Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
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AU
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
CONNECTIONS
ISSUE 3/JULY 2005
TIMOR-LESTE:
RISING
FROM THE
ASHES?
8 12 16
4 VC WELCOME
4 IN BRIEF
8 NATION BUILDING
TIMOR-LESTE 12 BEING SMART
WITH WATER
COMMUNITY BUILDING RESEARCH
The Vice-Chancellor writes A visit by Tibetan monks, a Victoria University continues Water has become
that flare and drive is what major national energy award, to play a key role in the a national obsession.
defines our modern University a visit by Dr Brendan Nelson rebuilding of East Timor. Sustaining adequate
as it adopts a new brand to and a new digital art gallery Abject poverty, an unskilled supplies has become a
further distinguish its position are among the ‘in brief’ workforce and an infrastructure major challenge around
in a highly competitive sector. stories in this issue. largely in tatters, means much the world. Victoria University
work remains. is finding solutions.
20 MENOPAUSE AND
THE SEARCH 21 RESEARCH TAKES
ON THE LOCAL 22 LEARN WHILE
YOU WORK 24 SWIRLERS GO
OUTBACK TEACHING
FOR RESILIENCE AND GLOBAL WORKPLACE LEARNING LITERACY
RESEARCH RESEARCH Victoria University is making COMMUNITY BUILDING
Two-and-a-half million Australian Two new Victoria University workplace learning a feature A program developed to provide
women are now in menopause. research institutes are part of a of all its courses. Four current trainee teachers with experience
Two researchers want to know new initiative to increase the and former students tell why working with Aboriginal students
why one-fifth of these women University’s research performance workplace learning worked has led to Central Australian
will breeze through this often in sustainable development for them. communities gaining some of
‘difficult’ stage of life. and community engagement. their best teacher recruits.
CONTENTS
ISSUE
THREE
3
18 22 24
14 BRINGING
HOLLYWOOD 15 TAKING THE LAW
TO VIENNA 16 TAKING THE GRIT
OUT OF PLUMBING 18 SHOWING MUSCLE
IN A WORLD
DOWN-UNDER LAW APPRENTICESHIPS OF SPORT
RECREATION STUDIES The School of Law continues Plumbing training takes on SPORT AND FITNESS
Graduate David Pratt to build on its international new meaning as apprentices Victoria University’s new Aquatic
represents the Aussie reputation as four law undertake ‘real-life’ training in and Fitness Centre has become
entertainment industry in students travel to Vienna to a building that won a major home to elite athletes and
Hollywood and negotiates compete in an international architectural award for its sports teams. Offering an array
with producers to shoot mooting competition. open-plan of interlinked zones. of fitness programs, it had
their films in Australia. 70,000 visitors in its first year.
28 NEW CAREERS
IN RURAL 30 MORE WORK AND
LESS BEDS FOR 31 NEW BOOKS BY
VU AUTHORS 32 VU ART
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
CONNECTIONS
PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES GRAPHIC DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Marketing and Communications Dept. Jim Buckell, Paul Mitchell Phil Kofoed Brett Kiteley of Stroke p/l
Victoria University, Australia Glen Dower, John McCallum Marketing and Communications Dept.
COVER PHOTO
Victoria University
MANAGING EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHERS A school in Atebae, East Timor,
Phil Kofoed Maurice Grant-Drew, Ross Bird, destroyed by militia.
PO Box 14428 PHOTO BY Ross Bird 1999
STAFF WRITERS Sharon Jones, Sharon Walker, Melbourne VIC 8001
Lawry Mahon, Brett Kiteley, Brett Quine, © Victoria University of Technology
Brett Quine Australia
Peter Glenane, Heath Missen, www.vu.edu.au
Clare Boyd-Macrae PHONE: +61 3 9919 4956
Niki Koulouris Jessica Garreffa, Lucas Dawson EMAIL: publications@vu.edu.au CRICOS Provider No: 00124K
4 VC WELCOME IN BRIEF
DEFINED BY
After some 18 months as Vice-Chancellor of Victoria
University, it has been, and continues to be, a challenging
and exhilarating journey.
FLAIR AND The flair and drive of our people is what defines and
distinguishes our modern University, ever building on
DRIVE
an already recognised platform of open dialogue and
engagement with the wider community.
This is exactly what Connections celebrates as it records
many of the latest outstanding achievements of our students
and staff. As national changes sweep through tertiary
education, I believe we are well positioned to face any
challenge, with many recent initiatives such as our Staff
and Leadership Forums aligned with our 2004–2008
Strategic Plan.
Connections readers will notice a new format and feel in
this issue. This reflects our fantastic new University branding
– bold, direct and street smart – now being adopted to Award-winning author Arnold Zable.
further distinguish our position as a ‘New School of Photo: Sharon Jones
Thought’ in a highly competitive sector.
Some of the stories in this issue include a profile on our
$7.4 million Aquatic and Fitness Centre, a Hollywood-
based graduate’s involvement with entertainment’s high-flyers
in promoting the Australian film industry, and a feature on
Victoria University's long-standing support of the people of
Timor-Leste and its assistance in the nation building of that
new country.
While Victoria University has a strong community building
record in the international arena, it also focuses on our
home front. This is exemplified by a program where
student teachers educate Aboriginal children in remote
Northern Territory communities, which is also featured in
BRINGING
this issue. Our ‘aged issues’ expert, Deputy Vice- TALES TO THE
WEST
Chancellor Professor John McCallum, also offers a
personal view on the future retirement age and nursing
care needs of our ageing baby boomer population.
Reading this issue, you will see that Victoria University
is continuing to connect, excite and explore. Enjoy! Writer Arnold Zable has been appointed as
Victoria University’s inaugural writer-in-residence.
Professor Elizabeth Harman Zable will be working with graduate and
Vice-Chancellor and President postgraduate students studying professional
June 2005 writing, as well as fostering emerging talent
in the western suburbs community.
“Mr Zable’s appointment provides a vehicle
to tap into the reservoir of creative potential
Photo: Sharon Walker
in Melbourne’s west,” says Dr Bronwyn Cran
from the School of Communication, Culture
and Languages.
“His appointment is a wonderful opportunity
for the students in our creative writing program
and for writers in Melbourne’s western suburbs
to learn from one of the most inspiring writers
and teachers of creative writing in Australia
today. He has a great commitment to nurturing
the unheard voices of writers in communities
throughout Victoria.”
Zable is an award-winning author whose
books include, Wanderers and Dreamers, a
history of Yiddish theatre in Australia, and
Jewels and Ashes, a moving account of his
own family’s history, including his journey to
Poland to trace his ancestors. His more recent
books include, Cafe Scheherazade, The Fig
Tree and Scraps of Heaven.
