‘Democratic architecture’ and people-first design has propelled the work of a Griffith University student’s work to national recognition for his innovative, humanitarian design for a refugee camp, placing third in a prestigious national research competition.
Masters of Architecture student Mahima Herath placed third with his design.
Masters of Architecture student, Mahima Herath, was awarded third place at the 2024 Humanitarian Innovation Pitch, an annual national competition hosted by The Warren Centre at the University of Sydney.
Mahima’s research-based design, titled Barrier-free Medical Services: Enhancing Accessibility to Primary Healthcare Services in Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan, addressed one of the most pressing issues facing the 70,000 Syrian refugees in the Zaatari camp – access to primary healthcare.
His modular, adaptable design proposed a network of healthcare satellite clinics connected to a central hospital hub, using recycled materials to create a cost-effective and scalable solution.
The research-based design tackled the physical, social, and cultural barriers that limited healthcare access in the camp and could serve as a model for refugee camps worldwide.
Mahima’s award-winning project was developed as part of a “research-by-design” course at Griffith University, where students were tasked with finding practical solutions to real-world problems.
“Accessibility to healthcare was the main issue I identified in my research,” Mahima said.
“The camp’s population includes people with disabilities, pregnant women, and elderly individuals, yet they lack reliable transportation and face significant barriers to accessing care.”
The 2024 Humanitarian Innovation Pitch competition recognised postgraduate research that addressed critical issues facing marginalised communities.
Originally from Sri Lanka, Mahima completed his Bachelor in Architecture in his homeland and became a registered architect in Sri Lanka with four years of experience in the field before deciding to pursue further opportunities through Griffith’s Master of Architecture program.
He chose Griffith University for its strong reputation and the potential growth in Queensland’s construction industry ahead of the 2032 Olympics. As part of his study, he also completed an internship at the City of Gold Coast in the City Design Unit.
Within his Masters at Griffith, Mahima completed two research-by-design courses with Dr Cecilia Bischeri and Dr Zuzana Kovar, who he credited for their expertise, advice and encouragement.
Mahima has now started work at the renowned firm Burling Brown Architects in Southport, Mahima explained his passion for “democratic architecture”, a people-first design philosophy that sought to create spaces that were equal and accessible for all.
His experience working with diverse communities in Sri Lanka had greatly informed his approach.
“People-centric design is my goal,” Mahima said.
“This project is about more than just design, it’s about understanding the cultural context and creating spaces that truly serve the people who need them most.”
The Mary River (Moonaboola) in south-eastern Queensland is a sanctuary for several threatened and endangered freshwater species, such as the Australian lungfish and the Mary River turtle.
A male Mary River cod using one of the installed logs for his egg clutch. Credit: Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo
But the area has also been heavily impacted in recent years by extreme weather events, including major flooding, droughts, heatwaves and bushfires.
Floods have washed away many of the natural spawning habitats used by many Mary River species, including the endangered Mary River cod. It’s one of Australia’s most endangered freshwater fishes – in the 1980s there were as few as 600 individuals in the wild.
In a new research collaboration – funded in part by the Australian Government through the National Environmental Science Program’s (NESP) Resilient Landscapes Hub and the Commonwealth and Queensland Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Environmental Recovery Program – Griffith University researcher Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo is trialling the use of ‘cod logs’ (artificial habitats made from natural materials) to add new nesting habitats for the Mary River cod.
While bird and possum boxes are regularly installed in trees and artificial reefs are commonplace in marine conservation, this is the first time artificial nesting structures have been used for wild Mary River cod.
“Mary River cod are currently listed as endangered, and are at particular risk for multiple reasons,” said Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo, a Research Fellow from Griffith’s Australian Rivers Institute.
“There has been a long history of degradation to river banks and in-channel habitats for native fish in the Mary River. Recent major flood events in 2022 have exacerbated the problem by washing away trees and submerged logs in the river channel – these provide natural nest structures used by cod for spawning and shelter.
