MEDIA NOTIFICATION
(EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.00PM TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2002)
MONASH HEROES AND INDIGENOUS LECTURERS RECOGNISED
ALONGSIDE AUSTRALIA’S LEADING UNIVERSITY TEACHERS
3 December 2002 MIN 254/02
In a departure from tradition, today’s Australian Awards for
University Teaching have honoured eight very special individuals.
I am pleased to announce that Monash University lecturer, Dr Lee
Gordon Brown, and student and sessional tutor, Alastair Boast, were
presented with special awards as an acknowledgement of their bravery
during the recent tragic shootings at their university. They also
accepted awards on behalf of four others: Dr Brett Inder, Andrew
Swann, Colin Thornby and Bradley Thompson.
On 21 October two students were killed and five injured in a
lecture room shooting, which was brought to an end when Econometrics
lecturer Dr Lee Gordon-Brown and student and sessional tutor
Alastair Boast subdued the alleged gunman.
Associate Professor Brett Inder and a student, Bradley Thompson,
also acted with great courage, assisting Dr Gordon Brown and Mr
Boast until police arrived. Another student, Andrew Swann and
university administrator, Colin Thornby, administered life-saving
first aid at the scene.
Today’s recognition is a small mark of our gratitude on behalf of
Australia’s education sector.
Today’s event also introduced a new award for 2002 to recognise
outstanding work by an Indigenous university teacher.
Although the numbers are slowly rising, there are too few
Indigenous lecturers in our universities. Of the 33,400 university academics only around 240 are
Indigenous.
I support the calls by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)
and others for more to be done to encourage increasing numbers of
Indigenous academics.
One of the most important things we can do in this regard is work
towards having more young Indigenous Australians complete their
secondary schooling and seek entry into university. However, it is
also important that we highlight those who have already successfully
entered the higher education teaching workforce.
In consultation with the NTEU, I therefore instituted a new,
valuable, award for the Indigenous University Teacher of the Year –
The Neville Bonner Award.
The Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Teacher of the Year
carries a prize of $40,000.
The inaugural award has been presented to joint winners. The
recipients are Professor Larissa Behrendt of the Law and Indigenous
Studies faculty at The University of Technology, Sydney and
Professor Marcia Langton, Foundation Professor in Indigenous
Australian Studies at The University of Melbourne.
Both have both been instrumental in advancing participation by
Indigenous students in tertiary education and fostering increased
understanding of Indigenous culture. Each receives a $40,000 grant.
The top honour of the awards is the Prime Minister’s Award for
University Teacher of the Year.
Such was the calibre of this year’s entrants that this award was
presented to joint winners.
Associate Professor Peter O’Donoghue from The University of
Queensland and Associate Professor Lynne Hunt from Edith Cowan
University have both made exceptional contributions to teaching and
learning. As Prime Minister’s Award recipients they each receive a
grant of $75,000 to continue work in their fields.
Associate Professor O’Donoghue received a $40,000 teaching award
in the category of Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies
and an additional $35,000 for the Prime Minister’s Award.
Recognised by his peers as an excellent role model for younger
staff, Associate Professor O’Donoghue has successfully combined
teaching, research and scholarship and contributes to 12 courses
with 1,500 students across three faculties.
The $40,000 grant for teaching in the Social Sciences category
was presented to Associate Professor Hunt, from Edith Cowan
University. She also received an additional $35,000 as the joint
winner of the Prime Minister’s Award. Associate Professor Hunt has a
capacity to help students see the world differently and has been
applauded for helping students make the transition to university and
the workforce.
A further four teaching awards, each worth $40,000, went to
teachers from The University of Queensland, Flinders University of
South Australia and The University of New South Wales.
Universities receiving $50,000 each in the institutional
categories were The University of New England, the University of
South Australia, The University of Western Australia and Griffith
University.
The annual Australian Awards for University Teaching, with a
total prize pool of $550,000, provides a demonstration of
Australia’s rich and diverse academic talents.
I commend all those recognised today for the dedication,
professionalism and enthusiasm that they bring to their work.
Please see Attachment A for a complete list
of winners and Attachment B for winner profiles.
