Origins Edition 1 2005

8/8/2019 Origins Edition 1 2005

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Vice Chancellor's comment 01

New faces at Charles Darwin University02

Malu #3 online 04Saddling up 06Graduates part of an Alice tradition 08Higher Education cadetship forIndigenous students 10Prominent Territorians 11High praise for teachers 12Global role for educator 13Graduates succeeding in the Territory 14Liberating an icon 15Partnership in East Timor 16Big picture research 18Digging up the past 19

Origins is produced by Charles Darwin University's Corporate Communications section.Design and layout for this edition was undertaken by Sprout Creative and printed by Uniprint. Editorial contributions by Peter Hurt, Kasey Brunt,Scott Walker and Peter Cain, photography by Barry Ledwidge. Opinions and views expressed in this edition do not necessarily reflect those ofCharles Darwin University. Reproduction of any material appearing in this edition requires written permission from the editor,Peter Hurt on 08 8946 6019 or [email protected] August, 2005.

C on t en t s

State of the art learning 20New frontier for tropical studies 22Bushfire threat to palms 23Birds of Papua 24Green ants a mango marvel 25Consultancy not a gamble 26VET results the best yet 28Have VET will travel 30Alliance focus on bush tucker 31Artist on world stage 32Ridgy-didge American 33Charles Darwin UniversitySymposium Series 2005 34Coming Events 36


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Diversity and multiculturalism are thehallmarks of Charles Darwin University.

With campuses at Darwin, Palmerston,Katherine and Alice Springs and centresin Jabiru, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek,Charles Darwin University spans theNorthern Territory and offers educationalexperiences in a range of climatic zonesfrom wet tropics to desert.

This diversity is reflected in the range ofcourses offered through the university,which is one of the few bi-sectorinstitutions offering courses in HigherEducation (HE) or Vocational Educationand Training (VET). At Charles DarwinUniversity, students can begin studying atcertificate level and pursue their

education to a Masters or Doctorate.Charles Darwin prides itself on being theuniversity that dares to be different and

believes in removing the barriers betweenstudents and their desires to gainqualifications.

If you have a commitment and a will tolearn, Charles Darwin University staff willwork with you to find ways to ensure thatchosen study paths are achievable. Thispersonalised approach to teaching issupported by small class sizes and easilyaccessible academic staff, both face toface and online.

Along with that diversity comes theexperience of studying with students frommany nationalities and cultures. Charles

Darwin University strongly reflects themulticultural nature of the Territory, with arange of courses that focus on the

region's unique cultural, economic,environmental and industrial educationrequirements. The student body of over16,000, ranging in age from schoolleavers to retirees returning to study,represents more than 60 nationalities.

Vice Chancellor,Professor Helen Garnett

C

Welcome to Origins

welcom


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NEW FACES ATCHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY

Joc SchmiechenIndigenous tourism is poised for a newdirection with the appointment of JocSchmiechen as Senior Research Fellow inIndigenous Tourism at Charles DarwinUniversity.

This new position will bring a nationalfocus to the diverging paths of Indigenoustourism and to achieve practical outcomesfor Indigenous people 'doing the business'(tourism), Joc said.

Joc was a key speaker at the 15th annualCouncil for Australian University Tourismand Hospitality Education (CAUTHE)Conference at the Alice SpringsConvention Centre. It is the first time theevent, one of the world's leading tourismand hospitality research conferences, hasbeen hosted in the Northern Territory.More than 200 educators, researchers andindustry personnel from Australia and

Peter PerrinIt's the Sound of the Territory and it has anew Station and Network Manager.

Community broadcaster TOP FM hasrecruited broadcast professional PeterPerrin to its team as Station and NetworkManager.

Mr Perrin has worked in television andradio for the past 27 years. He has lengthyexperience in broadcast management andhas been responsible for turning aroundsome of Western Australia's most popularstations, including the North West Radioregional stations in Karratha, Port Hedland

This new position will

bring a national focus

to the diverging paths

of Indigenous tourism...

newfaces

new

2


5/41fThe opportunity to join Charles DarwinUniversity and be responsible for its radiolicense is a honour. It's obvious that TOPFM is a part of day to day life ofTerritorians and I'm delighted to be takingthe station to the next level. he said.Top FM broadcasts on 104.1FM andthroughout the Territory on network.Professor Eric ValentineCharles Darwin University and the Powerand Water Corporation announced theappointment of Eric Valentine asFoundation Chair of Civil Engineering.Professor Valentine joined Charles DarwinUniversity in April with a wealth ofexperience in the UK and New Zealand.He was appointed ahead of severalleading academics of national and build professional capacity in the NorthernTerritory and also to find out more aboutour unique harbour, Mr Wood said.Professor Valentine has conductedsignificant research in river and coastalhydrodynamics and has made contribu-tions to environmental hydraulics,particularly pollutant dispersion andsediment transport.He has also consulted widely in the UK,New Zealand and several developingcountries in Africa and Asia. Projects haveranged from river flood control through irri-gation to the hydraulic design of water andsewage treatment plants, including theleading-edge Tees Environmental EffluentScheme (TEES) in England.He has strengths in working with practising Cowan. She won three Edith Cowanawards for teaching excellence and the2002 Australian Award for UniversityTeaching in the Social Science category.She publishes in the fields of women'shealth and tertiary teaching and receivedthe 2002 Merit Award for Best Paper onAuthentic Learning from the HigherEducation Research and DevelopmentSociety of Australasia (HERDSA).She is a HERDSAFellow, a member of theBoard of the Carrick Institute for Learningand Teaching in Higher Education and thenewly formed International Society forScholarship in Teaching and Learning. Herteaching career includes social science,education and health science courses inAustralia and the UK.Professor Hunt said she sees her appoint-3

