Connections Issue 12

8/8/2019 Connections Issue 12

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CONNECTIONS

I S S U E 1 2 : S U E / A U T U N 2 0 1 0

www.vu.edu.u

AfrICANAmbITION

HArVESTING SKILLS.brIdGES TO TExAS

.bEATING CANCEr


2/17

. VCWELCOME

The VC welcomes the Universitysnew Chancellor, George Pappas andintroduces recent developmentsincluding a timely report intointernational student safety.

5. INBRIEF

This issue includes prestigiousawards, a trip to Vancouver by ourOlympics expert, developmentsto VUs Sustainable CommunityCentre, and fundraising for childrenin need.

8. RENaIssaNCEMaN

Songwriter and musician EgoLemos is a VU asters studentundertaking vital food researchthat he hopes will help developingcountries in the Asia-Pacic region.

10.studENtsaFEty

VUs study into internationalstudent safety in elbournesurveyed more than 1000students and has been praised byVictoria Police.

1.CuttINgthEtOLL

VU aster of Business graduate

John Thompson was named theCertied Practising arketer of theYear for developing memorable TACcampaigns which have successfullyreduced Victorias road toll.

12.hEaLthyChOICEs

The Australian Community Centre

for Diabetes is researchingand actively engaging withcommunities in elbournes westto reduce the rates of diabetes inthe region.

14.haRdatWERC

The Work-Based Education

esearch Centres diverseprojects foster strong, long-termpartnerships with community andindustry.

15.aNEWChaNCELLOR

Introducing VUs new Chancellor,

successful elbourne businessmanand corporate adviser GeorgePappas.

6.haRVEstINgskILLs

Partnering with VU and SunshineCollege, Harvester TechnicalCollege is helping to address thecountrys skills shortage.

18.gLOBaLLEaRNINg

Twenty teaching students returnfrom a study tour to VUs partner,Beijing Information Science andTechnology University, havinglearnt more than they expected.

19.kICkINggOaLs

Exercise Science honours studentJames Podsiadly discusses hissuccess coaching at the GeelongCats Football club, as a personaltrainer and as an up-and-comingAFL footballer.

20.BEatINgCaNCER

Victoria University alumnusDr onny Veljanovski is workingwith a team of researchersdeveloping new technology thatwill assist in the early detectionof cancer.

22.BRIdgEstOtExas

A strengthening collaborationbetween VU and the Universityof Texas (El Paso) creates globallearning experiences for studentson both sides of the world.

23.OutOFaFRICa

Students from Africa arepassionate about their studies,and about sharing their storieswith other Australians.

24.CaREERsgatEWay

The Community Gateways portablecourse and career booth is anew VU initiative that broadensthe way educators connect withpeople in the western region ofelbourne.

25.ENtERpRIsINg

MINds

The Students in Free Enterprise(SIFE) club in the Faculty ofBusiness and Law have discoverednew opportunities for Africanretailers in the west.

26.WaLkINgthEWaLk

Seven years on, the Yannoneitprogram continues to improve VUsrelationship with the Indigenouscommunity, with almost 30Indigenous staff now employed atthe University.

28.yOuNgjustICE

VUs third and fourth-year lawstudents work at the SunshineYouth Legal Centre to helpdisadvantaged and troubled youngpeople gain access to justice.

29.WhEREIsEddIEthE

ENgINEER?

Dr Akhtar Kalam, a VU Professorin Electrical Engineering, reectson the drought of engineers inAustralia.

30.kEyEVENts

A calendar of whats happening inand around Victoria University forthe next ve months.

30.VuFaCts

The most up-to-date facts

about VU.

31.NEWBOOks

Backyard zoology, footy fever, war

mystery and tax law are just someof the diverse topics covered innew books by VU authors.

32.studENtaRt

ecent artwork by a VU student.

CONTENTS

Background image: istockphotos.com/Delefraye Nicolas

PuBLISHeR

arketing and Communications DepartmentVictoria UniversityPO Box 14428elbourne VIC 8001, Australia Victoria UniversityCICOS Provider No. 00124K

CONTCT uS

Phil Kofoed anaging EditorPHONE +61 3 9919 4956EAIL [email protected] Box 14428elbourne VIC 8001www.vu.edu.au

PHOTOS

Sharon WalkerTim BurgessKate Scott-Young

COveR PHOTO

Wehazit Haile arrived in Australia veyears ago and is using VU pathways toachieve her goals. ead more about ourstudents from Africa on page 23.

This publication is printed onrecycled paper.

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WELCOmE

Welcome to the Summer/Autumn 2010 edition of Connections.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Victoria Universitys newChancellor, elbourne business leader George Pappas, who is featured on page15. VU is fortunate to have someone of r Pappas calibre on board as chair ofthe University Council. I look forward to working with the Chancellor this year aswe steer VU to an even stronger position as the leading education provider in ourdynamic and growing region.

esearch from VUs Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives(ICEPA) into the safety of international students in elbourne was widely reportedin the media earlier this year. ICEPA researchers surveyed more than 1000international and domestic students about their perceptions of safety, and alsoconducted in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including Victoria Police. Thefascinating results of this important research are found on page 10.

VU asters Degree student, Ego Lemos, is a well-known songwriter and musicianin his home country of Timor-Leste, as well as a champion of its permacultureagricultural movement. You can learn more on page 8 about t his remarkable man,who recently won an APA award for his music while completing his degree at VUin International Community Development.

VU alumnus Dr onny Veljanovski is working with a t eam of world-classresearchers developing new technology to assist in the early detection of cancer.Dr Veljanovski, currently a project manager at the onash Centre for SynchrotronScience, says he developed his ability to manage projects while at VU by engagingwith a range of industries through our microelectronic engineering programs.

VU is proud of its connections with elbournes west, and one of our newinitiatives, Community Gateways, is helping us further these ties in the region. TheGateways offer mobile course and career advice, delivering a service for residents,who for a variety of reasons, might not normally seek out future-planning

information. Find out more on page 24.

We are also proud of our connections across t he world. At rst glance, theUniversity of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) on the US-exican border appears to havelittle in common with VU. But both share a commitment to the ideals of accessand excellence. Exciting joint activities have been taking place as studentsfrom opposite sides of the world collaborate while studying common issues ofcultural diversity, migration, settlement and dislocation. Details about our UTEPpartnership can be found on page 22.

This year, the University will be rening its education strategy to address theopportunities and challenges that are emerging in the increasingly deregulatedand competitive marketplace. The State Governments contestable f ramework forvocational and further education has opened up delivery of education in the TAFEsector, and Federal Government initiatives will enhance student choices.

These changes, coupled with strong population growth in our catchment ofwestern elbourne, mean that VU must e nsure our courses are strongly alignedwith industry and community needs, and that we continue to enhance the qualityof our courses and service delivery.

Professor Elizabeth HarmanVice-Chancellor and PresidentApril 2010

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SUSTAINABILITY STA IS BONWork is set to start on VUs new Eco-Living Centre at Iramoo Sustainable CommunityCentre in July, with the recent appointment of DL Design Group, an agency renownedfor its Greenstar expertise.

The original building will be retrotted as a demonstration Sustainability House, withthe latest green products and best practice systems wherever possible. This will givevisitors maximum exposure to environmental sustainability concepts they can applyin their own homes.

Project co-ordinator, Dr Colin Hocking says the development will complement andutilise the surrounding environment. The design for the Eco-Living Centre willincorporate a relocated timber house, typical of the local St Albans area, withan additional new extension taking advantage of the vista over the WildowerGrasslands eserve and Jones Creek wetlands.

The Iramoo Eco-Living Centre will become a focal point for the community and a keyfeature on the western suburbs green corridor. The centre will be a meeting placefor educating people on green technology and sustainability practices, and as aworkshop for volunteers.

Stakeholder and community consultation will form a signicant part of the designphase. Share your views at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/L6DD2Y

For updates on the project visit www.iramoo.org

Thai children orphaned by the Boxing Day Tsunami will benet from Steph Ellisand her teams outstanding fundraising efforts.

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HELPING HAND FO THAI KIDSSteph Ellis, manager of VUs English Language Institute (ELI), returned triumphantfrom her second fundraising bike trip through Thailand in January, personally raising$12,000 for children orphaned by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Her team,comprising 32 riders, raised $380,000.

Ellis has now signed up with others for a running event in Phuket on 13 June 2010.With a choice of 10.5 km, a half marathon, or full marathon, an internationalgroup will run the streets of Phuket to raise money and awareness for the orphaned

children, supported by charity group Hands Across the Water. VU is in the nal stagesof formalising a collaboration agreement with Hands Across the Water, which willinclude a VET Hospitality program, a schools program for English language teachersand a staff exchange program.

