Tuesday, November 17. 2009
Dean's Report October 2009
Professor Hal Swerissen
Out and About
The Faculty will hold its annual planning day in November and this, plus the budget process, will set the framework for next year. I will report back to you on the outcomes of the planning day in December.
The main priority for this month has been developing the Faculty budget for 2010. I would like to thank all Associate Deans and Tony Chrystie for this work.
I have also been a keynote speaker at the National Allied Health Conference in Canberra on workforce challenges and the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association Congress in Hobart on Governance models for Australia’s future.
It is great to see some many staff and student publications and conference presentations as well as research grant success.
- Alternate format
- Dean's Report October 2009 (PDF 789KB)
Staff Publications
Congratulations to the staff who have published the following articles, book chapters and given conference presentations.
Talbot, L., Verrinder, G.K. (2009) Promoting Health. The Primary Health Care Approach 4th edition Sydney: Elsevier.
For the Time Being: Understanding the Temporality of Cancer Survival, Jan Pascal, Dr., Ruth Endacott, Prof., Jennifer Lehmann, Dr., Austral-Asian Journal of Cancer, Vol 8 No 3 2009
Stocks, R., Dacakis, G., Phyland, D. and Rose, M. (2009).The effect of smooth speech on the speech production of an individual with ataxic dysarthria. Brain Injury, 23 (10): 820-829
Mok, Z & Kipka, P.F., (in press), Lexical-semantic immaturities manifesting as grammatical disorders: evidence from a child language sample. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics
Frowen J., Cotton, SM, Corry, J and Perry, A. (2009) The impact of demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment factors on swallowing function after chemo- radiotherapy for Head and Neck cancer. Head & Neck (accepted: 24 June 2009) JIF: 2.6
Pascal, J., Endacott, R., & Lehmann, J. (2009). For the time being: Understanding the temporality of cancer survival. Austral - Asian Journal of Cancer, 8(3), 143-151.
Baker, S. & Lehmann, J. (2009). Developing Social Work Practice in a ‘Peak Oil’ Scenario with Forward by Dr. Jennifer Lehmann, Developing Practice,Issue 23, November.
McCann, T., Moxham, L., Farrell, G., Usher, K., Crookes, P. (2009) Mental Health content of pre-registration nursing curricula: Summary report and critical commentary. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Vol 18 (1), A14.
Edward, K. Page, K., Hamilton, B., Gilbert, M., Davidson, P., Salzberg, M., Wilson, A., Castle, D., Worrall-Carter, L. (2009) Screening for depression and anxiety – Physical and mental health considerations. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Vol 18 (1), A6.
Prestage, G. (2009). Using drugs for sex: playing with risk? Sexual Health, 6(3), 175-177.
Pitts, M., Smith, A., Croy, S., Lyons, A., Ryall, R., Garland, S., et al. (2009). Singaporean women’s knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitudes towards HPV vaccination. [Refereed Journal Article]. Women and Health, 49(4), 334-351.
Postgraduate student Tiffany Jones has had an article accepted by Sex Education journal.
Hobbs M, Taft AJ, Amir LH. The emergency contraceptive pill rescheduled: a focus group study of women's knowledge, attitudes and experiences. Journal Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2009;35:87-91.
McLachlan H, Forster D. The safety of home birth: Is the evidence good enough? CMAJ 2009 181(67):359-60. [Invited commentary]
Gagnon AJ, Zimbeck M, Zeitlin J and ROAM Collaboration: Alexander S, Blondel B, Buitendijk S, Desmeules M, Di Lallo D, Gagnon A, Gissler M, Glazier R, Heaman M, Korfker D, Macfarlane A, Ng E, Roth C, Small R, Stewart D, Stray-Pederson B, Urquia M, Vangen S, Zeitlin J, Zimbeck M. Migration to western industrialised countries and perinatal health: a systematic review. Soc Sci Med 2009;69:934-46.
Barton CJ, Levinger P, Menz HB, Webster KE. Gait Posture. 2009 Nov;30(4):405-16, Kinematic gait characteristics associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review.