“Another key threat to cod is angling, which is prohibited throughout much of the catchment during the breeding season from August to October. If a cod protecting their nest is caught, it exposes their eggs and larvae to predation by other fish, even if the angler returns the cod to the river. A nest can be lost in the time it takes to take a photo with the fish.”
Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo
Working with the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, Burnett Mary Regional Group and Jinibara traditional owners, Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo and the team recreated 24 artificial logs from local, hollowed-out, natural timber and installed them in key sections of the river in July 2024, in preparation for the breeding season from August.
Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo monitors one of the logs with an endoscope. Credit: Caitlin Jones
The logs have been regularly monitored since and the early results have been very encouraging, with Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo and the team observing large male cod – who bear the brunt of child-rearing for several weeks – using the logs as nesting sites and protecting their brood of thousands of eggs and larvae.
“What has also been incredible about this project is being able to better understand the breeding schedule and behaviour of this species,” he said.
“Until now, all information on the Mary River cod has been obtained from hatcheries; no one has ever seen this in the wild before.
“This study is truly a case of a picture being worth a thousand words. We’re using underwater cameras to record definitive timing of their breeding schedule in the wild, which can ultimately enhance conservation efforts and hopefully improve their conservation status.
“Braving the cold water to deploy and monitor the cod logs was challenging, but seeing the Mary River cod actually nesting in our cod logs made it all worthwhile.”
The NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub hopes the research will inform the cost-effective restoration of freshwater habitats, to bolster the natural reproduction and recruitment of the endangered Mary River cod.
Flooding in the Mary River in previous years has impacted habitats. Credit: Caitlin Jones
This work is part of a larger $550,000 NESP-funded project in Queensland’s Mary River (Moonaboola), where scientists, governments, catchment Natural Resource Management groups, Traditional Owners and landholders are collaborating to support the recovery of threatened species and their critical habitats.
“Sadly, it is another species under threat due to the impacts of climate change and has been hit hard by recent flooding and bushfires.
“With this funding we’re drawing on expertise from scientists to help guide protection of this species using methods such as the introduction of artificial logs.
“We want to better protect our precious threatened species and leave nature better off for generations to come.”
3MT winner Sienna van Rossum (AEL) after her success at the Griffith final in August.
A PhD candidate from Arts, Education law (AEL) specialising in arts research at the Queensland College of Art and Design, she had already become the first Griffith representative to reach the final.
Now, she stands alone as the University’s first overall winner of the event which takes in eight finalists from universities across Australia and the pacific region.
During the online final, Ms van Rossum watched her fellow candidates deliver their presentations with poise and passion, each one showcasing innovative research that was both impressive and inspiring.
“I was definitely humbled,” she reflected.
“The calibre of PhD research happening around the region was great to see.”
As the last speaker of the night, Ms van Rossum felt she was in with a shot.
After weeks of preparing, revising, and perfecting her speech, she had opted not to change anything at the last minute and her pre-recorded presentation wowed the judges.
Her unique perspective on how we should fully absorb what we see, stood out in a sea of scientific presentation – a fact that resonated with the panel.
“They did say it was unusual for an art student to win,” she noted.
“Honestly, I was in shock. I can’t remember much of what the judges said at that moment, but I know it was lovely.”
Her victory was a testament not only to her hard work but also to the diversity of research at Griffith.
Competing against candidates from esteemed institutions such as the University of Sydney, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Auckland, Ms van Rossum had carved her niche.
“It felt wonderful to be in that room with all these fantastic minds,” she said.
“I felt assured of the significance of my creative research.”
Beyond the honor of winning, Ms van Rossum was awarded a $5,000 research grant, which she was already planning to use for a research tour in Europe.
“I would love to see some Vermeer paintings in person,” she said.
“The physical object is very important to my research and seeing them up close would be invaluable.”