Participants in a Hands-Le eridien fundraising group aim to raise $2000 each 100 per cent of which goes to projects to improve the lives of the orphans.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made to www.handsacrossthewater.com.au

VU TO HOST SPOTSYPOSIUA VU delegation attended the inaugural Exchange and esearch Symposium atthe German Sport University (GSU) in Cologne last November. The event brought

together VU, GSU and Canadas University of Western Ontario (UWO) to discussexpanding their collaboration in sport and exercise science, particularly in research.

The School of Kinesiology at UWO has been an active exchange partner with VUsSchool of Sport and Exercise Science since 1988, with more than 400 studentexchanges and staff visits. GSU and VU have been partners for 20 years with almost75 student exchanges and staff visits in recent years. The symposium was held tohonour this partnership.

Organiser of VUs delegation, Dr ichard Baka, says the three universities are excitedabout their future plans. VU will host this event in 2011 to coincide with theopening of our new Learning Commons and Exercise Science and Sport Building, andthe establishment of VUs Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL).


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ON YE BIKE!State ember for Footscray, arsha Thomson joined Victoria University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Services) ob Brown in arch to launch a new bike hub at

the Universitys Footscray Nicholson Campus.

The hub is part of the Universitys commitment to sustainable transport and has beeninstalled to encourage students and staff to cycle to the campus.

Funded partly by the Victorian Government, the facility features parking spots for upto 41 bikes in a secure lock-up area with shower facilities and lockers.

Other bike hubs are planned later this year in the new Sport and Learning precinctnow under construction at Footscray Park Campus and at Whitten Oval.

VU aims to increase the number of staff and students using sustainable transport byve per cent each year. Currently four per cent of students and ve per cent of staffcycle to Footscray Nicholson Campus.

VU Sustainability Ofcer Anne cLean says the bike hub will provide staff andstudents with a secure facility to park their bicycle during the day and will overcomeimpediments associated with cycling to the campus, such as being hot and sweaty onarrival or the dreaded helmet hair syndrome.

ACHIEVEENT SCHOLASSTAT STUDIESThe 66 recipients of Victoria Universitys newest scholarship program commencedtheir VU studies in 2010.

In an Australian-rst, VUs Achievement Scholarship program, launched in 2009,

allocates two scholarships to each school in elbournes western region one eachfor students enrolling in higher and vocational education.

Forty-nine schools participated, from the local council areas of Brimbank, HobsonsBay, aribyrnong, elton, oonee Valley and Wyndham.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Harman says the innovative new programdemonstrates VUs commitment to supporting the educational development of peoplein the western region of elbourne.

This is a unique initiative, she says. The scholarships will recognise the t alent andpotential of the many highly capable young people in elbournes west.

The Achievement Scholarships will last for the duration of the students course, withundergraduate students receiving $5000 a year and vocational education studentsreceiving $2000 a year.

VU partner, the Western Bulldogs Football Club, has committed to contributing $1 fromevery club member each year around $28,000 in 2009 to help fund the program.

QUICK FLICKS COPETITIONThe Austrade Short Film Competition encourages multimedia students to workwith business students to produce short lms that address trade and investmentopportunities.

Launched by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Trade Anthony Byrne at VictoriaUniversity in arch, the competition calls for entertaining but informative short lmsthat highlight issues for Australians doing international business.

Successful lms will supplement the range of multimedia teaching resources producedby Austrade as part of its Exporting for the Future (EFF) program.

Associate Professor Anne-arie Hede from the School of Hospitality, Tourism andarketing says VU had built mutually-benecial links with Austrade.

Austrade has been supportive of Victoria University, providing input into course reviewsto ensure our programs are highly relevant and current.

Byrne says Australia was well known globally for punching above our weight inoverseas trade. We are widely regarded as a good place to do business.

There will be six prizes of $500 for state winners of the lm competition and a nationalprize of $2000 for the overall winner. The competition closes on 29 ay 2010.

For urther inormation visit www.austrade.gov.au/flm-competition or

phone 02 6201 7430.

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GOLDEN OPPOTUNITY FOOLYPICS EPETVictoria University Olympics studies expert Dr ichard Baka attended his sixth Games atthe 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February. Dr Baka, of VUs School of Sportand Exercise Science, is one of Australias few Olympic Games academics and historians.

One of his roles while in Vancouver was setting up a network of Australian, Canadianand German universities to conduct future live elluminate lectures (similar to awebcasts) to university students taking Olympic subjects.

I attended the Opening Ceremonies and numerous other sporting events, saysBaka. Besides the sporting competition there was a tremendous amount of otherinteresting activity. I attended an Austrade corporate Olympic function, toured the ainPress Centre and visited numerous expo-like display centres from various nations, theCanadian provinces and other organisations.

Other highlights included the carnival like atmosphere in the CBD and the generosity ofthe Canadian people. The international guests praised these Games and the hospitalityshown by an almost fanatical Canadian public. The singing of O Canadaand thepresence of red and white were prolic, even among the large international audience.

Free public transport for ticket holders and an enthusiastic city made for a ve-starexperience. y Vancouver experience will denitely assist me in adding newinformation to my Olympic curriculum and future research, says Baka.

Olympics studies expert Dr ichard Baka at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

ofessor Ian acdonald uses VUs new bike hub, which encourages physicalness and sustainable transport.

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BEEN WINS NATIONALTEACHING AWADProfessor John Breen, director of VUs Centre for Tourism and Services esearch, wonthe prestigious national Business and Higher Education ound Table award for BestEntrepreneurial Educator of the Year for 2009.

His award, presented by Deputy Prime inister Julia Gillard, was for his involvementin the support and development of entrepreneurial activity in young people in thewestern region of elbourne.

Breen is from the School of Accounting and has been involved in teaching andresearch in entrepreneurship and the small business sector for more than 20 years.ost recently, he steered the Universitys inaugural I Plan A Business (iPAB)competition for high school students in elbournes west.

He sits on many advisory boards, including the Victorian Employers Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VECCI), the Small Business Leaders Panel and the SmallEnterprise esearch Journal editorial board.

This is the third time VU has won the award in the past ve years.

ENEGETIC ESEACHVictoria University is now at the forefront of research in sport, exercise and active living.

Its new Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL) is undertakingprogressive, multidisciplinary research in world-class facilities with internationally

recognised experts and dynamic postgraduate students.ISEAL uses its collaborations and strategic partnerships with industry, government,schools, universities and other organisations in Australia and overseas to establishitself as the national leader and major international contributor to research andengagement in the eld.

Some of these partnerships include the Australian and Victorian Institutes of Sport, aswell as elite sporting clubs such as the Australian Football League, Western BulldogsFootball Club, elbourne Victory and elbourne Storm. Health sector partnersinclude Western Health, elbourne Health, Alzheimers Australia and the Councilon the Ageing. ISEAL also has relationships with community organisations suchas local arts centres, and sporting and recreation organisations such as the YCA,aribyrnong Aquatic Centre and iverside Golf.

ISEALs state-of-the-art facilities are part of t he Universitys Learning CommonsExercise Science and Sport building, which will also include an exercise rehabilitationclinic, and a health teaching, training and research centre.


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mANCOUNITY DEVELOPENT

East Timorese asters degree student Ego Lemos is a true enaissance man.

Whether on stage as an award-winning songwriter and musician, in jungleclearings training farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, or online conductingresearch on food production, the man dubbed the Bob Dylan of Timor-Lesteradiates tremendous passion about the environmental and social rev italisation heforesees for his young homeland.

He hopes his thesis exploring food production practices in a country where80 per cent of the population makes its living from agriculture will be used toimprove farming, nutrition, the environment and the economy, not only ofTimor-Leste, but also of other developing countries in the region.

His co-supervisor, Dr Helen Hill, a VU senior lecturer who specialises inTimor-Lestes development, says Lemos thesis is the rst piece of original researchto examine both scientic and tr aditional methods of agriculture in East Timor,with the aim of extracting the best from both.

Lemos became a devotee of permaculture, a method of organic farming thatexplores and copies how plants and animals naturally interact, while studyingagriculture at the University of East Timor (now the National University) in themid 1990s. He founded the organisation, Permacultura Timor Lorosae (Permatil) which addresses sustainable development in East T imor and wrote books toencourage farmers to return to their traditional ways of raising rice, corn, sweetpotatoes, fruit and animals.

These practices had largely been abandoned during colonial times and underIndonesian occupation, and replaced with a reliance on fert ilisers, pesticides,hybrid seeds, and articial production schedules.

As he completes his thesis, the father of two is also juggling a busy schedule asan increasingly well-known musician, representing his people to t he world throughevocative, simple folk songs that he writes and sings in his native Tetum language.

Last year Lemos won the Australasian Performing ight Associations (APA) bestoriginal song for screen for a hauntingly beautiful song he composed for the titletrack of the lm, Balibo. He crafted the tune in the middle of the night in only afew hours after reading the book on which the lm was based.

y music is not just for fun or entertainment, he says. It combines my interestin peace, the environmental movement, art and healing people.