McClelland JA, Webster KE, Feller JA. Gait Posture. 2009 Oct;30(3):288-95, Variability of walking and other daily activities in patients with total knee replacement.
Lind M, Feller J, Webster KE. Knee. 2009 Dec;16(6):447-51, Tibial bone tunnel widening is reduced by polylactate/hydroxyapatite interference screws compared to metal screws after ACL reconstruction with hamstring grafts.
Book Chapters
Edward, K., Welch, A & Elsom, S (in press). Chapter 7- Resilience, recovery and reconnection in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne
Maude, P. & Edward, K. (in press). Chapter 18 - Psychopharmacology in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.
Welch, A & Edward, K. (in press) Chapter 19 - Evidenced-based practice in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.
Munro, I., Robins, A., & Logan, G (in press) Chapter 6 - Substance use/co-morbidity in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.
Welch, A., Robins, A., & Edgecombe, G (in press) Chapter 15 - Creative therapeutic interventions in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing-Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.
Fairest, K., Terriere, G., Robins, A & Edward, K (in press). Chapter 21- Case-management and community care in Edward, K., Munro, I., Robins, A., & Welch, A. (Eds.) (in press). Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing- Theory and practice. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.
Conference Presentations
Dacakis, G. and Block, S. The LaTrobe Stuttering Program. July, 2009. Presentation to the Department of Speech and Language Therapy, TEI of Patras, Greece.
Dacakis, G. Speech Therapy: An Australian Perspective. The World Professional Association for transgender Health (WPATH) 2009 XXI Biennial Symposium, Oslo, June 17-20, 2009. (Founding Member Australasian Professional Association of Transgender Health)
O’Halloran, R, Presented Communication disability in acute stroke setting to the DHS Stroke coordinators meeting 21/7 and at the Southern Health SPA week forum 27/8.
Rose, M, Presentation on Evidence-Based Practice for speech pathologists and other allied health staff at Eastern Health, July 17th.
Kipka, P, Conference/Presentations - Invited paper: Australian National Conference of Teachers of Polish (28 June)
Joffe, B, Benefits of music and movement for speech, language, learning and psychosocial functioning: Research findings(2-8years). Paper accepted for presentation to the Early Childhood Conference of Performing Arts (ECCPA), 23rd August, Melbourne.
Joffe, B, Rationale & Processes for the Use of Music in Speech Pathology Intervention. Invited presentation in TCV (Teleconference with Video Format) for the Speech Pathology Association of Australia Sponsored Professional Development Programme for Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia to run 10th September 2009.
Lehmann, J. (2009, October 9). Learning from stories. Workshop presented at 2009 Conference: Celebrating Story: Approaching change one story at a time. Melbourne.
Rayner J. Building collaborative relationships with CAM practitioners and public health researchers – the case of women’s use of CAM for fertility treatment. NORPHCAN Inaugural Conference, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 17-18 October 2009.
Amir LH. Socioeconomic status and rates of breastfeeding in Australia: a public health perspective” (Plenary). ALCA National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
Amir LH, Jayawickrama H, Pirotta M, Wong S, Daly J. GPs’ decision making when prescribing medicines for breastfeeding women: Content analysis of a survey. ALCA National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
Amir LH, Forster D, McDonald K, Rayner JA, Stern K. Women’s attitudes and experiences of breastfeeding – does maternal weight make a difference?. ALCA National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
Hobbs M, Taft AJ, Amir LH, Chapman C, Hussainy S, Shelley J, Smith A, Stewart K, Lumley J. ECP over-the-counter: the Australian experience. Combined annual meetings of ICEC (International Consortium for Emergency Contraception) and ASEC (American Society for Emergency Contraception), New York USA, September 2009.
Kelso G, Amir LH, James JJ, Moorhead A. Accreditation of midwife lactation consultants to perform tongue-tie release. ALCA National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
McLachlan HL, Forster DA, Amir L, Pemo K, Moorhead A, McEgan K, Johns H, Ford R. An exploration of current breast expressing practices in the early postpartum period using an audit and focus groups in three Melbourne hospitals. Australian Lactation Consultants’ Association National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
Moorhead A, Amir LH, Wong S, O’Brien P. A prospective study of fluconazole treatment for breast and nipple thrush. ALCA National Conference, Canberra, September 2009.
