Robyn Harvey, Brisbane Campus

Professor's commitment to research acknowledged

Professor Janet Hiller with Her Excellency Governor General Quentin Bryce.

Professor Janet Hiller, Associate Dean of Health Sciences (Research), has been awarded a Patron’s Award from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Recognising her long term commitment as an epidemiologist, public health and health services researcher, Professor Hiller received the foundation’s Commitment to NBCF Research Investment Award 2011.

Currently the Deputy Chair of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Professor Hiller’s involvement with NBCF began in 1995 when she was one of the founding members of the RAC. During 2010-2011, she chaired the Epidemiological Questionnaire Design Advisory Group for Register4 – an NBCF initiative.

NBCF funds research to reduce the impact of breast cancer, and achieve prevention and cure. The Patron’s Awards ceremony is the organisation’s premier event, held to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of all members of the NBCF community.

Professor Hiller was presented the award by Governor General Quentin Bryce, in a ceremony at Admiralty House earlier this year.

Vice-Chancellor Staff Appreciation Awards 2012

The Staff Appreciation Awards were presented by Professor Greg Craven earlier this year.

The awards are presented to individuals who, in addition to performing their normal job duties with excellence, also demonstrate exceptional initiative in contributing to the ACU community.

The members of the ACU Executive Planning Group are invited to submit recommendations of potential recipients for the award. The Vice-Chancellor then selects the recipient based on these recommendations. 

The recipients for 2012 are as follows;

Brisbane Campus
Michelle Reynolds, National Manager Events

Assoc. Prof. Lindsay Farrell, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts & Science 

Canberra Campus 

Jill Burgess, Lecturer, Education

Rachel Bahl, Liaison Librarian

North Sydney Campus

Tristan Velasco, Digital Production Coordinator

Strathfield Campus
Dr Clare Johnson, Senior Lecturer, Theology

Ms Danielle Dent, Student Support Officer, Yalbalinga

Ballarat Campus 
Sarah Boswell, Marketing Coordinator 

Mrs Nola Jenkins, Administrative Officer (Office of Campus Dean) 

Melbourne Campus
Maryellen Peppard, Administrative Assistant (Reception and Mailroom)

Warren Lynch, Administrative Assistant (Reception and Mailroom)

Autism research looks at treatment options

Professor Deb Keen

A seven-year joint study led by ACU’s Professor Deb Keen, looking at parent-focused interventions for children with autism, is one of the most comprehensive ever done.

The resulting book - Working with Parents of a Newly Diagnosed Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Guide for Professionals – is to help parents cope with the diagnosis of an autistic child, and give them some clarity around treatment options.

Professor Keen and Professor Sylvia Rodger from the University of Queensland worked with more than 50 families during their research.

“We began working with these families shortly after diagnosis,” said Professor Keen.

“This is a very stressful time for families as parents immediately start learning how critical it is their child gets early intervention, but professional programs are often limited with very long waiting lists.”

The book gives information on diagnostic criteria of autism, key characteristics, aetiology, prevalence, and prognosis, and explains how to pass on accurate and meaningful information to families, and how to build effective family-professional partnerships.

It also provides strategies for helping families understand intervention options and make informed choices, set realistic goals, develop effective parenting strategies that build upon the strengths and capacities of the child, and strengthen family support networks.

“Autistic children have communication and socialisation impairments, as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviours and interests,” Professor Keen.

“These issues can create a lot of difficulties in the family when the child tries to communicate needs and wants - their behaviour may seem very unusual or disruptive, but it’s often them trying to communicate.”

“This book offers a different approach than many of the training programs for parents, which focus on giving the parents skills to provide intensive intervention for their child. The book focuses on the parent being a parent, but with specific parenting strategies to help their child with autism.

“It tries to influence the way professionals work with families, and encourages them to take a very family centred approach using effective methods to teach parents skills and strategies to help them understand and interpret their child’s behaviour and facilitate the child’s communication in the home.”

Heaven at ACU

Professor Patrick Heaven

Professor Patrick Heaven, prominent psychology academic and expert, has been appointed Dean of Research at ACU.

Professor Heaven comes to ACU from the University of Wollongong (UOW), where he was Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Prior to that, he was Head of the School of Psychology at UOW from 2001 to 2010.

Patrick holds several qualifications including a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Orange Free State; a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Stellenbosch; a Master of Arts (Research) from the University of the Orange Free State; and a Doctorate of Literature and Philosophy from the University of South Africa. His publication record includes more than 150 research articles, six books, and major research funding of approximately $1 million.

Patrick was instrumental in establishing the Wollongong Youth Study, a significant longitudinal study of the social and emotional development of youth. He is similarly involved in the Australian Character Study, another longitudinal study which documents changes over time.  Both projects have received funding from the Australian Research Council.

Professor Heaven is a former Editor of the Australian Journal of Psychology and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Adolescence.

“I am very excited about working at ACU,” he said. “The University’s national presence and predominantly metropolitan location gives it the opportunity to develop a significant research reputation across a diverse range of disciplines.”

“My aim is to assist in raising the overall research profile of the University nationally, internationally and among the community, to promote research excellence, help build strong research teams, and to foster a vibrant research environment for all of its Higher Degree Research students.”

Professor Thomas Martin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said he looked forward to welcoming Professor Heaven to ACU.

“Research is the single area of the University which is likely to be the biggest growth area over the next few years,” he said. 

