There is an urgent need for better support for older teenagers entering care for the first time, new Griffith University research has found.
Professor Silke Meyer from Griffith’s School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work conducted a scoping review which examined research on older adolescents aged between 15 – 17 years.
“While there is extensive research on children in care generally, there is very limited evidence specifically dedicated to older teenagers when they enter care for the first time,” Professor Meyer said.
“They are a unique cohort of young people and it is imperative we know more about their characteristics and level of support they need when entering care as they are more likely to display behavioural problems compared with younger cohorts.
“This is often due to cumulative but unaddressed adverse childhood experiences and complex family circumstances.”
The evidence identified revealed high rates of voluntary care entry, including parental relinquishment of care.
Older young people entering care for the first time were more likely to be affected by absent parenting than abuse and neglect in comparison to young children.
Professor Meyer said there was a clear evidence gap with regards to trajectories and support needs for older young people entering care for the first time.
“This cohort and their families are likely to have several touch points with a range of service systems prior to care entry, creating opportunities for earlier, holistic, trauma-informed and child-centred support mechanisms,” she said.
“We need a better understanding of this group of teenagers so we can identify risks earlier which may reduce the likelihood of adolescents needing to enter care later in childhood.
“Additionally, older adolescents can have different experiences and needs than younger children as they are closer to adulthood, and may face unique challenges related to education, mental health, family relationships, housing, and transitioning to independence.
“Ultimately, we need more research to better understand the pathways into care for older teenagers, and hearing from them about their lived experiences, perspectives and support needs.”
The paper ‘Characteristics, circumstances and support needs of older young people entering care for the first time: A scoping review’ has been published in Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.
Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past – but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to be found in their underwater graveyards.
The team dives Kilsby cave. Credit: Steve Trewavas
New research led by Griffith University changes that.
“By analysing animal bones from two underwater cave systems in South Australia, we have revealed how different cave environments leave distinct preservation ‘fingerprints’ on skeletal remains,” said Meg Walker, a PhD Candidate supervised by Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution Director Professor Julien Louys.
“Backed by radiocarbon-dated bones, we tracked how skeletons accumulated and were modified over decades and centuries in underwater caves, then compared them to those buried in dry caves.
“Using a range of methods, from the macro to the micro, we looked at features associated with wet and dry caves.
“Things like spatial distributions of the bones and their surfaces, down to elemental compositions and proteins trapped in ancient cells.”
The results were clear: underwater caves often preserved bones remarkably well, maintaining their structure and surfaces in exquisite detail.
Yet these same environments also left unique chemical and biological traces, shaped by light levels and aquatic life.
PhD Meg Walker inside Engelbrechts cave. Credit Steve Trewavas
Different types of algae and plants grew in cave waters near bright entrances, often on bone surfaces where they left unique signatures.
But in the midnight regions of the caves, where light never reaches and no plants grow, bones stayed pristine.
Bones left in dry caves, by contrast, did not show these signatures, and were instead eaten by land-based bacteria, and marked by plant roots in the form of long grooves.
Ms Walker and the team, including specialist cave divers from the Cave Divers Association of Australia, collected historical animal bones from two underwater caves, Green Waterhole and Gouldens Sinkhole, near Mount Gambier, South Australia.
Native and non-native animals included cows, kangaroos, emus, sheep, pigs, dingoes, rabbits, possums, quolls and swamp rats – some of which may date to the very first European arrival and establishment of the city in the 1840s.
By studying these bones, the researchers hoped to better understand how the fossil remains of extinct megafauna also ended up in these underwater caves, and under what sort of environmental conditions.
“This study has delivered the first framework for interpreting how megafauna fossils formed, survived, and changed in underwater caves,” Ms Walker said.
“It will provide archaeologists and palaeontologists worldwide with a powerful new tool for reconstructing past environments and histories in these challenging conditions.”