Left -Right

Joc SchmiechenPeter Perrin

Professor Eric Valentine

Professor Lynne Hunt


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A new Mobile Adult Learning Unit (MALU)unveiled by Charles Darwin University willensure more remote students than evenbefore have access to trades-basededucation.

The $320,000 MALU, the third to come online for the university, was officiallycommissioned this year by Charles DarwinUniversity Vice Chancellor ProfessorHelen Garnett.

Designed and built in the NorthernTerritory for local environment andconditions, MALU 3 began delivering

courses from the start of term two.

The unit will travel about 2,000 kilometreseach year and have about 30,000teaching hours per year delivered from itssix welding booth, six computer areateaching configuration.

\The MALU is equal to the largest doubleaxle trailer manufactured in Australia andProject Coordinator David Reilly explained:When it comes to mobile training facilities,bigger is definitely better.

Charles Darwin University's other MALUunits each travel to four remote locations

continued>

m a l u # 3

ma u#4


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per year for 10-week blocks as part ofCharles Darwin University's commitmentto taking education and training to thecommunity.

The MALU units are independent learningspaces, Mr Reilly said. Delivery can bedone anywhere that is required in theTerritory.

The units are very popular with thecommunities, which often make requestsfor their return. At this time, this may takeup to three years.

Communities have been strong supportersof the MALU concept, as they prefertraining to take place on site. This ensuresthat the community has control of theirtrainees and the program.

Principal Deb Williams, from LarambaSchool, said the introduction of the thirdMALU was greatly appreciated by peoplein her area.

The young people of this area appreciatethe opportunity to learn and develop theirskills in the trade fields of welding, steelfabrication and automotive provided byMALU 1, Ms Williams said.

The availability of a third MALU will helpmeet local demand from local secondaryaged students for trades and computerstudies, providing students with twopathways not available to them previously.

Mr Reilly said the MALUs were economi-cally viable and provided more practicalsolutions. Communities do not have tospend money on building or maintainingclassrooms that may not be usedcontinuously due to lack of staff andprograms, Mr Reilly said.

MALU now gives these students theopportunity to complete their VET

certificate and then use this to completetheir Northern Territory Certificate ofEducation or they can go on to aTraineeship or Apprenticeship.

Charles Darwin staff have been workingclosely with remote school teachers.Teachers work with students before MALUarrives and can therefore deliver far morehours in the limited time MALU is

available. The teachers then continue withtheir program once MALU leaves.

Whole communities are coming on board.For example, with Retail delivery, it's not

just theory; students are provided accessto the community store for further training.

MALU 3 will also be used for Tradesdelivery and for other multi-purposeapplications.

Built by Alice Springs company MickMurray Welding, MALU three is 13.7metres in length, 2.5 metres wide and hasan internal height of 2.9 metres.

It has a stage platform that lowers as afloor using hydraulics to create enclosedspaces for multi-purpose use. The goose-neck section has refrigerated air-conditioning with an Interactive DistantLearning (IDL) Unit provided by OPTUSCommunications recessed into the roof,with the underneath section having ampleroom for six laptop workstations.

The IDL unit will allow access to afterhours teaching from the School of the AirStudio in Alice Springs. The rest of thetrailer, fitted with evaporative air-conditioning, opens out into an extra largeclassroom with teaching space for thesecond lecturer.

By rearranging the swivel doors, theclassroom can also be reconfigured to

create an auditorium incorporating soundand lighting equipment when teachingcontemporary music, Mr Reilly said.

MALU 1 was introduced in 1986 and hasso far delivered about 15,000 hours ofwelding training.

MALU 2 began operating in 1998 and hasdelivered 40,000 hours in LocalGovernment, Literacy and Numeracy andIT training. Since the inception of theprogram, about 3,500 students have usedthe MALUs. C


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sIt's the stuff of Aussie Outback legends and for nearly 30 budding jackaroos and jillaroos the reality hit home earlier thisyear.The group, employed by the ConsolidatedPastoral Company, undertook a two-weekinduction at the Northern Territory RuralCollege of Charles Darwin Universitybefore heading to outback propertiesacross the Territory and Western Australiain time for the mustering season.They were taught basic riding techniques,ttl h dli g t i g b i hi lssadd l ing UPOur job i s to t each them the r igh t

way o f mus te r ing and how touse the horse proper ly.


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Packer's jackaroos CPC staff after their Rural College induction.

