis announced that the CDFVR would receive $896,400 over the next three years earmarked to support the work of the new NCE, along with its annual funding from the Newman Government*.

Details are available via www.noviolence.com.au/

Heather Nancarrow

"I am confident that the Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research will contribute to the national research agenda in the area of violence against women and children," the Minister said.

CDFVR Director Heather Nancarrow said she was thrilled to see the establishment of the NCE and commended the Queensland Government and other jurisdictions for the initiative.

"The Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research has been operating in Mackay for more than 10 years and has demonstrated its ability to work effectively with government and non-government stakeholders across Australia," Ms Nancarrow said.

"I'm very much looking forward to contributing to the delivery of the program of research under the National Centre of Excellence."

The National Centre of Excellence is a commitment in the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2012-22.

The plan sets out a framework over 12 years for the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the non-government sector to work together to address issues of domestic, family and sexual violence.

* The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research receives more than $618,000 per annum from the Newman Government to address domestic and family violence.

The Japanese spring holidays have once again enabled plenty of visitors to converge on the English Language Centre on CQUniversity Rockhampton.

Dozens of students from the Toyo, Miyagi and Asahi universities have come on study tours, staying with local home-stay families while they learn English and sample tourism highlights for several weeks.

Former study tour student Yuki Roppongi (left) and current Toyo Uni student group leader Ryoto Sato (right) chat with other students from Toyo during a welcome barbecue on Rockhampton Campus

Meantime, Associate Professor Rika Shimada from the Critical Care Nursing department of Nagoya City University has been visiting to familiarise herself with CQUniversity's School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Assoc Prof Shimada plans to bring over a group of Nagoya students for language and nursing studies at CQUniversity in September.

She was able to chat with an academic from a nearby prefecture as Professor of Constitutional Law Koki Saito was also visiting Rockhampton from Asahi University, as a mentor for a student group.

At the same time, a former study tour student, Yuki Roppongi, dropped by the Language Centre during a visit to meet his former host family and tutors. Yuki has almost completed his ecology and environmental studies and is now working in retail logistics, tracking the stocks of a major department store.

English Language Centre Director of Studies Tim Somerset chats with visiting Japanese academics Assoc Prof Rika Shimada and Prof Koki Saito 
Study tour visitors enjoy attractions including the Heritage Village

Ron Wallis has retired after 35 years employed at Rockhampton Campus, first as a student counsellor and later as a careers counsellor.

When he first arrived at CQUniversity's predecessor institution (Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education) in 1977, he was given a manual typewriter for routine 'office work' and a bottle of ink with nibbed pens to ensure a personal feeling for letters.

VC Scott Bowman farewells Ron Wallis, alongside his wife Mary

There was only one computer for the whole institution and staff and students had to make bookings to share the only photocopier.

Some things remain the same though as vibrantly coloured beanbags were all the rage back in the 1970s, and they have made a comeback in the refurbished campus library.

Ron was initially employed as a student counsellor with responsibility for personal counselling, study skills counselling and vocational counselling.

He became a specialised careers counsellor and was recognised as one of three foundation members of the National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS).

Since starting out with the 'Institute', Ron experienced the transitions to the University College of Central Queensland, the University of Central Queensland, and Central Queensland University, which occurred over the past two decades.

Ron with another long-serving staff member, Assoc Prof Wally Woods

Ron recalls that, despite humble beginnings, technology did soon take hold on campus and the Ministerial announcement of CQU's new name (in 1994) was videoconferenced from Brisbane to Rockhampton via the then ground-breaking Interactive Systemwide Learning (ISL) system. In fact, CQUniversity is still a leader in the use of videoconference as well as online and digital technologies for education.

"While students tend to have the same types of issues over time, campus life has certainly changed," he says.

"Before the 1980s brought us the 'recession we had to have' education was experienced 'just for the sake of education' as graduates knew they could just walk into a job in a bouyant employment market. Consequently, campus life was more social and relaxed.

"Nowadays, students have to be much more career focused and discerning and they tend to be juggling work and study. There's many more mature-age students and women coming into study after having families. Students are more pragmatic since they are paying fees to attend."

Ron is farewelled by colleagues Raleigh Wallace and Stacey Wallace

Ron recalls that a symptom of campus-based socialising in the early days was the occasional need to take a utility around campus after big parties, offering lifts home to students incapable of walking.

"CQUniversity has always prided itself on the level of support available to students and it's still a frontrunner in offering prospective students access to careers counselling services. This greater level of service often convinces them to enrol," he says.

CQUniversity was represented at Health Workforce Australia's recent NHET-Sim* workshop held at Rockhampton Hospital.

The workshop was part of training for those who use (or intend to use) simulation as an educational method to develop healthcare students and professionals.

The workshop included a scenario. Photos courtesy Michael Guerin (Qld Health)

The course was facilitated by Sarah Whereat (Uni of Sydney) and Robyn Neilson (James Cook Uni).

Participants networked and explored key aspects of educational design for simulation. 

* National Health Education and Training in Simulation (NHET- Sim).

 
Assoc Prof Trudy Dwyer (left) networks with Leanne Wall and Andrea McLucas at the workshop

Agnes Water artist Marie Green has had great success turning her passion for telescopic views of 'deep sky objects' into brush strokes on her canvas.

Her 'Tarantula Nebula 2012' painting won last year's People's Choice $1000 prize sponsored by CQUniversity, as part of the Bayton Award exhibition at Rockhampton Regional Art Gallery.

LINK for details on Marie Green's cosmic-themed oil painting Rosette Nebula

VC Scott Bowman thanks Marie Green for her donation of the 'Rosette Nebula' artwork

Now she has returned the favour, using the cultural gifts program to donate her 'Rosette Nebula' artwork for display in one of the main committee rooms on Rockhampton Campus.

Marie says she spent three years mastering the texture and brush techniques required to portray a sense of movement and depth in her works.

CQUniversity Art Collection Manager Sue Smith encouraged other artists to consider using the cultural gifts program to donate works to the University. Details are via http://arts.gov.au/cgp

Around 12 months ago, Toni-ann Liufalani moved with her husband and three kids from NSW to the remote island nation of Niue in the South Pacific, where the population is around 1500...

Despite being located 2400km from the nearest large country, New Zealand, Niue became the world's first 'Wi-Fi nation' back in 2003, thanks to free wireless internet access throughout the island.

Toni-ann and family in the idyllic setting of Niue

That has been a boon for Toni-ann, who has been able to enrol in CQUniversity's Bachelor of Laws, which is the first online law degree in Australia optimised specifically with wireless access in mind.

