INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998 Page 1

Student takesoff in air trafficcontrol training

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Designers settheir sights onFinland

Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. QBF 4778

Emma winsABC’s first Ollescholarship

Queensland University of Technology Newspaper ■ Issue 176 ■ May 5-May 18, 1998

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by Phillipa Hanrick

Educator and lead singer/songwriterfor the band Yothu Yindi MandawuyYunupingu said he would use his QUThonorary doctorate — awarded at thearts graduation ceremony on April22— to promote an indigenouscultural institute.

The institute, which has been adream of Mr Yunupingu’s for morethan 10 years, will provide cultural andmusic education through links withtertiary institutions throughoutAustralia.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation hasestablished a music centre andrecording studios and the “spinoffs”from its operations will be used tofinance and promote cultural researchfor the institute.

As an educator, singer/songwriterand advocate of family and traditionalAboriginal values, Mr Yunupingu saidhis honorary doctorate would addweight and credibility to his endeavoursto achieve a universal understandingand acceptance of his culture.

The degree of Doctor of theUniversity is an honorary award ofthe highest status in recognition ofd i s t ingui shed se rv ice to thecommunity.

The conferring of the doctoraterecogni se s Mr Yunupingu’ scontribution to the education ofAbor ig ina l ch i ldren as well asAust ra l i an and internat iona laudiences about Aboriginal culture.

Born in the remote north-east ofArnhem Land, Mr Yunupingu workedas a teacher and later became principalat his community school of Yirrkala.

He was the first Aborigine in theNorthern Territory to gain a universitydegree.

He has since worked to promotecommunity-driven, formal education inAboriginal communities.

“I wanted to deliver education to myown people because I realised that ifAboriginal people could read and writewe could influence people all over theworld,” Mr Yunupingu said.

“I also recognised the power of musicand the ability to reach people aroundthe world through music.”

In 1985, Mr Yunupingu formed thenow-famous band Yothu Yindi and, in1991, he took leave from teaching toconcentrate on his musical career.

Yothu Yindi has had a number ofsuccessful albums including HomelandMovement, Tribal Voice, Freedom and,most recently, Wild Honey (Birrkuta).

The establishment of a culturalinstitute brings together and advancesMr Yunupingu’s passion for music,education and the celebration ofAboriginal culture.

During his visit to the university,Mr Yunupingu visited music studentsat the Academy of the Arts anddelivered a seminar as part of theOodgeroo Unit’s 1998 guestspeaker program.

Mandawuy honoured forhis cultural dedication

Celebrating the conferral of his honorary doctorate for contribution to the community and toeducation … educator and singer/songwriter Mandawuy Yunupingu is starting a cultural institute

State’s first international college launched

(l-r) QUT International College director David Stent, Minister for Economic Trade andDevelopment Doug Slack, and QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dennis Gibson enjoy a

vote of thanks from final-year law student Hee Kiat Sii at the college’s launch

by Phillipa Hanrick

The Minister for Economic Trade and Development, DougSlack, launched Queensland’s first international universityteaching-based college at QUT last week.

Mr Slack also opened QUT International College’s newpremises in P Block at the university’s Kelvin Grove campusat the launch ceremony on April 27.

The college will provide pathways to enter QUT’s degree,postgraduate and other courses through a combination ofdiplomas, English language, foundation and bridgingprograms.

Established in 1997 to bring together all QUT’spreparatory programs for international students — manyof which have been conducted for the past decade — QUTInternational College teaches three, 14-week semesters eachyear, reducing the time it takes to complete courses.

Expanded services are also offered to support the intensivestudy program.

These include additional academic and English languagecounselling, longer periods of contact time and smallerclass sizes.

Continued Page 2

Page 2 INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998

Flexibility nothing new

A word from the Vice-Chancellor

The editorial deadline for next issue (May 19-July 20) is May 8.

About your newspaperGardens Point, GPO Box 2434Brisbane 4001.

The opinions expressed in Inside QUTdo not necessarily represent those of theuniversity or the editorial team.

If you know of a story which should betold in Inside QUT, contact one of thecommunication officers in the department:

Carmen Myler (acting ed) 3864 1150Glenys Haalebos 3864 2130Noel Gentner (p/t) 3864 1841Phillipa Hanrick 3864 4494Fax 3210 0474E-mail c.myler@qut.edu.au

Photography: Tony Phillips

Advertising: Joanne Garnett 3864 1840

Internet site: http://www.qut.edu.au/publications/05news/iqut.html

Inside QUT is published by QUT’sCorporate Communication Department(formerly Public Affairs) and has acirculation of 15,000.

Readership includes staff, students,and members of the QUT community.

The newspaper is delivered tospecially-marked boxes in communityareas at the university’s Gardens Point,Kelvin Grove and Carseldine campuses.

It is also circulated to business,industry, government and the media.Media may reproduce stories from InsideQUT. Each story has been checked withthe source prior to publication.

Letters to the Editor are welcome viamail or e-mail (maximum of 250 words).

The Corporate CommunicationDepartment address is Level 5, M Block,

From the Inside… by David Hawke

see story Page 4

QUT staff hit the shops

QUT’s latest recruitment strategyfor mid-year entry involves takinginformation about the university topeople in shopping centres.

The thinking behind it is to reach thenon-school leaver market which makesup a large proportion of QUT students.

by Noel Gentner

A unique law teaching tool createdat QUT has a t t rac ted over sea sin t e r e s t , pa r t i cu l a r l y f rom theUnited Kingdom.

Developed over a period of twoyears, the tool is a template calledLawSim and has been described asone of the most flexible educationaltechnology projects at QUT.

Joint project manager GordonJoughin, a flexible delivery advisor withTeaching and Learning Support Services(TALSS), said the project was initiatedby the former dean of law, ProfessorDavid Gardiner.

Mr Joughin said LawSim createdlearning environments in whichstudents could explore multi-levelledproblems in law.

He said it also enabled teachers oflaw to create a challenging, multimedialearning environment for students and

to develop their own computer-basedapplications without the need forprogrammers, graphic designers ormedia specialists.

“In essence, it can convey quiteinteresting and complex scenarios whereproblems can be presented to thestudent,” Mr Joughin said.

“Scenarios built up by video andaudio material can include letters fromclients’ files, and also a bank of‘characters’ which can be used to presentdifferent perspectives on a problem.”

Mr Joughin said about a dozencharacters had been selected —according to gender, race and age — toprovide comment on particular legalproblems which encouraged studentsto realise there were differentperspectives that could be brought tobear on a case.

He said the product was a result ofclose collaboration between QUT’s LawSchool and TALSS staff.

“It boiled down to being able to createproblems of different levels ofcomplexity and present them in a moreor less realistic way, and at the sametime allow students to develop their skillsin legal research,” Mr Joughin said.

Mr Joughin said that, during secondsemester this year, several law lecturerswould use the template to createresources for 1999.

He said the Open University in theUK had also shown an interest in LawSim.

“The Open University is by far thelargest in the UK — with over 200,000students — and, at the invitation of itsPro-Vice Chancellor (TechnologyDevelopment) Professor DianaLaurillard, the template wasdemonstrated late last year and a seconddemonstration was given last month,”Mr Joughin said.

“They were very impressed and saw alot of potential for the template andwanted to pursue the product further.”