NT Rural College horse instructor JeffToomby said many students arrived for the

hi ki h ld b h i ff

between life and death. Training andSafety are critical issues in our industry.

one of Australia's largest privately ownedpastoral companies, producing high

li b f l f h S h E A i


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They are three of the best . . . they are theface of Charles Darwin University's AliceSprings campus. . . and they are part of atradition in the Central Australia oasis.

Thalia Cheung, Evans Kabwe and DianneWardenaar were among about 100university students from Central Australiawho received formal recognition ofsuccess in their Higher Education orVocational Education and Training studiesat a graduation ceremony at the Alice

Springs Convention Centre in June.

All three completed Bachelor of Businessdegrees last year, majoring in accounting,and all three have fulltime employment inAlice Springs - two of them, Thalia andDianne, at accounting firm Deloitte andE C li k

university academics and staff for theceremony. Welcoming addresses weregiven by the University Chancellor RichardRyan, AO, and the Vice ChancellorProfessor Helen Garnett.

Thalia had more reason than most to be alittle nervous beforehand - she had beenasked to give the graduand response,traditionally an honour awarded to one ofthe greatest achievers of the year.

All three students are part of a tradition inAlice Springs in which local accountingfirms and the public sector employ CDUbusiness students and graduates,supporting the students in their studiesand, in turn, benefiting from their growingexpertise as they complete their degrees.

them develop, not only professionally,but personally, during their studies.

She added: The Bachelor of Businessdegree course has been operating heresince the early 1990s and is one of themost popular in Alice. We offer majors inmarketing, management and accounting.We currently have about 60 studentsstudying for business degrees.

Most accounting firms and government

offices in Alice have either past or presentbusiness students working for them, sothe links are very strong.

Thalia, an analyst with Deloitte for the pasttwo years, studied part-time over the pastfive years while fulfilling her employmentbli i P i l h k d l


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They are three of the best . . . they are

the face of Charles Darwin University's

Alice Springs campus...

Thalia, 28, has been an Alice Springs resi-dent for the past 17 years and completedher schooling at the Centralian College.I had no idea why I was asked to deliver thegraduand response, she said, but it was agreat honour. I did win a few annual awards,so perhaps that's why I was chosen.

Thalia said she had recently started theCA Program, a two-year postgraduatediploma, which is necessary to obtain theChartered Accountant qualification.

Dianne, a qualified chef, decided a fewyears ago to change careers and opted forthe business degree. Originally, sheintended to major in management, butswitched to accounting, and is nowworking alongside Thalia at Deloitte.

year. I came up to Alice for two weeks,stayed and 'fell' into cookery. That wasback in '88 and I've been here ever since.

Dianne, 35, completed a Certificate inCommercial Cookery at the School ofHospitality and then worked at severalrestaurants in town, including the casino, andalso had the lease at the Feds Sports Club.

When the opportunity came up to doaccounting, I jumped at it, she said. It's

been a lot of hard work and late nights, butwell worth it. Without the support and helpof Brian, my partner, I don't think I wouldhave done it.

Evans, originally from Zambia, moved toAlice in 2001 after spending seven yearsi S h Af i H k d i h PFA

Both employers were very supportive ofmy studies, he said. Most of the staff atPFA had been or were still studying at theCDU and gave me a hand - they knewwhat was involved.

The opportunities in Australia areendless. In four years I already have adegree. If you want to study, the onus is onyou: the options are there, the goals areachievable and then you can enjoy theprivileges. C


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higher

education

cadetship for

indigenous

students

ade t

10

ndLorraine Martin, a single, supportingmother of three, is the inaugural recipient

of a Charles Darwin University $60,000four-year Higher Education cadetship forIndigenous students.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Garnettpresented the cadetship to Ms Martin.This cadetship underpins CharlesDarwin University's commitment toimproving Indigenous Australians' accessto higher education and employment inUniversity management, ProfessorGarnett said.

It is a genuine career developmentopportunity and very generous in terms ofacademic and employment mentorship

to complete the undergraduate degreeand keep studying, she said.

I am interested in policy and research,especially education and Indigenouseducation, and in achieving better out-comes. I want to be a role model forIndigenous students and show them thatit is not too hard to achieve your goals.

Ms Martin, who has lived in the Territoryall her life, has worked as a clericaltrainee with ERA and also with the NorthAustralian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.She is interested in a career as a lecturerwithin the tertiary education sector.

Under the terms of the cadetship, MsMartin will receive ongoing academic

ABOVE Lorraine Martin with Vice Chancellor Helen Garnett,and Professor MaryAnn Bin-Salik.


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prominentterritorians

P Former Chancellor of the NorthernTerritory University Nancy Giese andCharles Darwin senior lecturer JanieMason were among five prominentTerritorians named in the annual Tribute toNorthern Territory Women awards.Charles Darwin University Vice ChancellorProfessor Helen Garnett said she wasdelighted that two prominent members ofthe Northern Territory community withstrong associations with the University had

been recognised in this manner.

Nancy Giese is a wonderful and widelyrespected Territorian whose name issynonymous with the development oftertiary education in the Territory,Professor Garnett said.

back to 1936 when she graduated as aphysical education teacher in Queensland.