Reflecting on her journey, Ms van Rossum emphasised the transformative impact of participating in the 3MT competition.
“It clarified the crux of my research and why I’m doing what I’m doing,” she said.
“Before 3MT, it was a bit wishy-washy, but now it’s crystal clear.
Sienna van Rossum sharing a victory drink with AEL’s Professor Susan Best and Dr Chari Larsson
“I’d encourage any PhD candidate to do it – It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”
As Sienna continues to work on her dissertation and nearing the finish line of her PhD journey, she remains grateful for the support of her supervisors, Dr Charri Larsson and Dr Natalya Hughes who celebrated her win.
“They were both over the moon,” she smiled, recalling how one of her supervisors watched the live stream from a plane, ecstatic when her victory was announced.”
“We are so proud of Sienna and sincerely congratulate her and her amazing supervisors on this powerful win for Griffith,” she said.
“In just three minutes, she skilfully and convincingly raised our awareness on the importance of the art of looking”.
Defying convention and history, Ms van Rossum’s victory strengthens her belief that creativity has a powerful place in academia.
In a significant step towards advancing gender equality in sport, Griffith University’s Sport and Gender Equity (SAGE) research group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport. This international partnership will foster collaborative research and knowledge exchange, strengthening efforts to empower women and girls through physical education, physical activity, and sport (PEPAS).
The Global Observatory serves as a leading international platform dedicated to promoting gender equality in sport, closing knowledge gaps, and addressing systemic inequities that hinder progress in achieving equal rights for women and girls.
Areas of cooperation outlined in the MOU include joint research on gender equality in sports, capacity-building activities to promote equity in physical education, and the development of policies aimed at sport organisations and government bodies. The partnership will also focus on resource mobilisation to support collaborative projects and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Associate Professor Adele Pavlidis
In addition to these collaborative efforts, members of SAGE have been invited to contribute their expertise by serving on the Advisory Council and the Expert Group of the Global Observatory. As part of the Expert Group, SAGE researchers will offer technical advice on feminist methodologies and theories, playing a key role in shaping the future of gender equality in global sports.
Associate Professor Adele Pavlidis, the Research Seminar Series Convenor for SAGE, shared her excitement about the partnership:
“This MOU presents a unique opportunity to expand the impact of our research beyond Australia, and to work alongside global experts who share our vision of gender equality in and through sport. The collaborative and wide-reaching impact of our online seminar series played a pivotal role in gaining the attention of the Global Observatory, and we are excited to contribute our expertise to this international effort.”
Professor Simone Fullagar
Professor Simone Fullagar, Chair of SAGE, recently visited the Global Observatory in Switzerland to discuss areas of collaboration for greater impact:
“Our research at Griffith University on gender equity and sport will contribute to the growing international focus on mobilising knowledge for change through this collaboration with the Global Observatory network. We are joining forces to address key issues such as gender–based violence in and through sport.”
The partnership will also see the exchange of academic outputs, datasets, and research products between the two organisations, strengthening Griffith University’s international profile as a leader in gender and sport research.
The MOU highlights Griffith University’s ongoing commitment to leading cutting-edge research that not only contributes to academic knowledge but also has real-world applications in shaping a more equitable future for women and girls through sport.
Fresh funding has been awarded to a Griffith University researcher with the goal of identifying new and existing species of freshwater mussels, through the Federal Government’s Australian Biological Resources Study.
Dr Lisa Kirkendale, Curator of Molluscs at WA Museum, and Dr Michael Klunzinger from Griffith University.
Led by Dr Michael Klunzinger, an Adjunct Research Fellow from Griffith’s Australian Rivers Institute, the study aims to describe new species and resolve taxonomic problems in a majority of Australasia’s freshwater mussels.
The project is a culmination of nearly 10 years’ worth of collecting by project partners, with site visits from every corner of Australia as well as a recent collection trip in the Solomon Islands.
