VICTORIA UNIVERSITY

CONNECTIONSIssue 5 Winter 2006www.vu.edu.au

90 YEARS90 LEGENDSBREAKNECK BROADBAND SCHOLARSHIP MATTERS WOMEN IN COMBAT WIN-WIN DIVORCE

2006 is Victoria University's 90th birthday. In a six-page feature, we trace our small beginnings as a technical school early last century to our place today as one of Australia's largest universities.

8CONTENTS4 VC welcome2006 is the Universitys 90th anniversary. The Vice-Chancellor writes about how proud she is of the Universitys past, and her excitement for its future.

4 In briefVUs first Fulbright Award winner and a staff member on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women are just two of the in briefs in this issue.

8 A legendary ninety yearsFrom small beginnings early last century, VU is now one of Australias largest universities. We celebrate its 90 years of serving the community.

14 Win-win divorceA new software program is helping to soothe the trauma of divorce by helping couples divide their assets through trade-offs.

18 Women in combatNew research is examining how Australian women soldiers adjust when they return home to normal life.

20 Learning? No probProblem-Based Learning is a new approach to education. VUs engineering schools have embraced the program with gusto.

21 Skin deepVUs Diploma in Beauty Therapy is a shining example of how a TAFE program can flow directly into a higher education qualification.

22 Changing boundaries in AcehThe Boxing Day tsunami permanently changed the landscape of Aceh. VU has been training the local land mappers.

26 Osteopathy and the spiritOsteopathy graduate Sally Huggetts master thesis investigates the spiritual practices of osteopaths.

27 The worth of oneTammy Lobato finds her Community Development degree invaluable in her job as a member of parliament.

28 Malaysia with loveTeck Boon Chua has been a part of VU for the past 10 years. Today he combines that allegiance with his passion for coffee.

29 Tourisms trophyThe School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing adds another trophy to its collection by winning a top national award for the third time.

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15 Seeking job trendsResearchers have developed Australias first comprehensive job index to identify regional and national trends in industry and employment.

16 When the sea callsFrom refurbishing centuryold craft to building hi-tech rowing shells, VUs boatbuilding apprentices are acquiring sought-after skills.

23 Breakneck broadbandResearchers are helping develop a world standard for new technology that will see a massive increase in wireless broadband speeds.

24 Scholarship mattersIn 2006 the VU Foundation committed $830,000 to the $2.5 million that passed through the Universitys Scholarships Office.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CONNECTIONSPUBLISHER

Marketing and Communications Dept. Victoria University, Australia PO Box 14428 Melbourne VIC 8001 Australia Victoria University

30 Papua: The cost of freedomAcademic Richard Chauvel gives an overview of the ongoing conflict in Papua and the pressures it places on Indonesia Australia relations.

31 VU booksA guide for women approaching menopause and the growing interest in corporate governance in China are among the topics of new books by VU authors.

CONTACT US

Phil Kofoed Managing Editor PHONE: +61 3 9919 4956 EMAIL: publications@vu.edu.au www.vu.edu.auCONCEPT DESIGN

COVER PHOTO

Student in Footscray Technical School chemistry class c.1950 Photo: VU ArchivesALL PHOTOS

Perks Design PartnersART DIRECTION AND LAYOUT

Brett Kiteley of Stroke p/l

Sharon Walker except where noted3

VC WELCOMEThis year Victoria University celebrates 90 years since our first predecessor institution was established in 1916 Footscray Technical School. The schools first principal was Antarctic explorer Arch Hoadley who brought with him an adventurous spirit and passion for challenging social and educational norms. This is something that we at VU continue to do today challenge the conventional and innovate in support of good learning. We are immensely proud of our history and equally excited about our future as A NEW SCHOOL OF THOUGHT where students, staff and all those involved with the University are encouraged to push boundaries by living the values of VU. We have grown from what started as a small technical school in the industrial heartland of Melbournes west to one of Australias largest multi-sector universities with more than 36,000 students across 11 campuses. In 2006 when we remember 90 years of history, we would like to think of ourselves as 90 years NEW after all, this is just the beginning of many things to come. To help celebrate VUs 90th birthday we have published a commemorative book, 90 Years, 90 Legends. It is an inspirational account of VUs history and includes many remarkable characters and events. You can read more about some of the fascinating characters in the lead story of this issue of Connections. Also in this issue we see examples of VUs increasing research capacity. Stories that illustrate the hands-on research approach include a project that will see a massive increase in wireless internet speeds; the development of Australias first comprehensive labour market indicators based on SEEKs internet-based job data; and a project investigating how women who have served in overseas war zones cope when they return home to normal life. You will also read about how VUs strong links with industry are embodied in our Diploma of Beauty Therapy, which articulates into a Bachelor of Health Sciences Clinical Dermal Therapy. Other articles include our training of Aceh land mappers following the Boxing Day tsunami; a new Problem-Based Learning program, which has been taken on with much enthusiasm by the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science; and VUs scholarships program, which plays a crucial role in supporting many of our students with their studies. Professor Elizabeth Harman Vice-Chancellor and President July 2006

BRIGHT SCHOLARFormer student Mark Brophy was recently named Victoria Universitys first PhD graduate to receive a Fulbright Award. The prestigious award is given to only 20 Australian academics each year to study abroad. Mark is employed as a senior project officer in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Division of the Victorian Governments Department of Education and Training. Under the Fulbright Award he will research study circles at the Study Circle Resource Centre in Connecticut, USA. Mark says the study circle approach started in Sweden a century ago and was now used in the US to develop the trusting relationships necessary for long-term change among disadvantaged learners. Mark has a Masters and PhD in Education and Training from Victoria University where his research focused on innovative programs for the unemployed. At VU in the TAFE sector, he was involved in many programs to assist the unemployed and other disadvantaged groups such as youth, former offenders and retrenched workers.

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Fulbright Award winner Mark Brophy is off to the USA to research study circles.

Eye-catching student art on display at the Footscray Community Arts Centre were created for assessment instead of the standard essay.

In Brief

Make-up students played a key role in the 2006 Commonwealth Games ceremonies.

Major capital works will see big changes to Footscray Park Campus.

DAME DO OVERThirty VU students studying a Diploma of Make-Up sparkled on the world stage when they provided make-up for 1500 actors in the 2006 Commonwealth Games ceremonies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The gig was huge, including the creation of 1000 Dame Edna impersonators, ASIO and police checks, secret meetings and agreements not to mention a global television audience of millions. We were part of an incredible team, says make-up teacher Leanne White. It was a fantastic experience for the students. The job was enormous preparing for the opening and closing ceremonies, with wigs and make-up for such a large cast. We all mingled with people in the business and networked. Leanne says the most difficult thing about the Dame Ednas were the five centimetre feather eyelashes that each one needed. She said her students will boast about their role at the Melbourne Games for the rest of their lives.

NOT BLACK AND WHITEGreen-blue amoeba shapes; a foetus in a womb on a bright orange background; portraits in black and white; a Melbourne cityscape; and a golden honeycombed tower twisting towards the centre of a spider web. These and many more eye-catching and provocative artistic creations were recently on display at the Footscray Community Arts Centre. The works included mixed media, montage, drawing and photography, and were an exhibition on the theme, Beyond Black and White, by students studying VU TAFEs Certificate in Liberal Arts. The subject is an elective for artistically inclined students, says course manager Teresa Wyborn. The students study texts and produce artwork in response, rather than producing a standard essay as part of assessment. Thirty per cent of the students half are mature age will go on to do a second year, completing the Diploma, and no less than 70 per cent of these will progress to higher education.