IN BRIEF 5
Loy Lichtman with one of his own art installations at the new Professor Michael Hamerston shows off the Institutional Architecture Award Tony Walker, winner of an Australia Day Ambulance Service Medal.
vuspace gallery. Photo: Maurice Grant-Drew plaque with architect Peter Elliott at the Queen Street site. Photo: Sharon Walker Photo: Sharon Walker
Dr Brian Young from the Australian Institute of Energy 2004 Australian Awards for University Teaching Tibetan Buddhist monks creating a mandala at St Albans Campus.
presents Amanullah Oo with his award. finalists, Professor Phillip Deery and Lily Wong. Photo: Sharon Walker
MIXING IT
TROPHY FOR WITH THE MONKS
POWER
PROJECT BEST MAKETH A
MANDALA
PhD student Amanullah Maung Than Oo won Victoria University academics Professor Phillip A spiritual event at Victoria University’s
the Best General Energy Project Category at Deery and Lily Wong were both finalists at St Albans Campus in March captured good
the third Biennial Postgraduate Student Energy the prestigious 2004 Australian Awards for health vibes for the local community. Seven
Awards. The Awards are presented by the University Teaching, presented at Parliament Tibetan monks on a world tour spent five
Melbourne Branch of the Australian Institute of House in Canberra late last year. days creating a spectacular multi-coloured
Energy (AIE) and celebrate excellence in science sand mandala, believed capable of drawing
Professor Deery, co-ordinator of history since healing energy from a medicine Buddha.
and engineering. Twenty-one students from six
he started at Victoria University in 1991, is When the mandala was finished, the
Australian universities competed.
a renowned authority on the Cold War. He monks held a ceremony to spread the
Amanullah’s research is looking at ways to was one of three finalists in the ‘Humanities healing energy for the benefit of locals.
improve the monitoring of electrical power and the Arts’ category. Lily Wong, lecturer
systems, with the aim of developing an efficient in accounting and finance, was one of five “Energy is captured and it’s like a blessing
power system communication infrastructure. finalists in the ‘Economics, Business, Law for the environment and the people in that
and Related Studies’ category. environment,” said lecturer Frank Perri,
“The rapid development in information technology course co-ordinator of the clinical dermal
is pushing the power system information management Professor Deery says he felt “humbled but therapies program.
network to a remarkable innovation state,” says immensely chuffed” about being a finalist.
Amanullah. “A wide area network will enable “The unacknowledged contributors to this Greater appreciation of alternative health
power systems to share system information more achievement were the students whom I sciences, and diverse religious, cultural and
broadly and effectively.” taught,” he says. environmental beliefs flowed from the monks’
visit, which was sponsored by the School of
The power industry is so impressed with Amanullah’s Lily Wong is famous among her students for Health Sciences.
research that SPI PowerNet – a Victorian high being able to make accounting entertaining.
voltage transmission company – is providing all Her involvement with the University began The monks are also raising money to build
the facilities and equipment he requires to further as a student. “Victoria University has given a $600,000 traditional hospital in Tibet as
his research. me my education and my career,” she says. they tour and share their distinctive cultural
“Many students here are like myself, from characteristics with people in Australia.
“This research could bring enormous benefits migrant families – but have a great
not only to the power industry but to the whole willingness to learn. The University tries to
community,” says Amanullah’s PhD supervisor, provide equal access to a quality education.”
Professor Akhtar Kalam from the Faculty of
Health, Science and Engineering.
IN BRIEF 7
TOTeM House student, Melissa, with Dr Brendan Nelson The local community is helping to protect the native grasslands Judo champion Rebecca Sullivan, the third inductee into Victoria
during his visit last December. Photo: Sharon Jones that surround St Albans Campus. Photo: Warrick Atwood University’s Sporting Hall of Fame. Photo: Lucas Dawson
NATION
BUILDING
TIMOR-LESTE
BRETT QUINE All East Timor location photos by Ross Bird
In the early 1990s Victoria University made pivotal than an institution just teaching overseas students to
moves to organise a fledgling neighbour nation’s most raise its finances – the University was more about
precious resource – its intellectual infrastructure – before assisting people from countries in great need. And
that country had even won independence. The when we requested an office for the CNRT the
University’s efforts were unique and largely unheralded. next year, it was granted and that was before a
government had even been formed – it was a bold
While those efforts were at first down-played for move for the University back then.”
the sake of diplomacy, in 1998 the University took
its first tentative steps in official recognition of East Today, the links between Victoria University and
Timor, since renamed Timor-Leste. Within a few Timor-Leste are stronger than ever. But with abject
months, the University had reversed the accepted poverty, a birth mortality rate of eight per cent, a
norms of diplomatic recognition. largely unskilled workforce and infrastructure in
tatters, much work remains.
It started to co-host seminars with the Australia-East
Timor Association that year, while the University’s In June, the University hosted a two-day conference,
Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies provided resources to Co-operating with Timor-Leste, sponsored by the
delve into development issues. By the end of 1998, Australian Government’s foreign aid body, AusAID,
Victoria University had become a formal partner of at City Flinders Campus. It featured a keynote
the East Timor resistance, Concelho Nacional address by Timor-Leste Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri,
Resistance Timorense – the Council of National on the Timorese economy. In October, Vice-
Resistance for Timorese (CNRT). Chancellor Professor ELizabeth Harman will lead
a visit by University delegates to Timor-Leste as
The association was no accident; a select but conference ideas are followed through.
strong contingent of the University’s socially astute
academics had taken the East Timorese people At one of the East Timor seminars hosted by Victoria
and their struggle to heart following the invasion University in 1998, CNRT representative and Nobel
by Indonesian forces in 1975. Prize winner Dr Jose Ramos Horta suggested the
University co-host an international seminar on East
Notable among the early supporters were former Timor Strategic Development Planning. The seminar
University Council member the Hon. Jean McLean – took place in April 1999, co-ordinated by then
now special advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on masters student, Joao Cancio Freitas. The seminar
Timor-Leste – and fellow social justice activist saw Timorese intellectuals write many policy papers
and lecturer Dr Helen Hill. Both were recently later adopted by the Timor-Leste Government
paid glowing tributes as “veteran supporters” by following independence.
Timor-Leste’s Consul-General, Mr Abel Guterres.
Six months later, former resistance leader Xanana
McLean says the significance of the University’s Gusmao – who was later elected the first president of
official recognition of East Timor in 1998 could not Timor-Leste – visited Victoria University. A fundraising
be understated. “It was very important,” she says. dinner staged in his honour saw the formation of
“It really showed that Victoria University was more the Victoria University–East Timor Working Group.
It was less than two months after the East Timorese had
overwhelmingly voted for independence in a United
The significance of the Nations supervised popular referendum.
at the City Flinders Campus for the post-referendum Bailey was inspired to support the East Timorese in
‘emergency’ period of militia attacks. The office was November 1991 when he saw television reports of
opened by Xanana Gusmao in May 2000, staffed 270 young people in a funeral procession killed by
by Abel Guterres. militia – subsequently known as the Dili or Santa
Cruz massacre.
The University had achieved what was most likely an
unprecedented diplomatic oddity. It had established Victoria University’s early support of the CNRT in 1998
a de facto consular office two years before the could easily have seen it fall out of favour with the
country itself formally existed – before the official Australian Government. “There was a real risk in
Melbourne consulate, before the Sydney consulate what they were doing,” says Bailey. He says the
and long before the Canberra embassy. University had to walk “a very fine line” because
they were also very supportive of Indonesian
“It would have been difficult for us to operate without students enrolled at the University.
that office,” says Guterres. “We needed the space
and it was very well timed. It lent great credibility “It wasn’t the Indonesian people the University was
to Victoria University, which as an institution was first concerned about, it was the Indonesian military
and the oppression,” says Bailey. “The military
to recognise East Timor – in Victoria at least.”
were oppressing their own people in 1998 – there
When independence was finally declared on were riots leading up to when Suharto fell.