Project collaborators also generously contributed freshwater mussels from Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
The work is funded with a $20,000 grant and includes incorporating cutting-edge genomic techniques with traditional morphology to modernise the taxonomy of the freshwater mussels in the Australasian region.
The collaboration with researchers from Griffith University, the Western Australian Museum, the Smithsonian Research Institute, University of Porto and the Office of the Supervising Scientist (Northern Territory) aims to formally describe at least six undescribed species and resolve name discrepancies in another 20 or so species.
“The last major taxonomic revision of Australasian freshwater mussels was made near 70 years ago, so this project is a major win for recognising biodiversity in this ancient group of molluscs,” Dr Klunzinger said.
Dr Klunzinger in the lab.
“Another exciting aspect of the project will be to better understand the evolutionary relationships between Australasian and South American freshwater mussels.”
The Hyriidae is an ancient family of freshwater mussels found only in the Southern Hemisphere, in Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesian West Papua and Solomon Islands) and South America, with Gondwanan origins dating back to a time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
“Taxonomic work is important for biodiversity conservation because in order to protect threatened species, they need a scientific name to be listed under Australian state and Commonwealth conservation legislation,” Dr Klunzinger added.
The use of these combined techniques is likely to reveal new mussel species and better understand diminished ranges f existing species along the Murray-Darling River, Victoria, Western Australia and elsewhere in Australasia.
The project collaborators are:
Dr Michael Klunzinger – Principal Investigator, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University & Western Australian Museum
Professor Fran Sheldon, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University
Dr Chris Humphrey – Office of the Supervising Scientist, Northern Territory, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Dr Manuel Lopes-Lima – University of Porto, Portugal & IUCN Red List Authority on Freshwater Bivalves
Dr John Pfieffer – Curator of Bivalves, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, US
Dr Hugh Jones, University of Sydney
Griffith University is proud to announce its partnership with the newly-launched King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP), an initiative inspired by His Majesty King Charles III and delivered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The programme will seek to address urgent social, economic and environmental challenges, with a particular focus on supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Griffith will work with partners in the Pacific Islands under this initiative.
Griffith will be involved in providing scholarships for PhD students whose research addresses critical issues such as climate change, skills shortages and the out-migration of youth.
His Majesty King Charles III
The programme will offer part-time PhD opportunities to academics from the Pacific, aiming to strengthen local capacity and improve resilience in these regions.
His Majesty King Charles III, who has long championed education and climate resilience, said he was delighted to support this important new initiative.
“Throughout my life I have believed in the power of education to improve lives and unite communities across the Commonwealth and beyond,” he said.
“There is so much we can learn from one another as we work together within the Commonwealth to tackle the major challenges of our age and, as these Fellowships do in Small Island Developing States, to address them where they are felt most acutely.
Griffith Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans
“It is my fervent hope that these new Fellowships will play a significant role in furthering the free exchange of knowledge and advancing the spirit of mutual support that lies at the heart of our Commonwealth – today, tomorrow and towards a brighter future for all.”
Griffith’s involvement in the programme is a significant milestone as the university has long been committed to addressing global challenges, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Vice Chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans said the University was honoured to collaborate on the KCFP.
“This partnership aligns with our commitment to fostering global solutions for urgent challenges, particularly in the face of climate change and social inequality,” she said.
“We are proud to play a role in shaping future leaders who will drive impactful change in their communities and strengthen the resilience of our neighbours in the Pacific.”
Griffith Business School’s 2024 Co-curricular Award winners have been announced, recognising students who have made outstanding contributions in leadership, sustainability, community service, and professional readiness.
Leadership Award
The Leadership Award honours students who demonstrate responsible leadership and uphold the highest standards of integrity in both academic and community settings.
