Although the sensationalist elements of a news story deliver benefits to the media outlet distributing it, public assumptions that the same reports are always objective and true has a follow on effect as social institutions subsequently respond to the story at hand.
Following a preliminary analysis of some 225 print-based Australian newspaper articles which included the word ‘bullying’ or its derivativesfrom the 2010/ 2011 financial year, the team has found great disparities between civic understandings and use of the term to that within the academic vernacular.
Dr Sara Branch
KCELJAG Research Fellow,Dr Sara Branch (pictured left)clarifies that the academic definition for ‘bullying’ asks after the presence of inappropriate behaviour in the first instance; whether the same behaviour is repeated and if so, over a what period of time; and finally, whether the ‘bullying’ target feels unable to defend themselves from those who are administering the negative behaviour.
The frequency of use of the term in these articles took initial demand of the researchers’ attention. Whilst 165 articles of the 225 analysed did not fulfill the academic definition of ‘bullying’, 120 used the term only once. Furthermore, the topical nature of the articles tended to focus upon business, politics and inappropriate behaviour; the latter of which says WOW member,Dr Sheryl Ramsay,seems to be the key to ‘bullying’ in reports on the matter.
Offering valuable journalistic insight, Associate Professor Jacqui Ewart highlights the import of the structural placement of the term in an article. “Whilst 36 [articles] used it in the headlines”, when benchmarked against the academic definition “…only 20 were bullying related…”, adds Sara. From the outset though, only “eight of the 225 articles fulfilled the ‘bullying’ definition”.
Whilst the team contend at this early stage that the ‘singular-term’ reference to bullying may be somewhat unjustifiable and indicative of an overuse of incidental terms in the media’s reporting, they are eager to further their research to capture an understanding how journalists’ initial perceptions and definitions of bullying – given the absence of quotes, and the prevalence of journalist paraphrasing, in the 225 articles analysed. Further analysis of online-based media is likewise a natural progression as the team look to consider the reporting of organisations, newspapers, advocacy agencies, industry, and public opinion websites around the concept.
Linguist Dr Diana Forker gave a lecture recently, about the unique grammatical features of the ‘Sanzhi Dargwa’ language at the Griffith School of Languages and Linguistics. The unique language is spoken by a handful of speakers and is in danger of dying out.
In this podcast, Diana discusses the unique history and language of the Sanzhi village, located in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia and the positive effect the process of charting the language has had on the community.
On the eve of the centenary of the Great War that changed the world, an enduring connection between the original battlefields and the Australian landscape remains.
Spurred on to embark on such a project after reading the powerful story In The Footsteps of Private Lynch, Page says he seized the opportunity to look at this significant time from a new perspective.
The Griffith University Queensland College of Art documentary photographer and lecturer reveals his journey then took him across Belgium, France, Turkey and Australia, and the more he searched, the more he found.
“The emotion was there from the first day I arrived in France, to the precise location where Australian’s fought their first action in the Battle of Somme,” he says.
“But it was not just about the sadness felt while standing in a place where so many violent and horrific things have taken place.
“Here the landscape was speaking as a metaphor for the loss, the sacrifice — it was this that I wanted to document, by catching glimpses of how these locations reflect life 100 years on.”
The Australian connection
Page speaks of the flurry of nationalism, patriotic fervour and reverence for Australia’s involvement in the conflict that led to the construction of memorials across the country following WW1.
“Almost every town installed a monument in their street, capital cities constructed shrines and cenotaphs, and local governments embarked on a campaign to change a selection of existing street names and localities to memorialise various aspects of the conflict including battlefields, high-ranking officers, ships and of course the iconic Anzac soldier.”
In this way, the emotional resonance that characterises Memories in Place also highlights the inexorable links between Europe and Australia — both then and now.
“I wanted to explore how places such as Pozieres or Paschendale in Australia resonate with their namesakes in Belgium and France one hundred years on.”
But the goal he states, wasn’t merely to record streets and roads.
“The photographs instead hold up a mirror to Australian society. It asks us what impact does this have on our understanding of war, peace, nationhood and friendship?”
“The battlefields of World War 1 are not simply remote locations in far-off lands. They continue to exist and echo in a tangible way throughout contemporary rural and urban areas of Australia.
