Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Head of Veterinary Sciences and Research Dr Michael Pyne OAM.
Construction is now underway on the world-class Currumbin Wildlife Institute (CWI), with Griffith University among the key partners and stakeholders gathering at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the milestone with a ceremonial sod-turning.
The Currumbin Wildlife Institute will enable the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to continue to expand its current research and training programs, and help save native wildlife species from extinction.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said the University champions collaborations such as this partnership with the Currumbin Wildlife Institute which help to drive positive and meaningful outcomes for our communities.
“Our teaching and research are grounded in relevance and impact, driven by strong partnerships and a particular commitment to Australian environmental studies,” Professor Evans said.
“Griffith University is thrilled to partner with the Currumbin Wildlife Research Institute to support their mission in transforming frontline experience into science-led prevention, education and long-term impact.”
Professor Carolyn Evans
Griffith is recognised nationally and globally for its research excellence and strengths in conservation science, particularly population monitoring and wildlife management.
Griffith’s research leadership also extends across tourism and visitor experience, education, and the creative arts – areas that align directly with the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s mission to conserve, inspire and engage.
The Currumbin Wildlife Institute is expected to open in 2027.
Head of Veterinary Sciences and Research at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Dr Michael Pyne OAM, said the sod-turning marked a major step forward for wildlife conservation in Queensland.
“This is a significant milestone not just for Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, but for wildlife conservation more broadly,” Dr Pyne said.
“Every animal we save represents a step forward for its species, but the real game-changer is preventing harm before it happens.
“This world-class facility will help us tackle the root causes of wildlife illness through applied research, education and collaboration.”
National Trust of Australia (Queensland) President, Mark Townend AM, said the Currumbin Wildlife Research Institute marks a significant step forward in the Trust’s mission and commitment to protecting Australia’s extraordinary natural heritage.
“The knowledge and research generated here will not only help protect Australia’s unique wildlife and ecosystems but also preserve our natural landscape,” Mr Townend said.
“Importantly, this project has been made possible through the shared vision and support of all three levels of government.
“The partnership between Federal, State and Local governments demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together with a common purpose – to protect Australia’s wildlife and our natural heritage.”
In Australia, men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
A study undertaken by Griffith University researchers explored the intersections of men, suicide and child sexual abuse, revealing the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences on adult survivors’ mental health and suicide risk.
“In a quarter of the studies, a clear and direct link between child sexual abuse and suicidality was found.
“Several studies reported child sexual abuse was, over and above other forms of maltreatment, linked to suicidality.” Professor O’Leary said.
There were several factors that potentially differentiated men’s experience of child sexual abuse from women.
Male survivors experienced up to ten times the rate of suicidality compared to community populations and took longer to disclose and seek help than women.
They often engaged in externalising behaviour such as alcohol and drug use to deal with their trauma.
Other research showed male survivors can struggle with shame and stigma, with some adopting a hypermasculine persona in which they display risk-taking and aggression.
The research aligned with the experience of those who accessed support through Survivors and Mates Support Network, one of Australia’s leading organisations for male survivors of child sexual abuse.
Craig Hughes-Cashmore
Craig Hughes-Cashmore, CEO of SAMSN and a survivor himself, said it was not possible to expect survivors to come forward and talk if they felt invisible and had nowhere to go where they would be understood.
“My first suicide attempt landed me in hospital when I was 21.” said Mr Hughes Cashmore.
“Suicidal thoughts persisted for almost 20 years until I started to talk about my experiences of child sexual abuse with a psychologist who knew their stuff.
“For the past 14 years I have had the honour of working alongside my fellow survivors.
What I have come to appreciate at depth, is the healing power of peer support in this space.”
Professor O’Leary said despite the compelling statistics linking adverse childhood experiences and particularly child sexual abuse to suicide, investment in specialist services for male survivors to address this national tragedy was sadly lacking.
“Current responses focusing just on mental health fail to address the complex set of intersections involved.
“Education and awareness-raising, and health promotion campaigns should be a priority.
“Policy and practice need to address impacts of child sexual abuse that intersect with suicidality, along with mental health, social disadvantage, substance abuse, violence and other risk-taking behaviour.
Queensland Conservatorium classical voice graduate Jake Lyle is hard at work preparing for his debut as the lead in Opera Australia’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.
The musical returns for a highly anticipated, limited run at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour from 27 March – 3 May 2026.
