Southern Cross Matters

But if we stand back for a moment and reflect on our collective achievements, there can and should be a very considerable satisfaction at the progress we are making and I hope that this continues to embolden us and sustain our growing confidence. So please enjoy the content of this action packed 31st edition. I hope that you learn some new things, get to know more about some of your amazing colleagues and that through engaging with the pages that lie below, you feel an even deeper connection to your University and to the success that we are all delivering together.

Tyrone

“We have a profound belief that we can deliver world-class education and research right here in our region, and this year’s ranking result represents a strong affirmation of our focus on delivering against that vision,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin.

The Young University Rankings can be seen as reflecting the relative development of university systems. It compares institutions founded within the past 50 years and applies the same methodology as the World University Rankings (which examine core functions, impact and reputation) with recalibrated weightings.

“A young regional university placing so highly among some of the best in the world is something to be very proud of. We are small but we are mighty!” said Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mary Spongberg.

Australia has more than a dozen universities featured in The Young University Rankings. The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is highest among the Australians, ranked 11th, following the top ranked Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Paris Sciences et Letters, and third-ranked Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Interestingly, Times Higher Education notes that Asia is now home to almost half of the world’s young research universities, as the number of Asian universities in the list has nearly doubled in five years. The countries behind that geographical rise are Turkey, India and Iran.

“I am the Nursing Research Conjoint at Southern Cross University and Northern NSW Local Health District and I often have the privilege of discussing the provision of quality healthcare with colleagues and talking to patients and carers about their healthcare experiences. Delirium is a common yet preventable condition, and so with the support of academics, clinicians, consumers and carers, we designed and tested a multimedia Prevention & Early Delirium Identification Carer Toolkit (PREDICT),” said Associate Professor Aggar.

“PREDICT supports family carers to understand delirium and make sense of their predicament. Having gained knowledge about delirium, carers can partner with nurses to address risk and implement strategies to prevent and manage delirium.” 

The new research is a partnership with domestic and international universities, as well as with the Northern NSW Local Health District.

“Colleagues from University of the Sunshine Coast, Canberra and Sydney have also joined to support applications for funding to conduct a clinical trial at Hunter New England and Far West Local Health District, Canberra and Metro North Health Services. We are also planning a trial of PREDICT in residential aged care services in Saskatchewan, Canada.” 

PREDICT was available to carers via a QR code directing users to a website (a hard copy was also available). The easy-to-use interactive assessment tool ensured that a carer or loved one was able to determine whether a person was at risk of delirium or whether the person was likely to have delirium. The toolkit also provided valuable information that supports carers’ own wellbeing.

“Delirium is also distressing for those family, carers and friends supporting the person experiencing it. Carers who are familiar with the patient can often be the first to notice changes in behaviour or cognition that may indicate delirium. So, while it makes sense to partner with carers in the implementation of preventive and therapeutic delirium strategies, we also need to support carers' wellbeing,” affirmed Associate Professor Aggar.

“It’s very important to me that we educate clinicians to better recognise and identify carers, communicate respectfully and provide them with access to services and support that will improve their health and wellbeing. I believe that social prescribing holds immense potential in enhancing the support structure for carers. This involves non-medical sources of community support, that can holistically address their unique needs, and expand the opportunities available to them.” 

“We lost about 80% of our workforce. It was really tough,” Le said.

Then came a moment that proved to Le she has a voice, and an opportunity to use it.

“A job applicant opened up to me about how much she admired me after reading an article about my scholarship,” Le recalled. “The compliment made me uncomfortable, but then I thought how nice it was for someone to seek out a job because they recognised my values.”

Now, with mentorship from philanthropist Bonnie Boezeman AO, she is paying it forward, helping to remove barriers to leadership success for female colleagues.

One of Le’s initiatives was to push for job sharing opportunities at a senior level, to help women resume their healthcare leadership roles after maternity leave.