Small R. Variations in caesarean section by maternal country of birth: another cause for concern? 39th Public Health Association of Australia Annual Conference, Canberra, 28-30 September 2009, p39.
Dr Karl Landorf was recently an invited speaker at the 2009 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport in Brisbane. He was asked to speak on foot orthoses (orthotics) and plantar heel pain, a common condition affecting middle aged and older people. The Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport is as annual multidisciplinary conference relating to exercise and sports science.
Landorf KB. How do foot orthoses work? 2009 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (14-17 October 2009).
Landorf KB. What do we really know about plantar heel pain/plantar fasciitis? 2009 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (14-17 October 2009).
Landorf KB. Do foot orthoses prevent injury? A systematic review. 2009 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (14-17 October 2009).
Research
Nick Taylor (through La Trobe Uni with Eastern health) has been awarded an NHMRC partnership grant in the area of allied health. The project was titled: 'Do additional allied health service for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes? The amount of funding was: $233,079.
Keith Hill has also received one through Monash led by Lesley Day in the falls prevention area. Again a great achievement.
I am particularly happy about Nick's success because it is I think precisely the sort of activities we wanted to encourage and facilitate through collaborative research between ourselves and our clinical partners as envisioned for the clinical schools in allied health.
Professor Christine Bigby has been awarded a grant with Monash staff: Carling- Jenkins, R., Icono, T, Torr, J, Bigby, C. Alzheimer’s Disease in People with Down Syndrome: Developing a Model of Care. Alzheimer's Dementia Research Program.$20.000. 2009
Alison Perry and Kim Matthews have received a donation of $3,000 for their current research on the use of E-Stim to improve swallowing function in people with Parkinson's Disease
Congratulations to Daniel Adrian Newnham BSW year 3 who won the 2009 Disability Tertiary Scholarship, offered by the Department of Human Services. Daniel had to submit an essay for the scholarship. The scholarship is to support his studies in 4th year and the grant is $3,282. Daniel was supported by Professor Christine Bigby in his application.
Linda Bennett was successful in the inaugural round of ARC Future Fellowship funding.
Project “Monogamy as an HIV and STI prevention strategy for gay men” has been funded by the NHMRC for $394,250.00 over three years. The investigators are Anthony Smith, Jeffrey Grierson, Garrett Prestage.
Project “Sexuality education programs and resource development” has been funded by Department of Education and Training, Victoria, for $190,000.00 over three years. The Chief Investigator is Anne Mitchell.
Gilead has funded an ARCSHS project on HIV treatment combinations, “Treatment experience among HIV-positive people”, for $99,836.00. The investigators on this project are Marian Pitts and Jeffrey Grierson.
Dr Angela Taft, Senior Research Fellow at MCHR is currently a visiting fellow at the University of Bristol in the UK, working with Prof Gene Feder and others in the Department of Primary Care on a Cochrane systematic review of advocacy interventions to reduce partner violence. Whilst overseas Angela has also presented the findings of our MOSAIC primary care trial of social support to mothers experiencing partner violence at the WONCAEurope (World organisation of family physicians) conference in Basel and at the Family Violence Prevention Fund's Domestic Violence and Health conference in New Orleans. She has also visited the Departments of Primary Care at the Universities of Nijmegen and East Anglia.
Dr Kate Webster was awarded a grant from the Australian Orthopaedic Association Research Foundation Grant for the project titled “Three dimensional biomechanical assessment of rotational stability following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction”.
Funding applications
ARCSHS submitted an NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence funding application in September 2009.
Gary Dowsett, Larissa Sandy and Emma Miller have submitted La Trobe University Faculty Research Grant applications.
Sue Dyson and Michael Flood are submitting an ARC Linkage application, in partnership with VicHealth and the AFL.
Anne Mitchell has applied to the Federal Government for $400,000 for a project on the subject of violence against women.
