Walter Lomax, a graduate of Griffith Business School and Manager, Business Restructuring and Strategy at PwC, has been named Young Accountant of the Year (30 years or under) at the 2020 Australian Accounting Awards.
Honoured to receive the award ahead of a pool of nine other finalists, which included a colleague from PwC, Walter said it made all the countless hours and personal sacrificesworthwhile.
“I’ve been at PwC for 3 years and 5 months as a manager in the Business Restructuring Services team and I’ve been very fortunate to work on a very diverse range of files, across multiple industries and with teams from other services lines within PwC such as management consulting, transaction services, mergers and acquisitions and CFO advisory,” he said.
“Having come from a boutique accounting firm on the Gold Coast, PwC has offered me the opportunities to break out of the mould of a traditional insolvency accountant and develop a range of skill sets and a more holistic way of working.
“At 27 I was based in Dalby for six months managing a civil construction firm that was delivering nine projects that collectively generated over $18m in revenue.
Walter Lomax
“Currently, I’m managing the cash flow of an underground mine that went into receivership just before Christmas.
“At the end of 2019, I was also selected to be a part of PwC’s Digital Accelerator Program, one of 46 out of 8,000 staff globally. As a digital accelerator, I allocate a portion of my time to training in data and automation, including automated data workflows, data analysis, visualisation.”
Walter sets quite a pace, which is also a trait that served him well at Griffith, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance in 2011.
He was a member of Griffith Honours College, created and presided over a Student Guild club, represented the university in netball and rowing at the Northern University Games and studied on exchange at the University of Miami, Florida.
“Through Griffith I was afforded a lot of opportunities, which built a wide array of life skills and personal development”
“Through Griffith I was afforded a lot of opportunities, which built a wide array of life skills and personal development,” he said.
“While on exchange I joined a Fraternity called Lambda Chi Alpha and thus my semester abroad was split between studying and pledging for the fraternity.
“Upon reflection, it was one of the greatest decisions I could have made from a career perspective. The benefits are two pronged. On one hand, we’re seeing more capital from America enter the Australian economy.
“Current examples are Bain purchasing Virgin and Oak Tree Capital funding Blue Sky Investments.
“Being in America and experiencing the culture firsthand helped me build immediate rapport with our American counterparts and potential clients/investors/buyers.
“Secondly, I established strong friendships with some of the members of the fraternity and one works for a hedge fund and the other for WeWork (to name a few).”
Professor David Grant
Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) Professor David Grant said Griffith Business School (GBS) was proud of all alumni but to see a former student recognised so prominently on the national stage was impressive.
“Griffith has produced many incredibly talented and community-minded alumni who are making a real difference in business,” he said.
“The Business School is delighted for Walter and celebrate this achievement alongside him. We hope it serves as a terrific example of what is possible for all our students in what is the changing future of business.”
Dr Robyn Cameron
Dr Robyn Cameron from the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics was also delighted to see his efforts rewarded.
“It shows our strength in delivering an outstanding student learning experience and our strong connection with industry,” Dr Cameron said.
“Walter was an engaging student who was always happy to participate in classes and ask challenging questions.
“He also gave back to community both as a student and as a graduate.”
Lomax continues to give back, currently serving as a non-executive chairman at Barayamal, a charity aimed at fostering, building and supporting indigenous entrepreneurs through various initiatives.
He is focused on continuing to upskill in data analytics and automate processes internally within his current team, leveraging off the advances in technology made available to the public.
“We live in a time where we have an unprecedented amount of access to data. And whilst we have ways of capturing data, it is what to do with that data, and what insights that can be drawn from it, that businesses and executives are truly chasing.”
A team of Griffith University researchers found the strongest predictor of study sites for reptile research in Australia is proximity to universities.
Published in Nature Scientific Reports, the study is the first continent-wide investigation of factors that influenced the location research was conducted on terrestrial reptiles in Australia.