Some of the fossil fragments have lain hidden on cave floors for thousands of years. Credit: Steve Trewavas
A new documentary follows the remarkable story of the Ewamian people, Aboriginal Traditional Owners in Northwest Queensland, as they reclaim their connection to Country after generations of displacement and return to create new opportunities for their people.
Filmed over four years, Our Journey: The Story of the Ewamian People at Talaroo came from a long-term collaboration between the Ewamian people, Griffith University, and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.
Through LiveLab, Griffith Film School’s student-based production house, a diverse team of emerging filmmakers working for and with Ewamian people and CSIRO, traced the Ewamian journey from colonial times; the pastoral era, gaining native title, coming back to country, establishing the Ewamian Rangers at Talaroo and then building the sustainable Talaroo Hot Springs tourism facility.
Essential additional support for the film project was provided by the North Queensland Land Council and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
This place has a way of showing off. It shines for you.
Makes you want to know what’s around the corner and what’s over the hill.
Excerpt from Our Journey
Director, Arun Ketsirat
Director, Griffith Film School alumna, Arun Ketsirat, said the film gave viewers a chance to meet fascinating characters and experience moments of Indigenous empowerment and reconciliation.
“This project taught us that documentary making is not only about capturing what happens in front of the camera, it is about relationships, trust and responsibility, especially when you are working with a community whose story carries deep cultural and historical meaning.”
Chairperson for Ewamian Limited during the project, Ken Georgetown, grew up in Brisbane, far from Ewamian Country, after his grandfather’s forcible displacement to the Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement.
Coming to Talaroo was a revelation.
Ken Georgetown, film crew with Ewamian rangers, interviewing on Country
“I came down here to Talaroo and I said ‘wow, look at this!” Mr Georgetown said.
“It was fantastic, it just blew me away and I felt emotional about what my grandfather was taken away from.”
Kristina Fisher, CSIRO Indigenous Research Projects Officer and senior Ewamian woman said CSIRO science had assisted her people to make better decisions on Country, focusing on what could work sustainably for them into the future.
“We want our grandkids and great grandkids to thrive on Country,” Ms Fisher said.
“Having CSIRO science to back up Ewamian environmental management and business development decisions is so important to us.”
Since it opened, Talaroo Hot Springs has welcomed thousands of visitors and continues to support Ewamian employment on Country.
Approximately 25 Griffith Film School students worked in integral roles throughout pre- and post-production as well as shooting at Talaroo.
“The project provided a rare opportunity for several film school students to travel on Country and learn from the Ewamian community as they helped capture their story,” LiveLab Creative Director Associate Professor Richard Fabb said.
Mr Georgetown said the film could reach potential visitors, supporters and investors.
“This film showcases our journey, our assets, and where we want to go in the future,” he said.
Our Journey: The Story of the Ewamian People at Talaroo is available to watch on SBS On Demand
Griffith University will be represented by its largest-ever Commonwealth Games contingent at Glasgow, with 33 students, alumni, staff and program athletes, including para-sport athletes, set to compete across eight sports.
Thirty athletes have been selected for the Australian team, representing almost 12 per cent of the nation’s Commonwealth Games delegation.
The cohort includes Olympic champions Cam McEvoy, Shayna Jack and Zac Stubblety-Cook, Commonwealth Games medallists Kristina Clonan, Matt Denny, Kelsey Cottrell, Jake Fehlberg and Cara Koenen, alongside emerging stars Lachlan Kennedy, Torrie Lewis and Georgia Harris.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY
As one of Australia’s most successful high-performance sport institutions, Griffith athletes brought home 31 gold medals, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the strong representation highlighted the depth of talent within Griffith’s high-performance sporting community.
“Congratulations to all 33 athletes,” Ms McCarthy said.
“To compete at a Commonwealth Games is a remarkable achievement and reflects years of dedication, hard work and resilience.
“Many of our athletes have been supported through scholarships, demonstrating the direct impact of investment in high-performance sport.”