Awards
Dr Suzane Vassallo from the Department of Clinical Vision Sciences has been awarded a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. Her thesis was entitled: Approaches to teaching: Narratives from early-career research academics in the Health Sciences.
Congratulations to Professor Anthony Smith who was awarded the research prize at the Victorian AIDS Council Annual General Meeting of 25 October 2009, for the ‘Mapping Gay Communities’ project.
ARCSHS Adjunct visiting research fellow Garrett Prestage has been appointed as Associate Professor, Level D, by the University of New South Wales. This appointment recognises the consistent and sustained research Garrett has done in the area of HIV prevention and sexual health.
Recent Awards at 2009 Sports Medicine Australia Conference
Asics Award for Best New Investigator - Lower Limb (Presentation package at ACSM) , Ms Clare Ardern, Musculoskeletal Research Centre La Trobe University, Hamstring strength recovery is similar regardless of which hamstring tendons are harvested for ACL reconstruction, Co-authors - K. Webster, N. Taylor & J. Feller
Ken Maguire Award for Best New Investigator - Clinically Relevant Conditions (Presentation package at ACSM), Ms Carolyn Taylor, La Trobe University & Deakin University, Groin pain and hip range of motion is different in Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous young Australian football players, Co-authors - J. Cook, T. Pizzari, N. Ames, T. Wood, B. Gabbe, M. Makdissi, E. Scase, J. McNeil & J. Orchard
Teaching
Professor Bigby is Editor of Australian Social Work. Under her editorship the journal has been accepted into the ISI ranking process and will receive its first impact Factor in 2011. This is a major achievement, a first for a social work journal in Australia and is recognised as a testament to the work of Chris as editor and her standing in research.
Professor Christine Bigby has been appointed Visiting Professor in the Tizard Centre, University of Kent from November 2009 - September 2014. This is one of the leading research centres on intellectual disability in the UK,
Hilary Johnson and Karen Bloomberg , Successful completion of the Elective Teaching for Higher Learning program.
Negotiations have progressed well between La Trobe University Division of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Singapore Nurses Association (SNA) in relation to the degree of Master of Nursing (Professional and Research methods stream). SNA have identified La Trobe as being its preferred University to conduct this program in Singapore.
The Division of Nursing and Midwifery recently had its 13th intake of bachelor of nursing students in Singapore. This intake commenced in July with the highest intake of students to date (168 students).
Sharon Gan recently attended the Australia China Business Council forum in Sydney to continue enhancing the Division of Nursing and Midwifery's profile within the Chinese community in Australia and China.
News from Regional Campuses
Mildura
¾ Re placements - 2 students on placement in Darwin, one working with the aboriginal community and the second in schools working with the aboriginal community .
¾ 2 Social work students who are also completing subjects in the BA will participate in the History excursion to Turkey in November- December2009.
¾ Several students on placement are initiating projects for the inaugural human rights festival
December 7-12th . Projects will include a mayoral reception, the Department of Justice conducting lectures, workshops, photographic exhibition & showing films to the public, Social Work Students are organising in conjunction with the Sunraysia ethnic Community Council and Oxfam the two day iterative project ' Refugee Realities" which will involve 200 secondary school students . This human rights week was initiated by Social Work students on placement and includes participation by many local NGOs and social workers.
Bendigo
La Trobe partnerships with Bendigo Health & LTU Bendigo campus:
Professor Helen McBurney and Associate Professor Mandy Kenny been successful in gaining a clinical supervision grant in conjunction with Bendigo Health.
Media
An excellent article had appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser regarding the Bendigo Occupational Therapy program on Wednesday 21st October. The article was compiled with significant involvement from students.
The Bendigo Podiatry and Speech courses had featured in the ‘My Career’ section of the Age newspaper on 10 October.
Mr Byron Perrin, Podiatry, appeared in an extensive article in the Bendigo Advertiser on 9 October.