To make conservation decisions, such as what land to set aside for protected areas, ecological research often uses large location-specific data sets compiled from all the available research.
“For this reason, it’s essential to know what has influenced the decision to study in particular areas, as it is this ecological information that underpins the planning and implementation of biodiversity conservation measures,” said Renee Piccolo, lead author from the Environmental Futures Research Institute.
Conservation efforts may be limited by data availability and poor understanding of the nature of potential geographical biases in these data sets.
“Indiscriminately using available data sets without knowing potential bias within them could give us a blinkered understanding of what is going on and lead to poor conservation decision-making,” Ms Piccolo said.
“We looked at possible factors that may have influenced the selection of study locations. We were interested in the extent to which factors like the distance to universities, the amount of development (human footprint), the number of species in the area (species richness) and protected areas, affected reptile study locations,” said Dr Guy Castley, a co-author from the Environmental Futures Research Institute.
“Surprisingly, we found the strongest predictor of study sites for reptile research in Australia was the distance from universities. Species richness and human impacts, two extremely important factors to study in reptile research, were only half as good as predictors of research location.”
Lead author, Renee Piccolo
Of the four factors, the poorest predictor for choosing a study site for reptile research in Australia was whether the site was in a protected area or not.
“This is concerning, as understanding if and how protected areas are benefiting reptile populations and identifying the gaps in our knowledge of reptiles in remote regions is vital for conservation decision making and landscape management,” Ms Piccolo said.
“Understanding what influences the selection of study sites for ecological research is an essential first step to improve our understanding of the information that underpins conservation decisions, like designating protected areas, and to determine if we need to reprioritise study locations.”
“These results highlight that reptile research in Australia is driven largely by accessibility. Consequently, we need to optimise target areas for future research that ensure adequate representation of reptile communities,” Dr Castley said.
A new group of trapdoor spiders that builds burrows hidden by camouflaged doors has been discovered in eastern Australia. One of the almost 20 new species found in this group occurs in the suburbs of Brisbane.
The research team from Griffith University and the Queensland Museum named the group of spiders Cryptoforis, which means ‘cryptic door’, in reference to the burrows with hinge-doors made of leaves, twigs and silk, the spiders construct.
Lead author Dr Jeremy Wilson, photo by Eamon Amsters
Published in Cladistics, the research was led by former Griffith University PhD student Jeremy Wilson, now working as an arachnologist at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales in Argentina.
When a new group or ‘genus’ of animals is named, researchers must characterise a single species of that group which serves as the definitive reference point for the genus.
Dr Wilson selected a species from Brisbane as the reference species of this new group of spiders, naming it Cryptoforis hughesae, after his recently retired mentor and supervisor Emeritus Professor Jane Hughes, a world-renowned expert in population ecology, phylogeography, biogeography and evolutionary biology.
“Jane has had a huge impact on my development as a scientist, and no doubt on many others having mentored more than 70 postgraduate students and over 60 honours students,” Dr Wilson said.
“Naming this species of spider, which occurs in the forests that surround the Brisbane Griffith University campuses, seemed a fitting tribute for everything she has done for me and so many others at Griffith University.
“If you look carefully you can find this newly described species in most forests and natural reserves within Brisbane and the Brisbane valley.”
Burrow of Cryptoforis hughesae door closed, photo Dr Michael Rix
Burrow of Cryptoforis hughesae door open, photo Dr Michael Rix
“I was extremely pleased when Jeremy told me that he wanted to recognise Emeritus Professor Hughes’ extensive contributions in this way,” said co-author and Queensland Museum Principal Curator of Arachnology Dr Michael Rix.
Dr Wilson discovered that this widespread group of trapdoor spiders, found up and down the east coast of Australia, was actually a separate genus by comparing them to other trapdoor spiders from across Australia.
“We compared their physical appearance and the burrows they construct, and then looked for molecular differences in their DNA,” Dr Wilson said.
