Macquarie Matters » Education & teaching

2024 Graduate Outcome Survey (GOS) – November 2023 Round

Yue Zhang — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 22:30:26 +0000

Did you graduate in October 2023? Keep an eye on your email inbox for your unique invitation to participate in the Australia-wide Graduate Outcome Survey (GOS).

The GOS is a national survey being conducted for the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. Your feedback is important and will contribute directly to the experience of current and future students at Macquarie University. Results from the survey are used to gain insight and make improvements to teaching and learning, and services for students. Please see the highlights from the 2023 GOS and initiatives undertaken by the University.

All responses are confidential and aggregated for reporting purposes. Summary results from this national survey are published on the Compare Ed Website.

As an incentive for your participation, you will have the chance to enter the weekly prize draw to win a $1,000, or $500 or $250 pre-paid VISA gift card. Prize draws take place at the end of each week over the four-week survey period. Additional prize information, including terms and conditions, can be found on the GOS website.

We encourage you to participate and complete this important survey.

* Go to http://www.srcentre.com.au/qilt/gostcsb for prize draw term and conditions Results from previous Graduate Outcome Survey https://students.mq.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1278973/Graduate-Outcomes-Survey-Nov2023.pdf

Together we rise

Larissa Moore — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:48:24 +0000

[caption id="attachment_4828" align="alignnone" width="743"] Stephanie Salazar[/caption] There’s always more to a story than first meets the eye. Assistant Principal and MQ Bachelor of Education alum Stephanie Salazar recently came to the public’s attention for winning a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, with a feature in the Sydney Morning Herald and airtime on ABC Sydney to boot. Few people work in isolation, however, especially in teaching, and Stephanie is keen to acknowledge the collaborative effort across the school community that contributed to her success. Still, rather than diminishing her efforts, it brings into even sharper focus Stephanie’s drive to continually lift up those around her ... Sometimes, to understand someone, you need to start at the beginning. Most people, after all, don’t start out doing great things – they work on their strengths, improve over time, and have people who believe in them. Still, there’s usually a glimmer of who they will become, if you look closely. For Stephanie Salazar, Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at John Purchase Public School on Ku-ring-gai Country in north-western Sydney, that glimmer can be found in her drive to bring people together as an undergraduate student at MQ, where she first started groups and led initiatives on campus, culminating in the establishment of the Macquarie University Education Society. But, Stephanie wasn’t originally enrolled in education. Studying and working in the field of accounting, she soon realised she was drawn more to people than numbers, so transferred courses. ‘It was hard to move on from what I thought – at the time – was a failure,’ she says with characteristic insight and the strength to be vulnerable, something that has struck a chord with those she teaches, collaborates with, and coaches. As she explains, ‘I keep it real, I keep it calm, and I keep it kind – that’s what I do and I think people appreciate that,’ she offers. ‘I think it is my Filipino values,’ she says thoughtfully, enjoying the opportunity to reflect. ‘Being hospitable, being in service of others, thinking beyond yourself; my Dad always instilled that in me.’ And so, it’s no surprise that Stephanie founded Sweets by Sweets at MQ, which organised baking events on campus to raise money for various charities. ‘It brought together people from all different faculties, from law and science to education,’ she says, and you can still hear the enthusiasm in her voice. Stephanie was in her element. Still, a gentle reminder to focus on her studies served her well. ‘My lecturer Dr Penny van Bergen gently pulled me up and said I needed to work on my grades; that it would help me get the most out of my degree. Rather than focusing on just passing, it was good to have someone like Penny encourage me to focus on doing well.’ Giving credit where credit is due is trademark Stephanie but, listening to her speak, there’s more to her story. Open in her communication and friendly, laughing often, she readily admits to being an extrovert. Moreover, she explains when she needs help, connecting with others is what gets her through – and what inspired the Education Society. ‘As a pre-service teacher, I had so many questions,’ she remembers. ‘I thought, I can’t be the only one, so brought my friends together and we organised a lunch where we could have informal conversations with our lecturers. That’s how the Education Society started; it was all about supporting each other socially and academically.’ The friends are lifelong and the society is still going, and was just the start of great things for Stephanie, who is now in her ninth year of teaching. Always full of ideas – and, lesson learned, willing to try them even if they failed – Stephanie has continued to bring people together in her professional sphere, now with the support of her principal, Leonie Black. ‘Since my first year of teaching, she has believed in me as an educator and a leader, giving me opportunities to lead professional learning such as a quality induction program at John Purchase Public School and the New Teacher Tribe initiative on Twitter,’ for which Stephanie won the Australian College of Educators’ award for best young teacher in NSW in 2018. Describing the New Teacher Tribe as a space to connect experienced teachers with beginning teachers, Stephanie says, ‘It helps new teachers realise they’re not alone. It’s normal to feel a range of feelings when you’re starting out, and I wanted teachers to feel encouraged, supported and empowered – that was my mission,’ she says, crediting her experiences at Macquarie with giving her the opportunities and support to go on to create groups such as this. ‘MQ allowed me to thrive and gave me the confidence to bring people together to connect,’ she says, the pieces falling into place in her mind as she speaks. ‘I just love bringing together good people who want to make a difference in the world. We lift each other up because we genuinely want the other to succeed – and that means more great work is going to happen in our schools and for our kids.’ Because ultimately, that’s what it all comes down to for Stephanie – whether it’s the teaching, the groups, the awards, of which there have been a few, even the parent masterclasses, they are all driven by her desire to support her students’ success and growth. And it’s why she’s so passionate about coaching in education through her work as an Instructional Coach at her school and leading the Instructional Coaching Group on Twitter. ‘Coaching in education is quite common in the private school system, but I haven’t really seen it in public schools,’ she says, explaining, ‘I’m going in at the teacher level, working with them on what they want to work on. I’m not judging them; I’m helping them realise they have the tools already within them to make an impact on students’ learning.’ It’s also very effective, and why she decided to apply for the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award. ‘It’s going to help accelerate what we want to do with our students,’ she says, referring to the prestigious Teaching Fellowship she received. ‘We’re a public school, so can’t afford this level of professional learning otherwise,’ she says, noting she has already planned out development opportunities for staff and has her eye on courses and books that will help her become an even better coach and leader. But there’s a bigger conversation at play as well, which is why she’s so grateful to Australian Schools Plus for giving her this platform. ‘I’m hoping to be part of a more positive narrative about teaching and education in Australia, highlighting the amazing work that’s happening across the country, especially in the public system – I am just one of many who are doing great things. ‘Every child deserves a quality education and exemplary teachers and that’s what I’m trying to create,’ she says warmly. ‘I like to show my students and teachers and leaders that I really believe in them, because when you believe in people, they rise to that – and it helps them see more within others, too. That’s the magic for me.’ Stephanie Salazar is an award-winning Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at John Purchase Public School in Ku-ring-gai Country in north-western Sydney, where her expertise in creating a network of teachers focused on professional development has transformed her school’s teaching and student learning. She is the founder of the New Teacher Tribe initiative and #PSTchat, a chat dedicated to supporting pre-service teachers around the world. Stephanie’s vision is empowering educators to see more in themselves and their students in order to co-create sanctuaries of learning. She was awarded the Australian College of Educators Young Professional Award 2018. In 2017, Stephanie also won the Executive Director’s Recognition Award for Innovation and Creativity in Leading Learning Towards Improved Student Outcomes. More recently, she was awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, becoming an Australian Schools Plus teaching fellow, winning $45,000 for her school. With an abundant level of enthusiasm, passion and plans to produce a podcast titled The Heart of Coaching, Stephanie is poised to grow her impact even further and help shape the future of education practice across Australia.

Leaving a legacy for indigenous Australians

Jackie Gent — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 03:42:52 +0000

