PENINSULA ONLINE

Issue 14
Monday, 30 October 2006 

$2.5m pledge to assist aquatic centre 

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Justin Madden, visited the Peninsula campus last week to pledge state government funding of $2.5 million to assist with the development of the Frankston Regional Aquatic Health and Wellness Centre.

The current funding contribution is additional to a 50 metre swimming pool and plant equipment that the State government has already donated to the development from the FINA World Swimming Championships that are being held in Melbourne in March 2007.

The centre is planned to be located at Monash Peninsula at a total cost of approximately $30 million dollars and is to be a joint development that will meet the needs of Frankston City Council, Peninsula Health, Monash University and Chisholm TAFE. A further $2.5 million has also been committed to the project by the Federal Government, which is currently considering another $2.5 million submission by the university.

While there is still some work to be done to raise the full amount for the project, Peninsula campus Academic Director Professor Phillip Steele says the development is gaining momentum at all levels.

"All parties involved see the huge benefits a facility like this can bring to the community," he said. "As well as providing a major boost to student amenities on campus, the centre will support the developing health, wellness, sport and recreation teaching and research programs at Peninsula.

"While we face future financial challenges to raise the required funds, it is obvious that all parties are committed to this development and will continue to support the plan for an Aquatic Health and Wellness Centre for the region."

Nurse education research focuses on community health

A project team of Monash staff including Professor Helen Keleher and Dr Rhian Parker from the Department of Health Science at Peninsula has received a $192,000 grant from the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute to explore broadening nurse education models for the future.

Also included in the project team are Associate Professor Leonie Segal from the Faculty of Business and Economics' Centre for Health Economics and Professor Karen Francis from the School of Nursing at Gippsland.

According to the research team, nurses are the largest health workforce group but the current education framework is somewhat confined towards meeting the needs of the acute (hospital) sector. 

With tens of thousands of Australian nurses not working in the profession, and very few attracted to careers in general practice and community settings, there is a widening gap in the education focus and career outcomes in the industry.

"There are rapidly emerging needs for general practice and community care nurses in a range of settings as well as for case managers and coordinators particularly for chronic and complex conditions," Professor Keleher explains.

"Nurses are potentially the most versatile health workforce to take on these roles but they are under prepared and therefore under utilised in the primary and community sectors."

Funding models and career pathways further exacerbate the situation as they are not designed to attract nurses to work outside acute care settings.

The research project will look at effective policy models that target nursing workforce participation and education levels which are cost effective in the primary health and community sectors. 

Professor Keleher has also received funding to develop an 'Integrated Diabetes Service Plan for Southern Health'. She will work on this project with Nikos Thomacos from La Trobe University.

Peninsula Education precinct news

Two highly successful events have been run at the campus as part of the Peninsula Education Precinct.

The end of Year VCE Revision lectures held over the weekend of 14 and 15 October attracted over 800 registrations in 14 subjects. The lectures were held at the Peninsula campus and were presented by experienced VCE teachers with feedback from participants being overwhelming positive.

The Biology lecture attracted over 120 keen participants.

Lecture series coordinator Ms Tanya O'Brien said the original idea behind developing the series was to provide affordable, accessible, study support for local students.

"While many students from local schools attend the VCE Revision lectures, we are finding that the reputation and low cost of the series is attracting students from areas outside the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region," she said.

A Frankston/Peninsula Regional Library Forum was also held in October to explore likely future scenarios and opportunities for collaboration between libraries on the Peninsula.

Representatives from local primary and secondary schools, the TAFE sector, local council and Monash libraries participated in the forum with the aim of identifying opportunities and initiatives for action by libraries on the Peninsula.

Areas highlighted for focus included:

• Development of an online information literacy package targeted at VCE students and possibly based on existing packages developed by Monash or Chisholm library staff

• A networking group/steering committee initially based on the workshop organizing group

• Workplace visits to regional libraries by small groups for short professional placements of up to three days

• Better knowledge sharing between libraries on the Peninsula to ensure more effective referral of clients to services

• Development of a dedicated website for the group with contacts

• VET to TAFE transition library orientation programs – ‘4 step plan’

• Development of Information literacy needs

Peninsula campus Library Manager Judy Hopley, Frankston Council Libraries and Learning Manager Rebecca Henshall, Peninsula Campus Manager Sue Webb, forum facilitator Richard Sayer from CAVAL Collaborative Solutions, and forum keynote speaker Julie Rae

Final Business Associate breakfast for 2006

The final Business Associates breakfast for 2006 will be held on 21 November at The Briars in Mt Martha where Ms Eliza Foster will discuss how her local, backyard business, Made In The Shade, has grown to become an international success.

Eliza's company manufactures and markets high quality outdoor umbrellas. Her seminar, titled From Little Things, Big Things [can] Grow', will focus on how a local company grew from a backyard business, achieving success through a commitment to quality and service.

This year's seminars have seen a variety of speakers present at the six breakfasts throughout the year, which were delivered in partnership with Frankston City Council, Frankston Chamber of Commerce and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council for the first time this year.

Information and registration details can be found online.

Farewell to Lay Lin Oh

After 28 years' service Ms Lay Lin Oh from Campus Administration will be leaving the Peninsula campus at the end of November.

Lay Lin started at the campus during its State College of Victoria days as PA to the Education coordinator. She later moved to the Administration area of the college for a short period of time before becoming PA to the then Campus Manager, Barry Bilham.

Following Barry's retirement, Lay Lin worked for Jill McLachlan, Robin Drury and Sue Webb. During her time as PA she has also undertaken extra duties for the Academic Director. Lay Lin also looks after the central timetabling for the campus and ad hoc bookings for internal and external users of campus facilities among a range of other things.

Lay Lin's dedication, organisational skills and general care in her job and for her colleagues will be greatly missed by all who have worked with her.

A farewell will be held for Lay Lin on Friday, 24 November at 11 am in the Conference Room (C1.02). If you would like to attend to bid farewell to our colleague and friend please advise Julie Baxter on extn 44015 by Monday, 20 November. Contributions for a gift can also be given to Julie or Tanya O'Brien in Campus Administration.

Department of Health Science seminars

The Department of Health Science at the Peninsula campus is hosting two research seminars in November. Both seminars will be held from 1-2 pm in the Conference Room. Any interested staff are invited to attend. For further information, contact Dr Rhian Parker.

Melbourne Cup in the Seahorse Tavern

The Seahorse Tavern will host a Melbourne Cup Day luncheon on Tuesday, 7 November from 12 noon to 4 pm.

See all the action on the big screens while enjoying a buffet lunch of traditional roast chicken with tossed garden salad and crusty Turkish bread with a complimentary glass of Sparkling Wine all for $12.50 per person.

You can also try your luck in the cup sweeps for an outlay of $2 or $5 with heaps of great prizes to be won.

Bookings are essential. Please call Andrew Healy on extn 44155.

Reflections on nursing education

The Peninsula Library is displaying items made by nursing students who will soon be graduating from the School of Nursing.  Students were asked to make an item that reflected on the preparation and learning involved in becoming a graduate nurse, within the context of the impacts and influences of the past few years.  Staff are invited to visit the Library to view the art works, which will be on display until mid-November.