RENOVATORS DELIGHTDrab intrusive car park gone; daggy aged amphitheatre - gone; and that delightful chemicals shed also gone. These features of the east and west courtyards at Footscray Park Campus face the chop in favour of student and staff amenities as VU continues to evolve as a new school of thought. Under a $54.3 million redevelopment of the campus, the old courtyards are about to get a major $1.4 million spruce-up. In the east courtyard, the central car park that also houses a chemical store will be replaced with a mix of paving and grassed areas around retained mature trees. The space will blend with a new southern access to Building M, which will, in turn, link to a new Learning Commons and Exercise and Sport building to be constructed at the north of the campus. The Universitys major capital works investment also includes a new cafeteria and retail precinct.

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In Brief

How much has the Greek diet changed since arriving in Australia?

In a medical emergency the YAK Alert will save time and lives.

The Islamic Multicultural Festival attracted visitors from across Melbournes west.

YAK ALERTThe topic of medical information management may sound boring, but not when it can determine someones survival. YAK Biotech Solutions is a company formed by nine Victoria University Biomedical Science and Electronic Engineering postgraduate research students. The company won the 2005 Young Achievement Australias National Award for Innovative Product of the Year for their YAK Alert, a wearable USB storage device that stores a persons primary medical information. They won the award by pitting their skills against other Australian university teams. Ample memory on the YAK Alert also allows for information such as asthma plans or the wearers most recent ECG. The device is simply plugged into any USB port to retrieve information. YAK Alert has the endorsement of Rural Ambulance Victoria and the Asthma Foundation of Victoria, and is already on trial in Geelong where it is sold at aged-care facilities, pharmacies, service clubs and charitable societies.

GOOD OILHailing from a Greek background, Victoria University PhD student Maria Giakalis-Wilson knows only too well the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet. She will interview more than 150 Greek-Australians to discover how much change has been made to the traditional Greek diet through family generations in Australia. Maria says there has been a lot of research surrounding the health benefits of the traditional Greek diet but very little on the merging of the Greek and Australian diets. I want to see whether beneficial components of the Greek diet are carried on through generations living in Australia, Maria says. We know there is an emphasis on olive oil, fish and leafy vegetables such as spinach in the Greek diet, rather than a focus on margarine and red meat as in the Australian diet. Melbourne has the largest Greek population outside of Greece, so it is the perfect place to conduct the study.

PEACE FESTA spectacular celebration of culture, diversity, harmony and peace organised by the Melbourne-based Islamic Girls/Womens Group, was recently held at VUs St Albans Campus. The Islamic Multicultural Festival was a celebration of the cultural microcosm that is Melbourne. Celebrations ranged from a Middle Eastern art exhibit and mystic Sufi musicians to traditional Lebanese folk dancing, an exotic mini-bazaar and varieties of food delicacies. With backing from VU, Victoria Police and the Department of Immigration, the Brimbank City Council-sponsored event attracted visitors from across the western region. VU is an affiliate of the Islamic Girls/Womens Group and has provided a centre at St Albans Campus to support education programs provided by the group.

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Sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward urged staff to contribute to debate.

In Brief

Underworld uses interviews, cartoons, songs and humour to tell its message.

Elleni Bereded, named on the 2006 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

SEXY CDTeenagers no longer need to find out about sex behind the shelter shed, thanks to a new interactive CD-ROM, Underworld, by TAFE multimedia staff member, Jennie Swain. The CD-ROM won the prestigious international United Nations World Summit Award in the category of Best e-Health. Underworld includes footage of interviews with male and female teenagers, as well as adults, and covers a range of topics including sexual preference, body image, young mothers and safe sex. It uses cartoon characters including Eva Ova, The Follicle Girls and Crabs Malone plus songs and humour to bring an important message to teenagers. The interactive CD-ROM took six years to complete and was researched and developed in consultation with health professionals and teenagers. It also won the 2005 Australian Interactive Media Industry award in the category of Best Health.

BUMP POLICIESTertiary educated and professional women are more likely to be childless than any other female socio-economic group, federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward told VU staff in March. Goward urged an audience of more than 100 at Footscray Park Campus to contribute to public debate on discrimination as part of International Womens Day celebrations. She said the childless women statistic was all the more irksome to many because their male peers well educated or high earning men actually have the highest fertility of any male socio-economic group. Introducing Goward, Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Harman said VU had many policies to address male-female imbalances, including parental leave provisions that contributed to a spate of campus bumps. Here at VU, many of us have watched with great joy the manner in which our new parental leave provisions have singlehandedly changed I think the countrys birth rate, Professor Harman said.

HONOUR ROLLVU Community Partnerships Officer Elleni Bereded-Samuel was one of 24 women named on the 2006 Victorian Honour Roll of Women. Elleni has worked extensively for community groups across Victoria and Melbournes west, passionately empowering migrants to reach their full potential. She was born in Ethiopia and arrived in Australia with her husband and seven-month old baby in 1996. Elleni has been the driving force behind several community projects, for agencies including the Inner Western Migrant Resource Centre, the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Womens Coalition, and the Horn of Africa Communities Network. At VU she promotes access to education, training and employment for people of diverse cultural backgrounds. Last September she was appointed a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, providing the State Government with independent advice about the needs and views of Victorias culturally diverse communities.

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The first principal, Antarctic explorer Arch Hoadley, possessed a widereaching vision well beyond that of just iron and steel.

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90th Anniversary

Ingrid Sanders Photos: VU ArchivesVictoria University is 90 years new in 2006. From small beginnings as the Footscray Technical School, it has grown to be one of Australias largest universities with 36,000 students and 3500 staff, and agreements with institutions throughout Asia, Europe and North America. VU has published a 234-page commemorative book, 90 Years, 90 Legends, to celebrate the anniversary. Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Harman says the book provides an inspirational account of VU history and includes many remarkable events and characters all fabulous and some famous. We are immensely proud of our history and equally excited about our future as a new school of thought, Professor Harman said at the books launch in May. The faces you will meet in this book are the essence of our University, today and in the past.

It was thought the school would help support the manufacturing focus and trends of the time. In 1916, Footscray Technical School was born. It offered its students a path of unprecedented opportunity from the moment it opened. The schools first principal was Antarctic explorer Arch Hoadley, who brought to the school a keen eye for character and a gift for friendship. After spending time in the far reaches of the world, an unusual feat in that era, he possessed a wide-reaching vision well beyond that of just iron and steel, and the narrow confines of a strict technical education. Although the main focus of the school was to equip its students with technical skills for a life in industry, Hoadley believed they needed a broader liberal education, and so introduced many programs to enrich their lives, including dances, musical evenings and organised sport. Victoria University counts Footscray Technical School as the first of more than a dozen predecessor institutions across Melbournes west. In 2006 VU celebrates not only 90 years of teaching, but also 90 of its legends, in 90 Years, 90 Legends. There are some recognisable faces, including sportspeople like Ron Barassi and Andrew Gaze, and artists like Sir William Dargie, whose 1954 portrait of the Queen is still her favourite today. Characters like Western Bulldogs CEO Campbell Rose and newspaper legend Creighton Burns grace the pages as does Norman Yemm, who is perhaps best known for his role in the TV series, Homicide.

90 Years, 90 Legends includes people from all of VUs predecessor institutions. There are wide-ranging profiles of students, academics, principals and administrators alongside those who contributed to the development and directions of Victoria University from the gardener to governors-general.The history of VU begins at the turn of the 20th century, when after decades of development, Melbourne became renowned as an industrial centre and one of the most progressive cities in the world. Around 1910, the idea of founding a technical school in the industrial heartland of Melbournes west was aired.

(left) In 1943, Footscray Technical School expanded with new buildings in Ballarat Road. (opposite page) Footscray Technical Schools first class in 1916.

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(left) Footscray Technical College in the 1960s. (right) Arch Hoadley, principal of Footscray Technical School from 191647. (below) Junior school students using electronics equipment, c. 1950s. (opposite page) Footscray Park Campus in the late 1960s.