Afreeda Germean
Afreeda Germean Afreeda reinvigorated the Government and International Relations Society on the Gold Coast, serving as president and creating a platform for students to connect. She co-hosted a major networking event at Parliament House, engaging students with industry leaders and the United Nations Information Centre. Afreeda also serves as President of the Middle Eastern Students Association and is an intern at UNIC, where she’s planning an interactive workshop on disinformation. “Leadership is about creating spaces where youth feel supported,” she reflects, focusing on community and global impact.
Natalia Drazek As a Griffith University Student Guild Board Member, Natalia contributed to policies enhancing student welfare and was instrumental in the Student Guild Strategic Plan. She has joined the Griffith University Council as an Undergraduate Student Representative and serves on the Business Retention Task Force, reinforcing her dedication to student success and retention. Additionally, her role as a PASS Leader and Mentor showcases her leadership in creating inclusive learning spaces that uphold Griffith’s educational values.
Sustainability Award
Naomi Saines
This award acknowledges a student who exemplifies a commitment to environmental, social, or business sustainability.
Naomi Saines As the Marketing Chair for the Brisbane Junior Chamber of Commerce, Naomi champions inclusion and diversity. She leads initiatives such as BJCC’s contributions to Suited To Success, an organisation supporting individuals in need of employment resources. In her professional role at Intopia, Naomi advocates for digital accessibility, and she is set to present at the Newkind Social Impact Conference on inclusive communication. Her commitment to sustainability extends to running her own consulting business, Kroll Consulting, which offers pro bono services to not-for-profits like Hearts Above The Sea.
Megan Leafe “Sustainability has shaped my leadership journey,” says Megan, whose roles as Committee Captain and Environmental Captain for the Logan Youth Action Council have empowered her advocacy for sustainable practices. Her work as Treasurer for the ENACTUS Committee and a study tour in Fiji reinforced her dedication to building a sustainable future both at Griffith and in the broader community.
Community Service Award
This award recognises students who have made significant positive contributions to their community through active engagement and volunteering.
Bhavneet Singh
Bhavneet Singh With a passion for student well-being, Bhavneet plays a vital role in Griffith’s Campus Cupboard program, ensuring students have access to free essential groceries. He has also served in various event coordination roles, supporting initiatives that foster financial literacy and industry insights. Beyond campus, he volunteers with the Cancer Council of Queensland to support fundraising efforts.
Paris Grange Paris has logged over 200 community service hours, from volunteering with Step Out Dance Academy to assisting clients at Caxton Legal Centre. At Griffith, she has supported events for the LGBTQIA+ community and managed the Clothing Library’s social media to promote sustainable practices. She shares, “Helping others is about more than just a warm feeling; it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
BusinessPLUS Award
Enoli Jerusha Tsitsi
The BusinessPLUS Award celebrates students who show exceptional engagement in Griffith’s BusinessPLUS program, which prepares them for career success.
Enoli Jerusha Tsitsi Enoli’s participation in the BusinessPLUS program has boosted her employability through skills workshops, networking events, and resume enhancements. She notes, “The program has given me confidence and a clear direction for my career path.”
Phoebe White Phoebe has built a foundation for her career through BusinessPLUS, with mentorship that prepared her for industry engagement and helped refine her focus in accounting. “BusinessPLUS has empowered me to pursue my goals with confidence,” she reflects, crediting the program’s community support and skill development.
Tamana Mittal Tamana’s journey through BusinessPLUS has fostered both personal and professional growth, allowing her to identify transferable skills and build a solid career foundation. As a mentor in the Student Success Program, Tamana demonstrates leadership by guiding peers in career readiness, showcasing her dedication to continuous improvement.
Each of these winners exemplifies Griffith Business School’s commitment to fostering leaders who make meaningful impacts in their fields and communities. Congratulations to the 2024 Co-curricular Award winners!
Griffith University researchers have used state-of-the-art biomechanics technology in a world-first study to determine the deadliest weapons made by Indigenous Australians, while highlighting the skill and craftmanship that made these weapons fearsome in conflict.
