The Mortar Board
Alumni E-Newsletter: April 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Social and Alumni Networks
• Alumni  News and Activities
• Where Are They Now?
• Benefits
• University News
• Future Events 

SOCIAL NETWORKING AND ALUMNI NETWORKS

CQUniversity has several social networking mediums, which are there for you to connect with us and with each other. Whether your preferred platform is Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, general information and discussion topics are shared regularly.

 ALUMNI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

Oustanding Alumni

Alumnus Awarded for Editorial Excellence 

CQUniversity graduate Meredith Papavasiliou (nee Davison) recently steered Gladstone newspaper The Observer to win the Newspaper of the Year Award in its category from the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (PANPA). Meredith herself won the APN News & Media Editor of the Year award and was part of the team who won APN's Newspaper of the Year award. Married to Daniel, whom she met at CQUniversity while living at Capricornia College, she now has two children and balances family life with her busy job. Meredith has completed an MBA and is about to embark on her PhD.

Publishing Deal for Adventurous Author

Tasmanian-based alumnus, author Peter Kay has earned a book publishing deal thanks to his writing talents, following encouragement to try a 'magical realist' writing style. Peter's PhD supervisor Associate Professor Wally Woods helped him try a more adventurous style resulting in a book publishing deal with Interactive Publications. The novel Blood, largely about the bombing of Darwin, has won IP Picks Best Fiction Award for 2012. Publisher Dr David Reiter says the novel will be published in hard copy and on-line towards the end of this year. Born in Canberra, Peter has lived for the last 30 years in southern Tasmania. He has written fiction, features, news journalism and literary criticism for The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nation Review, The Weekend Australian, Playboy and Tracks.  Peter has a B.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Canberra and an M. Litt. in Creative Writing from CQUniversity.

Seeking Research Higher Degree Alumni Response

The University is very interested in hearing from all alumni who studied a Research Higher Degree (RHD). In February, RHD alumni with an email address on file were sent an invitation to update their details and provide information on where their degree took them. This campaign received a positive response from many people.

In trying to establish links to RHD alumni, alumni working in research institutions or positions are requested to encourage their fellow alumni to get in touch with the University.

CQUniversity is aiming to create strong links with RHD alumni so assistance is sought to contact alumni who may not already be on the emailing list.  

Singapore Networking Function

Alumni based in Singapore were invited to attend the Graduation Ceremony on 10 March. This milestone event was followed with a dinner at the Fullerton Hotel attended by CQUniversity Chancellor Rennie Fritschy, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Scott Bowman and other senior members of the CQUniversity staff. This event provided an excellent opportunity for the alumni in attendance to network with these key staff members.

Mackay Networking Function

About 40 members of the Mackay community attended a 'Thank you for Your Support' event at the Conservatorium of Music on the Mackay campus.

Alumni Relations Manager, Anthea Cuddihy said a number of alumni who attended the event were also prize donors.

 "These alumni are using their own success to support students. Alumni also can help steer the direction of the University by giving feedback from their community," Ms Cuddihy said.

Senior Development Officer, Tamsen Clifford-Banks said "Alumni, donors and members of CQCircle are invited to special events on campus each year and are provided with information from time to time to be kept abreast of new developments and achievements across all of our campuses, and to keep communication channels open."

"The program will acknowledge those who have had, and continue to have a connection with the University, no matter how long ago or how recently their connection began," Ms Clifford-Banks said.

There will be a variety of functions for alumni during 2012. Upcoming event dates and details will be promoted in the newsletter, and also on the CQUniversity website. Alumni will also receive invitations and reminders via email.

Singapore Network

CQUniversity is currently establishing a network in Singapore, to promote networking and career opportunities for Singapore-based alumni. Alumni recently had the opportunity to attend the Graduation Ceremony and dinner with the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.

If you are based in Singapore, and would like to be part of the Singapore Network, please contact our office.

The leader of the network is CQUniversity alumnus Dr Vincent Wee.
CQUniversity Alumni Network Singapore
c/o CQUniversity Institute of Higher Learning
Address:  108 Robinson Road, Levels 1 & 2, Singapore 068900
Tel:  +65 6533 3356 Fax: +65 6533 2826
Email

Singaporean alumni are also invited to the following event. (Formal email invitation will be issued in the coming weeks). 