Lemos is a self-taught musician who can neit her read nor write music. He pickedup a guitar as a young man to accompany his mother who played harmonica atnight to mourn the losses of Lemos three siblings, his father and grandfather tothe trauma of war, disease or malnutrit ion.

I learned much about music listening to Bob Dylan and John Lennon on aneighbours radio, he says. I would gure out the tune on the guitar and learnthe meaning of the words by translating them, one by one.

Lemos was recently signed to Australias Skinnysh usic and invited to tour withits biggest star, AIA- winning singer-songwriter Geoffery Gurrumul Yunupingu, whois also making headlines internationally as an Indigenous musician.

Ironically, for a man who has lived a difcult life in a developing country, Lemosconsiders his thesis among his hardest challenges because of his concern aboutlearning academic English. Before starting his masters degree in InternationalCommunity Development in 2007, Lemos enrolled at VUs English LanguageInstitute for his rst-ever formal English class.

Everything is now happening for me, he says. I am writing a thesis. I amrecording albums. I am touring as a singer-songwriter. I am happy I can contributeas much as I can in so many ways.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT

Ego Lemos: Everything is now happening for me. I am writing athesis. I am recording albums. I am touring as a singer-songwriter.

AN ENDUING PATNESHIP

As Ego Lemos nears completion of his asters thesison sustainable agricultural practices in Timor-Leste,he provides a tting link to the Universitys lengthycollaboration and engagement with his newlyindependent nation.

VU has supported vocational and higher educationdevelopment in Timor-Leste for many years. Byfocusing on the countrys intellectual infrastructure,these educational projects continue to make a realdifference in the ability of the edgling nation tobuild its skills and capacities.

In 2000, VU assisted in the establishment of theDepartment of Community Development at thecountrys main institute of higher learning, the

National University of Timor Loro Sae. It continuesthat relationship with ongoing partnerships,conferences and exchange agreements.

VU was also involved in the founding of Dili Instituteof Technology, established by VU graduate JoaoCancio Freitas, now the countrys inister forEducation.

In 2005, VU began raising funds to establish anEast Timor Scholarship Fund to enable Timor-Lestestudents access to a VU education, particularlythose students who, on graduating, could makean immediate and signicant contribution to thedevelopment of their new nation. Three scholarshipshave so far been granted, with the recipients

returning home to take on roles as senior advisersand lecturers in their country.

A highlight of the VUTimor-Leste partnership is VUsrelationship with Jos amos-Horta, a man who wonthe Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his lifelong ghtfor his countrys freedom, and is the current presidentof his country.

In 2001 he was appointed Distinguished VisitingProfessor at VU, an honorary position conferred onthose who have achieved national or internationaleminence in their eld. In July 2009, the Universitybestowed on him an Honorary Doctorate inrecognition of his outstanding commitment to thedefence of human rights and his contribution toestablishing Timor-Leste independence.

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COUNITY ENGAGEENT

STUdENT

esearch from VUs ICEPA showed many international students reportedexperiencing threats to their safety that had a racial, religious or cultural element.

THE TOLLALUNI

Alumnus John Thompson, Australian arketing Institutes 2009 Certied Practising arketerof the Year: Death and injury is the worst key performance indicator that any company has todeal with in marketing.

A report from Victoria Universitys Institute forCommunity, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA)into the safety of international students in elbournehas been praised by Victoria Police as a helpful andintelligent contribution to the debate.

ICEPA researchers surveyed more than 1000international and domestic students about theirperceptions of safety, and conducted in-depthinterviews with a further 35 students and 29stakeholders, including police, student associations,youth services and consular ofcials for the report.

The study, released in February, found that more thanthree-quarters of international students found the cityto be safe, but half also reported experiencing threats tosafety that had a racial, religious or cultural element.

One of the studys researchers, Associate Professorichele Grossman says the causes of violence wereoften simplied as either racism or opportunism, whenin fact the distinction could often be blurred.

The co-existence of opportunism and racism insome attacks against international students wasacknowledged by virtually all students and police whoparticipated in the st udy, she says.

The opportunity to strengthen how we identify,address and prevent racially and ethnically inuencedcrime should be seized with both hands and now isa good time to start.

The impetus for conducting The Community Safety ofInternational Students in elbourne: A Scoping Studyarose from growing concern and media attention overthreats to international students safety followingincreasing levels of violence against internationalstudents, especially those of Indian descent.

The report indicated that international students were

more likely to be exposed to safety risks due to:lack of private transport options and access to safe,affordable housing; reliance on high-risk employment;and absence of family and friendship networks.

It also identied a disconnect between thoseresponsible for policy, planning and delivery ofeducation, and those relying on the system.

It suggested several strategies including: an internationalstudent complaints system; better cross-cultural trainingfor police; more consultation with community leaders onhow best to support victims of crime and address barriersinternational students face when engaging with police;and better understanding by education providers ofstudents needs and experiences.

Some of the key ndings of the study into internationalstudents safety include:

90 per cent felt safe at work

85 per cent of safety threats experienced bystudents were not reported, with the main reasonbeing the belief t hat it wasnt serious enough

78 per cent said elbourne was a safe place to live

57 per cent said elbourne was less safe thanthey expected

50 per cent who reported perceived safety threatssaid those threats had racial, religious or cultural

elements 58 per cent had experienced verbal abuse

11 per cent had been physically attacked

10 per cent had been robbed

The Community Safety of International Students inelbourne: A Scoping Study, produced by ProfessorHurriyet Babacan, s Joanne Pyke, s AlexandraBhathal, Dr Gurjeet Gill, Associate Professor icheleGrossman and Associate Professor Santina Bertone isavailable at: www.vu.edu.au/icepa.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT

A marketing objective related to death and injuryis an unenviable task. But a passion for educatingthe community to reduce road trauma has been thedriving force behind the success of VU alumnus JohnThompson.

As Senior anager of oad Safety and arketingfor Victorias Transport Accident Commission (TAC),Thompson is responsible for the development andstrategy behind the organisations harrowing roadsafety public education campaigns.

Death and injury is the worst key performance

indicator that any company has to deal with inmarketing, says Thompson. Its a lot easier to sellsporting events.

Despite the tough sell, Thompson was named theAustralian arketing Institutes Certied Practisingarketer of the Year in 2009. The award was givenin recognition of the success of TAC campaigns inreducing the states road toll, which is half t hat of 20years ago.

In the past two years, Victoria recorded its lowest roadtolls since records began in 1952. In 2008 there were303 deaths, and 295 people lost their lives in 2009.

It is an honour to be involved with organisations likethe TAC, he says. Thanks to the combined efforts ofmany, including the Victoria Police and the V ictorianState Government, our state is now one of the safestplaces in the world to drive.

Thompson completed a aster of Business inarketing and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociologyand Communications at VU. He worked in marketingand communications roles in consulting, energy,publishing, residential property development and elitesport environments before joining TAC in 2004. Sincethen he has been instrumental in bringing some of the

organisations most successful campaigns to fruition.

His innovations include the Vanessa Bus, a formerBooze Bus that has been transformed into a burntorange 1970s panel van. Concert-goers at large-scalemusic events can use it as a chill-out zone and forblood alcohol testing before driving home.

In line with the habits of TACs key target audience 18 to 20 year-olds he has taken 15 per cent ofTACs advertising campaigns online. The organisationadvertises in the PlayStation gaming environment andhosts Yellowcard.tv a website that allows users tospeak out about the worrying driving habits of friends.

TAC also posted its 2009 Christmas advertisingcampaign on YouTube. A montage of all TACs advertisingcampaigns from the past 20 years and set to thehaunting voice of elbourne singer Angie Hart, the videowas viewed more than 700,000 times in one month.

Young people get a lot of ack but I think a lot ofthem are actually heeding our key messages dontdrink and drive, and dont speed, says Thompson.We have altered a lot of bad behaviour but we stillneed to continue to nd new and innovative ways toget road safety messages out there.

Thompson is still actively involved with VU and givesback to the community by mentoring graduatesthrough VUs Career Bridge Program.

VU gave me a great grounding in the community, inparticular in dealing with people from different culturalgroups, he says. y masters course was rst-class.It gave me a fantastic grounding in marketing theoryand the content was very practical and current, and theteachers have diverse experience.

CANDICE NEUANN


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Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in both Australia and the rest of thedeveloped world, and elbournes western region has been identied as havingthe highest rate of the disease in Victoria. Almost 3.5 million Australians havediabetes or are close to developing the disease.

The Australian Community Centre for Diabetes (ACCD) at Victoria Universitys StAlbans Campus is at the forefront of tackling the disease in local communitiesthroughout elbournes west.