“We found differences in their physical appearance which allow them to be distinguished from other trapdoor spiders in eastern Australia.
Molecular differences confirmed that the researchers were dealing with an entirely new genus of trapdoor spider.
“The incredibly well hidden burrows they create were also different to other trapdoor spiders in eastern Australia, which is probably why this new group of spiders remained undiscovered in the past,” Dr Wilson said.
“This newly-described group of trapdoor spiders is far more widespread and diverse than we previously realised, and Jeremy’s meticulous research was instrumental in revealing this hidden fauna,” Dr Rix said.
“The discovery and description of this group of spiders adds to our knowledge of the diversity of the Australian invertebrate fauna, and is also the crucial first step towards protecting these elusive spiders,” Dr Wilson said.
Ever wondered what it’s like to study a Bachelor of Acting at Queensland Conservatorium?
Liam Wallis shares his experience at the Conservatorium, the performance opportunities and working with directors from the industry as part of his degree.
Walk us through what a day is like studying at the Con.
There aren’t many moments in uni life when you can genuinely admit that you wake up at 6:00 am beaming with excitement about your “assessment”. It’s a particularly wonderful sensation when I remember that I get to study the craft that I love every day with such a tight-knit family of artists alongside you.
Each morning, without fail, I walk through our campus front door and am greeted with a smile and friendly “Morning!” from the wonderful Dominique Fegan at the front reception desk. Once inside, it’s a non-stop joyride of surprises and challenges.
Each class, whether it be acting, voice, movement, dance, theory or singing are taught by some of the greatest mentors in the business.
While some days will start at 9:00 am and end at 6:00 pm, you won’t want to leave. The training we receive at this institution is next to invaluable and leaves you craving more; it’s what brings you back the next day.
Every single one of these teachers cares immensely about the learning and development of their pupils and it is a privilege to learn and grow in their classrooms. Any future I have in the industry after the Conservatorium will be attributed to the teachings of the Performing Arts precinct. Their knowledge, care and respect for the craft and their students sets them apart from the rest. In particular, Jacqui Somerville (Senior Lecturer in Acting) and Dr Melissa Agnew (Voice and Speech) have nurtured and grown each of us in profound ways outside of just the excellent theory and practical training. Having such a close relationship with teachers allows us to learn about what we can really do with our discipline, how we can be better artists and people once we graduate, how we can stretch our voices beyond just “storytelling” and see the impact we can make in the world as truly great artists.
What do you love most about Queensland Conservatorium and why did you come here to study?
Honestly, my favourite part about studying at the Conservatorium is the connections with my peers and teachers. Each day is like coming to a second home where you can learn, grow and play with your second family. I can’t think of a better way to spend, sometimes, 8-hour days than with your closest friends, and the loving support that we shower each other with is really what makes our classes something special.
I wanted to study at the Conservatorium because I knew of the focus on excellence and development of its students in their chosen professions.
The teachers don’t see you as a number; they know you by your full name and are adamant about spending the time on making you the best actor you can be. There’s not a lot of institutions that can offer the intimate focus on individual students like the Conservatorium does.
Because of the incredible connections between teacher and student, there’s particular care and support for mental and physical health throughout this course which can sometimes be affected. There’s not just immense care about your success in the course, but also of your personal and interpersonal wellbeing during your time at the Conservatorium.
Tell us about some performances you’ve been a part of during your time at the Con.
Each year we have the privilege of creating 2 shows with our cohort and either an in-house director or external writers and directors. There have been many highlights thus far including working with Travis Dowling (Associate Director at Queensland Theatre) playing the role of Duke Orsino in a production of Twelfth Night. The Conservatorium has allowed us to work with and learn from many industry professionals coinciding with our studies in masterclasses and/or productions. Currently, it is particularly exciting to be working with Elise Greig who has written New Australian Play called Night Sky Over Our Town. On this project, we’ve been a part of the devising and dramaturgical research processes of a new piece of work and experienced what it’s like to collaborate and work with a living writer. The Acting class of 2021 will perform Night Sky Over Our Town in late October at Burke Street Studios.