Two scholarship recipients are set to make their Commonwealth Games debut after earning selection in the Australian Dolphins swim team, marking a major milestone in their sporting careers.
Bailey Lello
Australian breaststroke swimmer and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) student Bailey Lello secured his place on the team with a standout performance at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials, swimming 1:00.33 to claim silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
“I think I had a real turning point last year when I missed out on the world championships team,” Mr Lello said.
“I knew what I was doing outside of the pool wasn’t sustainable and needed to fix it.
“Part of the solution was studying at Griffith, and the Sports College helped me to successfully balance my degree with my training, which has been amazing.
Amelia Weber
“I’ve been constantly supported, and the Griffith team has helped work around my training and competition very successfully.”
Fellow scholarship recipient and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student Amelia Weber will also make her Commonwealth Games debut after a breakthrough performance at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials, where she claimed bronze in the women’s 400m freestyle in a personal-best 4:05.79.
“I am most excited about the chance to test myself on one of the biggest stages in sport,” Ms Weber said.
“The Commonwealth Games isn’t just about racing; it’s about representing your country, sharing the experience with teammates, and creating memories that last a lifetime.”
We wish the following athletes every success as they prepare to compete in Glasgow:
Kelsey Cottrell
Judo
Aoife Coughlan, Master of Business
Weightlifting
Ryven Ewing, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (Alumnus)
Netball
Cara Koenen, Bachelor of Forensic Science and Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice (Alumnus)
Lawn Bowls
Jake Fehlberg, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Nauna Lelai
Kelsey Cottrell, Bachelor of Journalism (Alumnus)
Basketball
Nauna Lelai, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Business (Griffith International – representing Papua New Guinea)
Jesse Wagstaff, Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
Cycling
Kristina Clonan, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Molly McGill, Diploma of Education
James Moriarty, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce
Ryan Elliott, Bachelor of Business
Dr Georgia Munro-Cook
Wheelchair Basketball
Tom O’Neill Thorne, Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Government and International Relations (Alumnus)
Georgia Munro-Cook, Research Fellow in the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research
Athletics
Lachlan Kennedy, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Business
Isaac Beacroft, Bachelor of Business
Elizabeth McMillen, Bachelor of Political Science & International Relations and Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Torrie Lewis
Torrie Lewis, Bachelor of Cyber Security
Georgia Harris, Bachelor of Business
Lara Roberts, Bachelor of Exercise Science (Alumnus)
Matt Denny, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Para Swimming
Victoria Belando Nicholson, Bachelor of Design
Maddie McTernan, Griffith Paralympic Swim Program
Swimming
Jenna Forrester, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Business
Meg Harris, Bachelor of Nursing
Shayna Jack, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Bailey Lello, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Will Petric, Bachelor of Commerce
Amelia Weber, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Cam McEvoy, Bachelor of Science (Alumnus)
Kai Taylor, Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Zac Stubblety‑Cook, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Carter Swift, Griffith Swim Club (representing New Zealand)
Milana Tapper, Griffith Swim Club (representing New Zealand)
Professor Rozanne Kruger
Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, your sleep patterns can tell a lot about a person’s eating habits and subsequently the potential health risks.
“Chronotypes influences our preferences for food intake, our behaviours and our metabolism,” Professor Kruger said.
“Both Morning-types and Evening-types consumed similar amounts of food or energy across the day, but it was the timing of eating that was crucial.”
Evening-types consumed less food between 3am and 9:59am but more food between 8pm and 2:59am, while the opposite was true for Morning-types.
Night owls were more likely to consume lower energy and protein intakes in the morning, and ate foods that were high in energy, carbohydrates and fats late at night.
This Evening-type eating and sleeping pattern was associated with greater body fat percentage, belly fat, and higher blood sugar and lipids.
Consuming food at night, when we are supposed to be fasting and sleeping, means we store more food rather than use it, which may increase susceptibility to obesity and cause worse health outcomes.