“The presence of memorialised structures offers one of the most visible connections to a time when authorities struggled with finding ways to honour the legacy of our commitment to the Great War.
“The memorials themselves remain largely unchanged, still standing as unwavering sentinels despite the transformation in social structures, culture, architecture and lifestyle around them.”
Collected for future generations to come
State Librarian of Queensland Janette Wright said Charles Page was a noted Queensland documentary photographer.
She said, “His beautifully composed images capture the meeting of past and present in the landscape.
“We are pleased to have played a part in bringing this book to life and delighted to add it to our collection.
“The John Oxley Library as State Library of Queensland not only collects materials from the First World War itself but also the commemorations that have happened since — the ceremonies and activities that tell us so much about Queensland’s evolution.
“We will also give a copy of this exquisite book to every public library in the state so that it can be made available to all Queenslanders.
“And we look forward to Charles sharing his expertise and inspiring local photographers to capture contemporary reflections of WWI.”
What does the Great War mean to you?
Ms Leneen Forde AC, Chancellor of Griffith University and supporter of the Memories in Place project, says she hopes the book will stimulate people to enquire about the places they use on a daily basis that are named in connection to the war.
“I truly hope these photographs will encourage viewers to look up a name on a map, to find out what former battlefields look like today and to do further research into the ‘war to end all wars’,” she says.
“I congratulate Dr Page not only for the beauty and poignancy of his photographic work but also in developing and fulfilling such an important concept.
“I’m sure this publication will inspire Australians to find out more about World War 1 and its impact on who we are today and where we live.”
The publication will be officially launched by Ms Leneen Forde AC, Chancellor, Griffith University and Ms Janette Wright, State Librarian and CEO, State Library of Queensland on Thursday 3 April at the State Library of Queensland, South Bank.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Marino, Publicist Arts
Griffith University
0418 799 544 [email protected]
Griffith University’s multi-award winning Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) has beaten 200 IDP test centres globally to be named the very best in the world.
At the recent international IELTS* conference in Hong Kong, Griffith received top honours by taking out the prestigious Performance Excellence Award for its commitment to quality English language testing.
“Each year, IELTS Australia hosts a conference for their global network of more than 200 IELTS test centres worldwide, acknowledging the best in each category with an award,” said Pamela Humphreys, Deputy Director of the Griffith English Language Institute.
“It’s like the Oscars except that the nominations aren’t known until each award is announced,” Ms Humphreys said.
“The IDP’s Performance Excellence Award is like the Best Picture Award — it’s the final and most prestigious of all — and I could hardly believe it when they announced we had won,” she said.
The award recognises Griffith’s commitment to quality and distinction in all aspects of test delivery, and is an acknowledgement of the test centre’s sustained commitment to quality, integrity and customer service.
“I am so proud of the team — this award is due to their hard work and dedication over many years,” Ms Humphreys said.
In addition, Griffith University received another excellence award last year in relation to supporting students with English as an additional language — taking out the IEAA’s** Best Practice/Innovation in International Education for the Griffith English Language Enhancement Strategy.
This national award for leadership and innovation in excellence recognises the outstanding work of the institute and its groundbreaking developments in international education.
“My colleagues and I are passionate about enhancing academic English language proficiency and it really is a great honour to be rewarded for our efforts,” Ms Humphreys said.
Since opening in 2006, the Griffith IELTS test centre has used the internationally recognised IELTS test to measure the English language proficiency of thousands of people in Queensland.
Conveniently located on the busway at Griffith’s Mount Gravatt campus, the test is available to anyone who needs an English language proficiency test.
IELTS is the most utilised, high stakes, English language proficiency test used in Australia and in many other countries in the world, with more than two million people taking the test every year.
In Australia, IELTS is taken for three main reasons:
1. For evidence of language proficiency to gain entry to academic study
2. For migration requirements for and visa applications to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
3. For professional registration (engineers, nurses, teachers, etc).
Students take the IELTS test before they commence study and Griffith students have an opportunity to sit the test at the point of graduation via the subsidised test initiative IELTS4grads.
*IELTS — International English Language Testing System
**IEAA — International Education Association of Australia
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
(L-R) Professor Paul Mazzerole, Dr Therese Wilson, The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC and Professor Brad Sherman.