Staff News
Sue Block has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
Sally Squire, Lecturer in Nursing, Albury-Wodonga
Joanna Lee, Research Officer, Div of Nursing & Midwifery, Bundoora Kathy Tori, Lecturer in Nursing, Bendigo
Ms Lisa Hooker commences a Level A position in nursing on 9th November, Bendigo. Mr Bruce Baehnisch commenced on 12 October as the LRHS School Manager, Bendigo.
Resignations
Dr Adrian Verrinder, Human Biosciences, has tendered his resignation from 4 February 2010. Assoc Professor Helen McBurney has tendered her resignation and leaves mid December. Sean Houston, has resigned as Faculty Registrar effective from January 2010.
Institute for Social Participation
- The establishment of ISP was approved by Council in May 2009.
- The appointment of the Director was approved by VC on June 30 2009.
- The Executive Committee has been established and consists of Heads of participating Centre’s and two other staff (Prof Chris Bigby and Assoc Prof Leanne Basser).
- The Executive Committee meets twice monthly.
- Dr Paul Jacobs and Dr Tenzin Bathgate have commenced work as RAs.
The web site is close to ‘going live’ http://wwwdev.latrobe.edu.au/isp/index.html
Research Developments
- The Director has met with DHS and La Trobe LifeSkills to discuss possible funding in relation to intellectual disability, social participation and specifically employment. The response was encouraging and a more detailed proposal is being prepared.
- The Unit for Studies in Biography and Autobiography (USBA) has joined ISP as a participating Centre. ISP has partnered with USBA to run a conference on ageing, illness and renewal in October.
- ISP is supporting the 2009 National Intellectual Disability Roundtable
- Monthly seminars have been agreed. An open invitation strategic planning workshop is being organized.
- Prof Graeme Clarke is discussing with the Australian Government possibilities for education approaches that increase social participation for deaf children
- An expression of interest has been submitted through the Dementia CRC to evaluate consumer directed care.
- 2 PhD scholarships have been advertised (1 of which is ½ funded by Latrobe Lifeskills)
- Negotiations are in train for partnerships with Australian Unity (ageing) and also MIND (mental health).
Wednesday, September 2. 2009
Dean's Report August 2009
Professor Hal Swerissen
The University is strongly committed to growth in response to the Federal Government's aim to expand the number of young people with a degree by 30% over the next 15 years. Our program of curriculum change, clinical school networks and the introduction
of the La Trobe Rural Health School is a key part of the La Trobe's growth strategy, but in the end the Faculty's success is based on the commitment of the staff. In particular, I would like to thank all staff who assisted with open day activities this year. We had a great response and I look forward to it translating to greater student demand in 2010!
Out and About
- Reappointed as Director of Alfred Health for a further three year
term. - Attended launch of health reform in Canberra by Prime Minister.
- The regional strategy for La Trobe was launched in Albury Wodonga and Shepparton.
- Attended the National Health Workforce Taskforce clinical training funding reference group meeting in Sydney.
- Participated in the National Health and Medical Research Partnerships Research panel in Canberra.
- Attended the Innovative Research Universities Australia Senior Management Forum.
- Participated in the development of the National Primary Care Strategy as a member of the Minister for Health's External Reference Group.
- Published an opinion article in The Age on health reform.
Staff Publications
Bragge, A. & Fenner, P. (2009) The Emergence of the 'Interactive Square' as an Approach to Art Therapy with Children on the Autistic Spectrum. International Journal of Art Therapy 14 (1).
Liamputtong, P. (2009) Qualitative data analysis: Conceptual and practical considerations. Australian Journal of Health Promotion,
20 (2), 133-139.
Carey, L.B., Rumbold, B., Cohen, J. (2009) Health Care Chaplaincy and Euthanasia in Australia (Feature article), Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy, Vol. 12, No. 1, p. 1-9.
Williamson Dianne, Best Practice Article on the website of www.latrobe.edu.au/careers/staff/staff-profiles/DWilliamson.html
A non-residential alternative to off campus writers' retreats for academics Authors: Virginia Dickson-Swift, Erica L. James, Sandra Kippen; Lyn Talbot; Glenda Verrinder; Bernadette Ward. www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/03098770903026156
McLachlan H, Forster D. The safety of home birth: is the evidence good enough? CMAJ. Accepted for publication 9 July 2009.
