La Trobe University, Melbourne Victoria Australia

Alumni-ENews @ La Trobe is a free email bulletin published for La Trobe University graduates and friends around the world.

This issue includes:

University News
Alumni News
Alumni Profiles
Alumni Benefits
Chapter News
What's On
International News and Events
Course Information
Career and Networking Opportunities
Research at La Trobe
Contact Us

University News

The La Trobe University Foundation

The Vice-Chancellor has announced the establishment of The La Trobe University Foundation. The Foundation will be promoting a number of key projects to assist the University in supporting its learning and teaching and research - with key programs aimed at student support.

The Foundation's key activities are:

Help alumni support specific learning & teaching, research and student support projects.
Develop giving relationships with corporations and foundations, parents and friends to grow La Trobe University's scholarly and academic objectives;
Invite financial support from the community for projects to support La Trobe University's distinctive and exceptional teaching and research;
Report the impact of this support and how it contributes to the development of La Trobe University, and advise on the management of funds.

If you would like more information on the work of the Foundation, please contact the Development Office on +61 3 9479 5199, development@latrobe.edu.au or visit the Foundation's website.

La Trobe University on Facebook

The Marketing and Promotions Unit has launched an official La Trobe University Facebook page. If you are already a Facebook user, become a fan of the page to be automatically updated on page changes.

Support program for students with a refugee background

The steady flow of refugees arriving in Australia from war-torn countries has created an urgent need for the tertiary sector to consider how it can best support students who are refugees.

Many refugee students show high academic potential, yet they are among the most vulnerable people in the Australian student population. La Trobe University has a number of important research centres which are involved in refugee matters within the general Australian society: The Centre for Dialogue, The African Research Institute, The Refugee Health Research Centre and The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Research Centre.

As a further demonstration of its social responsibility, La Trobe University is establishing a support program for refugee students studying at the university. The University recognises that these students can have limited access to resources including government support and scholarships and are likely to defer and/or withdraw mid course. Consequently there is a need to develop a integrated and holistic support system for these students.

The University's program will include the provision of a Refugee Contact Person to work with affected students and relevant community agencies. Any donations to the University to assist in the work of this Program will be gratefully received, and they are tax deductible. For further information, please contact the Development Office on +61 3 9479 5199, development@latrobe.edu.au or visit the Foundation's website.

More news at: La Trobe Bulletin

Alumni News

Queen's Birthday Honours

Congratulations to our alumni and staff who received honours in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours for their leadership and service to the community.

Dennis Paktin Altman AM - Staff
Barry Richard Barnett AFSM - BAppSc(AdvNsg) 1984
William John Kelty AC - BEc(OldSocialSc) 1969
Ian James Watt AO - MEc(Csewk) 1979, PhD(Business)(Bun) 1987

Miles Franklin literary award for La Trobe graduate

Steven Carroll - BA 1978 - was announced as the 2008 winner of the Miles Franklin Literary award for his novel 'The Time We Have Taken' (Harper Collins Publishers Australia) on Thursday 19 June at a gala dinner held at the State Library of New South Wales. Further details regarding the award.

Australian Education International Awards for graduates

International business leader, banker and philanthropist Dr James Riady, and Dr Makmur Sunusi were two La Trobe University alumni who took out prizes at the recent inaugural Indonesian Australian Alumni Awards held by the Australian Government in Jakarta.

Alumni events recently in Malaysia and Singapore

La Trobe University Alumni Relations recently organised Alumni Networking functions in Singapore and Malaysia.

Careers and employment

A range of Alumni Careers resources is available online, using La Trobe CareerHub. When registering, please select the service area "Graduate".

Please email careers@latrobe.edu.au for further information.

Alumni Profiles

If you would like to be included in our Profiles section, please forward your information to alumni@latrobe.edu.au.

Helen Keleher - BA 1989, MA(Csewk) 1994, PhD 2001

Alumni Benefits

City Osteopathy - remedial massage
Discounted rates available to Alumni.

Graduation rings
Discounted rates available for La Trobe University rings.

New benefits partners

Alumni Benefits are a great way to promote your business and maintain a link with your alumni network. We would welcome Alumni to be involved in this program. Please contact alumni@latrobe.edu.au if your business would like to be part of the Alumni Benefits program.

