In 2025 Griffith Business School will offer new degrees in commerce and marketing, designed in collaboration with industry experts to ensure that students are equipped with the latest insights and practical knowledge. Professor Alberto Posso, Head of the Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics says:
“Our close collaboration with industry ensures that our graduates are prepared with the cutting-edge skills needed to excel in today’s competitive job market.”
The new commerce degrees emphasise experiential learning and sustainable business practices, encouraging students to tackle real-world challenges while developing a mindset for innovation and adaptability.
Professor Alberto Posso
“Whether you aspire to shape policy in government, lead innovation in business analytics, or drive transformative change through consultancy and entrepreneurship, these programs equip you with the critical tools to excel in diverse professional landscapes and leave a meaningful, lasting impact on the global economy,” Professor Posso said.
The new Diploma of Commerce offers a one-year pathway to transition into the Bachelor of Commerce, providing students with foundational knowledge and skills in a supportive learning environment. The new Bachelor of Commerce program is designed to provide students with technical expertise in areas such as accounting, finance, and economics, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s fast-evolving business world.
For those looking to elevate their skills, the new Bachelor of Advanced Commerce (Honours) goes beyond traditional boundaries, offering advanced analytical and problem-solving skills essential for thriving in diverse professional settings.
The fast-evolving field of marketing technology is also at the forefront of the Business School’s new offerings. The new Bachelor of Digital Marketing and Analytics (Honours) is designed to provide students with the latest digital marketing skills that employers are seeking. In addition to core marketing, advertising, and sales competencies, students will explore the growing role of AI, data analytics, and data science in understanding consumer behavior. This program prepares graduates to create and implement effective marketing campaigns while building transferable skills essential for success in a rapidly changing industry.
“This degree enables students to transform data into actionable insights and develop cutting-edge marketing strategies,” says Dr Anita Love, Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching), Griffith Business School.
“If you’re passionate about analysing data, understanding the world around you, and want to pursue a career in marketing, advertising, or sales, this degree is for you.”
Learn more about studying business and government at Griffith University by visiting Griffith’s website.
Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient Leona Murphy and Griffith Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans
Griffith University has named four winners at its prestigious Outstanding Alumni Awards 2024 ceremony in Brisbane with Leona Murphy taking out the top gong.
Ms Murphy received the Outstanding Alumnus Award for her illustrious career spanning 30 years shaping corporate strategy, operational efficiency, and large-scale transformation in the insurance industry, coupled with her philanthropic endeavours to improve the lives of individuals and communities.
Growing up on Brisbane’s southside in the 1980s, Ms Murphy developed an interest in law and finance which led her to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith Business School, providing the ideal setting to combine her two passions.
Her tertiary education enabled her to gain new insights and different perspectives, helping her realise she was interested in being involved in business leadership rather than as a functional expert.
Ms Murphy’s degree led to career opportunities at RACQ, Helia, an Advisory Board Member with Griffith’s Climate Ready Initiative, and contributed to the healthcare space through WeCU.
The First Peoples Alumnus Award was presented to Nicholas Williams, a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) graduate from Griffith Business School.
Mr Williams’s career has seen him reach the halls of the Australian High Commission in London as the First Secretary, Trade and Economics where he implemented and executed the Australian Government’s strategic priorities for Australia’s bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom.
As a proud Indigenous man, Mr Williams’s vision is for successful and sustainable First Nations economic development through international trade and investment.
Dr Kathryn Woodward, a Rhodes Scholar whose research aims to explore the experiences of health services among refugee populations in Queensland, was named as the recipient of the Young Alumnus Award.
Dr Woodward graduated from Griffith with a Bachelor of Medical Science in 2017 and a Doctor of Medicine in 2021, with her tertiary studies complementing her commitment to serving rural and remote communities.
She is currently undertaking her Doctor of Philosophy in Primary Healthcare at Oxford University, and hopes to return to Queensland as a primary care physician to support and uplift underserved communities and progress the shift towards more patient-orientated health systems.
The International Alumnus Award was presented to Dr Nsofwa Sukwa-Chitwa, a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics graduate who has made it her personal mission to develop innovative solutions to some of the most pressing health issues of our time.
