The annual Griffith University Deadly U Experience hosted 75 South East Queensland high school students at a three-day academic challenge which provided a hands-on, skills-building education showcase designed to enlighten students to their own academic potential.
GUMURRII Student Success staff and the Indigenous Engagement team.
The challenges were designed and guided by Griffith’s academic staff from fields of study such as Arts, Education, Law, Environment, Science, Business, Health, and Pharmacy.
“The three-day challenge ended with a showcase and three outstanding presentations won prizes,” said Indigenous Engagement Coordinator Zane Hendriks.
“This year, the Deadly U Experience introduced Year 8 First Nations students to the university environment to raise study aspirations early in their high school journey.
“We want students to feel a sense of achievement, and feel they have the potential to successfully engage with academia.
Winners of the Deadly U competition for the pharmacy challenge.
“Congratulations to all participants and to the group of students led by School of Pharmacy Associate Professor Fiona Kelly who won first place for their fabulous project idea ‘Remove Unwanted Medicine’ which aimed to teach the public how to dispose of unwanted and expired medicines safely.
“Griffith academic staff, GUMURRII Student Success staff and the Indigenous Engagement team did a wonderful job of mentoring the Deadly U participants through the research, ideation and planning stages of the project and guided them through to final presentations.”
Achieving second place with the School of Education and Professional studies challenge, a group of six students analysed and evaluated their current experiences with schooling to create ‘The ideal school: where everyone belongs’.
Second place winners for the education challenge.
“It was so gratifying to see the students, not really knowing each other before arriving, gel together as a group and work collaboratively towards this goal,” said Education and Professional Studies Lecturer Dr Harry Kanasa.
“Some of the students were really nervous about public speaking but with support from the great facilitators, they were able to rise to the challenge.
“Our group prepared a 10-minute group presentation to politicians to present school values, a motto, policy, rules, subjects and a desktop size model of the school that clearly reflected their values and created the social and physical environment where students from diverse backgrounds felt safe, included and free to thrive.”
Director of First Peoples Health Unit (FPHU) Professor James Charles and the FPHU team led six students to research issues relating to health and nutrition with the health promotion challenge ‘How do we learn from the past to have healthy diet behaviours today?’.
Third place winners for the health challenge.
“The First Peoples Health Unit team really supported the students, and it was great to see everyone working together,” Professor Charles said.
“Our team created a new healthy eating message for young First Nations peoples looking at native bush tucker from the past.
“The students did a fantastic job with the challenge, and we were very proud our team received third place in the final showcase.
“Our team proposed a fast-food outlet ‘Deadly Burger’ using Aboriginal slang ‘deadly’ (meaning great) in the slogan, ‘Remember, Deadly Burger, faster than a Roo’, and incorporated the Aboriginal flag colours in the logo.
“The students created a signature burger, ‘Big Red Roo Burger’, and a lemon myrtle drink which was healthy and delicious.”
In collaboration with Fiji National University’s College of Business, twenty Griffith Business School (GBS) students embarked on a journey that transcended the confines of textbooks and lecture halls. The recently concluded 3004GBS Human Resources Study Tour course took the students to the vibrant city of Nadi, Fiji, where they explored the contribution of human resource management (HRM) to the efficiency and productivity of organisations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Under the guidance of Dr. William Vuk Despotovic and Dr. Judy Taubner-Ragg from the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, the course seamlessly blended theoretical acumen with hands-on experiences.
The program kicked off with a series of enlightening lectures at Fiji National University, delving into HR planning, recruitment and selection, training and development, and performance management. Academic staff from both institutions collaborated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of HRM in the Asia-Pacific context.
However, the students were not confined to the four walls of a classroom. They took part in an array of activities, from interactive workshops on cross-cultural competency and intercultural communication to insightful presentations by Reddy Group, Fiji Air Terminal Services, and the National Training and Productivity Centre. The study tour even included site visits and HRM presentations at Fiji Airports Ltd, offering a firsthand look at the practical applications of HRM principles.
Beyond the academic rigors, the students were afforded the opportunity to soak in the rich Fijian culture, history, and arts. From vibrant Diwali celebrations to forging connections with local counterparts, the experience became a holistic exploration that transcended traditional educational boundaries.
Griffith University Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Government International Relations student, Deeya David, shared her reflections, stating,
“The experience not only enabled me to develop and apply HRM knowledge, gain insights into HRM processes but also fostered lasting connections with FNU buddies and fellow Griffith students.”
