A pilot solar project in a small Aboriginal community in far north Queensland could hold the key to cleaner and more reliable power supply for isolated Indigenous communities throughout Australia and the Pacific.
The township of Lockhart River on Cape York Peninsula is nestled in bushland, 800 kilometres north of Cairns, surrounded by pristine beaches and rainforest.
It’s idyllic, but incredibly remote. So much so it’s not even on the national power grid.
So Lockhart River relies on expensive and dirty diesel fuel to keep the lights on, and power the town’s businesses and homes.
But it’s hoped a solar trial instigated by Griffith University Professor of Economics Paul Simshauser could change that.
“We ended up installing about 200kW of rooftop solar around various rooftops,” he said.
“It’s a community project so all of the households benefit from it.
“I’m not completely sure but I wouldn’t mind betting this is one of the highest levels of solar in Australia.”
When Professor Simshauser was Director General of Queensland’s Power and Water Supply Department, he made a connection with the Lockhart River community through the government’s Champions Program, where the Director-General of each department is given an Aboriginal community to grow partnerships with.
Professor Simshauser says the ramifications for this project, if successful, will go far further than Lockhart River.
“There’s a couple of implications – the first thing is the idea of doing community solar is that each of the households wouldbenefit each year from the solar output; they’d get a rebate on their electricity bills, because you’re avoiding burning expensive and not-so-healthy diesel fuels,” he said.
“But I think the bigger implication is that we have 30 remote communities in Queensland and a whole bunch in the Pacific and across northern Australia so clearly if we can break the mould on how to really radically increase the amount of solar in these communities, that will be wonderful for those communities in terms of their power, reliability and reducing the logistics of bringing in and burning diesel fuels.”
Listen to the full Remarkable Tales podcast episode below.
Five Aboriginal languages were spoken by the people at Lockhart River, who have shown connection to the land for thousands of years.
It was also the home for around 5000 troops during World War II, with many historical relics still intact for tourists to visit.
Lockhart River overlooks the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, with bird watching, bush walking, and fishing to entice visitors.
ButLockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher saysthe lack of reliable power supply has been a big hurdle to expansion for the community to take advantage of some of these tourism assets.
“We’refortunate to have a governmentchampion such as Paul who can think outside the square I guess,” Mr Butcher said.
“It’s good to be able to talk to Paul and to create an idea into a reality in such a short period of time.
“The cost of living up here, we’re not far from the equator, we’ve got plenty of sunshine, so common sense tells us we should be looking at alternative energy.
“I think the microscope is on Lockhart to see how the program goes here in the first 12 months, and I can see the benefits of it being rolled out to the other Indigenous shires on Cape York Peninsula.”
The excitement at the prospective benefits from the solar project has spread throughout the Lockhart River community.
Lockhart River State SchoolPrincipal Siobhan Jackson has been in Lockhart River for five years, and says the trial is exciting for the town.
“We’re trialling some sustainable energy in Lockhart River, which is fantastic, andit’s great for the kids to learn from that. They might be in a place where they don’t even get to see a solar panel but we’ve got lots and lots of them, so they’re very aware of that,” Ms Jackson said.
“Moving away from those dirty sorts of energy sources.”
As well as being extremely remote, the Lockhart River community faces many complex challenges.
Life expectancy is up to 20 years less than the Australian average, and income is far less than the average wage; however, groceries – including fresh food – are much more expensive. The unemployment rate is three times the national average.
In response to this, the community decided to put the focus on new technologies such as solar, to provide more options for the youngest members of the community and give them hope for the future of Lockhart River.
The Puuya Foundation is an important part of that.
It was developed by the community for all children under five years old, the most critical time for a child’s development.
The Kuunchi Kakana Centre is community-led and run, and is the heart of the Montessori model that the community decided to pursue for their children.
Denise Hagan is the coordinator of the Puuya Foundation, and works closely with Indigenous teachers to ensure the community’s wishes are being met.
“It’s life-changing work that they’re doing, they’re teaching parents to get involved in their children’s education and children are really benefiting from that,” Ms Hagan said.
“Research we’ve done shows that from teachers’ perspectives, parents’ perspectives, the children’s perspective, the children are much more prepared for school; they’ve got theheadstart they need.”
Professor Simshauser has organised a special auction of Aboriginal art from the Lockhart River art gang, to raise money for the Puuya Foundation,at the Brisbane Club onJune 19.
Denise Hagan says the money raised from last year’s art auction was invaluable to keep their important work with small children at the Puuya Foundation going.
“We do get some funding from the government but it’s not enough,” she said.