Dr Sukwa-Chitwa’s aptitude and passion for health is at the core of her work as a Clinical Research Fellow at the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia, a country facing numerous public health challenges, with many revolving around infectious diseases and malnutrition in children.
She has made a significant contribution to the field of vaccine research and infectious disease with her research focused on the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of vaccines along with the development of methodologies to assess disease severity and vaccine effectiveness.
Griffith University emerged as a standout performer at the recent Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) hosted by the Design Institute of Australia, scooping up a total of five titles.
The prestigious awards, established in 2003, recognise outstanding Australian designers at the beginning of their careers, celebrating not only their creative work but also their work ethic and readiness for the professional world.
Three graduates from Griffith’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design) program achieved remarkable success, leading to Griffith being the most awarded university in Queensland, and tied with Monash University for most awarded in Australia.
Jan Pimping: Commendation Award, Queensland — Interact Category
Kyla Little:
Graduate of the Year Award, Queensland — Interact Category
Graduate of the Year Award, Australia — Interact Category
Graduate of the Year Award, Queensland Overall
Kyla Little’s achievements stood out as she took home three awards, which progresses her to the national GOTYA later this year.
Visual Communication Design major convenor and Creative Director at Liveworm, Dr David Sargent was filled with pride and said all three graduates deserved every accolade.
“From Kyla Little’s meticulous approach and constant drive for perfection, to Rhianna Pearce’s perseverance in transforming challenges into polished design gems, and Jan Pimping’s versatile artistic range that defies expectations, these designers have shown immense dedication and creativity,” he said.
“Jan’s outcomes were often very darkly themed with beautifully intricate gothic illustrations and great use of texture, but he could so easily jump to bright, bubbly, cute illustrations for a children’s book, plus he’s one of the gentlest and most articulate people you could ever meet.
“Rhianna sets her own bar exceptionally high and I remember one of her Liveworm brand projects where my feedback was just ‘Killer. No notes.’
“Kyla first appeared on my radar when her tutor asked if she was allowed to give a student 100 per cent as she just could not fault her work.
Kyla Little
“Her outputs and work ethic are consistently set to 11 with every detail well considered and researched, top notch typographic craft and well-documented iterative development.”
Reflecting on her own achievements, Ms Little said she was humbled, particularly when she was unsure if university was even an option for her as she had struggled academically in high school.
“My path to design wasn’t exactly planned, so being recognised with these titles is incredibly validating,” she said.
“I barely met university entry requirements, and at the time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but Business seemed like a safe bet, and Design seemed like something fun to explore, so I chose a dual degree.
“Once I began studying design, I realised how much it resonated with me.
“I’m fascinated by how people interact with the world and how those interactions influence emotions and behaviours, and this curiosity continues to inspire me as I explore new ideas in visual communication design.”
Ms Little also credited the Queensland College of Art and Design with helping her realise her potential and dive into something she was genuinely passionate about.
“I came in not really knowing what I was capable of, but the environment and support I found allowed me to explore that fully,” she said.
“The teaching staff played such a crucial role in that process, offering guidance that pushed me beyond what I thought my limits were.”
Kyla Little with her three GOTYA certificates
A unique new partnership that combines marine research with Google AI technology will enhance researchers’ understanding of humpback whale behaviours, migration patterns and marine habitats.
Monitoring the sounds and songs of humpback whales is a helpful indicator of ecosystem health. It can help scientists understand migration activity, patterns, mating calls and competitive behaviours.
Traditional whale research methods typically involved painstaking and laborious processes such as logging sightings of whales, and manually reviewing audio data.
The hydrophones are deployed at 500km intervals along the Australian East Coast.
Additionally, whale sighting data can only be gathered during daylight, so scientists were not previously able to collect detailed, comprehensive data over continuous stretches of time.
The hydrophones and Google AI technology removes research barriers and limitations, enabling automatic and continuous audio data collection and analysis.
Hydrophones are microphones used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sounds, and their use in this particular project will support whale sightings from boats and land.
“Hydrophones allow us to tune into marine soundscapes 24/7,” Dr Meynecke said.