Emma White, a Bachelor of Business student, echoed the sentiment, describing the study tour as “definitely a highlight of my academic studies” and expressing how it has shaped her interest in global HRM.
This transformative initiative was made possible through the generous support of the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program, reflecting its commitment to fostering global citizenship among students.
As these students return to their academic pursuits, their enriched perspectives and newfound connections stand as a testament to the power of international collaboration in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
#UsToo
Academic women are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, and the numbers have increased over the last five years. If 100 academics read this article, at least 29 of them will have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
Australia’s National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has recently released findings from a national survey of sexual harassment against university staff which showed that 29% of respondents had experienced sexual harassment. Women represent the majority of the victims. Five years ago, the figure was 19%. Things are clearly not getting better.
These numbers are depressing, and frightening. But for those who research gender in universities, they are not even slightly surprising.
While the #metoo movement has raised awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual harassment across broad sectors, this still exists. Moreover, most cases are going unreported! This is despite the recent recognition by the Queensland’s Work Health and Safety Amendment Regulation (2022) of the vast range of ways in which sexual harassment in the workplace impacts upon people.
Why is this the case?
If this is happening in our higher education institutions, what can we say about other sectors? Shouldn’t our universities be safe havens for diverse women? Universities are viewed as places underpinned and driven by core societal values, ethics and behaviours, including social justice, and as institutions that teach and instil reflection, debate and evidenced based decision making. They are places where data makes a difference, and the latest sets of data provide an opportunity to ask more questions.
Sexual harassment is a psychosocial hazard in the workplace, ranging from harassment, unwanted sexual attention, to sexual coercion. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. It is fundamentally enabled by our environment, our culture, our unquestioned beliefs.
To address the issue of sexual harassment, we need to pay attention to everyday sexism and gender discrimination in organisations. These could be seemingly innocuous or unintentional gendered remarks, but they lay the foundation for more serious offences.
A team of interdisciplinary researchers funded by the Gender Equality Research Network at Griffith University are leading the way in developing new data to help change the way universities respond to gender equity and harassment. Our research investigates the experience of women and non-binary academics in Australian universities.
Our interdisciplinary team conducted an online, anonymous survey with 420 academics in Australia, asking questions about everyday sexism, gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
The data demands urgent attention.
90% of our respondents have experienced various forms of everyday sexism in their workplaces. 86% were treated with disrespect, 86% experienced ‘mansplaining’ and 89% were interrupted or talked over in meetings. 81% reported incidents where people try to ‘put them in their place’.
In this context, it is not surprising that 50% of our respondents have experienced sexual harassment in Australian universities, with the majority of harassers being senior co-workers.
“90% of our respondents have experienced various forms of everyday sexism in their workplaces. 86% were treated with disrespect, 86% experienced ‘mansplaining’ and 89% were interrupted or talked over in meetings. 81% reported incidents where people try to ‘put them in their place’. “
What are the consequences?
Gender inequity and sexism have negatively impacted our respondents’ careers, mental health and wellbeing. 74% of respondents believe gender-based discrimination or everyday sexism have impacted negatively on their employment, career or work. 67% reported negative financial consequences. The impact on health and wellbeing was significant, 71% reported negative impact on self-esteem. The same percentage reported an impact on general wellbeing, and 68% reported an impact on their mental health.
In the context of this data, it is perhaps surprising that 50% of respondents feel hopeful about gender-based challenges. Of course, the corollary is that 50% feel hopeless. That’s half of all women feeling that the challenges of gender are never going to be dealt with.
Worryingly, the people with the most insight into the realities of everyday sexism may not feel able to speak about it. 93% of respondents have felt unheard, which is a complicated statistic for research-based universities to respond to. As one respondent said, “Not only are we disadvantaged through systems that are clearly biased against us, but we are not allowed any agency to raise questions about them. Raising questions puts a target on you, gets you labelled as a troublemaker”.
What needs to change?
No one should feel unsafe at work, and no one should have to put up with any harassment in the workplace. If we listen to this research (and all related research it connects to) there are several direct ways forward. Here we offer some starting points:
Recognise the size, scope and complexity of the problem and make a visible commitment to change.
Listen. Diversity initiatives and policies are in place, but they are often developed by people who are well intentioned but may not have a background in gender-based research. Moreover, these initiatives need to be better monitored.