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Paul de Jersey AC
Professor Paul Mazerolle
Professor Paul Mazerolle
Professor Paul Mazerolle
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Meet the Profession 2014 – Banco Court
Improvements in workforce development within the aged care sector have been afocus of Griffith’s Centre for Health Practice Innovation and School of Nursingand Midwifery.
Following a $520,000 Federal Government award last year, the School has beenworking alongside key providers, including aged care provider and partner RSLCare, to address negative perceptions among nursing students about workingwith older people and, in particular, working in residential aged care.
The Training and Research Aged Care Services (TRACS) grant has enabledGriffith to create a more holistic model of aged care teaching for degree-levelnursing students and has seen it become a ‘research consultant’ for the sector.
Effective clinical practice placements
A key part of the project has seen the School work with RSL Care to facilitateeffective clinical practice placements for its first year Bachelor of Nursingstudents.
“We developed a model for clinical placements in aged care facilities thatsupports a much more ‘person centred’ focus than was previously seen,” saysprogram leader Dr Lorraine Venturato. “Working collaboratively with staff fromRSL Care Carrington Retirement Community and RSL Care Cazna GardensRetirement Community, we developed a Positive Placement Program thatsupports students to focus on fewer residents but in much more depth. This groupwould typically encompass a high care resident, a low care resident and aresident with dementia.”
Students were encouraged to get to know this small group in depth, by assistingthem with the usual nursing skills like hygiene, medication, assessment, mobility,
and basic wound care, as well as thinking more broadly about the residents. Theywere also encouraged to think about the residents’ care plans, personal goals,family conferencing and engaging with other members of the health care team
“One of the benefits of having a deeper focus was that we were able to assign alarger number of students to placements than would have been previouslypossible. We were also able to provide them with a more positive introduction tothe sector,” says Dr Venturato.
RSL Care acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Luke Greive said the model was apositive way to engage the nursing workforce early in their careers.
Challenging negative perceptions
“By challenging the negative perceptions people have about the aged careindustry and guiding our future workforce to gain first-hand experience, we canattract more people into this highly rewarding field,” he said.
So far, four groups of 15 students have each completed two cycles of clinicalpractice at the care homes, with staff also being trained as mentors for thestudents.
“The results have been extremely positive, with both students and RSL Caresaying they have experienced positive results.
“RSL Care has told us their staff felt far more engaged in students’ learningneeds, and that the skills they have learnt have proved beneficial in recruiting and
orientating new staff members,” says Dr Venturato.
“Previously students on placements told us that they felt they could be a burdenon care home staff, but this new model has seen them working with residents
more and only coming together with staff as they interact with the resident, ratherthan just shadowing a staff member all day.”
Following the initial trials, Dr Venturato says that a new understanding is nowevident, with staff and students working together to contribute to improved quality
of care and learning.
“The care homes are now asking how we can create the same practices withother discipline programs at Griffith such as pharmacy, physiotherapy, social work
and medicine,” she says.
The program is set to be implemented more widely across the School in Semester2, 2014.
A world-first study into homicide-suicide may help reduce the occurrence of such incidents, a conference in Brisbane has been told.
Using data from the Australian Homicide Project and the Australian Suicide Register, the study compared homicide-suicide cases withsuicide-only and homicide-only cases.
“While there have been many studies on homicide only or suicide only, not much is known about homicide-suicide,’’ said Dr Samara McPhedran, from the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention, who presented the findings at the Homicide — Precursors and Prevention conference today hosted by Griffith’s Violence Research and Prevention Program.
She said while representing one of the rarest forms of lethal violence, in Australia and internationally, homicide-suicide events can be sensationalised and attract disproportionately high levels of media attention.
“In instances where children are involved, for example, it’s extremely common to see a heavy focus on the family justice system and calls for changes to be made in that system.
“Despite the levels of public interest in such cases, and the implications for policy development, there is very little international empirical study of homicide-suicides.”
The study included 60 adult males in the homicide-suicide group, 251 males in the homicide-only group and 8014 in the suicide-only group.
It found homicide-suicide perpetrators were more likely than homicide-only perpetrators to have had contact with a mental health professional in the lead-up to the incident.