Although our celebrity legends are the most recognisable, equally important are the unsung heroes, those who made a significant impact on the lives of those who have passed through our doors and who shaped Victoria University as we now see it, Professor Harman says. There is Greg Mott, who introduced computers to ship and submarine design in Britain; Keith Swainger, who went missing in Britain during WWII and was presumed dead for more than 50 years; and Max Cooper, who has played his part serving local Footscray residents at the family jewellery and repair shop for the past three generations. Throughout its history, those passing through the halls of VU and its predecessor institutions developed and maintained a strong tradition dating back to its foundation days of engaging with the local community and businesses.

Rapid growth began in the 1920s when Footscray Technical School, located in Nicholson Street (now Footscray Nicholson Campus), started teaching diploma courses in mechanical engineering. The next 30 years saw unprecedented expansion, providing education in many areas, including secondary education, trade certificate courses, diplomas, evening classes and commercial courses such as typing and shorthand. During this time, the school also grew in physical size. In 1940, land was acquired in Ballarat Road (now Footscray Park Campus), and three years later the buildings were ready with secondary and evening students enrolling in droves. Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s many European, and increasingly Asian, names appeared on the role. (continued on page 13)

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90th Anniversary Throughout its history, the University has maintained a strong tradition of engaging with the local community and business.

Essie BurbridgeBorn: 1908 Died: 2004

Sir William DargieBorn: 1912 Died: 2003

Provided support and care to many students, particularly international students, attending Footscray Technical College and subsequent institutions.In 1936, Burbridge moved to Footscray and opened a caf in Hopkins Street called the Tucker Box Caf. During the depression she saw many people going without food and offered them free soup. She later helped many migrants find their feet by providing temporary accommodation. Her care for others was legendary, and she became widely known as Ma. The Burbridge household was always a constant buzz with up to 40 students who came for homework sessions, Asian food nights and barbeques. A Footscray Institute of Technology international student, Raj Kannan, said of Essie: The greatest honour of my education in Australia was the warmth and love I received from two great Australians Ma Burbridge and Weary Dunlop. Ma Burbridge had the warmest smile, love and tireless care for overseas students.

Attended Footscray Technical School during the 1920s. Knighted for his services to art in 1970.William Dargie was born in Footscray but spent his first 10 years living in Victorian country towns before attending Footscray Technical School. During World War II, Dargie was recruited as a war artist. In1941, while digging a trench in Tobruk, he was told he had won the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Sir James Elder. This was the first of eight Archibald Prizes that Dargie won during the 1940s and 1950s. After the war, Dargie was appointed as head of the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, where he taught many of Australias famous post-war painters, including John Brack and Clifton Pugh. His 1954 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was hung in schools throughout Australia and to this day is still the Queens favourite portrait of herself.

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90th Anniversary

Jim McDonaldBorn: 1922

Ngconde BalfourBorn: 1954

Gregory MottBorn: 1925

Registrar of Footscray Technical School, Footscray Technical College and Footscray Institute of Technology, 195282McDonald was born in West Melbourne and joined Footscray Technical School as a male clerk in 1947. In his job interview, principal Arch Hoadley told him that if he worked hard he might aspire to one day earn 12 pounds per week. During McDonalds 30 years as registrar, he and his team primarily looked after accounts and examination procedures across the institution. He understood the entire operation of the institute, including staff, courses and purchases, and also helped guide the institute through a period of dramatic technological change in its data systems. In 1975, McDonald was awarded an honorary diploma by FIT in recognition of his earlier studies and his subsequent work. Years later he was honoured with Building A at Footscray Park Campus being named after him.12

Studied the Graduate Diploma in Recreation and Sport Management at Victoria University of Technology in 1992; former South African Minister of Sport, currently (2006) Minister of Correctional Services.Balfour was brought up in South Africa and arrived in Australia in exile from his home country in 1989. He had served a term in prison for his efforts as a member of the African National Congress during the anti-apartheid fight for democracy. One small experience in Australia highlights his experience of the apartheid regime. In Melbourne, for the first time in his life, Balfour sat in a public park. Under apartheid, parks had been prohibited places for him. Balfour has fond memories of Victoria University and Melbourne. VU gave me a home at Footscray Park Campus, he says. For me it was quite a lovely time to study and to be able to be among Australians because I did not at that stage have a place I could call home.

Studied the Diploma of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Footscray Technical School during the 1940s; Granted a Commander of the British Empire for services to shipbuilding in 1979.Mott received a scholarship to the Footscray Technical School to study the Diploma of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He graduated in 1942 as dux of the school and was selected to take up an apprenticeship at the Williamstown Dockyard, following at least six generations of his familys association with the sea. In 1957, Mott was invited by Vickers Shipbuilding in the UK to join a secret program to develop the Royal Navys first nuclear-powered submarine. After initial training he was appointed as project manager for the Dreadnought, which entered service in 1963. Initially, most calculations for the project were done by hand. However, Mott took advantage of a powerful computer on site to perform the complex mathematical calculations, introducing computers to ship and submarine design in Britain.

SIGNIFICANT DATES1916 Footscray Technical School (FTS) opens 1958 Renamed as Footscray Technical College (FTC) 1968 Renamed as Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT) 1973 FITs trade section renamed Footscray Technical College (FTC) 1979 Newport Technical School opens as a division of FIT 1982 Footscray College of TAFE separates from FIT 1982 Newport College of TAFE separates from FIT 1986 Western Institute established, begins operations in 1987 1990 Victoria University of Technology (VUT) established through a merger of FIT and Western Institute 1991 Footscray and Newport Colleges of TAFE amalgamate to form Gellibrand College of TAFE 1991 Gellibrand College of TAFE renamed Western Metropolitan College of TAFE (WMCT) 1992 VUT opens 1993 Melbourne College of Decoration merges with WMCT 1993 Flagstaff College of TAFE merges with WMCT 1996 WMCT renamed Western Melbourne Institute of TAFE (WMIT) 1998 WMIT amalgamates with VUT 2005 VUT officially changes its name to Victoria University (VU)(top opposite page) Typing class, c. 1967. Enrollments of female students began in 1959. Photo courtesy of Herald & Weekly Times Photographic Collection. (top and bottom) The focus of Footscray Technical School was to equip its students with industrial skills.

(continued from page 10) In 1958, the school was renamed as Footscray Technical College. Social changes were reflected with women enrolling in day diploma courses in 1959. An increasing population with a growing thirst for education was filling the lecture theatres. In 1968, the college was renamed Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT). In response to a competitive education environment, the institute rationalised its courses and concentrated on its strengths. Degree courses in traditional areas, such as engineering, chemistry and mathematics, were established and the unique catering and hotel management course was strengthened. The institute also expanded its humanities, and physical education and recreational study areas. In 1990, FIT merged with the Western Institute to establish Victoria University of Technology. Today VU boasts an expanded curriculum extending well beyond the technical focus of the institutions early years. The University has become one of Australias largest, and is one of the five dual-sector universities offering both higher education and TAFE courses. There are 11 campuses and sites across Melbournes western region, and more than 36,000 students and 3500 staff account for one of the greatest international melting pots at any Australian university. VU now has around 6800 international students and more than 80 agreements with overseas institutions. There are three higher education faculties: Arts, Education and Human Development; Business and Law; and Health, Engineering and Science; and four TAFE schools: Business and Service Industries; Engineering, Construction and Industrial Skills; Further Education, Arts and Employment Services; and Human Services, Science and Technology. In 2006, Victoria University is a place where creativity and fresh thinking flourish, its global relationships are strong, and there is, as always, a commitment to its students. Copies of 90 Years, 90 Legends can be purchased from the VU bookshop for $19.95. Further details: http://bookshop.vu.edu.au

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Information Systems

Professor John Zeleznikow: applying rationality to divorce settlement.

