Hostility between supporters of different political parties may be driven not only by political disagreements, but also by a belief that people on the other side are fundamentally different, Griffith University research has found.
Researchers examined how perceptions of differences in personality, values, socio-economic background and lifestyle influenced feelings towards supporters of other political parties.
Dr Fernando Feitosa from the School of Government and International Relations
While all four non-political dimensions influenced attitudes towards supporters of other parties, perceptions about personality and values had the strongest influence on people’s dislike and willingness to avoid interacting with them.
Contributing author from the School of Government and International Relations Dr Fernando Feitosa said it was particularly concerning when social diversity turned into hostile behaviour such as avoidance.
“Our research suggests people are responding not only to what they believe the other side stands for politically, but also to who they believe the other side is,” Dr Feitosa said.
“When people perceive supporters of other political parties as fundamentally different from themselves, they are more likely to dislike them and less willing to interact with them.”
The study also found stronger negative effects of perceived differences in regions where radical-right parties played a more prominent role in the political landscape, suggesting these parties may harm social cohesion through their polarising rhetoric.
“Our findings suggest political rhetoric may have broader social consequences when it emphasises division and encouraged people to see supporters of other parties as fundamentally different from themselves,” Dr Feitosa said.
“When political disagreements become assumptions about a person’s values or character, it becomes harder to find common ground.
“Political disagreement is a normal part of democracy, but problems emerge when people begin making broader assumptions about another person’s character, values or way of life.
“One way to reduce these divisions is to challenge exaggerated assumptions about people who hold different political views and highlight what they have in common.”
The research was conducted in Belgium and was part of Not Like Us, a large, nation-wide research initiative examining political polarisation.
The paper ‘Divided beyond politics: How perceptions of non-political differentness are linked to affective polarization among citizens’ was authored by researchers from the University of Antwerp, Tilburg University and Griffith University published in Electoral Studies.
New research reveals retailers are losing money through two very different kinds of problematic returns: deliberate fraud and opportunistic abuse of generous return policies.
The study, from Griffith University criminologists Professor Michael Townsley and Dr Andrew Childs with Professor Joseph Clare from The University of Western Australia, showed retailers needed to distinguish between outright deception, such as using fake receipts or returning stolen goods, and grey-area conduct such as wardrobing, where a customer buys an item to use once before returning it.
Lead author Professor Michael Townsley, from the Griffith Criminology Institute, said treating all returns misconduct as the same problem made it harder for retailers to respond effectively.
“Fraud involves deliberate deception whereas abuse is more often opportunistic behaviour where customers bend the rules and rationalise it as harmless,” Professor Townsley said.
“That distinction matters because the response needs to be different.
“Fraud prevention relies on better verification, joined-up data and clear escalation pathways. Abuse prevention depends more on clear policies, consistent staff practice and helping customers understand the real costs of these behaviours.”
The research examined the scale and nature of returns misconduct through a customer survey, a scan of online fraud communities, and a step-by-step analysis of how return fraud and abuse are carried out.
Professor Townsley said wardrobing was a useful example of return abuse because many customers did not see it as serious misconduct.
“Wardrobing is when someone buys an item, uses it once, and then returns it for a full refund,” he said.
“Customers often justify this by telling themselves the retailer can simply resell the item, or that it was only a one-off, but retailers carry the cost of processing, inspecting, discounting or writing off those returns.”
The study also highlighted the role of online fraud communities, where people shared methods, scripts and advice for carrying out fraudulent returns.
“We found online communities where people exchange detailed instructions for fraudulent returns, including what to say to retailers and how to avoid detection,” Dr Childs said.
“Some of these spaces also operate like informal mentorship markets, where less experienced offenders pay for advice from people who have already worked out which methods are most likely to succeed.”
The report recommended retailers build three core capabilities before adding more friction to the returns process: stronger governance of returns policy, joined-up data from purchase through to refund, and better support for frontline staff.
Once those foundations were in place, retailers could target fraud through stronger verification, risk scoring and escalation for repeat deception, while reducing abuse through clearer return rules, staff training and customer-facing education.
“Retailers do not need to make returns harder for every honest customer,” Professor Townsley said.
“The better approach is to know which problem they are dealing with.
“Fraud is mainly a verification and data problem: can the retailer link the customer, product, payment and return claim with enough confidence to spot deception?
“Abuse is different. It is often about ambiguous rules and customer rationalisations, so staff training, clearer policies and simple customer education can make a real difference.
“Once retailers have their data joined up and their staff supported, they are in a much better position to target deliberate fraud without punishing the customers who are using returns legitimately.”