Recognise and call out everyday sexism. In order to shatter the foundation for sexual harassment, universities need to take everyday sexism more seriously. Bystanders make a difference. Understand the sexist origins of behaviours and be aware of our unconscious bias and unexamined beliefs about women. This education cannot be done with a brochure. We need to invest in large scale, organisational wide education to make visible unconscious bias and the myriad of ways in which women are still positioned as the ‘other’ academics.
Get to grips with intersectionality. Gender-based discrimination cannot be considered in isolation. Intersectional feminism demonstrates how patriarchy intersects with other oppressive structures, including racism, colonialism, ableism, queer- and transphobia, and ageism, to shape people’s experiences within an institution. We know that women face risks in universities, and we know that some women and non-binary academics face more risks than others. We need more intersectional research to help the development of effective interventions. And once again, we need education.
Get back to the basics: Research-led education. If we use the existing expertise we have regarding the origins of gender inequity, we could—as a sector—use this knowledge to construct a whole new approach to gender-based reform in university contexts.
It would be insulting to suggest that centuries of sexist behaviour can be undone overnight. But as with most things that matter, the first step is to name the problem, to really listen to those with the most at stake, and to co-design respectful, evidenced based, multi-dimensional ways forward.
What is Griffith University doing?
Griffith supports this change and takes the task of safety and wellbeing of our academic staff very seriously. Like many universities, Griffith University has legally appropriate policies preventing overt discrimination, as well as parenting facilities, initiatives to support women in STEMM, and parental leave provisions. And we have clear evidence of some impressive initiatives such as the Gender Equality Research Network and events led by our Equity and Pride committees.
But the persistence of gender-related discrimination provides a compelling case to be made for going further. In our research, we have seen gender-based approaches within universities described in four different ways: desert, mirage, oasis and utopia.
By supporting the research reported in this article Griffith University is helping to make utopia a reality, not an illusion. This will take on going work, and we look forward to reporting on next steps.
Imagine what it would look like if we turned this around. What if we really faced up to all the data. What if we were truly brave and looked at the consequences of entrenched sexism?
Griffith supports this change and takes the task of safety and wellbeing of our academic staff very seriously. What are your universities doing?
Authors
Dr Elaine Chiao Ling Yang is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism at Griffith University. Elaine’s work focuses on the empowerment of marginalised groups in tourism, including women, children and migrants. Most of her work entails an intersectionality lens that foregrounds the intertwined gender, race, and cultural identities. Elaine has received multiple research awards, including the CAUTHE Fellows Award in 2023.
Dr Dhara Shah is the Director of Engagement and Senior Lecturer with Griffith’s Department of BSI. Her research interests include women and social entrepreneurship, social innovation, disadvantaged aging women, cross-cultural adjustment. Dhara has led social innovation projects to empower precariat and disadvantaged women, capacity-building for women social entrepreneurs, awareness of Diversity and Inclusive Leadership. She has published many high-ranked journal articles and book chapters. She was a recipient of the PVCs Research Excellence Award in 2021
Professor Leonie Rowan is the Director of the Griffith Institute for Educational Research. Her research and teaching focus explicitly on issues relating to gender; particularly the multiple ways in which gender is made to matter in contemporary texts and contexts.
Dr Natalie Osborne (School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University) is interested in feminist, queer, anti-colonial and crip theorising for urban and climate justice, and research and teaching for collective liberation. She co-organises Radio Reversal and the Brisbane Free University, and is a white settler on unceded Jagera and Turrbal Country.
Dr Sonal Nakar is a Lecturer and Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA) institutional lead for School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. She is an experienced practitioner with research expertise in the teaching of ethics, ethical reasoning, teacher education, the beginning teacher workforce, and work-integrated learning in education.
Dr Sakinah Alhadad is a senior lecturer and researcher at the School of Education and Professional Studies and the Griffith Institute of Educational Research. As an interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of psychology, the learning sciences, and education, her research is focused on equity and justice-oriented educational possibilities in higher education, particularly for the minoritised and marginalised, from an intersectional perspective.
Dr Roslyn Donnellan-Fernandez is a midwife and Director of Primary Maternity Care Programs at Griffith University with experience in teaching and curriculum development at three Australian universities. She is actively engaged with strategic, policy and funding initiatives for scale-up of midwifery models as a primary, public health strategy to enable access and equity for under-served groups. Her teaching and research are informed by critical emancipatory social theory, principles of life-long learning, advocacy, and political and professional engagement that facilitate transformation of people, structures, and communities toward social justice, health equity, and gender equality.