What’s your advice for students who don’t get into the Con the first time around?
This is not the be-all and end-all. You can only do your best and that’s what matters.
If you don’t get a position, trust that it’s because there’s something else you need to do first. The outcome for this application doesn’t determine your place in the craft that you love, either. If you aren’t offered a spot, you shouldn’t take it as though you’ll never be good enough among the artists around the world. It just means you weren’t offered a place at this institution on this particular day. You can always continue to learn and grow in your own way and maybe even try again next year. By then, you’ll be a completely different person.
I didn’t get a first-round offer; I was offered in the second round. But I remember having that same existential crisis when I thought I “failed” … You can imagine how I would think that I’d exhausted all possible outcomes and opportunities; that I’d have to go back to Law School or something different. However, I persevered and even started working freelance.
Then, I got offered a position in the next round and I can tell you that that was a great day. Believe that anything can happen on a whim and never lose faith in yourself.
What advice do you have for future acting students?
Follow your passion. Believe the cliché. In addition, understand that your craft expands beyond just spouting lines on a stage or on screen. You’re the medium for story, character, life, empathy; what makes us human. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to do what we do, and every day should be treated like a blessing. Whatever your circumstances or outcomes in your journey, just keep swimming.
Despite what others might tell you, your development of your craft opens an endless stream of possibilities besides employment as an “actor” as well. This practice teaches you confidence, discipline, adaptability, perseverance, endurance and all manner of humanitarian insights from ultimately studying empathy.
You’re going to do great things!
What drew you to acting?
Acting was always just a “hobby” or a “vocation” when I was growing up. There were my classes which would count towards my future job prospects, then music and drama. I did what I had to do in order to broaden my opportunities in a “legitimate field” all through high school. However, nothing gave me more joy than partaking in plays and musicals as a kid. Whenever I was lucky enough with the opportunity to see a stage show or movie, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, those people do that for a job? I wonder if I could do that…” There are very few professions where your “job” is to amuse, thrill, entertain, melt and ultimately teach and show the world the lessons of empathy and humanity. Why do we cry in films? Why do we laugh at clowns? Why do we get angry at injustice for people who don’t even exist? It’s that responsibility of being the medium for stories about life, people and things which draws me to the craft of acting.
I ended up spending my first two years after high school at university studying science and law. It wasn’t until I finished the first 6 months of Law School that I realized I couldn’t sentence myself to the next 50+ years of my working life doing this job. It was my loved ones that convinced me to stop lying to myself and pursue the one thing I actually cared about doing: acting. It was never a realistic idea, but I had exhausted every other avenue for a future and decided that if I was going to do this, I needed to fully commit to it. What better way to prepare myself for the industry than to find an institution that would train me for the real world?
If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.
The Griffith Asia Business Internship (GABI) re-imagines ‘Asian Studies’ for the contemporary business context. The transformational work integrated learning (WIL) initiative places students in one of six Asian business destinations, including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo, and is led by the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI). The aim of the program is to equip students with the knowledge, skills and networks to operate successfully in Asia, while enhancing employability outcomes.
Following a rigorous recruitment process, including written applications and individual interviews, 52 students have been selected to participate in the 20 credit point Global Mobility Internship elective course for Trimester 3, 2020. Supported by the Australian Government New Colombo Mobility Program (NCP), the centrepiece of the 7 week in-country program is a 6-week work placement with an international industry partner, aligned to an academic discipline area. The opportunity provides exposure and relevant ‘hands-on’ learning in an Asian business context.
Given the uncertainty surrounding foreseeable international travel arrangements and increasing reliance to work remotely, GAI has successfully adapted to the changing landscape by offering students a range of alternate options to an in-country experience which was well received.