Armed with one of the iPads provided free to students enrolled in the degree, Toni-ann has been able to progress her studies from an idyllic location.

"I came here for the life experience of living on a Pacific island and to learn more about the culture, as my husband is from Niue," she says.

"We were able to come through the New Zealand Aid Program which is part of the aid for developing Niue. Chris my husband received the job as Mechanical Engineer for the civil public works mechanical department for the Government of Niue.

Toni-ann relaxes between study sessions

"Big changes to my routine and ways of studying took place at this time. The comforts that I had before in Australia were gone.

"On the bright side I can enjoy swimming and snorkelling in some of the clearest and cleanest water in the world, with visibility at least 30m deep.

"At least a couple of times a week my four-year-old and I head down to Matavai Resort overlooking the sea to swim in their deluxe pool where we enjoy lunch from the pool bar or restaurant, as it gives me a break from the study and routine at home. I get to do this as long as I am home by 2pm to meet the other two children when they return from school.

"Other days we will head to the sea for a couple of hours, where it is extraordinarily beautiful, rugged and unique while being very peaceful and serene. I experience nature at its best there and any stress disappears."

Toni-ann says CQUniversity's online study mode allows her to experience a new culture while still pursing a law degree.

"CQUniversity have arranged for me to do my exams via the University of the South Pacific here on the island," she says.

Toni-ann finds plenty to do when not studying law

"I am still undecided which area of law I would like to practice in, with there being so many interesting options. I do aspire to complete a masters of law after this degree. This could allow me to specialise in an area of law and I can then work towards being the best I can in that area. Perhaps in the future I may pursue becoming a barrister as that role looks very interesting.

"However my main aspiration is to become a lawyer and be excellent at whatever area of law I work in and do the best I can. I completely aspire to a work, family life balance and I will be pursuing a part-time career."

CQUniversity is leading the way by enabling Australian students to study law for free via iTunes U.

Students who like the free iTunes U materials enough to enrol in a degree can become eligible for a free iPad, providing wireless access to all course materials as well as interactive online support.

CQUniversity became a pioneer in law education in 2012 by providing  its Bachelor of Laws as an online degree, in order encourage a wider diversity of students into the profession.

The flexible nature of the degree and the fact it can be completed in only three years makes it especially attractive to adult students, and that is actually why Toni-ann transferred from another Australian university to finish her degree in the shorter time of three years in comparison to most law degrees which are four years. Toni-ann said that the extra year saved can be spent on her Masters degree specialising in an area of law she chooses.

Rockhampton's young cyclists are not dwelling on drug cheat Lance Armstrong's spectacular fall from grace. They are just getting on with the job of racing fast.

That's according to accomplished cyclist and budding coach Conor McGrath, who recently prepared his charges for the annual CQUniversity Rockhampton Cup on Wheels at the Kenrick Tucker Velodrome.

Congratulations to Ballarat's William Key and former Rockhampton (now Adelaide-based) rider Taylah Jennings

 who took out the feature male and female events. Details via:  http://www.cycling.cqoz.com/

Taylah Jennings and William Key. Photo courtesy Rockhampton Cycling Club

Conor has plenty of good advice to pass on. Not only was he placed second in last year's open event, he's been picking up specialised knowledge as a final-year student enrolled in CQUniversity's Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences.

His 2012 student research project focused on the relationship between muscle activation and pedal stroke timing (useful for planning muscle training techniques). This year, the student project enables further study into regional development in cycling.

"I originally got into coaching due to injury hampering my race sprinting and now my university studies are giving me the confidence to consider moving into cycling coaching as a career," Conor says.

LINK for a larger image of CQUniversity student Conor McGrath

Conor has himself competed at State level and one of his junior squad members, Bailey Goltz, has qualified to compete at the national track event as a member of the Queensland state team later this year.

"Rockhampton is a hotbed for preparation of State and national reps. The warm weather and hilly environment make it a great training ground," he says.

Conor comes from a lifesaving background and has worked as a pool lifeguard but he did not put his life on the line to guarantee a win at this year's Cup on Wheels.

"Due to my injury I was not expecting much success this year," he said.

CQUniversity Gladstone has hosted the recent Chinese New Year celebrations organised by the Chinese Community of the Gladstone Multicultural Association Inc.

The campus was the major sponsor of the event, which was also supported by Boulder Steel.

The community event included silk art displays, an abacus vs calculator competition, games, singing, home-cooked Chinese meals, and the book launch of Fei Matheson's The English way of learning Chinese.

This was the first time the Chinese community has used the CQUniversity facility and members are excited about working with us in the future.

With such a success, the group plans for a much larger event next year with the prospect of having its own 'lion' and acrobats. PHOTOS courtesy William Debois.

Rebecca Dean says her 30th birthday was a turning point which set her on the path towards higher education, thanks to CQUniversity's renowned STEPS preparatory program.

Now her study journey has been further supported thanks to winning the Zonta Club of Rockhampton 2012 STEPS Award, which included a $500 book voucher. Zonta is a worldwide organisation of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women worldwide.

Zonta Club of Rockhampton rep Jan Landsberg (right) with Rebecca Dean

A few years ago, Rebecca's long-term relationship with her children's father failed and she was working part-time as a single mother, "living pay cheque to pay cheque".

"My 30th birthday was a turning point for me," she says.

"Self reflection hit me hard and I realised that I did not want to work in retail or hospitality jobs for the remainder of my life. I also discovered that the education my children needed was unattainable on the wage I was receiving.

"My extended family helped to guide me to STEPS at CQUniversity and I had heard fantastic reports from past 'Steppies' that encouraged me to make that phone call."

Rebecca says she was ecstatic when she heard the Business degree was offering double majors without extra time requirements.

"Since the beginning of my university journey, I have had another failed relationship, a custody battle and recently became homeless due to the severe weather a week before exam week. And that has been in six months! Life happens.

"You can never prepare for everything so instead build your resilience, study hard and embrace being a student. If you don't laugh, you will cry. It's always best to laugh.

Rebecca is now entering her second term of degree studies and will be running the Library Cafe on Rockhampton Campus with another past STEPS student.

She says she has always been a bit of an activist at heart and cares deeply for the environment.

"At the same time, I am very much a people person; I enjoy helping people, talking over and nutting out problems together, team/group work and making a difference to those around me.

"I would like to be either a HR Manager or a Sustainability Consultant in both business and environmental practices. These choices have enabled me to keep my options open and maintain my interest in the degree."

Rebecca gained the Zonta prize thanks to remarkable GPA results in her STEPS program, including a 100% result in Information Technology.

She says STEPS offers face-to-face contact, well-designed subjects and study guides, a supportive environment and the opportunity to make life-long friends.