A new podcast from Griffith Business School, made in association with the Blackmore Family Foundation, goes behind the scenes with some of Australia and New Zealand’s most influential CEOs to unpack what leadership really looks like today.
Griffith Business School has launched a new podcast series, Leadership Matters, featuring in-depth conversations with CEOs and senior leaders from across Australia and New Zealand about how leadership is practised in an ANZ context.
Professor Ruth McPhail, Dean (Engagement)
Hosted by Professor Ruth McPhail, Dean (Engagement) at Griffith Business School, the series is produced in association with the Blackmore Family Foundation and grew out of the Foundation’s annual Impact Leadership Retreat, which brings together senior leaders from Australia and New Zealand to reflect on purpose-driven leadership.
“We wanted to create a space where leaders could talk honestly about what it actually takes to lead— not the polished version, but the real one,” Professor McPhail said.
“Every guest in this first season has been generous enough to reflect on the moments that shaped them, the mistakes they’ve learned from, and the advice they’d give the next generation of leaders.”
The first three episodes feature:
Steve Chapman — Founder of Baron Partners and Chairman of the Blackmore Family Foundation, on more than 40 years in corporate advisory and why leadership isn’t about title or being the loudest voice in the room.
Steve Jurkovich — Chief Executive of Kiwibank, on the mentors who shaped his career and why great leadership starts with caring about people.
Lynn Kraus AM — CEO of Australian Payments Plus, on stepping into her power, building capable teams, and why great leaders don’t need to have all the answers.
Episodes are available on Spotify and YouTube, with new conversations to be released regularly.
“Leadership has never been more complex, or more human,” Professor McPhail said.
“Our hope is that current and emerging leaders listening in will walk away with something practical they can use straight away.”
A new initiative supporting Queensland women recovering from homelessness and domestic violence is rebuilding lives through music-making and songwriting.
Over 12 months, Griffith University’s Creative Transitions supported women transitioning out of homelessness following experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV) with 32 women and 20 children across four sites taking part in group songwriting, singing, drumming, guitar and ukelele-playing and listening as part of a series of co-designed music sessions.
Tangible creative outputs were generated, including three original songs released on streaming platforms.
Creative Transitions team (L to R) Karen, Sarah Dunston, Ali Crane, Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet and Dr Libby Myers at Peggy’s Place
Project Leader, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, a member of the Creative Arts Research Institute, said the program responded to a critical gap in services and demonstrated how strengths-based, trauma-informed music-making could play a vital role in supporting recovery, reconnection, and long-term social and emotional wellbeing.
“Women transitioning out of homelessness are often navigating trauma, isolation, financial insecurity, and immense pressure to rebuild their lives all at once,” Professor Bartleet said.
“What they need most is not only housing, but the support, community, and opportunities that help them reconnect with who they are, raise their voice, and imagine a future beyond crisis.
“That’s where lasting change begins.”
Lead music facilitator, Sarah Dunston, a trauma-informed registered music therapist who delivered the sessions across all four Brisbane locations, said creative expression was a powerful pathway to wellbeing, resilience, and agency.
“Research shows music-making can bring huge benefits to mental health, particularly for people who are suffering from the effects of trauma,” said Ms Dunston.
“We would start sessions with a rhythmic exercise, humming or drumming, which regulates the brain stem and calms the body.
“Once a sense of safety and trust has been established, it’s possible to work on other creative activities to help the women express themselves and reclaim autonomy.”
Kateryna escaped war-torn Ukraine and joined her partner in Australia, however, the relationship became unsafe and she found herself at Peggy’s Place, a Brisbane-based refuge and transitional accommodation service for women and children escaping DFV.
“Creative Transitions became the first safe space I had experienced in a long time,” Kateryna said.
“Outside the sessions, any emotional tension immediately brought me back into pain, but in the creative space of the group my body responded differently — softer, calmer, with the ability to return to balance.
“The program helped me stabilise my emotions, reconnect with myself, and feel supported.”
The findings provided compelling evidence that creative, trauma-informed approaches were not an optional extra, but a vital part of recovery, helping women reconnect with themselves and others, rebuild confidence, and create pathways towards long-term stability and wellbeing.
“What our research makes clear is that during this fragile period of transition, feeling seen, valued, connected, and hopeful can make all the difference in helping women and their children rebuild their lives,” Professor Bartleet said.
Creative Transitions was led by the team at Griffith University in partnership with Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Promotion Program and delivery partners Peggy’s Place, The Lady Musgrave Trust, and YFS.