20 May 2002, the CNRT office was relaunched as
“And yet Victoria University had the courage to
the Consulate of Timor-Leste the following day. Long-
stand up and be counted, instead of taking the
time East Timor activist Kevin Bailey was immediately
politically correct stance of, ‘Oh well, we won’t
installed as the Honorary Consul. Bailey, a former step on anyone’s toes’. I think that is something they
SAS soldier, is managing director and founder of should be commended on. The Chancellor, Justice
The Money Managers – recognised as leaders in Frank Vincent was very much about social justice
the financial planning industry. and was very involved. All these people took it on
“Literally the morning after independence, the themselves to get involved. I suppose it’s because
Department of Foreign Affairs issued the licence the University’s roots are in the western suburbs
and they can identify with social disadvantage.”
to practice,” Bailey recalls. “It was effectively the
first international Consulate of East Timor anywhere Xanana Gusmao has formed a strong bond with
in the world.” Victoria University academics and was conferred
11
PAGE 8: Symbolic of the hopeful future of the East Timorese, two girls play on the outskirts of Dili eight
months after the climactic terror and destruction of their country during September 1999.
LEFT: Children at a school in Atauro. Nearly every school in East Timor was either destroyed or dismantled
and shipped away for sale by militias.
TOP: A roofing and water collection project in Baucau. East Timor is still one of the world’s poorest countries.
TOP RIGHT: An old man tends to graves on Mount Matebian. The last stronghold of the resistance, the
mountain has come to symbolise the will of the East Timorese to survive.
RIGHT: Timor-Leste Honorary Consul-General Kevin Bailey and office manager Joao Jong at the Timor-Leste
consulate office at City Flinders Campus. Photo by Brett Quine.
The University’s roots an Honorary Doctorate from the University in April Dili Institute of Technology. The partnership assisted
2003. Dr Ramos Horta was honoured as a the institute with renovations, computers and joint
are in the western suburbs Distinguished Visiting Professor in 2001. Joao Cancio applications for training contracts in East Timor.
Freitas returned to East Timor with a PhD and became
and they can identify executive director of the new Dili Institute of State and Federal Government steps toward
greater economic autonomy for the young nation
with social disadvantage. Technology. A number of other East Timorese graduates
have increasingly vindicated Victoria University’s
of Victoria University also work in Timor-Leste.
early support for an independent East Timor.
Community development student Chloe Beaton
formed the Victoria University Students for East In early 2004, the Victorian Government agreed
Timor (VUSET) after her visit to East Timor in 1999. to fund Annie Keogh as an employee of Victoria
“VUSET was active in raising awareness about issues University based at Dili Institute of Technology. As
in East Timor on the campuses and fundraising for a vocational education and training adviser, one
the CNRT,” says Hill, who spent her Outside Study of her primary goals is to work toward establishing
Program in East Timor in 2000 as the East Timor’s TAFE modules at the institute. Her contract was
National Research Centre’s first International recently extended to June 2006.
Fellow. “They held meetings at Puckapunyal with
In April this year, Australia’s Foreign Affairs minister
the Timorese students who had been evacuated to
Alexander Downer touted more generous concessions
Melbourne following militia violence.”
for Timor-Leste in negotiations over oil and gas
Many Timorese students at Victoria University are rights, while the Bracks Government funded the first
financed by scholarships from AusAID and under- official office manager, a full-time position, for the
take community development courses. They include Timor-Leste Consulate at City Flinders Campus.
Bachelor of Arts Community Development graduate
In April 2004, Jean McLean and Brian Fairman
Nivio Magalhães, who returned to Timor-Leste to
visited Dili Institute of Technology and held meetings
teach at the National University, and Justino
with DIT president Kirsty Gusmao and Foreign
Guterres, now Tertiary Education Director in Dili.
Affairs Minister, Dr Ramos Horta to discuss economy
In August 2002, TAFE sector representatives and skills development in Timor-Leste. Further
Richard Carter – now Deputy Vice-Chancellor plans for education development are currently
(Education Services) – and Brian Fairman visited being discussed with Timor-Leste’s National
Timor-Leste and facilitated a Memorandum of University as part of Victoria University’s ongoing
Understanding between Victoria University and the commitment to the development of the new nation.
12 RESEARCH – SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION
BEING
SMART WITH
WATER
BRETT QUINE
Associate Professor Graham Thorpe. Photo: Sharon Walker
Water has become a national obsession. Being able it more favourable to horticulture, and the second possible. It has already happened in California.
to sustain adequate supplies has become a major involves sewer ‘mining’, where valuable components “We need to recognise that we invest a lot of
challenge. Eco-awareness has driven the public of effluent are removed from sewage at the site money in infrastructure to collect sewage, to treat
and governments to find real solutions. where the treated waste water is reused. that sewage, and it doesn’t make sense to then just
simply pump that water back into the ocean.”
Victoria University has had a dedicated team of The research is being developed in conjunction
scientists immersed in water desalination and water with the University of NSW. Victoria University In 2003, Victoria University and Melbourne Water
management research for many years. The University researcher Dr Simon Wilson says several significant announced a joint initiative to construct a computer
currently has at least seven projects, schemes or technology challenges remain, including disposal model to help water planners better manage the
initiatives that aim to better use or reuse water. of the reject (concentrate) stream and energy costs. resource. The project recognises increasing
But he says the research will provide new opportunities uncertainty about drinkable supplies of water
Associate Professor Graham Thorpe from the School for water reclamation from treated waste water and
of Architecture, and Civil and Mechanical and future demand, and that building new dams
improved desalination of sea water.
Engineering has developed a hydrocooler – a is no longer socially acceptable. It also integrates
portable vegetable chilling unit that filters and The two projects are being developed with the economic, environmental and social factors to
recycles the water used. Developed with assistance of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, provide an analytical framework to help plan for
$100,000 in funds from the Smart Water Fund – famed for making deserts bloom and transforming long-term conditions, including drought.
set up by Melbourne’s water suppliers – the hydro- swamps into fertile agricultural valleys in Israel.
And four final-year civil engineering students have
cooler can cut the water waste of conventional cooling The director of the Technion Water Institute, Professor
units from 40,000 litres per tonne of produce to come up with a plan to recycle water from a
Raphael Semiat, says people have to question stormwater drain that runs alongside the University’s
just five litres per tonne. The unit was designed in a whether it is truly cost-effective to power recycling
joint venture with the Christou Group, a Werribee- Aquatic and Fitness Centre. It will be treated in
and desalination projects with traditional dirty fuels
based market garden business. specially created wetlands for re-use on the
such as oil and coal. Although nuclear, solar and
adjacent historic Footscray Park gardens. The
Victoria University researchers have also been in wind energy are considered too expensive, he
says governments had not counted the ongoing project will help Maribyrnong City Council save
pursuit of an industry Holy Grail they believe is 25 megalitres of water a year. This is enough to fill
within their grasp – recycled sewage, commonly environmental damage costs of dirty fuels.
25 Olympic-size swimming pools or 70 million
accepted as suitable for farm irrigation. “We have to decide if we want more water or buckets – 85 per cent of the water needs of the park.