CQUniversity Sydney graduate Shakir Karim is proud to have received more career recognition from his employer SAI Global.

After five years at the company, Shakir has been recognised for his 'valued' work as a member of the NSW Professional Services team, where his daily responsibilities include court filing, stamping and registration work.

Alumnus Shakir Karim

Shakir also received a special 'On The Spot' award from his peers towards the end of last year, for his 'dedication and determination in doing the court filing works of clients' urgent requests'.

SAI Global provides organisations around the world with information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement.

Shakir has been juggling his work at SAI Global with research towards his Master of Informatics, for which he is analysing Bangladeshi consumers' E-Commerce security and privacy satisfaction in small to medium-sized business, under the supervision of Dr Ergun Gide.

The Bachelor of Information Systems (2006) and Masters of Information Systems (2008) graduate grew up in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, before moving to Australia to study with CQUniversity.

A recent Wednesday (Feb 13) marked the fifth anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were removed from their families and communities under past government policies.

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, CQUniversity's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement was invited to a special 5^th anniversary event held by Link Up Queensland to commemorate the Apology.

CQUni Alumnus Linda Mallory-Keft, Aunty Flo Watson and Prof Bronwyn Fredericks

The event held in Brisbane featured guest speakers including former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Link Up Chairperson Sam Watson and Dr Norman Sheehan. Artists also featured including Les Collins, students from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) and two choirs: Meeanjin Voices and Songlines.  

Mr Rudd discussed how the Apology had impacted on his own life and the lives of so many people. He gave examples of life outcomes of Aboriginal people whom he had grown up with and the reality for many others.

The prominent MP discussed education outcomes with Professor Fredericks, noting that he had also marked the five years by calling on the Government to convene a summit on Indigenous education in order to boost outcomes for Aboriginal children.

Prof Bronwyn Fredericks and the Hon. Kevin Rudd

Professor Fredericks said that, while there has been a lot of progress towards Closing the Gap since the Apology, much more work was needed, especially in the area of education.

She was able to discuss Indigenous education outcomes with past CQUniversity Alumnus Linda Mallory-Keft (B. Educ. 2000) who was also at the event.

Reflecting on the Link Up event, Professor Fredericks said it was an emotional experience.

"Most Aboriginal families have been impacted upon by government policies. I did cry tears: tears for those who were taken, stolen and lost and tears of joy and happiness for those who have been returned through the work of organisations like Link Up," she said.

"The event was concluded by dancers from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts who provided an uplifting performance for us to leave on."

Students from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA).

CQUniversity's Professor Bronwyn Fredericks was recently invited to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra for a Research Advisory Committee meeting.

She attended in her role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement. Professor Fredericks is also the elected Health and Biological Science AIATSIS representative on the Research Advisory Committee.  

Prof Sandy Toussaint, Prof Bronwyn Fredericks and Robynne Quiggan

The Committee meets several times a year to assess applications made to the Institute for research grants, and makes recommendations to the AIATSIS Council in relation to research matters and applications for membership of the Institute.

The committee is made up of three AIATSIS Council members appointed by the Council and eight members of the Institute, elected by its members in accordance with its rules.

At this recent meeting, AIATSIS Council members Robynne Quiggan and Professor Sandy Toussaint (pictured) attended the Research Advisory Committee meeting.

Membership of AIATSIS is a prestigious appointment. There are several CQUniversity staff members who hold membership of AIATSIS.

Professor Fredericks said she had been on the AIATSIS Research Advisory Committee for several years and "while at times it is challenging, it is also inspiring and enjoyable".

For details see:  http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/corporate/about.html

The AIATSIS Building

After researching tourism in Antarctica for over two decades and visiting the continent 20 times to observe tourism operations, Dr Thomas Bauer, Adjunct Professor in Sustainable Tourism at CQUniversity, says many destinations could learn from the tourism management systems that have been developed for this pristine environment. 

"Other destinations should take note of how well tourism in the south Polar region is managed and adopt the same stringent visitor conditions that apply to Antarctica to the management of their own destinations. This includes a compulsory briefing of visitors to sensitive sites prior to them being allowed to set foot at them," he said.

Prof Bauer at the former British Base A at Port Lockroy - now the most visited site in Antarctica with 15,000 tourists per season (Photo credit: Thomas Bauer).

A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London, Professor Bauer is a leading world authority on tourism in Antarctica.

Now on his way to Easter Island and the Galapagos Islands to observe how tourism operates in these locations, he has just completed his 36^th crossing of the Drake Passage which links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Prof Bauer at Deception Island, Antarctica, standing next to the former runway created and used by the Australian Hubert Wilkins from where he made the first powered flight in Antarctica (Photo credit: Thomas Bauer).

"There is no significant land anywhere around the world at the latitudes of the Drake Passage," he explained, saying "this is highly relevant to the unimpeded flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current which carries massive volumes of ocean water in the order of  600 times the flow of the great Amazon River through the Passage and around Antarctica".

Drake Passage is named after the famous pirate ‘approved' by the English to plunder Spanish possessions, sometimes illicit slave trader, Knighted by Queen Elizabeth 1, Member of the House of Commons, Sir Francis Drake who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world between 1577 and 1580.

‘It wasn't until 500 years after the pioneering journey of this renowned seaman of the Elizabethan era that tourism became something and that both the industry and Antarctic authorities mutually recognised the importance of effective sustainable tourism management plans for this largely untouched part of our planet," said Professor Bauer who took 16 upmarket travellers from Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing on a fly cruise to Antarctica in January this year.

Expedition ship and zodiacs for tourists (Photo credit: Suzanne Noakes)

"This current trip illustrates the interest for the destinations has moved from just western nations and now is increasingly of interest to the booming outbound Asian markets as well."

Steve Noakes, Head of the Tourism program at CQUniversity (based at Noosa campus) said: "Tourism is a legitimate activity in Antarctica, and it's important that the continued growth of the industry does not compromise the destination where peace, science and natural area conservation have been key attributes. All human activities, including tourism must be conducted in a manner that safeguards the Antarctic environment".

Topics such as sustainable tourism planning and policy in protected areas are included in within CQUniversity's degree course offerings in tourism.

As an Adjunct Professor at CQUniversity, Dr Bauer has freely made himself available to discuss such issues with interested students.

Links:

Tourism @ CQUniversity  http://www.cqu.edu.au/study/what-can-i-study/new-programs/tourism-at-cquniversity

Drake Passage: National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, UK http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/ooc/TRANSPORTS/DrakePassage.php 

Sir Francis Drake - The Famous Voyage: The Circumnavigation of the World, 1577-1580  http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/catalog/drake/drake-4-famousvoy.html

 
Expedition ship, penguins & tourists (Photo credit: Suzanne Noakes)   

Men are more likely to cut loose and gamble if they lack control at work.