Many alumni choose to leave a gift in their will to help students at Macquarie University. Alumnus Glenn Goodacre is one of them. He plans to invest in future generations of Australians by making a bequest to the University. Glenn has chosen to leave his bequest to Indigenous Accommodation Scholarships, for undergraduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Business and Economics. “I want to assist students to live in an accepting, safe environment on campus,” said Glenn. “This may make the difference between a student completing his or her studies, rather than dropping out because of non-academic issues. I hope the individual and society will benefit from this.” Glenn was inspired by his son Kristian’s work with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) in indigenous communities in Arnhemland and along the east coast with Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME). “I realised that indigenous students, especially from remote communities, can have enormous problems in dealing with relocating to a major city,” he said. “A scholarship can change a student’s life and that of their family. I grew up in a happy but low-income family in the bush, with five people in a one-bedroom house. I never expected that I could go to university, but with government help, I was able to and it changed my life. It’s important to me to help another generation of students to change their lives for the better. Especially people who would otherwise have a very difficult journey.” Glenn talks about Macquarie being a game changer in his life. “I could see that my working life had limited options without a degree in my chosen field. My degree qualified me to study to become a Chartered Accountant. Both qualifications increased my career options and enabled me to learn about alternatives I’d never been aware of before going to Macquarie.” Glenn Goodacre graduated from Macquarie University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a major in Accounting and a sub in Economics which led him to study to become a Chartered Accountant. He started trading shares at thirteen years of age and still trades the stock market. He worked in the mining industry in the early part of his career, then joined Australia’s first private equity firm in 1990 and became a director before setting out on his own in the mid-90s, buying small businesses and growing them. “I would encourage someone who is considering making a bequest to think about what kind of student they would like to help, in which faculty and to look for an effective way to assist, to get most bang for their buck.” To find out more about leaving a bequest in your will contact Anne Peedom on (02) 9850 1392 or email anne.peedom@mq.edu.au.

Solutions for the future

David Han — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 05:47:09 +0000

With more than 85 per cent of Australians living in the coastal zone, ensuring that innovative solutions are developed to protect and enhance the coastal ecosystems on which we depend is vital. While coral reefs and polar ecosystems often grab the media attention, it is the temperate coastal ecosystems that are of greater ecological importance in terms of the services they provide – and the focus of Associate Professor Melanie Bishop’s work. “Temperate coastal ecosystems are one of the most important ecosystems in terms of carbon sequestration and marine productivity, but they are also areas that have borne the brunt of human impact,” says Bishop. Bishop is investigating how the coastal zone might be sustainably developed to protect estuarine and near-shore biodiversity and its important socioeconomic values. “My vision is to underpin environmental management of our coasts with cutting-edge science. I tackle questions that policymakers need addressed while simultaneously making important contributions to ecological thinking.” One way she is doing this is as leader of the Green Engineering Work Group for the World Harbour Project. The group is developing solutions that will maintain and facilitate biodiversity in heavily urbanised environments, which includes retrofitting built infrastructures in estuarine and coastal environments with complex habitats, and transplanting native, habitat-forming species onto them. “With support from the NSW Environmental Trust and philanthropists, we are now scaling up the use of habitat-enhancing tiles on entire seawalls to increase native biodiversity.” Restoring Australia’s oyster reefs lost to overharvesting for food and lime is another focus of Bishop’s research. These reefs have declined by more than 95 per cent since European settlement. With a single oyster able to filter three litres of water an hour, the loss of functions they provide to maintain a healthy ecosystem, such as maintaining clean water, providing food and habitat for fish, and protecting and stabilising shorelines against erosion, has been significant. “We are working with the oyster industry to assess how existing breeding programs, developed for aquaculture, may be adapted to support restoration programs. We are also using state-of-the-art techniques to map the habitat formed by remnant oyster reefs and GoPros to investigate how fish use them.” It’s a dream come true for Bishop: “I always wanted to do research that was useful. I want to make sure that everything I’ve enjoyed is there for my daughter and future generations.” worldharbourproject.org/workgroups/green-engineering/ Associate Professor Melanie Bishop from Macquarie’s Benthic Ecology Lab won the Jim Piper Award for Excellence in Research Leadership. Bishop investigates natural and human-mediated processes that control coastal biodiversity and its important ecosystem functions.