A water research forum, hosted by Victoria University’s more large cars, airconditioning and so forth,”
says Semiat. “It’s not enough to produce low-cost Yet the water project that possibly has had most
new Institute for Sustainability and Innovation (ISI) in
water. It’s also important to re-educate people on results to date is the much-envied Environmental
February, heard experts from Israel, France and the
water use.” Management degree run by John Orbell at the
US explain how they were working in partnership
Department of Molecular Sciences. The course
with Victoria University to better reclaim both sewage Associate Professor Greg Leslie from the University
and salt water at the Western Treatment Plant at includes two water-related modules, Water Pollution
of NSW says the Victoria University–University of
Werribee. They spoke of recycled water for domestic Monitoring and Liquid Waste Management. Professor
NSW team are trying to selectively remove nutri-
use as inevitable. ents to design the water product specifically for the Orbell describes the course as “unique”, and it
application. “It will be a water that has the right boasts more than 100 graduates across the globe.
The ISI was launched in July last year with a key
balance of nutrients, particularly phosphate and “A lot of universities have tried to emulate what we
agenda to achieve sustainable water use and reuse.
ammonia ... that isn’t going to degrade the quality
Institute director Professor John Cary says the have done,” says Orbell. “But we were lucky in
of the land,” says Leslie.
Institute has two water-related projects running at the west in that we had established a very strong
the Western Treatment Plant. The first addresses A former Californian, Leslie believes Australia will network of industry associations 10 years ago,
how to reduce salt in water from sewage to make soon legislate the use of recycled water wherever and that network still exists today.”
14 RECREATION STUDIES
BRINGING
HOLLYWOOD
DOWN-UNDER
JIM BUCKELL
“When they want something in Hollywood, they want it instantly,”
says David Pratt. He should know. Pratt, a Victoria University
recreation studies graduate, is a ‘point man’ in Los Angeles for the
Australian entertainment industry. He negotiates with producers to
shoot US productions in Australia and represents our film-makers,
actors, technicians, and our arts and fashion industry in California.
Despite the self-promotional spin that Hollywood weaves about
itself, it’s an industry not dictated by glamour so much as business.
But this isn’t the land of dreams for nothing. Pratt’s work still
involves the kind of A list (and sometimes – darn it – B list)
schmoozing that has made Lala land the cocktail and red-carpet
capital of the world. It’s just that the cast of financiers, stars,
directors, producers, managers, marketers and agents knows
it for what it really is – a compulsory circuit of over- or under-
dressed room workers seeking to smooth the path to future deals.
For the leading players it can be hard work on tight deadlines.
“The thing I’ve learnt about the film industry is that it’s very last-
minute,” says Pratt. “When they call, they want a lot of
information very quickly and it has to be accurate or your
credibility is out the window.” That means keeping up to date
with all activity across a brief that includes fashion, events and (l–r) David Pratt, Hollywood-based Australian actor Melissa George and talent manager Rob Marsala,
cultural presentations as well as film and television. who represents Australians such as actor Frances O’Connor and pop queen Kylie Minogue.
As a private consultant, Pratt’s clients include the NSW Film and Americans are amazed that Australia produces
Television Office, many of the other State-based film agencies,
and the Australian consulate in LA. He cut his teeth in LA as the so much talent for such a small country.
agent for the Australian film industry’s promotional arm, Ausfilm,
from 1997 until last year. 1987) it is to use your time at uni to make as many work contacts
as possible, especially those in your work experience placement.”
The Hollywood productions shot in Australia that he has been
involved in negotiations to attract reads like an action flick hot After all, it worked for Pratt. His studies provided him with a solid
list. They include the three Matrix blockbusters and Mission grounding in the business and management side of the arts
Impossible II – films that locked in the US view that Australia is industry, and his work experience with Film Victoria gave him an
an ideal film production location. entrée into the industry that he was later able to capitalise on.
After working in mainstream recreation programs for a few
But what makes Pratt’s job so interesting is that it cuts both ways. years he lobbied for and got a job at Film Victoria promoting
The Australian industry wants to attract the investment that US Melbourne as a location and later transferred to LA.
productions bring to the big studios established over the past
decade or so on Australia’s east coast, but it also needs to He counts some of his teachers and colleagues from those early
promote its own product, and those who make it, in the world’s years, including then lecturer Lorraine Smith and fellow graduates
largest entertainment and arts market – Hollywood. Jackie Kinder, now a producer with ABC radio, and Louisa
Coppel, a Victorian Government communications staffer, as
“There is a real thirst in Hollywood for accessing talent from around integral parts of his network.
the world, particularly from Australia,” says Pratt. “Americans are
amazed that Australia produces so much talent for such a small Students planning to enter the entertainment and recreation
country, especially actors and directors, but our technicians and industries are taught networking and contact-building skills as
cinematographers are highly regarded too.” part of the Victoria University course. Career development
co-ordinator of the degree in recreation studies, Angela Dressler,
Inevitably, the talent pool of Aussies who work in Hollywood at who has been on staff since Pratt’s undergraduate days, says
least part time continues to grow, and their cache eases the task it’s an important component of the course.
of arranging screenings of Australian film and TV productions.
“It’s where students, particularly those going into their final placement
Setting up meetings between key industry players from both sides before graduation can make such an impact,” Dressler says. “By
of the Pacific is also a big part of Pratt’s role. It’s just as important establishing those contacts and impressing them with their work,
to showcase the talent as it is the product. He started a non-profit most of our students end up employed in the industry of their choice
group called Australians in Film to help make these connections, – and many in the organisation where they did their placements.”
and now sits on the board after many years as its president.
These days the degree in recreation studies enrols 50 students a
Maintaining these networks is essential to Pratt’s success. “If there’s year. Selection is based on work experience as well as TER
one thing I would say to students in recreation studies (he graduated in scores and applications are accepted for mid-year intake.
LAW 15
TAKING THE
LAWTO VIENNA
PAUL MITCHELL
Law lecturer Dr Bruno Zeller in the Law School’s moot court at Queen Street.
Photo: Sharon Walker
Victoria University’s School of Law has been established for just five travelled to practice events in New Orleans and Geneva before
years, but already it is developing a strong international reputation. going on to Vienna.
This year, when the School sent four law students to the annual Willem
Jessica Latimer says the highlight of the competition for her, apart from
C V’s International Commercial Arbitration Moot court competition in
the opportunity itself, was meeting students from around the world.
Vienna, it finished 50th out of the 150 universities participating – its
best placing in the four years it has been attending the event. “From New York City attorneys to Turkish arbitrators; to students from
Moldova, South Africa and Singapore – people came from across
“The top team had a 46 average out of 50,” says Dr Bruno Zeller,
the world to participate.”
School of Law lecturer and an arbitrator at the competition. “To get into
the final round of thirty-two schools you had to have a 43 average, Dr Zeller, author of the soon-to-be released law text, Damages Under
and we had 42. That one point makes the difference – there is very International Sales Law (Oceania Press 2005), says the benefits for
little in it these days.” students competing in Vienna are enormous. “You could say there is
Students compete by presenting an oral and written argument for a ‘Vienna mafia’,” he says, laughing, adding that Australian law
both sides of a hypothetical dispute arising out of a contract of sale firms employ many graduates who have competed in Vienna for
between two countries. The goal is to train law students not only in different universities. “All the students that have gone to Vienna from
international commercial law, but also arbitration for the resolution of our School, bar two, have articles or have jobs, which is more than
international business disputes. one would say about the average law student.”