The future of beef cattle trade between Australia and Vietnam was discussed at a symposium in Hanoi highlighting an industry collaboration in technical expertise and development of a more competitive, sustainable, and profitable supply chain.
Project lead at Griffith Asia Institute Associate Professor Dominic Smith.
Project lead at the Griffith Asia Institute Associate Professor Dominic Smith said the symposium was an excellent chance to link Australian and Vietnamese industry through technical expertise.
“It is extremely positive to see the symposium reinvigorating existing relationships between the two countries and also catalysing many new opportunities for technical collaboration, investment, trade, and capability development,” Associate Professor Smith said.
Discussion topics included priorities and opportunities in markets and trade, meeting net zero emission targets, profitable forage and fattening systems, improving breeding and genetics in Vietnam, modernizing processing, value adding and integrity systems.
The symposium was supported by DFAT under the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Grant Program implemented by Griffith University and Vietnamese partners at the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development (IPSARD) and Focus Group Go Consulting Company with the Reimagining Collaboration between the Australian and Vietnamese Beef Cattle Industries program.
Vietnamese Vice-Minister of Agriculture Phung Duc Tien in discussion with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, HE Andrew Goledzinowski at the Symposium. Photo credit: Australian Embassy, Vietnam.
Vietnamese and Australian cattle producers, cattle industry associations, businesses, researchers, technical experts and government representatives engaged in livestock production gathered to explore opportunities and forge new friendships at the symposium.
The importance of bringing such a wide range of stakeholders together was highlighted when the event was officially opened by the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture, his excellency Mr Phung Duc Tien.
The event included opening remarks from the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Andrew Goledzinowski, who emphasised the importance of the history of relationships between Australia and Vietnam in terms of beef cattle trade and the need to explore opportunities in the area of investment for the future.
Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor to Vietnam, Tony Harman, said he was thrilled to take part in the symposium.
“This year we celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam,” Mr Harman said.
Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor to Vietnam Tony Harman.
“Two-way trade in FY23 realised an impressive $AUD 6.5 billion, with Vietnam now being the fourth largest destination for Australian agricultural exports.
“Our beef and cattle partnership continues to be a cornerstone of our agricultural partnership.
“This symposium draws upon the very best of Australian and Vietnamese technical expertise and commercial knowledge to foster deeper engagement and provide a springboard for the development of a more competitive, sustainable and profitable supply chain.”
Participants in the symposium included 135 face-to-face delegates, more than 50 Zoom participants and more than 2,500 people viewed the live symposium proceedings on YouTube.
The symposium was highlighted to the more than 100,000 viewers of the program “Chà o Buổi Sáng” (Good Morning) program on national broadcaster VTV1 in Vietnam.
All presentations are now available on the Asia Beef Network website.
New research led by Griffith University on Australia’s Gold Coast and Andrés Bello University in Chile, has shown that surfing contributes about US$1 trillion a year to the global economy, by improving the mental health of surfers.
For the Gold Coast alone, the research team estimated the benefits to be valued at ~US$1.0—3.3 billion per year. Mental health benefits from surfing comprise 57—74% of the total economic benefits of surfing. The mental health benefits are 4.4—13.5 times direct expenditure by surfers, and 4—12 times economic effects via property and inbound tourism.
Mental health benefits may differ in degree, from occasional to frequent surfers. Outcomes may sometimes be perceived as negative, with injuries and overcrowding as principal causes. As with many thrill+skill adventure activities, surfing can act as a behavioural addiction: at least some surfers suffer substantial withdrawal symptoms if deprived of surf.
“The reason why there are such big numbers in the value of recreational activities like surfing for mental health benefits is that for almost every kind of job, you have to pay attention: for safety, skill, service, or decisions,” Professor Buckley said.
“If you are stressed and not paying proper attention, your job performance suffers, and that costs money for your employer or your business.
“Outdoor activities such as surfing reduce stress, as long as you can get a few good waves. Surfing has a powerful psychological effect and that has a substantial value.”
Why study the Gold Coast?
Professor Buckley said that for economic valuations, mental health benefits acquired via surfing may also lead to large-scale lifestyle choices, such as residential location and work preferences, and these can create secondary economic effects, e.g., via property prices.
“The economic value of surf amenities also overlaps with beach amenities more broadly,” Professor Buckley said.
“Taking all these factors into account, we estimated the mental health value of surfing for our case study site, the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
“The Gold Coast is a beach tourist destination, and its economy is driven largely by real estate, tourism, and trade and professional services such as building, healthcare and education.