LawSim to challenge students

from Page 2

P Block has undergone a $2millionrefurbishment by Phillips Smith ConwellArchitects Pty Ltd and now accommodatesup to 300 students, is fully air-conditioned,has two computer laboratories and a 24-hour computer access lab.

Mr Slack congratulated QUT onbeing the first university to provide aninnovative combination of diploma andfoundation courses for internationalstudents, and for showing a lead ininternational education.

“QUT’s International College wasestablished with a great deal of enterpriseand imagination, and provides theuniversity with a facility that fulfils the

value-added principle in every sense ofthe word,” he said.

He said about 2,500 international studentswere enrolled at QUT which represented$60million in State export earnings.

Final-year law student — and formerfoundation student — Hee Kiat Sii,speaking on behalf of more than 500students studying at QUT InternationalCollege, also congratulated the university.

“It can be difficult to adapt to a newcountry and we are fortunate to have afoundation program which not onlyhelps us academically but provides socialsupport,” Mr Sii said.

“Our tutors do this by inviting usinto their homes and their lives and thismakes the experience easier,” he said.

… Minister launches college

The principles of lifelong learning andflexible delivery were identified asfundamental to the future of ouruniversities well before they werehighlighted in the West review ofhigher education.

The universities of technology haveembraced these principles verysuccessfully for many years. This hasflowed naturally from our closeindustry links and our convenientlocation for city workers.

Compared with other universities,we have a large proportion of studentswho do not come directly from school.

Traditionally, we have catered forpeople coming to, or returning to,university at various stages of life. Theymay be mature-age people, youngpeople who have chosen to work ortravel for a while before undertakinguniversity study, or people who arecoming back to study. They may beseeking career change, careerdevelopment, to upgrade qualifications,or to update their skills.

Largely in response to the needs ofemployers and of workers who want tostudy, we have had a very strong part-timeprogram compared with other universities.Part-time mode, of course, now comesunder the heading of flexible delivery.

The three integrated elements offlexible delivery are the technology usedto deliver the course, where it is to bedelivered and when it is to be deliveredfor the convenience of the student.

Certainly, the first two elements havecaught the imagination of the futurists— picture the hologram lecturer givingthe class in your living room.

But the third — flexibility of time —still has enormous potential combined

with the traditional face-to-face, on-campus learning experience.

Our students have a variety ofcommitments outside the university.They are demanding subjects beavailable when they can attend,whether in evening mode or in blockson certain days or weekends, and thatsupport services be available when theyneed them.

Other universities will respond todemands for flexibility in delivery in avariety of ways.

QUT is already a leader in offeringcourses part-time. We have anopportunity to build on this advantageby providing much greater flexibilityin time, for both teaching and teachingsupport activities, to better meetstudent needs.

If we can bring a whole-of-universityfocus to this challenge, we willmaximise our competitive advantagein the area of flexible delivery in theforeseeable future.

Professor Dennis Gibson␣ ␣

Meeting the needs of this diversegroup requires flexibility in coursedelivery (see V-C’s message, left) — and,it seems, in the ways in which QUTassists students to apply for courses.

So, staff — including executive,academic and general staff— have been

working lunch hours, evenings andSaturdays to deliver the goods.

Centres on the map for QUT’s travellingdisplay include: Brookside, Carindale,Chermside, Garden City, Aspley, QueenStreet Mall, Stafford, Toombul (picturedabove), Toowong and Indooroopilly.

INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998 Page 3

␣ by Noel Gentner

Findings from nationalsurveys on recent restructuringof Australian companies’operations and staff levels leavemuch to be desired, accordingto a visiting professor at QUT.

An adjunct professor inthe School of Management,Professor Craig Littler has beenco-ordinating a large-scaleinternational database onorganisational restructuring forthe past five years involvingAustralia, New Zealand andSouth Africa

Recognised as an Australianexpert on the human resourcemanagement aspects ofcorporate downsizing, ProfessorLittler said, traditionally,downsizing had been associatedwith downturns in the economyand profit declines.

“Now downsizing is a strategywhich is pursued by organisationseven in business cycle upturnsand even when their profitpattern is in fact looking prettygood,” Professor Littler said.

“More often than not,organisational restructuring is

by Noel Gentner

A breakthrough in the delivery of air trafficcontrol education and training has beenachieved in Brisbane as a result of anindependent project by a QUT Master ofEducation student.

Major ing in adu l t and workp laceeducation, Peter Tilton is setting up whathe claims to be the most advanced staffdeve lopment l e a rn ing sy s t em o f anyorganisation in Australia.

“We will be the first air traffic controlprovider world wide to embrace onlinestaff development and training which willimprove th e qua l i t y o f t r a in ing andincrease organisational advantages,” MrTilton said.

Employed as a senior education specialistwith Air Traffic Services, part of AirservicesAustra l ia ( formerly the Civi l Aviat ionAuthority), Mr Tilton said Australia had anexcellent aviation record — one of the best inthe world — and the revised online trainingprogram would help assure the continuedsafety of operations.

Air Traffic Services has responsibility forAustralia’s airspace management, including theprovision of air traffic control, aeronauticalinformation services and the training of airtraffic controllers, he explained.

“We are in the process of setting up awhole internal information online system,including what we call a ‘Training Net’ for

educat ion and s ta f f deve lopment ,” MrTilton said.

The online program would provide staffwith the opportunity to develop managementskil ls and undertake other developmentactivities, including some operational training,he said.

He said he believed the program was“revolut ionary” because i t empoweredemployees to have input into their trainingand career paths.

“If someone wants to become a manager,they will know which program they have togo through, which wi l l result in moreopportunities for people who are ambitious,”Mr Tilton said.

“ T h e r e w i l l s t i l l b e c o m p u l s o r yoperational Air Traffic Control training,and basic development training, but someof the onus will rest on the individuals tochart their development path.

“Our training is already of a very highstandard and this project will further enhanceAirservices Australia’s reputation for trainingexcellence.”

Mr T i l ton s a id the p rog ram wou ldh e l p t o e n s u r e a n o n g o i n g f l o w o fp r o f e s s i o n a l m a n a g e r s w i t h i n t h eorgani sa t ion.

“Air traffic controllers will be updated int h e l a t e s t p r o c e d u r e s , t r a i n i n g a n dtechniques in the workplace, where in thepast we conducted staff training off site,”Mr Tilton said.

Air traffic controlprogram set toimprove quality

Flying high … masters student Peter Tilton is setting up a staff-developmentprogram for air traffic controllers which is set to improve the quality of training

and help Australia continue to have one of the best aviation records in the world

difficult to do well and to dodownsizing successfully is moredifficult.

“Looking at a range ofoutcomes, generally organisationsin Australia have not downsizedsuccessfully.”

Professor Littler said usuallythe major objective fordownsizing was cost cutting.

“So the question arises, do themajority of organisations which aredownsizing cut costs? The answeris only 50 per cent do, which means50 per cent don’t,” he said.

“The reasons for this arecompanies end up recruitingstaff back into the organisation,they put work out to consultantsfor which they end up payingmore for the service andproductivity usually goes down.”

However, Professor Littlerstressed, “I wouldn’t say under allcircumstances downsizing is thewrong thing to do, but you needto look at all the alternatives andconsider carefully what you aredoing and how you are doing it”.