“Students get to argue in court on behalf of a ‘client’ – they have to He says Victoria University’s success this year was a result of two
think standing on their feet,” says Zeller. “And they get the experience of factors – funding and hard work. “This was the first year when
an international court setting.” funding has been forthcoming. In previous years the students had
to find the money themselves – about $7000. This year Dr Murray
With schools from universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Heidelberg Raff, the head of the School, graciously paid for their flights and
and the National University of Singapore attending, the competition insurance, so they only had to pay for accommodation.”
was fierce for Victoria University students Elise Martello, Alice
O’Connell, Amy Wood and president of the University’s Law Elise Martello says preparation for Vienna was difficult due to time
Student Society, Jessica Latimer. constraints because the team had to juggle part-time work. She said
the problem they were set was “long, intricate and required
“At Vienna you can’t read, you have to know it – every possibility repetitive close reading and analysis to absorb the legal issues”.
and every little angle has to be ironed out,” says Zeller, adding that
his fellow arbitrators included high-ranking world professionals. But, as Latimer says, all the hard work in preparation and practice
was definitely worth it. “Apart from being highly regarded by all
After their exams earlier this year the four young women had just sectors of the legal profession, the competition has helped me
two weeks to write two 20,000-word documents in preparation develop skills in public speaking, confidence and networking,
for Vienna. They then practised at least once a week, including which are invaluable for future career development.”
moot courts against Deakin and Monash universities. Then they
Zeller says the School was also successful because it now has a
culture of mooting, due to its regular attendance at the constitutional
moot in Brisbane, and because it has its own moot court facilities.
“The moots here are good. The one at the Law School allows you
to videotape everything if you wish, which is great, and the
University’s Sir Zelman Cowan Centre has got an even better one.
It’s new and as technologically advanced as you could wish for.
They train judges there in the application of new software, but we
haven’t started our students at that moot court yet.”
He says one subject in the School has a “fully blown” moot as
part of the curriculum, where students have to talk for half an hour.
“That really instils a culture of mooting. Students really know what
is expected of them and they develop a desire to go to moot
court competitions.”
The University’s chances of success at Vienna aren’t hurt by the fact
that Zeller is one of the competition arbitrators. He has been invited
to Vienna six times to adjudicate and says, like the students, he has
to put in some solid preparation.
“Arbitration isn’t just sitting there listening,” he says, adding that he
never gets to judge the Victoria University team. “You need to draw
the questions out; it is an aggressive way of seeing whether students
(l–r) Law students Elise Martello, Jessica Latimer and Alice O’Connell. Photo: Sharon Walker can hold a point.”
16
‘The Barn’ is a large open-plan space of interlinked zones accommodating around 100 students. Photo: Sharon Walker
THE BARN
Neville Penny oversees Australia’s most expensive
sandpit. Fifteen metres deep and the size of a tennis
court, it is worth $10,000.
“It’s a special-purpose sand,” says Penny. “We had to
shop around for it and when we found the right type we
got the quarry to wash out the dirt and grit.”
PLUMBING
as deep as three metres when practising the craft of
laying drains, making it vital that the sand is kept at the
right consistency.
The sandpit indicates the thoroughness with which the
Department strives to make training as realistic as possi-
ble in the $3.5 million plumbing apprentice facility that
makes up the eastern wing of the R C Fordham Building.
GLEN DOWER Soon after opening, the building’s innovative design won
a 2001 Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)
Architectural Merit award.
The sandpit is part of a large open-plan space of
interlinked zones, where plumbing apprentices work on
a variety of specialised activities. Instructors have a clear
view across the entire floor and operate in a team-teaching
environment, offering individual attention while maintaining
general supervision of the various groups.
“It’s a flexible space where we can undertake training
in any way required, as opposed to a formal classroom
set-up,” says Penny. “It’s a big and ‘barny’ space – we
call it The Barn – and there’s nothing that is fixed in
APPRENTICESHIPS 17
The three-year plumbing apprenticeship emphasises hands-on learning. Photo: Sharon Walker Exterior windows of ‘The Barn’ represent pixelated cloud formations.
Photo: Lyons Architects
place. Our teachers are multiskilled and teach gas, “Fantastic”, is how plumbing apprentice Spiros
We call it The Barn sanitary, drainage, welding, roofing and mechanical Christopoulous describes the facility. “It’s fully equipped
– and there’s nothing services such as airconditioning, refrigeration and and provides a good learning environment for those
radiant heaters.” who want to master their trade,” he says.
that is fixed in place.
These activities go on simultaneously and teachers have “If you ask a question you get an answer right away, and
the freedom to move unencumbered from one work ‘site’ you’re in a hands-on situation where you can put it to use
to the next. Penny says there are usually eight groups of there and then. Assistance is always available and most
13 students, and “some days it’s an anthill, then it’s fairly of the teachers have been in the game for a long time –
quiet, and then it’s like an anthill again”.
they are really switched on.”
The three-year plumbing apprenticeship emphasises
Christopoulous, 30, has two years of his apprenticeship
hands-on learning. “Before The Barn, we did bench
to complete. He now works with Master Plumbers.
models – there was no working on full-size, real-life
situations,” says Penny. “You would talk about a drain, “I was self-employed in take-away food enterprises
but you wouldn’t work with it. for 11 years,” he says. “But this is the best move I’ve
ever made.”
“Plumbing is monkey stuff – monkey see, monkey do.
Apprentices do the theory in the textbook, take a computer Penny says the plumbing department also holds
test, and then come out here and take on the actual task. 14-week courses where pre-apprentice groups
We try to teach in a way that keeps the information current gain enough skills to get work that can lead to an
over the three years, rather than cover all the draining in apprenticeship and enrolment in the course.
Year 1, all the gas fitting in Year 2, and so on.”
Plumbing apprentices combine work with their training.
All likely scenarios are covered. Roof plumbers work on a Most have a Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.45pm
scaled-down mock-up of a corrugated iron roof that has week at TAFE, followed by three weeks at their external
all the corners and joins you would find in a suburban workplace. This cycle continues throughout the year.
streetscape. When preparing chimney flashings, tin, tile Penny says it is a successful schedule. “Out on the
and timber surfaces are used for practice. job they can learn while making a dollar – in here
At the end of three years most apprentices are surprised we teach them how to do a great job. Each job has
by the amount of knowledge they have accumulated. one or two tricks of the trade that help you give it that
This can be of comfort during the final 16-hour external extra little touch that makes a good job an excellent
examination, which requires an 80 per cent pass. job. You learn those tricks of the trade here.”
18 SPORT AND FITNESS
SHOWING
MUSCLE
IN A WORLD OF SPORT
BRETT QUINE
market in the delivery of sports science services and performance Western Bulldogs all turned up to use the 10-lane pool. “They all
monitoring, as well as sports research and development. wanted some lane space on the same day,” she says. “So it
was like, well, you can come in at this time, and you can come
Sports professionals regularly make use of the School’s expertise
in then. But they all ended up here at the same time. It didn’t
in fitness assessment, including marathon runner and former
cause any real dramas though.”