“We have a very big commitment here to training local people so that this centre is locally run and the costs of travel make everything we do here very expensive but it’s life-changing work, and work that wasn’t happening before.”
A pair of Griffith University researchers has investigated the application of lean and green thinking to turn food waste from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) into a super dynamic compost.
The research team engaged a Woongoolba waste processing plant to mix green waste (tree parts, twigs) and sugar cane mulch with food waste collected from Games venues (including the GC2018 Commonwealth Games Village and all venues where there were food outlets, cafes, canteens etc).
The process improves the degradation of the food waste into an organic compost that is rich with carbon and microbes.
It is hoped the compost will be used by farmers and councils for use on municipal gardens, parks and household gardens.
“The idea of food waste recycling emerged as the perfect opportunity to close the loop or keep the resources in the cycle for a longer period,” Caldera said.
“The compost made out from the food waste is used to improve the soil conditions as fertilisers to grow more food. It is about giving clean carbon back to the soil.
“There is a critical need to engage key stakeholders such as local councils, food suppliers/vendors and the community to make this closing-the-loop initiative a success.”
Caldera said the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation’s (GOLDOC) waste strategy defined their commitment to sustainable management of
waste from the Games and they were looking for environmentally responsible local companies to handle their waste.
Rocky Point, who has been processing the compost, were doing trials with food waste at the time and the Gold Coast City Council recommended the facility to GOLDOC.
“For us to take the organics from landfill – which increases their capacity and longevity – and return the finished compost to the soil was, apart from many other reasons, environmentally the right thing to do,” Rocky Point Production Manager Mark Rayner said.
“By improving soil health, farmers will return greater yields.”
Queensland College of Art graduate Andy Lowrie has been selected to exhibit his latest collection of jewellery in Rome – part of an international exhibition showcasing the best young talent from around the world.
‘7 Artists 7 Days’ will take place at the myday-byday gallery space in Rome from5 – 16 June.
Andy graduated from the Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) in 2011, and is now based in the US. His bold designs, featuring unusual materials and forms, have won him an international following.
“I’ve been really fortunate in recent years to have my work shown in Australia, North America and China,” he said.
“The exhibition with myday-byday will be the first time my pieces have been shown in Europe, which is a real hub of activity for art jewellery.
“I’m looking forward to sharing my work with an audience of people who will likely have a keen and critical eye.”
QCA senior lecturer Elizabeth Shaw
QCA senior lecturer Elizabeth Shaw was invited to nominate a graduate for the show, and said Andy was her first choice.
“Andy is a really exciting artist – his work pushes the envelope and it’s remarkable to see a young designer producing such strong work.
“We keep a close eye on our students’ careers after they graduate, and I have been really impressed by Andy’s recent collections.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for him to introduce his work to a whole new audience.”
Andy said his time at the QCA had provided him with the foundation to forge a successful international career.
“I had the benefit of being taught by Liz Shaw and Catherine Large at QCA and they really helped me to see art jewellery as a very social medium, one that works in a gallery and on a body,” he said.
“They encouraged me and my peers to build our own community and get involved in projects that would help us learn skills to support our careers as artists.
“I built the foundation of my career while I studied at QCA without even realising it and it’s a touchstone for me to this day.
“It prepared me for making connections with people around the world and gave me the confidence to share my work.”
Andy uses a range of experimental techniques to craft striking pieces out of metal and wood. His work draws inspiration from the natural world, and rejects “that notion that jewellery has to be shiny and new.
“I’ve always been interested in the surfaces of objects and materials,” he said.
“The marks that collect on the surface of objects we use motivate me to explore my own ways of working with materials.
“I’ve been painting, enamelling, scratching and, most recently, drawing on objects that I fabricate in metal and wood.
“My work rejects the value we often place on the shiny and new, but it also creates a surface that I think of as being sympathetic to the bodies my objects will adorn.
“Our bodies are a canvas that is constantly changing, showing signs of age and bearing marks of our existence and I want my wearable work to acknowledge that.”
Andy is one of a new wave of art jewellers who create beautiful objects that are equally at home in a gallery, or adorning the body.
“I think art jewellery sometimes catches gallery goers off-guard, but our audience is very devoted and shows a great deal of respect,” he said.
“But for anyone that wants to build their own collection, art jewellery is fun and easy to collect. The works always fits in a shoe box!”
In a Queensland first, Autism CRC, Griffith University, Studio G (Autism Queensland) and Brisbane City Council are working together to pilot autism-friendly story time sessions in public libraries.