(Invited commentary) IF = 7.5.
McLachlan HL, Gold L, Forster DA, et al. Women's views of postnatal care in the context of the increasing pressure on postnatal beds in Australia. Women Birth, 2009. May 22 (E-pub ahead of print). IF = 0.9.
Forster D, McLachlan H. Women's views and experiences of breast feeding:
positive, negative, or just good for the baby? In press, Midwifery. Accepted 24 April 2008. IF =1.04.
Staff Presentations
Carey, L.B. (2009) 'Chaplaincy, Pastoral and Spiritual Care Research': Integrating spirituality in the practice of health care', Seminar Paper presented at the 3rd Australian Conference on Spirituality and Health,
13-15 July, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
Carey, L.B. (2009) 'The Sacralisation of Identity Interfaith Spiritual Care Paradigm': Integrating spirituality in the practice of health care', Key Note Address presented at the 3rd Australian Conference on Spirituality
and Health, 13-15 July, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
Jon Willis has been invited to the 17th Ministerial Rural Health Forum
7/8/09 - he will be speaking on "Indigenous Health Issues and Rural
Victoria.
Prof Warburton chaired an international symposium on age friendly communities at the International Assoc of Geriatrics and Gerontology Conference in Paris, July; she also was invited to present at a symposium at Shandong University in Jinan, China in July on Productive Ageing.
Dr Eileen Petrie presented a paper at an International Community Health Nursing Research conference in Adelaide this month. The conference theme "Health in Transition - Researching the Future" focussed on the future of nursing, leadership roles of nurses and nurse-led policy development.
Lael Ridgway also presented to the international 'Health In Transition: Researching for the Future' conference. The talk was entitled "Use of information technology in primary health care: the views and experiences of nurses working in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service".
Dr Eileen Petrie and Ms Judith Moore, Upper Hume Primary Care Partnership presented a paper at the National Rural health conference held in Perth in May. The presentation reflected the benefits and outcomes of forming an alliance between La Trobe University undergraduate nursing students and community agencies in the development of health promotion.
Dr Helen McLachlan recently presented three papers at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference.
Research - Funding and Grant Success
Staff in Podiatry and the MRC were recently awarded a competitive, external research grant. Podiatrists Registration Board of Victoria Research Funding Scheme: $85,000,
Investigators: Landorf KB, Raspovic A, Bird AR, Menz HB, Miller J, Tenant J, Spring A., Project Title: : Offloading modalities for
healing and preventing diabetic neuropathic foot ulceration: a multi-centred, evidence-based project. This was a joint application and the last three investigators are from Austin Health and Northern Health.
Podiatry has recently finalised Memorandum's of Understanding with the University of Salford and the University of Southampton in England. These have primarily been set up to further research links and to investigate teaching staff swaps between the universities.
The large rural aged care workforce research project funded by DHS
is well under way at the John Richards Initiative with 5 research staff.
New ARC Linkage grant 2009-11, Obst, White, Warburton, Spencer, Responding to the rural skills crisis: Developing and implementing an empirical model of incentives to attract retired/semi-retired professionals as volunteers in rural areas. This model will be implemented in rural sites across Queensland and Victoria.
Two new PhD scholarships have been awarded at the John Richards Initiative (one funded by regional DHS) and both students will start on 1 September.
The Centre for Health Communication and Participation has been awarded nationally competitive grant funding from the Department
of Health and Ageing for Cochrane Collaboration activities in Australia for three years.
Pearson Education Videos
The Division of Nursing and Midwifery was approached by publishers, Pearson Education to develop nursing skills videos as a companion to their text, Fundamentals of Nursing, Australian Edition. Three skills DVDs have been produced and are currently being used as a resource for a year one nursing unit. We are currently developing another five DVDs.
Accreditation News
The Australian Physiotherapy Council has advised that full accreditation of the La Trobe Bachelor of Physiotherapy programs at Bundoora and Bendigo had been extended to 2012. The
Accreditation Panel report commended the School on many aspects of the accreditation submission and the quality of the physiotherapy program.