The ACCD harnesses existing expertise in diabetes and in partnership with health,education and community organisations, uses education and engagement toreduce the impact of the disease.

ACCDs executive director Harry Bryce describes how the centres approach toreducing rates of diabetes is developing new paradigms of thinking.

CuRReNT CCd PROJeCTS

MPPINgIn collaboration with Diabetes Australia-Victoria, ACCD has completed a mappingof the incidence and prevalence of diabetes in elbournes western region bysuburb, local government area, age and CALD group. This research demonstratesthat elbournes western suburbs are in the grip of a diabetes epidemic.

The mapping project has helped to dene the problem where it is and who it isaffecting. It also helps to determine where the work into nding solutions shouldbe focused.

The data includes hot spots by geographical area and ethnicit y, with South EastAsian, African and iddle Eastern communities rating particularly highly.

The suburb of Ardeer has the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in elbourneswestern region 13.5 per cent of the population. This is more than six times thenational average.

KNOwLedge PORTLAn interactive online knowledge portal is being developed to improvecommunication and share information about diabetes among healthcare providers,researchers, the community and individuals. The results of the mapping exercisewill be published on this website.

COMMuNITy-BSed wORKACCD is engaging with community leaders, bilingual healt h educators andcommunity volunteers to provide health literacy and develop multi-lingualeducation materials. An advisory committee from more than 20 CALD communitygroups helps to inform this work. ACCD is also working with t he Indigenouscommunity through a peer mentor program, a nutrition and physical activityprogram in schools, as well as with online diabetes support.

Two very successful diabetes roadshows were held in the Footscray and Sunshinecommunity centres in February and helped spread awareness of diabetesprevention and management in the area.

For more inormation, and or the comprehensive results o the mapping exercise

visit www.diabetesepidemic.org.au/westernmelbourne and the ACCD website

www.vu.edu.au/accd

Albans greengrocer Abdul Allan (left) and daughter Nibal (front) share a healthy bite withD staff members Dr Gurjeet Gill, Harry Bryce, Liping (Stella) Wang and Godefa Gher.

Communities demonstrating high and increasing rates of diabetes are typicallysocio-economically disadvantaged, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD),and Indigenous. The dedicated ACCD team uses its diverse expertise in research,education, nutrition, medicine, statistics and community development to createprograms that are meaningful to these communities.

Our team of experts examined the best international program models that areculturally and linguistically relevant; then we are guided by the community, saysBryce. It is a collaborative approach.

JESSICA JUY

Diabetes is a lifestyle -driven disease, which is why what were doing is all aboutprevention, says Bryce. We like to think our approach is all-embracing, guidedby grassroots community involvement and education.

Although type 1 diabetes* is a chronic disease with serious health risks, the researchand community work the centre is undertaking deals specically with type 2diabetes, which affects 85 to 90 per cent of those diagnosed with the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is incurable and the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia.

Possible causes are a combination of genetic and environmental factors, includinghigh blood pressure, excess weight and insufcient physical activit y, and it ismore common among the 55+ age group. Untreated it can create severe healthproblems including damage to many of the bodys systems, which can lead toamputation, blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke and peripheralvascular disease, with serious conditions becoming potentially fatal.

In addition to the physical and emotional burden placed on individuals andcommunities, chronic diseases such as diabetes are costing the Victorianhealthcare system $600 million per year, and Victorian workplaces $440 millionannually in absenteeism.

Support from local industry groups and communities is crucial if ACCDs preventionwork is to be successful. So far, partnerships with health and communityorganisations, clubs and local councils have proved invaluable in providingexpertise, cultural connections and attracting funding.

*typE1dIaBEtEs

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease withserious health risks, but unlike type 2 diabetes, it iscaused by genetic predisposition and other triggerswhich result in the immune system destroying theinsulin-making cells in the pancreas. The body thenhas no control over blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetesis prevalent among children and adults alike, and iscontrolled by insulin injections and medication.

aCCdsCOMMuNItyaNdINdustRypaRtNERs

HealthWest Western Health Western Bulldogs Football Club

Western elbourne Division of General Practice Australian Industry Group

Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Western egion Health Centre

Diabetes AustraliaVictoria

Juvenile Diabetes esearch Foundation

Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute Foundation

Six local councils

Check out your risk factor.

Try the Victorian Governments type 2 diabetes riskassessment tool to determine your risk probability:

www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/rat/index.html

CHOICESCOUNITY PATNESHIPS


8/17

14

Judging by his rsum, VUs new Chancellor George Pappas gives the impressionof being an exceptionally good t for the role.

He brings to the position a sharp business focus as a leading corporate adviserin the US, Japan and Australia. His wealth of professional experience includeschairmanship of the Committee for elbourne, a recent stint as a senioreconomics adviser to the Brumby Government, and an ongoing role as chair of theFederal Governments Defence Strategic eform Advisory Board.

But theres more. Pappas, a rst-generation Australian of Greek heritage, sharessomething that is precious to many VU students he was the rst in his familyto graduate with a degree. His father, a tailor by day, worked a second job as awaiter at night to ensure his family had every opportunity to succeed.

At a graduation ceremony in 2007, Pappas told VU graduates: I have a verysimple message: the investment in my education was the most important gift thatmy parents, my teachers and many others gave to me.

Topping the state in matriculation economics and British history, he received ascholarship to study economics at onash University. Doing well at school wasmy way of repaying my parents, he says.

He performed so well at onash that he won a second scholarship to study forhis BA at the prestigious Harvard Business School in 1969. He stayed in theUS for many years after being offered a job by the countrys leading businessconsultancy, The Boston Consulting Group.

So what can VU expect from its new chancellor? A series of briengs is under wayto bring him up to speed on the workings of the University.

I was trained to gather data, to learn and to analyse rst, and only then tospeak, Pappas says. I think theres always an assumption that a new personcoming into a role has instant advice and instant solutions to t he issues. Im not abeliever in that. So Ill take my time.

He is enthusiastic about the pragmatic mission of the University in preparingstudents for their chosen professions. One of the things that I found very

encouraging about VU when I was considering the position was the strategyof developing industry clusters, and relationships and partnerships withstakeholders, he says.

He also recognises that a research prole is essential for a university, and thepre-eminence of sports and exercise science research and teaching at VU has notbeen lost on Pappas, who sits on the board of VU partner the Western Bulldogs.

He says institutions should concentrate on those things that they do better thananybody else. In that way you can develop a reputation for excellence, you can bea leader, you can attract the best people. I think sports science is a natural for VU there arent many tertiary institutions that are doing what VU is doing in this eld.

He believes VU has a special place in elbourne. VU is a contributor to whatmakes elbourne the city that it is because it provides a place where sociallydisadvantaged students can go and have their lives transformed.

Pappas tenure as Chancellor began on 1 January and will run until the endof 2011. His appointment followed the reti rement in August last year of VUsprevious Chancellor, Justice Frank Vincent AO QC.

JI BUCKELL

NEW CHANCELLOrSENIO ANAGEENT

VU Chancellor George Pappas

15

Last September, Work-based Education esearchCentre (WEC) Director Berwyn Clayton was preparinga trip to Canberra to visit her grandchildren.

They told me theyve forgotten what I look like, so Ithink a visit is l ong overdue, says Clayton.

Such is the toll of 12 months hard work spentestablishing WEC as Australias premier organisationdelivering research, development and consultancy invocational and work-based education.

Clayton joined Victoria University in 2008 after morethan a decade as inaugural director of the CentreUndertaking esearch in Vocational Education (CUVE)

at Canberra Institute of Technology.

With the support of WECs deputy director,Associate Professor Shelley Gillis one of Australiasleading researchers in vocational competency-basedassessment processes and systems Clayt on quicklysecured a lucrative tender with the National QualityCouncil to develop best practice documentation for thevalidation of work-based training assessment.

Given the centre is still in its infancy, many of WECscurrent projects are intended as the rst links in a chainthat will foster strong, long-term partnerships andcollaborations. Clayton offers the example of a trainingneeds analysis they are producing for Bega Cheese.

It involves a review of training requirements andresources for Bega over at Strathmerton, saysClayton. While this is interesting for researchers,what matters strategically for the centre, and VictoriaUniversity more broadly, is that we are establishing astrong relationship with a view to becoming trainingprovider of choice for Bega. T his would have the knock-on effect of WEC being able to engage the servicesof multiple VU faculties across vocational and highereducation.

The centres current projects are diverse and takeplace across Australia and overseas. The application ofweb-based technologies is a theme running throughoutmany of the projects. Three of the centres eight staffhave considerable skills in multimedia and e- learning.

This expertise, combined with their colleagues moretraditional skills in commercial and educationalpedagogy, ensures WEC is well equipped to respondto challenges posed by an increasingly tech-savvysociety.