The sweeping al fresco production plays out on a floating stage with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as its backdrop.
22 year old Mr Lyle, originally from Gladstone, graduated from the Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Classical Voice in 2025, and that same year, auditioned for a part in the ensemble cast of the iconic musical Phantom of The Opera.
Landing the role of the Phantom, Mr Lyle said, was a huge shock.
“I went in with the hope I would be part of the ensemble, so to be playing the lead is incredible.
“I’ve dreamed of playing this part since I was a little kid,” he said.
Associate Professor Schindler said this is a thrilling opportunity for Mr Lyle, who now gets to draw on the full breadth of his four years of classical voice training.
“The Conservatorium’s program emphasises a solid technical foundation and a dynamic, physically engaged approach to performance—skills that set Jake up beautifully for the vocal stamina and stagecraft required in a demanding rehearsal schedule and performance run.
“His ability to move confidently between classical and musical theatre styles is a real asset, and stepping into the Phantom gives him the perfect chance to lean into that classical setup, while exploring the rich vocal colours and dramatic nuance the role celebrates,” she said.
Griffith University continues to excel across a broad range of subjects including Social Sciences and Management, Sport, Arts and Humanities, and Life Sciences and Medicine in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
The biggest leap was in social Sciences and Management with Griffith moving from 253 to 199.
Sports-related subjects jumped to 49, after being ranked 51-100 in 2025.
There was an improvement in Griffith’s environmental sciences subjects placing 149 after a ranking of 151-200 last year.
QS ranked in Music for the first time with Griffith being placed in the 26-50 band.
In the Health subjects, Psychology was ranked 151-200, up from 251-300 in 2026, and Nursing improved three places to be 30th overall.
Dean (Sustainability and Rankings) Professor Jennifer Boddy
Griffith continued to excel in the performing arts subjects with a 51-100 ranking, an increase on the 2026 ranking of 101-150.
Dean (Sustainability and Rankings) Professor Jennifer Boddy applauded Griffith’s success in the 2026 rankings.
“The 2026 rankings show Griffith’s strength in deliver world-class research and education for our students and our communities,” Professor Boddy said.
“Griffith will not rest on its laurels, and we will continue to strive for excellence in our teaching and research capabilities to further drive home our commitment to making it matter. Griffith is paving its own pathway in the world as a leading institute across a broad range of subject areas.”
The QS World University Rankings by Subject assesses academic programmes over five indicators – academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, H-index, and international research network (by broad faculty area).
Analysis of Australia’s highest-volume pesticide use has revealed the majority of products widely used in Australian agriculture are banned in other parts of the world, according to a new study led by Griffith University.
Researchers from Griffith’s School of Environment and Science analysed 45 pesticide products used in volumes of more than 100 tonnes per year, identified through the Australian Government’s now archived Agricultural Chemical Usage Database.
The international regulatory status of each chemical was benchmarked globally and the findings were stark: 60 per cent of Australia’s high-use pesticides were now banned in the European Union.
A further 24 per cent were approved in Europe but banned in at least one other country, and just 16 per cent retained full international approval.
“These findings set Australia apart from the rest of the world and raise questions about how our chemical regulatory frameworks and pesticide-use patterns differ from the rest of the world,” said co-lead author Professor Susan Bengtson Nash.
“The continued use of pesticides banned overseas places Australia increasingly out of step with leading international chemical policy reform and may complicate trade, particularly given that more than 70 per cent of Australia’s primary produce, worth nearly $80 billion annually, is exported.”
Professor Susan Bengston Nash
The authors identified two key socio-political factors contributing to Australia’s anomalous stance on pesticide use.
On the one hand, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), responsible for pesticide approval and registration in Australia, used a risk-based assessment approach where risk ranking may be influenced by, for example, application protocols.
The authors argued this approach created an illusion of managed risk surrounding intrinsically hazardous compounds, and could not adequately account for chemical impacts once they were released into open environmental systems, where biological and biogeochemical interactions were unpredictable.
Secondly, a recent review of the APVMA flagged agricultural sector stakeholders were calling for modern alternatives, suggesting global chemical companies were slow to register newer, potentially safer alternatives in Australia.
This dynamic left Australian producers dependent on legacy pesticides, while chemical companies preserved a market for products that were no longer viable elsewhere.