“Some of the characteristics that may differentiate our homicide-suicide group from the other two groups (homicide only, suicide only), such as having a DVO in place at the time
of the incident, suggest there are possibilities for intervention through the policing and justice system,’’ Dr McPhedran said.
“Gatekeeper training of GPs is increasingly recognised as useful in suicide prevention but these results raise the possibility of incorporating training about the possibility of violence towards others, as well as to the self.”
WHAT:Homicide — Precursors and Prevention
WHEN: March 24 & 25
WHERE:The Royal on the Park Hotel, Brisbane
MEDIA:Deborah Marshall, 0413 156 601
People experiencing a mental illness such as depression or anxiety and theirfamily members or carers are being sought to take part in a Griffith Universitystudy to ensure consumers get the best out of their medicines. The Mental Healthand Community Pharmacy Project is funded by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Health as part of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Research andDevelopment Program managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Aligned with the Australian Government’s focus on mental health, the Projectassists pharmacy staff to improve their skills to work with mental healthconsumers.
Teresa Proctor is the manager at Meadowlands Pharmacy in Carindale.Teresa attended the Mental Health and Community Pharmacy workshop inBrisbane last November and said it was a highly beneficial experience.
“We like to offer our customers a highly personalised service where they cancome in and have a bit of a chat with us about what’s going on in their lives.
Talking about a range of issues concerning medication
Therefore when the chance arose to do this workshop I thought it would be agreat opportunity to pick up some more tips and further enhance our service.”
“The people coming in for consultations may have mental health issues such asdepression and schizophrenia and as part of what we provide, we may talk about
a range of issues concerning their medications. However conversations often gooff-track too and we sometimes end up having chats with family members about
the challenges of caring for elderly relatives.”
“So far we’re seeing around six customers who’ve agreed to come into thepharmacy on a weekly or fortnightly basis and the arrangement is going well for
both them and us. In a quiet area of the pharmacy we work out together simplestrategies to manage their medicines. Generally feedback has been positive, with
everyone stating that they benefit from being able to talk about how to get thebest from their medications.”
Teresa says the biggest thing she has learnt from being a part of the program sofar, is to not be overly reactive to what people have to say. “I myself have
experience of looking after an elderly relative who can be difficult at times andopposed to receiving advice regarding medication. Therefore when I hear thistype of thing from people, I try to draw on my own personal experience of howtough things can be and try not to be too judgemental!
“This program is a great way of ensuring consumers get the best out of theirmedicines and I am hopeful that we will be able to recruit more people in duecourse, as well as get carers more involved.”
A source of comfort
Local Carindale resident, Guy Dorries, 57, has been involved in the MentalHealth program for almost a year and says it has provided him with comfort and
support during a period of ill health.
“In total I am currently taking 13 medications for conditions including chronic lungdisease, high blood pressure and depression,” says Mr Dorries. “I have also had arecent spell in hospital, so I am pleased to be taking part in the program andgetting some extra support.
“The staff at the Meadowlands Pharmacy know my wife and I very well, as theydo my GP, so going in to have a consult is very helpful, particularly as I am takingso many different drugs. Teresa and the team are always very good at suggestingalternative generic drugs which may be cheaper, or advising me about potentialcontraindications.
“They also suggest helpful ways of remembering how to take my medication and Ican’t argue with that!
“The program is a great idea for people with any form of mental illness, to helpthem feel more confident in how they approach their treatment. I thoroughly
recommend it.”
If you would like more information, call us free on 1800 600 687 or [email protected]
New research exploring tourism and mining on the Great Barrier Reef reveals a sense of uncertainty around the future of one of Australia’s iconic tourism attractions, with locals concerned about the impact of dredging near the Reef.
The study was completed late last year and is in the stages of analysis. It was carried out by Professor Susanne Becken and Dr Char-lee McLennan from the Griffith Institute for Tourism with Dr Brent Moyle from Southern Cross University, and is one of the first studies with a particular focus on the interaction between tourism and mining.
The research explored the perceptions of Gladstone residents, businesses and government stakeholders around the management of the Great Barrier Reef as an iconic tourism attraction in a region undergoing massive industrial expansion.