He said organisations in theUnited States and New Zealandbegan downsizing much earlierthan those in Australia.

Company downsizings notworking well for Australia

“I don’t see that it issomething that is going toterminate quickly in Australiabecause of overlappingprocesses, including the FederalGovernment’s public sectorpolicy,” Professor Littler said.

“In the short term, we are inan election phase both inQueensland and nationally, andthere will be attempts to paperover the problems and deny theAsian crisis will impact severelyand deeply on the Australianeconomy, whereas it clearly will.”

Professor Littler said, after theelections, the economic realitieswould “hit home” and heanticipated the unemploymentrate would remain at high levelsor even significantly increase inthe medium term.

“What happens after the year2000 will depend on how werestructure as a country and Idon’t think we have restructuredvery successfully as a country upto the present time,” he said.

“Perhaps, and just perhaps,the Australian economy willcome out in better shape than atthe moment, but I can’t say thereis strong evidence for that.”

by Phillipa Hanrick

International students could facecircumstances that put them atgreater risk of gambling excessivelythan Australian students, a seniorQUT counsellor said recently.

Head of QUT’s InternationalStudent Services Graham Baguleysaid international students wereon their own, living in a newcountry without the support oftheir families for guidance.

“They could be having financialproblems and see gambling as away of making some money,” MrBaguley said.

Additionally, he said, there wereno gambling addiction counsellingprograms available in Brisbanespecifically for people from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Mr Baguley said gambling wasa growing problem for Australianuniversities generally, but hebelieved QUT was the first toimplement specific strategies toaddress the problem.

He said QUT had implementedseveral preventative measures andwas looking at what more couldbe done.

“Because of an increase in thenumber of students looking forwork, QUT has expanded its part-time employment service forinternational students,” MrBaguley said.

“Some students may run out ofmoney — for example because ofthe crisis in the Asian economy— and having a job is better thangambling.

“Another strategy is to addressthe gambling issue at theleadership program we run everyyear for the 22 internationalstudent organisations at QUT.

“Before coming to Australia,we give new students a pre-

Gambling concern forinternational students

depar tu re b r i e f ing wh ichhighlights the gambling issueand we present a couple of casestudies of students who had toreturn home because they hadgambled their money away.

“In addition, we issue a bookletand fact sheets that specificallymention gambling as an issue tobeware of.

“Gambling is a relatively newproblem for the campus counsellingservice, so we have also applied for agrant from the university to developa training program for staff.

“This will give us a soundknowledge of gambling addictiontherapies and allow us to applyspecific, culturally appropriatecounselling,” he said.

Mr Baguley said anecdotalevidence suggested students likedvisiting casinos.

International Students Associationpresident and QUT student Wei

Loong Chen said that his associationrecognised addictive gambling couldbe a problem but he was not aware ofa big increase in the number ofstudents with large debts.

He said, however, that studentsneeded to be disciplined in theirapproach to personal finances.

“Students are independentadults and Australia is a freecountry and we cannot stoppeople from gambling,” he said.

“If we were aware of a studentwith a gambling addiction wewould refer them to theuniversity’s International StudentServices for counselling.”

Treasury Casino Director ofOperations Paul Kruger saidca s ino s t a f f we re work ingclosely with QUT to addressthe s i tua t ion and wereobviously concerned about theproblems some students maybe experiencing.

Taking a gamble … the isolation felt by many internationalstudents can make gambling an appealing way to pass

time and, potentially, earn some money.

Page 4 INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998

by Glenys Haalebos

A passion for reporting has won aQUT journalism graduate the ABC’sprestigious Andrew Olle MemorialAward, opening doors to a futureinternational career.

Emma Griffiths, who in Februarycompleted her one-year cadetship asa general television journalist in theABC’s Brisbane newsroom, said shewas ecstatic about her win.

“I was amazed,” Ms Griffiths said.“I think I jumped about six feet in

the air. I never really thought I couldget it.”

Estab l i shed in memory ofdistinguished ABC journalist the lateAndrew Olle the award aims to giveyoung ABC reporters a taste of theexperience gained by journalists of MrOlle’s stature.

“There’s an age limit and a limit tothe amount of experience applicantscan have,” Ms Griffiths said.

“The award continues for one yearand involves working in ABC officesnationally and internationally — inmy case Sydney, Canberra andLondon.”

Ms Griffiths said award applicantspresented a re sume, a wr i t tensubmission on a chosen story idea anda sample of their work, to a selectionpanel for judging.

“The selection panel consisted of(prominent media professionals)Chris Masters, Jennie Brockie, PhillipClarke and Sandy Forbes,” she said.

“My s tory idea focuses onAustralian efforts to help the EastTimorese people and obviously theselection panel liked that idea.

“I’ll be going to Sydney to producethe story at the end of April and I’llbe there for 11 weeks.

“After that I’m having five weeks inCanberra in the Parliamentary PressGallery with the television group.

“I’m hoping this will be in the lead-up to the Federal elections. Thatwould be fantastic experience.”

For a sample of internationaljournalism, Ms Griffiths then headsfor London.

“I chose the ABC’s London bureaubecause the area really intrigues me,”she said.

“I want to learn some tangibleskills there, so in five years’ time— when I actually apply for anoverseas posting — I can draw onthose skills.

“It’s great that, in these tought imes, the ABC i s s t i l l g i v ingsomething back to young journaliststhrough this award.

“It’s a fantastic commitment tojournalism and I’m really pleased I’vewon it.”

Ms Gr i f f i th s g raduated f romQ U T i n 1 9 9 4 a n d w o r k e d i ncommercial television in Tamworthbefore taking up her ABC cadetshipin 1997.

A former QUT Student Guildp r e s i d e n t , M s G r i f f i t h s a l s ot u t o r s f i r s t - y e a r n e w s w r i t i n gstudents at QUT.

by Glenys Haalebos

A research project conducted deep inQueensland’s outback has givensecond-yea r QUT a rch i t e c tu restudents an insight into the isolationand f r ag i l i t y o f our we s t e rnenvironment.

In early April, 45 students travelledto Astrebla Downs National Park,almost at the Northern Territory border,as part of their brief to design a bilbyresearch station there.

The venture was a community serviceproject organised collaboratively bySchool of Architecture, Interior andIndustrial Design lecturer Jim Gall andQueensland Department of Environmentresearcher Peter McRae.

School senior lecturer Dr Jim Woolleysaid Mr McRae had been researchingthe threatened bilby for several years.

“He’s based in Charleville, butspends a few months annually atAstrebla Downs’ No 2 bore hole,” DrWoolley said.

“He works in quite primitiveconditions and I guess it’s his dream,and it’s supported by his department,that a well-equipped research station bebuilt there.

“The students’ imperative is todes ign c l imat ica l ly - respons ivebuildings without air conditioningand heating, to look at systems thatdon’t consume power and energywastefully, and to use available andrecyclable materials.

“The r e a r e no supp l i e s , noservices of any kind, no power there,and materials have to be brought infrom hundreds, even thousands, ofkilometres away.

“The local environment and the bilbiesare in such a sensitive state of balancethat we have to touch the earth lightly.

“We can’t go in with bulldozers andcranes — there is minimal ground coverand simply walking or running candisturb the surface, creating a dust bath,”he said.