Social Work accreditation visit week of 17 August.
Awards
Congratulations to Robert Townsend, Social Work, Bendigo who has just had passed his PhD.
Anne Holland, Associate Professor of Physiotherapy at Alfred Health,
was recently awarded a Jack Brockhoff Foundation Churchill Fellowship. The fellowship will enable Anne to investigate new ways to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation to Australians with chronic lung disease using broadband technology. She will travel to Norway, Spain, Scotland, Canada and the USA to visit world leaders in the provision of remote pulmonary rehabilitation via the internet. Anne's project aims to address the shortage of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in regional and rural areas of Australia and to improve access to this essential service using new technologies. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships were presented at Government House by Governor de Kretser on 31st July.
Professor David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria, presenting award to Anne Holland.
Photo by Tegan Ringin.
Julie Bernhardt leads the Very Early Rehabilitation Research Program, a key aim of which is to determine the efficacy, cost effectiveness and mechanisms of very early (<24 hours) and intensive exercise for people following stroke. The National Heart Foundation Career Development Awards are highly competitive. Julie was delighted to receive an award, "to be named as the top ranked fellow for Victoria was incredibly exciting, particularly given that my research field is in the less prominent area of stroke".
Professor de Kretser presented Julie with the award at ceremony held at the National Heart Foundation head office in Melbourne. "Professor
de Kretser is an enthusiastic medical scientist and having him present the award and show interest in my research was a real thrill" Julie said.
Telmo Languiller, Parliamentary Secretary (left), and Professor David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria (right) with Julie Bernhardt.
Submission of Curriculum for Approval
The Division of Nursing and Midwifery has submitted four curriculum proposals to the Nurses Board of Victoria for approval, i.e. :
- The Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
- The Bachelor of Nursing (Division 2 Conversion)
- The Bachelor of Nursing (Post-Registration)
- Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Staff Changes
Professor Rhonda Nay is taking over as Director of the Australian Institute for Primary Care for the next 12 months. This role is in addition to Rhonda's leadership of ACEBAC and the Institute for Social Participation. Rhonda is replacing Assoc. Professor Peter Foreman, Associate Dean, International & Future Students in the Faculty.
Lorna Luke is ending a long career with the Australian Institute for Primary Care and La Trobe University. Her contribution over the years has been enormous and her absence will be deeply felt.
Shane O'Meara has been appointed to the position of Business
Manager within AIPC.
Mr Kevin Anslow, Admin Officer, Div of Nursing & Midwifery, Bundoora.
Ms Michelle Kuipers, Admin Officer, Alfred Clinical School.
Ms Joanna Lee, Research Assistant, Div of Nursing & Midifery, Bundoora.
Ms Sally Squire, Lecturer in Nursing, Albury-Wodonga. Professor Susan McDonald has been elected Co-Chair
International Confederation of Midwives Education Standing
Committee.
Student Achievements
Nicholas Gaynor, Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) was recently endorsed by the Nurses Board of Victoria as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Rebecca Sedgman who completed her Masters of Nursing
(Nurse Practitioner) in June has been advised by the Nurses Board of Victoria that she has been endorsed as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner. Rebecca is the 50th nurse to be endorsed in Victoria!
Anne Booms a Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) student, will be presenting a paper entitled: "Breaking the Silence... Autism and Palliative Care: A case Study" at the 5th Australian College of Nurse Practitioners Conference.
There were six presentations by midwifery Masters students at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference. One of the students received the new investigator award for the best poster in midwifery.
Other Divisional News
The Division of Nursing & Midwifery hosted an Inaugural Nurse Educator
Workshop for sessional staff on 27 August 2009.
Alternate Format
- Dean's Report August 2009 (PDF 2.13MB)
Wednesday, July 29. 2009
Community engagement
Turtle Dreaming – a project for indigenous children at the Mildura Primary School participating in the HOPE project (Hope & opportunity through education) in which the School of Social Work, Mildura Campus is actively involved. Turtle Dreaming is the second public exhibition of the children's work which now has an extended exhibition at the Alfred Deakin Centre.