In two new research papers, Griffith ecologists have highlighted the millions of insects that remain undiscovered and unnamed by scientists were likely to be more vulnerable to extinction than named species.
In Borneo, the teams collected rove beetles in an area of tropical forest. Of the 252 different species of beetle that were recorded, 76% were new to science and not previously named.
Dr Mike Boyle, from the University of Hong Kong and lead author, compared samples from unlogged forest and logged forest and showed that the unknown species were more likely to have disappeared than known species in logged forest.
In the Wet Tropics of Australia, Professor Stork and co-authors found that among the 107 species of bark beetles identified, 58 were undescribed by science.
As hypothesised, the undescribed species were significantly smaller, less abundant and less widespread than described species, making them harder to find and more extinction-prone than named species.
“In recent years estimates of how many species of insects there might be on Earth have varied from 100 million or more to as low as 2 million,” Professor Stork said.
“A consensus figure of 5 million species published by myself is now frequently used, supported by four different methods of calculating global species richness.
“Since only 1 million of these species have been named and described so far in the past 240 years of Linnaean taxonomy, the puzzling question is: where are the other 4 million species that have yet to be found and named?
“What are they like, what is the likelihood of their discovery and description, and are they more vulnerable to extinction? Our studies reveal that they are smaller, rarer and more difficult to find as well as being more extinction prone.”
Professor Nigel Stork
Only 20% of the estimated 5 million species of insects on Earth are named and yet insects are poorly represented in protected area assessments, and insect declines are of concern globally.
To increase species description rates and to avoid most species becoming extinct before being named, Professors Stork and Kitching are calling on taxonomists to use new character systems provided by DNA methods and advances in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence.
“The unknown components of tropical insect biodiversity are likely more impacted by human-induced environmental change,” Professor Kitching said.
“If these patterns are widespread, how accurate will assessments of insect declines in the tropics be?”
From the soccer field to the stage, there’s no looking back for Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (the Con) alumnus Vidya Makan, having taken on the role of Eliza in Hamilton the musical.
Now playing at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre for its final Australian season, the Tony®, Grammy®, Olivier and Pulitzer prize-winning musical is a revolutionary tale of passion and ambition accompanied by a score of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway.
Ms Makan said landing the role of Eliza was a dream for her.
“I feel like it’s the peak of my career,” she said.
Vidya Makan as Eliza in Hamilton the Musical
“Who knows, maybe I’ll keep climbing, but it’s definitely a really, really special moment in time for me.
“There’s a reason Hamilton is the biggest show in the world and why it’s become the company it is.
“It’s written with true genius but there’s something so special about being surrounded by people who all have such a similar but very different experience in this world, and being led by other people of colour – I’ve never felt more ‘myself’.
“We have such an incredible cast and creative team and I fall in love with everybody in that room more and more each day.”
Ms Makan’s love for music started early, with her parents often taking her to see musicals.
While she enjoyed the shows and soon became an avid pianist and cellist, her dream was originally to be in the pit of the musicals playing with the orchestra, or to keep playing soccer and become a Matilda!
It wasn’t until she was cast in her high school production of My Fair Lady that her true passion became clear.
“I just fell in love with the storytelling and community that comes with doing a theatre show,” Ms Makan said.
“I started taking heaps of lessons and worked really hard, and ended up studying musical theatre at the Con.
“I felt really seen by my tutors – they saw a strength in me and a power for storytelling, and gave me opportunities and challenges to step into.
“They helped me see my own potential and really set me up to work in this industry.”
There is no doubt Ms Makan has made some serious impressions since graduating, with reviews lauding her powerful vocals and depth of character.
“Catherine Parr [in SIX] is played by Vidya Makan, who blows the roof off with stunning vocals and – crucially – carries the show into a denouement that could, in less confident hands, feel far too treacly.”
– The Guardian
“With a stunning lower register and imposing presence, Makan was the perfect casting choice for Papa Ge [in Once On This Island]. While there was darkness in Makan’s performance, this was skilfully balanced with moments of understanding and light.”
– Theatre Haus
Ms Makan also recently had her composer/lyricist debut, writing a show called The Lucky Country.
The musical delves deep into the themes of identity and belonging, exploring what it means to be Australian.
“It’s a heartfelt, wildly entertaining and joyful celebration of who we can be as Australians.”