Dr Woolley said the bilby exercisemeshed with the Dean of the Faculty ofBuilt Environment and Engineering’s1998 “sustainability” theme and theschool’s commitment to teachingenvironmentally-sustainable designprinciples.

“It’s a great project for us becausesustainability issues are not just moralprinciples up there, they are an absolutenecessity,” he said.

Dr Woolley said the students on thetrip surveyed the site, its terrain, climateand facilities.

“The students who stayed in Brisbaneresearched potential environmentally-friendly and sustainable energy andwaste systems,” he said.

“The research station will need fieldlaboratories, living facilities for up to 12researchers and 4WD accommodation.”

Dr Woolley said the students’ designswould be finalised by the end of thissemester.

“There will be 100 sets of drawings,so it is wonderful value for the client,”he said.

Funds to assist the research tripwere contributed by the dean and thehead of school, Dr Woolley said.

Architecture students go west for bilbies’ sake

QUT architecture students are designing a bilby research station inthe fragile environment of south-western Queensland, which will

contribute to the preservation of this endangered species

Former Guild president awardedjournalism scholarship with ABC

Architecture students Grant Chapman and Ingrid Anderson take abreak on their way out to Astrebla Downs National Park

Journalism graduate Emma Griffiths is heading for Sydney, Canberra and London after winning theABC’s Andrew Olle Memorial Scholarship. Since graduating in 1994, Ms Griffiths has worked for a

commercial television station in Tamworth and at the ABC in Brisbane.

Acts sought forarts week

The QUT Student Guild is hostingan arts week in August and is seekingacts and contributions from thestudent body.

Students with an interest orexperience in dance, drama, music,visual arts, film or communicationdesign are encouraged to participate.

Those interested should phoneLenine Bourke on (07) 3864 3709before June 3.

QUT hosts‘Sorry Books’

QUT and the Student Guild arehosting “Sorry Books” to give staffand students the opportunity toregister personal apologies forinjustices to indigenous Australians.

The books are part of NationalSorry Day which will be held on May26, one year after the Bringing ThemHome report on the removal ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderchildren was tabled in FederalParliament.

The books are printed with amessage expressing regret forinjustices suffered by indigenousAustralians, a personal apology forharm caused by the forced removalof indigenous children from theirfamilies and a desire for reconciliationand unity.

Sorry Books will be available forsigning from May 5 to 15 at:• Carseldine — Library, level 3 and

Student Guild Help Desk;• Gardens Point — Library, level 3

and Student Guild Help Desk; and• Kelvin Grove — Library, level 2

and Student Guild Secretariat.For more details, call (07) 3864 3653

or (07) 3864 5528.

INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998 Page 5

by Phillipa Hanrick

Hot, sour milk in little bottles formorning tea, the cane and the cuts, inkwells and copy book writing, theArgonauts Club, and vocationalguidance officers are all featured in anew anthology launched on Anzac dayat Kelvin Grove campus.

In School’s Out! Learning to be a writerin Queensland: an anthology in six lessons— launched at the One Teacher SchoolMuseum on April 25 — a group of well-known Queensland writers reminisceabout their school days between the1950s and 1980s.

Venero Armanno, Ross Clark, GaryCrew, Nick Earls, Jackie Huggins,Jane Hyde, Mary-Rose MacColl,Natalie Jane Prior, Jay Verney andJena Woodhouse have written theirmemoirs of growing up with theQueensland education system.

Their stories detail the dramaticchanges education has undergonesince the 1950s — from strict andauthoritarian discipline toprogressiveness; from a time when everychild was perceived as a “potentialcriminal” only able to be saved by the“unsparing use of the rod” to legislationpreventing the abuse of children.

Virginia State School, Ascot StateSchool, St Margaret’s Church ofEngland (now Anglican) Girls’ School,All Hallows’ School, St James CatholicBoys School, Kelvin Grove High School,their teachers, pupils and others comeunder the microscope in the anthology.Some may wish they had not.

However, while many of the writersare less than complimentary about theireducation, some did think their schoolsmade a significant contribution totheir careers.

Edited by School of Cultural andPolicy Studies lecturer Colin Symes,and freelance writer and publishingconsultant Robyn Sheanan-Bright, thebook developed from a series of writers’evenings held at the One TeacherSchool Museum.

The editors said school had an “extradimension” for writers not only becauseit was where the skill of writing wasacquired, but because it was where theyrealised writing was more than a lesson,it was a central skill in their lives.

Mr Symes and Ms Sheanan-Brighta l so pointed out that l iv ing inQueensland — with its differentarchitecture, outdoor lifestyle, rural

settings, sunshine and perennialpenchant for political separatism —had influenced the writers in theanthology.

School’s Out! was published by QUTwith a grant from the Faculty ofEducation. Copies of the book areavailable for $14.95 from Jocylen Lee,School of Cultural and Policy Studies,on (07) 3864 3728.

School’s out for writers

“Having to express their thoughtsand justify their opinions makes themthink more deeply about the play andthey develop more skills as they go.”

Ms Scollen said reasons given by thegroups for not previously attendingtheatre were varied.

“Most said the cost — around $25 aticket — was prohibitive,” she said.

“Many in the group felt that livetheatre was elitist and had been afraidthey would not understand it. And manythought it was mostly Shakespeareanmaterial and were surprised when theyattended contemporary plays and foundthey could relate to them.”

Ms Scollen said she felt her methodof audience-perception research hadpositive spin-offs for both the audiencegroups and the theatre company.

“I think it’s good to foster a strongerlink between the audience and thetheatre company,” she said.

“A lot of theatre companies are hesitantabout audience-perception input, butthey can use the information I generateto find out why people don’t go to thetheatre. If a company takes time to learnabout its public and treats them well thenthey will want to come back.”

Non theatre-goerssit in front row forresearch project

by Phillipa Hanrick

Australian management could benefitthrough improved leadership andinterpersonal skills for managers if aresearch project from QUT’s Faculty ofBusiness is successful.

PhD student Patricia Shinner hasbeen funded by the Meat ResearchCorporation to undertake a study onthe impact of mentoring and networkingon managerial skills.

Ms Shinner said little research hadbeen done that identified the individualbenefits of inter-organisationalcollaboration.

She said organisational collaborationincluded mentoring, networking andstrategic alliances or joint venturesbetween businesses.

“Research indicates that benefits ofmentoring can include increasedcommitment to the job, better careeropportunities and reduced stress dueto psycho-soc ia l support ,” MsShinner said.

“If mentoring can bring about suchbenefits then, maybe, other forms ofcollaboration can bring about differentbenefits to individuals involved.

“A major Austral ian study onbusiness and organisational practices,the Karpin Report, found Australianmanagers had poor interpersonal skillsand leadership abilities.

“My research will begin with a surveyof 200 Australian private and publiccompanies and examine issues of

collaboration within and between theseorganisations.

“From these, I will select and examineabout 20 organisations in-depth andlook at what types of collaboration areused, what factors are involved and whatmechanisms organisations use tosupport the different forms ofcollaboration.

“For example, I am interested inwhether people get enough time and

Study documents mentoring advantages

resources for collaboration, and whetherthey receive training.

“I will also look at the ways inwhich involvement in collaborativer e l a t i on sh ip s m igh t d ev e l opmanage r s ’ i n t e rp e r sona l andleadership skills.

Ms Shinner said she hoped to translateher research into useful strategies fororganisations in the meat industry andthen test her theories.