A potential treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) will continue in a world-first multi-arm, multi-stage adaptive trial after showing encouraging early signs, with recruitment set to expand across Australia.
Interim results from the UK-based Octopus trial, funded by the UK MS Society, found that alpha lipoic acid showed enough promise to continue testing, while a second treatment, metformin, will not continue.
MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland said the results were positive news for people living with progressive MS.
“These are positive early results for people living with progressive MS and an important milestone in an international research effort that Australia is helping advance.”
The results are the first from Octopus and provide an early demonstration of how this adaptive trial model is accelerating the search for effective treatments.
Rather than testing one treatment at a time and potentially waiting years to discover that it doesn’t work, Octopus can test several treatments simultaneously and use early measures to determine which are worth pursuing.
Treatments showing sufficient promise can continue to be studied, while others can be stopped and new treatment arms introduced.
PLATYPUS is the extension of the Octopus trial in Australia, joining Octopus at Stage 2.
Mr Greenland says that through PLATYPUS, Australians are contributing directly to a world-first trial and to the international search for better treatments for progressive MS.
“As the trial expands across Australia, our goal is clear – to accelerate the search for better treatments and address one of the most significant unmet needs in MS,” Mr Greenland said.
Professor Simon Broadley
PLATYPUS is led in Australia by Griffith University neurologist Professor Simon Broadley and internationally as part of Octopus by Professor Jeremy Chataway of University College London.
Professor Broadley explains that people with progressive MS face an inevitable downhill slope with their disease, so having treatments that can slow that progression can be life-changing for them.
As such, he believes the Stage 1 findings are encouraging and very exciting in the search for treatments that can slow the progression of MS.
“The Octopus trial has shown that alpha lipoic acid was of benefit in Stage 1,” he said.
“Stage 1 of the Octopus trial assessed clinical and brain atrophy measures over time.
“While this is not proof that it works, it’s a positive sign that it may be a benefit, which we’re now going to test in Stage 2 over the next three years.”
A second treatment, metformin, did not show the early signs of effectiveness required for further exploration.
Its discontinuation demonstrates the adaptive trial design in action, allowing researchers to stop treatments earlier when they are not showing sufficient promise, and focus resources elsewhere.
MSWA CEO Melanie Kiely said the first interim results demonstrated the value of the adaptive trial approach in action.
“MSWA has been the leading funder of PLATYPUS in Australia since its establishment. It’s exciting to see the trial advance and expand across Australia, meaning we can move faster, use research resources more effectively and keep homing in on treatments that could improve the lives of people living with progressive MS.”
For Janine Watson, who lives with progressive MS, getting answers faster is especially important.
The Paralympian and member of MS Australia’s Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP) says an effective treatment for people living with progressive MS would provide a sense of hope.
“It’s about giving back time to people with progressive MS and unfortunately with progressive MS, time is not our friend at all,” Ms Watson said.
PLATYPUS recruitment is set to expand across Australia, with participants already enrolled through the lead site at Gold Coast University Hospital, which opened in October 2025, with the next sites expected to open in Perth and Hobart.
Trial participants receiving alpha lipoic acid together with the participants receiving their usual treatment will remain enrolled in Stage 2, where researchers will examine whether alpha lipoic acid can slow the progression of disability.
New treatment arms will also be added as other promising therapies are identified.
About Octopus and PLATYPUS
Octopus is the world’s first multi-arm, multi-stage trial for progressive MS. Its adaptive design allows multiple treatments to be tested at the same time, with treatments able to continue, stop or be added as evidence emerges.
The UK trial is funded by the MS Society and sponsored by University College London’s Innovative Clinical Trials Unit, with Professor Jeremy Chataway as Chief Investigator.
PLATYPUS – PLatform Adaptive Trial for remYelination and neuroProtection in mUltiple Sclerosis – is the Australian extension of Octopus, and Professor Simon Broadley of Griffith University is the Country Lead Investigator.
Sexual wellbeing can often be overlooked during a woman’s recovery from breast cancer with many continuing to experience significant sexual and intimacy challenges long after treatment ends.
Griffith University researchers interviewed 31 breast cancer survivors aged between 32-72 years and developed a three-layer model of post-treatment sexual adjustment.
Mina Esmkhani
Lead author, Mina Esmkhani from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, said sexual recovery was shaped by embodied disruptions, relational dynamics, and cultural and healthcare influences.
“Embodied disruptions are where a woman can feel pain, vaginal dryness, reduced desire, scarring and altered body image,” Ms Esmkhani said.
