All may not be lost for Australia as they head to Porto Alegre for a daunting second round World Cup clash with the Netherlands.
An economic model developed at Griffith Business School suggests Australia is more likely to make the World Cup semi-finals than established football powers like Argentina, Uruguay or even Chile who defeated the spirited Socceroos in their tournament opener.
The bad news for Australia is that they remain well behind the top tier teams most likely to reach the last four, based on economic data post GFC and past performances at the World Cup.
ABC Radio: Professor Carmignani explains his theory on 612 ABC Drive
Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy and Brazil emerged as the top five nations most likely to reach the semi-finals, with Australia rated 16th of 32 competing nations.
Spain (8), England (11) and the United States (12) ranked above Australia, with Uruguay (18), Chile (22) and Argentina (24) in the bottom half. African countries made up the bottom four teams.
“The lower a country’s rate of growth, the more likely this country is to make it through to the semis,” explains Professor of Economics, Fabrizio Carmignani, who developed the model.
“After accounting for the rate of growth, richer countries with more advanced economies are more likely to reach the semi-finals.”
Acknowledging that some countries are simply better at football than others, Professor Carmignani factored this into the economic model by including the number of times that a country reached the semi-finals in the previous five editions of the World Cup into the calculations.
The model estimates confirm that the probability of a country to be successful (to reach the semi-finals in any given World Cup) increases with:
- the higher the level of per capita GDP in this country;
- the lower its rate of GDP growth; and
- the more semi-finals it has played in previous World Cups.
“Estimates based on the period between 1986 and 2010 can then be used to predict the probability that a country will reach the semi-finals in 2014, given its current level of per capita GDP and its rate of growth in the past five years,” Professor Carmignani said.
“A group of five countries (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Brazil) has a very high probability to make it to the semi-finals. Not surprisingly, four of these are European countries. The recession does pay off — but maybe only in football.”
The second-tier group includes four countries — Croatia, Portugal, Spain and Greece — which, again, are all victims of the economic crisis. England is in the third tier, along with United States, Belgium and Switzerland. Australia leads the fourth-tier group, with a 14% probability to make it to the semi-finals.
“With an average rate of economic growth of 5% per year for the past five years, Argentina is simply doing too well economically to hope to do well in the World Cup.”
The next big thing in the local music scene will soon take to the stage for the latest instalment of The Seed Project – a collaboration between the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU) and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
The free mini-festival series of original music held on QPAC’s Melbourne Street Green will run for 10 weeks each Friday night featuring funk, folk, pop, blues, rock, soul, country and everything in between.
Artists are drawn from the immense talent within the QCGU’s Bachelor of Popular Music (BPM), the program responsible for launching the careers of musicians such as The Kite String Tangle, The Delta Riggs, Bobby Alu and The John Steele Singers.
The Seed Project 2014 official launch will take place from 5.00pm, Friday 20 June with the first line-up to include:
- The blues influenced Jackson James Smith;
- Indie rock ‘n’ roll band TINKER;
- Self-confessed ‘slave to the song’ David Baker; and
- Taylor Moss (pictured above right), the urban country songstress who has already recorded in Nashville, released two music videos and enjoyed chart success with her single Centre Stage.
This year’s launch event will also mark the release of the Seed Volume 3 compilation album produced annually at the QCGU as part of an industry-first, student-focused enterprising model according to Deputy Director and head of the BPM, Dr Donna Weston.
“The Seed initiative came about in direct response to the global changes in the music industry, so our emerging and diverse musicians can now effectively produce and represent themselves,” Dr Weston explains.
“To perform at a venue like QPAC is a great next step for these artists who are already establishing their professional careers, launching incredible EPs and music videos and generating significant fan bases daily.
“These weekly concerts will be the perfect opportunity to see the next big thing in the local music scene,” said Dr Weston.
Seed Volume 3 will be available for purchase at the launch and also through iTunes, Amazon and Spotify after June 20.
Following the launch, The Seed Project will run from 5.30pm – 8.30pm every Friday through to August 22.
For the full program and weekly line-up, visit: http://www.qpac.com.au/the_seed_project/
MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Marino, 0418 799 544, [email protected]
The potential for new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and autism has improved after scientists successfully mapped the genes of a parasitic worm in pigs.
Published in the influential journal Nature Genetics, the findings of a global study of the porcine whipworm Trichuris suiscould carry major ramifications for world health.
Griffith University’s Associate Professor Andreas Hofmann is one of the authors of the study that involved 11 institutions in six countries and included the Structural Chemistry Program at Griffith’s Eskitis Institute.