“We found that the Gladstone community had a strong attachment to the Reef and was aware of its iconic tourism and World Heritage status,” Dr McLennan (below) said. “However, locals generally felt ill-informed when it came to how the icon is being protected.”
Preliminary results indicate locals are concerned about the impact of the resources sector and associated dredging on the Reef and the potential for further damage to occur in the future.
A number of respondents highlighted a massive change in Gladstone harbour, resulting in significant beach erosion and the huge loss of marine life. “This was a highly controversial topic among residents, with a clear divide in the community about whether the impact had been due to flooding or dredging,” Dr McLennan said.
Locals were also uncertain about the future of tourism opportunities in the Reef and the broader Gladstone region given the significant mining activity.
“If appropriate regulations are not enforced, development driven by the resources sector could irreparably damage the Great Barrier Reef and the tourism industry,” Dr Moyle said. “If the Reef is sustainably managed it could be an economically viable tourism destination for generations to come.”
The results indicate that most businesses that came into contact with the Reef are trying their best to minimise their impact and that the environmental laws in place are ensuring many do the right thing. Respondents considered current laws to be strict enough, but felt that they were not always followed or enforced.
“To improve the sustainable management of the Great Barrier Reef in the Gladstone region, a long-term view towards development should be taken,” Professor Becken (left) said. “The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most iconic tourism attractions, drawing over two million visitors each year. Government authorities should play a key role in ensuring the current laws and regulations are strictly monitored, with breaches identified and penalties enforced.
While the respondents were uncertain of the impact of shipping and dredging on the Great Barrier Reef, they could clearly see that their environment was changing.
“Future research is needed to explore strategies for sustainable co-existence between tourism and the resources sector, as well as the impact of shipping and dredging on the Great Barrier Reef.”
The Griffith Institute for Tourism will be launched on the Gold Coast campus on this Thursday, March 27.
How robots can improve care for people in aged care will be the focus this week at Griffith University’s Robotic Symposium.
To be held at the Nathan campus on Wednesday 26 March, the free Symposium is inviting the public as well as health care professionals, students and researchers to get up close and personal with a whole host of robots currently being trialled in aged care facilities in Australia and overseas.
Leading the event will be Professor Wendy Moyle from Griffith Health Institute’s Centre for Health Practice Innovation, and who has been widely publicised for her successful research into how robots can help people with dementia.
Professor Moyle will be discussing her work with telepresence robots that facilitate conversation between the person with dementia and their family, as well as her robot seal ‘Paro’ and a new prototype teddy bear that has received some incredible results with people in reducing symptoms of agitation.
“This is a very timely event that is going to look in detail at the issues surrounding technology within aged care,” says Professor Moyle. “The government is keenly advocating for increased technology within the sector, but aged care facilities are concerned about how they can get involved or how they will make the preparations to make this a reality.
Issues of tech support and broadband
“Issues concerning technology support and the required increases in broadband coverage are important issues and we will be discussing these, alongside the question of privacy and how this affects aged care facilities when implementing technologies.”
Speakers at the Symposium will also include CEO of Giraff Technology, Sweden, Stephen von Rump who will take about the aged care experience in Europe, and Professor Vladimir Estivill-Castro from Griffith’s Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems.
Professor Estivill-Castro will discuss the future of robotic technology in aged care regarding people with disabilities such as blindness. He will also talk about how we’re potentially only ten or so years away from seeing robots on legs, as opposed to wheels, within aged care facilities.
Alongside a great opportunity for attendees to touch, play with and ask questions about the robots, the Symposium will feature a talk by Griffith’s Professor Michael Blumenstein on the ‘Application of 3D virtual worlds in healthcare’.
***************
WHEN: 26 March 8.30am-12.30pm.
WHERE: Sir Samuel Griffith Building, N78, Room 1.19, Nathan Campus, Griffith University. RSVP: By 20 March. Register your name and contact details to attend to[email protected], 07 3735 7236.
Dr Sheryl Ramsay is a Senior Lecturer in the Department Employment Relations and Human Resources at Griffith University, and a member of the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing. Dr Sara Branch is a Research Fellow in the Key Centre for Ethics, Law Justice and Governance where Associate Professor Jacqui Ewart(pictured right) is also a member.
