Southern Cross Matters

This week, on Friday, I will have the privilege of participating in two events that I think can best be understood through the lens of our values. During the early part of the afternoon, I will join together with a group of colleagues, friends and family members of the late Emeritus Professor Stephen Myers, to reflect on his life, impact and legacy. Though this event will be tinged with sadness, and no doubt more than a few wry reminiscences, it will be above all an evocation of caring. We will pause to come together, to reflect, to remember, to mark because to honour those who built the legacy that we now further build upon is consistent in a very deep way with our values and character as a University.
 
Later in the afternoon, in a different part of our beautiful Lismore campus, I will have the privilege of participating in a formal opening event for our Southern Cross University Bee Research and Extension Lab. Here too, our values will be at play. When the time finally came that it became evident that Varroa mites which had for so long been held at bay were at large in our environment and unable to be wholly contained, many reliant on bees for their livelihoods, including the many parts of our agricultural industry reliant on healthy bees for pollination wondered out aloud….who will step up to this challenge? Well, the answer is, we have! While this important work is led by our amazing colleague Dr Cooper Schouten, I like to think of what is being accomplished under his guidance as a manifestation of our willingness to take on bold challenges so that we can, as in our statement of purpose, drive real impact. 
 
For each of you, I hope that there are so many moments every week in which you can in a very direct way connect with our purpose and values, and that reading the pages of Southern Cross Matters both informs you and catalyses a sense of how important these are for us as a University – both now, and as we intend to be in our future.

Warmest wishes,

Tyrone

Of note was the cohort of Master of Business Administration graduates. This course has seen the second-highest number of graduates from a single course outside the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood), which has seen a surge in enrolments over the past year. 

Master of Business Administration Course Coordinator Dr Owen Hogan said the course remains competitive despite a decrease in demand domestically, international student caps and an oversaturation of MBAs in the market. 

“Southern Cross has one of the most highly recognised online MBAs domestically. We have a good reputation in market for developing emerging leaders and are good value for money,” Dr Hogan said. 

“We also see good graduate outcomes, high student satisfaction rates and high teacher satisfaction.” 

The degree will see a refresh in 2026 to further drive demand.  

A special congratulations to Enquiry and Conversion Officer, Mrisha Upadhyay, for graduating with a Master of Information Technology! 

Our very own bee doctor, Dr Cooper Schouten, is leading the new venture. “The Bee Lab will conduct applied research to keep beekeepers in business and develop a community of practice, so that our industry has more opportunities to learn from one another, from commercial beekeepers, extension agents and researchers. 

“Together we can have the widest reach and benefit from the range of input such a community can provide,” he said.

The apiary is also home to the SCU Bee Club for staff, students and the general public who want to learn more about the University’s research, as well as the art and science of beekeeping.

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As a trained nutritionist and Truwulway woman from Lutruwita (Tasmania), Dr Gall brought together a governance panel of First Nations peoples with expertise in health and community care and lived experience of eating disorders, to co-design the companion document for the National Eating Disorders Strategy.

“Now that the initial companion document has been co-created, grounded on literature and the collective view of the First Nations governance panel, we are happy with that. Next, we will work on contextual translations of the policy for specific health disciplines, First Nations population sub-groups and by geographic regions,” Dr Gall said.

The cover artwork of the policy companion document ‘Guidance and Protection’ was created by Zyana Gall and includes a story explaining the cultural and symbolic meaning behind each element of the illustration. 

She said the degree offers exciting opportunities for students interested in careers in pathology or forensic laboratories, where employment prospects remain strong for skilled professionals.

“To the south, the next closest university offering a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science is in Wagga Wagga, so there is a need for skilled professionals in this area, especially in the Northern NSW and Gold Coast areas,” said Dr Guo, who was also voted winner of the Faculty Student Experience award, Faculty Team award, and previously the Faculty’s Make-You-Smile People’s Choice award for her warm and personable style.

“Medical Laboratory Science is a different degree to Biomedical Science, as it is a professional specialisation, working in diagnostic settings, primarily laboratories, with human or animal samples. Our degree has a strong focus on developing practical skills, with more than 560 hours of professional placement, and will be taught in our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at the Southern Cross Gold Coast campus,” Dr Guo said.

“To be part of these students’ journeys from the very beginning, where we get to see them build their confidence and flourish in professional health settings and in their interpersonal skills, is a highlight for me. We play a crucial role in curriculum design and transformation, in making it enjoyable and rewarding for students. This directly impacts student learning, motivation, engagement and success from their first term onwards.”

Dr Guo and the wider team, including Course Coordinator Dr Karlah Norkunas, have received commendations and citations from the Vice-Chancellor and the Centre for Teaching and Learning for their transformative curriculum design and implementation.

Dr Norkunas, who has worked at multiple universities, said the Southern Cross difference was lecturers who truly care about students and their success.

“There’s a huge focus on the students and how we’re approaching pedagogy – teaching students how to learn rather than just ticking boxes and getting things done.”

Professor Kirsten Benkendorff said the mountains of rubbish were at first overwhelming. 
"But it’s amazing what can be accomplished with great teamwork," she said.

Southern Cross students worked together with Indonesian students to collect scientific data, including assessments of seagrass around Aborek Island. The trip included a visit to the Remu River, where they observed local waste management issues. This was a vital opportunity to witness first-hand the challenges faced by the region, including the breakdown of old boats in the river. 

The students also met with the provincial governor of West Papua and attended a talk hosted by the Remu River School, an inspiring initiative working to educate the local community and support river clean-up efforts. 

This New Colombo Plan exchange demonstrated the power of collaboration in tackling global challenges and fostering a brighter, more sustainable future.

“My research helped support the implementation of community nurse bereavement services. It was at this time I realised the importance of clinical services research to improve patient and family care. I went on to do my PhD investigating carers of older frail adults and am proud that this work supported the recommendations to the Productivity Commission Inquiry ‘Caring for Older Australians’, the National Carer Recognition Framework and the introduction of the Carer Recognition Act and the release of a National Carers Strategy,” Associate Professor Aggar said.

Now, as Conjoint Associate Professor of Nursing at Southern Cross University and Northern NSW Local Health District, Christina leads nursing clinical services research across 12 hospitals and four multi-purpose sites. This year she achieved her biggest milestone to date: the Delirium ID toolkit, which has secured a $1.3 million National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant.

“I think this is the dream of every researcher. To lead a team of like-minded people who are passionate about making a difference to patient care and family experiences. The NHMRC grant will enable our team to collaborate with family carers in the prevention of delirium.”