The importance of shared book reading for promoting early language and literacy skills in young children has been well established. Libraries regularly run story time sessions for young children and their parents to promote these skills in pre-schoolers, but visiting public spaces can be an overwhelming or distressing experience for some children on the autism spectrum.
As Dr Marleen Westerveld, Autism CRC Project Leader and Senior Lecturer for Griffith University’s School of Allied Health Sciences, points out: “The ability for children on the autism spectrum to attend their local library and participate in story time activities can be affected by factors such as the story time space and session structure.
“Autism is highly prevalent. Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicate that, in 2015, more than 1 in 50 school-aged children had an autism diagnosis. About 50% of children on the spectrum struggle to read, with most, if not all children on the spectrum having difficulties with understanding what they read,” Dr Westerveld said.
“That is why initiatives such as autism-friendly story time sessions in libraries are so important — they help set the foundation for early literacy skills and encourage a love of books and reading. Brisbane City Council has been instrumental in making this initiative a reality and working to ensure their sessions are accessible for all children.”
“As part of our initiative, we surveyed parents with young children on the autism spectrum to identify the barriers that impact their child’s participation in story time sessions,” Dr Paynter said.
“We are now working with the First 5 Forever Team at Brisbane City Council libraries to increase their knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of autism and how these characteristics may impact on children’s participation in story time sessions. We are also developing strategies the First 5 Forever Team can implement to create more autism-friendly sessions.
More autism friendly
“Our strategies include the use of a library sensory checklist to determine how the story time space can be made more autism friendly. The checklist includes how to structure the story time session and make use of visual planners,” Dr Kate Simpson, Autism CRC Researcher and Lecturer for Griffith University’s School of Education and Professional Studies, said.
Brisbane City Council’s First 5 Forever team is looking forward to seeing the initiative make story time sessions more suitable for children on the autism spectrum.
Supported by the project team, the first professional development training day for librarians was held on 19 April, with 22 staff attending from 20 different libraries.
A pilot study will be run this year at one library in which librarians will implement autism friendly story time sessions with coaching from the project team.
“The ‘story time’ initiative is one of 55 projects being delivered by Autism CRC in collaboration with its Participants and Partners to help improve the lives of people on the spectrum,” said Andrew Davis, CEO of Autism CRC.
“Autism CRC’s vision is to see autistic people empowered to discover and use their diverse strengths and interests. Shared-book reading plays a vital role in children’s emergent literacy development and contributes to reading success down the track — the importance of which should not be overlooked,” Mr Davis said.
“To stay updated on the development of autism-friendly story time sessions in Brisbane, follow Autism CRC on social media or visit our website,” he said.
Renowned nature photographer Steve Parish has partnered with Griffith University’s Professional Learning Hub to deliver photography courses to Queensland teachers.
Teaming with Dr Alison Sammel from the School of Education and Professional Studies the online courses would help improve teachers’ communication skills as well as enhancing personal and professional fulfillment.
The need for a multi-skilled, flexible workforce is growing. Communications skills for teachers and the wider community are essential to augment traditional skills, as well improve personal well-being.
Griffith’s Professional Learning Hub (PL Hub) is focused on improving the skills of those in the education sector throughout Queensland and Australia. The platform is delivering quality professional development across a range of focus areas including STEM, languages, leadership, behavioural management, well-being and action research.
The PL Hub provides micro-credentialing pathways in a lot of the professional development programs delivered that promotes a postgraduate pathway into Griffith University
Steve Parish is an award-winning Australian photographer who has been capturing images of Australia’s people, places, and wildlife for more than 50 yearsand has been awarded the Order of Australia medal for his services to publishing.
He is a champion of the protection of wildlife and the natural environment, and promoting the natural history of Australian ecosystems. During the last 50 years, the public has connected with Steve’s work in more than 2500 published books, including Steve Parish 50 Years Photographing Australia, Australia: Steve Parish the Journey, National Parks Our Australian Landscape and The Around Australia Guide.
Dr Sammel is an expert in the teaching and learning of science, environment and social justice education.
“Through Mr Parish, the content isfocusedon finding individual passion and connecting people through photography, regardless of skill level or equipment.The course has been designedso beginners with just an iPhone can engage just as readily as experts with expensive equipment,” Mr Noonan said.
“It also ties the PL Hub into providing opportunities for people in regional and remote locations that are usually only available for people in metro regions.”
Thecourse is user-pays with access to the six modules accompanied by downloadable e-books clients can keep. Classes will initially run for 6 weeks (1 module per week) andthe Mr Noonan isoptimistic additional course offerings will be rolled out.
Additional deliveries are expected to be relatively simple as the course website and content have been developed as part of the first delivery. The initial intake has a maximum of 200 users which is expected to sell out.
