PENINSULA ONLINE

Issue 5
Monday, 25 August 2008

50 years on, Peninsula celebrates

Staff and students working and studying at Peninsula in 50 years time will get an interesting insight into life at the campus in 2008 when they open the time capsule that has been sealed as part of the campus's 50 Year Anniversary commemorations.

Students, alumni and current and past staff were asked to contribute items to the capsule that is set to be reopened in the year 2058.

While most of the 200 guests attending the recent official commemoration of the opening of the Peninsula campus agreed that they probably would not be around to see the capsule reopened, they enjoyed catching up with other staff and students, past and present.

A range of items including a letter from the Vice Chancellor, a bottle of the 50th anniversary commemorative wine, DVDs, photographs, newsletters, curriculum information and a copy of the campus history have been placed in the capsule.

Monash alumnus, satirist and impersonator, Max Gillies AM, was at the campus for the dedication of the capsule and the launch of the campus history Still Learning.

He recalled the days when he was a student at the Frankston Teachers' College between 1960-61, where he fought the hand of censorship and eventually won not before being called before the college principal and the Director of Education.

The Frankston Teachers' College became  the Frankston campus of the newly-formed Chisholm Institute of Technology in 1982. On 1 July, 1990 the Peninsula and Caulfield campuses of Chisholm Institute amalgamated with Monash. Since that time, the campus has developed into a thriving institution with a range of courses on offer including early childhood and primary education -- mainstays from its historic roots .

Still Learning: A 50 Year History of Monash University Peninsula Campus is available from Monash ePress

Teaching excellence recognised at Peninsula

Two of the seven Monash staff recognised for teaching excellence as part of the recently announced national Australian Learning and Teaching Council awards are associated with teaching at the Peninsula campus.

Dr Amy Cutter-Mackenzie from the Faculty of Education and Mrs Adina Kleiner from the Department of Anatomy and Development Biology received ALTC citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

Environmentally friendly teaching provided the basis of Dr Cutter-Mackenzie's award which was presented for "leading school-community teaching and learning practices and partnerships to influence, motivate and inspire pre-service education students, and schools, to engage in environmental education and sustainability".

Amy, who has also just had a new baby girl Lily Ella on 14 August, said her passion is working with children and teachers, particularly in the context of environmental education and sustainability. "Being an academic in the Faculty of Education allows me to do this every day in all sorts of capacities; as a teacher, researcher and community member/advocate."

She explains that her desire to focus on in-school, pre-service teaching training stemmed from her own initial introduction to teacher education, whilst undertaking her PhD in which the traditional lecture and tutorial format of seeing the students for two to three hours for a 13 week semester was the norm.

"While this approach can be valuable, it presented as an enormous pedagogical barrier and constraint given the participatory nature of environmental education. I quickly became frustrated with the limitations of an on-campus context and sought to take a school and community-based approach."

Adina, while based at the Clayton campus, can be credited for developing the anatomy component of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree, and is very much connected to the campus through her teaching physiotherapy students. She received her award for "advancing the quality of anatomy education in physiotherapy through innovative teaching techniques that instil a passion for learning across local and distant learning environments".

In developing the new anatomy program, Adina said she conceptualised the course from the perspective of a physiotherapy student and prepared a curriculum that would not only enable students to effectively learn but would also enable them to enjoy, understand and clinically relate the material in a confident and positive manner.

"Student learning is much more than just attending lectures, sitting in lecture theatres and taking notes from a presentation. Repetition and reinforcement play a large part in the learning process of anatomy. We have access to some fantastic resources at both the Clayton and Peninsula campuses. The specimens, models, and images in our anatomy museums and the electronic interactive computer programs greatly enhance the learning experience," Adina explained.

Peninsula Campus Director Professor Phil Steele congratulated the staff members. "This is a wonderful achievement that is a great credit to Amy and Adina and their outstanding commitment to their students," he said. "I am proud of what they have achieved for the university, their faculties and of course the Peninsula campus.".

The ALTC citations recognise and reward the diverse contributions that individuals and teams make to the quality of student learning, and awarded to people who are widely recognised for their achievements within their nominating institution. Further information about the ALTC and the awards can be found online.

Welcome to new campus staff

Dr Terry Haines

Dr Terry Haines has recently joined Monash University in a joint position as Director of Clinical Research, Southern Physiotherapy School/Director of Allied Health Research with Southern Health, Continuing Care.

Dr Haines completed an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne in 1999. He worked in geriatric rehabilitation at the Peter James Centre and completed a PhD (University of Melbourne) in the area of prevention of falls in hospitals. Dr Haines reported the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate that accidental falls in hospitals can be prevented. He also completed a postgraduate degree in Health Economics through Monash, skills which he now applies across a number of current projects.