Establishing and deepening our networks is the keyto entrenching WEC at the heart of strategic decisionmaking in the eld of vocational and work-basededucation, says Clayton. Our mission is clear, andafter a strong performance in our rst year we are wellon our way to success.

Visit www.werc.vu.edu.au

CAIG SCUTT

WEC is Australias premier organisation for the delivery of research,development and consultancy in work-based education, such as aged care.

CUENT WEC POJECTS

A collaborative research paper with Open University alaysia is examining current industrial workplacelearning practices in both countries. The paper will present new strategies for consideration, with a focuson new technologies.

A Skills Victoria Innovation Grant is funding a study to assess a new online tool that measures users skillsets. It will also assess other skills recognition resources.

An examination of ways to ensure the continuation of ongoing teacher development in industryengagement, employability skills, and workplace delivery and assessment.

The WEC Exchange project is mobilising teachers in Australia and New Zealand to share skills andresources.

The development and monitoring of a Trade Pedagogy website that encourages teachers to share theirknowledge while networking locally, nationally and internationally.

AT WErC EDUCATION ESEACH


9/17

HArVESTINGCOUNITY PATNESHIPS

Leigh Lonigro of Laverton North does not mind takingtwo trains, two buses and 90 minutes to get to schoolin Sunshine.

The Year 11 student knew years ago that he wantedto be an electrician and learn his trade on the job. ButLeigh also understood the value of completing his Year12. At Harvester Technical College, the 17-year-oldfound he could do both.

The College is a successor to the Howard GovernmentsAustralian Technical College at Sunshine, one of severalfacilities established around Australia to combat t hecountrys skills shortage. In November 2009, it wastaken over by the State Governments education andtraining system.

Operating from a $9 million ult ra-modern buildingnamed in the 2009 World Architect ure Awards as

Education Building of the Year, Harvester College is apartner of Sunshine College, Victoria University, and anadvisory board of members with businesses mainly inelbournes west.

The partnership allows students to go further, fasterand higher in a trade career than any other pathway,says Andrew Williamson, Associate Director of VUsFaculty of Technical and Trades Innovation, and theColleges founding CEO.

All 130 students currently enrolled at Harvester inYears 10, 11 and 12 will graduate with a VictorianCerticate of Education (VCE) or a Victorian Certicateof Applied Learning (VCAL), or both.

They will also e merge with a pre-apprenticeship orCerticate III in their trade, allowing them to slot into asecond-year apprenticeship right out of high school.

Harvester offers a senior secondary educationalternative with a curriculum tailored to the needsof future tradies, Williamson says. It providesthe foundational skilling expertise and nurturingenvironment of school with the trade training of TAFE.

Year 10 students are enrolled as Sunshine Collegestudents and do taster programs for careersin automotive, building, construction, metals,engineering, electro-technology and cookery. TheCollege is looking to soon expand into hairdressing,and transport and logistics.

After choosing a specialty, Years 11 and 12 studentsare classied as VU students and undertake specialised

programs at various VU campuses (and at KanganBatman TAFE for automotive students).

During the three years, the students also studyVCE English and VCAL aths, as well as business,technology and personal development.

The College champions vocational learning not as alast resort for non-academic students or as a form ofre-engagement, but as a means to launch careers thatare valuable in their own right.

Employers tell us they are comfortable teaching tradeskills on the job, but t hey dont want to be teachingreading and writing, Williamson says. The youngpeople we prepare will have t he skills and knowledgeto be future leaders in their trade.

The students also undertake authentic projects thathelp them generate a sense of importance andengender pride in a trade career. For example, lastyear they built a cubby house for a kindergarten in theburned-out town of arysville.

Harvester College also uses its state-of-the-art building where electronic white boards and plasma-screenTVs are built into huge open-plan rooms for publicevents. The aim is to increase awareness of tradeseducation and to erase labels about st udents who areattracted to it. The College hosted a literary festivallast year in a deliberate attempt to prove that studentswith vocational aspirations can also enjoy culture.

The man responsible for inspiring Harvester s namewould undoubtedly be pleased with its aims. HughVictor cKay, a farmer who manufactured agriculturalequipment at his Sunshine Harvester Works at the turn

of last century and became one of Australias leadingindustrialists, was also known for his remarkablevision.

He not only employed thousands of workers in thearea, but also built its rst trade college and providedhousing, libraries and parks for his Sunshine Family.It seems appropriate the College tip its hat to theremarkable history of the area.

Harvester College is carving out an identity as a hubof innovation that harvests knowledge and skills forour young people, says Williamson.

Harvester Technical College is located at 76 Suolk Rd,

Sunshine North, Phone: 03 8311 5555.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT

Harvester Technical College is an innovative hybridof secondary school, TAFE and workplace learning.

1716


10/17

18

LEArNINGINTENATIONAL EDUCATION

GOALSEECISE SCIENCE

Students Sarah Nolan and Candice Drozdek withDr arcelle Cacciattolo on the Great Wall of China

James Podsiadly: Whether I play onegame or whatever, it will be a great storyto tell the grandkids.

19

Experience, travel: these are as education in themselves

Euripides, 5th Century BC

Late in 2009, 20 pre-service teaching studentsfrom VUs Faculty of Arts, Education and HumanDevelopment (AEHD) embarked on an educationaljourney of their own a two-week study tour to Chinaand the Beijing Information Science and TechnologyUniversity (BISTU). For many of the students,particularly those who had never travelled overseasbefore, it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

The trip was funded through VUs Student obilityprogram with additional funding from BISTU.

Accompanied by two teachers, lecturer Julie Arnold andsenior lecturer Dr arcelle Cacciattolo from the Schoolof Education, the students completed an InternationalStudy subject by taking Chinese language, culture andhistory classes at BISTU. They visited many of BISTUscampuses and experienced diverse teaching methods.It was a whole new world of learning both inside andoutside of the classroom.

Unseasonably cold weather couldnt put a dampeneron the trip, with the rst sight of snow anunforgettable experience for many of the students.

Other highlights included the Great Wall of China,Tiananmen Square, the Beijing Olympics Birds Neststadium, Chinese opera and traditional Chinese cuisine.

Being fully immersed in Chinese culture and welcomedinto the universitys community gave the students anew appreciation for a different way of life, and ofbeing an outsider in unfamiliar surroundings. Throughdaily journal entries, the students reected on howthey believed their experiences will enrich their futureteaching careers.

I can talk about the country of China with new eyes,wrote one pre-service teacher. I can explain to [myfuture] students how this feels and show photos, andallow them to see the differences between the twocountries.

Another student wrote, Now I can understand howit feels for people to come to Australia and not beunderstood.

Cacciattolo says she believes the pre-service teachersnow understood what it feels like to be an outsider.

One thing that was quite clear was how they feltperceived as the other. Having a sense of thelanguage barriers, thinking creatively and problem-

solving tested their comfort levels. When they havestudents of their own, particularly English as aSecond Language students, they will have a betterunderstanding of what their students are feeling.

Professor Deborah Tyler, AEHD Associate Dean,International, says the educational impact of studentshaving this sort of experience is huge. They uniformlyunderstood the future value it will bring to theirlives as teachers, she says. The ow-on effect thisexperience will bring to them as teachers will be

signicant.

The overwhelming generosity the group received fromBISTUs staff was ultimately what made the tour sucha success.

The program has further strengthened VUs partnershipwith BISTU. In September 2010, the School ofEducation will reciprocate by hosting 20 BISTUstudents and two staff members for a two-week studytour of VU and elbourne.

There are plans for another VU study tour to Beijingin 2011.

JESSICA JUY

James Pods Podsiadly knew he had come to acrossroad in his life when he was called into the ofce ofthe Geelong Football Clubs recruiting manager last year.

The Victoria University Bachelor of Exercise Sciencegraduate was asked whether he wanted to continuein his exciting new role as coach on the 2009 AFLpremiership-winning clubs tness team or follow adream that had eluded him for more than a decade to be an AFL player.

It was a no-brainer I jumped at the opportunity,says Podsiadly.

For a man who only started playing football when hewas 17 but quickly became a legendary goal-kickingmachine in the minor Victorian Football League (VFL),this was not his rst shot at the AFL.

The now-28-year-old played pre-season AFL gameswith Essendon in 2000 and Collingwood in 2002, butwas de-listed by both clubs before the regular seasonbegan. He then carved out his impressive VFL career asa full forward, rst with Williamstown, then Werribee,where last year he qualied for lifetime membershipafter 175 games. In 2008 he picked up the J.J. ListonTrophy VFLs Brownlow edal equivalent as theVFLs best and fairest.

During those years, Podsiadly also studied full time atVU, earning his degree in 2008. He is now working onan honours project about neuro-muscular recovery. Ontop of that, he established a successful personal tnesstraining business, managing a range of clients from out-of-shape ofce workers to professional surfers.

y degree helped give me an academic frameworkaround what peoples bodies go through, and how toimprove their health and performance whoever theyare, says Podsiadly.