“Chemical inputs via agricultural applications pose a unique human and environmental health risk as they are intentionally applied at the base of the human food web, migrate widely in the environment, and therefore impact systems at every scale from the degradation of soil microbial biodiversity, to negative impacts to human health,” Professor Bengtson Nash said.
“Diverse pesticidal products have been linked to, for example, human impaired cognitive development, cancer, obesity, and reproductive failure.”
The researchers said restoring comprehensive surveillance and public reporting was essential to align Australia with international best practice and safeguard environmental and human health.
“Archiving of the Australian Government Agricultural Chemical Usage Database in 2022, and lack of upkeep in the years prior, represents a significant obstacle to industry transparency of Australia’s pesticide use,” said co-lead author Associate Professor Leah Burns.
“Addressing this gap would support a key recommendation of the Matthews Review which called for comprehensive surveillance and data collation systems among other recommendations.”
The authors acknowledge the guidance and assistance of numerous Australian government chemical regulatory employees in data acquisition.
Australia’s Olympic hopes in BMX, Sprint, Swimming and Sport Climbing have been given a major boost with a first-of-its-kind scholarship supporting four Griffith University athletes on their path to Olympic success.
Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Mark Arbib
The prestigious Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Griffith University Sports scholarship supports athletes competing in Olympic sports at elite international competitions.
The scholarship also grants automatic entry into Griffith Sports College, which has long supported hundreds of student-athletes to balance elite training and competition with university studies.
Griffith athletes contributed 34 per cent of Australia’s medal tally at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, produced more Olympians than any other Australian university across the past three Olympic Games, and is the first to be recognised as an Australian Olympic Pathway University.
AOC Chief Executive Officer Mark Arbib said this ground-breaking initiative recognises the years of dedication that goes into being an elite athlete.
“Griffith University’s student numbers speak for themselves in terms of their support for Australian Olympians and we’re so proud to see these Olympic scholarships come to life through these athletes,” Mr Arbib said.
“Olympians, their families and their sports dedicate an enormous amount of time, effort and money into Olympic dreams, and Griffith University recognise the flexibility that athletes need to perform at their best.
“This partnership is a wonderful example of the AOC, Griffith University and Sports working together to support Olympians and aspiring Olympians.”
2026 Australian Olympic Committee and Griffith University Sports Scholarship recipients include:
Charli Guy – Cycling, BMX Racing (Bachelor of Exercise Science)
Phoebe Bentley – Swimming (Bachelor of Education)
Lachlan Kennedy – Athletics (Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Business)
Kyle Heuston-Connor – Sport Climbing (Bachelor of Engineering)
Lachlan Kennedy and Griffith Sports Engagement Manager Tom Fields
Record breaking Australian Athletics sprinter, Lachlan Kennedy was awarded a full $40,000 scholarship, to build greater momentum on the Road to LA28 and beyond.
Mr Kennedy became the second Australian in history to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds, achieving a time of 9.98 seconds at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in Nairobi, Kenya.
Studying a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Business at the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus, Mr Kennedy said the scholarship provided an opportunity to advance his sporting aspirations and long-term career goals.
“Griffith offers me flexibility, which is really important because my training schedule changes and I often need to travel interstate or internationally for my sport,” Mr Kennedy said.
Cycling (BMX) athlete Charli Guy was awarded an Australian Olympic Committee and Griffith University Sports Development Scholarship, studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science at the Gold Coast campus.
Charli Guy
Ms Guy’s sporting career has taken her to national and international competitions, which included winning the Superclass Women’s final at the 2025 AusCycling BMX National Series in Shepparton and claiming a silver medal at the 2025 Oceania Championships in New Zealand.
“Beginning my degree at Griffith and working with the Sports College feels like the perfect next step for me,” Ms Guy said.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY
Griffith Sports College Director and Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist (Water Polo) Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the scholarship recipients embodied the dedication and drive which defined the College’s sporting community.
“I am so pleased to congratulate Phoebe, Kyle, Lachie and Charli on their scholarship awards,” Ms McCarthy said.
“Griffith Sports College is dedicated to helping our athletes thrive in their sporting pursuits, in their academic endeavours, and beyond.”
A new report from researchers at Griffith University highlights how hotels and accommodation providers can significantly reduce energy and water use by aligning infrastructure, staff practices and local environmental conditions.
The report, based on a five-year project funded by the Australian Research Council, examines how sustainability initiatives work in real-world accommodation settings and why some interventions succeed while others fall short.