Photo: Getty Images

WIN-WIN

DIVORCEGlen Dower

The program plus the guidance of a mediator ensures both parties focus on their own specific interests, rather than look for a chance to express anger at their partner. Each desired item such as bank account, house, car and furniture is prioritised on a wants list and given a value, with the sum of the items totalling 100 points. Each item is distributed according to whoever most values it, and a trade-off and compensation system sees the other party given extra points (bargaining power) for the next item on the list. People are rarely in dispute about exactly the same issue, Zeleznikow says. So the trade-offs and compensation strategies create a win-win situation where each party achieves 70 to 80 per cent of what they want, rather than the traditional fiftyfifty result. He says the conflict negotiationresolution program has broader potential and could help courts and lawyers understand what disputing clients want and reach a compromise that avoids creating further conflict. Victoria Legal Aid has suggested that with some modifications the program might be suited to enterprise bargaining, he says. We are also doing some research with Relationships Australia and another party has expressed interest in a web-based version. Hopefully, Family Winner will be used in the 65 new federally-funded family relationship centres.

Ever since Neal Anderthal used a large rock to solve a property dispute, there has been a discomfort about applying technology to solve personal disputes. With divorce, we used to say, hang on, these are human emotions were talking about, says Professor John Zeleznikow from the School of Information Systems at Victoria Universitys Faculty of Business and Law. But nowadays theres a greater acceptance of applying technology to what was regarded as almost sacrosanct. Zeleznikow and colleague Dr Emilia Bellucci have developed Family Winner, a program that applies rationality to the highly emotive area of divorce. Zeleznikow, who was Belluccis PhD supervisor at La Trobe University in 2003, had suggested to her that this would be a good PhD topic. She did most of the nitty-gritty work, and her thesis developed the theories behind the software, Zeleznikow says. He says 43 per cent of Australian marriages end in divorce usually a time of emotional and financial trauma with couples struggling to resolve issues relating to division of assets. There is a need for a conflict negotiation and resolution program to advise couples about the possible outcomes of divorce or separation, Zeleznikow says. Family Winner ensures matters are brought into the open and therefore up for discussion.14

Strategic Economic Studies

SEEKINGJOB TRENDSJane LevinSEEK is Australias leading online job site. It hosts around 70 per cent of all online job ads, and about 60 per cent of all job ads. In 2004, SEEK invited a select group of Australian universities to tender for a project to develop labour market indicators, based on an analysis of SEEKs own internet-based job data. Victoria Universitys Centre for Strategic Economic Studies won the tender. Researchers Professor Peter Sheehan, Dr George Messinis, Alison Welsh and Margarita Kumnick worked steadfastly over several months to complete the research and development phase. In July last year, media magnate James Packer and VUs Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Harman publicly launched the SEEK Employment Index. The index is the first comprehensive Australian job indicator to correlate market supply against labour market demand. It provides employers, recruiters and government with data to help identify national and regional trends in industry and employment growth as well as skills shortages and over supply. Prior to the index, available labour market data was based on print advertisements. It was limited, providing static information and an incomplete scenario. Existing data sources provided information on the number of unfilled jobs at any one time or the number of persons looking for work, Professor Sheehan says. But these data sources are separate and static, and so werent providing important insights into job supply behaviour or into the complex dynamics of the labour market. And because print job ads cover a smaller percentage of total vacancies than internet-based job placements, they do not provide a complete picture. SEEK index indicators not only look at the balance between supply and demand in the labour market. They can also examine the average time taken to fill a vacancy and the extent of job searching, including job search activity by the unemployed or those not within the labour force. Another advantage of the VU-developed indicators is that they examine data from across the whole country, rather than use a small sample survey as with other indexes. SEEK has had good feedback from the job placement industry about its usefulness, says Professor Sheehan. The VU research team is working on further development of the project. The SEEK Employment Index can be found at: www.seek.com.au/investor/employmentindex.ascx

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Building and Construction

Glen DowerIn this rapidly changing era of Bluetooth, blogs and iPods, there are still those who heed the traditional call of the sea and the craft of boatbuilding. Apprentices and pre-apprentices of Victoria University TAFEs boatbuilding program are carrying the baton by gaining skills ranging from shaping hi-tech Olympic-style rowing shells to building traditional couta boats. Many people think boatbuilding is romantic, but much of the apprenticeship is sheer hard work, says course supervisor Rick Mitchell from the Department of Building and Construction. Pre-apprentices Will Maliyadeva and Allen Gilmour would agree. Twice a week, under the tutelage of shipwright Michael Hurrell, they learn the basics of boat construction while helping to restore Janet, an eight-ton 1924 admirals barge undergoing a $100,000 restoration. The 11.5m barge has been stripped back to its teak planks and spotted gum keel and ribs, while the cabin, engine, furniture and fittings wait in storage. Its in surprisingly good condition, Hurrell says. While well replace all the ribs and about 10 per cent of the planking, a lot of the big timber, like the keel, only needs scraping back.

Janet was once fixed to the deck of the warship HMAS Melbourne until the 5400-ton light cruiser was scrapped in 1928. After years in private hands, it was bought by the National Trust and taken straight to VUs Newport Campus to be brought back to its former splendor.

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(right and bottom right) Apprentices at work on the 1924 Admirals barge, Janet. (below) Couta boats in the making.

Restoration, planned to finish by the end of the year, began in February. Timber panels, tables and shelves will be French polished with white silk curtains at the windows and polished brass fittings. A pre-apprentice might come straight from school, or be someone looking for a career change. For Gilmour, formerly a graphic designer, the course offers the opportunity to work on boats with character, even if it means getting down on my knees. Anyway, its bloody good fun.

Maliyadeva was an electrical fitter who spent five years dreaming of building smart new fibreglass boats. Now Im on the way, he says. There are 15 apprentices in each year of the three-year Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction. And each year 15 pre-apprentices undertake the ten-week Certificate II in Engineering Production (Boatbuilding Pre-Apprenticeship) before seeking a job and apprenticeship. If the pre-apprentices get a job in their first year and most do they get credits and come back to the second year of the apprenticeship, Mitchell says. With Australian timber boatbuilders in demand here and overseas, a range of opportunities awaits those who complete the course. They might join a local business, build fiberglass boats at Whittleys [world-famous Melbourne boatbuilders], or repair or restore paddle steamers on the Murray River, Mitchell says. Theyve got the world at their feet. VU apprentices have won the Boating Industry Association of Victorias Apprentice of the Year Award for the past three years.

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Research

Ingrid SandersThere is plenty of research on how men who have served in overseas war zones cope when they return home to normal life. But women have been excluded from much of this research. Dr Susan Feldman from Victoria Universitys Alma Unit for Research on Ageing is changing that. Dr Feldman is chief investigator in research investigating how stress or illness from war and conflict affects women soldiers. The research is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the world. It is timely because an increasing number of women are joining the armed forces and taking greater roles in combat units. Health issues surrounding male veterans have been well documented, Dr Feldman says. We know about things such as relationship breakdowns and post-traumatic stress disorder. But little work has been done that asks women veterans about these things. On the surface they [women soldiers] seem to cope pretty well. They are highly trained women who have had to deal with issues in extraordinary situations.18

But the study aims to dig deeper, to find out how and what these women feel. To extend the research, Dr Feldman has teamed with senior lecturer Dr Clare Hanlon from VUs School of Human Movement Recreation and Performance. Professor Terry Seedsman from VUs Centre for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport will assist with the study.