Because of his background in exercise and training,as well as professional football, last year Podsiadlywas offered the assistant high-performance tnessand conditioning coaching job with the GeelongCats, guiding players in weight sessions, running andrecovery work.

I believe you create your own good luck, he says.All of my hard work at uni opened the door for mewith the job at Geelong.

Podsiadlys thesis supervisor at VU, Dr Alan Pearce,says James honours project in neuro-muscularrecovery was not only appropriate as an academicstudy, but it was also proving benecial to the GeelongFootball Club.

When I rst met him, James impressed me with hisacademic ability, and topped the class, saysPearce. When he asked to undertake honours andcombine it with his football, I didnt hesitate.

Outside of work and study, Podsiadlys performance oneld as the new captain of Geelongs VFL team quicklyturned heads among Cats management. They decidedto draft him at the end of last year as a mature-agedrookie, and offer him a third opportunity to play inthe AFL.

I have no preconceptions about this opportunitybecause playing on the CG is still a long wayoff, says Podsiadly. Whether I play one game orwhatever, it will be a great story to tell the grandkids.

Optimistically, Podsiadly thinks it might be third-time luckythis time. y game has gone to another level since Istudied at VU, he says. y motivation is as high as ithas ever been and I am much stronger physically andmentally than I have ever been in my life.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT


11/17

In 2010 more than 40,000 Australians will die from cancer and more than400,000 new cases will be diagnosed. Luckily, not all cancer diagnoses are adeath sentence especially if the disease is caught in its early stages.

Victoria University alumnus Dr onny Veljanovski is working with a team ofresearchers developing new systems that will assist in the early detection of thispervasive disease. Veljanovski completed a Bachelor of Science, a PhD in Electricaland Electronic Engineering, and a Graduate Certicate in Tertiary Education atVU. He is currently the Project anager of the Detectors &D at the Cooperativeesearch Centre for Biomedical Imaging Development (CCBID) based at theonash Centre for Synchrotron Science.

Two types of medical imaging systems used in the detection and diagnosis ofmany cancers are Computed Tomography (CT) which provides three- dimensional-rays and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) which provides images of aradiopharmaceutical tracer that has been injected i nto the body. Because

cancerous tumours are usually more active t han normal tissue, they take up moreof the injected substance and appear different on a PET scan.

These imaging systems provide information about the size and location of thetumour and whether the cancer has spread. T he information can also be used toguide a biopsy, help plan radiation therapy or surgery and determine whether thecancer is responding to treatment.

esearchers at CCBID are investigating ways to enhance the ability of thesesystems to capture data to assist clinicians with the early detection, diagnosis,treatment and management of diseases such as cancer.

Veljanovski says signicant progress has been made towards the development of aprototype, small-scale, hybrid pixel detector for CT systems.

There is so much scope to improve current CT/-ray systems to give better imagequality by increasing the contrast i n the images they produce, he says. This will

20 21

Bondi Beach: Each towel represents one of the 1700 deaths in Australia caused by skin cancer in2009. 440,000 skin cancers are diagnosed in Australia each year. Source: Cancer Council Australia

allow us to differentiate better between similar elements of composition in the bodysuch as tumours and muscle tissue.

The challenge is to design and manufacture sensitive and fast hardware; gettingthe microelectronic chip design is crucial to the success of these systems. We hopeto be able to reach a stage where we can produce real-time colour -rays. Suchnovel technology will greatly improve t he diagnostic capacity of -ray imaging, andwould enable doctors to accurately diagnose and precisely l ocate tumours that are afraction of a millimetre.

Potentially, the detectors under development by CCBID will be able to perform bothPET and CT measurements at the same time. This would provide a more completepicture of a tumours location and growth or spread, improving the ability of doctorsto diagnose cancer, determine how far it has spread, and follow patients responsesto treatment. The combined PET/CT scan may also reduce the number of additionalimaging tests and other procedures a patient needs.

Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, says the ability to perform CT andPET scans simultaneously has many potential benets. For example the combinationof PET and CT measurements could be useful in a number of ways, says Olver. Itmay be very useful in helping to diagnose lung cancer. If a nodule is found on thelung it would give you a better idea about the nature of that nodule.

The new technology could also help doctors determine if the cancer has spread to

other organs aiding them in determining the best way to treat the primary cancer.

Doctors could make more accurate decisions about treatment eliminating the needfor patients to undergo heroic treatment procedures that will not have a curativeeffect, says Olver.

But while early detection should be the goal for all cancers, Olver emphasised thevalue of cancer prevention. Prevention can have a signicant impact. One third of allcancers in Australia could be prevented through lifestyle changes.

Veljanovski, who also worked at VU as a Senior Lecturer and Director of PostgraduatePrograms in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for a number of years aftergraduating, says he developed his ability to manage projects at the University byengaging with a variety of industries via the icroelectronic Engineering programs.

VU gave me the ability to see what the industry required their needs werewell articulated in our courses. I was also given the chance to develop my projectmanagement skills and I wouldnt be where I am today without these.

CRCBID (www.crcbid.com.au) is a leading edge research company established and

supported under the Australian Governments Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)

program. CRCBIDs research partners include the Australian Nuclear Science and

Technology Organisation, Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute o Medical

Research and Monash University.

CANDICE NEUANN

ALUNI

CANCEr

Dr onny Veljanovski is part of a researchteam developing technology that will assist inthe early detection of cancer.

WHAT CAUSES CANCE?

one in nine cancers, and one in ve cancer deaths, are due to smoking

about 3% of cancers are related to alcohol consumption

many cancers occur as a direct result of dietary inuences, frominfectious agents or exposure to radiation (especially skin cancersfrom ultraviolet radiation)

some cancers result from inherited faulty genes

cancer is not caused by injury or stress

Source: Cancer Council Australia

www.cancer.org.au


12/17

At rst glance, the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) appears to have little incommon with Victoria University. One is located in a North American desert closeto the exican border, and the other on the opposite side of the world in one ofAustralias busiest cities.

But that is where the differences end.

Both were founded nearly 100 years ago to educate a working class UTEP asthe Texas State School of ines and etallurgy, and VU as the Footscray Instituteof Technology. Both also have large populations of st udents from non-English-speaking backgrounds: more than 100 nationalities are represented at VU,while UTEP is the largest university in the US with a majority Hispanic studentpopulation.

But perhaps most importantly, both share a commitment t o the ideals of accessand excellence, attracting large numbers of students from modest backgrounds often the rst in their families to go to university and providing them with aquality education.

The two universities began collaborating in 2005 and signed a multi-facetedemorandum of Understanding in October 2007. The OU focused on developingprograms that would further widen access to learning and build bridges betweenthe students of both institutions.

VU College Dean Susan Young says that in recent years delegations have crossedthe Pacic in both directions to strengthen the partnership and to create globallearning experiences for their respective students.

The relationship moved from conversation to action to create systematic responsesto benet our students, says Young.

Last year, VU formed a team to scope future joint opportunities to improve thelearning experiences of disadvantaged students. It developed ve University-wide strategies, such as offering them job opportunities on campus so they canearn where they learn. A students as staff program now provides around 100students with paid jobs at VU.

The two institutes have also exchanged ideas about boosting academic supportby incorporating centres for student writing, maths and technology within theirlibraries.

Joint activities that directly link students from each country are also taking place.The Global Learning Community pilot project saw students from VUs Diplomaof Liberal Art s and UTEPs 1301 Entering Students Program collaborating viavideo-conference while studying common issues of cultural diversity, migration,settlement and dislocation.

They were assessed by their home institutions through their contributions to asocial networking space created for the project. This year, ve students from eachuniversity will switch universities for a semester of study and work.

VU and UTEP students are using this class to experience life and culture indifferent countries through a structured learning program, using technology and inconjunction with their new global learning partners, says Young.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT

TO TExASPATNESHIPS

VU and UTEP share a commitmentto the ideals of education access.

2322

Adil ohamed, 58, uses cultural activist as his title. Its a jarring label, but one thathelps explain the mammoth barriers he has overcome to get where he is today.

He speaks about the imprisonment and torture he endured in Sudan due to hisrole as a writer and opposition politician in the same matter-of-fact manner as anAustralian might mention the u.

ohameds interest in cultural awareness as a medium for social connection isa key part of his present life. Less than a decade after arriving in Australia as anon-English-speaking refugee, ohamed is now working toward his PhD at VU.His thesis is an examination of the way the identities of his fellow Sudanese aredeveloped and expressed once they arrive in Australia, in particular their sense ofdisplacement, conicting values and loss.

y dream of doing studies in my home country was disrupted, but here I canprogress with much support, he says. Sometimes I feel the teachers at VU arebeyond teachers they act more like social workers, advocates and friends.