‘I am surprised by the number of options available and I feel more confident in the process now, than I had before the meeting.’
Samuel Hishon, B Commerce, 2020 Indonesia Intern
Six, one-hour online meetings were facilitated by GAI’s Dr Andrea Haefner and Kiri Stinson, and included general introductions, key developments, internship destination specific details, available support services, and a dedicated Q&A session. Students expressed enthusiasm for the program via GIFs shared in the meeting to reflect how they were feeling about the global internship.
Students were also informed of the current status of global mobility restrictions and the different opportunities available to complete the T3 course. These include: a slightly delayed in-country commencement date; the option to undertake a remote global internship with an industry partner based in the allocated internship destination; or alternatively, working in a small multi-disciplinary team to complete a research project in collaboration with an affiliated partner such as Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), liaising with the head office in Brisbane, in addition to Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and/or Tokyo TIQ offices. Discussion around the various alternative options highlighted student’s continued enthusiasm for the program.
‘Thanks Andrea and Kiri! Very hopeful that things go ahead but I’m glad we have some fantastic alternatives!’
Dahlia Bar, B International Business / B Government and International Relations, 2020 Hong Kong Intern
Reflecting on the past few months with COVID-19 and the current ‘work from home’ (WFH) situation, Global Ambassador and recent graduate Matthew Neave (pictured left) reinforced the value of undertaking a Global Internship based on his experience in Singapore, 2017. Matt completed his placement with Purnama Outreach, a social enterprise with the mission to provide job creation in developing countries through an e-commerce platform. During his time with Purnama, Matt developed a marketing and growth strategy, and due to the challenge of resources, including traditional office space, he worked remotely to complete many tasks in Singapore. Matt says:
‘I guess sometimes you get lucky because the Global Internship I completed in Singapore has turned out to be incredibly helpful. I’m currently working from home on the Gold Coast as a Graduate Relationship Executive with HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation), Melbourne Corporate Banking team. A lot of our clients have strong global operations or exposure and we would usually service them across numerous jurisdictions. My Griffith Business School internship in Singapore has successfully ticked two boxes: i) adapting to the WFH environment; and ii) effectively working in a cross border/cross cultural environment. It’s safe to say that the international experience was a significant aid in securing a position with an international bank and working remotely will definitely prepare students for graduate positions in view of anticipated continuing WFH arrangements in the future.’
Looking to expand the GABI Program to include the alternate options beyond 2020, GAI is excited by the learning opportunities that these experiences will offer students. In turn, increasing student participation and bolstering employability by strengthening not only cultural competency but also digital capability, problem solving and interpersonal skill development. In support of graduate success, providing students flexible options to complete the Global Internship elective course in lieu of an in-country experience, demonstrates GAI’s ability to respond to the challenges associated with the rapidly changing world of work. GAI is committed to developing the next generation of Asia-Pacific leaders and the GAI team is looking forward to officially welcoming our 2020 Global Intern cohort at an on-campus lunch in late August.
2020 Indonesia intern cohort meeting
For further information regarding the Griffith Asia Business Internship Program, please seegriffith.edu.au/asia-institute/global-wil-internships.
Many articles in media and research highlight the challenges experienced by children on the autism spectrum. Now in an Australian-first study, Griffith University researchers have explored the self-reported best attributes, strengths and favourite activities of 83 children on the autism spectrum.
Published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, the study by Dr Megan Clark and Associate Professor Dawn Adams from the Autism Centre of Excellence, found many children identified strengths in being a good person or friend and having skills in specific areas.
Physical activities such as sports or academia, namely maths and science, were the areas that children felt they performed ‘best at’. The activities children enjoyed most ranged from socialising with friends to technology and gaming.
“Autism research is gradually shifting towards a strengths-based focus that counteracts the predominant deficit-based disability framework,’’ explained Associate Professor Adams, Deputy Director of the Autism Centre of Excellence.