“The Whales and Climate Program currently holds the largest whale sighting database in Australia but this is sighting data captured during the daytime, which means there is no data spanning 24-hour periods.
“The hydrophone array will help us to capture continuous data over the course of a 24-hour period and do this for the entire whale season every year. We will be collecting many terabytes of acoustic data that then will be analysed with Google’s AI technology to detect whale location and activity. We can then match that data with existing visual sightings, providing a much more holistic picture of whale movements and behaviours.”
Dr Olaf Meynecke, Griffith University
The Google/Griffith team will work with citizen science groups to deploy more hydrophones.
Three hydrophones have already been deployed off the Gold Coast, Sydney and Merimbula, with at least another three set to be deployed.
The hydrophones will be spaced at approximately 500km intervals, ensuring wide coverage of annual migrations that typically span the Australian east coast.
The project is enabled by the Digital Futures Initiative, Google Australia’s $1 billion investment in Australian research, partnerships and infrastructure.
This commitment supports a range of AI-focused projects across healthcare, sustainability, energy and more, including a search engine for bird and wildlife sounds.
“We’re delighted to partner with Griffith University to give researchers new AI tools so they can gain a richer and more comprehensive understanding of humpback whales, underwater ecosystems and the impact of climate change,” said Dr Harrell, data scientist at Google Research.
“Google’s AI technology detects whale sounds, marks the location in time and classifies the species. The model does this automatically, relieving researchers from time consuming and manual work so they can spend more time uncovering insights and exploring new, unchartered territories of research. This data can help to inform conservation decisions and will be made publicly available to the global research community.”
Dr Lauren Harrell, Google Research
The hydrophones will collect terabytes of marine soundscape data for further analysis.
The AI model will be open sourced on Kaggle and on GitHub to benefit other whale and marine researchers around the world.
Curtin University’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology is also working with the team to provide technical support for the acoustic data collection, and a range of local citizen science groups will assist with monitoring each of the hydrophone sites.
Your attention is a precious but scarce commodity that is constantly competed for. Whether through targeted algorithms on your phones or street advertisements, images are a driving force behind what is called “the attention economy.” It is estimated that we now produce more images in two minutes than we did in the entire nineteenth century.
It is estimated that we now produce more images in two minutes than we did in the entire nineteenth century
To monetise our attention, we are persuaded to consume images like fast-food, and it is easy to miss the nitty gritty details that shape our everyday lives. So, although we are inundated with images, we are ironically facing a decline in the act of looking itself.
As an artist, this compelled me to investigate the process of looking through my painting practice. In my research, I am exploring how painting can challenge this attention economy, how it can resensitise our gaze and find new ways to understand this visual age. I will contribute to an emerging discipline called “image studies” which responds to the overwhelming impact of images. Their power can no longer be overlooked; we need to look closely at images and learn how they work and influence us. My paintings creatively contribute to this study of images by facilitating the practice of slow-looking.
Let’s take a moment now to pause and look at this painting of mine. What details do you notice? How would you describe it? When we see something in detail, we often think we know what it is. This depicted object exists in real life, but I have deliberately painted it so its identity remains unclear. You can’t make a quick assumption and move on; you must pause to try and understand what you’re looking at. These ambiguous details compel you to question how you see the world: what do you overlook, give more attention to and why. By challenging your sight, I aim to inspire you to continue the practice of slow looking from the art gallery and towards images that profoundly influence our lives.
Sienna van Rossum, Paraergon, 2022, oil on aluminium composite panel, 18 x 22 cm.
With the rise of AI images, deep-fakes and algorithms, we are increasingly challenged to define: what is truth? What does reality itself look like? My research argues that the art of slow-looking is a necessary strategy to think through these questions and prepare for the future. My paintings initiate you into this global conversation about how images hold our attention and influence how we see the past, present and future. Just like we learn to read words, we all need to learn how to read images.
A Griffith University researcher is among the 11 awardees announced in the latest Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous scheme, which is worth a combined funding total of $11 million.
Alongside fellow co-Chief Investigators Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele and Professor Patrick O’Leary, Dr Harris seeks to reduce the high rates of youth sexual violence and abuse in Indigenous populations, focusing on local needs and promoting shared responsibility and awareness.