That's according to a team based at CQUniversity's Experimental Gambling Laboratory.

Dr En Li

Rockhampton-based researcher Dr En Li says the team explored the idea that men who lacked work autonomy would display higher levels of involvement in gambling.

A phone survey of gamblers across the CQ region showed a link between low autonomy and higher gambling among men.

"Male gamblers who lack freedom at work may reclaim some freedom in leisure by gambling," Dr Li says.

"The survey indicates males low in work autonomy would be more susceptible to gambling problems than females low in work autonomy, or males high in work autonomy."

Other researchers involved in the survey include Associate Professor Matthew Rockloff, Dr Phillip Donaldson and Dr Matthew Browne, all based at CQUniversity Bundaberg.

It's been more than 35 years since Alan Tucker attended high school but, in the space of 12 months, the CQUniversity Cairns student is already heading towards a Business degree.

Having just completed the Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) by distance education, Alan will undertake a Diploma of Business this year.

CQUniversity student Alan Tucker prepares to begin his Diploma of Business. His ultimate goal is to graduate with a Bachelor of Business.

"I had completed the STEPS course to qualify for entry into university, as I hadn't completed Years 11 and 12 when I was younger," Alan said.

Born and bred in Victoria, Alan finished Year 10 before working in the banking and finance industry in Australia and overseas. He was recruited for an international bank in Papua New Guinea before spending the next 17 years as regional marketing manager for an export company.

Upon his return to Australia, Alan began to consider new career options.

"I became dissatisfied with my employer, I was getting bored with my job and wanted to start university for personal satisfaction, to prove something to myself and to be a role model for my teenage children," he said.

Upon moving to Cairns eight years ago, Alan's decision to start studying via distance education at CQUniversity Cairns was an easy one.  He said the STEPS program had prepared him well for the start of his university education.

"I have found the course content, internet communication and support to be very good. I only became overwhelmed when my personal situation interfered with my study plans," he said.

Alan also enjoys having the support of the CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Study Centre to interact with lecturers and students online and via videoconference, as well as having resources available during opening hours.

To find out more about the programs you can study via distance education, contact 13 27 86.

Alan Tucker

Worlds away from his life in Victoria, Shaun Bruce is feeling quite at home after spending the past seven months in Cairns.

The CQUniversity Cairns Tapains Academy player said he loves the laid-back nature of the region and the weather, as well as the strong rapport he has built with fellow Taipans teammates.

CQUniversity Cairns Taipan Academy player Shaun Bruce at the centre. "The people for starters have made a big impression on me and they have welcomed me and would do anything to make me feel at home," he says.

"I really like the weather and being able to hang out by the pool or go to the beach whenever you want - something I couldn't do every day in Victoria."

Shaun will be entering his second year of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science degree, a program very much in line with his long term interest in sport and basketball.   

"The reason I chose this program was that I knew it was very broad and had a lot of different opportunities - I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do but knew I want to be in the sports industry."

Shaun is interested in pursuing exercise rehabilitation and physiotherapy down the track, depending on the direction his basketball career takes.

A valued member of the CQUniversity Cairns Distance Education Centre's Student Ambassador team, Shaun says being a distance education student and working at CQUniversity corresponds well with his busy basketball schedule with the Cairns Taipans.

"Being a distance student is great for me as it's very flexible and fits around my training and playing schedule with the Cairns Taipans," he says.

"I have enjoyed it and I really appreciate the opportunity to work at the Cairns Study Centre. They have been great fitting in around my training schedule and helping me whenever they can."

While being away from family and friends and juggling a busy schedule can be tough at times, the 22-year old Point Guard player says the Taipans community have made him feel at home.

"Moving from Victoria to be with the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans Academy has been great for me; being able to train under the guidance of the Taipans players and using the facilities is helping me to reach my goal of being in the NBL on a full-time basis and, all going well, I will be with the Taipans for a long career."

Shaun says his sport-orientated family helped shape his love of basketball.

"Having older brothers play the sport before me meant I started at a young age so I've been playing for as long as I can remember," he says.

"A short-term a goal of mine is to be a contracted player in the NBL with the Cairns Taipans. Every kid's dream though is to represent their country so to play for Australia at a World Championships or Olympics would be a dream come true.

"A little motto for me right now is to dream big, achieve bigger."

Since arriving in Rockhampton as a teenager a few years ago, Emilia has brushed up on her English and overcome the 'culture shock' of moving from one of the largest cities in the world (Jakarta) to a regional Queensland city...

It helped that her auntie and uncle run a popular Asian foods shop at CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus, so she had family support and part-time work opportunities.

Emilia has been thriving in her Pathology subjects

Soon after completing her intensive program at the English Language Centre on campus, Emilia was thriving in her Pathology subjects as part of the Bachelor of Medical Science degree.

Her top marks helped secure scholarship support and she has since completed internships in Immunohaematology and Clinical Biochemistry by helping to analyse patient tissue and blood samples at two medical laboratories on the Gold Coast.

"The automated testing technology is very advanced now but it's important to understand the principles and how to do manual tests too," she says.

While most of the internship was done in the labs, Emilia also had the chance to assist a doctor with collection of a bone marrow sample from a patient.

LINK for a larger image

Now in the final year of her degree, Emilia will soon be putting in applications to work in a pathology laboratory. She's keen to analyse patient samples rather than getting into pure research.

Medical laboratory scientists specialising in pathology examine bodily samples to assist in making a diagnosis regarding a patient's medical condition. CQUniversity's Bachelor of Medical Science provides opportunities for students in one of three specialist areas: pathology, clinical investigation or nutrition.  LINK HERE for details of the Pathology specialisation available at Rockhampton Campus or via distance education.

The Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathology) has been designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS).

The CQUniversity Gladstone graduation ceremony this week provided the first of several opportunities planned to recognise the 35th anniversary of the University's presence in the harbour city...

Stalwarts and supporters of Gladstone Campus L-R Dr Grace Johansen, former Mayor Peter Corones, Marian Metcalfe, Rex Metcalfe, Dr Andrew Wallace and Chancellor Rennie FritschyThe 34 graduating students received a special anniversary pin and the guest address came from foundation head of campus Rex Metcalfe, who spent 18 years building CQUniversity's presence in Gladstone until he retired in 2001.

LINK HERE for larger slideshow images

Learning Management graduate Kyle Stein delivered the closing address on behalf of graduates.  