As in Japan, North America and elsewhere, the Australian music festival industry is in crisis. Australia’s largest event, Splendour in the Grass (or just ‘Splendour’ to its fans) announced a hiatus in March of this year, following the cancellation of New Year’s iconic Falls Festival and the regional Groovin’ the Moo music festival earlier in 2024. Byron Bay Bluesfest, will only run one more time. Poor ticket sales, high running costs including insurance premiums, changing consumer preferences, and cost of living pressures are most cited as the reasons why. But there may be another factor that is seldom considered. Getting huge crowds to and from distant music festival sites by car presents significant challenges for both organisers and visitors.
Arriving at Woodstock Music and Art Fair, August 16, 1969. Photo: James M. Shelley, CC BY-SA 4.0
Based on the original Woodstock model, events such as Splendour and the Bluesfest are situated on rural or regional sites, far from major population centres, train stations or airports. With road-based travel being the only available option – often via just one entry road – traffic flows can overwhelm the road network. Cars get bogged in unsealed parking lots; people get injured trying to push them out. Yes, these remote sites can be beautiful; Woodford Folk Festival’s site is amazing. But getting there can be a real hassle.
Weather disasters and traffic trouble
To solve the problems of car traffic, and to offer alternatives, music festival organisers have largely turned to shuttle bus operations and elaborate traffic management plans. These don’t always cut it however, with SITG’s 2022 event exemplifying how external factors such as weather can bring the entire system crashing down. Shuttle bus failures left tens of thousands of attendees stranded – many until the next morning – at the cold, muddy site without food, water or seating. At Victoria’s Beyond the Valley music festival car drivers and passengers were trapped in high temperatures for up to nine hours trying to get out a single exit, with some collapsing from dehydration and heatstroke. In the US the 2015 TomorrowWorld event forced thousands to shelter in place when even the shuttle buses got bogged. More famously, the 2023 Burning Man Festival in Nevada turned into a giant mud pit, trapping visitors for days. Car-based music festivals are clearly not weather resistant.
Splendour In The Grass, 2022. Photo: Carley Rosengreen
Looking at examples from around the world, however, one doesn’t need to do things this way. From Summer Sonic Tokyo and Osaka’s two-day, urban festivals, Lollapalooza in Downtown Chicago, to Roskilde’s small-town, regional festival site, many highly successful music festivals are rail-based. Hardly anyone drives, even if they plan to camp on the grounds. At the DGTL Festival in Amsterdam, you cannot park at all; visitors are offered discounts to travel by train and are encouraged to walk or cycle. Is this a better model that the Australian music festival industry should be considering for a viable long-term future?
Building a sustainable festival experience
With little to no existing research on the transportation challenges of large music festivals, this is a question that Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute is aiming to answer. Our early research on the issue has uncovered local planning resistance to the ‘drive-in’ model for larger music festivals. Splendour’s transport and land use planning for its final increase in size was rejected by the local authorities in Byron Shire, but then approved on appeal by the NSW Independent Planning Commission. Media reporting has also given us some insight into how transportation at these events has been experienced – both good and bad. But that’s mostly anecdotal evidence. We really need to get more robust data. We need to speak to the authorities, music festival organisers, site-owners and transport experts involved, which we are doing right now. We also need hear from a much larger number of previous attendees to get a clearer picture of visitor experiences.
No train, all pain at Splendour In The Grass, 2022. Photo: Carley Rosengreen
To do this, we have put together a short, ten-minute survey, for adults who attended a music festival at either Splendour in the Grass in the years since 2017, or Byron Bay Bluesfest since 2019. If this is you, please share your experiences. We really want to find out how your travels to and from the site impacted your overall festival experience and your views on the Byron Bay region. Whatever you tell us will help the music festival industry and the transport and planning authorities to understand the travel options visitors are seeking, how we might get people to and from music festivals in the future, and what better alternative approaches might look like. Just maybe we can help plot the way towards a more financially sustainable music festival industry.
New research from Griffith University provides crucial evidence the early retirement of coal-fired power plants can be financially advantageous for investors, which is contrary to mainstream belief.
Griffith Asia Institute Director Professor Christoph Nedopil.
In collaboration with Climate Smart Ventures and Fudan University, the paper offers innovative insights into the financial viability of accelerating the transition from coal to renewable energy in developing Asian economies to address climate change.
Griffith Asia Institute Director Professor Christoph Nedopil said the findings were relevant for countries grappling with energy security concerns and the need to meet climate commitments.
“Our research offers a roadmap for implementing financially viable strategies to phase out coal power while expanding renewable energy capacity,” Professor Nedopil said.
“Options such as blended finance, green bonds, and debt-for-climate swaps could play a pivotal role in facilitating the early retirement of coal plants.