For further information:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Department of Education, Science and Training: Laila Lacis
(02) 6240 9275
For further information about the winners: Sandra Wang, Porter
Novelli (02) 8585 8200
top
ATTACHMENT A
2002 UNIVERSITY TEACHING AWARDS WINNERS
TEACHING AWARDS
The Prime Minister’s Award for University Teacher of the Year
($75,000, including discipline award of $40,000)
- Associate Professor Peter O’Donoghue, The University of
Queensland.
- Associate Professor Lynne Hunt, Edith Cowan University.
The Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Teacher of the Year
($40,000)
- Professor Larissa Behrendt, University of Technology, Sydney.
- Professor Marcia Langton, The University of Melbourne.
Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies ($40,000)
- Associate Professor Peter O’Donoghue, The University of
Queensland.
Economics, Business and Related Studies ($40,000)
- Professor Stephen Gray, The University of Queensland.
Humanities and the Arts ($40,000)
- Dr Raelene Frances and Dr Bruce Scates, The University of New
South Wales.
Physical Sciences and Related Studies ($40,000)
- Dr Craig Simmons, Flinders University of South Australia.
Social Sciences ($40,000)
- Associate Professor Lynne Hunt, Edith Cowan University.
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS
Innovative and practical approach to the provision of support
services (on and/or off campus) that assist the learning of students
($50,000)
- The University of New England.
- University of South Australia.
Innovative and practical approach to the provision of
educational services to the local and/or regional community
($50,000)
- The University of Western Australia.
Innovative and practical approach to the enhancement of the
quality of teaching and learning ($50,000)
top
ATTACHMENT B
2002 UNIVERSITY TEACHING AWARDS WINNERS
TEACHING AWARDS
Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies
Associate Professor Peter O’Donoghue, The University of
Queensland.
Peter O’Donoghue is an Associate Professor at the School of
Molecular and Microbial Sciences.
Associate Professor O’Donoghue contributes in 12 courses to more
than fifteen hundred students across three faculties, including
problem-based learning in the Graduate Medical Course and continuing
education for medical and veterinary practitioners.
He completed his PhD in parasitology at the Institute of Medical
and Veterinary Science in Adelaide.
His key achievements include the publication of 107 scientific
papers and presentation of 70 papers nationally and internationally.
His peers recognise his outstanding contribution to the teaching
of biology and say he is an excellent role model for younger staff
who seek to combine teaching, research and scholarship.
Economics, Business and Related Studies
Professor Stephen Gray, The University of Queensland.
Stephen Gray is a Professor of Finance in the School of Business.
He has great depth of knowledge and understanding in the field of
finance, and a commitment to sharing that knowledge.
Professor Gray is able to explain complex concepts in an
intuitive manner and, through his own efforts and initiative, has
developed interactive teaching tools that are used both in Australia
and in the United States.
Professor Gray’s innovative teaching has received acclamation
from his students and recognition from his colleagues in the
department who have modelled their own teaching on his work.
Professor Gray is a master of his discipline who is regarded both
within the School and the University as an outstanding educator at
all levels and as a role model for his students and peers.
Humanities and the Arts
Dr Raelene Frances and Dr Bruce Scates, The University of
New South Wales.
Raelene Frances and Bruce Scates are Associate Professors in the
School of History.
Through a joint effort of hard work and dedication, with each
building on the other’s strength, Dr Frances and Dr Scates have
sparked curiosity, promoted constructive criticism and generated a
love of learning in their students.
Their approach to teaching is through empowerment. Dr Frances and
Dr Scates are imaginative teachers who present their students with
different interpretations of the past, then allow them to make their
own judgements.
Physical Sciences and Related Studies
Dr Craig Simmons, Flinders University of South Australia.
Craig Simmons is a Senior Lecturer in Hydrogeology.
Dr Simmons’ subject matter varies from overviews of water on
earth in first year to more specific topics in later years, related
to his research expertise in ground water modelling and
hydrogeology.
His teaching demonstrates a clear commitment to developing higher
level cognition. He creates a teaching environment that goes beyond
delivery of fact to foster student engagement in the learning
process. He encourages students to see the big picture and the
societal relevance of their studies. Dr Simmons has published a
variety of papers and his work has been recognised through a number
of awards. His students describe him as an excellent lecturer who
makes complex subject matter very clear.