“Until recently, self-reported strengths-based autism research has focused on adults, with little research exploring similar positive attributes in children on the autism spectrum,’’ she said.
“Self-report is invaluable, providing individuals with an opportunity to share their own thoughts, feelings and perspectives firsthand, which can then be added to information from others such as family members and parents.
“However, self-report has not been used to ask children on the autism spectrum about their strengths, until now.”
“While the strengths-based research in the field is continuing to grow, research has yet to explore how the expression of strengths may vary depending on the child’s environment,” Dr Clark said.
“Various aspects within each environment may be impacting children’s ability to use their strengths, some encouraging strengths, while others may mask a child’s strengths altogether.”
In another recent study published in The Journal of Child and Family Studies, Dr Clark and Associate Professor Adams explored parent-reported factors that may help (enablers) or hinder (barriers) their child from expressing their strengths across three settings: home, school, and community.
“Support was an overarching theme emerging from parents’ responses that encouraged children’s strengths with ‘support at home/school’ the most common response across these two settings,’’ Dr Clark said.
Parents indicated that ‘an inclusive community environment’ supported children to show their strengths when outside the home.
The study also identified things that made it difficult for children to use their strengths. Children’s anxiety, poor health and wellbeing were the leading factors which stopped children being able to show their strengths at home. Social and emotional challenges were common barriers to strengths at school.
“It is important to understand what encourages or prevents children from expressing their strengths across settings,’’ Dr Clark said.
“This way, interventions can be individualised to target the barriers identified and support children’s expression of strengths.”
The self-report study is part of a longitudinal study, so Associate Professor Adams and her team will report on these findings over time in coming years. The parent and teacher aspects of the longitudinal study is funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.
The Autism Centre of Excellence has a comprehensive program of research into wellbeing and mental health in individuals on the autism spectrum. Follow the Autism Centre of Excellence on Facebook.
Understanding the emotional impact of COVID-19 on children, young people and their families is the focus of a new Griffith University-led study.
The multi-institution project also includes researchers from the University of Southern Queensland and the University of Queensland.
“While research has already provided valuable information about how parents and carers can support their children’s mental health in general, we know nothing about what is most effective in the current context,’’ says lead researcher Associate Professor Caroline Donovan from the School of Applied Psychology.
“COVID-19 has led to an elevated awareness of environmental threat, caused major disruptions to families’ lives, through social distancing, school closures, and now effective lockdown. This is also a rapidly changing situation where different pressures will arise for children, young people and their families over time,’’ she said.
“We need to understand the short and long-term impacts of COVID19 on children, young people and families to inform the supportive care needs of families during and following the crisis.”
The researchers will also explore the impact of rapidly evolving changes to mental health service delivery such as telehealth and digital health services.
“Telehealth and digital health services are being used as first-line responses in delivery of mental health support,’’ Associate Professor Donovan said.
“Although these services have been used previously, it was on a much smaller scale, so the majority of research has been with people who already hold favourable opinions of such modalities. We want to examine the use and acceptability of telehealth and digital health with the wider population.”
The researchers are interested in hearing from families with children aged between 6 and 17 years to take part in a series of online surveys throughout the year.
Participate in the survey
Griffith University international students hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis have been given a helping hand with the provision of more than 3200 free meals each week.
A local consortium has been supplying funding, frozen meals and grocery staples to help support the students with the equivalent of about five meals per week.
Griffith University Vice President (Global) Professor Sarah Todd said many international students had been left jobless during the pandemic, but unlike their domestic counterparts, had limited access to government financial support and many had been relying on swiftly depleting savings to survive.
Vice President (Global) Professor Sarah Todd.
“Many international students were among the first to lose their casual or part-time employment as a result of COVID-19,” Professor Todd said.
“In addition, many who would normally receive support from families and others in their home country have been unable to access that financial support due to economic impacts globally.