Whipworm infects one billion people and causes trichuriasis, a disease related to inflammation of the large intestine. Most prevalent in poorer nations, chronic infection can lead to typhlitis, colitis, chronic dysentery and malnutrition and can impair physical and cognitive development, especially in children.
Paradoxically, Trichurisof pigs has demonstrated promise in the treatment of human autoimmune disorders, particularly in countries where exposure to pathogens is reduced.
According to the study, human populations in endemic countries tend to suffer from substantially fewer of the immunopathological diseases common and increasingly prevalentin countries with limited exposure to infectious agents.
“Backed by clinical data, these observations have inspired the ‘hygiene hypothesis’, which proposes that a lack of exposure of humans to common pathogens impairs immune function and leads to increased autoimmune disease,” say the authors.
“Recent studies have shown that porcineTrichurisadministered to humans suffering from IBD (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) can reduce clinical symptoms. Similar observations have been made in patients with multiple sclerosis.
“With information provided by the T. suisgenome and transcriptomes, we provide deep insights into the molecular biology of this parasite and its modulation of host immune responses.This data provides a solid basis for exploring human trichuriasis, developing new anti-parasitic drugs and elucidating how worm-like parasites suppress autoimmune disorders.”
The study was led by Professor Robin Gasser at the University of Melbourne. Associate Professor Hofmann is Program Leader of the Structural Chemistry Program at Griffith University and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne.
Porcine whipworm study
Brisbane’s G20 summit can be a turning point in the battle to stop dirty money flowing between countries — like the nearly $30 million in Russian money found recently in Gold Coast bank accounts — according to a global anti-corruption fighter to speak in Brisbane this week.
Elena Panfilova, Director of Transparency International Russia, will give the keynote address to a ‘Corruption, Integrity Systems and the G20’ conference tomorrow (Wednesday 18 June), hosted by Griffith University and Transparency International.
As Australian Federal Police move to confiscate the $30 million found belonging to nine Russian nationals, suspected to be proceeds of crime, Ms Panfilova, anti-corruption groups and experts are calling for decisive action by G20 leaders.
“Australia’s leadership of the G20 is a perfect time for Australia to show the way, by tightening up its own financial systems and due diligence in the international effort to stop corruption and crime,” Ms Panfilova said.
“The truth is that corrupt Russians don’t want to spend all their money in Moscow. They want to go to Monaco, Miami, Milan… and the Gold Coast.
“To hear that Australian banks may have accepted millions of dollars from Russians when their salaries were the tiniest fraction of that amount poses the question — why? What due diligence is taking place? What checks did the lawyers and accountants do?”
Last month, another conference speaker, Griffith University’s Professor Jason Sharman, called on Australian and G20 governments to move more swiftly towards tighter regulation of ‘shell companies’ also often used to hide the proceeds of corruption.
Global chair of Transparency International, Canada’s Huguette Labelle, will also deliver a keynote address at the official conference dinner.
New whistleblower report
Conference convenor, Professor AJ Brown (left), of Griffith University’s Centre for Governance and Public Policy, will unveil a new report on the progress of G20 nations in meeting their commitments to strengthen whistleblower protection laws around the world — another plank in the G20’s existing anti-corruption action plan.
Ms Panfilova says the role of the G20 in the fight against corruption is even more important, now that Russia no longer sits at the G8 table, but remains a G20 country.
“This forum can raise the game internationally, each country pulling each other up to higher standards. It is therefore absolutely crucial that the G20 rise to the challenge and set new global anti-corruption standards.
“G20 Leaders need to prove to citizens around the world that they understand the impact of corruption on citizens’ lives — whether it be roads and bridges not built, hospitals withholding treatment to patients who can’t pay, or exorbitantly expensive World Cup or Olympic stadiums.”
Details on the speakers and conference venue details can be found at: http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/corruption-integrity-systems-g20.
Public Conference: Integrity & Anti-Corruption in the G20: The Post-2014 Agenda
(Part of Corruption, Integrity Systems and the G20)
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Wednesday 18 June — 1 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Bringing the 2014 International Horticultural Congress (IHC) to Brisbane is a huge task for organisers and Griffith University has a large part in planning the event.
Griffith Sciences Professor Rod Drew is one of the co-presidents of the IHC and believes this Congress showcases the importance of horticulture to the world.
“The Congress is the major event of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), and is only held every four years,” Prof. Drew said.