She was elected Chancellor of the NTU inFebruary 1993 and served in that positionfor 10 years, until the NTU became the CDUin 2003. Mrs Giese is a Patron of the CDUFoundation, and retains an active interest inUniversity life, attending many Universityfunctions and events, and performances bythe Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs Giese was awarded the Membershipof the British Empire (MBE) in 1971, whichwas superseded by the award of the Orderof the British Empire (OBE) in 1977. Shewas appointed an Officer of the Order ofAustralia (AO) in the Queens BirthdayHonours List in 1997.

NT Womens awardsABOVE Mrs Nancy Giese, AO, OBE

RIGHT Mrs Janie Mason


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There are many opportunities for employees to strengthen

their professional practices and knowledge; enhance their

professional development, accelerate progress towards

qualification and to build a sustainable vision for personal

and organisational development and change.

High praisefor teachers


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lobal13

A Charles Darwin University academichas been invited to work with a UnitedNations advisory body to help improveeducation systems around the world.

Associate Professor Ibtisam Abu-Duhou, has been elected to theInternational Institute of EducationalPlanning (IIEP) Governing Board as aConsultant Fellow. IIEP was created byUNESCO in 1963 and people areinvited on the basis of their contributionsto various fields of educational planning.

Associate Professor Abu-Duhou saidshe was honoured to be working for

Additionally she has worked withinternational organisations such asAusAID, the World Bank; UNESCO;UNICEF and the EU.

Her research has related to theeconomics of education, specifically theallocation of resources, cost-effectiveness, budgeting and review ofexpenditures on education, policy andplanning at both national andinternational levels, comparative studiesin socio-economic and cultural aspectsof schooling as well as numerouscomparative studies of educationsystems.

globa l ro le fo r educa tor

Associate Professor Ibtisam Abu-Duhou

Despite this national

tragedy, there was littleinformation available on

what might constitute the

best buys for education

investment...


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Three young teachers trained at CharlesDarwin University have produced a defini-tive 68-page Teachers' Guide for use by

junior secondary school teachers through-out the Territory.

The kit, Building a Nation: The East TimorStory, is being distributed to Territoryschools with the support of the AsiaEducation Foundation and the Departmentof Employment, Education and Training.

It was compiled by Alison Quin, CoryCapogreco and Nickolaos Miaris as part ofh i fi l di d G d

Ms Sutton said the Teachers' Guideaddressed the History and Governancecontent of the Band 5 History, GovernanceTime, Continuity and Change SOSE out-comes from the NT Curriculum Frameworkand as well as National Studies of AsiaCurriculum outcomes. Their documentsets out workshop ideas, power pointpresentations and study options using thecontemporary issue of nation building inEast Timor.

The TE program shows people that theycan innovate, make significant changes

d i l i i i f

We're trying to model TransformativeEducation at Charles Darwin University soour teacher education is cutting edge.; it'sreally setting us apart. Because ourdemography in the Territory is so differentwe have the opportunity to think abouthow we deal with and teach in remotecommunities.

Despite their lack of experience, thesethree pre-service teachers produced aresource that has the potential to be ofgreat benefit to the teaching community.

Thi i h d l i hil h f h

Cory Capogreco, Nickolaos Miaris and Alison Quin

graduatessucceeding in the territory grad


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icon15

liberating an icon

There are few places in the Top End wherefishermen can catch barramundi in acrocodile-free environment - but thanks toCharles Darwin University students, one ofthose spots will continue to be a popularrecreational fishery.

Just after this year's wet season, aquacul-ture students released about 300 maturebarramundi into Manton Dam, 80km southof Darwin. The fish, each measuring about20 - 30cm and weighing up to 500g, areabout six months old.

The fish were taken to Manton Dam bytruck in a specially designed fibreglass

tank, holding about a tonne of water.Students monitored the tank's oxygen andammonia levels throughout the trip.

Aquaculture course coordinator andlecturer Shaun McCarthy said the students

were studying for a Certificate II inSeafood Industry (Aquaculture).

Students are learning about managingintensive fish rearing systems, waterquality and handling live fish, he said.They are also responsible for the basiccare of the fish as they grow, includingtheir feeding and the cleaning of the tanks.

The 300 barra are surplus to our needs.They were supplied as larvae by theDarwin Aquaculture Centre and studentshave reared them over the past fewmonths as part of their studies.

Our students also rear and study prawnsand freshwater crayfish. We offerCertificates II and III in Seafood Industry(Aquaculture) and this leads to employ-ment in the industry as farmhands ortechnicians. One of the fastest growingindustries in the NT, especially in remotecommunities. C


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A Charles Darwin University project to

rehabilitate the agriculture faculty of theNational University of Timor Leste andhelp re-develop its agricultural curriculumhas been praised by the AustralianGovernor-General, Major General MichaelJeffery.

Charles Darwin University was commis-sioned with the job of reconstructing theagricultural laboratories and facilities atthe National University's farm located atHera, 12km east of Dili.

The facilities were destroyed in the post-

election violence of 1999.

The Governor-General inspected the newbuildings at the National University andremarked upon the achievement andcooperation being devoted to the project.