How do they return to normal life, to roles within the workplace and as wives, mothers and daughters?The researchers will interview 120 women across Australia who served as peacekeepers and peacemakers with the Australian Defence Force after 1975 in areas such as East Timor, the Pacific, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda and Iraq. These women have chosen to serve in places where they feel they can make a real difference, Dr Feldman says. They may have seen human degradation and

(left) Able Seaman Rebecca Cleveland and Able Seaman Jade Nottle onboard HMAS Kanimbla during Exercise Kakadu VII. (this page) Camaraderie during ANZAC Day 2006.

misery on a large scale, or been in danger of being killed or injured. Often, after returning home, they feel a sense of being let down when other people fail to understand the stresses and strains they have experienced. When overseas they are at risk of sexual harassment and assault, and this may contribute to high levels of stress. She says that on their return the women are expected to fit seamlessly into a life of domesticity. "How do they return to normal life, to roles within the workplace and as wives, mothers and daughters? How do they adjust back from overseas service with the military into caring roles at home? "At the moment we don't know how women cope and this study will help to identify the support services they need to integrate back into their communities on their return." The study has been made possible with a $129,000 grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN THE MILITARY World War II: 66,100 Vietnam War: 1000 approx. Australian Defence Force: 13,014 (current)Note: Women are still excluded from direct combat roles Source: Australian War Memorial and the Department of Veterans' Affairs

19

Problem-Based Learning

LEARNING? NO PROBGlen DowerThere was a time when Victoria Universitys engineering students took detailed notes in lectures, discussed specific problems in tutorials and sat for interminably mind-grinding exams. Today its different they learn to assess a problem, convert it to a project, set a series of tasks and then form teams to complete it. The new approach is called Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and since February it has kept VUs engineering programs buzzing with activity, according to PBL project director, Associate Professor Alec Simcock. When Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Harman set up a PBL feasibility study early last year, the idea was to pilot the program in just one engineering stream, Simcock says. But after talking to Denmarks Aalborg University [a world leader in PBL] and Central Queensland University both have PBL in their engineering schools we decided to apply it across the School of Architectural, Civil and Mechanical Engineering and the School of Electrical Engineering. In July last year it was decided to bring the launch of PBL a year forward with a start date in February 2006. This gave us just over six months to design courses and create special studios for PBL team projects, Simcock says. The aim of PBL is for students to teach themselves to seek their own knowledge. Students develop initiative, learn to prioritise, and learn about teamwork. Students continue to gain strong technical and theoretical skills, but are now also developing important interpersonal and communication skills, which would not be possible in a traditional setting, Simcock says. Assessment is based on reflective reports written by each student. The students also receive feedback on how to more effectively carry out an exercise, and they in turn write a follow-up report. There are also learning outcomes tied to the Engineers Australia Graduate Attributes. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education Programs) Professor John McCallum says PBL will present the opportunity for engineering at VU to lead the way in meeting the needs of industry by equipping graduates for the workplace. Problem-Based Learning is a means of strengthening and deepening the whole learning experience technical knowledge included, Professor McCallum says. Its designed to achieve stronger outcomes that the major employers of our graduates tell us are vitally needed. While engineering has been chosen as the breaking ground for this new school of thought, it is envisaged that many, if not all, VU courses will eventually benefit from PBL.

Students Michael Baxter and Daniel Zapateiro play with a robot as part of a PBL project.

TAFE/Higher Education(left) Dermal Therapy teacher Sally Drummond demonstrates a dermal technique on student Jessie Austin. (right) Beauty Therapy teacher Christine Clais demonstrates a scrub service with a student in VUs new spa facilities.

SKINDEEPClare Boyd-MacraeVictoria University is proud of its strong links with industry and the fact that it is a dual-sector university, offering TAFE courses that often flow directly into a higher education qualification. These characteristics are embodied in a fast-growing course that taps into a developing need in the beauty industry, namely a Diploma of Beauty Therapy that articulates into a Bachelor of Health Sciences Clinical Dermal Therapy. Beauty therapy is a multi-million dollar industry and has been around since Cleopatra, but clinical dermal therapies is a new field and VU is the only Australian university offering the degree course. Theres a shortage of clinical dermal therapists and VU receives more course applications than it can place. It delivers beauty training to up to 500 students at any one time at its City King Campus. Some students fly in from Sydney every week to attend classes. The Bachelor degree started in 1998 and developed out of a focus group with the beauty therapy industry, says course co-ordinator Frank Perri. Now its one of the fastest growing courses at VU. Australia has been following US trends in this area, and in the States the non-surgical treatments offered by clinical dermal therapists have increased 40 per cent in the last three years. VU TAFEs Diploma of Beauty Therapy qualifies students to work in beauty salons delivering services such as facials and massages. Students who complete the Diploma followed by at least 12 months industry experience can articulate into the Bachelor degree, where they learn more technical treatments such as lasers, endomology, chemical peels

and microcurrent (electrical impulses) that treats cellulite, acne, sun damage, pigmentation and scarring. Once they complete the degree, they can work in three main areas: assisting plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other medical practitioners; enhanced beauty salon services; and teaching beauty therapy. Jann Fullerton, head of VU TAFEs Department of Personal Services, says the Universitys beauty program is unique because it provides a whole new skill set. The beauty industry is developing in two main ways the spa area for relaxing and pampering; and the more science-based specialised treatments as in the clinical dermal therapies, Fullerton says. Spa is one of the fastest growing areas in Victorian tourism and our new spa training facilities have just opened. Sally Drummond completed the Diploma of Beauty Therapy before working in the industry for several years. She returned to complete the degree course and now works three days a week at a plastic surgery clinic and two days a week teaching beauty therapy at VU.

Everyone knows of cosmetic disasters, and they want practitioners who are well qualified.The course opened doors in my career, Drummond says. It meant I could get a job at the next level, and move out of the beauty salon and into the medical field. It taught me how to make a physical difference to peoples skin and see a result. Its an exciting field, the technology is always advancing. The public is becoming more savvy. Everyone knows of cosmetic disasters, and they want practitioners who are well qualified. Perri says VUs beauty course is providing this in a unique way. There are thousands of Registered Training Organisations out there providing beauty training, he says. But theres nowhere that offers anything at this level. Many places offer shorter courses, but this goes against what we believe about giving students a deep and well-rounded understanding of the subject, including psychology and training in the scientific method. Were setting the benchmark in this area.21

International

CHANGINGIngrid Sanders

IN ACEHCompetency-based training, like many educational services, is lacking in areas of South East Asia. To help fill the gap, Victoria University is taking courses, such as the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, to developing countries, such as Indonesia and East Timor. The VU courses are making a real difference to grassroots education and training in these countries. One group that recently took part in the training program was a contingent of land mappers from Aceh.

BOUNDARIES

Following the Boxing Day tsunami two years ago, a disaster of huge proportions that will remain in the hearts and minds of Indonesians, the landscape in Aceh was permanently altered. Boundaries, property lines and the topography of the land moved, leaving locals with the difficult task of remapping the land while rebuilding their lives. There were few skilled land mappers in Aceh, and many of those lacked the expertise to pass on their knowledge to others. Recognising the problem, the Indonesian Government called on VU. While delivering an unrelated training program in Indonesia, Victoria University International senior international officer (Aid and Development) Brian Fairman was approached by Indonesian officials and asked to deliver a program tailored for Achenese land mappers. Fairman agreed to the task. It was only seven months after the biggest catastrophe the country had faced. Juggling his schedule, Fairman organised the project under the Australian Governments Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development scheme. Participants attended a two-week residential course delivered by VU staff teamed with local trainers. The training was delivered in Indonesian in partnership with the Lembagi Administrasi Negara (Institute of Public Administration) and Brawijaya UniversityMalang. The course filled a skills gap in land mapping and gave the few experienced local land mappers the skills and training needed to pass their knowledge on to other Achenese, Fairman says.

Boundaries, property lines and the topography of the land moved, leaving locals with the difficult task of remapping the land while rebuilding their lives.He says the development and implementation of the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training has provided a vital service by improving local education in developing countries as well as helping VU strengthen its international links. Not only do these countries face the problem that education is, in many cases, years behind the standards of developed countries such as Australia, but they also lack the staff to train the professionals of the future. Fairman says transnational projects at VU have been on the agenda for the past four years, but are now considered a serious interest of the University. The Universitys corporate responsibility to provide expertise in developing countries is a key focus.Brian Fairman: filling a land-mapping skills gap in Aceh.