VU enrols many students from overseas, but those from Africa frequently arrivewith complex backgrounds similar to ohameds. Culturally, economically andpolitically many nd themselves in an alien world in Australia, some experiencingcity life and urban values for the rst time.

Students from Africa in particular those from Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea andLiberia are an increasing portion of VU enrolments. African-born students nowcomprise about ve per cent of VUs student population, but many second-generation students of African descent dont show up in that statistic.

Through the Universitys Concurrent Assistance program, VU College recentlyheld an open conversation and lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant near FootscrayNicholson Campus. Dubbed the Harambe Conversations, the event was a chancefor some of VUs African students to share their experiences and aspirations.

Wehazit Haile, 30, from Eritrea, decided she never wanted to be dependent onanyone again. After a forced marriage at age 15 and three children before shewas 20, Haile came to Australia ve years ago as a determined single mum.She steadily progressed through foundation courses and adult VCE, focusing nexton VU TAFE courses in nancial services. Hailes goal is to earn a VU degree inbanking and business within the next three years.

It has been a challenge to do this, but I am very motivated and am showing mychildren what is possible with hard work, she says.

ajok Doong, 32, from Sudan, has been learning accounting at VU since 2002.Apart from his studies, Doong is passionate about helping other new arrivals,especially young people. He runs the New Sudanese Youth Association, helping

young migrants enrol in language classes and youth activities. Doong feelsfortunate he has found work at a logistics company because it gives him hopeabout bringing his parents to Australia.

any of my teachers have worked with me one-to-one and I can say that VU hashelped me build my future, he says.

Like ohamed, the participants in the Harambe Conversations displayed incrediblededication to their studies, knowing the opportunities education provides.

ohamed says he is like a new man in Australia, especially after recently learninghis masters study had been upgraded to a PhD, and with the imminent birth ofhis rst child.

y knowledge has been broadened and my choices in life are multiplied becauseI am here.

ANN AIE ANGEBANDTBAY GANE

OUTVU COLLEGE

Wehazit Haile and Adil ohamed share their experiences and aspirationsas part of a growing number of African students at Victoria University.


13/17

24

GATEWAYCOUNITY

A stroll through multicultural central Footscray in the heart of elbournes west islike walking through a crowded bazaar in Addis Ababa. Clusters of colourful shopsabound, lled with handmade carpets, traditional clothing, polished tea sets and adizzying range of other African and iddle Eastern imports.

ost passers-by would not see beyond this fascinating collection of exotica. Butmost passers-by wouldnt have the same business sense and community spirit asthe Victoria University students from the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) club.

The students all volunteers from the Faculty of Business and Law seekingreal-life projects outside their studies saw immediate opportunities when theyexamined the way African retail businesses in the area operated. They decided toteam up with the shops owners to offer them advice as one of their SIFE projects.

Established more than 30 years ago in the US, the club now includes around36,000 university students from all over the world who design, fund, deliver anddocument community service projects on top of their regular studies.

VU SIFE president Gavin Draper, a third-year Bachelor of Business studentspecialising in entrepreneurship says the VU SIFE team believed they couldimprove some of the business practices of the African shopkeepers.

any of the traders were selling identical products to each other, borrowing fromtheir families instead of banks, and closing their businesses for extended periodsto take holidays, says Draper. By giving them the right information and ideas,many have been able to improve the way they run t heir businesses.

The team of eight students arranged seminars for the shopkeepers at VUs nearbyFootscray Nicholson Campus. These covered topics such as marketing, nance,taxation and merchandising. Expert volunteer speakers included VU professors anda member of state parliament.

African shopkeeper Nimat ohamed says her decision to subdivide and lease partof her variety shop as a result of the seminars helped boost her prots and focusher product lines.

The SIFE program has been running at VU since 2007, attracting up to 25students each year, mainly second or third-year Business and Law students. Thestudents work in teams to develop two or three community service projects a yearwith the help of executive-level business mentors. They devote about two hours aweek to their projects outside of their regular studies. The program is voluntary,but participants get academic credit for their involvement.

Club members also have the chance to showcase and be judged on their projectsin national and international competitions. The venture with Footscrays Africanshopkeepers received a national merit award last year in competition with SIFE

clubs from 20 other Australian universities.

Were very proud of our students performance and the contribution this projectmade in connecting us with t he western region of elbourne, says Professor JohnBreen, deputy dean of the Faculty of Business and Law.

VU SIFE vice-president Tim Baxter says the program offers other benets besidesthe satisfaction of participating in meaningful community projects.

We have access to some of Australias top executives and get to network with businesspeople with 30 or 40 years experience. They can give us one-on-one advice about real-life projects, and t hats something we just cant get in t he classroom.

For inormation ab out VUs SIFE program: www.business.vu.edu.au/current_

students/sie.asp

ANN AIE ANGEBANDT

mINdSCOUNITY

Nimat ohamed, owner of the Nimat Variety Shop, with VU SIFEpresident Gavin Draper (centre) and VU SIFE vice-president Tim Baxter.

25

Nineteen-year-old Giramachew Kebede had his heart seton a career as an automotive spray painter. But threemonths into his apprenticeship the Yarraville residentdeveloped an allergy to the chemicals in the paint.

I couldnt nish my course, says Kebede. Since thenIve been doing some work and thinking about myoptions.

So when Kebede stumbled across Victoria Universitysportable career and courses advice booth at HighpointShopping Centre in aribyrnong, he used theopportunity to start exploring his study options.

Its really convenient to walk past a booth at the

shopping centre and nd somebody to talk to, he says.

VUs portable course and career advice booth, called theCommunity Gateways, is a new VU initiative to broadenthe way educators connect with people in the westernregion of elbourne. The Gateways delivers a service forpeople, who for a variety of reasons might not seek outfuture-planning information. Some people feel unsureabout visiting a university campus, while others are notparticularly mobile and prefer to stay in their local area.

Community Gateways Project anager Christineountford says the service helps overcome these issuesby providing a familiar space where people can enquireabout local training opportunities, careers advice andnd information about courses or skills assessment.

This service reduces the barriers to accessing careercounselling and encourages the participation ofstudents in university from non-traditional universitybackgrounds, says ountford.

VU has established a partnership with the GPT Group,managers of the Highpoint Shopping Centre, whichprovides the Community Gateways with six weeksprime mall space annually. In mid January theGateways team spent two weeks at the centre andspoke to 250 people.

We saw a huge range of people with a variety ofinterests, says ountford. Some wanted guidanceabout upgrading their skills, some about changing

professions and some about returning to do the degreeor diploma theyve always postponed.

The booth is staffed by professional VU careercounsellors offering study and career advice to a broadaudience, including retirees, the unemployed, migrantsand career-changers. ountford says the informationavailable was not just about courses offered by VU.

This service is not a course promoter for VU. Peopleusing our service are given information matched totheir interests and needs which may relate to otheruniversities or trainers.

The Community Gateways will be at Highpoint again inay and December this year and will move around tovarious community locations within elbournes

western region. It can provide three levels of servicedepending upon the location and needs of thecommunity.

Level 1 Course information for prospectivestudents and parents; individual and group careercounselling, advice on pathways and referrals toappropriate education and training providers.

Level 2 English language and numeracyassessment; recognition of prior learningcompetency assessment with referral to gaptraining courses within VU.

Level 3 Provision of short courses, general and

further education programs and referral throughpathways to VU and other providers.

VU is currently developing other ways of delivering theCommunity Gateways service to the wider community.As well as the transportable careers booth, a permanentin-situ location has been included in designs for VUsstudent precinct in Flinders Arcade in the CBD. TheUniversity is also purchasing a vehicle to be repurposedas a mobile Community Gateways. It will be used todeliver off-campus workshops, career counselling orgroup activities.

Find out more ab out the Community Gateways:

www.vu.edu.au/uture-students/community-Gateways

Phone 03 9919 6100

CANDICE NEUANN

Prospective student Giramachew Kebede gets

advice with VUs Community Gateways.


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26

EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE WALK

27

Indigenous Australians know rst-hand how public gurescan talk up schemes that benet the descendants ofAustralias rst people. espect for the traditional ownersof the land underpins nearly every public speech given inVictoria, yet outcomes for Indigenous Australians remainskewed towards unemployment, low levels of educationand poverty.

Seven years ago, Victoria University made a commitmentto undertake measures aimed at improving the lives ofIndigenous people chiey through the recruitment ofIndigenous staff.

The Universitys 2005 Indigenous Employment andCareer Development Strategy, introduced best-practicepolicymaking designed to improve the VUs relationshipwith the local Indigenous community.

This was not an over-zealous attempt at afrmativeaction but a carefully considered action plan based on theUniversitys broader commitment to improving the livesof all members of the community, with a focus on peopleliving in elbournes west.