Led by Alexandra Coghlan with collaborators including Susanne Becken, Stefen MacAskill and Christopher Warren, the research explored how energy and water are used across tourist accommodation properties and how infrastructure, organisational practices and human behaviour interact to shape outcomes.
Associate Professor Alexandra Coghlan
Associate Professor Coghlan said the research shows sustainability in accommodation is not simply a technical challenge:
“Sustainability in accommodation is often framed as a matter of installing efficient technologies,” she said. “Our research shows that real change happens when infrastructure, place and people are aligned. Without that alignment, even well-intentioned initiatives can fall short.”
Key findings
The study identified several insights for accommodation providers seeking to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining guest comfort. Infrastructure upgrades—such as improvements to HVAC systems, hot water systems, insulation and shading—delivered the most consistent reductions in resource use. However, the researchers found that these upgrades were most effective when tailored to local climate conditions rather than applied as generic solutions.
The research also highlighted the importance of staff and managerial understanding of building systems. Accommodation managers who understood how energy and water systems behaved—and who could interpret data from tools such as smart meters—were better able to make informed operational decisions.
Dr Stefen MacAskill
Dr MacAskill said this knowledge was a critical factor in achieving long-term sustainability outcomes:
“Technology alone does not deliver change. Managers and staff need to understand how systems behave and how everyday decisions affect energy and water use. When that knowledge is present, sustainability becomes part of routine operations rather than an add-on.”
Guest engagement and organisational culture
Guest behaviour also plays a role in resource consumption, but the research found that messaging needs to be carefully framed. Values-based communication—such as encouraging guests to contribute to protecting the local environment—was generally more effective than messages framed around restriction or obligation.
Professor Sussane Becken
Professor Becken said guests were more likely to respond positively when sustainability initiatives were presented as part of a shared effort:
“Guests respond best when they feel they are contributing to something meaningful. Providing simple feedback about how their actions help reduce pressure on local energy or water systems can encourage more mindful behaviour without affecting the guest experience.”
The report highlights the need for a systems approach to sustainability in tourist accommodation. Successful initiatives typically combine infrastructure improvements with leadership, staff engagement and organisational learning.
The researchers say sustainability should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off intervention.
“Some operators assume that installing new technology will automatically reduce resource use,” Dr Warren said. “In reality, the biggest improvements occur when businesses combine efficient infrastructure with informed management and supportive organisational culture.”
The findings also suggest a role for policymakers in supporting sustainability transitions across the tourism sector, particularly by helping smaller operators access infrastructure upgrades and training.
Dr Christopher Warren
Overall, the researchers hope the report will help accommodation providers adopt more integrated and effective approaches to sustainability.
“Sustainability is not a point of arrival,” Associate Professor Coghlan said. “It is an ongoing process that requires infrastructure, people and organisations to evolve together.”
For more information about sustainable tourism and to access the report, visit Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT)’s Resilient and sustainable tourism webpage.
Griffith University alumnus Dr Bikram Timilsina has been elected to Nepal’s House of Representatives, marking a significant milestone in his transition from academia to public service.
Dr Timilsina, who completed his PhD at Griffith under the supervision of Professor Sara Davies and Professor Renee Jeffery, was elected as the representative for Nuwakot–1 as a candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
His election reflects a broader trend of highly educated candidates entering public office in Nepal, with recent coverage highlighting a cohort of PhD holders securing seats in the federal parliament.
In a message shared with his former supervisors, Dr Timilsina described the moment as a “significant transition” in his professional life and acknowledged the influence of his academic training on his approach to governance.
“My academic work and the mentorship I received… have played an important role in shaping how I think about policy, governance, and public service,” he wrote. “I carry those lessons with me into this new chapter.”
Dr Timilsina has built a distinguished career spanning research, policy engagement, and institutional leadership. He currently serves as Chair and Research Fellow at the Asian Institute for Advanced Research in Kathmandu and has maintained strong ties with Griffith as an Adjunct Research Fellow.
His election represents not only a personal achievement but also a powerful example of the impact of academic research and mentorship beyond the university—demonstrating how scholarship can inform leadership and decision-making at the highest levels of government.
For the Griffith Asia Institute community, Dr Timilsina’s success highlights the global reach of its alumni network and its ongoing contribution to policy and governance across the Indo-Pacific. Professor Davies stated:
“We celebrate the success and achievements of our alumni because they are the emerging leaders who will advocate for social justice and equality. We are proud to be part of their journey.”