5000m Australian Open record holder Lee Troop, Olympic
rowers James Tomkins and Drew Ginn, Melbourne Storm rugby For the individual athlete, such as professional runner Isaul D’Sousa,
players and the Melbourne Tigers basketball team. the real lure of the Aquatic and Fitness Centre is its range of
equipment, including its large gymnasium with every imaginable
“A lot of Victorian-based Olympians went through performance
fitness and muscle-building apparatus, and heated 25-metre
monitoring here,” says Sostaric. He points out that other
indoor pool.
universities with similar facilities do not focus on service
provision but on research and teaching. D’Sousa, who ran fourth in the 2005 Stawell Gift, trains regularly
Golfers Stewart Appleby and Geoff Ogilvy are among half a dozen at the gym and reckons it is the best place in Melbourne to prepare
professional golfers who undertake fitness assessments at the start himself for the Commonwealth Games next year.
of each season before they go on international tours. Sostaric is “For what I want to do, it’s amazing,” says D’Sousa. “It has the
currently working with the entire Collingwood football team on best range of equipment with everything I need, and a pool and
projects he cannot divulge. “I’m sworn to secrecy,” he says. sauna right there as well. When I tell my friends about how
“One area we have developed expertise in is using exercise and good it is, they freak.”
exercise metabolism to assist with diagnosing medical conditions. Photo: Maurice Grant-Drew
We get a lot of referrals from sports medical practitioners and
other practitioners. We look at things where the body is under
stressful conditions.”
The school has also worked with jockeys, racing car drivers and
even firefighters. “We do occupational health and safety work in
industry and corporate health education promotion programs,”
says Sostaric. “The corporate side of things is now becoming
more popular. A lot of companies are looking at ways to give
their employees a healthier lifestyle.”
Sostaric says the concept of what the School does with elite athletes
has a place in the general community. “I think that by default this
is the way universities are going to go – they will be driving more
service provision. I think there is now more pressure for universities
to be more of a force in the business world.”
Young says the centre has its amusing moments. She remembers
when footballers from rival clubs Carlton, Essendon and the
20 RESEARCH – HEALTH AND DIVERSITY
MENOPAUSE
AND THE SEARCH FOR
RESILIENCE
Is there a blueprint for successful menopause? Two Victoria University experts
on the subject have joined forces to find out what makes women who breeze
through menopause ‘tick’. NIKI KOULOURIS reports.
Associate Professor Danny Ben-Moshe, director of the Institute for Professor John Cary, acting director of the Institute for
Community Engagement and Policy Alternatives. Photo: Sharon Jones Sustainability and Innovation. Photo: Sharon Jones
LEARN
WHILE YOU
WORK
Victoria University is strengthening its
commitment to learning in the workplace
by making workplace learning a key
feature of courses in all faculties
and TAFE. Three current students
and a graduate tell why workplace
learning worked for them.
CLARE BOYD-MACRAE reports.
Lisa Hobson
ORDER IN THE COURT
It runs in the family. Warren Peters’ father and uncles Bianca Teal always loved the idea of working with Carl Millen studied 18 months of a degree in
worked in the railways in India. Now, although far animals, but decided to do a degree in tourism metallurgical engineering before applying for
from his birthplace, Warren looks set to follow in before starting work at an Alice Springs resort. Victoria University’s Bachelor of Business and
their footsteps. A year later she realised it wasn’t for her and Applied Economics in Logistics.
enrolled in the Diploma of Animal Technology at
With a degree in commerce and a diploma in “I heard that logistics would be the next big thing –
Victoria University’s Werribee Campus.
computer management, Warren had worked as an and it is,” says Carl. “I’ve never looked back.” The
office manager for several years in India before After completing first year she applied to work at four-year degree includes twelve months of full-time
immigrating to Melbourne in 2004. In March this the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. She now work. Carl’s placement was with Boral Asphalt,
year he started the Certificate III in Transport and works there full time, studying two evenings a part of the Australian international building and
Distribution (Rail Operations), a two-year traineeship week. Bianca has been invited to continue working construction materials supplier. Carl places great value
offered through Urban Systems Training, a joint full time at the institute when she completes her on the work placement part of his degree. “The
venture between private railway operator Connex diploma at the end of this year. combination of work and study gave me a good
and Victoria University. basis for moving into the business world,” he says.
“When you’re working at the same time as doing
Two weeks of training were followed by two weeks the course it keeps you really motivated,” says 2005 has been a good year for Carl. The Faculty
of supervised work at Caulfield railway station and Bianca. “It’s quite inspiring. I like to stay motivated of Business and Law awarded him the Best Global
assessment for the initial stage of his training. Warren and there’s just heaps to learn.” She started at the Logistics and Transport Co-operative Education
now works independently as an assistant station Ludwig Institute as a junior animal technician, Student, and in January he began a permanent
officer on the Melbourne–Frankston line. Regular cleaning cages and checking mice, but now most full-time job with Boral. As works co-ordinator, Carl’s
classroom sessions and on-the-job training and of her work involves breeding mice. job is to program all the asphalt, spray and seal
assessment will continue over the next two years work performed across metropolitan Melbourne.
of his traineeship. “Working in a small animal house you do a lot
more things – there are fewer staff so you get to do “We get work from new estates, from local councils
“The initial study part of the course was very useful,” everything. I’m learning something new every day. and from VicRoads,” he says, pointing to a large
says Warren. “The University staff explained every- I love that we are doing something good here. whiteboard that illustrates a ‘beehive’ of activity by
thing very beautifully and helped us very nicely. In Our researchers come over and discuss what’s work crews, and which changes daily as jobs are
the two weeks of on-the-job training we spent time going on – they get excited and it’s good to feel completed. He enjoys his work and says it is great
observing experienced railway workers, asking a part of something bigger.” to be part of a large company where there is plenty
them questions and learning by watching them work.” of scope for travel and different work roles.
Warren mainly works in customer service, and says “We do so many different things at Boral –
the best part of his job is “helping people, solving concrete, windows, asphalt, quarries, masonry,
problems, giving directions and interacting with people”. bricks – it just goes on and on.”
24 COMMUNITY BUILDING
SWIRLERS
GO OUTBACK
TEACHING
LITERACY
JIM BUCKELL All photos by Lawry Mahon
As part of SWIRL programs, Aboriginal schoolchildren are encouraged to express themselves through dot painting.
25
SWIRL participants at Canteen Creek, 400 km east of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
“From little things, big things grow,” sang Paul Kelly Aboriginal faces and voices,” says Mahon.
in a lyric that has resonance for Victoria University “Mostly it was Europeans that were the subject
education lecturer Lawry Mahon. matter, so that was the starting point for SWIRL
– to produce materials that the students could
Mahon had a similar starting point – remote Aboriginal relate to their own lives.”
communities – when he began a literacy development
program nine years ago. His aim was to provide The first trainee teachers to take part in the program
his trainee teachers with experience working with in 1998 went to just one community, Atitjere, 250 km
Aboriginal schoolchildren and to develop reading northeast of Alice Springs. SWIRL has now grown
materials drawn from those students’ own experiences. with students from two other Melbourne universities
Little did he know that one of its long-term effects (RMIT and La Trobe) joining the program. Together
would be to supply those Central Australian with two or three of the US universities they visit up
communities with some of their best teacher recruits. to thirteen Central Australian communities each
year. And once they have completed their training
The Story Writing in Remote Locations (SWIRL) many of the trainees go back to teach full time in
program is a modest project that has drawn the Northern Territory. About 30 Swirlers – as they
support from IBM – which provides a computer to call themselves – have become NT teachers.
all participating schools – the Commonwealth and
Northern Territory education departments, Victoria “It’s been one the unexpected outcomes,” says Mahon.