This building we are in represents apartnership between many differentplayers, both here and in Australia. Withthe involvement of the National Universityof Timor Leste it shows how we are

focusing on building the capacity of this

young country for the future, theGovernor-General said.

Funded by the Australian Centre forInternational Agricultural Research,Charles Darwin University undertook theproject in collaboration with CurtinUniversity and the University ofQueensland.

partnershipin east timor

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The project is funded until December 2005

and is currently focused on curriculum

development using the skill of the three

universities involved.

eThe building cost $250,000 to reconstruct

and new equipment has been supplied forthe laboratories. Equipment has also beendonated from Charles Darwin University,Energy Resources of Australia Ltd'sRanger Mine at Jabiru and CurtinUniversity, said Tania Paul, project officerand horticultural lecturer at CharlesDarwin University.

The project is particularly remarkable asthe reconstruction of the labs and facilitieson the farm was completed with a tightbudget yet achieved great results.

The project is funded until December 2005

and is currently focused on curriculumdevelopment using the skill of the threeuniversities involved.

This year, animal science lecturers fromthe National University are working incollaboration with David Foulkes atCharles Darwin University's NT RuralCollege in Katherine to design new units ofstudy as well as getting some hands-onexperience, Ms Paul said.

The agriculture faculty re-development

project is one facet of greater linksestablished between Charles DarwinUniversity and Universidad Nacional TimorLorosa'e. C

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BIG18

The pursuit of sustainable developmentacross Australia's north lies behind CharlesDarwin University's application for a five-year$24 million Commonwealth Governmentgrant to determine how various develop-ment pressures are affecting the region'slandscapes and biodiversity.

Dr David Bowman, who directs the KeyCentre for Tropical Wildlife Management atCharles Darwin University, said thataccelerating development in the Top End isdramatically increasing environmental

pressures in the region.There is a great sense of urgency toensure that the 'nation building'development sweeping across Australia'srich tropical north does not replicate theenvironmental pitfalls that have stained a

Savannah forest is being cleared to growcotton and other thirsty crops and there areincreasing industrial and urban developmentpressures.

When you tie in invasive pests such ascane toads, weeds and feral animals, weare literally looking at an entire ecosystembeing transformed under our feet.

The value behind our proposal is a broadmulti-discipline approach to help under-stand the big environmental picture so that

the region's economy can grow in asustainable way.

A successful proposal will see ecologists,historians, medical practitioners, meteorol-ogists and economists among others,collaborating on biodiversity and landscape

centre of a global network of scientistsinvestigating forest and livelihood issues,said Professor Bruce Campbell, Director ofthe University's new Research School ofEnvironmental Studies.

Professor Campbell, who has built a careeron natural resource issues in Asia andAfrica, said that under the University-CIFOR arrangement scientists from bothinstitutions will work on themes related tobalancing conservation and development,and to improving human well-being from

natural resources.The Northern Territory has much tocontribute to and learn from the globalnetwork, given the dominance of savannasand woodlands here, and much of the landunder native title, Professor Campbell

bigBIG Picture ResearchThese are incredibly exciting times for the

Top End and many of the developments

are a great opportunity for the region to

mature beyond being a financially

dependent outpost.

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Darwin Archaeology: Aboriginal, Asian andEuropean Heritage of Australia's Top End.

Aboriginal, Asian and European Heritage ofAustralia's Top End.

The authors are former and current staffand postgraduate students of Charles

Darwin University, and the papers havebeen edited by CDU anthropologistsDr Patricia Bourke, Dr ClaytonFredericksen and Dr Sally Brockwell of theAustralian National University, Canberra.Dr Bourke said: The studies cover both'pre-historic' (before European or Asian

Subjects covered include:

Aboriginal settlement on AdelaideRiver earth mounds from about 4,000years ago to the late 1800s;

The Bayview Haven shell mound,destroyed in the 1990s by housingDevelopment, and other Aboriginalshell mounds and middens aroundDarwin Harbour and Hope Inlet;

Trish on MiddendDiggingup the

past

i

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Students at Charles Darwin University areusing computer facilities that are second tonone in the Northern Territory.

A new state-of-the-art $1 million LearningPrecinct on the Casuarina Campus

enables almost 90 students to study,research and compile assignments oncomputer at any one time.

The precinct has been packed almostevery day since it opened for business atthe start of the current university year, with

... a friendly, comfortable environment that is

conducive to learning. We recognise that

students learn in flexible ways and are proud that

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Director of Library, Information and AccessMs Ruth Quinn said the facilities wereequivalent to those offered by largeruniversities, including new facilitiesinstalled at the Universities of Newcastleand Wollongong.

Ms Quinn said the precinct has beendesigned to support 'flexible' learning,recognising not only the varying hours thatstudents need to study, especially mature-aged students, but also the fact that somany students these days study online ortake part in online lessons.

We also wanted to portray a friendly,comfortable environment that is conduciveto learning. We recognise that studentslearn in flexible ways and are proud that we

can give them, not just extra computers,but access to information support servicesand a friendly, safe area in which to study,she said.

The precinct includes a large, open-planarea for individual study and research; anexpress zone for quick catalogue and

information searches; a laptop lounge anda collaborative zone in which small groupsof students can work and study together.