The course is presently running as a pilot program and if successful will be run two-three times per year over the next 12 – 24 months.
The PL Hub is also running a one day workshop on crisis management for senior school leaders. This project is timely and extremely relevant to schools with some of the risks that schools are faced with each day. Participants are provided with a number of fictional scenarios that they need to work which will explore best practice in crisis management within the education setting.
To mark National Reconciliation Week Griffith University Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students have come together to participate in two Walk and Talk events this week.
Hosted by the GUMURRII Student Support Unit, the annual walks at the Gold Coast campus (May 29) and from Mt Gravatt to Nathan campus (May 31), were created in the spirit of reconciliation. Record numbers of students and staff are participating this year.
“This is the eighth year the University has held the Walk and Talk and the aim is to encourage the entire University community to think about ways we can foster better cross-cultural understanding and respect,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Martin Betts.
Students and staff took the scenic route from Mt Gravatt to Nathan campus.
“The University has committed to clear targets to improve the participation and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in academic and general staff positions.”
Every year, National Reconciliation Week is held between two significant milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey history,May 27 and June 3– the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively.
GUMURRII Student Support Unit Director Shane Barnes said the Walk and Talk events also marked National Sorry Day, a national observance held on May 26 each year.
“National Sorry Day remembers the Stolen Generations, Indigenous Australians forcibly removed from their families and communities, and promotes a process of recognition, respect and healing,’’ he said.
“GUMURRII is honoured to host the Walk and Talks each year in a spirit of reconciliation and healing.”
This year is the 11thanniversary of the launch of Griffith’s Statement onReconciliation–a public declaration of the university’s commitment to promoting an environment valuing the traditions, protocols and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Griffith University has become a collaborating partner with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), which will host a CNBP research node at the Institute for Glycomics at the Gold Coast campus.
As a research node and collaborating partner of the CNBP, Griffith joins the University of Adelaide, Macquarie University and RMIT University as a core member of the Centre of Excellence.
The Griffith-based CNBP research node, headed-up by Associate Professor Daniel Kolarich from the Institute for Glycomics, will add to CNBP’s research capability in the development of next-generation light-based tools that can sense and image at a cellular and molecular level.
“Our team has specialised glycan knowledge and expertise that will aid the Centre in its objectives of improving understanding and knowledge of cell-communication and the nanoscale molecular interactions in the living body,” Associate Professor Kolarich said.
“Glycans (sugar chains attached to proteins and lipids on the cell surface) are intricately involved in bacterial and viral infection, immune responses, cancers, lung disease, brain function, fertilisation, cardiovascular disease and a host of other cellular activities.
“As a node of the CNBP we will be working to extend our knowledge of these sugars – to be able to better sense and image their interactions, as well as to understand how they function at the molecular level, and ultimately how they shape the health and well-being of an individual.
“In the longer term we expect this work to lead to new and improved approaches to disease and ultimately new and innovative forms of clinical diagnosis.”
As prestigious hubs of research expertise, ARC Centres of Excellence bring high-quality researchers together to develop Australia’s international standing in research areas of national priority.
The CNBP is administered by the University of Adelaide and funded by the Australian Research Council until 2021.
The awards recognisecontent in all lengths and forms from around the world. Dedicated to television, film and online productions, they celebrate global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent.
Three films made through LiveLab, Griffith University’s production studio, were recognised by the international jury.
LiveLab’s Christmas film, A Gift for the Lonely Heart, took out a gold award and also won a special citation for productions that improve the lives of others.
International student Tabea Hannappel, who edited A Gift for the Lonely Heart while on exchange from theInternationale Filmschule Kölnrepresented Griffith Film School at the awards ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.
Two of the productions, Twisted Fates and the musical theatre showreel, were also recognised at theNew York Festivals Best of TV & Film Awardsin Las Vegas last month, taking out top awards for Best Student Film.
Griffith Film School (GFS) is the only tertiary institution in Australia with a permanent in-house commercial studio.
LiveLab Creative Director Richard Fabb said it was vital to offer students year-round opportunities to gain industry experience during their studies.
“LiveLab is about providing a chance for students to learn from industry mentors, work with real clients and produce work that finds an audience,” he said.
“To be recognised for our work internationally is remarkable.”
Two Griffith University academics are among the world’s best in climate change research to be named as authors in the next report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The sixth instalment (AR6) of the world-leading independent report will feature Professor Brendan Mackey, director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program at Griffith University, as a Coordinating Lead Author, and Dr Johanna Nalau, from the Griffith Institute For Tourism, who will be a Lead Author. The role of the IPCC is to review the latest climate change research from the past five years and assess the scientific, technological and socio-economic findings from around the world. The key assessment findings are communicated through a series of reports including summaries for policy makers.