“Its 2023 resident population is estimated at ~732,000. In 2008, there were 65,000—120,000 surfers.
“Surfer numbers have doubled over the past 5 years, so we can estimate >130,000 surfers currently.
“The mean number of beach visits per capita in Australia is 6 per year. The mean number of surf sessions per Gold Coast surfer is reported at ~100/year.”
How do you calculate the mental health value of surfing?
“The economics are straightforward,” Professor Buckley said.
“We simply took existing health economics calculations for parks and greenspace and applied them to surfing.”
Professor Buckley and co-author Dr Mary-Ann Cooper from Andrés Bello University in Chile, triangulated the economic value of mental health benefits from surfing using the two different estimation methods currently available.
Using the productivity + healthcare estimation method, if surfing reduces stress from high to low levels, it creates an estimated ~10% improvement in per capita workplace productivity, plus ~10% reduction in costs of mental healthcare. The Australian mean per capita GDP is ~$45,500, and mental healthcare costs are~10% of GDP4.
The value of that stress reduction via surfing is estimated at ~$5000 per person per year. Surfing therefore contributes an estimated ~$0.65—2.10 billion per year via surfer mental health benefits.
This can be injected directly into the Gold Coast economy via both employment and healthcare.
Where to from here?
Professor Buckley said this study provided an approximate top-down estimate, and for more accurate estimates at local scales, the team needed to track mental health measures and possible influential factors for large panels of surfers, over multiple years.
“Our research also makes a contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG14, which is Oceans.
“Therefore, the economic value of surfing is an argument for the conservation of our coastlines.”
A former political party leader, environment and policy experts, and youth climate advocates will unite for the inaugural Climate Ready Australia National Summit to build capacity and accelerate climate action in Australia.
The Summit brings together climate action leaders from professional associations, business and community organisations, government agencies and researchers at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and online on 22-23 November.
Griffith’s Climate Action Beacon and Climate Ready Initiative will host the event, with support from the event’s major sponsors RACQ and the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. The event aims to share knowledge and thought leadership, and build capability and networks in the transition towards a low carbon and climate resilient future.
Climate Action Beacon Director Professor Brendan Mackey, who is also a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Chapter 11 — Australia, is among the expansive list of speakers presenting at the two-day event and said now was the time to catalyse a phase shift in climate action.
“Climate change is a fast moving and complicated issue for businesses, governments, communities and organisations, and the Summit will help support them on a path towards climate readiness,” Professor Mackey said.
“The summit will focus on sharing knowledge and building capacity for climate action among Australia’s peak bodies, across all levels of government, business and community organisations.
“We want to amplify action towards a Climate Ready Australia through sharing research and knowledge, creating networks, and working towards the Shared Agenda of the Climate Ready Australia 2030.”
Professor John Hewson AM, a former Liberal Party leader and climate action expert, is patron of the Smart Energy Council, and Chair on the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, BioEnergy Australia, and the Commission for the Human Future.
Professor Hewson is one of more than 40 eminent speakers and facilitators to bring an expert lens to the two-day summit.
RACQ Group CEO David Carter said RACQ was proud to be the major sponsor of the Summit and the Club recognised the importance of coming together to empower and advance climate action.
“RACQ firmly believes in a future where Queenslanders, Australians and the global community can thrive, live and work in a sustainable world that’s resilient to climate change and adapts to increasing climate risk,” Mr Carter said.
“Our Club has increased its climate commitments, and we are holding ourselves accountable to targets that improve how we operate, contribute to Queensland’s economy and support our members transition to a low carbon future.”
Day One will include the “must-have conversations” affecting organisations that are serious about advancing climate action and enabling a just transition.
Day Two will focus on capability building and includes bespoke two-hour learning labs, co-designed and delivered by Griffith University and industry experts.
The 2023 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Fellowship for Pacific Policymakers was held from 30 October to 17 November as part of DFAT’s prestigious Australian Awards Fellowships. Funded by the Australian Government for emerging and established leaders, the Fellowships focus on fostering networks of influence and leadership in Australia’s partner countries.
Participants of the Fellowship at Nathan campus. (Photo supplied)
The Fellowships aim to strengthen partnerships between Australian organisations and their counterparts in the Pacific region. Griffith University’s Pacific Island Centre for Development Policy and Research (PICDPR–formerly SPCCB) capacity development program for Pacific policymakers played a pivotal role in the relaunch of the Fellowships last year.