“With the right financial mechanisms, we can accelerate the retirement of coal plants in Asia without compromising investor returns.
“This opens new avenues for addressing climate change while ensuring economic stability.”
Key findings include:
Early retirement of coal plants can be financially advantageous for investors.
Younger coal plants, particularly those with high financing costs, can potentially be retired earlier than older plants while maintaining or increasing enterprise value.
Refinancing strategies, combined with renewable energy investments, can significantly enhance enterprise values for coal plant owners.
The study demonstrates that coal plants in Vietnam and Pakistan could be retired 3-13 years earlier than scheduled while preserving or increasing financial returns.
A love for storytelling transformed Griffith Film School alumnus Maeve McKenna into a prominent director in advertising and reality TV.
Ms McKenna has been directing Griffith University’s ‘Make It Matter’ campaign, highlighting the diverse motivations and purposes that drive students to study.
“So many aspects of the ‘Make it Matter’ campaign genuinely resonated with me because I had such a great experience at the Film School myself,” Ms McKenna said.
“The years I spent at Griffith were really formative in terms of setting me up with great connections and opportunities while I was studying, and I definitely found my purpose there.
“This campaign isn’t about degrees – it’s about the different purposes driving these people to achieve what’s really important to them – whether that’s career goals or something really personal and intrinsic, and knowing Griffith is here to support that.
“We had so many incredible Griffith students involved and I loved getting to know them.
“I went in thinking I’d have to bring them out of their shells but they were all so sure of themselves and confident.
Maeve McKenna
“I was honestly so impressed by them.”
While she had loved storytelling from a young age, Ms McKenna said she had never previously seen herself as a director.
Her film school experience allowed her to explore filmmaking in depth, from pre-production to post-production.
“I fell in love with the process,” she said.
“Being able to direct actors in the moment on set, and then take it all into post-production and piece it together was so fulfilling.
“I got hooked.”
One of Ms McKenna’s most memorable experiences at Griffith was her participation in the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival in Winton – a now-annual pilgrimage for Griffith University students and staff.
As an undergraduate student, she was the only one from her cohort selected to travel to the Outback Queensland town where she produced a short documentary with minimal resources.
The hands-on experience in a challenging environment was pivotal in shaping Ms McKenna’s approach to filmmaking, teaching her to focus on the essence of storytelling, stripped of technical luxuries, with the screening of her film at the close of the festival affirming her passion for the craft.
“That trip was a complete turning point for me,” she said.
“I sat with an audience as my work played in a cinema for the first time, and probably learned more about storytelling in one pressure cooker trip than I could’ve imagined.
“I had never felt so sure this was the career for me.”
A new Griffith University survey has asked the patrons of two iconic music festivals whether transport is make or break for their overall event experience.
Professor Matthew Burke and Honours student Rachael Leeson, from Griffith’s Cities Research Institute, are calling on festival-goers to share their experiences in the hope the feedback will help highlight the transport components that make for an amenable, large-scale, live music experience.
Professor Matthew Burke.
In the past 18 months, iconic Australian music festivals such as Falls, Groovin The Moo, Mountain Sounds have been cancelled or rested, with reasons cited including high touring costs, insurance premium rises and changes in the ways consumers were accessing music and live performances.
The latest major festival to be cancelled was Splendour in the Grass in March this year, which had been plagued with transport and infrastructure concerns since its relocation to North Byron Parklands in 2012.
It was followed most recently by Bluesfest, whose organisers announced that the 2025 lineup also at North Byron Parklands would its last after 35 years on the event calendar.
“Although these remote sites can be beautiful, getting there can be a real hassle which impacts people’s experience of the event,” Professor Burke said.
“But we don’t need to do things this way.
“From Summer Sonic Tokyo and Osaka, Lollapalooza in Downtown Chicago, to Danish Roskilde Festival, many highly successful music festivals are rail-based. Is this a better model that the Australian music festival industry should be considering?”
Professor Matthew Burke
Leeson added: “Our early research uncovered local planning resistance to the ‘drive-in’ model – Splendour’s transport and land use planning for its final size was rejected by Byron Shire Council, but approved on appeal by the NSW Independent Planning Commission.”
The surveys asks respondents:
Which Byron Bay Bluesfest since 2019 or Splendour in the Grass (SITG) since 2017 patrons have attended;
If disability affects their travel;
How they travelled to the festival and if they experienced delays or issues;
And whether these experiences would alter their attendance at future festivals
If you thought your kids were away from harm playing multi-player games through VR headsets while in their own bedrooms, you may want to sit down to read this.