In 2006, to honour the local Wurundjeri people and keepalive their Woiwurrung language, VU renamed the strategyYannoneit meaning to walk or come walk. By usingthe word Yannoneit, VU is symbolically inviting IndigenousAustralians to join its mission to transform the lives ofindividuals, and develop industry and communities throughthe power of education.

The publication, Living Yannoneit, showcases VUsachievements over the past ve years in delivering itsYannoneit strategy.

Victoria University is the largest education provider and

employer in the western suburbs of elbourne, says Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Harman in her introduction

to Living Yannoneit. We are proud to have students andstaff from over 100 nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

The University recognises that proactive action is neededto ensure Indigenous Australians are properly represented.

Living Yannoneitis the brainchild of the UniversitysIndigenous Employment Co-ordinator, arlon Booth.Hailing from Central Queensland, Booth was brought upon Woorabinda Aboriginal eserve in an area he says wasbypassed by the 20th century.

Booths career developed while working at Aboriginal

Hostels Limited, a Federal Government agency thatprovides culturally appropriate, temporary accommodationfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. For morethan two decades he travelled Australia, developing asophisticated national perspective of the diversity ofIndigenous people and their circumstances. After movingto Victoria in 1996, Booth established strong connectionswith the local Indigenous community, prior to joining VUin 2005.

y role is to promote the employment of IndigenousAustralians, while assisting managers to nd and createopportunities for Indigenous people, says Booth. I amalso responsible for co-ordinating and implementing therecommendations outlined in Yannoneit.

One of the major challenges in implementing Yannoneitsrecommendations is communicating its benets to seniormanagers and external partners, as well as Indigenouspeople who may otherwise believe VU is paying lip serviceto its claims of supporting the Indigenous community.

In Living Yannoneit, we introduce some of the 23Indigenous staff recruited since the strategy was

introduced. Hearing their stories is a great way to see whatYannoneit means in real, human terms, says Booth.

The publication also provides an overview and updateon the strategys 16 key recommendations, includingincreasing the number of Indigenous employees at VU totwo per cent of all staff by the end of 2013 (this gurerepresents the percentage of Indigenous Australians withinthe broader community).

Booth says the University should be extremely proud ofwhat has been achieved so far.

Our successes are adding up, he says. We now have adedicated Indigenous Community Liaison Ofcer focusedon attracting new Indigenous staff and supporting those

who are already here. The oondani Balluk AcademicUnit, under the leadership of Acting Director Karen Jackson,(VUs longest serving Indigenous employee) continues tosupport understanding, respect and inclusion of Indigenousculture. And in 2009 we initiated a program for Indigenouschildcare students, enabling them to study while workingat the campus childcare centres.

There are now almost 30 Indigenous staff employedacross VU, and Booth is optimistic the University willachieve its target of 50 by 2013.

VU is playing an important role in improving outcomesfor the Indigenous community in elbournes west,says Booth. It is generally acknowledged that increasedIndigenous employment at universities leads to an increasein Indigenous student enrolments.

Creating the opportunities for people to have a goodjob and a good education are the rst steps towardsalleviating the disadvantage and associated problemsfaced by Indigenous Australians.

CAIG SCUTT

Bottom left: epresentatives of VUs Indigenous staff: at Jakobi, Karen Adams, Tony cCartney, Joseph urphet, Davina Woods, arlon Booth and Sue adden.Below: ariah Charles, 9, at econciliation ocks, an event held last ay at Iramoo Sustainable Community Centre to celebrate Indigenous culture.


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30 31

bOOKS

Killin: Misantrs in violncBy Jeff SparrowPublished by elbourne UniversityPress

Ninety years after World War I,police in a Victorian country townuncover the mummied head ofa Turkish soldier, a bullet-riddensouvenir of a returning GallipoliANZAC. This macabre discoverysets the author on a compassionatequest through history and across theworld to understand the nature ofdeadly violence.

Intrnational Jornal octor-Ntork Thor an

Tchnoloical Innoation

By Arthur TatnallPublished by IGI Global Publishing(USA)

This groundbreaking new journalcovers a range of topics related toactor-network theory and its useas a means of exploring socio-technical phenomena relating tothe implementation and use ofinformation and communicationtechnologies.

Tom wills His SpctaclarRis an Fall

By Greg de oorePublished by Allen & Unwin

This is the story of Tom Wills:awed genius, sporting libertine,fearless leader and agitator, andman most often credited withcreating the game we now knowas Australian ules Football.Greg de oore has carefullypieced together this extraordinaryportrait of the life and times ofone of our rst sporting heroes.

Passion Pla Lo, Hop an Hartbrak atth Foot

By atthew KlugmanPublished by Hunter Publishers

Theres something about Australianules football that drives fans tomadness. Passion Playjourneysinto the world of footy mania andthe love and suffering at its heart.Drawing on the experiences offans, this book follows the annualquest for the premiership in all itshorror and glory.

VU fACTSeNROLLed STudeNTSCrrnt stnt poplation: 51,280Higher education: 22,423TAFE: 28,857Postgraduate: 4595

pprnticships an trainships: 4163

Intrnational stnts total: 14,681Offshore: 9766Onshore: 4915

Liin in strn rion o MlbornTotal: 23,876Higher education: 7098TAFE: 16,778

wRdS PReSeNTedTotal aars 2009: 15,321Higher education: 5201TAFE: 10,120Doctorates: 72

SCHOLRSHIPSvu n eqit ScholarshipsTotal: 355; Value: $375,000

FCuLTIeSArts, Education and Human DevelopmentBusiness and LawHealth, Engineering and ScienceTechnical and Trades InnovationWorkforce DevelopmentVU College

STFFTotal: 2532; Academics: 620;General: 1361; TAFE teaching: 523Senior management: 28

CMPuSeS Nd SITeSCity FlindersCity KingCity Queen (site)Footscray NicholsonFootscray ParkNewporteltonSt AlbansSunshineWerribee

geNeRL eNQuIRIeSPHONE +61 3 9919 4000

International student enquiriesPHONE +61 3 9919 1164EAIL [email protected]

Alumni relationsPHONE +61 3 9919 1017EAIL [email protected]/alumni

EVENTSSpinlss

By Bronwen ScottPublished by Allen & Unwin

Australian homes and backyardsare abuzz with wildlife: possumsin the roof, ants in the cupboards,frogs in the ponds and spiderson the walls. Spinelessis auseful little book written by aninvertebrate zoologist that willhelp readers identify and cultivatepals while banishing pests.

Ntshll: Tax La

By ichael SpistoPublished by ThompsonPublishing

This book offers a concise accountof a complex eld. Perfect as apre-reader, study aid or exampreparation tool, it provides anoverview of the main features oftaxation law, complete with casesummaries, legislative provisions,tables, and solid explanations.

This is an essential text whenquick, clear answers are required.

April

18 NuRSINg Nd HeLTH eXPOAustralias leading nursing and health expo.oyal Exhibition building, Carlton www.rcna.org.au

2325THe ge vCe Nd CReeRS eXPOOver 150 exhibitors including career and study advice, and seminars.Cauleld acecourse www.vceandcareers.com.au

26apRIL2May

wILLIMSTOwN LITeRRy FeSTIvL

A VU-sponsored community event.www.willylitfest.org.au

MAy

11 BuSINeSS BReKFST CLuB LuMNILearn how to start your small business or keep it thriving.7.30am Email [email protected]

1314 wRIC CReeRS & eMPLOyMeNT eXPOThe biggest careers and education expo in the west.Wyndman Leisure and Events Centrewww.wrica.net/careers_&_employment_expo

2122 NTIONL CReeRS Nd eMPLOyMeNT eXPOelbourne Exhibition Centre Phone 1300 667 121

27 PROJeCT MNgeMeNT MSTeR CLSS LuMNINetwork with industry professionals about the Project anagement sector.Email [email protected]

June

18 MeLTON CReeRS eXPOThis event showcases a range of career and furthereducation information.6.00pm elton Shire Community Hall

July

13 BuSINeSS BReKFST CLuB LuMNILearn how to start your s mall business or keep it thriving.7.30am Email [email protected]

30juLy1aug

MeLBOuRNe CReeR eXPOThis premier event showcases the nest educational institutions andemployers, with a focus on current growth industries.elbourne Exhibition Centre www.careerexpo.com.au

August

8 vu OPeN dyDiscover VUs exceptional teaching and learning facilities and coursesand meet with current and past students, staff and researchers.10.00am4.00pm VU Footscray Park Campus

For more student, staff and alumni events visitwww.vu.edu.au/events


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ArT

ATIST/STUDENT: ochelle Duke

COUSE:Diploma of Visual Art

TITLE:Pink and Green

DATE:2009

EDIA: Oil, pencil and acrylic

www.vu.edu.uCICOS Provider No. 0 0124K

Documents

Connections Issue 12