Speaker:  A/Prof Ken Bruce, CEO/Campus Director of CQUniversity Institute of Higher Learning
Topic:  New CQUniversity Campus in Singapore
Date:  26 April 2012, Registration start at 7pm   Time of talk:  7.30pm
Venue:  CQUniversity Institute of Higher Learning
Address:  108 Robinson Road, Levels 1 & 2, Singapore 068900
RSVP 

Any alumnus interested in starting a network in your area or related to your discipline is encouraged to contact the Alumni Relations Manager for assistance.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Sainiana Radrodro
Graduate Diploma in Management, 2006 and Master of Business Administration 2007

Sainiana M. Radrodro's business study with CQUniversity came at the midpoint of her journey from school dropout and teenage mum through to her current status as Principal Transport Planner for Fiji's Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities. Sainiana's early life included the traumatic divorce of her parents and several years at boarding school. She became a school drop-out and a teenage mother, and in her late teens, spent three years looking for work and missing her son, who was growing up with Sainiana's elder sister in a town in western Fiji. Sainiana says "With no formal qualification, I literally went office to office looking for work. I presented myself at the Fiji Times newspaper one day after I did soul search and realised the only talent I had which I could use was my ability to write well and my love in fact for it.

"I worked for the Fiji Times for almost five years and started taking preliminary courses at the University of the South Pacific. My hunger for studies drove me and I shortly after left the Fiji Times to join the Fiji Electricity Authority.

"Three years later I joined the United Nations Development Program where I travelled the world and had my first international exposures as an international civil servant. It was at the UNDP where I learnt to write proper reports and ensure documentation of all projects were submitted on time, proper budgeting was done and monitoring of project implementation was a priority.

"Whilst at the UNDP I enrolled at the Central Queensland University. Studying at CQU was one of the best times of my life. My lecturers were top professionals and the learning environment at CQU Fiji Campus was an experience in itself. I felt privileged to be studying in the same lecture room during those days with some renowned civil servants, CEOs and executives from various professions.

"I left the UNDP in 2006 and joined the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau as its Senior Public Relations and Investment Development Officer. It was at FTIB that I completed my Masters and travelled up to Australia with my mum and daughter to graduate from CQU Rockhampton in February 2008.

"On my return from graduation I joined the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities where I took up the position of Principal Media Liaison Officer and later got posted within the Ministry as the Principal Economic Transport Planner; a position I hold to date."

Sainiana says her current position means she looks after transportation analysis and assists in future transport development planning, whilst also addressing current issues that affect the Transport Industry.

"It's a challenging career but rewarding because I am dealing with challenges people go through daily in their quest to access transportation services and means."

Editor's Note: CQUniversity in no way endorses or provides financial support to any individual's activities, however we encourage you to share your stories with us, as we may be able to find opportunities to link you with other alumni who may be interested in supporting your endeavours.  

BENEFITS

Electronic Library Database Access

We are delighted to offer electronic database access (free of charge) for alumni of the university. Due to changing vendor license conditions the range of databases available to CQUniversity alumni may alter at any time. Please refer to the webpage regularly for the latest information. Databases include:

• Informit (Australian content)
• ScienceDirect

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact the Alumni Relations Manager.

Learn about, seek approval and access the databases here

Alumni who have access to a campus can also borrow hard-copy materials. Further information about this is available on the Benefits page of the alumni website. Follow the link below to access this information.

Bookshop Discounts

BE Magazine

Read the latest version, which is full of alumni news, and stories from all the CQUniversity campuses.  

Join the Friends of Be Magazine (CQUniversity's magazine) group. This site is a venue for subscribers to comment on stories, ask experts a question, suggest a story for an upcoming issue and comment on the magazine in general. Just search for the group in your groups section to join. 

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

A vacancy exists for an external person on the CQUniversity Institutional Biosafety Committee, which meets two or three times each year.   No specific qualifications or experience is required, and participation can be face to face, or via telephone or ISL so there is no requirement for the appointee to be located in Rockhampton.

The purpose of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is to provide a forum for addressing biosafety issues across the University. It also has a duty to protect students and staff of the University, as well as the Australian people and environment, by establishing procedures to minimise risk due to the release of any harmful organism into the environment.

The (IBC) has the specific responsibility to consider and advise on the following types of activity within research and teaching programs:

• The use of potentially infectious agents in laboratories (under Australian Standard AS/NZS 2243.3 and related professional and regulatory policies) 
•  Work with genetically modified organisms (under the Gene Technology Act 2000) and other guidelines provided by the Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).
•  Activities relating to the safe handling and disposal of imported biological materials (under Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service regulations)

Consequently, the IBC is a central element of the management of health and safety for any organisation engaged in activities involving recombinant DNA, genetic manipulation and any exposure to potentially infectious or hazardous agents such as human or animal blood or tissues, whether locally derived or imported.

If you are interested in sitting on this committee, please contact the Alumni Relations Manager.    

CQUniversity First with Joint Academic Role

CQUniversity and Mackay Health Service District have welcomed $375,000 in funding, enabling a joint academic role to become the first of its type in Australia in the field of medical imaging and sonography.