Dr Jessica Harris.
The co-design findings will be translated into Indigenous pilot programs for positive outcomes in communities, such as better understanding of safe and respectful relationships.
“Youth sexual violence and abuse (YSVA) affects urban, regional and remote communities, with Indigenous youth disproportionately impacted,” Dr Harris said.
“This project aims to reduce YSVA rates in Indigenous populations, focusing on local needs and promoting shared responsibility and awareness. With a national child sexual abuse rate of 28.5%, this project addresses lifelong impacts.
“This project delivers three pilot tests in Toowoomba, experiencing high rates of YSVA, developed in response to co-designs offered by more than 300 people. The bystander training and safe and respectful relationship pilot trials were indicated in community co-design work, which featured yarning circles with Indigenous people. Reducing YSVA is critical economically and essential for happy, healthy children who are a national resource. They are the foundation of a cohesive, functioning, and productive society.
“This project will deliver Indigenous-owned or co-owned processes, addressing socio-economic disparity. Our team have a track record of delivering trademarked processes, Apps, websites, pilot programs, and social enterprises co-designed with communities that are supported by stakeholders. This project will enable the team to translate co-design findings into Indigenous-led pilot programs that can achieve intended outcomes, such as increased bystander action, positive social connections, and understanding of safe and respectful relationships.”
Dr Jessica Harris
Nearly one in three (28.6%) young people experience youth sexual violence and abuse (YSVA), which can have short- and long-term consequences that include (but are not limited to) alcohol abuse and suicide, costing the Australian community $34.2 billion in the short-term and $78.4 billion over the lifetime. Women and Indigenous peoples are at highest risk of YSVA.
The ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme supports research programs led by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers and builds the research capacity of higher degree research students and early career researchers.
“The ARC provides vital support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and research students through the ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme,” Acting ARC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Johnson said.
“The scheme has funded significant and impactful research for the social, economic and cultural benefit of the Australian community, and this year’s projects will continue to deliver on these important scheme objectives.”
Griffith Criminology Institute, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), has played a key a key role in new research that used criminal history data for three birth cohorts in New South Wales (NSW) to estimate the prevalence of recorded family and domestic violence offending.
The data for this study was based on offences recorded by the NSW Police Force for individuals who were proceeded against by police and who were born in one of three NSW birth cohorts (1984, 1994 and 2004).
A total of 6.3 per cent of people born in NSW were found to have been proceeded against by police for a family and domestic violence offence by age 37.
The rate was significantly higher for men at 9.6 per cent (one in 10) who had been proceeded against for a family and domestic violence offence, compared with 3 per cent of women (one in 33).
Overall, 1.2 per cent of people born in New South Wales were responsible for more than 50 per cent of recorded family and domestic violence offences.
Further, family and domestic violence offenders accounted for nearly half of all recorded offences by people in the birth cohort.
While recent evidence has pointed to a decline in victimisation and a longer-term downward trend in domestic homicide, there continues to be serious concern for the ongoing threat to the safety of victim‑survivors and the need to increase the visibility and accountability of perpetrators.
“By identifying and targeting those who commit domestic violence, especially early in their offending trajectory, we can not only reduce violence against intimate partners and family members but prevent crime more generally,” Griffith Criminology Institute Director Professor Jason Payne said, who co-authored the report.
“This report provides the first estimate of the prevalence of recorded family and domestic violence offending in a population sample in Australia, and is an important step towards increasing the visibility of family and domestic violence perpetrators.”
According to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey, 27 percent of women and 12 per cent of men had been a victim of violence by an intimate partner or family member since the age of 15.
The consequences of this violence to victim-survivors – such as economic insecurity, poor physical and mental health and homelessness, as well as the effects on children – were substantial.
The full report Prevalence of recorded family and domestic violence offending: A birth cohort study is available on the AIC website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The birds that fill our mornings with songs and our parks and gardens with colour are disappearing from our cities, our new study has found.
We examined 82 bird species across 42 landscape types in Brisbane. The range of landscapes encompassed parks, bushland reserves, and industrial and residential areas.