“In the last phase, I will implementcollaborative strategies and test theirimpact on participants’ skills,” she said.

“I will test in an empirical way bymeasuring participants before, during andafter involvement in collaboration on bothleadership and interpersonal skills, and Iwill be able to say if those particular skillshave improved,” she said.

Ms Shinner said she hoped tocomplete her study within three years.

Learning from leadership … PhD student Patricia Shinner, left, discusses her study on the impact ofmentoring and networking on managerial skills with Faculty of Business Acting Dean Dr Sandra Harding

Brisbane theatre companies and theiraudiences stand to benefit from researchbeing undertaken by QUT Master ofArts (Drama) student Rebecca Scollen(pictured above).

Ms Scollen’s study, an industrycollaboration with La Boite theatre,analyses audience perceptions of livetheatre among a group of people whonever or rarely attend performances.

“Most existing audience-perceptiontheory uses its interpretation of audiencesto validate a range of things about the play,staging or direction,” Ms Scollen said.

“I’m interested in audiences foraudiences’ sake — in understandingwhy they do and don’t go to the theatre,what their expectations are and whatthey get from the experience.”

Ms Scollen’s research is beingundertaken with three groups of 12 peopledrawn from a variety of backgrounds.

Ms Scollen said that, as well as providingcomplimentary 1998 season tickets, LaBoite had allocated a room for the groupto have its discussions after performances.

“It’s interesting to see the groups’responses. They are really enjoying theshows and are gaining confidence allthe time in their discussions and ideas.

Disabilities’code launched

QUT staff have been involved indeveloping the Students withDisabilities: Code of Practice forAustralian Tertiary Institutions whichwas launched late last month.

The code establishes principles andguidelines for planning and deliveringservices to tertiary students withdisabilities; recommends nationalminimum standards; and identifies anddocuments examples of good practice.

QUT social science senior lecturerDr Barrie O’Connor was a memberof the code of practice consultancyteam, along with Griffith University’sProfessor Des Power, Rhonda Watson(formerly from The University ofQueensland) and Judy Hartley (formerlyfrom Brisbane Institute of TAFE).

The code is available from the libraryor at http://www.qut.edu.au/pubs/disabilities/national_code/code.html

IT companywants you!

International software developer andexporter Mincom is launching agraduate recruitment program at QUT.

The program targets informationtechnology and business students, andapplications close on May 15. Interviewswill begin later this month at QUT.

For more details, visit the Mincomwebsite at http://www.mincom.com,e-mail recruit@mincom.com or phone(07) 3303 3115.

The best days of our lives … cultural and policy studies lecturerColin Symes, pictured at the One Teacher School Museum at Kelvin

Grove, has co-edited an anthology titled School’s Out!

Page 6 INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998

Mr Burgess heads the school’sworkshop, providing teaching andmodel work with a high level of safetyand innovation. He has designed andconstructed modelling equipment, andcontributed greatly to the school’sreputation in research and consultingwork. He has established an industrynetwork, is a skilled teacher anddirectly contributes to the school’smany successful exhibitions.

A strong client focus, a high level ofinnovation and an outstanding levelof assistance to staff and students inboth teaching and research earned MsMeixsell-Draper her award. She hastailored programs for specific classgroups, pro-actively identif iedresources to support research andteaching and facilitated ready accessto a wide range of resourcesparticularly relevant to science.

Mr Nulty has instigated significantinnovation and improvement inoperating systems, technical proceduresand administrative practices through re-modelling the Student Evaluation ofTeaching and Student Evaluation ofUnit schemes. He was part of a groupformulating a postgraduate researchexperience questionnaire, has sat on theEquity Initiatives Grant Committee andhas provided advice on curriculum.

Mr Rasmussen has developed theschool’s health and safety systemand consistently worked towardsimproving health and safety in theschool’s laboratories. He contributedto developing a program to promotelinks with high schools, was involvedin the NEXUS program and in TheSiemen’s Science Experience. He hasbeen instrumental in organising schoolopen days and university careers days.

A strong contribution to advancing thehighest ideals of QUT research andpostgraduate training have earned thisaward for Ms Reeves. Working withanimals in research, she teaches animalhandling skills and surgical procedures.She is also part of research teams and isa role model in ethical and professionalperformance for students using animalsfor research. She is a member of theUniversity Research Ethics Committee.

Ms Vidgen has developed proceduresto overcome the isolation felt by part-time staff. She has also reinforcedstrong community links and, in 1997,managed the highly successful ScienceTrain project. She is concerned withequity issues and has worked onrelevant committees, and developedscience programs for underprivilegedstudents such as the Spring ScienceExpo and the Q-Step program.

Academic achievement in the Facultyof Bui l t Environment andEngineering was strong in 1997.

Instead of the usual three UniversityMedals awarded to graduating students,dean of the faculty Professor WeilinChang has awarded four medals foracademic excellence to students whocompleted their studies last year.

The high standard of work, theclose competition between studentsand the large number of studentseligible to graduate, 494 in al l ,has allowed the faculty to nominatean add i t i ona l s t uden t f o r th eprestigious award.

The successful students were:• Ramon Breich, Bachelor of

Engineering (Aerospace Avionics) —Grade Point Average (GPA) 6.73;

• Dale Whelan, Bachelor of Engineering(Mechanical) — GPA 6.68;

• Leon Ree, Bachelor of Engineering(Electronics)/Bachelor of InformationTechnology — GPA 6.67; and

• Benjamin Lusk, Bachelor ofEngineering (Civil) — GPA 6.66.All medal winners have been enrolled

at QUT for at least two years full-time,or part-time equivalent, and have a recordof achievement higher than is normallyexpected of an excellent graduate.

QUT acknowledges the valuablecontribution made to the universityby its non-academic staff through itsannual Outstanding ContributionAward for General Staff.

Vice-Chancel lor ProfessorDennis Gibson said the awardaimed to recognise exceptionalcontributions to the university’smission and goals by outstanding

achievement or innovation throughservice by general staff.

“Nomination for this award is anextremely positive reflection on thecontribution of general staff to QUT,as well as the esteem in whichnominees are held by theircolleagues,” Professor Gibson said.

“The award is for outstandingachievement in the workplace. It does

not reward satisfactory or goodperformance only.”

Professor Gibson said 16 nominationswere submitted, with six individualnominees winning the award.

“They will each receive apresentation plaque and a grant of$2,000 to be spent at their discretionon work-related purposes,” he said.

The award winners are:

Gary Rasmussen —laboratory manager,

School of Civil Engineering

Deirdre Reeves —technician,

School of Li fe Sciences

Jane Vidgen — academic andresearch affairs officer,

Faculty of Science

Duncan Nulty — higher educationprogram evaluator,

Academic Staff Development Unit

Patrice Meixsell-Draper —reference librarian,

Gardens Point Library

David Burgess — seniortechnician, School of Architecture,

Interior and Industrial Design

General staff recognised Graduations

Engineering academiccontributions praised

Four high-achievingstudents rewarded

Attitude determinesaltitude in IT careerheights – speakerA QUT graduation ceremony wastold last week that the next Bill Gatescould well have been sitting in theaudience that night.

Addres s ing more than 200information technology graduates,guest speaker John Puttick said“QUT has provided you with a greatfoundation for your career with nolimit to the level you can attain”.