Addressing one of the Fellowship’s six priority areas–digital economy–PICDPR brought together a delegation of 13 Fellows from the central banks of Fiji and Solomon Islands to Brisbane for the three-week training program. During their visit, these policymakers engaged in a comprehensive training program titled “Financing Pacific Futures: Finance in a Digital Economy.”
In appreciating DFAT’s sponsorship of the training program, Dr Parmendra Sharma, Program Director of PICDPR, noted that:
“Such programs are not only very useful for capacity development but they also provide a great opportunity for inter-Pacific, in-person interactions and bonding where the Fellows share their views and work together towards Pacific-based solutions to common challenges.”
Participants of the Fellowship in the classroom. (Photo supplied)
Tailored for senior and mid-career officials and professionals capable of advancing development outcomes, the Fellowships are designed to elevate the institutional capacity of partner countries through the application of effective leadership.
Distinguished instructors for the program included Dr Shyama Ratnasiri, Associate Professor Parvinder Kler, Professor Robert Bianchi and Dr Victor Wong, Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Dr Peter Dirou, Griffith Asia Institute Adjunct and former Asian Development Bank consultant, Professor Alan Wee-Chung Liew, Deputy Director, Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems, Professor Christoph Nedopil Wang, Director, Griffith Asia Institute and Professor Renee McKibbin, Australian National University and Panellist of the 2023 RBA Review.
Participants of the Fellowship at the completion of the program. (Photo supplied)
The training program’s coordination was led by Associate Professor Tarlok Singh, Dr Jen-Je Su, and Dr Parmendra Sharma–comprising the core PICDPR team.
Going beyond conventional classroom sessions, the program facilitated interstate visits, fostering collaborative partnerships with key entities including theAustralian Securities and Investment Commission, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Reserve Bank of Australia, DFAT, and Federal Treasury. This hands-on approach aimed to provide policymakers with practical insights, fostering not only professional growth but also strengthening the bonds between Pacific nations and Australian financial institutions and regulatory bodies.
A new study estimates most corporations are not reporting the full scope of their carbon footprint with many claiming to be ‘green’ despite a lack of reporting on Scope 3 key categories.
Though CO2 reporting is currently voluntary for most firms, corporations are under pressure from investors, regulators, politicians, non-profit organisations and other stakeholders to disclose and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
The standard for greenhouse gas accounting, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, is used worldwide to measure a company’s total carbon footprint with three levels of reporting.
The first measures the GHG emissions directly produced by a company during business activities (such as emissions from a corporate fleet).
The second measures emissions associated with the production of energy which is purchased from an external supplier (such as emissions produced by electricity providers).
The third (Scope 3) measures indirect emissions not already accounted for and includes upstream and downstream emissions from a company’s full value chain, such as emissions produced by customers as a result of a company’s product (downstream) and emissions produced in the manufacture of a company’s equipment (upstream).
Griffith Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics Professor Ivan Diaz-Rainey.
Griffith Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics Professor Ivan Diaz-Rainey, a leading international expert in climate and sustainable finance said firms were being strategic in their Scope 3 reporting and this could underpin greenwashing.
“Scope 3 emissions account for the highest proportion of total emissions, and it’s the least likely scope to be reported on,” Professor Diaz-Rainey said.
“Companies have a great incentive to better their scope one and two emissions because direct energy efficiency leads to financial savings.
“An oil and gas firm may pump oil out of the ground and in doing so, may use vehicles and electricity, but what really counts in terms of the impact of an oil and gas firm, is how the end users are emitting GHG as a result of purchasing the firm’s product.
“For the oil and gas firm, the Scope 3 emissions are emitted by people who purchase the oil and use it in their cars to drive around or take a flight.
“If an oil and gas firm only report on Scope One and Two, we are missing most of the story.
“If a bank gives a huge loan to a coal or a gas project their Scope 3 emissions would be very high.
“Some jurisdictions are moving towards mandatory disclosures, driven by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and pressure to make Scope 3 mandatory is increasing.”
UNSW Climate Change Research Centre adjunct fellow and co-founder of EMMI, Dr Ben McNeil
The research is an industry-university collaboration between climate risk analysis firm EMMI and researchers at Griffith University and the University of Otago.
UNSW Climate Change Research Centre adjunct fellow and co-founder of EMMI Dr Ben McNeil said Scope 3 emissions for companies were difficult to quantify but critical in understanding how companies were financially exposed to carbon pricing and their decarbonisation pathways.