Women who naturally preferred a later bedtime and wake time were also more likely to have a higher Body Mass Index and Body Fat percentage, poorer lipid profiles, and less favourable indicators of glucose regulation than Morning-types.
“The research highlights that when people eat may be just as important as whatthey eat,” Professor Kruger said.
“Targeting meal timing, particularly reducing late-night eating, could be an important strategy for improving health amongst people with an evening chronotype.
“It reinforces the role of chrononutrition and the role it plays in obesity and metabolic disease prevention.”
The paper ‘Chronotype and associations with dietary intake, meal timing, body composition, and metabolic biomarkers’ has been published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Pregnant women who become involved with child protection services often experience fear, mistrust and stigma, leading some to avoid health and support services altogether, new Griffith University research has found.
There is limited evidence on lived experiences of prenatal child protection amidst growing international concern for the consistently high number of infants being removed from their families.
“Being pregnant can be a vulnerable time for women, and many are experiencing complex challenges including trauma, family violence, poverty, substance abuse, mental health concerns, and housing insecurity,” Ms Wren said.
“They feel a sense of being judged, surveilled, and mistrust, causing many to avoid services for fear their child will be removed.
“Their feelings of mistrust are driven by unclear plans and broken promises as child protection can often focus on deficits and not women’s strengths, recovery and parenting potential.
“Unfortunately, a mother’s experience with trauma and domestic violence frequently goes unaddressed.”
Professor Silke Meyer
The study identified missed opportunities for early intervention and support during pregnancy which could improve outcomes for the mother and her baby.
Co-author Professor Silke Meyer from Griffith’s Centre for Mental Health said: “It is important we see more trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based approaches which prioritise both child safety and maternal well-being.”
“We need to break the cycle of disadvantage and reduce the rate of infant removal.”
The paper ‘Women’s experiences of child protection involvement during pregnancy: A scoping review’ has been published in Child and Youth Services Review.
For Griffith University student Yadan Noerdin, participating in the Sustainability Transformation Program (SXIP) was more than an international study experience. It was an opportunity to explore how Japan is addressing sustainability challenges while gaining new perspectives on culture, collaboration and future career opportunities.
Funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, the Yokohama Sustainability Transformation Program (SXIP) brings together universities from Japan, Australia and other Asian countries to explore sustainability challenges through a multidisciplinary lens spanning business, engineering, science and the social sciences.
As Yokohama National University’s business school partner, Griffith University sends top-performing students to Japan each year to work alongside YNU students, visit industry partners and examine real-world sustainability issues. In return, Griffith hosts YNU students on the Gold Coast, showcasing both sustainability expertise within Griffith Business School and unique local experiences, from Indigenous bush tucker education and tree planting to wildlife conservation activities.
Yadan earned his place in the program after being awarded a Japan study trip prize through Griffith’s 2025 Finance Competition.
“I was interested in learning directly in a Japanese institution regarding sustainability topics and wanted to gain a direct perspective by working with Japanese students and academics. I’ve always been interested in how Japan developed its economy after World War II despite having limited natural resources.”
(L-R) Dr Mirela Malin, Felipe Garcia, Yadan Noerdin and Khoulud Alhoush from Griffith University, and Eri Honda, Ruriko Tanaka, Miyuu Fujoo and Dr Akira Omori from Yokihama National University. (Photo supplied)
Discovering Japan beyond the classroom
While SXIP focuses on sustainability transformation, much of the learning takes place beyond lectures and presentations.
For Yadan, one of the first things that stood out was the organisation and efficiency of everyday life in Japan.
“My first impressions of Japan were how orderly, clean and well-mannered everyone is. Public transport is very organised, punctual and convenient. It was easy to get from place to place, everyone was polite, and the food was great.”
Beyond the classroom, Yadan explored many of Tokyo’s most famous districts and cultural landmarks. He particularly enjoyed visiting Akihabara, known for its electronics, gaming and anime culture, and taking part in a kimono photography session at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa.
