“It is such an honour to be part of so many different people’s journeys to better hearing,” said Catherine.

The announcement of Catherine’s success speaks volumes about the importance of the cochlear implantation procedure in Australia – a country that harbours a historic perspective that cochlear implants are only for children, and not so much for adults.

“The cochlear implant is a modern miracle, allowing profoundly deaf children to learn to hear and speak. It is not only for children however, the cochlear implant helps adults throughout their lives to regain hearing and stay actively involved in work and their favourite activities. For the elderly, the implant can also return hearing, helping to minimise social isolation, depression and it may even reduce dementia.”

This milestone is another addition to Catherine’s many achievements, some of which include being the first female ear, nose and throat surgeon in Australia awarded the title of Clinical Associate Professor, for performing a cochlear implantation on the youngest patient in Australia, a three month old child, and for her expertise in many forms of implantable hearing devices.

In the future, Catherine would like to see an even greater enhancement of treatment strategies.

“I hope to see greater improvements in cochlear implant technology in the future, with even better outcomes and more people with hearing loss willing to embrace these wonderful medical inventions,” she concluded.

Learn more about Catherine’s clinical work and research.

Anne discusses how the human brain makes sense of the squiggly lines we call writing, how far the bounds of neuroplasticity really go, and how the brain damage interviewer Ben Mckelvey suffered as a result of a stroke may be similar to the effects of dyslexia on children.

Missed others in our podcast series? Meet Professor Jeanette Kennett, last week’s featured interview, and hear from others in our series.

The 2016 Macquarie University Amazing Race is on again, and all staff are invited to get involved. So dust off that fancy dress costume, bring out your competitive spirit and get ready for an afternoon of fun and team building.

Teams of four can register now through the Macquarie website, or individuals can sign up and be allocated a team. On race day, teams will leave the start point with a map and their first clue which they must crack to determine their next check point. At each destination, teams must work together quickly to complete a fun, physical or mental challenge in order to gain points and to receive the clue to continue the race.

“The race only took a couple of hours but our team talked about it for months afterwards; it was a real hoot!” said Campus Engagement Development Officer Lauren Hargreaves, who was one quarter of the ‘Welcome 1’ team from Campus Engagement in 2015.

The event is focused on fun, participation and community spirit. For Macquarie staff, it is the perfect opportunity for an afternoon team-building activity or some friendly office rivalry; the crew from Campus Engagement entered two teams in 2015!

For any staff new to Macquarie, it’s also a nice occasion to get out of the office and find areas of the campus they might have not yet discovered.

“We were probably the slowest team but it really didn’t matter; it was good fun and a great way to get everyone out of the office and around the campus,” said Robert Ephraums, Team Leader, Campus Engagement and part of the 2015 ‘Welcome 1’ team.

Giveaways and prizes will be awarded for the fastest team, the team with the most points and the most creative team costume. A free barbecue will conclude the event for participants.

For more details and to register, visit the Amazing Race website.

If racing isn’t your thing, but you’re still keen to get involved, you can volunteer to help out at one of the checkpoints during the event. Contact Manager – Sport Development, Kate Butler (kate.butler@mq.edu.au) to register your interest.

Date: Thursday 31 March
Time: 1pm, with a barbecue presentation from 4pm
Where: All around campus, starting from the Central Courtyard

The study originated from an idea proposed by the NSW Cancer Council scientist Dr Visalini Nair-Shalliker, and then was shaped by a team of Macquarie urologists and scientists, with Professor Howard Gurney in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences as principal investigator.

“Some forms of prostate cancer are very slow growing and rarely spread to other parts of the body and ideally should not be treated with aggressive surgery. Such patients are watched carefully on an ‘active surveillance’ program but 30 to 50 per cent progress and require a prostatectomy or radiotherapy,” said Howard.

“Preliminary evidence shows that the use of high dose vitamin D might slow cancer growth, and this study will test whether the use of high dose vitamin D in such patients will slow cancer growth and reduce the need for aggressive therapy,” he concluded.

The study will be coordinated by Macquarie University and will be undertaken in more than 10 centres throughout Australia with 120 patients.

Preliminary results are expected in about three years and, if positive, will trigger a larger international randomised study to prove the effectiveness of Vitamin D in this setting.