“It is such a great opportunity to showcase horticulture and to actually let people know just how important horticulture really is to our lives.
“I am sure it is going to have an impact this year.”
The IHC will bring more than 3000 international scientists, researchers and academics from all areas of horticultural science to Brisbane over the course of a week. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the IHC and is only the second time the Congress has been held in the southern hemisphere.
Integral to the IHC organisational team is Dr Robin Roberts, a project leader and experienced researcher from Griffith Business School, who is keen for student input.
Wonderful opportunity
“The congress offers students a wonderful opportunity to get involved as volunteers and to rub shoulders with the world’s best in horticulture,” Dr Roberts explains.
More than 140 volunteers will be required for the week-long congress, which runs from August 17-22, and is not limited only to students, with anyone keenly interested in horticulture encouraged to apply.
“It’s an event that students of international business, marketing and tourism should find immensely interesting. But that is not intended to discourage students from other areas,” Dr Roberts said.
“We are particularly keen to involve language students as we will need one volunteer team to cover 12 different languages.
“Our ‘Cultural Attaché’ team will provide interpreting services for delegates, assisting with translations and holistic support services for a diverse range of activities including tours, shopping and sightseeing.”
This value-add service aims to enhance our delegates’ overall experience of the Congress and in the city of Brisbane.
There will also be opportunities for volunteers in other teams to help prior and during the Congress.
First a ‘Meet and Greet’ team is needed to ensure delegates feel welcome from the moment they arrive at Brisbane International and domestic airports.
Also an ‘Ask Me’ team is needed to inform and advise on issues relating to the congress and additional support including how to use a Go Card, first aid support and suggesting places of interest to visit.
Volunteer orientation and training workshops will be run at Griffith University in July and August.
“Volunteering is a major component of international events,” Dr Roberts said.
“The essence of volunteering is hard to capture, hard to explain, but it is something innate to Australians.
“In a way it makes us what we are, and I’m sure this will be demonstrated during the International Horticultural Congress in August.”
Student involvement
Amy Mitchell-Whittington is a young Griffith University journalism student working with the IHC volunteer program and knows first-hand the great opportunities available to volunteers at the Congress.
“This is a great chance to take part and engage in a major event that showcases skills and research of horticulture experts from around the world,” Ms Mitchell-Whittington said.
“I am fortunate enough to have the chance to be able to develop my skills in such an exciting and dynamic environment.”
To apply to be a volunteer, applicants should log onto www.ihc2014.org.
For volunteer information contact Robin Roberts on 0414 655 257.
Griffith University’s School of Information and Communication Technology is celebrating the achievements of students and graduates after an impressive week of awards and industry recognition.
The 2014 Queensland State iAwardswere held at Parliament House in Brisbane on Thursday evening (June 12) and a team representing the School of ICT Industry Project Group won the Tertiary Undergraduate Student category for its Kidz@GCU Hospital Mobile App.
The app is designed to help children going to hospital better understand and be more at ease with what is happening around them. It was developed in 2013 by Darcelle Hinze, Belinda Rex, Chelsea McGuinness and Ashley Burns as part of their third-year project.
It’s the second year in a row a Griffith team has won the Tertiary Undergraduate Student category, following the 2013 success of a Smartphone Driven Automated Vehicle designed by ICT students.
“When we worked on the Kidz@GCU Hospital project last year, we loved what we were doing and were passionate about its potential to help children,” says Darcelle.
“Even though we’ve gone in different study and career directions since then, we’re all really motivated and hope this can be a stepping stone to new projects and new goals.”
The Griffith team has advanced to the national iAwards final in Melbourne in August.
Delivering industry outcomes
Head of the School of ICT, Professor Michael Blumenstein, says the iAwards are among the most prestigious ICT industry awards in Australia and to win in successive years is a proud achievement.
“This again demonstrates the quality of work and innovation being undertaken at Griffith University and is recognition for projects that show ingenuity, efficiency and deliver industry outcomes.”
The iAwards honour is not the first for the creators of Kidz@GCU Hospital. They were successful at last year’s inaugural Opmantek Awards for high-achieving final year students participating in the 3002ICT Industry Project course.
The semester-long course is convened by Dr Peter Darcy at the Gold Coast campus and Dr Andrew Lewis at Nathan and the awards for projects completed during the first semester of 2014 were also announced this week.
Sponsored by Gold Coast companyOpmantek, a leading developer of Network Management Software, the judges for the awards were CEO Mr Danny Maher and Chief Technology Officer Mr Keith Sinclair, along with City of Gold Coast’s Councillor Glenn Tozer and Professor Blumenstein.