“Providing free meals offers pragmatic assistance to students in need, as well as reinforcing the care and concern for them shown by different organisations in the local community.”
Meals are being supplied to about 340 students registered for help on the Gold Coast each week, partly from $6000 funding from Study Gold Coast and more than 1200 meals weekly from FareShare and Foodbank, as well as donations of groceries from Gold Coast University Hospital.
Foodbank and FareShare supply a further 2000 meals a week to more than 370 Griffith University Brisbane-based students collecting from Nathan campus each week and numerous local groups also donated groceries to these students.
An international student picks up his meals for the week. Image: Nine Gold Coast
Master of Global Public Health international student Chidinma Ejiogu said the meals helped her “immensely”, particularly during exam period.
“Cooking became a challenge for me because I was so swamped with school activities seeing as we were coming to the end of the trimester,” Chidinma said.
“The packaged meals went a long way in helping me manage my time effectively.
“Receiving the meals also helped my budget the last few weeks as I could save up some more money for rent and other necessities. “
Another international student, Udu Abeysinghe, found the meals provided relief to the hip pocket, despite finding it difficult to ask for help initially.
“I lost a few jobs and had one left, so (the food being supplied meant) I could save money for my rent and petrol,” Udu said.
International students on the Gold Coast collect meals from Cafe Rossa. Image: Nine Gold Coast
“I was a proud little soul… yet during those hardest of times learnt how to ask for help and it was surprising how people could put so much effort in, collecting food and preparing meals for us.
“I am so grateful.”
Udu said one of the best meals so far was the casserole.
“I actually didn’t know what it was, I asked my academic supervisor and got to know it is a very Australian food,” Udu said.
“I love the opportunity to enjoy something new.”
Griffith International have managed registrations and logistics for the meal initiative, while Campus Life and the Student Guild on the Gold Coast have managed storage and distribution. In Brisbane the Student Representative Council has supported by promoting the initiative to students, while Campus Life has been looking after storage and Study Brisbane facilitating distribution.
Professor Todd said it was essential students did not feel “less than” for accepting help.
“It was important that we were providing students the opportunity to receive help without question and see it as a gesture with no judgement.”
“We have reallocated staff to help with this process and the opportunity to be involved in such a personal offer of support to students has been really positive,” Professor Todd said.
There have been both options for collection on campus or free delivery, with an even split of students preferring each.
“We found students choosing to stop by campus to pick up their meals enjoyed having a reason to leave the house and this was really important at a time where isolation was impacting students a great deal,” Professor Todd said.
“It helped them with time management and practical management of resources, but also provided them with an opportunity for safe social interaction.
“Griffith is extremely appreciative of the various organisations who have come together to make this support program possible.”
The scheme was initially arranged for a period of eight weeks but has since been extended a further 12 weeks, until August 7.
Griffith has a strong history of supporting up and coming elite athletes and recently renewed two key community partnerships to ensure grass roots collaborations continue.
The University has extended its naming rights partnership with Griffith University Surfers Paradise Rowing Club for another year.
Duncan Free OAM, Director of Griffith Sports College.
“Clubs and organisations have been struggling during COVID-19 but we have maintained our commitment to two clubs, being the rowing club and also the Griffith Knights Rugby Club with whom we recently re-signed as well,” Griffith Sports College Director and Olympic Gold Medallist (Rowing) Duncan Free OAM said.
“It’s wonderful that Griffith is able to continue key partnerships with these clubs.
“The rowing partnership provides a well supported pathway for school rowers that wish to continue to compete and develop in the sport.
“The learn to row program for University students is also very popular. Some end up continuing to row for various reasons including social, fitness and ambitions to race competitively.
“The Knights community sporting partnership not only provides playing opportunities for our students, but is also a key stakeholder in our womens rugby sevens team, who compete in the National Sevens University Series, made up of only ten universities nationwide.”