Griffith University’s Dr Ausma Bernot teamed up with researchers from Monash University, Charles Sturt University and University of Technology Sydney to investigate what has been termed as ‘metacrime’ – attacks, crimes or inappropriate activities that occur within virtual reality environments.
The ‘metaverse’ refers to the virtual world, where users of VR headsets can choose an avatar to represent themselves as they interact with other users’ avatars or move through other 3D digital spaces.
While the metaverse can be used for anything from meetings (where it will feel as though you are in the same room as avatars of other people instead of just seeing them on a screen) to wandering through national parks around the world without leaving your living room, gaming is by far its most popular use.
Dr Bernot said the technology had evolved incredibly quickly.
“Using this technology is super fun and it’s really immersive,” she said.
Dr Ausma Bernot
“You can really lose yourself in those environments.
“Unfortunately, while those new environments are very exciting, they also have the potential to enable new crimes.
“While the headsets that enable us to have these experiences aren’t a commonly owned item yet, they’re growing in popularity and we’ve seen reports of sexual harassment or assault against both adults and kids.”
In a December 2023 report, the Australian eSafety Commissioner estimated around 680,000 adults in Australia are engaged in the metaverse.
This followed a survey conducted in November and December 2022 by researchers from the UK’s Center for Countering Digital Hate, who conducted 11 hours and 30 minutes of recorded user interactions on Meta’s Oculus headset in the popular VRChat.
The researchers found most users had been faced with at least one negative experience in the virtual environment, including being called offensive names, receiving repeated unwanted messages or contact, being provoked to respond to something or to start an argument, being challenged about cultural identity or being sent unwanted inappropriate content.
Eleven per cent had been exposed to a sexually graphic virtual space and nine per cent had been touched (virtually) in a way they didn’t like.
Of these respondents, 49 per cent said the experience had a moderate to extreme impact on their mental or emotional wellbeing.
With the two largest user groups being minors and men, Dr Bernot said it was important for parents to monitor their children’s activity or consider limiting their access to multi-player games.
“Minors are more vulnerable to grooming and other abuse,” she said.
“They may not know how to deal with these situations, and while there are some features like a ‘safety bubble’ within some games, or of course the simple ability to just take the headset off, once immersed in these environments it does feel very real.
“It’s somewhere in between a physical attack and for example, a social media harassment message – you’ll still feel that distress and it can take a significant toll on a user’s wellbeing.
“It is a real and palpable risk.”
Mr You Zhou
Monash University’s You Zhou said there had already been many reports of virtual rape, including one in the United Kingdom where police have launched a case for a 16-year-old girl whose avatar was attacked, causing psychological and emotional trauma similar to an attack in the physical world.
“Before the emergence of the metaverse we could not have imagined how rape could be virtual,” Mr Zhou said.
“When immersed in this world of virtual reality, and particularly when using higher quality VR headsets, users will not necessarily stop to consider whether the experience is reality or virtuality.
“While there may not be physical contact, victims – mostly young girls – strongly claim the feeling of victimisation was real.
“Without physical signs on a body, and unless the interaction was recorded, it can be almost impossible to show evidence of these experiences.”
With use of the metaverse expected to grow exponentially in coming years, the research team’s findings highlight a need for metaverse companies to instil clear regulatory frameworks for their virtual environments to make them safe for everyone to inhabit.
Griffith University has announced a new partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to further support Australia’s high performance athletes pursue their academic and sporting goals simultaneously.
The AIS-Griffith University Sport Scholarship will provide targeted funding over three years to help athletes win well in sport and in life while undertaking their degree programs.
Griffith University, through the Griffith Sports College, has long been dedicated to fostering an environment where sport and education coexist in harmony. The Griffith Sports College boasts a well-established track record of supporting elite athletes by offering scholarship opportunities, flexible study options, and personalised academic and athletic support. This new scholarship category, designed for Australia’s high performance athletes, will further solidify Griffith’s role in supporting Australian sport.
At the recent Paris 2024 Olympics, there were 38 Griffith athletes competing, with 20 current-students, 15 Alumni and 3 Griffith Swim Club members particpating at the Games. Griffith University athletes excelled at the Games collecting 10 Gold medals, 8 Silver and 6 Bronze medals, second only worldwide to US titan Stanford University in terms of performance.
Bachelor of Business student Jackson Collins who won silver in the K-4 Kayak event in Paris, knows how crucial it is to balance study and sport at the elite level.