Three IPCC Working Groups will report on the physical science basis, the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability of climate change, and the mitigation of climate change respectively. Professor Mackey will act as a Coordinating Lead Author of Chapter 11​ ​Australasia for Working Group II. “Australia is already experiencing the impacts of a rapidly changing climate and the findings from our AR6 report will help clarify the climate risks in different sectors and the ways in which Australians are responding” Prof Mackey said.
Dr Nalau will bring her expertise on Pacific Islands through her work with the Griffith Institute for Tourism and the Griffith Climate Change Response Program to her role as a Lead Author for ​Chapter 15 Small Islands, which is also in Working Group II. “The IPCC assessments give policy makers, experts, and communities a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of what we’ve learned about climate change and and climate adaptation to date, and what adaptation options are being implemented,” Dr Nalau said.
“Having the best of that information available and being able to contribute to that process is really an honour.”
For the AR6 report, the IPCC has selected 721 authors representing 90 different nationalities, with 37 from Australia. More than half of the authors will be contributing to the IPCC reporting process for the first time, and 67% are men, 33% are women. The AR6 reports follow 2014’s AR5 reports and will be finalised in 2021, which will coincide with the first global stocktake under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement in 2022.
Twelve months. Two photographers. One caravan and a continent to explore.
Queensland College of Art alumni Sid Coombes and Callena Brenchley are embarking on an epic 12-month road trip around Australia in their vintage Sunliner caravan – hoping to capture the people and places that make up our great sunburnt land.
The couple met while studying a Bachelor of Photography at the QCA, and founded a successful photography business, Daisy + The Duke, after graduating in 2013.
“Going to the QCA changed my life,” Sid said.
“Not only did I meet Callena there, but it gave me the confidence to come out of my shell and really start believing in myself.”
Callena said the emphasis on exploring a narrative through images had changed the way she worked.
“As well as teaching us all of the technical skills you need as a photographer, our lecturers at the QCA introduced us to the concept of using images to tell a story, which still shapes my work today,” she said.
“It gave all of us the confidence to grow as photographers – it was a safe learning environment where you were allowed to make mistakes and try new things.
“Our time at the QCA gave us the confidence to start our own business.”
The pair travelled overseas for six months after graduating from the Bachelor of Photography, and started their own business when they returned to Brisbane.
They decided to embark on their road trip around Australia as a way of combining their twin passions – photography and travel.
“There is so much to see in Australia – but most of us have never been further west than the Great Dividing Range,” Sid said.
“We can also still keep our business going while we travel, which important to us.”
“It’s all new territory for us,” said Callena.
“We are really excited to get out of the cities, and see the untouched areas of Australia – the gorgeous beaches, the red dirt, the mountains and forests.
“We have a Google Map that is constantly getting filled with new locations.”
The couple will start their Australian odyssey in August, and plan to stay on the road for the next 12 months. They see the trip as a chance to capture what makes Australia tick – from the natural landscapes to the people they meet along the way.
“I think photography is an amazing way to forge a connection,” said Callena.
“And people in the country are more open for a chat, whereas in the cities, everyone has got their walls up.
“We are keen to tell people’s stories through our photos and try and capture what makes up the fabric of Australian life.”
After considering a converted bus or camper van, the couple chanced upon a vintage 1956 Sunliner caravan that will become their home and office over the next year.
“We stumbled across the Sunliner on Instagram- we wanted something that would photograph well, and its a real Australian icon,” said Sid.
“The functionality isn’t always the best – there are holes everywhere and things that leak – but we love it.”
The couple say they work well as a team, and are prepared for the ups and downs of life on the road.
“We’re both pretty relaxed people, and I think we’ve got our work life balance down pat at this point – we’ve learned to switch off at the end of the day,” said Callena.
“We just feel so lucky that we can make a living doing what we love.”
“GUMURRII is honoured to host the Walk and Talks each year in a spirit of reconciliation and healing.”
Three films made through 
International student Tabea Hannappel, who edited A Gift for the Lonely Heart while on exchange from the
Twelve months. Two photographers. One caravan and a continent to explore.
They decided to embark on their road trip around Australia as a way of combining their twin passions – photography and travel.
The couple will start their Australian odyssey in August, and plan to stay on the road for the next 12 months. They see the trip as a chance to capture what makes Australia tick – from the natural landscapes to the people they meet along the way.