In a change from recent tradition, the ceremony was held on campus in the Leo Zussino Building instead of at the local entertainment centre.

Before arriving in Gladstone, Mr Metcalfe taught in high schools in New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, before joining the staff at the University of the South Pacific in 1969.  Subsequently he worked for UNESCO as a mathematics education curriculum consultant in Botswana before returning to the University of the South Pacific in 1975.  In 1977 he was appointed to the staff of Macquarie University in Sydney.

The ceremony was hosted in the Leo Zussino Building

In 1984, Mr Metcalfe relocated to Gladstone to manage the local Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education (CIAE) campus which was located in a small office on the Dawson Highway.

At the time, only one program was offered, the Associate Diploma of Electrical Engineering, and student numbers were limited to 30 as a result of space constraints.

With Rex's experience and vision, the campus rapidly expanded, instigating the need to relocate to the current site of the Gladstone Marina.  The CIAE became Central Queensland University in 1994.

At the time of Mr Metcalfe's retirement the Gladstone campus had grown to cater for over 700 students enrolled in over 10 undergraduate and four postgraduate programs. The campus has also become a site for significant research.

 
Dave Guy graduates with an OHS degree, supported by daughter Alicia Leitner (left) and friend Teneille Jensen. Dave has been working at Gladstone LNG as a risk coordinator on Curtis Island and is now enrolled as a psychology student 
The first graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Project and Program Management  
Bachelor of Learning Management graduate Naomi Harris passes on her love of education to her eight-year-old daughter Maddison. 
Wayne Boyd received his PhD by establishing a protocol for assessing ecosystem rehabiliation success on open cut coal mines

Judith Hiskens, Ryl Gardner and Professor Chad Hewitt at the 35th Anniversary Luncheon in Gladstone

A submission by CQUniversity Professor John Rolfe has been tabled in the House of Representatives as part of the Inquiry into the use of ‘fly-in, fly-out' (FIFO) workforce practices in regional Australia.

Professor Rolfe and his CQUniversity colleague Professor Drew Dawson were involved in the public hearings feeding into the FIFO Inquiry Report.

As Leader for the Sustainable Regional Development Program for CQUniversity's Centre for Environmental Management, Dr Susan Kinnear notes that "through CEM, we are also undertaking research work for three Regional Development Australia committees (in Mackay, CQ and Wide Bay) about responding to growth in resource communities; and have recently lodged a book chapter regarding the public health implications of cumulative resource sector development".

"Five of the 21 recommendations from the FIFO workforce inquiry report include research opportunities in the areas of economics/ health/regional development."

LINK HERE for Prof Rolfe's submission.  Transcripts for Prof Dawson's hearing session via Thursday 14 June 2012  Transcripts for Prof Rolfe's session via Friday 24 February .

The written submission by Professor Rolfe focused on the economic justification for FIFO or DIDO (drive‐in and drive‐out) workforce operations in mining and other sectors in Australia and the regional economic impacts likely to be generated.

"Policy settings should be framed around giving people freedom of choice about where to live and work, and transport options between locations where appropriate," Professor Rolfe notes.

"Planning and approval processes for major projects should have better recognition and planning for the needs and impacts on ‘home' communities that provide FIFO and DIDO workforces.

"(There should be development of) appropriate housing stocks in local communities that match the potential inflow of new employees, and avoid high housing costs that can generate perverse impacts on local town development."

Professor Dawson remarked that "we have a two-speed economy not only nationally; we have two-speed economies in local communities. Even though there are economic benefits, they have been corrosive".

"Given the importance of the mining boom in Australia and its centrality to the Australian economy over the next few years, the importance of ensuring that we optimise the benefits of mining to our communities is really important. ... We need to underpin the policy and the decisions in that framework with a really good evidence base."

CQUniversity's Professor Mike Horsley, Director of the Education Research Flagship, has been nominated as President of the International Association for Research on Textbooks and Educational Media (IARTEM).

IARTEM is the leading international association for research on textbooks and teaching and learning materials - with strong links to the UNESCO comprehensive strategy for textbooks and learning materials, and other leading research institutes concerned with the role teaching and learning materials play in student learning and achievement.

Professor Horsley attending the IARTEM board meeting at the University of Ostrava, with Professor Susanne Knudsen, current President from Norway, and board member Professor Natalija Mazeikiene, from Lithuania

After ratification of the nomination by the IARTEM general assembly in September, Professor Horsley will take up the Presidency of IARTEM on September 21 this year, for a period of two years.

The nomination was made at the recent IARTEM board meeting at University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic during late January.

Professor Horsley attended the board meeting which finalised the details for the 12^th IARTEM International conference to be held at the University of Ostrava from September 18-20.

The IARTEM website at http://iartemblog.wordpress.com/ contains details of forthcoming publications, research topics, newsletters and research publications. The website also enables access to the IARTEM e-Journal, an open-access refereed journal listed as an accredited research output by the Australian Research Council.

CQUniversity has donated several cartons full of educational books to the recently flooded Bundaberg East State School, to help the school get back on its feet.

The books came from a collection at the University's Noosa Campus, where Professor Mike Horsley collects them as founder and chief judge for the Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing.

Principal Doug Ambrose says these donated books will be used to replace teacher resource materials that were destroyed in the recent flood.

Noosa Campus also donated clothes and other useful items for the flooded residents of Bundaberg. Donated items included art and craft supplies, games and DVDs.

Professor Helen Huntly with School Principal Doug Ambrose (right) and Librarian Paul MacMillan 
The books leaving Noosa Campus thanks to L-R Jan Tarling (Admin Officer - Placements & School Support), Lindy Ramsay (Noosa Campus Librarian), Steve Noakes (Head of Program: Tourism & Hospitality) and Claudia Vaile (Marketing Officer, Student Recruitment)

CQUniversity's Geoff Dell has been entrusted with the role as 'head of safety' for the largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere, the Australian International Airshow scheduled for Avalon Airport near Geelong on March 1-3.

Associate Professor Dell will have plenty to consider as, while 'Avalon' is only the fifth largest airshow in the world, it has the largest flying display, including 6.5 hours of constant flying on each of the three public days. The Paris and Farnborough airshows each have five hours of flying a day.

Assoc Prof Geoff Dell

Avalon 2013 is also unique in that it is the first time the United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor will be flown in public display outside of the United States.

Over 180 different aircraft types will be displayed in the ground display, ranging from the RAAF Boeing C17 Globemaster (a behemoth with 52m wing span, 53m in length and weighing 265 tonnes when fully loaded) and the aged but ever popular USAF Boeing B52 Strategic Bomber, at one end of the spectrum, down to ultra light aircraft such as powered paragliders which the pilots effectively 'strap' to their back and weigh in under 800kg, including the pilot.