“Relational dynamics focuses on partner support, communication, and emotional connection.
“Cultural and healthcare influences look at social expectations, stigma, and whether healthcare professionals discuss sexual health.
“Sexual recovery is not purely a medical issue, but is also physical, emotional, relational and social.”
Importantly though, women with similar treatment experiences could experience different sexual recovery outcomes and may follow one of three trajectories.
Women may feel a sense of disruption including ongoing shame, isolation, and intimacy difficulties.
Breast cancer survivors may experience a gradual adjustment through communication and support, or they may reclaim their sexuality through a renewed sense of self.
Co-author and associate supervisor Dr Charrlotte Seib from Griffith’s School of Nursing and Midwifery said a partner’s response emerged as one of the strongest influences.
“Women who reported empathy, reassurance and emotional support were more likely to adapt positively,” she said.
“This shows that partners are not passive observers and can act either as a buffer against distress or can intensify it through avoidance, silence or discomfort.
“A supportive partner helped women to feel desired, rebuild their confidence, develop new forms of intimacy, and maintain emotional connection.”
Associate Professor Armin Ariana
Healthcare silence was a consistent response and could contribute towards feelings of shame.
Senior author and project lead, Associate Professor Armin Ariana, said sexual health remained a major gap in breast cancer care.
“Participants consistently reported that clinicians focused on treatment and survival but rarely discussed sexuality, intimacy or sexual side effects,” Associate Professor Ariana said.
“Many women felt they had nowhere to seek advice about painful sex, loss of desire, body image concerns or relationship challenges.
“The findings point to a clear need for change in how clinicians are trained.
“Sexual health needs to be built into standard cancer care conversations, not treated as an optional extra raised only if the patient brings it up first.
“This is exactly what we need to be teaching the next generation of doctors, to ask the question before the patient has to.”
Ms Esmkhani was supervised by senior author and project lead Associate Professor Armin Ariana, an Accredited Clinical Sexologist at Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, alongside Dr Charrlotte Seib from Griffith’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The paper ‘The Explanatory three-layer model of post-treatment sexual adjustment: A qualitative study of breast cancer survivors’ has been published in The Journal of Sex Research.
Humpback whale mothers may experience grief when their calves die, a rare research observation led by Griffith University and Sea World Foundation has found.
Dr Olaf Meynecke.
In 2025, a female humpback whale – along with an escort whale – was observed off the southern Gold Coast who had given birth to a presumed deceased calf and remained with it for several hours and possibly even days.
Dr Olaf Meynecke, from Griffith University’s Whales and Climate Research Program, said post-mortem attentive behaviour in cetaceans had been documented predominantly amongst toothed whales and delphinids (known as odontocetes), but remained largely absent from research published on baleen whales, such as humpback whales.
“Unlike reports of toothed whales where mothers have been observed lifting their dead calves to the surface, this humpback whale mother showed prolonged post-mortem behaviour and attention towards her deceased calf under the surface,” Dr Meynecke said.
“She remained close to the calf, maintaining eye contact and positioning herself next to her calf over several hours and maybe even days.
“These observed behaviours were consistent with care-giving or nurturing actions and post-mortem attentive responses documented in socially complex mammals, and indicated an inherent, strong maternal attachment to the calf.”
Cetaceans were some of the most charismatic marine species receiving regular widespread public attention.
Rescue Boat Captain Andrew Mulville from Sea World Foundation, who witnessed the event, said: “When I actually worked out what was happening, I was totally surprised.”
These images show the stillborn calf and mother, and amniotic membrane just after the birth. Credit: Andrew Mulville
“At first sight, I thought it was just two whales resting on the surface, but their behaviour was unusual.
“It was definitely not what I was expecting to see out at sea that day.”
Dr Meynecke said while this observation in 2025 and others with deceased calves were incredibly sad, they were rare and added to the limited current understanding of the cognitive and emotional dimensions of death-related responses in baleen (filter-feeding) cetaceans.
“This case study highlights the need for continued systematic documentation of rare neonatal mortality events to better understand the cognitive, emotional, and evolutionary significance of post-mortem behaviour in large whales,” he said.
“Understanding how non-human animals responded to death provides insight into their emotional lives, social bonds, and cognitive capacities.”
This four-day program (running from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 November across Brisbane South (Nathan) and the Gold Coast) brings colleagues together to explore what quality learning and teaching looks like at Griffith, share effective practice, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate the people and initiatives that enrich student learning.
The week provides an opportunity to engage with Griffith’s new Learning & Teaching Quality Framework and contribute to a shared culture of quality, consistency, innovation and continuous improvement.