A memorable moment came when the group unexpectedly came across a live idol performance.
“I was excited to finally see one in person, while my teammates were completely confused about what it was. I ended up explaining it to them.”
Experiences like these helped provide a deeper understanding of how modern life, tradition and popular culture coexist in Japan.
Learning about sustainability in practice
SXIP encourages students to view sustainability as more than an environmental issue. The program explores the connections between sustainability, business, economics, technology and society.
One topic that particularly captured Yadan’s attention was Japan’s long-term investment in hydrogen fuel technology.
“The greatest takeaway for me was Japan’s push for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Yokohama National University took us for a ride in one of their hydrogen cars, and we learned how it formed part of a national strategy to improve energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
The exchange of ideas between Australian and Japanese students is a defining feature of SXIP, encouraging participants to consider sustainability challenges from different cultural and economic perspectives.
For Griffith, the program is also helping build long-term links with Japanese universities. Beyond student exchanges, Griffith and YNU academics collaborate on research projects, grant applications and conference presentations, strengthening academic cooperation between the two institutions while fostering cultural understanding and friendship among students.
As part of the Australian leg of the program, Griffith University’s Associate Professor Alexandr Akimov accompanies participants on a field trip. (Photo supplied)
Building skills for the future
Beyond sustainability themes, SXIP helps students develop confidence, cross-cultural communication skills and a broader understanding of Asia’s growing importance to business and society.
For Griffith students, participation in the program is a highly sought-after opportunity. Each year, two or three top-performing students are selected to represent the university in Japan, with the 2026 cohort set to travel to Yokohama in August.
As SXIP enters its final year of Japanese Government funding, the program continues to strengthen ties between Australia and Japan. Through exchanges, research collaboration and academic conferences, it is helping develop globally minded graduates equipped to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.
For Yadan, the experience reinforced the value of looking beyond national borders when addressing global challenges.
“The lesson for Australia is that technology has the power to reshape entire economies. Countries need to be ready to innovate, adapt and pivot when technologies evolve.”
A new study underlines the annual AU$7 trillion (US$5 trillion) value of nature in mental health benefits, and is calling for urgent government action to expand access to nature as a frontline response to the worsening global mental health crisis.
The paper, published in Communications Health, highlights while nature has been proven to be beneficial for mental health, clinical healthcare does not provide it, and lifestyle medicine is not available to all.
“People need nature to counteract burnout,” said co-author Professor Paula Brough, Director of the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing at Australia’s Griffith University.
The study also highlighted the strong economic case for investment, citing protected areas of national parks and greenspaces already contributed an estimated AU$7 trillion (US$5 trillion) annually through mental health benefits, with further gains expected through reduced healthcare costs and improved productivity.
“Visiting national parks boosts mental health and work productivity,” said Professor Emeritus Ralf Buckley, who is also a co-lead author from Griffith University.
“Those benefits accrue to employers and health insurers, not to individuals.
“People visit nature for their own happiness, spending their own time and money to get to parks and nature.
“Worldwide, those time and transport costs total US$1 trillion a year.
“Once people get to parks, entry fees are small if not free in most countries, and nature itself is free.”
Some people, however, do not visit parks: about a third of populations in countries such as Australia or the United States did not partake in experiences in nature, with that figure doubling in countries such as China.
“People don’t have time or transport, or they are unfamiliar with the outdoors,” said co-author Diane Westaway, founder of Australian nature hiking company Coastrek.
“We give them a nudge and some social support.”
The research team, led by Griffith University, highlighted the reported global 63 per cent increase in anxiety and 26 per cent increase in depression during the past 15 years.
In response, they proposed a public health approach involving education, transport, and public parks and greenspaces, stating existing systems (such as antidepressants and counselling) were a key intervention but not always sufficient to meet the increased demand support.