Managing director of Star SystemsPty Ltd, Mr Puttick said informationtechnology was, without doubt, theworld’s largest growth industry and itwas fuel l ing the growth ofmany other industries.

Star Systems is a Brisbane-basedcompany which specialises in designingcomputer software for finance, bankingand securities industries.

“We are entering an age whereintellectual property will be valued muchmore realistically than previously,” MrPuttick said.

“This boom has translated intounprecedented employment prospects.”

Mr Puttick said job openings in theinformation technology industryincreased by 14 per cent overall last year,compared with 1996, and his companyhad reflected these statistics.

He said the company last year tookon more than 50 graduates, mostly fromthe information technology field, andthis year would continue the trend witha mid-year intake of about 20 graduates.

The majority of the company’s newgraduate staff were from QUT, he said.

“We prefer QUT graduates, not onlybecause you possess the relevantknowledge and skills, but also becauseyou have the attitude and commitmentnecessary to succeed in the work force,”Mr Puttick said.

“It is said that your attitudedetermines your altitude. If you havethe right attitude in our industry thereis no limit to the heights you can attain.”

Research steps forward for amputeesPeople with partially amputated feet willbenefit from a biomechanical researchproject being undertaken at QUT.

Prosthetist and student in the Centrefor Rehabilitation Science andEngineering Michael Dillon is developinga biomechanical model that will,ultimately, result in the development ofa guide for the prescription and design ofpartial foot prostheses.

Mr Dillon said partial foot amputeesmade up only a small percentage of the

population and were often older peoplewho suffered from serious illnesses suchas vascular disease or diabetes.

“As such, research into prostheticreplacement has been severely neglectedand the literature available seems to bebased on speculation, assumption andanecdotal evidence,” he said.

Mr Dillon said he would gatherquantitative data to establish the validityof current information by measuring thegait and muscle activity of amputees.

He said he would thenbiomechanically model the gait.

“Biomechanical modelling of the gaitof partial foot amputees is advantageousbecause it resolves the shortcomings ofexisting research,” Mr Dillon said.

Mr Dillon said the final stage of hisproject would be to use the model tolook at the interactions which occurredbetween severe gait parameters, with theaim of improving the design of prostheses.

— Phillipa Hanrick

The Faculty of Built Environment andEngineering recognised two of its seniorlecturers — Dr Martin Murray and Dr SridhaSridharan — at an April 29 graduationceremony, by awarding them OutstandingAcademic Contribution Awards.

Dr Murray received an award inrecognition of his exemplary contributionto teaching and learning within the Schoolof Civil Engineering.

Over the past five years, Dr Murray’swork in improving students’ learningexperiences and developing lifelonglearning skills has attracted attention acrossthe university and overseas.

His teaching style has seen himtwice nominated for QUT’s BestLecturer Award.

As director of teaching and learningin his school, he has led a team ininitiating and executing new programsand directions, including: compulsorytraining for tutors; workshops onequity and diversity issues; and theincorporation of generic skills intoundergraduate teaching and doubledegrees.

He pioneered the Peer AssistedStudy Sessions (PASS) scheme in thefaculty and is chair of the PASSTRAC Group.

Dr Murray is the author of a plethoraof published journal and conferencepapers and recently received an awardfor one of his academic papers.

Dr Sridharan, from the School ofElectrical and Electronic SystemsEngineering, received his award inrecognition of his strong commitmentto research.

During his employment at QUT, DrSridharan has been successful inobtaining an impressive number ofresearch grants from external andinternal funding bodies.

More than two-thirds of these grantshave been externally funded by bodiesas diverse as the Australian ResearchCouncil through the National Instituteof Forensic Science, the CSIRO, theQueensland and Federal Police andMotorola USA.

In the past five years, Dr Sridharanhas published an impressive recordof publications numbering over 100refereed journals and conferencepublications.

His interest in research also findsexpression through his supervisionof masters research students anddoctoral candidates.

— Glenys Haalebos

INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998 Page 7

Check out What’s On at http:// www.qut.edu.au/pubs/02stud/whatson.html.Send your What’s On entry to c.myler@qut.edu.au or via fax on (07) 3210 0474.

FROM THE ACADEMY

May 13–22 The Cherry Orchard. Final-year actors from theAcademy of the Arts present this hauntinglyevocative comedy written by Anton Chekhov.Students can get a performance schedule andpurchase $10 tickets through QUT Campus Shops.Other tickets can be purchased through QTIXDial’N’Charge on (07) 3846 4646. Standard ticketprices are: $18/$14. QUT Theatre/GP. Leanne Cutlerat (07) 3864 3685 OR l.cutler@qut.edu.au

May 13 Electra. Romano and Rudolf Crivici — electricviolin, viola and lexicon sampler. KG/M BlockMusic Studio. 1.05pm. Free. Leanne Cutler at(07) 3864 3685 OR l.cutler@qut.edu.au

May 20 Contemporary Jazz Hypnosis — Music by PeterWalters. KG/M Block Music Studio. 1.05pm. Free. LeanneCutler at (07) 3864 3685 OR l.cutler@qut.edu.au

June 1 QUT Wind Symphony and University of StThomas Brass Band. The Brass Band from theUniversity of St Thomas, St Paul, Minnesota arefeatured guest artists on this program along witheminent conductor Matthew J.George. $12/$10.QUT Theatre/GP. 8pm.Leanne Cutler at (07) 38643685 OR l.cutler@qut.edu.au

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

• Faculty of Science

May 5 Physics, Faith and Feminism: mutually exclusiveor irrevocably intertwined? Public lecture. Speaker:scientist, writer, feminist and cultural commentatorMargaret Wertheim. Free. 1pm. BLT1/GP.

• Academic Policy and Programs/Planning and Resources

May 5, 7, 11 Course Resource Assessment Seminars. Theseseminars cover areas such as: course costcomponents, where fees go, how to balance loadrevenue and costs, and resource considerations forcourse changes. Registration is not necessary.

May 5 Free. 9am-10.30am. V771/GPMay 7 Free. 10am-11.30am. L201/CA.May 11 Free. 10am-11.30am. N519/KG

• Centre for Applied Studies in Early Childhood

May 15 Research Grants and How to Get Them. Presented byOffice of Research manager Norma Gilbert as part of thecentre’s seminar program. Free. 1pm-2pm. B304/KG.

• Academic Staff Development Unit

May 18 Reward and Recognition of Good Teaching PanelPresentation — an opportunity for academic staff tofind out about preparing for promotion, to hear feedbackfrom success stories, and to get valuable tips andsuggestions for submitting applications for promotions.Free. 1pm-3.30pm (approx.). Owen J Wordsworth Room,Level 12, S Block/GP. RSVP by May 8 to Virginia Creganat (07) 3864 5256 OR v.cregan@qut.edu.au

• University Teaching and Learning Committee

June 1 Teaching and Learning Large Grants Forum — auniversity-wide forum. 9.30am-12.30pm. Free. Owen JWordsworth Room, Level 12, S Block/GP. Jennifer Hunterat (07) 3864 2697 OR j.hunter@qut.edu.au

• Justice Studies

July 8–10 Australian and NZ Society of Criminology 1998Conference — “Crime, Criminology and Justice:Current Trends and Future Directions”. An opportunityto hear the world’s leading criminologicalresearchers. ANA Hotel, Gold Coast. Katerina Ginisat (07) 3864 3188 OR k.ginis@qut.edu.au

STUDENT GUILD EVENTS

May 22 Basketball — QUT Cup. CA. 12noon-4pm. Recreationon (07) 3864 4716.