Sensor technology
The winning team was ISB Solutions for its Beacon Network Pilot Application, a mobile app with a web-enabled database that is integrated with sensor technology to monitor movements of smart devices. Team members were Charles Nelson, Ryoma Ohira, Daniel Ormeño Gomez and Steven Lawler.
Runners-up were Future Gadget Lab for its online photo gallery allowing people to use QR codes to purchase digital images, and the Oceans team for its SSP Spelling Piano, an iOS app that is an interactive learning tool to help children to read.
“When Opmantek first sponsored the prize it was all about lifting the status of the industry projects and lifting the students up with it,” says CEO Mr Danny Maher.
“The awards call for an industry-based project and I believe this produces better graduates and also inspires the next wave of students coming through.”
Coincidentally, Opmantek won the Tools category at the iAwards, although Mr Maher focused his attention on the successful Griffith team.
“You are the top of Australia’s emerging innovators and Australia is one of the most innovative countries in the world.”
Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor has delivered his personal message of support to 13 Griffith students who are competing at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
During a private morning tea at the Gold Coast Campus, Professor O’Connor said he was very proud of their dedication and achievements.
“At Griffith we understand the commitment required to make a national team and we acknowledge your efforts in balancing the rigours of training and selection requirements whilst also studying,” Professor O’Connor said.
“It is truly inspirational to see your efforts rewarded with selection on the Australian team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
Griffith Sports College Manager Duncan Free OAM said it is testament to the University’s support of elite athletes that Griffith has such a large delegation heading to Glasgow.
“Griffith’s status as an elite athlete friendly university and the relationships built between the University and these sportsmen and women is mutually beneficial,” Mr Free said.
“Not only are they great ambassadors for their country, but for Griffith too,” Duncan said. “We wish them all the best of luck and look forward to cheering them on.”
Griffith students competing at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games are;
- Cam McEvoy – Swimming (Bachelor of Science — Advanced Honours);
- Leiston Pickett – Swimming (Bachelor of Commerce)
- Emma McKeon – Swimming (Bachelor of Public Health).
- Chris Wright – Swimming (Bachelor of Environmental Design);
- Taylor McKeown -Swimming (Bachelor of Science);
- Edward McKendry – Swimming (Bachelor of Business);
- Brittany Elmslie – Swimming (Bachelor Business – Hotel, Tourism, Event, Real Estate & Sport)
- Ashleigh Gentle – Triathlon (Bachelor Public Health)
- Hannah Joye -Track and Field (Bachelor Science in Ecology & Conservation Biology)
- Linda Leverton- Track and Field (Bachelor of Business)
- Kelsey Cottrell – Lawn Bowls (Bachelor of Journalism)
- Stanford Kawale – Swimming (Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce – Dbl degree)
- Chloe Hosking — Cycling (Bachelor of Communication)
The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 3 August.
Darling Downs regional communities and Griffith University health students arebenefitting from the new Darling Downs Clinical Training Centre.
Based in central Toowoomba, a short drive from the Toowoomba Hospital, the $3.6mfacility, was officially opened today (Friday 13 June) by The Honourable IanMacfarlane MP, Federal Member for Groom, Minister for Industry.
“This facility is the first of its kind that allows for integrated rural medical educationand training by creating a workforce pipeline of medical students through to juniordoctor and specialist training,” said Professor Scott Kitchener, Medical Director ofQueensland Rural Medical Education (QRME) and Clinical Lead in Rural Health forGriffith University.
A collaborative effort
A collaborative effort between Griffith and QRME, the state-of-the-art facility featuresa high fidelity SIM Man on which Medicine students will be able to perform simulatedmedical treatments.
There is also a lecture theatre, two problem-based learning teaching rooms, twotutorial rooms and three consultation rooms. All facilities are connected by high
speed internet links, as well as video conference links to Griffith’s Gold Coastcampus.
So far Medicine and Midwifery students have been the first to take advantage of thenew facility, but this is expected to be expanded to other allied health disciplines suchas exercise science and dietetics, says PVC for the Health Group Professor AllanCripps.
“The Darling Downs Clinical Training Centre represents an important hub for GriffithUniversity to help improve workforce capacity for regional areas. It also links otherdevelopments across the Darling Downs for supporting work in other facilities.”
“The Darling Downs Clinical Training Centre is a huge boost for health on the DarlingDowns. It creates a facility for specialist training which will lead to more rural healthpractitioners and long term benefits for Toowoomba, rural communities and further
afield,” the Honourable Ian Macfarlane MP said.