Assoc Prof Dell says the safety effort includes real-time surveillance of the display flying and all the operational aircraft movements, aircraft arrivals, departures and parking, safety of the 200,000 odd members of the public and myriad food vendors, display stands with over 3000 exhibitors and OHS support for 1500-plus airshow staff and volunteers.

An image from the Airshow website

"Preparations began in earnest last June. The on-site build started in December to create all the facilities, including establishment of two control towers as well as a complete second aerodrome, known as Avalon East, with grass runways, taxiways and light aircraft parking facilities in the farmland adjacent to Avalon Airport. Avalon East is set up so that people can fly their light aircraft in to attend the show," he says.

"I report to the airshow organisers Airshows Downunder. At Avalon, the entire safety team reports to the CEO through the Head of Safety role. The CEO and I head a team of 10 safety professionals with backgrounds and experience in aviation safety, air safety investigation, occupational health and safety, fire safety, food safety and public safety.

"Four OHS officers have been on site since January for the build of the facilities. All 11 of us will be active from the week before the show, through the trade and public days of show week and the week after. The OHS officers will remain until the dismantle is complete in mid May."

Dr Dell will draw on his leadership as an academic specialising in safety. He's also been pivotal in establishing CQUniversity's accident investigation and accident forensics programs.

CQUniversity staff and students are encouraged to register for the 11th annual Relay for Life event scheduled for the Rockhampton Campus sports fields on the weekend of May 18-19.

Relay for Life is an overnight community event for participants who relay non-stop as they celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost, and fight back against the disease by raising important funds for Cancer Council Queensland.

For details contact Sharon Kimber via 4932 8600, email relayforlifecentralqld@cancerqld.org.au or visit www.relayforlife.org.au

Teams and potential team members are invited to attend a special meeting featuring fundraising ideas, from 5.30pm on February 19 at the Cancer Council Queensland Education Centre at 43 Upper Dawson Road.

CQUniversity research has been showcased at the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) railway conference held in New Delhi recently.

Mitchell McClanachan, Professor Colin Cole and Professor Gopi Chattopadhyay delivered five presentations at the event, which is considered to be the main worldwide conference on heavy haul railways.

Prof Cole, Prof Chattopadhyay and Mitchell McClanachan

More than 700 delegates attended this event and Mr McClanachan says the CQUniversity presentations were well received.

"Colin and Gopi also had meetings before and after the conference for discussions with Indian universities and meetings with the India's Research Designs & Standards Organisation, of which CQUniversity's Centre for Railway Engineering (CRE) has a research contract," Mr McClanachan said.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust* which helps the street children of Delhi. They receive support from CQUniversity.  I attended one of Salaam Baalak Trust's city walk tours which provides information into their work and the children they help in New Delhi."

Prof Cole travelled on this train from Delhi to Lucknow as part of his familiarisation with Indian Train Dynamics. CQUni's research project with this organisation is concerned with 'Longitudinal Train Dynamics and Passenger Comfort'

Professor Cole presented papers on Hybrid Locomotive Applications for an Australian Heavy Haul Train on a Typical Track Route and Evaluation of Heavy Haul Wagon Dynamic Behaviours Based on Acceleration Measuring Systems.

Professor Chattopadhyay presented on Research Methodology for Evaluation of Top-of-Rail Friction Management in Australian Heavy Haul Networks and Life Cycle Cost Estimation for Railway Bridge Maintenance.

Mr McClanachan presented on Optimising Driving Strategies for Long Heavy Haul Trains.

While in India, Professors Cole and Chattopadhyay initiated discussion with several universities interested in joint research, supervision and collaborations in the areas of asset management and engineering, including:

the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (which has established the Railway Research Centre for Indian Railways);

the Centre For Quality,  Jadavpur University, Calcutta;

and Bengal Engineering and Science  University. The latter institution was established in 1857 and is one of the two oldest universities in India.

* Details via http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/ 

IHHA is considered the peak technical body for heavy haul railways and it was actually started in Western Australia. For many years, CQUniversity's CRE has considered IHHA as a forum where its research must be represented and benchmarked against industry expectations and needs.

Prof Chattopadhyay (second from left) and Professor Cole (second from right) with other researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, including the Director (VC) Professor S. Som in the middle

CQUniversity Research Fellow Dr Alison Jones is working on a project looking at the past 100 years of settlement in Central Queensland and effects on our marine environment.

"I'm seeking photos of marine environments including mangroves, oyster beds, coral reefs and beaches from which the location can be easily identified or else the photographer can identify the location themselves," Dr Jones says.

An image from Saville Kent's book on the Great Barrier Reef. It's believed the image was taken in the Narrows

"The photos should preferably be located between Rodd's Bay and Stanage Bay. In particular I would like to obtain copies of photos of coral reefs taken at low tide showing the coral cover but am also interested in other marine life like oyster beds and mangroves and seagrasses."

Dr Jones would welcome photos of this kind that might contribute to a better understanding of the effects of European settlement on our reefs and marine ecosystems.

Photos can be shared via a.jones@cqu.edu.au

CQUniversity is helping to take the pulse of the regional health system by hosting three 'liveWELL CQ' feedback sessions on behalf of the Central Queensland Primary Care Partnership (CQPCP).

The Q&A sessions are designed to stimulate ideas, encourage dialogue and cultivate actions.

The University is a member of CQPCP and backs its goal to identify, develop and implement innovative, enduring strategies to improve health outcomes.

CQPCP is hosting the sessions at the Central Queensland Innovation and Research Precinct (CQIRP) in Ibis Avenue, across the highway from the University's Rockhampton Campus.

For details please contact rhodda@cqmedicarelocal.com

The liveWELL CQ sessions scheduled are:

• - Chronic Disease Across the Spectrum - from childhood obesity to diabetes management Tuesday March 12 5pm - 7pm
• - Partnering In Action - local examples of best practice partnering Tuesday March 19 5pm - 7pm
• - Fly In Fly Out - the impact on the health of our communities Tuesday March 26 5pm - 7pm

Good sleep is like good sex. It's only a problem when you don't get it!

That's according to sleep researcher and author Dr Sarah Blunden who says that spontaneous sex does not have to be a thing of the past when couples have babies.

Dr Sarah Blunden

Dr Blunden says a couple's sex life can be affected when a young toddler comes into the bedroom at random.

"How many couples resort to obligatory co-sleeping, at the expense of couple time, in order to get some sleep, because their toddler will not sleep alone?" she asks.