May 28 End of Semester Bash. Victory Hotel. 7pm onwards.Recreation on (07) 3864 4716.

July 5–9 NCUSA Games hosted by QUT. Recreation on(07) 3864 5536.

REUNION

May 8 Steppin’ Out: School of Communication ReunionBall — featuring the QUT Big Band. Brisbane CityTravelodge. Ros Petelin at (07) 3864 2467 ORr.petelin@qut.edu.au

by Phillipa Hanrick

Architecture is playing a vital rolei n t h e t r e a t m e n t a n d c a r e o fpeople with psychiatric i l lnesses,a B r i s b ane a r ch i t e c t s a i d a t arecent QUT seminar.

A t t h e s e m i n a r , P s y c h i a t r i cArchitecture: New Beginnings for anOld Problem , former QUT lecturerJ o h n C l a r k e s a i d n e w S t a t eb u i l d i n g g u i d e l i n e s h a d b e e nintroduced for designing mentalhealth facilities.

Mr Clarke said architecture had animportant role to play in planningfacilities for people with mental illnesses.

He said the guidelines — on whichhe was consulted — represented adirect participatory approach todesign, including the knowledge andneeds of carers, professionals, patientsand the i r organi sa t ions , uni tmanagers, and time/cost faci l ityeconomists.

“Not only can architecture and thebuilt environment be therapeutic,they can help with the managementand administration of a patient andthis is obviously a benefit in theapplication of other therapies,” MrClarke said.

“Al though archi tecture has alimited role in providing absolutetherapeutic opportunity, it has asignificant role in the administeringof therapies.

“Architecture is fundamental to theenvironment of care, such as shelter,safety and environmental control.

“For example, overcrowding is asignificant issue in causing distressand if the architecture addresses the

Architecture’s caring face showsin new mental health guidelines

problem then it contributes to lessstress.

“Another example is ‘way finding’.We avoid designing long, anonymouscorridors where people will becomedisoriented, which leads to higherstress levels.

“Easier staff access to the patientsi s a l so important , for the i rmanagement of people with mentalillnesses. Recent studies show theearlier you intervene in an altercation,the easier it is to separate and calmthe patients.

“Thirty seconds of argument canresult in two hours of unsettledbehaviour and this may, in turn, requiretwo hours of nurse management.

“So, it is vital that carers are ableto reach patients quickly and thatthere are no obstacles to block access,”he said.

Mr Clarke is currently researchingaspects of the effects of the builtenvironment on psychiatric patients,as well as working on a psychiatricunit at Toowoomba Hospital and theWolston Park Hospital at Wacol.

He said his recent work, on behalfof Queensland Health, representedthe best opportunity yet to establishdesign as a component of the modelof care.

“Given the failure of world wideattempts to de-institutionalise thecare of mental health patients, thedocument represents a new attemptat providing an environment that willrelieve suffering, attend their dignityand privacy, provide therapeuticcomfort , and redres s the awfulconditions these people currentlyseem to endure,” Mr Clarke said.

Brisbane architect and former QUT lecturer John Clarke …designing facilities for people with psychiatric disabilities

by Noel Gentner

The eyes, voice and fingerprints have allbeen used for personal identification but nowQUT researchers are concentrating on lips.

According to QUT’s Speech ResearchLaboratory head, Associate ProfessorSridha Sridharan, research at QUT isleading to the development of a newpersonal security identification system.

Dr Sridharan said the system,combining existing technologies, wouldparticularly interest the finance industry.

He said eight students were workingon projects associated with identificationbased on a person’s face, speech and acombination of these two aspects.

“There has been considerable workgoing on around the world in using voiceonly and images only for ID purposes,but little work has been done in the fusionof these two aspects,” Dr Sridharan said.

Dr Sridharan said personalidentification also used fingerprints andthe image of a person’s iris.

Lips offer ID solution

“The problem with the iris techniqueis that you have to get very near to thecamera, which makes it difficult for acommercial operation, and the problemwith fingerprints is that not everyone wantsto have their fingerprints taken,” he said.

“The most practical option is the fusionof voice and vision.”

Dr Sridharan said the new systemwould be more “robust” and resistantto mimicking than previous systems.

“It will extract features which willidentify you even with significantbackground noise and lighting problems.”

PhD student Timothy Wark (picturedabove) is working on the project, as isfinal-year undergraduate James Moody.

Mr Wark said he expected to have asystem operational by the end of next year,which could then be commercialised.

He said he had obtained high accuraciesfor person authentication and was nowlooking at the development of a system whichcould be used in real-life environments, suchas at an automatic teller machine.

Accountancy students at QUT can nowexamine the accounting systems usedby well-known companies such asZupps, Golden Circle and Movie World— without leaving the classroom.

A CD-ROM designed by lecturerTrevor Stanley gives second-yearstudents the chance to see realaccounting systems in action.

The CD-ROM, which has beenavailable to students since the beginningof this year, allows users to read, listen,view and experience the content.

According to Mr Stanley, it providesall the benefits of work experience,“which would be almost impossible toorganise for hundreds of second-yearaccountancy students”.

As well as “experiencing” what washappening in the accounting systems ofreal companies, students would be ableto take advantage of the benefits ofinteractive multimedia, Mr Stanley said.

“Students can progress at their ownpace and can choose an approach whichsuits their learning style,” he said.

“Some will want to see what ishappening in the real world beforelooking at theory, others will get a gripon the theory first.”

Mr Stanley said the package examinedthree accounting cycles — the generalledger and reporting cycle, the revenuecycle, and the expenditure cycle.

“Each cycle uses examples from a realcompany,” Mr Stanley said.

“For instance, Warner Brothers’Movie World provides an interestingsetting for examples of the general ledgerand reporting cycle.

“Many students don’t realise evenplaces like Movie World haveaccounting systems.”

Students can borrow a copy of theCD-ROM from QUT’s library.

Reality checkin accounting

/

Page 8 INSIDE QUT May 5-May 18, 1998

Readers who have seen cleaning staffentering lecture theatres with gardenrakes could be forgiven for thinkingthat those early-morning starts aremaking the cleaners a little foggy.

However, the unusual choice ofhousehold tidy tool is apparentlynecessary to rake through the mountainsof food scraps left on the floor by students

What’s on?For the fullview, seePage 7

— despite the fact that, officially, foodis not allowed in lecture theatres.

Our source tells us that thoseattending evening lectures are theworst offenders, often grabbing fastfood as they rush from work to uni.

Rules are made to be broken, theysay, but surely if food can be smuggledin, rubbish can be smuggled out?

Tune your television sets to Channel9’s Sale of the Century this week to seehow QUT fares in the “UniversityChallenge”.

Last month, third-year arts/lawstudent Rebecca Simpson, representingQUT, was in Melbourne for a recordingsession in front of the cameras.

The “University Challenge” seriesbegan last night, May 4, and Ms

Staff from around QUT have joinedtogether to showcase the university’scourses to prospective students andeducators in Singapore on May 16.

Every faculty will be on display at amajor exhibition, QUT On ShowSingapore, being held at the prestigiousAustralian High Commision.