The kodj was part hammer, part axe, and part poker. Its design was likely tens of thousands of years old, though determining exactly when this tool form was invented was difficult as only the stone parts can survive the archaeological record long term.
The leangle was a fighting club with a hooked striking head used with a parrying shield and both were typically carved from hardwood.
Both weapons were used to strike at an opponent, and while the warriors who wield them were well aware of their lethality, the team was approached by the creators of documentary series First Weapons which aired on ABC this year to use modern biomechanic technology to determine exactly where their striking power comes from and just what makes their ancient designs so deadly.
“There were no previous studies describing human and weapon efficiency when striking with a hand-held weapon, so we were starting from scratch,” Associate Professor Laura Diamond said.
“For this study, the show’s host, Phil Breslin, acted as the warrior putting the weapons through their paces.”
Using wearable instruments, the team tracked the human and weapon kinetic energies and velocities during kodj and leangle strikes. Biomechanical analyses provided insights into shoulder, elbow, and wrist motions, and the powers reached during each strike motion.
The results demonstrated the leangle as far more effective at delivering devastating blows to the human body, while the kodj – a multi-functional tool – was more efficient for a human to manoeuvre but still capable of delivering severe blows that could cause death.
“The results from this study provide the beginnings of an in-depth understanding of how hand-held weaponry has impacted the human body throughout the deep past,” Associate Professor Michelle Langley said.
“Although the design is critical for weapon efficiency, it is the human who must deliver the deadly strike.
Associate Professor Laura Diamond explained, “Our biomechanical evaluation of the kodj and leangle strikes provides the first understanding of the coordinated movement and energy expenditure required to use these weapons effectively.
“The biomechanical methods applied here could be implemented to test other archaic weapons from other periods and regions, with considerable potential to move such studies forward and to allow cross comparisons between investigations.”
Associate Professor Laura Diamond
The kodj used in the team’s experiment was made by Larry Blight, a Menang Noongar man from Western Australia. Its handle was carved from wattle wood with a sharpened boya (stone) blade attached to one side and a blunt boya edge on the other with balga (Xanthorrhoea or grass tree) resin.
The leangle and parrying shield the team studied were made by expert weapon-makers Brendan Kennedy and Trevor Kirby on Wadi Wadi Country. Each was carved from hardwood and are traditionally used together in one-on-one, close quarters combat.
Central Queensland’s endangered koala population is facing a dire future if nothing is done to prevent the number of animals being killed by vehicles.
That’s according to CQUniversity and Griffith University koala researchers who have released findings from two separate studies focused on a stretch of the Peak Downs Highway, between Mackay and Nebo in Queensland.
Lead researcher CQUniversity’s Dr Rolf Schlagloth said Koala Research-CQ and its collaborators have analysed koala roadkill data spanning nearly a decade, and the outcomes aren’t good.
Over this 51km section of highway, 145 koalas were struck by vehicles in 2023 (to November 25), with 83 per cent of the koalas dying as a result. These koalas were otherwise in good health.
Dr Douglas Kerlin.
In comparison, 365 koalas in the entire South East Queensland region are sent into care due to vehicle collision each year.
“There are horrendous numbers of koalas getting hit and killed by vehicles every year on this relatively short stretch of road, with no reduction in sight,” Dr Schlagloth said.
“We’ve found that because of the amount and the mostly uniform distribution of good quality habitat, koalas are unfortunately killed nearly anywhere along this highway.
“Driver visibility is also a contributing factor. We know that the better or greater the visibility a driver has, the less likely it is for a koala vehicle collision to occur.”
Griffith University researcher Dr Douglas Kerlin believed governments needed to step in to protect this koala population.
“Unfortunately, these koalas are not receiving enough protection from the Government. In Queensland, koalas are listed as ‘endangered’ under the Nature Conservation Act, but policies enacted by the State Government are currently focused on populations in South East Queensland, while koalas in places like Central Queensland are largely ignored.