For more information about CharlesDarwin University library services in Alice

Springs, Palmerston and at the Casuarinacampus please go tohttp://www.cdu.edu.au/library/

The library is available to staff, enrolledstudents, external students. Teachers inthe Northern Territory and members of thepublic may join for an annual fee.

of the art learning

C

state

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new frontierN e w f r o n t i e r f o r t r o p i c a l s t u d i e snew

frontiernewfrontier

nThe inaugural Director of CharlesDarwin University's new ResearchSchool of Environmental Studies

says a more integrated researchapproach is needed to account forthe multi-faceted nature of environ-mental issues in tropical NorthernAustralia and Southeast Asia.

A growing population, increasingdevelopment and global change intropical regions around the world isplacing ever increasing pressure on theenvironment, the School's Director,Professor Bruce Campbell, said.

Darwin is one of the few regions thatcombines easy access to the tropicsand the resources to supportresearch, together with a remarkablediversity of countries at its doorstep.It is a logical location for a new

research school focused on theenvironment.

While the new School has a postgrad-uate research focus on biodiversityand landscape science, waterresources, and policy and livelihoods,it emphasises that all three focusareas collaborate on projects intropical areas - particularly in northern

Australia and Southeast Asia.

Environmental problems are multi-dimensional and the only way toaddress them properly is by combiningstrong ecological science with an

understanding of the cultures,politics and economics of the peoplewho live in the places of impact, he

explained.

While Professor Campbell's continuinginvolvement with his previousemployer, the Centre for InternationalForestry Research in Indonesia, alsoconnects Charles Darwin to a globalprogram with work in 18 tropicalcountries, it was his work in Africa -where he was the Director of theInstitute of Environmental Studiesand Chair of Botany at the Universityof Zimbabwe - that convinced him ofthe importance of integratedresearch.

I started as an ecologist working for adecade in South Africa and Zimbabwebut came to realise that this discipline,

especially as practised in most univer-sities, had little to do with the realitiesof the problems in natural or agricul-tural systems, he said.

With this insight, Professor Campbellbroadened his study to focus on howpeople used their natural resources,how policies affected this and howeconomics affected the policies.

LEFT Director of the ResearchSchool for Environmental StudiesProfessor Bruce Campbell.

C

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The species, which is listed

as endangered under

Northern Territory legislation,

has been monitored since

the early 1990s. In that time,

there has been a decade of

decline. The Darwin Palm

population has collapsed at

a site on the Howard River

in response to wildfire

palmsBushfire threatto palms

Bushfires and feral animals arecontinuing to threaten an endangeredspecies of palm restricted to rainforestsnear Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Dave Liddle, research associate atCharles Darwin University's Key Centrefor Tropical Wildlife Management, saidthat in the NT, Darwin Palm(Ptychosperma) occurs in the wild in only

eight monsoon rainforest patches in theHoward River and Adelaide River catch-ments. Dr Liddle, who is also a WildlifeOfficer with the Department ofInfrastructure Planning and Environment,said the palm grows in the understorey ofspring-fed rainforest patches, has

Dr Liddle recently completed a majorstudy on the impact of fire on cycads and

he is continuing to explore the underlyingcauses for the changes.

Introduced buffalo, cattle and pigs havealso had an impact, although there arepositive signs of young palms survivingin some areas where feral animals have

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Charles Darwin University is playing animportant role in the development ofresearch and training programs in Papua,one of the world's last tropical rainforestwildernesses.

Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya,

Darwin's Key Centre for Tropical WildlifeManagement.

Dr Noske said Charles Darwin Universitystands to benefit considerably from anincrease in international profile as auniversity situated right beside a globally

Until recently, Papuan forests hadescaped the devastating destructiontypical of Indonesia's western provincesbut between 1993 and 1997, forest coverin Papua decreased by 10 per cent,mainly due to logging, plantationagriculture, mining and human settlement,

papuairds Dr Richard Noskebirds of

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Green ants - those much-maligned little

critters that Territorians love to hate - maysoon be responsible for increased profitsin the mango industry.

Scientists at Charles Darwin Universityhave developed techniques for usinggreen ants (also known as weaver ants)as biological control agents in tree crops,such as mango and cashew.

Preliminary results of research conductedon several mango orchards in the rural areashow a potential increase in production -and profit - for growers of about 70 per cent.

The news has enormous implications forthe mango industry, the most important

They annoy fruitpickers and for many

years growers have been doing everythingpossible to get rid of them. Now, however,we have discovered that this so-calledpest can actually help growers produce abetter product.

Dr Peng said ants not only irritatefruitpickers, but they secrete formic acidthat causes spots on the fruit.

However, our research has shown thatthis happens when different colonies ofants are present in the same area. Antsare territorial and will fight to protect theircolony from a rival colony.

The trick is to separate colonies from

Gree

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A research team from Charles DarwinUniversity, headed by Dr Martin Young,has won a $375,000 Territory Governmentgrant to undertake research into theeffects of gambling in the NorthernTerritory on behalf of the TerritoryGovernment.