“Although significant uncertainty remains, our novel machine learning approach to estimating Scope 3 emissions has proven valuable to understand whether a company has ‘material’ financial exposure to a net-zero world where carbon is legislated and priced,” Dr McNeil said.
Lead researcher University of Otago Research Fellow Dr Quyen Nguyen said researchers used machine learning to improve the prediction of corporate carbon footprints, which provided an indication of where policymakers and regulators should concentrate their efforts for greater disclosure.
“We discovered firms chose to report on certain categories within Scope 3 and they often chose to report on categories which are easier to calculate instead of categories which really matter like Use of sold products,” Dr Nguyen said.
Lead researcher, University of Otago Research Fellow Dr Quyen Nguyen.
“Firms generally report incomplete compositions of Scope 3 emissions, yet they are reporting more categories over time.
“It is interesting to see the Scope 3 categories firms choose to report on are not always the most material, such as travel emissions and this may be because it is difficult to collect data for other relevant and material categories (such as the use of products and processing of sold products), but it could also mean that the true environmental impact of a firm is being disguised.
“Machine learning can help predict individual Scope 3 categories, but it is no magic bullet, what we need is for firms to report more Scope 3 categories.
“Firms are reporting more categories over time, and the fraction of firms which report scope 3 emissions are around 60 per cent of firms which are already reporting Scope One and Two emissions.”
Study authors include Quyen Nguyen (University of Otago), Ivan Diaz-Rainey (Griffith University), Adam Kitto (EMMI), Ben I. McNeil (EMMI and University of New South Wales), Nicholas A. Pittman (EMMI), Renzhu Zhang (University of Otago).
Perspectives: Asia hosted The Hon. Dr Andrew Charlton, Member of Parliament for Paramatta, to share insights on his latest book Australia’s Pivot to India.
In his lecture on Thursday, November 9, Dr Charlton shared a very personal and optimistic perspective on India’s development and Australia’s relationship with India. He spoke of how Australia was not only physically connected in historic times of Gondwana sharing geology, but that India was one of the countries that supported Australian settlements through much needed provisions.
Australia was one of the first countries to hoist India’s flag after its independence in 1947, however relations between the two nations have long been more hopeful than practical. Dr Charlton pointed out that a growing Indian diaspora in Australia, which as of 2020, became the second-largest group of overseas-born residents within Australia, contributes to the stronger relations between the two nations, moving beyond the “three C’s”- commonwealth, cricket, and curry – from a relationship he describes as “acquaintances”, to a relationship based on friendship and partnership.
Economically, Australia has a lot to gain from strengthening relationships with India, as its GDP rises and its population continues to increase. With India’s rise to becoming a 21st century superpower imminent, Dr Charlton linked its growth within the world and the growth of the Indian diaspora within Australia to the inescapable conclusion; the rise of India will change Australia, both within the country and outside of it. He expands on this prediction within his book.
The audiences’ questions touched on the support of the Australian government towards the Indian diaspora, the role of climate change cooperation, and the difference between the relationship of Australia with India versus Indonesia.
Perspectives: Asia is co-hosted by the Griffith Asia Institute and the Australian Centre of Asia Pacific Art, QAGOMA. It has been running since 2005 with high-level speakers from Australia, Asia, and the world to share perspectives and developments relevant for the Asia-Pacific region from diplomacy to economics, from sports to cooking. It is an opportunity for the public to learn about our closest neighbours and differing points of views on topics that vary with a range of interests.
Griffith Sports College elite athlete and Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) student, Cassiel Rousseau, has capped off a stunning 12 months by being named the recipient of the Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement at the University’s annual Blues Awards for Sporting Excellence
Cassiel made history as the first Australian to claim a World Championship title in diving during the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan.
The Queenslander won the gold medal for the Men’s 10-Metre Platform dive scoring 98.05 points for an expertly executed forward four-and-a-half somersault tuck.
2020 Olympic Canoe Slalom gold medallist and MBA student Jessica Fox was named Academic Athlete of the Year.
Major award winners Cassiel Rousseau and Jessica Fox
The Awards evening also celebrated Grififth’s elite sports college athletes awarded Blues for their performances and accomplishments in 2023 as well as inducting three more former Griffith Sports College alumni into its Hall of Fame.