Bonnie applauds Le’s desire to support the wellbeing and retention of nurses.

“Sadly, the role of a nurse is hampered by financial constraints and an undervaluation of their skills and dedication,” Bonnie said.

“This restricts nurses to be able to afford higher learning and very few scholarships are on offer for nurses.

“But when they do have a chance to take on a Masters degree, they can facilitate to other nurses the desire to learn and take on more leadership roles,” she said.

Le believes that without her Masters she would not have stepped out of her comfort zone to accept the Acting Director of Nursing position.

“I really want to keep giving back,” Le said, “and to encourage nurses to put their hands up and to step up.”

As the now Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Mary works directly with the Vice-Chancellor to continually develop and improve executive and academic staff capability and implement the University’s strategic plan.

“Tyrone has amazing ambitions for the University, and it’s really important we bring staff along with those ambitions and make sure they have the capability to contribute to them. It’s through this lens that I work with our staff to bring strategy to reality,” she said. 

A key focus of the University’s strategy is to improve rankings. The recent announcement of our top 100 placing in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings is a positive indication that things are on the way up.    

“Southern Cross University is a small university, but it's becoming really mighty. It has been a matter of demonstrating how we are truly excellent, because I don’t think our rankings in the past have actually reflected that. That’s what my team have been doing and it’s great to see so much buy in from the University,” Professor Spongberg said.

“Rankings give a really good sense of where we are in terms of research and how we’ve improved. But rankings are not just about research. They are a critical factor in student recruitment, which is becoming more important every day. We know parents look at research rankings to determine the quality of a university, and around 40 per cent of students look at sustainability rankings when choosing where to go to study,” she said.

A rewarding part of Mary’s role is not only seeing academic staff kick goals in research and teaching, it is contributing to the regions in which we all live and work. 

“It has been transformative coming up to the Northern Rivers and working in this amazing place. It’s my belief that universities are public good institutions, and it’s been great to be able to put that aspiration into practice. Being in a position where we can support something like a major flood recovery and deliver research that makes the community safer is just amazing.” 

The new training hub will also facilitate integrated research and collaborative projects between Southern Cross Uni, TAFE NSW, Bond University, and Griffith University, fostering innovation and driving impactful research.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Education Impact), Ben Roche, said that the Alliance was perfectly placed to undertake research of local and national significance. 

“Being regionally located is a distinct advantage as we have direct access to our communities and what they need. We’re excited by the possibilities,” Mr Roche said.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Julie Jomeen, shares enthusiasm for what lies ahead for our students.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn in state-of-the-art new world-class facilities and to continue to support high quality care within our local communities. The new building offers many new opportunities for Southern Cross University.”

Keep an eye out for our students and researchers transforming healthcare at the new Tweed Valley Hospital!

“We’d like people to understand that the ERMF and WHS framework operate together. WHS (workplace health and safety) risk is very important but is just one of the risk types under the broader enterprise risk management framework,” Kazia said.

“I’ve worked in the risk management role for about 13 years.

“That said, the recent refresh and work on the new Enterprise Risk Management approach began mid to late 2022. 

“We hope to equip everyone with an appreciation and understanding of effective risk management and how it can help us all do our jobs better, achieve organisational objectives and make good decisions. 

“It’s about pursuing opportunities as well as managing risk – rather than a compliance or tick the box exercise or a roadblock.”

The new Risk Appetite Statement empowers decision making by providing a consistent understanding of the amount of risk the University is prepared to take to meet strategic objectives.  

Kazia is a Southern Cross law graduate and her legal studies have helped her consider all the different aspects and angles of risk. 

“Also, the ability to consider all of the available information to assist in making informed decisions or recommendations. Depending on the University’s risk appetite, the intention is not necessarily always to eliminate all risk,” she emphasises. 

All staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the risk appetite and consider how it applies to their role. The ERMF is now being rolled out to organisational units, complete with supporting  templates and resources. 