It’s the same campus, just not as you know it

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:40:57 +0000

To prepare for the next 50 years of growth, we are investing heavily in our campus with two major projects – the Central Courtyard Precinct and the Arts Precinct. Within the Central Courtyard Precinct, the University is building state-of-the-art facilities for staff and students. Designed by leading design studio Architectus, the new buildings will serve a variety of functions, delivering social and educational infrastructure to the very heart of the campus. Existing structures will be redeveloped to be lighter and brighter than their predecessors, creating vibrant and dynamic spaces for all to enjoy. Significantly, new accommodation for students will be created right at the heart of the campus. Macquarie is also investing in a new Arts Precinct. This transformational project will consolidate 10 of 12 departments, highlighting the unique nature and focus of each. In addition, the project will deliver a new building with offices, showcase areas and a museum. PART OF THE PLAN Both projects are part of Macquarie’s Campus Development Plan, which is helping future-proof the University by building a dynamic, sustainable world-class campus. “The University’s Campus Development Plan is connecting people and enhancing their collaboration, as well as learning and research outcomes, so that Macquarie continues to play a leading role as a place-maker, education provider, research institute and employer, both now and into the future,” says Professor S Bruce Dowton, Vice-Chancellor. The overarching plan includes several other projects focused on improving convenience, connectivity and accessibility, green spaces and sustainability. Some are already complete, such as the Macquarie University Incubator, which opened in 2017 and promptly received four awards at the Australian Timber Design Awards. Created for students, researchers, staff, small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs and start-ups who are working on research or ideas that can be commercialised, a number of concepts have already been nurtured at the Incubator through to the commercialisation stage. The Macquarie Active Zone Experience (MAZE) also opened for business and is now the new hub for student clubs and societies, with the purpose-built space above the Macquarie University Spatial Experience (MUSE) featuring a number of large areas, as well as a variety of smaller meeting rooms and event spaces. Removal of buildings C9A and C10A (the former Campus Hub) also began at the end of 2017 to make way for an innovative new learning and teaching building, food and beverage outlets, and the first two of five student housing buildings. In place of the Campus Hub is the Campus Common, an exciting new social precinct in the centre of campus, where it will become the epicentre of student life over the next few years. Law School of the future Plans to redevelop the Macquarie Law School that will re-imagine the University’s campus by establishing a new purpose-designed Law School building at its centre were announced in November 2017. Construction on the new building is anticipated to begin in early 2020, with completion in 2022. “This venue will provide unparalleled facilities for contemporary modes of learning and teaching,” explains Professor Dowton. “The Law School has a rich history of contribution to Macquarie University, the lives of its students and alumni, and the legal profession. This new facility will provide a home for the Law School to ensure its trajectory as an Australian leader.” The new Law School building will be known as the Michael Kirby Building in recognition of the contributions the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG has made to the University, and his commitment to advancing social justice both in Australia and around the world. He served as Macquarie University Chancellor from 1984 to 1993 before going on to serve as a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1996 to 2009. Both the Macquarie Law School and Michael Kirby are committed to social justice as a key component of legal education, and the new Law School building will house the Macquarie Social Justice Clinic, a new initiative that allows law students to partner with public interest legal practices to service pro-bono cases, helping the most vulnerable in society.