Our findings were clear: urbanisation, particularly the increase in built infrastructure and the loss of green spaces, was linked to a decline in the bird communities we find most attractive. In other words, many of the colourful birds with sweet songs are leaving or dying out. They include many smaller species that are among the most affected by increasing urbanisation.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but previous research has shown species with bright colours, contrasting colour patterns and melodious calls are perceived as attractive. Seeing and hearing them can enhance our mood. As cities expand and we cram more people into existing urban areas, we risk losing the vibrant natural birdlife that helps make urban life enjoyable.
What’s causing the loss of these species?
Competition from aggressive birds, such as noisy miners (Manorina melanocephala), also has a particularly severe impact on small, forest-dependent species. They include many of the birds we consider most attractive.
A range of factors is driving the decline of small, colourful and melodious birds. The many pressures on these species include habitat loss and fragmentation as land is cleared for buildings and roads.
Vulnerable species in Brisbane include the white-throated gerygone (Gerygone olivacea). Known for its striking colours and distinctive calls, it’s one of the species being squeezed out of our cities. Also vanishing from the most urbanised areas we studied are delicate species such as the scarlet honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta) and the golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis).
Landscapes with low numbers of species still support some species with traits that people consider “attractive”. They include the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) and the willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys). Larger urban-adapted species, such as the pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) and the Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), also have melodious calls that give us joy.
But poor urban design means our cities are losing the rich diversity of beautiful bird songs and colours that residents once enjoyed.
It’s not just beauty we’re losing
Cities across Australia are growing. South-east Queensland, where we did our research, is forecast to gain an extra 2.2 million people by 2046.
When poorly planned, urban expansion reduces and fragments habitats. It means vibrantly colourful nature is replaced by dull, dreary greys.
The presence of diverse bird species in urban areas is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Our cities are home to a great variety of species, including surprisingly large numbers of threatened species.
Conserving these attractive bird species could also strengthen connections between people and nature. Losing these unique, colourful species with their unique calls means missing opportunities to experience the full beauty of nature.
The absence of diverse bird species in cities also points to a broader issue: the loss of the essential ecological and cultural services these species provide. These birds pollinate plants, disperse their seeds and control pests. These services are vital for the health of ecosystems in our cities.
Losing these birds could also result in a shifting baseline where we, and future generations, become accustomed to seeing only a limited snapshot of nature. The result could be an “extinction of experience”, as reduced daily encounters with nature lead to an emotional disconnection from the natural world.
Rainbow Lorikeet or Trichoglossus haematodus: Photo by Chee Hong, CC BY 2.0
How can we bring this natural joy in cities?
Urban planning has the power to bring back vibrant, colourful birdlife to our cities. In this way, it can enrich our daily lives and connections with nature in the places we live and work.
Thoughtful urban designs can prioritise biodiversity and habitat protection. Our research shows this can foster more diverse and attractive bird communities, even in densely built areas.
Maintaining urban bushland reserves that preserve native vegetation is important, but we can also help in other ways. Simple actions such as planting a variety of shrubs and trees in gardens and parks can create pockets of native habitat that allow colourful and melodious birds to thrive. Beyond beautifying our urban spaces, these actions create “green corridors” that support the movement of wildlife, thereby helping to maintain biodiversity.
The way people perceive and interact with nature is very personal. Urban-resilient species such as magpies and butcherbirds are valuable in their own right and play a vital role in urban ecosystems. However, careful design of our cities can open the door to experiencing a wider variety of astonishing birdlife.
It is not just about preserving what we have, but actively enhancing our urban spaces to welcome back the species that fill our lives with colour, song and joy.
An ambitious program to help realise the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has welcomed seven Griffith University students into its Class of 2024.
The Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program for undergraduate students across the globe, allowing them to progress their social impact to the next level with access to world-class training, connections and recognition.
This year more than 52,000 applicants from more than 6,000 campuses applied to take part, with only around 4,000 students being accepted.
With just five per cent of campuses worldwide selected to host this year’s cohort, Griffith is proud to be one of only two Australian Millennium campuses – a role it has now held for five successive years.
Fellows will go through leadership development training across the semester and launch their own community-based projects in line with their degrees and interests to advance the SDGs.