And if you recognise Kazia’s last name as part of Lismore history, you’d be right. 

“My husband’s family ran Lombardo’s Fruit Market (at Goonellabah) for 50 years. His parents worked seven days a week for much of their lives and managed to adapt and thrive despite all of the changes over the years and increased competition.” 

For further information or advice about the ERMF contact risk@scu.edu.au. 

“Funding education, research and advocacy that matters can be difficult from traditional sources. Initiatives like Giving Day can help the Centre take its innovative work to the next level and help it focus on things that matter to patients, not just funders. By highlighting the stories of impact that come from the Centre during our Giving Day, we can work with our generous supporters to build, solidify and amplify a program of work that really matters to people,” said Southern Cross Professor Jon Wardle, who is the NCNM’s Foundation Director and also Maurice Blackmore Chair of Naturopathic Medicine. 

The goal of the Campaign is to raise $100,000 to help the NCNM stay at the forefront of integrative healthcare solutions.

"What drives us at the Centre is that we change the conversation on health in a way that really puts the person at the centre of their treatment journey. We believe in combining the wisdom of traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science to develop a truly accessible and integrative approach that offers the best outcome for patients," affirmed Professor Wardle.

Since starting the Centre in 2020, the team has grown to over 35 world-leading educators and researchers who have helped to deliver upon a number of firsts. These include:

• Development of the world’s first graduate entry program in naturopathic medicine, allowing medical practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and allied health workers an accelerated pathway to naturopathic qualification.
• Development of Australia’s first accredited programs in lifestyle medicine and integrative medicine, which are recognised not only in Australia, but also offer fellowship pathways in the US and Canada.
• The creation of one of the largest clinical trials units in regional Australia – which has overseen Australia’s largest medicinal cannabis and psychedelic trials.
• Contributed to the expansion of integrative health into new areas of care – for example, working with the Defence Health Foundation to deliver Australia’s first-ever trial of integrative health for veterans.
• Development of Australia’s first Indigenous-led program of research on First Nations medicines.
• Development of one of Australia’s largest natural products-focused research clusters, Harvest to Health, which conducts natural products education, research and advocacy from seed to shelf.

These milestones have been effectively achieved thanks to the generous support of donors, and ongoing donations are essential to the Centre’s work in growing and developing integrative health. 

Altruistic donations from individuals and organisations can build, amplify and solidify the potential of innovative integrative health solutions in improving people’s lives.  

Please support the Centre’s Giving Campaign here.

“However, I am incredibly fortunate to have an excellent mentor and boss – Workplace Relations Director, Brendan Pearce – to influence me and I feel privileged for the recognition.”

The ‘Rising Star’ accolade is thoroughly deserved, according to Brendan, who praised Keely for embodying Southern Cross values.

“Keely doesn’t just come to work to do her job,” Brendan said, “she shows up each day eager to learn and improve. With that attitude, I am sure she will go a long way.”

“We’ve always known Keely as a hard worker with a strong focus on career development and improvement,” he said.

As evidence, prior to joining Southern Cross in early 2023, the keen lawyer added a ‘Space Law’ qualification to her already impressive resume, and still juggles her work with local rocket launching company, Gilmour Space Technologies.

“The qualification enabled me to expand my knowledge base and gain an appreciation for the incredible space industry,” Keely said.

Her commitment to further education goes beyond space, law and human resources. In what little spare time she has, Keely is undertaking a Diploma of Leadership and Management, and studying to become a celebrant!

“Initially, I saw the celebrancy course as an opportunity to develop my public speaking skills, but now I am excited to make a special connection with people that has such a positive impact on their lives,” she said.

“It’s also a pretty unique wedding gift that I already have two tentative bookings for friends' weddings!”

It’s clear not even the sky is the limit for this curious and motivated rising star who has her feet firmly planted on the ground. 

“Whatever your role, you must always have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn,” Keely said, “and most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Congratulations Keely!