From Conception to RE:Conception

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:40:19 +0000

The widely acknowledged father of Conception Day was pioneer alumnus Phil Gibbs (Bachelor of Arts, 1977). “We had a bit of an inferiority complex back in 1969 because of our moonscape campus and the lack of a student muck-up day to rival UNSW’s Commemoration Day or Sydney’s Foundation Day,” says Gibbs. According to Gibbs, they looked at different dates to hold a celebratory event, but every official date was at the wrong time – in the holidays, for example. “We couldn’t use Lachlan Macquarie’s birthday because it fell during exams, but at a drunken party we joked that we could have it nine months earlier and call it Conception Day. Unfortunately, someone got the date wrong and it ended up in September.” A SPIRITED BEGINNING The first Conception Day was a half-day event involving rain, flour fights and a student band on the roof of the union building that upset the academics. Although they weren’t quite as upset as the hardworking students who wanted to spend the day studying – and had the fire hoses turned on them for their lack of festival spirit. The following year, organisers decided they needed to lift the bar, and the great gnome hunt was initiated on the eve of Conception Day. (See the 2015 edition of Sirius for Dr Brian Spencer’s account of the evening.) “The gnome hunters exceeded their brief and stole everything not nailed down,” Gibbs reminisces. “In the end, it was a mass heist of garden kitsch. Initially we tried to hide them in the forest, but only their heads stuck out, so we decided they would line the path between the library and the union building. They provided a 1000-strong guard of honour that greeted students for the main event.” Gibbs says the gnomes were transported to Eastwood and Epping police stations where they were categorised according to type – frogs, storks, statues and hundreds of pouting gnomes. There were so many they had to move the police bikes out, and little old ladies argued vigorously over which concrete frog belonged to them. “I was made to go to the police station and apologise formally on behalf of the gnome-nappers to the very stern sergeant on duty,” says Gibbs. Things did not end there though. THE CAMEL OF CONCEPTION In the interest of creating a memorable festival, the organising committee had decided to hold an old-fashioned colonial garden party to formally mark Conception Day. It was felt that a camel would lend the right tone to the event, so one was hired from a local farm. “The deal was that we had to look after Egypt the camel for two days, and we planned to keep her at the rugby house behind the university,” Gibbs says. “Unfortunately, boys being boys, the rugby team decided to give the camel some celebratory drinks and cheese, so in the middle of Conception Night we had to rescue Egypt and take her to a safe house further along Epping Road. “There’s no easy way to make a drunken camel go where you need it to. In the end, I decided to ride her along Epping Road and past El Rancho, now known as The Ranch, where earlier that day students were offering moonshine brewed in a toilet they called the ‘seat of learning’ to truck drivers who stopped at their roadside stall.” As Gibbs inconspicuously plodded along on the inside lane, he was spotted by a police car that ordered them to pull over. “When I eventually managed to stop the camel, who should emerge from the car but the same police sergeant that I’d had to apologise to about the gnome hunt. He was not amused.” RE: INVENTED The night of mayhem marked the beginning of a much-loved tradition. “In the years that followed, there were religious statue hunts, conducted with all the irreverence you would expect from a bunch of larrikin students, and gala balls with very non-PC prizes awarded to Mis Conception, Mis Hap and Mis Behaviour,” Gibbs says, adding that to celebrate Conception Day’s 40th anniversary in 2009, he was invited to give a talk about the festival’s history. “I thought I would be speaking to a genteel audience, but it was more like Woodstock – 10,000 students were in a range of levels of sobriety, impatiently waiting for the next act, Wolf mother, to hit the stage.” Conception Day ran until 2014. It became Australia’s longest-running music festival, with a record of producing great line-ups and attracting huge crowds to the three stages around the lake. Over the years there were mass streakings, while in 2003 more than 1000 festival goers broke the world record for the most tequila shots in a row. Unfortunately, owing to concerns about increasing drug and alcohol abuse, Conception Day had to be stopped in 2015. It has since been replaced with RE:Conception Day, an event that still features a great musical line-up, just without some of the other excesses. “I’m just so grateful to the University for keeping my baby alive all these years,” Gibbs says. “Even now, students and alumni approach me and tell me how great it is.” What's your favourite MQ moment? Share it with other alumni at awc.alumni.mq.edu.au/experiences

The gift of reading

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:25:02 +0000

Most of us take the ability to read for granted, but it’s something too many school children have difficulty with – and something their parents cannot always afford to change. It’s heartbreaking to see children struggling with something so fundamental to achieving in all areas of life. At the Macquarie University Reading Clinic, experts know what these children need and what works – evidence-based assessment and treatment, and support for parents and carers in partnership with schools. “The Reading Clinic provides assessments and treatment for children, adolescents and adults with reading and spelling difficulties to help improve educational, emotional and vocational outcomes,” says Dr Saskia Kohnen, Deputy Director, Macquarie University Reading Clinic. “About 15 per cent of the child population have severe difficulties in literacy. Unfortunately, compared to their peers, children with dyslexia are four times more likely to drop out of school, show lower academic achievements and have poorer long-term vocational outcomes,” adds Kohnen. Experts at the clinic assess each child individually and, with the child’s family and teachers, develop a tailored program that delivers life-changing improvements for children like William. Two years ago, William came to the clinic unable to read. “He went from not reading at all – not willing to even try – to giving it a go and actually reading,” says his mother, Carolyn. While it’s been a long road, Carolyn adds, “It has definitely been worth it. In fact, it’s been the only thing that has ever worked to get him to read. He doesn’t feel as excluded at school and can join in more in class. It’s given him hope that he can achieve something.” In William’s own words, he went from “lonly and mishroboll” to “happy and confident” with help from the clinic. The Macquarie University Reading Clinic is not restricted to face-to-face assessments. Children with poor literacy who live far away from literacy specialists and are unable to access high-quality interventions are not only disadvantaged but also more likely to remain poor readers. The clinic’s team of experts recognise these difficulties and deliver internet-based interventions via programs such as Skype. The clinic is in the early stages of delivering these assessments and services, and is conducting detailed research to optimise the effectiveness of live-stream versus standard face-to-face intervention for children with poor literacy skills. Reading seems so simple and is a gateway to so much. Yet, it is out of reach for some children. The clinic and its committed team want to change that – even for just one child. The Reading Clinic Scholarship Fund supports children whose parents or carers cannot afford treatment. To make a donation, visit mq.edu.au/connect/reading-clinic For more information about the clinic, visit mq.edu.au/about/campus-services-and-facilities/hospital-and-clinics/reading-clinic