22

Telecommunications and Microelectronics

BREAKNECK

BROADBAND(left) Melvyn Pereira and Dr Scott Leyonhjelm.

This technology has great applications for the future, says Dr Scott Leyonhjelm, project manager of the VU research team. It will enable the replacement of wired ethernet connections with wireless broadband connections at home or at work.

Jane Levin Photos by Michael CarterMission: to increase the speed of wireless broadband beyond that thought possible. Victoria Universitys Centre for Telecommunications and Microelectronics has spent the last three years helping to develop a proposal to the international Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association for the use of MIMO technology in wireless broadband infrastructure. The Standard will see at least a five-fold increase in wireless internet speeds up from 20 megabits per second to more than 100 megabits per second. MIMO technology uses multiple antennae at both the receiver and transmitter. While the end user will be oblivious to the MIMO technology, it will benefit them through significant increases in the data rate and the radio coverage area in the home or office. Typical wireless systems have one antenna at either the transmitter or receiver, or one antenna at each end. The main reason multiple antennae have not been added to the transmitter or receiver before is because of the complexity of the algorithms needed to decode the signal. After years of research into reducing the complexity of the algorithms and with the benefit of recent advances in microelectronics, MIMO technology enables the manufacture of smaller transmitters and receivers with lower costs and power consumption.

He says take-up of the technology will be driven by its ability to support new applications, such as the distribution of High Definition TV signals and increased coverage. For wireless broadband to be a commercial success, it is essential to have an open industry standard to ensure all manufacturers products interoperate in all regions of the world, Dr Leyonhjelm says. As part of a worldwide consortium of companies and research institutes, VU participated in the development of the draft specification accepted by the Next Generation Wireless LAN Standard working group in March this year. The Standard is due to be finalised in 2007. VUs research is funded by the Australian Telecommunications Co-operative Research Centre. The competence that the Centre for Telecommunications and Microelectronics built up through its involvement in the project has attracted the interest of industry. A company (name confidential) has partnered with the VU team with the aim of developing a marketable product. We are well placed to help the company develop MIMO technology into a commercial product because of our know-how, Dr Leyonhjelm says. Not only do we have a solid understanding of the principles of MIMO technology, we also understand what is in the Next Generation Wireless LAN Standard and how to apply it. The VU team also includes Dr Aaron Reid, Melvyn Pereira, Ying Tan and Professor Mike Faulkner, with assistance from postgraduate students Venkat Kumar and Matthew Williamson.

23

Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP

MATTERSClare Boyd-MacraeBabb, who is studying a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, has always been interested in diseases and how nutrition can affect them. She has been researching the impact of different cooking processes on omega-3 fatty acids in scallops. Omega-3 fats lower the risk of heart disease. It turns out that steaming scallops is much more beneficial than any other way of cooking them, in terms of retaining their omega-3 value,Babb says. Together with 17 high distinctions, her research about to be published in a leading scientific journal was so impressive that she was awarded the 2005 Compass Group Scholarship for Nutrition, Food Science and Health, valued at $2000. The scholarship will help her proceed with an honours degree.

Science student and recent Victoria University scholarship winner Joanne Babb lives in Altona and has an unusual field of expertise scallops.

Babbs scholarship was awarded by the Compass Group, the worlds largest foodservice and hospitality company, which operates in 90 countries and employs more than 400,000 people. They are offering $50,000 worth of scholarships over five years to Victoria University TAFE and higher education students studying events management, hospitality, nutrition, food science and health, and nutritional therapy. Compass Group is an example of companies who are supporting VU students, says Julie Tester, fundraising officer at the Universitys Development Office. There are also individuals and families, philanthropic trusts and foundations, and community organisations who are stepping forward to be VU donors. Tester is enthusiastic about developing a culture of philanthropy to support VU. Weve only just begun and theres a long way to go. But when people decide to give something back or make a gift in their will to benefit future generations of students, its inspiring. The Development Office began in 2005 and seeks to attract new and diverse sources of funding for Victoria University research, scholarships and campus redevelopment projects. Donated funds are made payable to the Victoria University Foundation and all donations are tax deductible.

VU scholarship holders Jarad Bianchi, Joanne Babb, Amy Willis and Brent Ferrand.

24

Of all Victorian universities, VU has the highest representation of students from a low socio-economic background (26 per cent). This compares to a national average of 15 per cent. Half of VU students are the first in their family to attend university. And around nine per cent are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds the highest proportion of any Australian university.(top) Compass Group Scholarship recipients Katrina Murrell, Emily Wilson and Joanne Babb with Compass Group Australias National Learning and Development Manager Karon Hepner. (left) Philanthropists Dr Janet Schapper and Heather Scovell.

The Foundation was directed by the Universitys Council to put scholarships at the heart of its fundraising efforts in 2005 and 2006. The second way Council has indicated its prioritising of scholarships was by committing $475,000 to scholarships in the Universitys 2005 budget. In 2006, that figure has grown to $830,000. This money is VUs direct contribution to the $2.5 million that goes through the Scholarships Office from Commonwealth Learning and VU Access Scholarships. That translates into 700 TAFE and higher education scholarships. Despite the large number of scholarships available, potential recipients dont always realise they are eligible, says Peter Carnell, VUs Scholarships Co-ordinator. All Commonwealth Learning and Access Scholarships are targeted at low income or otherwise disadvantaged people, Carnell says. But these students often dont see themselves as disadvantaged and so may not apply. The word scholarship may also be misleading, with students thinking they are awarded on academic merit. To counteract this, this year we employed past recipients to talk to people in enrolment queues and hand out information leaflets. This was outstandingly effective, and applications shot up. There are also specific scholarships, such as those targeted at parents of young children wanting to return to study. The Victorian Ambulance Paramedics Scholarship $7500 per year for up to three years is awarded to five first-year students who are doing well but are at risk of dropping out because of financial pressure. Other scholarships are over-subscribed. Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships are allocated to students moving from rural or regional areas to study. This year VU was allocated 33 of these scholarships, but received 300 applications. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) Professor Michael Hamerston points out that with recent increases in higher education costs, more students than ever have to work while at university, placing considerable strain on their studies. Early research findings suggest that as many as seven out of 10 Victoria University students are having to work while they study, Hamerston says. Scholarships are one way of mitigating the pressures of financial hardship. Wed like to build the capital so that we can not only have a substantial number of scholarships but also increase the amount. We know that internet connections in the western region are well below the metropolitan average. Consequently, many of our students need to buy a laptop, and thats more than $1000 gone. We want to attract more funds through philanthropy to build both the number of scholarships and their value over time.

