A Mackay information technology graduate has successfully landed her dream job with the help of Central Queensland University.

Not only did CQU provide Leanne Malczewski with the knowledge and qualifications to nab the IT position with the Health Insurance Commission (HIC), but also informed her of the position and mediated her application through the University's employment website, Career Hub.

Despite a reported drop in applications to study information technology at Australian universities, IT graduates were successfully landing employment, according to CQU's program coordinator for Bachelor of Information Technology Mike Gregory.

Mr Gregory said there had been some predictions that a return to the late 1990s when there was a shortage of IT graduates was on the cards.

Queensland Health has appointed Trudy Dwyer (Critical Care & Resuscitation), Kerry Reid-Searl (Pediatrics) and Dr Lorna Moxham (Mental Health) to its panel of External Expert Reviewers.

Reviewers were appointed to various expert panels based on discipline expertise.

Central Queensland University researcher Dr Steve Pace has been awarded a $10 000 grant to study the experiences of computer game players. The study will focus on two specific phenomena called 'flow' and 'telepresence'.

CQU Rockhampton this week hosted reporter Maryke Steffens, producer Caroline Davey and a crew from the ABC TV Science program Catalyst.

They were filming a story on Adam Bryant's research on ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) knee injuries in women.

Almost 100 teenagers will visit CQU Rockhampton this summer to experience science, maths and technology activities.

Sixty-three will attend the Siemens Science Experience at CQU Rockhampton from January 18-20.

The main Bruce Highway entrance to Central Queensland University Rockhampton will be closed from Wednesday, January 5, 2005, for a duration of about three weeks due to the upgrade of the entrance road to the University.

Access to the University will be via the College Road and Norman Road entrances.

A PhD student is looking into the potentially hazardous blue green algae species sometimes present in the Fitzroy River.

Susan White (pictured), a researcher for CQU's Centre for Environmental Management (CEM), is conducting a unique study into the potentially deadly toxins produced by the blue green algal species, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii.

Emerald's Gem Air Village Caravan Park has been named as one of two winners of the Caravan Industry Australia 2004 Industry Innovation Award, thanks to its installation of the Kele Effluent and Wastewater Treatment System (KEWT).

KEWT is a unique system for the treatment of wastewater and effluent which is now be marketed by GBG Project Management ( www.

CQU Sydney International Campus students, in conjunction with the campus Training, Employment and Careers Coaching (TECC) function and the Australian Tax Office (ATO), established their first ‘Tax Help Centre’ this year.

Volunteers consisted of graduates and current students (working from an office set up on campus).