Introducing the Macquarie MD

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:23:22 +0000

Macquarie University’s Doctor of Medicine, known as the Macquarie MD, was launched in 2017, with the first cohort of students beginning their journey to becoming a doctor in 2018. “The innovative, four-year graduate entry program integrates applied medical sciences with clinical sciences, professionalism, research and cultural responsiveness,” explains Professor Patrick McNeil, Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Outstanding patient-centred clinical care and active health and medical research enriches student learning, which is further enhanced by Australian and international experiences, including at India’s Apollo Hospital. “This means that Macquarie MD graduates are thoroughly prepared to make a real difference to the lives of patients, their communities and the future of healthcare.” Macquarie MD students are taught at MQ Health, the first university-led, integrated health campus in Australia. Bringing together the academic excellence and world-leading research of Macquarie’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences with the clinical care provided by the Macquarie University Hospital, Primary Care and Multi-Specialty Clinics, MQ Health gives students the opportunity to learn in a research-active clinical environment. It also offers them the rare opportunity to follow a patient’s progress from initial consultation through to treatment and discharge. “For Macquarie MD students, clinical learning starts from day one,” explains Professor McNeil. “Throughout the course, inter-professional, comparative and digital learning ensures that students graduate with the technical knowledge and professional skills they need to work across the spectrum of rapidly evolving medical settings.” GLOBAL FOCUS Our evolving society needs doctors who can meet the needs of diverse communities, including multicultural communities in Australia. The Macquarie MD includes Australian and extended international clinical experiences for all students, which recognises the need for future doctors to be globally engaged clinicians, as well as the significant benefits of these experiences – for students, for health systems and for the health outcomes of local and global communities. Jordan Griffiths, Macquarie MD student and graduate of Macquarie’s Bachelor of Clinical Science, says that because the Macquarie MD is such an innovative degree with a unique approach to teaching, great attention is paid to the qualities and skills a modern doctor requires, such as cultural awareness and social sensitivity, rather than being restricted by traditional teaching approaches. “I came to realise, during my undergraduate studies, the importance of a doctor having cultural sensitivity in an increasingly globalised society, which meant the Macquarie MD’s global focus was a big attraction,” she says. “I found my passion for pursuing a career in medicine while travelling, when I came across areas in which trained medical professionals can make such a difference to entire communities. “The Macquarie MD will equip me with the knowledge and skills to appropriately help these communities in the future.” Jordan says that the cohort’s small size offers another advantage to budding doctors. “Because of the personal attention that each student receives, it will be easier to forge connections with clinicians and professionals from the Macquarie University Hospital and clinics. “I am hoping to create networks that will help me progress in the future – and make a real difference to the patients and communities I will work with.” For more information about the Macquarie MD, visit mq.edu.au/study/medicine and for more information about MQ Health, visit mqhealth.org.au Scholarship program To ensure that students from diverse backgrounds can undertake the course, Macquarie University offers up to 10 scholarships on a competitive basis each year. Two scholarships are available to Indigenous students, and five to graduates of Macquarie’s Bachelor of Clinical Science. Two are equity merit scholarships, and one scholarship is awarded to the highest-ranked applicant to accept an offer of a place in the Macquarie MD.