Fish out of water! Gavin Bellis testing his boat in the swimming pool at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus
Dual Paralympian (2012, 2016) rower Gavin Bellis is one of many rowers supported by the College through the Surfers Paradise Rowing Club partnership.
The support the College provides has also extended to research opportunities.
Bellis is working with a team from Griffith’s Advanced Design and Prototyping Technologies Institute (ADaPT) who are developing a new seat for his rowing boat, which may just provide a competitive advantage as he trains for the Paralympics.
The project gives Griffith students an incredible real-world opportunity to put their industrial designs into practice.
“For students at Griffith to be able to assist Gavin with a personalised seat for his boat will certainly give him an edge for the Tokyo Paralympics, along with a remarkable hands-on experience for our students,” Free said.
“It’s a shame that the Olympics and Paralympics were delayed by 12 months but it gives us more time to work with Gavin and Lincoln, his coach, in refining it and getting it right to give him the best chance of a good result in Tokyo.”
Stay tuned for more news shortly about this exciting project!
The Griffith Sports College currently supports around 600 athletes juggling what can be a challenging combination of study and elite sport commitments.
2021 looks set to be a big year for the Sports College, with a recent webinar for high school students looking to join the College program next year incredibly popular, attracting more than 150 registrations.
The National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP), announced by the Hon. Stuart Robert MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services, and the Hon. Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services, brings together experts in disability policy and research to deliver a world-class disability research and policy hub. The Commonwealth Department of Social Services recognises the enormous opportunities presented by funding research in the establishment of NDRP and longer-term investment in disability research which will build knowledge, boost service innovation and solve pressing policy problems.
Griffith University is pleased to be part of this initiative, with Emeritus Prof Lesley Chenoweth and Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Executive Director The Hopkins Centre as members of the interim working party that will facilitate the establishment of the NDRP. The working party will promote activities of the NDRP, actively engage with key stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and guide the initial deliverables of a research agenda, governance model and demonstration projects.
Emeritus Prof Lesley Chenoweth AO, said “Griffith has a long history of disability research and teaching and we are pleased to be part of this important national research initiative. It is through collaborations with people with disabilities and families, researchers, Service providers and government that the most relevant and impactful research can achieve real and positive change”.
Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Executive Director, The Hopkins Centre is pleased to be part of the working party, “Griffith University is committed to accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities, especially our own students. We provide excellent support to students who have a wide range of disabilities across all our courses”.
“At Griffith University we are committed to removing barriers that students with disabilities may face in higher education as well as improving employment outcomes for our students,” said Professor Kendall who also chairs the university Disability Advisory Committee.
“Our researchers have spent the last 30 years focused on finding better solutions to the complex challenges experienced by people with disabilities. We have a real commitment to interdisciplinary collaborative and responsive research that is embedded in practice and driven by people with disability. This partnership is an important opportunity to advance Australia’s capacity for research that can really make a difference”.
The Hopkins Centre Ambassador and adjunct Research Fellow, Dr. Dinesh Palipana OAM graduated from Griffith University with a medical degree and has become a successful public advocate for people with disability. He said, “The importance of initiatives such as the NDRP cannot be understated. These initiatives make sure we engage people with disability in the leadership and direction of research, which will change the way we do research and what we focus on.”
The NDRP will facilitate a collaborative, translational research program through partnerships between academics, people with disability, their families and carers, peak advocacy and consumer groups, governments and service providers to conduct cutting-edge policy-relevant research that enables people with disability to participate fully in society.
Next steps for the NDRP are to circulate an expression of interest for two experienced people with disability to join the working party, begin consulting on the governance structure for a fully-funded NDRP in two years’ time, release a research agenda tender and begin a communication strategy to engage with the disability community. All deliverables including the governance structure and research agenda will be shaped in partnership with the disability community.
If you are interested in being involved we would love to hear from you. Please visit https://www.ndrp.org.au/