“It’s important to create career pathways for yourself while you’re training and while you’re doing your sport and to have Griffith helping facilitate a life after your sport has been enormous. They help you organise exams and moving timetable deadlines so you can solely focus on preparing for competition.
“There’ve been multiple times I’ve had to lean on that, and without it, I would have failed the subject and had to redo it, so having the support of Griffith is super helpful for me, because I’d have to wait until I finished my sporting career to then start and then you’ve got four years until you can even begin to begin a career outside of sport.”
Bachelor of Business student and Olympic Silver Medallist kayaker Jackson Collins
Grififth University’s Professor Bronwyn Harch, Vice President (Industry and External Engagement) said the MOU strengthens the University’s reputation as a leading elite athlete friendly institution committed to offering flexible education solutions that meet the unique needs of high-performance athletes.
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting Australia’s elite athletes with the scholarships helping athletes pursue excellence across all aspects of their lives, and we are honored to be a part of their journey,” Professor Harch said.
Matti Clements, Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance, said “We know that the combination of sportand study is a winning mix.
“The AIS is committed to supporting athletes achieve their goals in sport and in life which is critical to the win well ethos at the heart of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.”
The AIS-Griffith University Sport Scholarship will be available to athletes who are nationally recognised by the National Athlete Categorisation Framework and competing in AIS funded high performance sports programs.
The ‘Right to Disconnect’ legislation set to take effect across Australia on August 26, 2024, marks a significant shift in how we approach work-life balance and digital connectivity. This new law, aimed at protecting employees from unreasonable out-of-hours contact, has sparked discussions about its potential impacts on both individual well-being and organisational productivity. As Australia joins a growing list of countries, like France, Belgium and Italy, implementing similar measures, it’s crucial to examine the implications of this legislative change.
Understanding the right to disconnect and its nuances
One of the primary goals of this legislation is to address the growing concerns about employee burnout and mental health issues associated with an “always-on” work culture. The constant pressure to remain available and responsive to work matters, even during personal time, has been linked to increased stress levels, poor sleep quality, and decreased overall well-being. By providing a legal framework for disconnection, the new law aims to promote better work-life balance and protect employees’ mental health.
The legislation outlines factors to consider when determining whether contact outside working hours is reasonable. These include the nature and urgency of the reason for contact, the method of contact (e.g., a phone call versus an email), whether the employee is compensated for working outside of their ordinary hours, the level of the employee’s responsibility within the organisation, and the employee’s personal circumstances
Potential benefits and challenges
Proponents of the law argue that it will lead to more rested, focused, and productive employees.For example, when workers have uninterrupted personal time to recharge and engage in non-work activities in the evening, they are likely to return to work more energised and efficient the next day. This could potentially result in higher quality work output and increased job satisfaction, benefitting both employees and employers in the long run.
Moreover, the legislation may encourage organisations to reassess their work processes and communication practices. Companies might be prompted to implement more efficient systems for task management and information sharing during working hours, reducing the need for after-hours communication. This could lead to improved organisational efficiency and a culture that values focused work over constant availability.
However, the implementation of the ‘Right to Disconnect’ is not without challenges. In a globalised business environment, many Australian companies operate across different time zones or collaborate with international partners. The legislation will require these organisations to carefully navigate the balance between global business needs and employee rights. It may necessitate the development of new protocols for urgent communications and the establishment of clear guidelines on what constitutes a genuine work emergency.
Critics are concerned about its consequences for business flexibility and competitiveness, where strict enforcement of disconnection could hinder innovation and responsiveness, particularly in industries that thrive on rapid communication and dynamic problem-solving. There are also questions about how the law will apply to employees with flexible working arrangements or those in roles that require some level of out-of-hours availability.
The implementation of the law is expected to have a positive impact on work-life balance by enabling individuals to fully disconnect from work during their personal time and foster a healthy separation between their professional and personal lives. This can lead to reduced stress levels, improved mental health, and enhanced overall well-being. Employees will also have more time to spend with their families, pursue hobbies, and engage in activities that promote their physical and mental health.
Furthermore, the law encourages a shift towards a more results-oriented work culture, where employees are evaluated based on their outputs and achievements rather than their constant availability. This can lead to increased focus and productivity during working hours, as employees escape the pressure to respond to work-related communications around-the-clock.
