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Time to celebrate at Peninsula

10 December 2008

University Librarian Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Residental Services Officer Catherine Thorne and Peninsula Campus Director Professor Phil Steele.

Peninsula's first physiotherapy graduates celebrate.

The Peninsula campus has experienced two significant milestones this year – its 50th year of providing quality education, and the graduation of its first of group of Bachelor of Physiotherapy students.

To celebrate the campus's 50th, past and present staff and students were asked to contribute mementos to a time capsule that was sealed to be reopened in 2058.

A range of items have been added including a letter from the Vice-Chancellor, a copy of the campus history Still Learning that was commissioned to coincide with the campus celebrations, a USB stick, DVDs, course guides and photographs.

The Peninsula campus was established in 1958 when the Department of Education responded to the increasing demand for teachers. With 109 students and one original building, Struan House, the Frankston Teachers' College opened its doors.

Three decades later in 1990, the college, which had already experienced mergers, became the Peninsula campus of Monash University with courses from its historic roots in early childhood and primary education being the main stay.

Over the years the campus has developed into a thriving institution with a range of courses focussing on health and wellbeing including the Bachelor of Physiotherapy that took its first cohort of students in 2005.

This year that foundation group of Monash Physiotherapy students graduated from the degree taking the campus, the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences and Monash to a new level in health education excellence.

Head of Physiotherapy Professor Jenny Keating congratulated the students on their achievement.

"They have worked hard to develop extensive practice in musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory sciences, at the same time engaging in interprofessional learning, paediatric and rural practice," Professor Keating said.

"As well as their theoretical and practical skills, students have gained research skills that position them for best practice across the spectrum of workplace challenges they will face as qualified physiotherapists.

"We celebrate as our students become our professional colleagues and take their carefully nurtured skills into the workplace, flying the flag of our innovative Monash curriculum."