Half Blues
Georgia Brose – Snowboard – Bachelor of Psychological Science
Carla Bull – Athletics – Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Joshua Edwards-Smith – Swimming – Bachelor of Business
Danica Free – Rowing – Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Henry Hughes – Swimming – Bachelor of Business
Kyra Livermore – Hockey – Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Jenaya Massie – Canoe Sprint – Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)
Dylan Rhodes – Rowing – Bachelor of Nursing
Samuel Roy – Surf Lifesaving – Doctor of Medicine
Tiarni Bryce – Touch Football – Bachelor of Education
Lachlan Clifford – Ice Hockey – Bachelor of Pharmacy
Tom Feldman – Bachelor of Medical Science
Mikayla Hinkley – Cricket – Bachelor of Psychological Science
Swimmer and Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Business student Jenna Forrester with Naomi McCarthy OAM and Professor Carolyn Evans
Annie McGuire – Athletics – Bachelor of Psychological Science
Thomas Nowakowski – Bachelor of Business
Jade Reid – Hockey – Bachelor of Nursing
Kijan Sultana – Squash – Bachelor of Business
Amelia Watt – Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Full Blues
Pippa Adkins – Softball – Doctor of Medicine
Charlize Andrews – Water Polo – Bachelor of Nursing
Grayson Bell – Swimming – Bachelor of Software Engineering (Hons)
Jemima Blackmore – Deaf Rugby 7s – Bachelor of Education
Jessica Borg – Taekwondo – Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Business
Grace Brown – Cycling – Master of Marketing
Sports College Manager Naomi McCarthy with Bachelor of Nursing student Dylan Rhodes and Griffith University Vice President (Industry & External Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Harch
Jack Cartwright – Swimming – Bachelor of Computer Science
Katja Dedekind – Para Swimming – Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Matthew Denney Athletics – Bachelor of Business
Tenealle Fasala – Bachelor of Nursing
Jenna Forrester – Swimming – Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Business
Jessica Fox – Canoe Slalom – MBA
Tom Gallagher – Para Swimming – Bachelor of Business
Olympic Cyclist and Master of Marketing student Grace Brown
Abbey Harkin – Swimming – Bachelor of BusinessChelsea Hodges – Swimming – Bachelor of Nursing
Bridget Leeson-Smith – Water Polo – Bachelor of Counselling
Sophie Milliken – Water Polo – Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Jessica Mouatt – Swimming – Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Cassiel Rousseau – Diving – Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)
Tara Phillips – Beach Volleyball – Bachelor of Midwifery
Susan Seipel – Paracanoe – Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)
Michael Shipley – Para Cycling – Bachelor of Exercise Science
Gus Shivnan – Surf Lifesaving – Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Yale Steinpreis – Canoe – Juris Doctor
Deaf Rugby 7s international player and Bachelor of Education student Jemima Blackmore
Kai Taylor – Swimming – Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Business
Sara Tazaki – Surf Lifesaving – Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Matthew Aubrey – Volleyball – Master of International Business
Domonic Bedggood – Diving – Bachelor of Commerce
Rayna Buckle – Artistic Swimming – Bachelor of Dental Health Science
Tamzin Christoffell – Taekwondo – Bachelor of Education
Jackson Collins – Canoe – Bachelor of Business
Georgia Courage-Gardiner – Artistic Swimming – Bachelor of Education
Abby Craswell – Athletics – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (hons)
Lily Dick – Rugby 7s – Bachelor of Business
Arshdeep Dosanjh – Volleyball – Bachelor of Business
Kai Edwards – Swimming – Bachelor of Sport Development
Georgina Friedrichs – Rugby Union – Master of Primary Education
Jackson Harvey – Freestyle Mogul Skiing – Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Business
Demi Hayes – Rugby 7s – Bachelor of Communication
Lidiia Iakovleva – Artistic Gymnastics – Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Shayna Jack – Swimming – Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Elise Kellond-Knights – Football – MBA
Cormac Kennedy-Leverett – Rowing – Bachelor of Business
Cara Koenen – Netball – Bachelor of Forensic Science / Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Juliet Lahood – Taekwondo – Bachelor of Communication
Shellie Long – Rugby League – Bachelor of Laws (hons) Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Curtis McGrath – Para Canoe – Bachelor of Aviation Management
Emilie Muir – Swimming – Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Luke Perry – Volleyball – Bachelor of Business
Greta Small – Alpine Skiing – Bachelor of Communication
Zac Stubblety-Cook – Swimming – Bachelor of Business
Melissa-Anne Tanner – Para Archery – Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Tamieka Whitefield – Softball – Bachelor of Education