A prized international post-graduation accolade has been bestowed on Griffith University’s Julia Bergman (nee Konz), who has been awarded the prestigious Golden Key Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship.
Julia’s feat is a phenomenal effort, overcoming poor high school grades in her homeland, Germany before travelling across the globe, making a whole-hearted commitment to her studies and eventually securing a place at Griffith University.
“The last four years have been incredibly stimulating for my mind and creating happiness in my heart,” said Julia.
“I cherished the opportunity to attend Griffith University every day of my degree, even during the challenging times when I came home crying because I did not understand what my economics lecturer was talking about.
“This award is quite prestigious and I feel extremely honoured, surprised and proud of my achievement.”
Julia is combining her professional skillsets with Ostara Australia
Julia’s resilience saw her complete a double degree in Business (Human Resource Management) and Psychological Science and has had the opportunity to combine both skill-sets in the infancy of her professional life.
The Brisbane-based employment consultant with national not-for-profit organisation, Ostara Australia assists with employment placements for people disadvantaged through age, health, disability or their cultural backgrounds.
Contemplating further study, Julia’s path has already been built on a solid foundation of drive and dedication to her craft.
“For now I’m enjoying my time off from university and gaining valuable professional experience,” she added.
“The Golden Key award has boosted my confidence in continuing to study towards becoming a registered clinical psychologist.
“I can see myself completing my honours, undertaking a doctorate and eventually opening my own practice.”
Golden Key is an international honour society with more than 2 million members across 400 chapters at colleges and universities around the world.
Leading industrial relations scholar, Emeritus Professor Russell Lansbury of the University of Sydney, shared findings from his co-authored paper (with forthcoming WOW guest, Dr Chris F. Wright), during April, taking a look at the impact of one Liberal- and two Labor-led governments on Australia’s economy over a 30 year period.
Prompted by previous symposium themes on the impact of trade unions on economic policy around the world, Russell and Chris were keen to narrow in on union impact during the Hawke/ Keating (1983-1996), Howard (1996-2007), and Rudd/ Gillard (2007-2013) eras. Conducting literature reviews and interviews with key players and policy advisors from government, unions and employer groups of the time, Professor Lansbury and Dr Wright have particularly identified the significant contributions of unions around economic reform during the Hawke/ Keating era, their varying degree of influence during the Rudd/ Gillard period, and their marginalisation in between.
Professor Lansbury further highlighted the convergence of Labor and union rhetoric during these early years – at the height of the latter’s influence – and particularly following the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) negotiations with the preceding Coalition-Fraser government toward the subsequent establishment of the Accord: a tool that sought to reduce the pressure on wage and price led inflation during the early 1980s. Then termed a ‘social partnership’, Russell notes that:
“the ACTU was consulted on a wide range of economic and social policies [during this time and]…the Accord was remarkably successful in the early years as there was little wage drift, strong employment growth, declining inflation and landmark social wage improvements.”
With amendments to the Accord in the mid-1980s and ongoing labour law reforms until the early 1990s, unions’ organising capacity and membership bases did decline, with some officials pointing to union concessions in the Accord as the culprit.
In the 10 years+ leadership of John Howard’s Liberal government (1996-2007), Russell highlights how:
“access for unions to government ministers and senior public servants was significantly curtailed and business interests prevailed”.
Consultative arrangements and the introduction of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 also weakened the capacity of the Industrial Relations Commission of the time and for unions negotiating on workers’ behalf. Subsequent Work Choices reforms in 2005 also restricted union involvement in the labour market.
Emeritus Professor Russell Lansbury (centre)
In addressing the Rudd/ Gillard era, Professor Lansbury noted the Government’s ambivalence towards engaging with unions around policymaking, or in identifying their role during workplace bargaining arrangements following the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009. Two of Russell and Chris’ interviewees attributed this to the altered economy and industrial relations framework within which it operated when compared to the Accord-era.
Russell concluded his presentation by noting the positive role unions have played by advocating for an even distribution of social benefits, the maintenance of employment award safety nets, and indirect influences on the Labor governments’ economic and social policies during these periods. He also asserts the importance of unions and the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in continuing in their partnership, particularly through social movement campaigning strategies in the face of strong competition from other lobbyists such as the business community.
Contact the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing for access to a recording of this presentation or a copy of the paper from which it was drawn: [email protected] or phone 07 3735 3714.