Social Sciences
Associate Professor Lynne Hunt, Edith Cowan University.
Lynne Hunt is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of
Communications, Health and Science.
Associate Professor Hunt teaches sociology, social research and
women’s health. Her teaching method is to direct student attention
to the skills that lie at the heart of social sciences: social and
political awareness, social research, critical thinking, and written
and oral communication.
She has a particular interest in how students make the transition
to university and then into the workforce. Students acknowledge her
understanding and capacity to make them see the world differently.
Associate Professor Hunt’s contributions to the vocation of teaching
have been recognised through a number of awards.
top
NEVILLE BONNER AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Professor Larissa Behrendt, University of Technology, Sydney.
Larissa Behrendt is both Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies
at the University of Technology, Sydney and Director of the
University’s Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning.
Professor Behrendt has been invaluable in revising the Law
Faculty’s degree programme and tailoring it to the needs of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
She has been instrumental in establishing a National Indigenous
Law Centre at the University and the Indigenous Barristers’ Trust
Fund, a programme to advance Indigenous law graduates. Professor
Bernhardt is also recognised for fostering an understanding of
Indigenous culture and history amongst non-Indigenous students.
Professor Marcia Langton, The University of Melbourne.
Marcia Langton, is the Foundation Professor in Indigenous
Australian Studies at the University of Melbourne.
Professor Langton’s substantial international research profile
and her eminent track record in teaching, curriculum design and
programme delivery have won her the respect and admiration of her
students and peers.
Professor Langton has introduced a range of teaching and research
initiatives both within the Faculty of Arts and across the
University, that have not only increased participation by Indigenous
students in higher education, but also provided invaluable
educational experiences for non-Indigenous students and staff.
Her teaching is described as intellectually bold and exciting.
She exposes her students to experiences in the field through
participation in such events as the Gama Festival in Arnhem Land
where students are encouraged to actively participate in and reflect
on the dynamics of cross-cultural knowledge exchange and
understanding.
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS
Innovative and practical approach to the provision of support
services (on and/or off campus) that assist the learning of students
The University of New England – tUNEup: Skills for
successful university learning.
The University of New England established the tUNEup
programme after identifying that over 39 per cent of its student
population came from a rural background.
The tUNEup programme is a combination of independent
learning resources and workshops that assist students from rural
areas and students doing external study to develop academic and
learning skills.
The program modules include general study skills, academic
writing, information technology skills and some specific
mathematical components of university courses. As testament to its
innovation, the program was included in the Australian Publishers’
Association 2000 Technology Showcase catalogue of ‘world-class
educational resources’.
University of South Australia – Learning Connection.
The University of South Australia has developed Learning
Connection, a solution for the delivery of student learning support.
Until the development of Learning Connections, supporting students
to meet academic expectations was particularly difficult in a large,
multi-campus university with students working on-campus, off-campus
and offshore.
Learning Connection helps students to overcome these challenges
and establish the academic skills to carry them through university
work and provide them with communication skills for life.
The development of an online workshop that simulated the
on-campus experience enabled all external students to access the
resources available to on-campus students.
Innovative and practical approach to the provision of
educational services to the local and/or regional community
The University of Western Australian – Regional Programme:
Addressing Equity: Creating Opportunity.
The University of Western Australia’s Regional Programme was
developed in response to a national move to expand the university
system to meet demand from regional communities.
Under this initiative the University established two regional
centres, one at Albany in 1997 and a second in Geraldton in 2000.
The programme aims to provide regional students with a successful
combination of teaching and learning strategies through the use of
state-of-the-art technology and traditional face-to-face
communication.
Regional students have access to the same materials as their
metropolitan peers, including audio, video and course materials
accessible via the University’s online software program, iLecture.
Innovative and practical approach to the enhancement of the
quality of teaching and learning
Griffith University – Common Time.
The School of Human Services at Griffith University introduced
Common Time in 1998 to facilitate greater contact for students with
their teachers and peers.
Some students now spend less time on campus, thanks to flexible
learning arrangements to cater for busy lives and different life
stages. Common Time was developed to support students and teachers
in facilitating greater interaction. A two hour Common Time session
is held each week during the semester. Each is a structured session
designed around a learning objective, with unstructured time
provided for students and staff to interact informally.
top
|