As he steps into his parliamentary role, Dr Timilsina has expressed a strong desire to remain connected with the academic community, signalling opportunities for continued collaboration between research and policy in Nepal and beyond.
Student Academy of Excellence Manager Dr Rhys Cooper
Fourteen Griffith University students will expand their knowledge and experience of countries across the Indo-Pacific region supported by New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarships.
The students will travel to different destinations including South Korea, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal, Malaysia and Japan.
Following their passions, they will explore a range of pressing topics such as plastic waste, body image, connecting communities through vocal music, sustainable manufacturing, financial inclusion, and robotics in aged care.
Student Academy of Excellence Manager Dr Rhys Cooper said students would broaden their perspectives and develop a rich understanding of the regions.
“Congratulations to all 2026 NCP scholars, who have dedicated significant effort to reach this milestone, and are preparing for an unforgettable journey in countries across the Indo-Pacific region,” Dr Cooper said.
The 2026 Griffith University New Colombo Plan scholars are:
Rishel Reyes, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Yonsei University, South Korea)
Matthew Day, Bachelor of Business (Honours) (Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia)
Harmony-tree Hansen, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Environmental Science (Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia)
Louise Whittaker, Bachelor of Music (Seoul National University, South Korea)
Jonathon Cornish, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics (Beijing Foreign Studies University, People’s Republic of China)
Alana Pereira, Bachelor of Design (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
Luca Foley, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan)
Imogen Wood, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations (Tribhuvan University, Nepal)
Piper Stock, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations (University of Malaya, Malaysia)
Riley Sonter, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (Akita International University, Japan)
Hannah Blain, Bachelor of Music (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Alice Gascoigne-Pees, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) (Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, India)
Sana Faris, Bachelor of Computer Science (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia)
Roree Winkel, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics (Komazawa University, Japan)
Griffith alumnus chosen to lead the Northern Territory NCP Alumni Network
Amongst the first-ever cohort to be awarded an NCP scholarship, Griffith alumnus Courtney Organ traveled to Japan in 2015, and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) and the University Medal.
Griffith alumnus Courtney Organ
Ms Organ was recently appointed the inaugural Northern Territory Alumni Lead for the New Colombo Plan, marking an important step in the evolution of the program’s alumni network.
The appointment reflected the enduring commitment of Griffith alumni in supporting the next generation of NCP participants and fostering Australia’s connections across the Indo-Pacific.
“As the alumni community matures, there is a real opportunity to support professionals who are further into their careers to stay engaged and strengthen long-term partnerships,” Ms Organ said.
The NCP initiative is Funded by the Australian Government and enables undergraduates to strengthen their understanding of the Indo-Pacific region through internships, courses and mentorships.
Seaweed may be a popular food item, but it has certain properties which have the ability to create a shield within the human body, effectively blocking norovirus infection.
To date, there are no approved vaccines or anti-viral treatments for human norovirus, the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide with more than 685 million infections each year.
New collaborative research between Griffith University and Australian biotechnology company Marinova, investigated whether compounds from a range of brown and green seaweeds could block the illness in the early stages of infection.
Dr Grant Hansman
Senior author Dr Grant Hansman from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics said noroviruses infect people by attaching to molecules in the intestine called histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs).
“We tested the seaweed compounds fucoidan and ulvan to see how well they prevented norovirus virus-like particles from binding to human saliva samples which contain HBGAs,” Dr Hansman said.
“Fucoidan, from brown seaweed, showed the strongest and most consistent blocking activity against two major norovirus strains, GII.4 and GII.17.”
The fucoidan likely bound to the HBGA binding pocket to form a physical shield making it harder for the virus to attach.
Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst
Co-senior author Associate Professor Thomas Haselhorst said fucoidan had a history of dietary use and had demonstrated good tolerability in human studies, with fucoidan used in premium dietary supplements.
“Our study highlights that fucoidan could be a promising, natural treatment for preventing norovirus infection,” he said.
Research is now focused on validating how fucoidan could be formulated to maximise its protective effect in the gastrointestinal tract.
Norovirus is highly contagious and a leading cause of gastroenteritis which is a disease of the stomach and intestines.
Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, stomach pains, headache, and muscle aches.
The paper ‘Harnessing marine sulphated polysaccharides to inhibit norovirus: from seaweed to solution’ has been published in Microbiology Spectrum.