Molly Kirby, a student youth worker, shows girls from the Titjikila University and recently from universities in the “The average stay of a teacher in a remote school
community, 107 km southeast of Alice Springs, the art of batik making. US – Harvard, Oregon and Montana. in the Territory is about seven months. We have
found that our students stay on average two years.
SWIRL involves student teachers working in That makes a big difference because they can
remote communities for one month on holiday build up relationships and gain the confidence
programs in which children take part in activities and support of their students and the community.”
and then document their experiences in booklets
and other media such as video, animation, One such returnee is Sue McAvoy, principal of the
Willowra school at a Warlpiri community of about
That was the starting point artwork and photographs. A number of trainee
150 people 300 km northwest of Alice. Unlike
youth workers also participate in the program.
– to produce materials that most Swirlers, McAvoy joined the program as a
“When I first came to the Territory I was frustrated fully qualified teacher to gain some experience
the students could relate to. in my attempts to find reading material with working with remote Aboriginal students.
26 COMMUNITY BUILDING
Trainee teacher Kate Toll helps a young member of the Atitjere community, Proud storywriter, Debon, from the Atitjere community.
The program is only a tiny 250 km northeast of Alice Springs, to write a story on a computer.
Lecturer Lawry Mahon has been taking his students to the Aboriginal boys create posters in support of their local football team.
An Atitjere boy shows a sense of humour during a painting project. Northern Territory each year for the past nine years.
27
SWIRL programs are very popular in Aboriginal communities. Attendances are at or close to 100 per cent.
“I had worked in schools in Melbourne’s western But this is under threat from new Commonwealth rubbed off. The third-year student hopes to return
suburbs for more than 20 years,” says McAvoy, guidelines in force this year that mean schools must to the Territory to teach when he graduates.
whose faith in education as leverage for students submit a plan for the use of such funds, then wait
from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds attracted One of the other positive outcomes of SWIRL is
for approval before submitting a second proposal.
her to working with Aboriginal communities in the bush. that its benefits flow two ways. Not only do the
“This means we have to jump through more
Aboriginal students get the impetus of the young
McAvoy is proof that the SWIRL experience is hoops to secure the funding, which is no longer
and energetic fresh faces running programs
an ideal introduction to teaching in the Territory, guaranteed,” says McAvoy. in their communities, but the trainee teachers learn
whose education authorities are always on the The scrapping of a bilingual education program a first-hand about Aboriginal culture. Many are
lookout for SWIRL graduates. She is also a good few years ago has also had an impact because it impressed with the bushcraft of their young charges.
role model for other Swirlers, one of whom, has limited the available resources in Aboriginal “I was out bush with kids as young as four and five
Hannah Casper, joined the staff at Willowra as languages. This is one area in which SWIRL has in very dry country and they were unearthing frogs
a qualified teacher this year after participating in
made a difference. Their materials, which are from below the ground,” says Cartwright. “That
SWIRL as a trainee last year.
mainly produced in English, but sometimes include amazed me, just how much they know about the
Despite its modest success, the SWIRL program is work in Aboriginal languages, are available as land from such a young age.”
only a tiny ripple in the vast pool of issues that classroom teaching aides. Generally, though,
Mahon has put a lot of care into ensuring that elders
confront remote Aboriginal education. Attendance SWIRL students have been impressed with the
and other respected members of remote communities
is poor at best in such schools, where the class- resources available in remote schools.
are involved in overseeing the programs, and their
room competes with family and ritual obligations –
“When I was there [in Newcastle Waters, north attendance on bush trips is encouraged. This stamps
which can take extended family groups away from
of Tennant Creek] a whole band kit showed up – the project with the blessing of community leaders,
their home community for weeks at a time – and
there was a truckload of new music equipment,” helping to ensure its success.
with sickness for the attention of pupils.
says Travis Cartwright, a Victoria University student “We have attendances at or close to 100 per cent
At Willowra, where attendance averages between from Echuca who took part in SWIRL last year. in most of our programs – the sort of roll-up that all
25 and 35 of the 40 children enrolled, these problems
remote Northern Territory schools are striving to
have been ameliorated by a free breakfast and a Like many of the Victoria University Swirlers,
achieve,” says Mahon.
cheap lunch program, and by funds set aside by Cartwright was intrigued by Mahon’s enthusiasm
the Commonwealth for activities such as bush trips for the project. “Basically, he never shut up about In 2005, Mahon is planning to take his students to
and special resources. it,” says Cartwright. A lot of that enthusiasm has six remote Aboriginal communities.
28 EDUCATION
NEW CAREERS
BRING KNOW-HOW TO
RURAL CLASSROOMS
A new program is encouraging professionals to undertake a career change
and redeploy their skills in the classroom. NIKI KOULOURIS reports.
Former policeman Robert Glanowski now teaches information technology to schoolkids in regional Victoria. Photo: Sharon Walker
29
Kym Woolley worked in open cut mines before becoming a teacher. Originally from West Java, Diah Krishnayanti-Grant now teaches
Photo: Jessica Garreffa Indonesian at a school near Wodonga.
Photo: Heath Missen/The Border Mail
At a time when more and more Australians are During his police career, Robert experienced the gamut Before secondary school teaching, Yanti worked
‘downshifting’ or seeking a ‘sea change’, a group of police duties, including car chases, breaking up as a waitress, a translator, and taught Indonesian
of professionals are also making considerable ‘life fights and catching burglars. “Nowadays I gain a language and culture in a community education
changes’ by retraining and moving into regional lot of satisfaction in teaching. I’m quite happy to centre. “I wanted to do the course to get the
Victoria to become teachers. have input into a young person’s life. It is satisfying qualifications,” she says.
to be catering to the next generation.” He gets a
Several musicians, a mechanic, an accountant, an lot out of “seeing where kids’ skills lie and helping She likes the challenge of teaching secondary
opal miner, a football coach and a policeman are them decide where to go in the future”. school students, especially Year 8 and 9, and
among 28 Victorians being trained at Victoria says the Victoria University course has helped her
University as part of a new $1.3 million State enormously with class management.
Government teacher training course that will bring
Fellow trainee Kym Woolley is looking forward to According to Victoria University teaching supervisor
valuable experiences and skills to the classroom.
catching up with Robert and their student colleagues Rodney Moore, Yanti “has warmth and energy and
Known as the Career Change Program, the course for another burst of teaching theory in Melbourne. really engages kids”. He remembers one of her
began with an intensive two-and-a-half week summer She is keen to compare notes on “what has worked, lessons when she brought in some traditional
school at Footscray Park Campus in January before and what has not”. She has similar feelings as Indonesian clothing for her students to wear.
the much needed new teachers headed off to Robert about watching kids learn. “They had fun parading about in it while they
schools around Victoria, including Mildura, Orbost, were learning the vocabulary,” says Rodney.