"How many couples are split up at night because their toddler is taking the place of one parent? How much bed hopping goes on at night and how does this impact on spontaneous sex?"

Dr Blunden says her experience as a clinical sleep psychologist and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research at CQUniversity's Appleton Institute in Adelaide shows that sleep problems can be fixed.

"Spontaneous sex may not have to be a thing of the past!" she says.

Dr Blunden is the co-author (with Angie Willcocks) of The Sensible Sleep Solution: a guide to your baby's sleep in the first year. She also operates her own Paediatric Sleep Clinic in Adelaide.

CQUniversity is showcasing its diversity by holding dozens of Orientation activities in locations stretching from Cairns to Melbourne, as well as on-line, catering for all its various categories of students as well as parents and partners.

Students will be welcomed at a range of Orientation sessions on campus and on-line from February 16-23.

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There are specialised sessions for distance students, international students, and Indigenous students, and even guidance for high schoolers engaging with the Start Uni Now (SUN) program.

Students can link to the Orientation Online program and other details via www.cqu.edu.au/orientation or check specific campus programs: Bundaberg; Emerald; Gladstone; Mackay; Noosa; Rockhampton; Cairns; Brisbane; Melbourne; Sydney.

Orientation provides an opportunity to meet academic and support staff, student mentors and other students. Sessions are designed to introduce students to academic life, support services and the administrative systems essential for them to manage their study program.

Orientation coordinator Dr Gemma Mann said the common factor is how "vital" it is for all new students to attend Orientation, or at least to get involved on-line, to ensure they are prepared for the study journey ahead.

"Orientation gives students the chance to meet key academics, program advisors and support staff and to find out what is important.

"We don't expect them to be able to do everything in the first week ... just to know what's important for them to find out."

Orientation Week includes social activities, entertainment, tours, program briefings and sessions on academic writing.

CQUniversity metropolitan campus staff have contributed $1315 towards the Queensland flood appeal through well-supported 'umbrella' morning teas held in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne.

A range of useful supplies and children's gifts were also donated.

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Rockhampton people turned out to support flood-affected Queenslanders while enjoying a barbecue breakfast at CQUniversity this week.

The University hosted 'The Big Breakfast', with more than $2000 raised towards the Red Cross Queensland Floods Appeal 2013.

Another $1315 was raised through morning teas hosted by our metropolitan campuses. Details at: 'Umbrella' morning teas raise funds for flood victims

It was an early start for those serving breakfast

The Rockhampton fundraiser was supported by Robbie D Fruit & Veg, the Capricornia College, Wayne's World of Meats, Facilities Management and individuals including Marilyn Eves (donation of eggs), Garth Taylor (donation towards food), Toni Kneen, Jen Taylor, Barbara Miller, Chris Veraa, Stuart McCartney, Ron Tollasepp, Suzi Blair, Zoe Allen, Rhonda Finley, Ekhlass Jarjees, Donna Smith, Grant Farrell and Dan Bartlett.

 
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A diverse range of people attended 
The Kneen siblings Elizabeth, Aran and Alexa were on hand to accept donations

Marty Dahlstrom doesn't consider himself to be a hero, even though the media has used that term to describe the helicopter crew who performed an unheard of 50 winch rescues in one day over flooded Bundaberg...

"The real heroes in these situations are the people of the Bundy community ... they bond together and help each other in the aftermath to clean up and rebuild properties and livelihoods," he says.

LINK also to CQUni big breakfast raises funds for flood victims

Paramedic Science student Marty Dahlstrom

Marty has recently started his role as a rescue crew officer with Emergency Management Queensland.

"I'm the down the wire man ... I conduct the rescue and assist the medical crew on board," he says.

Marty Dahlstrom was the centre of media attention after winching dozens of flood-bound people to safety

Marty says his crew was 'tasked' to Bundaberg on the Sunday of the floods. As the next day dawned, they received a call and were airborne by 6am.

"On the Monday of the Bundaberg floods we conducted 50 winch rescues of people on roofs and on car roofs. 

"It was my first operational winch since training and was also my 50 in the one day which is unheard of in rescue helicopter services. It was great to have the experience so early in my career and I have learnt a lot from it."

After completing school in 2007, Marty was employed as a lifeguard in the Cairns region for five years. He started study towards a Bachelor of Paramedic Science with CQUniversity in 2011 and is currently studying part-time due to his new role with EMQ helicopter rescue.

"I started with EMQ helicopter rescue, Townsville base in November and began around five weeks of intense training and have now been on operations since the start of the year," he said.

"My Paramedic studies have paid off greatly with this position. The skills and knowledge that I have learnt from the Paramedic degree lets me assist the doctors and intensive care paramedics on board with the clinical treatment of patients, while also having the understanding on how to use equipment that the medical crew uses is a advantage."

Marty says many of the people rescued were emotional and in shock because of the devastation and destruction of their livelihoods and properties.

"It took a lot of reassurance to let them know everything was ok and that we were taking them to a safe place. Many of our patients were very thankful of our services that we provided; a bit of a hug and a handshake meant a lot from people to the crew."

Marty says that, at age 22, he's still learning and gaining plenty of life experience.

"This job has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and to be able to get the job so early in my life is amazing. The University degree played a significant role in me obtaining this position, it has given me not only new skills and knowledge but life experience as well."

Eight Year 12 students from Rockhampton and Gladstone had the chance to gain insight into university life during the Camp Discovery 2013 experience.

The action-packed event had students pitching movie storyboards to film producers, being recorded as a newsreader and re-enacting three significant events in modern history.

Students Ella-May Hannan, Christopher Atkinson, Jessica Adams, Dylan Atkinson, Tayler Louise Shannen, CQUniversity staff Kaye Ahern and Claudia Vaile and students Lauren Roberts, Werner Kahl, Tai-Wakelin Gray take part in Camp Discovery 2013.Camp attendees also enjoyed a campus tour, lots of food and learning about the study options at CQUniversity.

Students interacted with CQUniversity lecturers Dr Mike Danaher, Dr John Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor Steve Mullins, Dr Kate Ames and Celeste Lawson who brought a humanities and professional communication focus to the day, giving students the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be a university student. Camp activities were based on current course content.

Parents, CQUniversity staff and student siblings were all invited to celebrate the end of Camp Discovery with a social closing ceremony and awards presentation.  

CQUniversity Marketing Office Claudia Vaile said the event allowed students to start thinking about career options when they finish high school this year.  

"We had a really good response from students and most of them were interested in studying locally after high school."