A shared wisdom

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:09:18 +0000

The Ngukurr Wi Stadi Bla Kantri (meaning ‘we study the country’ in Kriol) research team is a unique collaboration between Ens, Ngandi Elder Cherry Wulumirr Daniels, the Yugul Mangi rangers, Ngukurr School and community members from the remote Aboriginal community of Ngukurr. The team is discovering new species; finding new populations of threatened species; preserving culturally significant wetlands; bringing people back to country; and maintaining traditional, endangered languages. Ens works closely with elders, rangers and young people to “meaningfully combine local Aboriginal and Western science while raising awareness of environmental threats in the remote south-eastern Arnhem Land region.” “This initiative is increasing Western understanding of regional biodiversity and helping find common ground with local people about significant plants and ecological communities. From there we develop projects and monitoring tools.” TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE Children from Ngukurr School are involved in the project through classes, holidays camps, field research and sample collection. They document information via technology and use traps to find small mammals, reptiles and frogs out in the field. But not only school children are involved. The Ngukurr community is also helping save a newly discovered population of Leichhardt’s grasshopper. Found during a biodiversity survey that has since become part of a field guide to the local flora and fauna, this bright orange and blue grasshopper is culturally significant to the Ngandi people, but it had not been seen in many, many years. The near-threatened species eats a single species of mint (Pityrodia) that is at risk from current fire regimes, but Ens says that “rangers are now looking more closely at how they burn the remote area where these grasshoppers live.” It is exactly this type of hands-on scientific research that helps those involved connect to country, which increases investment in the management and protection of the environment and helps transfer knowledge between generations – much of which has been lost. RECLAIMING COUNTRY “A lot of people have been living off country. They’ve lost both cultural knowledge and language; they don’t know how to use available bush tucker or medicinal plants,” says Ens. She gives the example of cheeky yams (Dioscorea bulbifera), which need to be cooked, and then leached of any residual toxins by placing them in running water for five days before being eaten. Not only has much of this knowledge been lost, but this culturally significant plant is under threat from wild pigs. Yet Ens is hopeful. “If people can start to think about how a significant plant is being impacted, they can also start to think about the wider threats to country posed by the pigs, and they may then welcome feral animal control measures.” It is all interconnected – and one more way the Ngukurr Wi Stadi Bla Kantri project is having a positive, tangible effect on both people and country.

On cue

David Han — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 05:54:03 +0000

What does learning to ride a bike have to do with aircraft near misses or saving international students from drowning? Quite a lot for industries and businesses where sound judgement is critical for ensuring safe outcomes, according to Professor Mark Wiggins from the Department of Psychology. “When we make judgements about situations, even complex ones, we rely on cues,” says Wiggins. “These cues are activated automatically and without much conscious thought, so they are very difficult to articulate. That’s why you can’t be taught how to do things like balance on a bike.” Importantly for Wiggins, the use of cues signals the progression to expertise. “We thought if we could capture the use of cues, and then use it as a comparative measure, we could give people feedback. This is critically important when people are using cues to make judgements or diagnoses. “Moreover, the capacity for skilled and efficient diagnosis is vital in many occupations, including medicine, air traffic control, software engineering, power system control, and even among sports coaches,” says Wiggins, who developed an online software tool that assesses different diagnostic skills and gives comparative feedback – the EXPERT Intensive Skills Evaluation (EXPERTise) tool. “EXPERTise can be adapted to any context that relies on the use of diagnostic skills; however, our funded research is primarily in the area of electricity control, since it is an environment that has significant implications for the safety and security of the Australian public, and one that depends very heavily on the diagnostic skills of network controllers.” Wiggins continues, “Our team has taken one concept and applied it to a whole range of environments. From recent research that revealed differences in performance that might explain why international students are over-represented in drownings, to a study that revealed the plan-continuation errors evident among some pilots, participants can own their own performance due to individualised feedback.” Even better, organisations can now use this feedback to establish new training strategies, benchmark themselves against their industry, and even raise the standard for their industry as a whole. “It also potentially reduces the costs of training for organisations since it obviates the requirement to develop those skills that have already been mastered.” It’s just like riding a bike – something you never forget. Professor Mark Wiggins recently received an Excellence in Research award for his work in cue-based processing involved in interpreting and forming judgements in complex, time-constrained situations. A registered psychologist with an endorsed area of practice in organisational psychology, he is Deputy Director of the Centre for Elite Performance, Expertise and Training (CEPET); and Director of the Macquarie University Simulation Hub.