Chapter News

Art History Chapter

Bendigo Chapter

New Social Work job opportunities at Plenty Valley Community Health have been listed.

What's On

Reunion events

Faculty of Law and Management, Albury-Wodonga and Beechworth : 23 - 24 August, 2008
60th Anniversary Gala Dinner : Occupational Therapy
To celebrate 60 years of occupational therapy education in Victoria, the School of Occupational Therapy invites graduates and former staff to attend a dinner on Saturday 18 October 2008 at 7pm, Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Please use this opportunity to plan a reunion with your peers from your occupational therapy course!

Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@latrobe.edu.au or phone 1300 737 133 for further information.
Class of 1985 : Bendigo College of Advanced Education
If you attended Bendigo CAE : Diploma of Teaching : 1982 - 1984 (graduating 1985), we would like to get in contact with you. Sue Opie and Faye Linford-Stevenson are planning a reunion later in 2008.

If you attended the course or know someone who did, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@latrobe.edu.au or 1300 737 133.
Class of 1988 : Physiotherapy
A 20th reunion is being planned for November 2008 for the Physiotherapy graduating class of 1988. Tracey Gregson (Jukes) and Kirsty Larkworthy (Murray) would like to hear from any past students.

Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@latrobe.edu.au or phone 1300 737 133.
Class of 1979 : Agricultural Science
A 30th reunion is being planned for 2009 for the Agricultural Science graduating class of 1979. Greg Campbell and Nilantha Hulugalle would like to hear from any past students.

Please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@latrobe.edu.au or phone 1300 737 133.

Art events

La Trobe University Art Museum
Glenn College, Melbourne (Bundoora) campus
Email: artmuseum@latrobe.edu.au for further information.

Tuesday 8 July 2008, 6-8pm
Eddie Kneebone: Bones of Contention : To be opened by Richard J. Frankland, Musician, Writer & Filmmaker. Exhibition runs until 31 August 2008.

La Trobe University Art Museum Program for July and August (PDF 1MB)
Phyllis Palmer Gallery - Bendigo
School of Visual Arts & Design,
Gate 8, Sharon Street, Bendigo
Email: visualarts@latrobe.edu.au for further information.
La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre
121 View Street, Bendigo, (opposite Bendigo Art Gallery)
Email: vacentre@latrobe.edu.au for further information.

Cultural tour to Egypt - January 2009

For the last six years, tours to Egypt for La Trobe alumni, staff, their friends and families, in conjunction with RMIT University and the Egyptian Federation of Victoria have been successfully organised. A similar tour for 2009 is now ready for booking.

The tour will leave Australia on 1 January, 2009 for 20 days covering Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Red sea and a 4-day cruise on the Nile. The tour costs $4690 including international (Singapore Airlines) and domestic airfares, and twin share accommodation.

More details can be obtained from Professor Trang Thomas, email trang.thomas@rmit.edu.au.

International News and Events

Staff from La Trobe International regularly attend events and venues overseas and around Australia to talk to prospective students and catch up with alumni.

Please visit La Trobe International for further details.

Top

Course Information

Open Days 2008

The 2008 La Trobe Open Days will be held on the following dates:

Sunday 3 August - Bendigo
Sunday 10 August - Shepparton and Mildura
Sunday 24 August - Albury-Wodonga
Sunday 31 August - Bundoora

Visit the Open Day website for further information.

Career and Networking Opportunities

Way Ahead Program

Have you considered re-visiting your old campus to speak to current students about your own career and what you've been doing over the last few years?

Careers and Employment is looking for speakers to contribute to its 'Way Ahead programs' in August. These programs are lunchtime sessions for undergraduates who are exploring different careers in Business and in Science. You will be part of a panel of graduates and will be required to speak for only a short time. Please contact Pat or Rita on +61 3 9479 2459 if you are interested.

Otesha Project

The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability is currently seeking participants for two cycle tours: Brisbane to Newcastle (15 November to 22 December 2008) and Melbourne to Adelaide (18 January to 1 March 2009).