Rockhampton has welcomed its latest batch of Chinese scholars attracted by CQUniversity's Centre for Intelligent and Networked Systems (CINS) and its world-renowned leader, Professor Qing-Long Han...

The complex number-crunching innovations enabled by these visiting researchers will boost the world's capacity to produce food and consumer products, run transport systems and create smarter power grids.

Visiting scholars L-R Dr Ying Zhou, Dr Baozhu Du, Dr Zhou Wang, Dr Shuqian Zhu, Dr Qiang Zang and Yillian Zhang CQUniversity is looking forward to helping the visitors find fresh applications for their work, especially in the field of engineering.

Professor Han, Director of CINS, and his team have made significant contributions to the University's 2012 ERA (Excellence in Research for Australia) rankings in Mathematical Sciences and Applied Mathematics which are ranked 'well above world standard'. Only two universities achieved ERA RANK 5 in Applied Mathematics, and three universities achieved ERA RANK 5 in Mathematical Sciences.

Professor Han is a leading researcher in time-delay systems, networked control systems, robust control and fault-tolerant control. He has been honoured with a range of distinguished adjunct roles at several Chinese universities.

The visiting scholars (foreground) are welcomed by L-R Professor Graham Pegg, Professor Scott Bowman and Professor Qing-Long Han

Networked control systems are spatially distributed systems in which the communication between sensors, actuators and controllers occurs through a shared band-limited digital communication network. They have significant economic impact on a broad scale.

Professor Han says intelligent networked systems behaviour can be viewed as the convergence of four major areas - networks, computational intelligence, data mining and agent-based systems.

The hallmark of work by Professor Han and his colleagues in these areas has been a focus on quality research as evidenced by top journal publications, quality research higher degree completions and national competitive grants.

The latest scholars hosted at CINS are:

- Visiting Associate Professor Dr Shuqian Zhu from Shandong University who is studying Robust Control for Positive Time-delay Systems and its Applications;

- Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow  Dr Baozhu Du from Nanjing University of Science and Technology  who is studying Active Control for Input-Delay Systems under Airy Wave Force;

- Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Zhou Wang from Huazhong University of Science and Technology who is studying Design and implementation of a multi-agent system in smart grids;

- Visiting Associate Professor Dr Ying Zhou from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications who is studying Adaptive Control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems under network environments;

- Visiting Lecturer Dr Qiang Zang from the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology who is studying Stability analysis and control synthesis of nonlinear differential-algebraic equations subsystems; and

- Joint PhD student Yilian Zhang from East China University of Science and Technology who is studying Investigation of Networked Control Systems with communication constraints and incomplete information.

CQUniversity Noosa student Chloe Brooks has been placed with a mentor teacher at the Pacific Paradise State School on the Sunshine Coast, thanks to her selection for the Morayfield Teacher Education Centre of Excellence program...

She's now looking forward to nurturing her classroom skills while completing her final year of the Bachelor of Learning Management.

Chloe Brooks

"Pacific Paradise has provided a welcoming environment and I have already seen some amazing work from my mentor," Chloe says.

The keen student is happy to have gained a school placement close to home after a life-time of moving around.

"I grew up in Western Australia, where I attended primary school, then moved to Victoria during high school.

"After five years of on and off overseas travel, I finally decided to settle in Noosa and attend university. Deciding to study teaching was a natural choice as many previous employment positions (summer camps in America and nannying) I have held have led me to joining the education system.

"Furthermore, I come from a family of teachers, which didn't initially influence my decision but may have played some subconscious part. They were thrilled to hear the news that I was accepted into the BLM (Primary) with CQUniversity and have been enthusiastically following my career.

As a future learning manager, I aspire to become a highly motivating and self motivated role model. I aim to teach purposeful, relevant and differentiated lessons to improve learning outcomes for all students. I am very excited for my final year of Uni and entering the profession as a graduate from CQUni and the MTECE."

The Morayfield program offers extended classroom experiences. Program participants are prioritised for employment with Education Queensland schools and may receive early offers of employment. 

CQUniversity participants are able to attend special professional development programs. They also engage with Morayfield Cluster online, to help them specialise in 'literacy and numeracy in low socio-economic settings'. The program provides an extended employment induction process and continues into the students' first years as working teachers, to ensure additional mentoring.

The Rockhampton Library has been hosting the 2013 CQUniversity Library Conference this week (Feb 4-8).

Participants include Campus Library Managers from all CQUniversity campuses.

Seated L to R : Jane Wilson (Melbourne), Lindy Ramsay (Noosa) Standing L to R: Karin Simon (Gladstone), Joanne Saw (Rockhampton), Debbie Orr (Rockhampton), Graham Black (Rockhampton), Andrea Newton (Mackay), Debbie Kirkbride (Rockhampton), Elke Dawson (Rockhampton), Anita Brown (Bundaberg), Amy Croft (Sydney), Jaron Stidiford (Rockhampton)

As the Metropolitan Campus Library staff are due to transition across to CQUniversity Library in early March, the conference is providing an opportunity to discuss a range of transition issues as well as professional development in areas of the social dimensions of learning, e-research, and technology.

The Conference has a social networking theme and is using Twitter as the communication medium for the week.

Library Director Graham Black said the Conference is "a great opportunity for us to meet face to face, keep up to date with a range of library and information issues and develop our social networking technology skills".

CQUniversity academic Dr Gillian Busch is rightly proud that her doctoral thesis has gained national recognition.

The Rockhampton-based lecturer was recently presented with the Early Childhood Australia* Doctoral Thesis Award, recognising the quality of her thesis titled 'The Social Orders of Mealtime'.

Gillian Busch with her Doctoral Thesis Award

Dr Busch was congratulated for 'bringing to the fore the potential to address mealtimes in early childhood contexts as an opportunity for community building and pedagogical excellence'.

Judges commented on the implications for early childhood educators for understanding 'the rich social interaction potential of mealtimes, children's interactional competence and the role of adults as co-participants in meaningful dialogue and social interaction'.

Dr Busch's work has direct implications for practice and relates to the National Quality Framework.

Looking forward to this year, the academic will study families with young children.

"Geographical  distances between family members have propelled the use of video communication technologies such as SKYPE to maintain and facilitate relationships," she said.

"Using a conversation analysis approach, this study will examine how family members communicate with each other.

"The emphasis on everyday talk is important because it captures what families are routinely doing and saying and in that way, we can better understand  family practices."

* Early Childhood Australia is the peak national, non-profit, non-government organisation in its field.

CQUniversity's Professor Sonj Hall was invited by the Office of Indigenous Engagement to provide a research seminar focusing on cancer care. The event held on February 4 coincided with World Cancer Day.