Highlights across the week include:
Tuesday 3 November
Design Challenge Workshops—Uplifting your Teaching Practice: interactive workshops designed to spark fresh ideas and practical solutions for contemporary learning and teaching.
Celebrating New Higher Education Academy (HEA) Scholars: a special event recognising HEA Fellowships@Griffith recipients and the mentors and assessors who support the scheme.
Wednesday 4 November
Teaching Matters Symposium
The main event of the week, featuring a keynote presentation and the launch of Griffith’s new Learning & Teaching Quality framework.
Thursday 5 November
Celebrating Innovation in Teaching: a showcase of projects and emerging outcomes from Griffith Teaching Impact Grant recipients.
Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) networking event: an opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn about SoLT and explore collaboration and career development opportunities
Friday 6 November
Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) community retreat: a dedicated retreat offering pathways for academics to progress manuscripts, grant applications, scholarly projects and practice-to-publication opportunities.
Whether you are looking to strengthen student belonging and connection, create more inclusive learning environments, enhance assessment and feedback practices, build future-focused learning experiences, or contribute to a culture of partnership and continuous improvement, Teaching Matters@Griffith 2026 offers opportunities to connect, learn and lead positive change in learning and teaching.
Mark 3–6 November in your calendar. Full program and registration details will be released soon.
Turning our teaching ideas into real impact with Griffith’s Teaching Impact Grants
Information Sessions are in progress to provide an overview of the new Griffith Teaching Impact Grants Intiative. Sessions will outline the purpose and aims, eligibility, application requirements, timeline and expectations. We’ll discuss guiding principles and how to apply them to your applications.
The Griffith Teaching Impact Grants offer up to $10,000 plus expert guidance to encourage staff who are doing great work, developing promising ideas or seeking to extend the impact of their learning and teaching practice.
Projects aim to uplift learning and teaching at Griffith by strengthening student learning, supporting sustainable improvement, and contributing to the scholarship of learning and teaching with a focus on ideas that can generate insights, outputs or practices that others can learn from, adapt, publish, present or build on.
Examples include:
innovations in assessment or feedback
new pedagogical approaches
initiatives that strengthen belonging, engagement or student success
cross-disciplinary or multicampus teaching collaborations
AI-supported learning and skill development initiatives.
Today, Griffith University Chancellor the Hon. Andrew Fraser announced the appointment of Professor Jessica Vanderlelie as its next Vice Chancellor and President.
Mr Fraser said the appointment marked the first time a graduate of the University would serve as Vice Chancellor.
“Professor Vanderlelie is an outstanding educational leader and is passionate about the opportunity for education to make a difference.
“Her commitment to students — particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds — has defined her career,” he said.
Professor Vanderlelie grew up on the Gold Coast, completed undergraduate and postgraduate study at Griffith, and began her academic career teaching biochemistry at the Gold Coast campus.
Professor Vanderlelie was the inaugural recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Teacher of the Year Award and, in 2016, the inaugural Innovative Research Universities Vice Chancellors’ Fellow. She has since held senior leadership roles at La Trobe University and Deakin University, including Deputy Vice Chancellor appointments at both Victorian institutions.
She is an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow and a recipient of the Australian Award for University Teaching.
She is a former Deputy Chair of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Committee and was the Universities Australia nominee to the Board of Education Services Australia.
Her work has spanned gender-based violence prevention, Indigenous participation, equity and inclusion, student success and digital transformation. She has also contributed to national discussion on the social licence of universities and the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence.
Mr Fraser said Griffith University’s Council had sought a leader with the vision and energy to accelerate the University’s existing strategy.
“Professor Vanderlelie is fully committed to our Strategic Plan and the vision launched earlier this year,” Mr Fraser said.
“This appointment does not signal a change in direction. It signals the energy required to deliver on our strategy in a way that focuses on students.”
Professor Vanderlelie said her connection to the University began three decades ago.
“From the first day I stepped onto the Gold Coast campus 30 years ago, it felt like home. You could feel being part of a genuine community.
“That sense of belonging built my confidence as a first-in-family student and sparked a passion for the student experience that has shaped my career.”
Professor Jessica Vanderlelie
Professor Vanderlelie said she was looking forward to listening to students and stakeholders and working with the University’s many communities.
“I’m energised by the Griffith we are today and excited for a future where people belong, where they are trusted to be ambitious, where diverse voices help us see problems differently, and where ideas create opportunity.”
Professor Vanderlelie will begin her role on 16 November 2026.