Years ago, she did a TAFE apprenticeship in
Corryong, Cobden, Horsham, Orbost, Swan Hill,
mechanical engineering at Karratha College in
Murrayville and Wangaratta.
Western Australia. Kym says the only two options
for her back then were to be a mechanic or a Six am starts are part of the job when Rodney
secretary. “I did not want to be a secretary so I Moore goes on the road to supervise his student
For Robert Glanowski, joining the program meant went the other way,” she laughs. teachers. A former English teacher, the lecturer
more than making a big move from the city to gives the student teachers advice, and discusses
Rainbow in northwestern Victoria, 340 km away. But after working in open-cut mines in the Pilbara – their progress and the issues they are facing.
It also meant making what some would see as a on anything from cars to huge rubble crushing plants “Even the school students don’t mind dropping a
huge career transition. The information technology – she decided to return to study. “I saw the ad in word in my ear now and then,” he quips.
teacher’s former occupation was a talking point on the paper and that was it,” says Kym, who now
teaches mechanical engineering to Year 9, 10 and According to Rodney, the career change teachers
local radio when he arrived.
have a huge range of experience between them
11 students at Robinvale Secondary College on
“It was also mentioned at the assembly at the and are very knowledgeable in their fields. “They
the Murray River between Mildura and Swan Hill.
beginning of the year,” says Robert, who used to are more likely to treat their students as individuals
work as a general patrol officer in the police force. All 110 of her pupils are boys, and although she rather than treat them en masse as kids. It’s important
And how did the kids react when they met the would like to see more girls in her classes, Kim because relationships are at the heart of it.”
former policeman? does not mind the boys – who don’t mind her
Relationships are so important that the teacher
either despite having been inquisitive at first.
“They had some questions but they took it in their trainees thrive on being mentored by more
“When I first started they said, ‘How come you
stride,” says Robert, adding that he does not think experienced teachers at the school where
know about this miss?’” they teach. “Having someone in the school to
that having been on the beat has made him any
tougher on his classes than other teachers. He was support them is a key element,” says Rodney.
happy to switch to teaching because he says he is As part of the program, the teacher mentors travel
Further east along the Murray, near Wodonga, to Melbourne for a two-day training session.
now more connected to young people, as opposed
Diah Krishnayanti-Grant (Yanti) teaches the kids at
to just dealing with individual police incidents. A feature of the new course is that most of the students
Tallangatta Secondary College to speak Indonesian.
“Police work was rewarding,” he says. “I was will graduate with both Vocational Education and
young and had lots of energy.” “As a native speaker I like to pass on my knowledge,” Training (VET) qualifications and a Diploma of
says Yanti. Originally from West Java, Yanti trained Education. “Some students required TAFE and higher
as a lawyer and came to Australia in the late eighties. education qualifications, so we set up an integrated
Having been on the beat She now calls Wodonga home. “I’ve always lived program with TAFE,” says Brenda Cherednichenko,
in the country because my husband was born and head of the School of Education. “Now we can
has not made him any grew up in Wodonga.” Her husband was an offer VET as another string in our Bachelor of
tougher on his charges. exchange student in Jakarta when they met. Education and Diploma of Education courses.”
30 OPINION
MORE WORK
of 59 to 63 per cent to match international levels.
The growth of people aged 15 to 64 years – currently the ‘desir-
able’ employees in the Australian workforce – will slump to zero
in 20 years. The working age population has been growing by
AND LESS BEDS FOR AGEING about 170,000 a year. Current demographic trends will see the
working age population grow by just 125,000 during the
2020s – over the whole decade, not per annum.
BABY BOOMERS This represents a major challenge to the assumptions and practices of
the Australian society and economy – and universities. Employers
must think about ‘new tricks’ for older workers. The shift from manual
work in industrialised economies towards work in knowledge-based
PROFESSOR JOHN MCCALLUM offers a personal view on the industries means that workers have more opportunities to continue
future retirement age and nursing care needs of our ageing employment in less physically demanding jobs. Mature-age work-
ers can advise, consult and manage rather than be involved in
baby boomer population. direct labour. And technological support and work practices,
such as ‘no lift’ procedures, can be employed to a greater extent
Baby boomers have looked at a future with more aged care where mature-age workers continue to work in direct labour.
beds and decided, ‘It isn’t us’. It surely follows that Australia shouldn’t
be planning for more aged care beds in hospitals and nursing But it will require a change in employer attitudes. As the nature of
work changes and there is increased pressure on all workers to
homes but for how to provide less. Older Australians already want
perform a range of multi-disciplinary tasks, training will become
more than ‘custodial’ residential care. They resist admission to
very important. Some employers believe that older workers have
nursing homes – and baby boomers will resist even more strongly.
more difficulty learning, particularly technological skills, but there
Baby boomers – born in the post-World War 2 years – are used to is no evidence to support this.
getting what they want and shaping a future that fits them. They want
There are some signs of change. Centrelink has employed a
choice, flexibility, stimulation and above all, control. They won’t
71- year-old advisor and changes are evident in multinational
want to be put away in hospitals or nursing homes.
corporations after major crises – German media giant Bertelsmann
I define a future with the least number of custodial beds possible replaced its CEO with a 60 year old, and French media company
as the ‘zero bed’ ageing society. Australia’s first ‘zero bed’ policy Vivendi replaced its CEO with a 63 year old. Westpac is looking
target should be to only place 5 per cent of people 85 years and to realign its workforce to match the demographic profile of its customer
older in residential care. We are currently at about 25 per cent, base and the labour market – half of its customers are aged 46
five times more than the benchmark of 5 per cent in Denmark. years and over but only two percent of its staff is over 56.
Five per cent is achievable because Denmark has already done While Australia struggles with the older worker issue, our Pacific
it. By the time we get there, best practice is sure to be lower. So neighbour Japan has maintained high levels of work participation
although the number of older Australians is growing, they don’t by older workers. Japanese participation rates are approximately
need to occupy publicly funded beds at the same rate as they double those for Australians aged 60 to 64 years, treble for
have in the past. those aged 65 to 69, and even higher for those aged 70 years
and over. These should be our future targets.
A ‘zero bed’ option will require an expansion in community care
– not necessarily all from the public sector – and significant changes The focus needs to be on the ‘work ability’ of older workers,
in local government and the community. New housing options using namely ‘the result of the interaction between individual resources
new domestic technologies and innovative approaches to services and work’, as developed in Finland. Individual resources include
will need to be developed and marketed. health, functional capacity, education and various kinds of work
know-how. The important message is that good resources do not
Baby boomers want more flexible options than currently available transform into good ‘work ability’ unless the content of the work,
in residential care, namely high-quality community-delivered care, the work community and the work environment provide the proper
and community-based expert care for chronic illnesses. Chronic conditions for the older worker.
disease management is now the norm rather than the exception
for health services. Chronic care health experts have to be based But the question remains open whether baby boomers will
outside hospitals, with their major focus not being their hospital but reverse the later-life work patterns of their parents, as I expect
the people they serve in their homes and communities. In chronic them to do in aged care.
care it is the patient who is the care manager not the doctor.
Professor John McCallum is Victoria University’s Deputy
The obvious political barrier is that beds have become the currency Vice-Chancellor (Education Programs). He takes a personal
of political debate about nursing homes and hospitals. No political interest in epidemiology.
VU BOOKS 31
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