Dr Sonia Allan is Head of the Department of Health Systems and Populations in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Sonia was recently appointed by the Minister for Health in South Australia to review the changes to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 1988 (SA).

We asked Sonia a number of questions about her professional background and expertise, and the opportunities and challenges for health that lie ahead.

What would be an ‘elevator pitch’ for your professional background and expertise?
I have a multi-disciplinary background in psychology, law and public health. I have worked in public and private health and legal sectors, as well as having been an academic for some years now. Broadly my expertise is in health law with a focus on how the law can affect health in positive and negative ways. I am also interested in when and how we should regulate new health and bio-technologies that raise ethical, social and/or human rights issues.

In this regard I have done much work in the area of assisted reproduction, including having conducted research into the legal feasibility of retrospective release of information to all donor conceived people about their donors, and advocating for the contact veto/preference system which has just been adopted in Victoria – a world first. I am currently leading the review of the South Australian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act, having been appointed by the Minister of Health as an independent consultant.

Alongside all of this, I also have qualifications in education, and higher education teaching.

What lead you to your chosen career path?
Having worked in a variety of settings, I became a health law academic because it was challenging, intellectually stimulating, and placed me in a position that I felt I could effect positive change. I have done this through independent research, consultation, advocacy, public speaking, advising and making submissions to government, education, and more.

My career path has thus enabled me to bring together many of my interests, and reflects my desire to help others. It also reflects my belief that with good health and good education we can do so many things, and allows me to contribute to this in some way. Moving into the role I now have was really exciting as I saw the opportunity to bring my multi-disciplinary work and study together, to continue my research related to health law, and also to build something new educationally that can reach people from a variety of disciplines, and train them in public health. It’s exciting to think that they then may also impact upon health in a positive way, in whatever field they ultimately work in.

What attracted you to Macquarie?
I came to Macquarie initially having moved to Sydney for family reasons. I was immediately attracted to the presence of the hospital on campus, and made links with the then Australian School of Advanced Medicine, teaching into their professional practice and ethics program. When the opportunity arose to lead the new Department of Health Systems and Populations, I was really excited. I felt like I could be part of something innovative and new, and that the role would bring together all of my years of study, as well as my skills and experience. I was really attracted to the vision for the Macquarie University Health Sciences Centre, and what is being built in terms of a major health enterprise.

What do you see as the opportunities and challenges for health in the next five to 10 years?
We live in an age of technology and innovation. With this brings exciting discoveries, and new challenges. We will continue to have to consider the ethical, legal and social issues that arise alongside new health technologies and in collaboration with people from a variety of disciplines and the community. There is also opportunity to think and act more broadly, in a multi-disciplinary way, on how to prevent disease, improve quality of life, and achieve the best possible physical and mental health and well-being for all people throughout their life. The challenge in this regard is to find the right balance between focusing upon treating illness or disease, and preventing it in the first place.

We talk a lot about ‘patient-centred care’; perhaps we should also be talking more about ‘healthy people centred practices and societies’. Following on from this, we must continue to find ways to address the social determinants of health that exist locally, nationally, and globally.

A significant challenge to health and well-being of all people continues to be the conditions in which they are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of their daily life.

The opportunity is therefore to implement broader social, environmental, economic, political, legal, and systems solutions that may create better living conditions for all people, and in turn better health. The above is and will continue to be particularly important in the age of ‘lifestyle diseases’, ageing populations, and globalisation.

Attendance throughout the week was excellent. Not only was the Central Courtyard and Library Lawn spaces buzzing with activity, but organised sessions also saw capacity crowds.

• More than 1500 students attended Learning Skills and Career workshops throughout the week (with more sessions scheduled for the next few weeks of session).
• Around 1300 enjoyed ‘Australian’ experiences such as an Aussie barbecue, afternoon tea and sports, a bush dance, Sydney Harbour cruise, and a trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park.
• 850 attended official welcome events with the Vice-Chancellor
• 700 students participated in a speed friendship session, a networking event to help new students to break the ice and feel welcome.