“Similarly, much of the traffic along this highway is supplying mining activities in the Bowen Basin, but the Federal Government Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approvals process has only focused on the direct impacts of industry on koalas, and has largely ignored the wider indirect impacts, such as increased traffic volumes on transport infrastructure corridors.”
Dr Douglas Kerlin
Separating koalas and vehicles is difficult on the existing highway, but researchers believe future avoidance of high-quality koala habitat for highway infrastructure, in addition to constructing or retrofitting protective or diversionary infrastructure – which has already been started by the managing authority in several locations – could help reduce roadkill.
However, initial attempts to separate traffic and wildlife via retrofitted bridges are yet to bring good news to researchers – and the koala population.
“We have monitored three bridges that had been retrofitted with short sections of wildlife exclusion/diversion fencing to encourage koalas (and other wildlife) to pass underneath the road rather than taking the risk of crossing the road proper,” Dr Schlagloth said.
“While rare usage of other, similar structures by koalas has been reported, unfortunately, despite monitoring these underpasses, we have not found any evidence of koalas having used them to get to the other side of the road, while we do have evidence of koalas having crossed the highway successfully and unsuccessfully near those underpasses.”
Researchers said there was evidence that wildlife exclusion fencing may be assisting in keeping koalas away from particular stretches of road (three study sites), but it did not facilitate koala crossings under the highway.
Researchers say koalas in the Peak Downs Highway region face an uncertain future if no action is taken to mitigate vehicle strikes.
“Maybe koalas will use underpasses over time, or maybe more and longer fencing would be of benefit – further research here is paramount.
“Improving driver attention and their awareness of the potential for koalas to be on the road could also go a long way to reducing the deaths.
“This is most definitely not a sustainable situation for this endangered species.”
Dr Flavia Santamaria, a co-author of these studies stressed: “The Central Queensland koala population is also under threat from diseases like Chlamydia and retrovirus, and opportunities for specialist treatment for injured or sick koalas are not readily available in the region, making it even more important to reduce the number of koala vehicle collisions.”
Dr Schlagloth also commended the tireless efforts of former citizen scientist, now CQUniversity Honours student, Charley Geddes who dedicated her time to monitoring the stretch of road all hours of the day or night to pick up dead koalas.
“Our understanding of this koala population is down to her dedication … given the level of population attrition caused by the road, this could be a koala population of national significance, one we would know very little about if it wasn’t for her work.”
The latest studies were funded by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and researchers believe further funding needs to be allocated to conserving this koala population.
Griffith University is excited to announce its membership to the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a significant step reflecting our commitment to global collaboration in research and education.
Griffith Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans
The Worldwide Universities Network is a non-profit consortium of 23 research-intensive universities founded in 2000. It provides financial and infrastructural support to member universities to support international research collaboration.
The decision to join WUN followed a thorough analysis of international university networks, ensuring our values and mission align with those of WUN and by becoming a WUN member, Griffith aims to enhance the network’s collaborative efforts, particularly in sustainability, health, and social inclusion.
Professor Carolyn Evans said Griffith’s strong strategic partnerships throughout the Asia-Pacific region will bolster WUN’s global outreach, fostering interdisciplinary research and supporting impactful initiatives that tackle pressing global challenges.
“We are delighted to join WUN and to be part of a global network of outstanding universities dedicated to addressing key global challenges. We look forward to impactful, collaborative, and purpose-driven partnerships with fellow members.”
WUN Executive Director Peter Lennie said Griffith University’s strong commitment to international research collaboration, along with its unique strengths that complement those of existing members, makes it an exemplary partner.
WUN Executive Director, Professor Peter Lennie
“I look forward to working with Carolyn Evans and her team as we embark on this exciting journey together.”
Griffith University and WUN share the common goal of forging connections enhancing research capabilities and contribute to addressing global issues through shared knowledge and innovation.