ALEXANDER MCKENZIE SCOVELL AWARDThe Alexander McKenzie Scovell Award is presented annually to a high achieving first-year Arts student who lives in Melbournes western region. The Award honours Alex Scovell, his strong belief in the value of education and his encouragement of young people to achieve tertiary education. It was established in 1998 by his widow, Mrs Alison Scovell, and their daughters, Dr Janet Schapper and Heather Scovell. We wondered how to do something appropriate to remember dad that was meaningful and would suit his values, says Janet Schapper. His key principles were that everyone should have an education and a roof over their head. His own father came from Footscray, so they always had a very strong association with the west. She says the family wanted to support Victoria University because it provides education for those that have less opportunity for tertiary education. It is much more meaningful to us as a memorial than bricks and mortar, as we are reminded of his values every year as new students come through. Heather Scovell says the award is about a belief in education and how important it is as a foundation for life. The family felt this was a really good thing to do, she says. When parents die, theres an opportunity to donate some money. Ours is a modest encouragement award, to assist students to continue their courses.25

Osteopathy

OSTEOPATHYAND THE SPIRITClare Boyd-MacraeWould you engage in a conversation about spiritual issues while being treated by an osteopath? Would you feel uncomfortable if you knew they were praying for you? Victoria University osteopathy graduate, Sally Huggett, investigated the spiritual practices of osteopaths in a masters thesis she completed in 2005. It is topical, given that Australian attitudes towards spirituality have reached an interesting paradox. On the one hand, extreme political correctness means that some kindergartens are not allowed to stage nativity plays at Christmas. On the other, Westerners are more interested in spirituality than they have been for decades. During her research, Huggett discovered that although there were more than 1200 original research papers on the topic across many branches of health care, she found no original osteopathic research on the topic. And much of the literature focused on patient perspectives, issues and care, while practitioners spirituality and its implications in their work received little consideration. Huggett conducted in-depth interviews with four osteopaths practising in Victoria. All had strong religious beliefs two were Christian, one was Hindu and one had a deep spirituality but no specific religion. Questions covered the osteopaths spiritual beliefs and practices, the interaction of their spirituality with their professional life and their spiritual experiences within the context of the osteopathic consultation. All participants spoke of a connection between their spirituality and their professional motivation, and felt their spiritual beliefs helped them to care well for their patients. Discussing spirituality with patients was seen as a topic to be initiated and guided by the patient. The two participants who said they would disclose their beliefs to patients if the topic came up, qualified this with anti-proselytising sentiments. Huggetts supervisor, Dr Lainie Cameron, says that in the late nineteenth century, osteopathy founder, Dr A.T. Still, emphasised the importance of considering body, mind and spirit. This approach was inherent in the foundation of osteopathy, but its no longer taught, she says. Its relegated to the study of history only, and we lose the idea that people are spiritual and that spiritual health is as important as physical and mental health. We need to deal with human spirituality as a part of the training of health practitioners. Its important for osteopaths to have at least a broad brush picture of human spirituality, just as its important for psychologists to know about the anatomy of the brain. Huggett, now working in two different osteopathy practices, says her research highlighted the need for education about different religious beliefs. A lot of people have a very narrow idea of what spirituality is, and students need a broader idea of what its about and what the current literature says about it, she says. The philosophical climate of the time influences so much how we think. Osteopathy was started in the Age of Enlightenment, and the influence of the popular philosophy of that time is often overlooked. Since then weve had chaos theory and many other developments in scientific thinking. A body-mind-spirit approach is a good starting point, but we need to go beyond this. We are interrelated with the whole cosmos. So much science is still stuck in the Cartesian mindset, and its very rigid, very reductionist. Huggett, a Christian, says spiritual issues seldom arise during her own consultations. My spiritual beliefs influence my morals and ethics, she says. And if theres a patient Im particularly concerned about, I might reflect on or even pray for them.

Sally Huggett: A body-mind-spirit approach is a good starting point.

Alumni

Tammy Lobato: I didnt want my son to go to a McDonalds school.

THE WORTHGlen Dower

OF ONEIn 2002 Tammy Lobato guided her son through kinder, completed a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University, gave birth to her daughter and campaigned successfully for a seat in state parliament. Quite a change for the woman who used to ask herself: Whats the point of putting up my hand? Once, I didnt realise the importance of one person, Lobato says. But by the time I had my first child in 1997, I was becoming convinced of the importance of participating, of getting involved and putting my hand up. I looked at the community and society we had at the time, and how the state governments focus was against public health and education, and towards a corporate style of delivery. I didnt want my son to go to a McDonalds school. Becoming involved also meant becoming informed. Lobato found VUs Community Development degree at St Albans Campus to be a great motivator, and offering insight into societys structures and how each person has a role to play. What I learned became extremely beneficial when I became a member of parliament, she says.

Lobato was already a member of the Australian Labor Party with a commitment to social justice, the environment and preventative health when colleagues suggested she stand as a candidate in the 2002 state elections. I thought about commitments to family and the course I was studying and the lack of sleep, she says. But it dawned on me that this could be my only chance to go for a state seat; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When Lobato won the seat of Gembrook in Melbournes outer east, those long nights of study began to bear fruit. The Community Development degree offers the ideal background for a person who becomes a parliamentary representative because it brings the political system, and how to use that system, into perspective, she says. It also raises your awareness of how to campaign and lobby effectively for issues of importance to the community. In little more than three years in parliament she has established a reputation for her commitment to preventative medicine and the welfare of children. And animal welfare, particularly as all three of Victorias state emblems the helmeted honeyeater, Leadbeaters possum and pink heath can be found in my electorate, she says. Lobato is one of 27 women 24 ALP, two Liberal and one National in the Legislative Assembly.

27

AlumniTeck Boon Chua at his workplace, Sai Kee Coffee, in Malaysia.

MALAYSIAClare Boyd-MacraeTeck Boon Chua is arguably Victoria Universitys most enthusiastic graduate he is the author of such quotable quotes as, VU is second to none and I am who I am today because of this wonderful University.

WITH LOVEIn 1997, Chua made history by becoming the first overseas student on the Victoria University Student Union (VUSU) Board becoming a member by virtue of his presidency of ISA. 1997 was a year of achievements for ISA. For the first time it had official recognition by the Vice-Chancellor as the peak representative body for all international students at VU; Chua and others travelled to Adelaide for the national convention of the National Liaison Committee, the representative body for all international students in Australia; and a special VUSU seat was created to represent international students at all VU campuses. Chua has long been interested in the coffee industry. During his years at VU he became fascinated with the coffee culture for which Melbourne is renowned. After completing his studies and returning home to Malaysia, he began working in the coffee industry and is now marketing manager at Sai Kee Coffee. He recently embarked on a new project to develop a coffee tourism plantation next to his companys roasting plant in Muar. It will include a coffee museum and a coffee academy to educate, train and run workshops. Exaggeration aside, Chuas decade-long involvement with the University has been extensive and continues with his presidency of VUs Malaysia Alumni Chapter and membership of the Alumni Advisory Group. His involvement with VU started in 1996 when he enrolled at Sunway College in Malaysia for a VU twinning program. From 199798 he studied VUs Bachelor of Business in Melbourne, specialising in catering and hotel management, and spent 1999 working at Melbournes Grand Hotel in Spencer Street for his co-operative education year. But formal studies were only part of Chuas activities at VU. The day he left Malaysia to study in Melbourne, his uncle gave him some advice. He told me, Study comes first, never get involved in student politics. Seven hours later, when I arrived at Footscray Park Campus, I was introduced to the International Students Association (ISA) and signed up as a member. Two weeks later I became publicity officer, and three months later I was elected as president.28

Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing

TOURISMS

TROPHYJane LevinWinning a top national award in the annual Australian Tourism Awards is no mean feat. Taking top honours three times is outstanding. Thats the accomplishment of VUs School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing, which has again taken out the hotly competed Tourism Education and Training category. The school was competing against all tourism education providers across the country from universities and TAFEs to private academies and training institutions, as well as internal training programs run by hotels and convention centres. To be a contender for the 2005 award, the school had to first win a significant tourism prize it did this by winning the 2005 Melbourne Airport Victoria Tourism Award for Tourism Education and Training. It has now won this annual prize six times. The Australian Tourism Awards encourage innovation and excellence in tourism. The award categories include tourism operators as well as providers. Education and training providers are assessed across a range of areas, such as their mission, marketing and business plans, environmental impact and risk management. Partnerships was the theme behind VUs winning submission. It combined the partnerships forged between hospitality and tourism training within VUs higher education and TAFE sectors; between teaching and research; between the sectors and VUs Centre for Hospitality and Tourism Research as well as the Commonwealth Governments Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre; and between teachers and students. Paul Whitelaw, senior lecturer in hospitality operations in the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing, and Jane Odgers, the schools communications co-ordinator, co-ordinated VUs submission with a team of six colleagues from VU and industry.