From 2004, Dr Haines held a conjoint research fellowship/senior research fellowship between the University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. In this position he facilitated clinician-led research projects across health-professional disciplines in fields including oncology, brain injury rehabilitation, spinal injury rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, orthopaedics, clinical education and respiratory medicine. Dr Haines has also been very successful in attaining nationally competitive research grants from agencies such as the National Health and Research Council, the Australian Research Council and the MBF foundation.

Having returned to Melbourne, Dr Haines is committed to establishing a program of clinical physiotherapy and allied health research that will lead to internationally recognized improvements in health services and outcomes. Dr Haines is based at the Kingston Centre Allied Health Research Unit, though he will be a presence at all Southern Health facilities and at the Peninsula campus.To contact Dr Haines, e-mail terrence.haines@med.monash.edu.au.

Helen Dacy

A new manager has been appointed to Peninsula Library at the Peninsula campus.

Helen Dacy, who commenced at Monash on 7 July, has broad experience in management of libraries, teaching, adult education and curriculum development in Queensland and the Northern Territory. At Peninsula she will be working closely with academic staff on campus as manager and will also be subject librarian for education and business.

The Peninsula Library, one of eight branch libraries of Monash University Library, has collection strengths in early childhood education, business and the medical field including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing and health sciences.

Recent developments at Peninsula Library include the introduction of drop-in sessions and classes to improve academic learning skills and a new look for the branch, with the lobby and entrance resplendent in red.

Resis having a ball

The Student Lounge in building U was recently transformed from 'head to toe' to a suitably elegant environment for the inaugural Peninsula Residential Ball held on Thursday 7 August.

Inspired by the success of the MRS ball hosted by Clayton MRS at Lincoln of Toorak earlier this year, it was decided by the Peninsula residents to have their own smaller, on-campus version.

Although the decision to go ahead with the ball came only three weeks before the actual event, the resultant amazing night proved all the hard work, organisation and effort was well worth it.

The Residential Support Team together with an enthusiastic ball organising committee transformed the student lounge with a sea of green and white decorations. Residents donned their formal attire and brought their best dance moves with them.

The 72 guests enjoyed a sit down two course meal, beverages throughout the night and were able to have official photographs taken by ex resident and Business and Economics lecturer Peter Krueger. They kept the dance floor full all night thanks to the thumping DJ.

Other highlights of the night included having past residents attend and also the crowning of 'Miss Frankston'. It was certainly an interesting competition enabling the residents to get to know the male and female contestants a little better. The result was a tie between Emma Davies and Lucy Bray (pictured)-- well done girls!

There were many people involved to help make the night run smoothly and they have certainly set a high standard for future events.

Thanks for the bras

Thanks to all staff who collected bras from family and friends for Health Science's 'Bra drive' for disadvantaged women in third world countries.

A resounding effort of 618 bras were collected in just a few weeks, well and truly exceeding the goal of 500 bras.

For disadvantaged women in third world countries a new bra can cost the equivalent of between 10 and 30 hours wages. Every bra donated may become the only bra that a particular woman may ever own. Bras are important for these women as they help reduce rashes, fungal infections and abscesses (interigo) which occur between the breas and cell wall.

Special thanks to Health Science's student Christa Jakob for organising the promotion and running around collecting the donated bras from the collection areas at the campus.

South East Palliative Care prizes

Once again South East Palliative Care are sponsoring two prizes:

• $500 for an undergraduate student enrolled in any health discipline at Peninsula campus who writes an essay about an aspect of palliative care; and
• $1000 as a research scholarship to support a masters student in any health discipline at the Peninsula Campus whose palliative care research proposal is judged as best contributing to the field.

Staff are asked to please add the appropriate slide to lectures and blackboard sites.

10,000 steps challenge

Get your walking shoes on, the Monash Steptember 10,000 Steps Challenge is on again!

The 2008 challenge will start on Monday 15 September as a virtual walk visiting all Monash campuses, and finish on Thursday 16 October. Participants are encouraged to form teams of 8 (led by a team captain) which can consist of Monash staff, family or friends, or students. This year we hope to have more than 2000 staff, family and friends participate in the Challenge.

There will be prizes for campuses, teams and individuals. A launch event will take place at the Berwick campus on Monday, 15 September at 10 am.

If your team registers online before Friday, 15 August, individuals go into the draw to win a hot air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley valued at $450 courtesy of Global Ballooning, or two return flights to Sydney courtesy of Voyager Travel.

For more information and to register for the 10,000 steps challenge, visit the OHS webpage