It is the second grant to undertakeresearch into gambling awarded to DrYoung in the past four months. He is alsoconducting a three-year $87,000 researchproject into the impacts of commercialgambling on Indigenous communities innorthern Australia, announced last

November by the prestigious AustralianResearch Council.

The Territory Government grant is the firstto be awarded under a new gamblingresearch program.

The CDU team, from the School for Social

and Policy Research, was chosen from anumber of high-calibre applicants fromaround Australia.

Dr Young, a Professorial Research Fellow,is being assisted by Professor TonyBarnes and Associate Professor of

Educational Economics, IbtisamAbu-Duhou, all from the School for Socialand Policy Research, and Dr Mary Morris,Head of the School of Health Sciences.

The CDU team has joined forces withACIL Tasman, one of Australia's largesteconomic consulting practices, to under-

take the research. ACIL Tasman isrepresented by executive director JeffreyRae and associate consultant Dr PeterJohnson.

Dr Young joined Charles DarwinUniversity early last year and has

08700 0

$Consultancy not a gamble


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Charles Darwin University reported itsbest result in delivering VocationalEducation and Training courses in 2004,with particular success in identified skill

shortage areas and also in delivery toIndigenous clients.

Almost two and a half million studenthours were delivered in VET training atCharles Darwin University last year,Mr Bob Nixon, Director VET Quality and

He said it was particularly pleasing toreport a growth in identified skill shortageareas. A total of 233 apprentices studiedfor certificates in electrical trades including

airconditioning refrigeration; 77 appren-tices studied retail baking and commercialcookery, and 70 studied engineeringfabrication, Mr Nixon said.

Charles Darwin met its targets inimproving VET delivery in the skilled

Charles Darwin University Vice-ChancellorProfessor Helen Garnett said: This is awonderful result and many, many peoplehave worked very hard to achieve this. It

reflects a successful year of transition dur-ing which we brought together campusesfrom around the Territory to work together.

More than 3,300 Indigenous studentsacross the Northern Territory - almost25 per cent of the total students - took

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bestbes

In the northern region there were 2,114Indigenous students, representing aboutone in four of the student cohort.

Mr Reilly said: There have been stronglysubscribed supporting programs inIndigenous art, contemporary music, localgovernment and literacy and numeracy.Trades and primary industries, essentialservices and building and constructionhave also featured strongly.

V vetV

Charles Darwin met

its targets in improving

VET delivery in the

Vet results the best yetV e t r

e

s ul t

s

t h

e

b e s t y e

t

results

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t r a

Charles Darwin University lecturers will goto great lengths to bring VET programs tothe people ... in this case, to the remotecommunity of Lajamanu, about 600kmsouth-west of Katherine.

Lecturers from the University's KatherineCampus and Darwin campuses conducteda series of VET Weeks in Lajamanu earlierthis year and, as part of the program,students from Lajamanu stayed at the NTRural College in Katherine, studying horsehandling and undergoing additional ruralindustry training.

Katherine Campus Leader Bronte Coopersaid the formal training program broughtsignificant benefits to many young peoplewho had been at risk of losing direction intheir lives, after having dropped out ofmainstream education.

Mr Cooper said six or seven VET Weekswould be held in Lajamanu throughout theyear. Other courses planned includeCertificate I programs in Retail, Tourism,Hospitality, Conservation and LandManagement, Horticulture and the Arts.

It is anticipated the skills learnt by manyof the students will help the communityintroduce new business initiatives.

Mr Cooper said Louise Carey, a seniorteacher at the Lajamanu CommunityEducation Centre, had contacted him lastyear seeking VET training for the youth inthe community.

Ms Carey said the community was verykeen to implement a VET Week on aregular basis throughout the year andprovide young people with quality nationally


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Ron Talbot with his portrait of Eileen Kampakuta Brown

A Charles Darwin University art studentwho has only been painting for three yearsgained international recognition this yearwhen one of his portraits was exhibited atan internationally renowned gallery in the

Kluge-Ruhe has a great sense of historyand many influential patrons and I'maware I still have so much more to learn onmy artistic life journey, Ron said. To beexhibited at this highly respected, interna-

The inspiration for the painting was aphotograph of Eileen Kampakuta Brownreceiving her Order of Australia medal.

Ron said: I saw this aspiring, interesting

Artist on the world stage

33g


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It's a long way from San Diego,California to Yirrkala in Arnhem Land butthat's the journey Randin Graves has

made in his study of an Australian icon:the didgeridoo.

Randin Graves, a keen musician, is inArnhem Land on a year-long Fulbrightscholarship to gain a Master's degree bystudying the globalisation and commer-cialisation of the didgeridoo.

Mr Graves, 30, is conducting hisresearch with the School of AustralianIndigenous Knowledge Systems atCharles Darwin University. He is livingin Yirrkala, Northeast Arnhem Land, andworking in association with Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre.

300 didge fanatics turn up to play theinstrument at a festival in the Californiandesert every year.

The didgeridoo, or yidaki as it is known

to Yolngu people, has grown drasticallyin worldwide popularity over the pasttwo decades and is now found in manyvaried contexts far removed from itstraditional origins, Mr Graves said.