The reinvigorated student mentor program saw more than 140 mentors help out during the week, facilitating campus tours, running information sessions, answering questions and offering wayfinding advice. The mentors have also been teamed up with around 1500 students who have elected to be part of the peer support program that aims to help new students transition to Macquarie and tertiary study during their first session. Find out more about the Mentor program.

Here’s a snapshot of the week in pictures:

(Photos by Chris Stacey)

Staff who have recently used the service would have noted the clinic service model has changed in 2016. The clinic is no longer bulk-billing all clients, but will provide a fee structure with the associated rapid Medicare rebate processes that represents excellent value to University clients.

While there has been some understandable disappointment about the changes, most clients have recognised the clinic must be financially sustainable in order to provide first-class medical care. Discounted services are still available to those with financial disadvantage, as well as for students, children and health concession card holders.

“Our vision is for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and associated facilities, including the Hospital and associated clinics, to be integrated with, and responsive to, the needs of our communities,” says Clinical Director of Primary Care at Macquarie University, Professor Simon Willcock.

“While we will continue to provide the highest quality of care to patients who are unwell, current best-practice in health care recognises the need for effective primary care services that work with patients to maintain good health and prevent illness. We are proud to be able to offer a range of specialist and generalist practitioners and services to the members of the University and local communities.”

“I believe the location of the integrated clinic is a real advantage for staff, students and the broader local business and residential community,” continues Simon. “Our affiliation with the University through the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences encourages synergy between education, research and service delivery and we encourage new patients and feedback from existing patients as we continue to build a sustainable health centre that models world’s best practice health care.”

Find out more about the GP services on offer.

One in five students experience significant stress, anxiety, low mood or sadness during their studies. Here Bareena Johnson, Campus Wellbeing’s Allied Health Advisor, introduces you to a new online resource you can refer students to for support.

With the beginning of the academic year upon us, we will soon be welcoming thousands of new and continuing students. This is traditionally an exciting time, however it can be a stressful and difficult time for students as well.

As a staff member you may have contact with students in a variety of situations and circumstances. Occasionally you may become aware that a student requires additional support or would benefit from developing skills to manage their emotional wellbeing.

You can now refer a student to a collaborative innovation between Campus Wellbeing and the eCentreClinic – The UniWellbeing Course.

This free online program for Macquarie University students teaches them practical, proven skills to help manage stress, worry, anxiety, low mood and depression. It consists of four lessons over five weeks, allowing students to fit the course around their university commitments. They can access the lessons at anytime, wherever they have an internet connection.

Additionally, the course provides resources to help students tackle common challenges, such as procrastination and sleep problems. All students receive weekly support, via telephone and secure email, from an experienced Campus Wellbeing psychologist.

To date, more than 300 students have participated in the UniWelbeing course. We are seeing very good improvements in students’ emotional wellbeing as a result of the course, with over 85 per cent saying it was worth their time and they’d recommend it to others.

To learn more or refer a student, please contact us:

Phone: (02) 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
Web: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/counselling_service/resources/
In person: Campus Wellbeing, Level 2 C8A (Lincoln Building)

*Note, if a student requires immediate help please call Campus Wellbeing without delay: 9850 7497.

Remember to contribute your story – for ‘in their own voice’ – for publishing in This Week. These stories will celebrate the diversity, passion and collaborative spirit of Macquarie staff.

Participants need to be between 30 and 55 years of age, and will be asked about their lifetime noise exposure history in an online survey (approx) 20 minutes.

Participants will also be required to attend a 3.5 hour lab appointment at the Macquarie University Hearing Hub, where researchers will conduct a series of listening tasks to determine whether there is a link between a participant’s noise exposure and their auditory functioning. Participants can be provided with a written report about their hearing (including the results of their audiogram), and will receive $40 for their time.

The study will continue until June 2016.

Express your interest via email: prevention@nal.gov.au

What’s involved
Volunteers will meet with physiotherapy students regularly to discuss their (volunteers) condition, how it affects them and how they interact with the health care system.

Although no direct treatment is provided, students over time will perform assessments of mobility and balance which may provide valuable information to the volunteer, their family and caregivers.

Students may also use assessment findings to suggest exercise and physical activity programs which will be tailored to the volunteer’s health goals and needs.

Volunteer now.