It is the first time all the facultiesand the QUT International College

QUT swings into Singapore

have combined to d i sp lay acomprehensive, informative programof university preparatory and Englishlanguage programs, a s we l l a sundergraduate and postgraduatecourses, to an overseas audience.

A highlight of the program will be adance performance by students fromLaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, priorto the show’s official opening.

Seminar topics include Crime, CrimePrevention and Justice for the 21stCentury; Courses and CareerOpportunities in Journalism; Science atQUT: Your Key to Careers in the 21stCentury; and Arts, Music andMultimedia.

There will also be presentations on livingin Brisbane, accommodation, admissionrequirements and student services.

by Noel Gentner

There are 60 “hopefuls” in QUT’sundergraduate architecture courseseeking world recognition by enteringan international design competition thissemester.

The assignment, which forms a partof the fourth-year student program, isto design a new library building for thecity of Seinajoki in Finland.

The winning student or students willthen be commissioned to take the designto completion in association with anarchitect of their choice.

School of Architecture, Interior andIndustrial Design lecturer Susan Savagesaid there was considerable prestigeassociated with winning such acompetition.

Ms Savage said the competitioncelebrated the centenary of the birth ofAlvar Aalto, a master of modernarchitecture.

It is organised by the city of Seinajokiin association with the Royal Instituteof British Architects and the Alvar AaltoMuseum.

The city has a number of buildingsdesigned by Alvar Aalto which form atown centre, including the library,whichis known as the “pearl” of the centre, achurch, the town hall, a theatre andoffices which were built over a 30-yearperiod.

“There is considerable prestigeassociated with this competition becauseAlvar Aalto was well respected worldwide and it will attract a lot of interestfrom architecture schools throughoutthe world.

“QUT students have experiencedsucce s s in r ecent compet i t ionsna t iona l l y and in te rna t iona l l y ,

International relations special projects co-ordinator Laurel Bright␣ displays a poster promotingQUT On Show Singapore … the event takes place on May 16

including first prize in a competitionof f e r ed by the Academy o fArchitecture, Arts and Sciences inCalifornia last year,” Ms Savage said.

“Also last year, three students fromthe school went to Korea a f terwinning the So lar Energy inArchitecture International StudentDesign Competition to collect theprize in Seoul.

“The value in winning suchcompetitions is also a measure of our(QUT) success as an institution.

“Competition success is one of thecriteria used among architecture schoolsin Australia as a measure of standing.”

Ms Savage said part of the challengewith this competition would be toproduce a design to complement theexisting structures in Seinajoki.

She said that, although no criteria hadbeen set, it would be up to individualstudents to make a study of the civiccentre and formulate strategy for thedesign of the building.

The first of the student critiques wenton display earlier this month whereadvice, criticism and direction wasoffered.

“A decision will be made at the endof this semester and we will send thestudents’ submissions to Finland inJuly,” Ms Savage said.

“I would like to send 60, but in reality,I will probably send about a dozensubmissions from QUT to enter thecompetition.”

Ms Savage said the judging panel inFinland would include world-renownedarchitects Daniel Libeskind and JuhaniPallasmaa and a decision on the winningsubmission would be made in Augustwith a planned presentation scheduledfor September.

Architecture student Chelle Macnaughton presents a sketch design forthe Seinajoki Library in Finland to her class … she is one of 60 students

hoping to enter an international competition to design the library

‘Sale’ challenge for uni team

Competition for QUT triathletes willbegin early this year when QUT hoststhe Northern Conference UniversitySports Association (NCUSA) Games.

The games are scheduled for earlyJuly, but the triathlon component willbe contested in Byron Bay on May 16.

QUT’s Student Guild won the rightto host this year’s NCUSA Games —which will run from July 5 to 9 —and are expected to attract about 2,500participants from nine universities.

QUT triathlon club president MarkHinds said QUT’s triathletes, thedefending champions, would have astrong team of about 25 competitors inboth age group and professional categories.

The course consists of a 1.5kmswim, 40km cycle and a 10km run.

Mr Hinds said the main contendersin the professional division would beQUT students Mark Roland, JohnWarner and Jay Sanderson.

In the women’s division, he said,top performances were expected fromrecently returned New Zealandcompetitor, ironwoman PatriciaPalmer, as well as from SharynFreshwater and Helen Clatworthy.

“The men’s age group is wellrepresented and the team event isparticularly strong, with CommonwealthGames hopefuls Greg Shaw and TomDover swimming and runningrespectively,” Mr Hinds said.

High hopesfor triathletes

by Glenys Haalebos

An effective patient handling andlifting risk management system wouldsave the State health industry millionsof dollars if introduced as QueenslandHealth best practice, according to aQUT masters study.

The study, by Master of Healthstudent Simon Phil l ips , showedsavings would be made in reducedabsenteeism, compensat ion andturnover costs.

Mr Phillips validated the efficacyof the Bulbrook patient and residenthandling system as his masters ’research project.

“Thirty nurses trialled five differentpatient handling/lifting techniques —tradit ional and the a l ternat iveBulbrook technique — and I analysedthe results,” Mr Phillips said.

“All participating nurses werefascinated with the technique andsurprised at how easy it was to movethe patient.”

Mr Phillips said Worksafe Australiaestimated back injuries associated withlifting, carrying or setting downpatients resulted in an average of 48days’ lost time annually across Australia.

“Queensland Health recorded morethan 2,473 compensable injuries in1997 of which 984 involved nursingstaff,” he said.

“Back injuries to nurses frompatient handl ing i s cost ingQueensland in excess of $26.7millionannually.

“My research shows implementingthe Bulbrook system wouldconsiderably lower that figure.”

The Bulbrook system, which wasdeveloped five years ago by thenworkplace health and safety officerChris Bulbrook, had been adopted by

Load could be liftedon patient handling

several hospital and nursing carefacilities, Mr Phillips said.

“The results achieved have beenspectacular,” he said.

“For those facilities, absenteeism,which is one of the largest costs toQueensland Healt, has gone from 16per cent down to 2 per cent on any oneshift and there has been up to a 90 percent reduction in cost per claim.

“My research at QUT has validatedthat the system can dramaticallyreduce back injuries to nurses withpositive spin-offs for cost savings.”

Mr Phillips said the techniqueworked in conjunction with a systemof codifying each patient’s functionalmobility status.

“This involves completing a formwhen a patient is admitted, givingdetails on that patient’s mobility,”he said.

“The form is attached to the fileand can be instantly accessed bynurses when handling or lifting isneeded.

“It specifies the required techniqueand number of nurses to be used orthe type of mechanical handlingassistance required.”

Mr Phi l l ips sa id Queens landHealth was examining the system asa potentially “preferred best practicemodel”.

“If the system becomes one ofQueensland Health’s best practicemodels, QUT — and hopefully allacademic institutions — will teachit and produce health care graduateswho are already competent in thesystem.”

An ergonomist with the NationalSafety Council, Mr Phillips said healthexperts had been very excited aboutthe research results.

Simpson will make her televisionappearance in the quiz on Wednesday,May 6.

More than 15 universities wereinvited to be represented in thechallenge.

The first prize is a BMW car and atrip to Greece, with the winninguniversity receiving $20,000 cash togo towards scholarships.

Students have designson Finnish city library