Since 2000, The Otesha Project (Aus.) has pedalled across Australia educating youth and raising awareness about environmental sustainability and social justice issues. The Otesha crew combines theatre performance with interactive workshops to empower high school students to consider their life choices to ensure a positive future. Current consumption behaviours in Australia have far reaching consequences that are both unsustainable and inequitable. The negative impacts of these practices usually affect the most disempowered people in society, including young people who now face an uncertain future.

Otesha (Aust.) is seeking people with varying experiences, backgrounds and interests. While on tour, participants not only learn skills to become strong advocates for living sustainably, but also develop skills such as media communication, leadership, acting and communal living. The application deadline for tour participants is 15 August 2008. For information about applying, visit the Otesha (Aust.) website.

Hands-on-health : Return to the heart - telling our story

Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July 2008

Whilst on a study tour with Community Aid Abroad in 1987, chiropractor and La Trobe graduate Dr Dein Vindigni - BA 1989 - met Moira Kelly at one of the world's most crowded rail stations, in Calcutta, India. Moira and Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had gathered many of Calcutta's orphaned children and cared for them in a clinic established on-site at the station.

It was from this experience that Dein was inspired to start a small voluntary clinic caring for the needy in Melbourne - offering chiropractic treatment as well as hospitality to those who visited the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda.

From these humble beginnings HOHA clinics and training programs have been established all over Australia, and in many countries overseas. To celebrate twenty-one years of helping disadvantaged people - and to learn how to set up a clinic, or to become personally involved in any way - HOHA is holding a 2 day conference to "tell their story".

Further information is available by phone at +61 3 9465 8149 or email administrator@handsonhealth.com.au.

Odyssey Travel

La Trobe is a member of Odyssey Travel - a non profit company providing educational travel for the over 45's. The company is made up of twenty-five member universities,colleges and partner organisations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The host organisation is the University of Wollongong.

Programs are currently operating in more than forty countries and there is also an extensive in-bound program for overseas participants.

As this is Odyssey's 25th anniversary, Alumni can benefit from a discount of $200 on 2008 programs.

Further information is available via email from Cliff Picton who is La Trobe's representative on the Odyssey Board, or via the Odyssey Website.

Are you a former international student at La Trobe who is living and working in Australia?

Come share your experience with current international students who want to hear about your career in Australia. We would love to hear from you if you could spare an hour in late August on the Bundoora campus.

Please contact Rita on +61 3 9479 2459 or careers@latrobe.edu.au.

Research at La Trobe

Neuroscience illuminates new ways of tackling the obesity epidemic

La Trobe University neuroscientist Richard Weisinger's decade-long research into nutrition and body weight found itself in the glare of world-wide media attention recently suggesting that popular blood pressure drugs may one day be re-badged to combat obesity.

And waiting in the wings of his first floor laboratory on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora is a new project that takes a 'hair of the dog' approach to the same problem - probing by-products from sugar refining in the quest for a 'natural' anti-obesity drug.

The reports of a 'promising miracle weight-loss pill' based on blood pressure drugs followed publication of his research in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the US. So far the drugs, called ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, have been primarily tested on laboratory mice and rats for their weight loss effects.

Forget me not - keeping memory in good order

La Trobe psychologist, Associate Professor Glynda Kinsella does not have a cure for memory decline, but she is optimistic that a training program could at least keep ageing memories well serviced.

Two memory functions that are vulnerable to age are the abilities to learn new tasks and to retrieve information swiftly. Any difficulties in these areas are often compensated by other cognitive skills yet many people become concerned. Some people, she says, pride themselves on their memories, particularly their ability to remember names. They might play key social roles such as secretary of a club or personal assistant in a business.

Contributions to Alumni e-news

Your news and information is a vital source for material in this ENewsletter. Be it a full-length article or a short snippet, we invite and encourage your contributions. Tell us what is happening in your Chapter or Network. Tell us about your plans and activities involving the University. Your contributions form the foundation for links between our chapters, students, graduates and friends, and which are the bonds of our 'alumni community'. Please email your contributions to alumni@latrobe.edu.au.

Please take a moment to update your details so that we can stay in contact. Please email your full name, Alumni number and details to alumni@latrobe.edu.au.

Further information about Alumni Relations can be obtained by emailing alumni@latrobe.edu.au.

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Next edition

The next edition of E-News @ La Trobe will be published on Friday 1 August 2008.