Whitelaw believes that using both staff and industry colleagues to develop the submission was the key to its success. The combination of internal and external contributions is definitely the way to go, Whitelaw says. If you just rely on internal staff, it can put too much pressure on already busy people. If you rely only on an external agency, the application misses some of the intimacy that comes with knowing what its like to actually be involved in the subject matter what its like in the trenches and the culture of the organisation that needs to permeate the document. Whitelaw believes another major factor in its success was that it did not rely on one particular achievement and expecting it to impress. We start by coaxing rough diamonds from our staff and then polishing those into a theme so that our application becomes a story, rather than simply a set of answers, Whitelaw says. We dont hang our hat on one big event. We try to pepper our application with lots of stories that show what we do to go beyond our normal day-to-day work as a university to add real value to our partner relationships. VU is Australias longest established provider of tourism and hospitality training, including undergraduate degrees, and a founding member of the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education.

Professor Brian King, head of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing, discusses the finer points of Melbourne tourism with Mike Hester, head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism.

29

Opinion

ASYLUMDEMOCRATISATION

SEEKERS AND

During the first couple of years after the fall of Suharto, Papuans enjoyed political freedoms for the first time since the Dutch left in 1962. Papuan leaders used this political space to articulate demands for independence and mobilise support throughout Papuan society. The revival of the independence movement posed a particular challenge for the Indonesian Government: How much democracy could be permitted in Papua if political freedom was used to mobilise support for independence? The Special Autonomy Law of 2001 sought to accommodate Papuan interests and values. Unfortunately, the implementation of the Law has been undermined by some sections of the Indonesian Government fearing that the law would empower a Papuan elite in Jayapura, which would use it as a platform for a further push for independence. Former foreign ministers Ali Alatas and Gareth Evans developed the idea that what the bilateral Indonesia-Australia relationship required was ballast. Crises in the relationship could be much better managed, they argued, if there was a matrix of relationships extending beyond the two governments that bound the two societies together. One of the most regrettable aspects of the asylum seekers crisis has been the Indonesian Governments decision to instruct its universities to cease activities with Australias Deakin and RMIT universities because of the views of two academics. Paradoxically, in the past decade it has been universities that have become an important part of the ballast. Victoria University has developed a wide range of activities with Indonesia. Some sixty Indonesian students are studying at VU and more than 400 Indonesians have completed training programs. VU students have studied and VU academics taught at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta and the University of North Sumatra. It is at times of tensions between the two governments that universities can make a particular contribution to maintaining the people-to-people relationships.

IN PAPUARichard Chauvel

The arrival of 43 Papuan asylum seekers on Cape York in January and the granting of temporary protection visas to all but one have caused a crisis in Australias relations with Indonesia. Indonesia recalled temporarily its ambassador and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced that co-operation with Australia was under review. Although tensions have been eased by Australias proposal to tighten its asylum seeker processes, the core problem of the conflict in Papua remains unresolved. Crises are not new in the AustraliaIndonesia relationship. There have been periods of close co-operation and strong friendship, as when Australia supported Indonesias struggle for independence in the late 1940s. However, the disagreements have been significant and long lasting.The differences in policies, attitudes and values between Australia and Indonesia have been sharpest regarding territories in the eastern extremities of the archipelago closest to Australia. East Timor and Papua have dominated two periods of Australias relationship with Indonesia between 1950 62, when the Australian Government opposed Indonesias claim to Papua, and between 197599 when many Australians opposed the Indonesian invasion and occupation of East Timor. In 1999 Australia led an international intervention that facilitated the independence of East Timor. From the Indonesian vantage point, Papua and East Timor relate to matters of Indonesias territorial integrity and national pride, together with ideological underpinnings of what constitutes Indonesia. From the Australian point of view, in addition to a security interest in nearby territories, some Australians have had difficulty in accepting that Indonesia is a multi-ethnic state. Australians have been receptive to Timorese and Papuan arguments that they are ethnically and culturally different from Indonesians and should not be part of Indonesia. There is the widely held view that Indonesia is dominated by a Jakartabased political and military elite, and by the ethnic Javanese. Indonesias transition from military-dominated authoritarian rule to a more open and democratic polity is critical to an understanding of Australian policies and attitudes to Indonesia. National parliamentary elections were held in 1999 and 2004. Indonesia held its first direct elections for president and vice-president in 2004. These elections were fair, open and well managed. Paradoxically, democratisation has complicated the conflict with Papua. While political freedoms and respect for human rights have been much advanced in most of Indonesia, this has not been the case in Papua. The most recent US State Department report on human rights asserts that significant problems remain in Papua.

Dr Richard Chauvels research has focused on political and social change in eastern Indonesia, particularly in Maluku and Papua, together with AustraliaIndonesia relations. He was a consultant for the International Crisis Group in Papua. His recent research papers can be found at: http://nautilus.rmit.edu.au www.eastwestcenterwashington.org www.crisisgroup.orgDr Richard Chauvel teaches at VUs School of Social Sciences.

30

VU Books

NEW

BOOKSMenopause for DummiesBy Dr Lily Stojanovska Published by Wiley Publishing Australia

Neural Networks in Healthcare A Short History of Cambodia Potential and Challenges From Empire to SurvivalEdited by Rezaul Begg, Joarder Kamruzzaman and Ruhul Sarker Published by IGI Publishing USA By John Tully Published by Allen and Unwin

A plain-English guide for women approaching menopause and women experiencing difficulties during menopause who want information on the treatments available. This book addresses concerns such as hormonal changes, potential health problems and preventative strategies.

Besides applications in other areas, neural networks have found many promising applications in health and medicine. This book presents innovative developments from leading experts and scientists working in health, biomedicine, biomedical engineering and computing.

This highly-readable book about Cambodia takes the reader from the richness of the Angkorean Empire; the dark ages of the 18th and early 19th centuries; the era of French protection; the Vietnamese conflict and the Pol Pot regime, through to the present day.

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Web Communities Analysis and ConstructionBy Yanchung Zhang, Jeffrey Xu Yu and Jingyu Hou Published by Springer

Not in Tranquility A MemoirBy John McLaren Published by Australian Scholarly Publishing

Four QuartersBy Tom Petsinis Published by ThompsonWalker

Web community, defined as a set of web-based documents with its own logical structure, is a flexible and efficient approach to support information retrieval and implement software applications. This book explains how to construct and analyse web communities.

VU academic John McLaren, a previous editor of Overland and Australian Book Review, tells the story of his public and personal life. His involvement in education, literature and politics has enabled him to observe the interweaving of power, art and intellect during half a century of profound change.

Four Quarters uses footy to write about life, and life to write about footy. Petsinis explores the magic of the game and the grit and melancholy of growing up a footy-obsessed migrant kid in Fitzroy in the 60s.

VU FACTSHISTORY Founded in 1916 as Footscray Technical School and established as Victoria University in 1990. STUDENT POPULATION Current student population: more than 36,000 International students: more than 6800 Postgraduate students: more than 3600 CAMPUSES AND SITES City Flinders City King City Queen (site) Footscray Nicholson Footscray Park Newport Melton St Albans Sunbury Sunshine Werribee FACULTIES Arts, Education and Human Development Business and Law Health, Engineering and Science TAFE SCHOOLS Business and Service Industries Human Services, Science and Technology Further Education, Arts and Employment Services Engineering, Construction and Industrial Skills INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENQUIRIES Victoria University International PHONE: +61 3 9919 1164 EMAIL: international@vu.edu.au31

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VU ART

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Hayley Walker Diploma of Arts (Visual Art) TITLE: Blue woman DATE: 2006 MEDIA: Oil on canvas

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