Caitlin Brims
Third-year nutrition and dietetics student Caitlin Brims found out about the Millennium Fellowship through Griffith’s Student Academy of Excellence and jumped at the chance to be involved with the United Nations.
Her project, titled ‘Cook and Connect’, has addressed both SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, by designing a cooking program for university students after realising some students not only lacked nutrition knowledge, but also basic skills such as how to use a knife or a grater.
“It was definitely a shock when I realised a lot of my fellow students didn’t know how to cook a basic meal or understand that vegetables really are an essential part of our diets, so I wanted to fill that gap,” Ms Brims said.
“We’re taking a holistic approach that considers both physical and mental health as vital to overall wellbeing, and equipping vulnerable community members with the skills they need to be more independent and confident in meeting their nutritional needs while also providing opportunities to share stories, laughter, and connection with people from different walks of life.
“Our program may just be getting started, but its impact on the health and wellbeing of students is already evident.”
Hannah Chambers
Ms Brims has also been appointed a campus director for 2024, meaning she’ll be a central point of contact between the UN and the rest of the Griffith fellows.
Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) student Hannah Chambers and her research partner Cayla Deane will be implementing a project called ‘Recyclopedia: Know Before You Throw’ which they hope will improve recycling practices in the community.
Ms Chambers said the project will use QR codes on items to alleviate uncertainty and provide instant, clear information on what can and cannot be recycled.
“We’re excited to work with other fellows and help promote sustainability through education,” she said.
Isabella Gonzalez
“It’s not often we get to help our community so directly, but even in small ways it all means so much.”
A third project, titled BIOMEX (Biomedical Innovation and Multidisciplinary Educational eXcellence) has been championed by Bachelor of Biomedical Science student Isabella Gonzalez and her team.
“BIOMEX is dedicated to advancing biomedical sciences through an inclusive, collaborative community of students,” Ms Gonzalez said.
“We blend innovation with hands-on learning to prepare future leaders in health and technologies, focusing on merging cutting-edge research with practical applications in areas such as bionics, anatomy, medical laboratory science, and academic development.
“We also emphasise sustainability through eco-friendly initiatives such as tree planting and promoting green technologies.”
2024 Millennium Fellowship class:
Caitlin Brims
Caoimhe Acosta
Cayla Deane
Hannah Chambers
Isabella Gonzalez
Lily Hart
Thien Tran
Griffith University experts have released a highly effective free toolkit to tackle teen vaping and say respect for student’s intelligence was the best tool.
As traditional approaches fail, vaping among teens had surged and Australian schools stand on the frontline of this hidden epidemic.
The toolkit, crafted by the Blurred Minds team, included the top five ways to end teen vaping at school, and drew from more than 250 vaping workshops conducted with around 20,000 students.
Social Marketing @ Griffith Research Fellow James Durl said schools which adopt this strategy can become centres of prevention.
Social Marketing @ Griffith Research Fellow James Durl
“Teens are sharp, and they see through scare tactics and lectures,” Mr Durl said.
“What works is treating them like the critical thinkers they are, and that’s when the real conversations begin.
“This approach equips teachers with some of the most impactful and engaging activities to address teen vaping in the classroom.
“The vaping industry isn’t just selling a product, it’s selling manipulation – once students understand how they’re being played, they’re far more likely to push back and make smarter choices.
“We need to step up our game and teach young people what’s really going on.
“This isn’t just about telling kids to stop vaping, it’s about empowering them with the tools to think critically, see through the marketing, and make informed choices for their future.”
Blurred Minds founder and Griffith University Associate Professor Timo Dietrich said their approach was grounded in gamification and interactive modules, and was helping reshape how schools, teachers, and parents address vaping education.
Blurred Minds founder Associate Professor Timo Dietrich
“Education is the most powerful tool we have to combat teen vaping,” Associate Professor Dietrich said.
“By treating students with respect, equipping them with critical thinking skills, and exposing industry manipulation, we can empower a generation to make informed, healthier choices.”
Blurred Minds will launch the free toolkit titled The 5 Eye-Opening Lessons Learned from 250 Vaping Workshops with 20,000 Students, at a nation-wide seminar ‘How to end vaping in your school’ on Thursday 19 September 2024.