In a 1999 Yidaki Statement, Yolngudeclared their concern about globalisationand commercialisation of the instrument,and called for a new, more respectful

relationship between Aboriginal knowl-edge holders and outside didgeridooenthusiasts. As an American didgeridooplayer and recording artist, I am a productand promoter of that globalisation andcommercialisation.

I have initiated this project to opencommunication between Yolngu and theoutside 'didgeridoo scene', to collaboratewith Yolngu on projects that reflect andpromote their intentions and hopefullyinspire increased awareness andrespect among the outside didgeridooworld.

gdidgRidgy-didgAmericanR

Ridgy-didge

Ridgy-didgeAmerican

Ridgy-didgea m e r i c a n

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What we say about our children says a lotabout who we are, and the kind of societywe want. What is our vision for society andits members? What demands are we

imposing on children, and what does thissay about us?

Who is vulnerable in our society and whatdo we do to help them? How can ourchildren reach their potential in a changingworld?

Other speakers include Jenny Buckland,on children and the mass media, SteveZubrick and Sven Silburn, Ann Sansonand Jacqueline Goodnow, all leading

researchers in child developmental healthand wellbeing.

Imagining Childhood: Children, Cultureand Community will focus on the diverseexperiences of childhood across social andcultural contexts It will present recent work

Imagining Childhood: Children, Culture and Community

To be held at Araluen

Centre, Alice Springs, on20-22 September 2005

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The aim of the Charles Darwin Symposiadiscussions is to create stimulating andenriching debate which will enable peopleof differing perspectives, disciplines,

vocations and contexts to signpost policyand research issues relevant to imaginingand managing our future. It enablespeople to begin conversations anddiscussions they can then take to othercontexts, igniting actions and thoughtsthat extend the influence of ideas in

Dr Norman Swan chaired the symposiumwhich brought together an exiting array ofhealth professionals and specialistresearchers to engage practitioners, policy

makers and academics in discussion anddebate on current emerging health issuesaffecting our region.

Speakers included Mr Geoffrey 'Jacko'Angeles, Menzies School of HealthResearch (The Evolution of Indigenous

symposium20:20 Vision:

Facing health challenges over the next

20 years. Celebrating 20 years of

Menzies School of Health Research.

2 0 0 5charles darwin university

36

vents


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September 22-24 Charles Darwin Symposium Series:Imagining Childhood: Children, Culture and Our Community

September 25 World Solar Car Challenge starts

October 4-6 Australian Academy of Science Think Tank:Innovative Technology Solutions for Northern Australia

October 14 Graduation, Darwin

This list is a small selection of what's on at the Charles Darwin University.There are weekly seminars, visiting speakers, musical events, sporting events andorientation days (and evenings) for new students. Members of the public are welcomeon campus to attend events, visit the Info Shop just drop into the cafeteria and havelunch with our students and staff.

A full schedule of events, and details of those events, is available atwww.cdu.edu.au/whatson/events.html

ventsComing Events

CHALLENGE


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Y OURSELF N OW!Open your eyes and think freely.

There never has been a bettertime to change your world.

Charles Darwin University offers you a world of

choices and career path options.

Apply now and create your new world tomorrow.

Places are available in a range of Higher Educationcourses at all Charles Darwin University campusesfor mid-year enrolment. Enrolments for VocationalEducation and Training courses are continuous.

www.changeyourworld.com.au 1800 061 963 [email protected]


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CHALLENGE


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Y OURSELF N OW!Open your eyes and think freely.

There never has been a bettertime to change your world.

Charles Darwin University offers you a world of

choices and career path options.

Apply now and create your new world tomorrow.

Places are available in a range of Higher Educationcourses at all Charles Darwin University campusesfor mid-year enrolment. Enrolments for VocationalEducation and Training courses are continuous.

www.changeyourworld.com.au 1800 061 963 [email protected]

Vice Chancellor's comment 01New faces at Charles Darwin University 02Malu #3 online 04Saddling up 06Graduates part of an Alice tradition 08Higher Education cadetship forIndigenous students 10Prominent Territorians 11High praise for teachers 12Global role for educator 13Graduates succeeding in the Territory 14Liberating an icon 15Partnership in East Timor 16Big picture research 18Digging up the past 19

Origins is produced by Charles Darwin University's Corporate Communications section.Design and layout for this edition was undertaken by Sprout Creative and printed by Uniprint. Editorial contributions by Peter Hurt, Kasey Brunt,Scott Walker and Peter Cain, photography by Barry Ledwidge. Opinions and views expressed in this edition do not necessarily reflect those ofCharles Darwin University. Reproduction of any material appearing in this edition requires written permission from the editor,Peter Hurt on 08 8946 6019 or [email protected] August, 2005.

C o

n t en t s

State of the art learning 20New frontier for tropical studies 22Bushfire threat to palms 23Birds of Papua 24Green ants a mango marvel 25Consultancy not a gamble 26VET results the best yet 28Have VET will travel 30Alliance focus on bush tucker 31Artist on world stage 32Ridgy-didge American 33Charles Darwin UniversitySymposium Series 2005 34Coming Events 36

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