“In late 2009, the University appointed its first Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), and completely reconstituted Research Services. Since 2009 the research budget has more than doubled, and research income has more than doubled and will continue to rise. I look forward to working with Professor Heaven and witnessing the contributions he will make to research at ACU.”

A step up in education

ACU joined hands with Thomas Carr College in Tarneit, Victoria, to introduce the Uni Step-Up program. 

The program, which is coordinated by ACU’s Equity Pathways department, allows year 12 students to complete university subjects during their final year.

Targeted specifically at low SES schools, students will be able to receive full credit if they enrol in a health or education program at ACU after completing high school. 

29 students are already enrolled in the pilot program and results from Uni Step-Up will also be included in their ATAR score.

“This is a valuable opportunity for students to gain an insight to university life and makes for a smoother transition from school to university,” explained Catherine O’Donnell, National Equity Pathways Coordinator. 

“Additionally, it gives students from less advantaged backgrounds a chance to vocationally link to a career earlier than usual”

The pilot program is a first for Victoria, with ACU running similar programs in NSW and Queensland.

Fashioning a less wasteful world

Bachelor of Creative Art student, Mia Johnson Photo: Sara Coen

Bottle tops, fishing wire and plastic bags are the fashion materials of choice for Mia Johnson.

The second year Bachelor of Creative Art student has designed and made a dress out of the unconventional materials her Fashion Less Waste submission. 

The competition, which is run by the Australian Museum, seeks to encourage a more sustainable fashion industry. 

Judged by Australia fashion icons, Akira Isogawa of Akira and Louise Olsen of Dinosaur Designs, prizes are awarded for the entrant who most originally - and stylishly - adheres to the theme of Deep Oceans. 

Majoring in visual art and design, Mia has paired her studies with workplace experience, completing an internship at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week and volunteer work at L’Oreal Fashion Festival. 

Mia said the lecturers at ACU are great at letting you fit things in around your interests. 

“And I love being able to do a lot of different things from graphics to sculpture,” she said.

“Combining sculpture and fashion, you can create really beautiful things out of random objects.”

Entries to Fashion Less Waste close May 8, visit the Australian Museum website for more details. 

News in Brief

Putting their heart into organ donation

Zaidee’s Physical Feats at the Melbourne Campus

Celebrating health, ACU students joined with uni students from across Victoria to promote organ donation

In 2011, only 337 organ donors gave Australians a new chance in life, with people aged 18-26 the lowest percentage of donors in Australia.

Zaidee’s Physical Feats aims to inspire young adults to be healthy and consider becoming an organ donor. 

Inspiring discussion about organ donation, and wearing the foundation’s rainbow shoelaces, ACU student’s physical feats included a sport themed flash mob and a treadmill race.

Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation was founded by the parents of Zaidee Turner, one of Australia’s youngest organ donors. Her gift of organ and tissue donation saved the lives of seven people. 

For more information visit the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation website.

International recognition for education lecturer

Dr Ann Gervasoni has presented the plenary address at the Mathematics Intervention Conference, Denmark.

Dr Gervasoni, a senior lecturer in Education at the Ballarat Campus, presented on how to identify children with mathematics difficulty and intervention strategies. 

The conference participants - over 100 Danish specialist teachers and mathematics consultants - were particularly interested in ACU’s‘ Extending Mathematical Understanding’ (EMU) approach to mathematics intervention. Currently, Denmark offers programs for students who have difficulty with reading, but does not have a strategy to assist those with mathematics difficulties

The EMU program is a research based intervention program focusing on the early years of schooling and includes field-based learning, workshops and data analysis. Currently in use in Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales, over 1000 teachers have undertaken ACU’s EMU specialist teacher course.

Her research findings are also being considered for policy development in Denmark after she presented her research to the Ministry of Education in Copenhagen.

First year students recognised for their achievement

Associate Professor Joe Fleming, Campus Dean (Ballarat) with Ballarat Campus EAP students

Ten first year students gathered on Monday 23 April at the Ballarat campus for a luncheon to recognise their achievement through gaining entry to ACU through the Early Achievers Program (EAP).

This alternative entry program allows prospective students early entry to ACU based on their significant community engagement.

This year, 60 students from around the state gained entry to ACU’s Ballarat Campus through this innovative program.

Associate Professor Joe Fleming, Campus Dean, addressed the group before congratulating them with a certificate of achievement and presenting them with an EAP key ring to commemorate the occasion.

60 Seconds with Jenna Veneziani, Marketing Officer, Brisbane Campus

Jenna Veneziani, Marketing Officer, Brisbane Campus

I'd spend the day relaxing in the back garden with my friends and family, enjoy lots of laughs together and eat lots of Italian food.

In life I have learned...

To grasp every opportunity that comes your way.

Something that inspires me...

I’m always inspired by others. I love listening to stories and learning what other people have experience and achieved in their life.

What would surprise most people about my job?

There's a lot of travelling - I've driven to New South Wales three times in four days!

What has been the most significant development in my field since starting my career?

I’ve just started my career but I’m excited to experience and learn new developments 

If I could invite any five people to dinner, who would they be and why?

My best friend – to reminisce and have lots of laughing fits

Kate Middleton - to hear about life as a royal and the charity work she does 

Michael Schumacher - to learn how to excel in your chosen career/talent 

Roger Federer - I'd love to hear his stories about how he became a world champion in tennis

Louise Rennison - I grew up reading her books as a teenager, her books are hilarious.