This Clinical Academic Fellowship success is the result of collaboration between the Mackay Health Service District and the CQUniversity Medical Imaging/Medical Sonography programs.

The funding was awarded as part of a statewide competitive process from the Office of Health and Medical Research, Queensland Health.  

The successful applicant will be employed for five years, dividing their time between the clinical and academic environment at both the hospital and campus, with a strong focus on research.

This new role will enable CQUniversity and Mackay Health Service District to collaborate on research which improves outcomes for patients using medical imaging and sonography services.

As well as the core funding from Queensland Health, CQUniversity and Mackay Health Service District will contribute resources towards this shared academic, helping to cement the relationship already initiated.

CQUniversity's Head of Program for Medical Imaging and Sonography Caroline Falconi says "this initiative will strengthen ties between the University and our clinical affiliations, enabling us to move forward together in contributing to advances in our profession".

CQUniversity Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean Professor Graham Pegg said the funding opens up exciting possibilities to develop first rate research that incorporates the critical clinical component.

"It is expected the new role will be filled during the first half of this year," Professor Pegg says.

CQUniversity's medical imaging and sonography programs, which were launched in 2011, are proving very popular, and will receive another boost with the new $4 million Medical and Applied Sciences Laboratories at Mackay Campus.

These laboratories are so well equipped with state-of-the-art digital imaging equipment that they rival any clinical department and are expected to become a centre for excellence for simulation teaching and assessment techniques.

The University is addressing the need for qualified radiographers and sonographers in regional Queensland.

Professor Brenda Happell Recognised by Mental Health Nursing Peak Body

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) has created 'The Brenda Happell Award' for the best presentation at its annual Consultation-Liaison Special Interest Group Conference at Melbourne in June. Professor Happell is an ACMHN Fellow and has served on the Board of Directors. ACMHN says the award was created to acknowledge her contribution to mental health nursing and her support of novice researchers and publishers. The latter element of the acknowledgement echoes Professor Happell's recent graduation day recognition, with a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision.

A few months ago, the academic leader was announced as CQUniversity's Engaged Research Chair for Mental Health Nursing.

Around the same time, an analysis of research citations published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing showed Professor Happell ranking in the 'top three' among Australia's leading nursing academics.

Professor Happell continues her role as Editor of the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, the world's highest ranked mental health nursing journal.

The active researcher has a distinguished academic career that includes more than 180 research publications, as well as books and book chapters. She has worked as a consultant to the World Health Organisation and has an impressive list of national and international keynote speaker invitations.

Alumni Invited to Contribute Their Bed-Time Stories

CQUniversity has joined with bed maker Sealy to launch Australia's biggest-ever study into the sleeping habits of the nation.

The nationally-focused 'Sleep Census' is aimed at comprehensively painting a picture of exactly how well Australians are sleeping, and what impact environmental and cultural factors are having on our collective sleep wellness.

It is set to be the most in-depth study of its kind ever undertaken in Australia.

Complete the Sealy Sleep Census

The Census forms part of Sealy's ongoing commitment to research and innovation in the sleep arena, and has been developed jointly with Professor Drew Dawson, head of CQUniversity's 'sleep centre' in Adelaide - Australia's leading academic research base for sleep.

Professor Dawson says "healthy sleep habits are directly linked to wellbeing in your waking life and we know that a poor sleep routine can impact on all kinds of health factors, causing significant detriment to your physical and mental wellbeing". "The importance of getting good, healthy sleep therefore cannot be understated, and this Census will give us valuable insight not only into sleeping habits of Australians, but also insight into how stressed, happy and balanced we are as a nation during our waking hours. It will therefore be of significant statistical and academic merit." Sealy spokesperson Ross Gage says "we are committed to innovation and research in all fields of sleep, and the Sleep Census is the natural progression of this. The involvement of CQUniversity is a real coup for us and adds significant academic weight to the study and will ensure we get insightful, scientific findings". "The findings are set to be fascinating: do we still live in the relaxed country of 'no worries mate', or is Australia's increasing prominence on the world stage leading to a generation of stressed out citizens? Everyone has an opinion on sleep, and as such we'd urge everyone to have their say in this important study."

FUTURE EVENTS

The University schedules a range of events throughout the various campuses, which may be of interest to graduates of the University.

These events include academic conferences and presentations on a range of topics, performing arts events at the Mackay Conservatorium of Music as well as concerts and events in other locations.

Current upcoming events include:

• Music and theatre events at the Conservatorium of Music (Mackay). Alumni receive a discount!
• CQUniversity Art Exhibition (Rockhampton)
• FREE public lecture "The Secret Life of a Gambler" (Bundaberg)

More information about the events for your enjoyment, plus many more!