Implementation and adaptation
The success of the ‘Right to Disconnect’ legislation will largely depend on how it is interpreted and implemented by both employers and employees. Organisations will need to develop clear policies that outline expectations for after-hours communication while ensuring that critical business functions are not compromised. This may involve redefining roles, adjusting workflows, and possibly increasing staffing in certain areas to ensure coverage without infringing on individual rights to disconnect. For employees, the legislation presents an opportunity to reassess their own habits and boundaries around work.
While the law provides protection, it also requires individuals to take responsibility for managing their own connectivity and setting healthy limits. This might involve adjusting notification settings on devices, communicating clearly with colleagues about availability, and learning to prioritise tasks effectively during working hours. Importantly, the law empowers employees with connectivity agency, enabling them to make informed choices about their digital engagement outside of work hours, fostering a sense of control over their work-life balance.
Long-term impact on work-life balance, productivity and innovation
The impact on organisational productivity is likely to be multifaceted. Initially, there may be a period of adjustment as companies and employees adapt to the new norms. Some short-term disruptions to workflows and communication patterns are to be expected. However, the Right to Disconnect has the potential to foster a more sustainable and productive work environment in the long-term.
By reducing the risk of burnout and promoting better work-life balance, the legislation could lead to lower employee turnover rates and associated costs. It may also enhance employer branding, making organisations more attractive to potential hires who value work-life balance. This could give Australian companies an edge in the global talent market, particularly as similar laws become more common internationally.
The ‘Right to Disconnect’ also presents an opportunity for organisations to innovate in their approach to work. It may accelerate the adoption of asynchronous communication tools and project management systems that allow for efficient collaboration without constant real-time interaction. This shift could lead to more thoughtful, deliberate communication and decision-making processes, potentially improving the quality of work outputs. The ‘Right to Disconnect’ also presents an opportunity for organisations to innovate in their approach to work. It may accelerate the adoption of asynchronous communication tools and project management systems that allow for efficient collaboration without constant real-time interaction. This shift could lead to more thoughtful, deliberate communication and decision-making processes, potentially improving the quality of work outputs.
Redefining work in the digital age
As Australia implements this legislation, it will be crucial to monitor its effects and remain open to adjustments as needed. The law’s success will depend on finding the right balance between protecting employee well-being and maintaining business agility. It will require ongoing dialogue between employers, employees, and policymakers to ensure that the intended goals are achieved without unduly burdening businesses or stifling economic growth.
The ‘Right to Disconnect’ legislation represents a significant step towards redefining the relationship between work and personal life in the digital age. While challenges in implementation are to be expected, the potential benefits for employee well-being and sustainable productivity are substantial. As workplaces adapt to this new framework, Australia has the opportunity to lead the way in creating a more balanced, healthy, and productive work culture.
Griffith University has been awarded nearly $3 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2023 Partnership Projects PRC2 round.
Congratulations to Professor Lara Farrell from the School of Applied Psychology and Professor Fabricio Da Silva Costa from the School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Professor Lara Farrell
Professor Farrell will receive $1.475 million to bridge the science-service gap for children and young people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
“Cognitive-behavioural therapy with exposure and response-prevention is a well-established, curative treatment for young people with OCD,” she said.
“Sadly however, it is largely inaccessible to young people due to delayed diagnosis and a lack of clinicians with the requisite knowledge and skills to deliver it, resulting in OCD often going undetected.
“This partnership will transform mental health service delivery and policy via the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of an evidence-based model of care (MoC) for young people with OCD.
“This project will equip clinicians with the knowledge and skills to improve detection and treatment of OCD, likely resulting in reduced hospital admissions, improved patient outcomes and more cost-effective health service delivery.”
Professor Fabricio Da Silva Costa
Professor Da Silva Costa will receive $1.475 million to develop Tommy’s Tool Project to optimise maternal and perinatal outcomes through digital clinician decision tool in maternity care.
“Currently, there is no universally applied intervention to help pregnant women experiencing serious adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-eclampsia, small for gestational age, preterm birth, stillbirth and neonatal death,” he said.
“Current practice guidelines use an inefficient checklist-based screening that both misses high-risk women and incorrectly identifies women whose pregnancies progress without high-risk complications.
“Tommy’s Tool is a digital solution that summarises patient data and provides details bases on externally validated algorithms and national clinical guidelines to assist with decisions around care pathways.
“Tommy’s Tool empowers all women in their right to optimal pregnancy healthcare and makes the best information accessible to any and all healthcare providers.
“We expect Tommy’s Tool will effectively predict risk of pregnancy complications and optimally direct women into personalised care pathways resulting in reduced incident of pre-eclampsia, small for gestational age, preterm birth and stillbirth.”