Professor Emeritus Buckey and the team suggested “nature-based mental healthcare” (NBMHC) – regular, intentional exposure to natural environments – as a proven yet underused solution to improving mental health and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The authors called for a shift to a public health model that treated access to nature as essential infrastructure for mental wellbeing, involving coordinated action across government portfolios, including health, parks, education and transport.
“Schools should include nature areas, public transport should connect commuters to greenspace, council reserves should have walking trails, and national parks should have infrastructure for independent visitors,” Professor Emeritus Buckley said.
“And public investments are paid for by reduced healthcare costs and increased workplace productivity.
“More than 50 per cent of all doctor visits are now for mental health, not physical health, but mental health gets only half a per cent of public health funds; it’s nature that makes up that deficiency.
“If taxpayers had to fund that missing mental healthcare, it would double our healthcare spending, an extra 10 per cent of gross domestic product in developed nations such as Australia.
“National parks and nature give us that for free, so we should make it easy and cheap for people to visit, not exclusive and expensive.”
A tiny opera for tiny people offers a magical theatre experience for young audiences and a response to the sleep struggles almost half of Australian children experience.
(L to R) Actor/singer Mia Lierich, Violinist Claire Litvinowicz and co-creator/flautist Tim Munro
Ellis and the Night Orchestra blends live music, gentle storytelling and playful imagination to create an intimate performance, inviting children to explore sound, emotion and creativity at The Corner, the State Library of Queensland’s playful learning space.
“We started by bringing together 15 young people, gathering thoughts about bedtime: their struggles, delights and fears,” Associate Professor Munro said.
“Then we worked alongside our three amazing performers and started to turn those thoughts into music.”
Featuring four musicians (violin, flute, percussion and an actor/singer), including Griffith acting alum, Mia Lierich, the story followed Ellis, who was too scared to sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he heard strange sounds, some of them scary.
But as the night unfolded, Ellis began to befriend the sounds, becoming the conductor of his very own night orchestra and transforming his fears into beautiful music.
“Sleep problems affect 38 per cent of Australian children, and 14 per cent have moderate to severe sleep problems,” Professor Donovan said.
“When children do not get enough sleep, it affects every aspect of their life – their physical health, their mental health, their ability to interact with other children, their ability to function at school – everything.
“Furthermore, when kids don’t sleep, parents don’t sleep, and that can effect parent mental health and ability to function.”
Associate Professor Munro said he hoped audiences would discover that music could express far more than they previously thought.
“We hope the children who come to the show feel seen and heard, and that grown-ups can laugh at familiar situations but can also understand better the thoughts and feelings of their children.”
The free show will tour libraries across Queensland during school holidays in 2026/7, including in Toowoomba, Warwick, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay.
Dr Kiran Thapaliya
The brain’s waste clearance system is impaired in people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) which can lead to various symptoms including brain fog, Griffith University researchers have discovered.
The research demonstrates, for the first time, the impact ME/CFS has on glymphatic function which is responsible for clearing the brain of metabolic waste products and is mostly active during sleep and disengaged while a person is awake.
Lead author Dr Kiran Thapaliya from Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) said when the brain’s waste clearance system did not work properly, harmful waste could build up causing neuroinflammation.
“This study is the first to demonstrate impaired glymphatic function in ME/CFS using MRI, providing a mechanistic explanation for the inflammatory changes reported by other Australian and international teams,” he said.
“This suggests that dysfunction in the brain’s natural cleaning system may be a key driver of this condition.”
Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, NCNED Director, said not only did reduced glymphatic function cause brain fog, but also caused sleep disturbance.
“The study found worse sleep is associated with poor brain waste clearance, reinforcing the notion that sleep plays a critical role in maintaining brain health,” she said.
“We hope the results can pave the way for better diagnosis through the use of non-invasive procedures, and importantly, future treatment for patients.”
The paper ‘Disrupted glymphatic function and its relationship with sleep and cognitive impairment in ME/CFS assessed via DTI-ALPS’ has been published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
