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Students add drama to anti-smoke day
Drama student Bernadette Feldman (left) and Susan Regan made their message clear for World No Tobacco Day last month.
and the sustained incidence of smoking in young women.
With a team from the QUT drama program, they pre- sented a polished 20-minute piece of street theatre for a special launch in the Queen Street Mall on 31 May. The players targeted the serious issues of passive smoking
Drama lecturers Ms Christine Hoepper and Mr Steve Capelin joined I 0 third-year drama teaching students in the performance.
The event was staged in conjunction with the state health and education departments, the Asthma Founda- tion, Drug Arm and the Queensland Cancer Fund.
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QUT researchers have given Brisbane police high marks for their food intake but say 40 percent drink too much.
The police service came under scrutiny in a project funded by the National Better Health Program.
QUT's Ms Trudy Williams and Ms Anita Cochrane carried out the re- search.
In 1988 alone nutrition-related health problems cost the country an estimated $6 billion, Ms Williams said.
The research project, a joint opera- tion between the state health depart- ment and QUT's School of Public Health is looking at the nutrition knowledge of male, blue collar work- ers to find the most effective ways "to improve the attitudes, habits and be- haviour of the target population".
Ms Williams said male blue collar workers were chosen because they were identified as being at risk of
specific lifestyle diseases such as high cholesterol levels and hypertension.
Although police are not categorised as blue collar workers they played an important role in the overall project, helping researchers structure and re- fine their survey technique.
"We needed a group that was pre- dominantly male and easy to access to check for ambiguities in our ques- tions," said Ms Williams.
Research revealed the police had not only a high level of nutritional knowledge but a commitment to healthy eating.
They were less committed to healthy drinking.
Fifty percent chose lean meat, trimmed the fat from meat before cooking and did not eat the skin on chicken but did not know the recom- mended maximum for alcohol con- sumption.
Forty percent drank more than the
daily maximum of four standard drinks.
Only 14 percent denied drinking alcohol, Ms Williams said.
Eighty-four percent of police sur- veyed said they did not smoke (this figure includes reformed smokers).
Fewer than 10 percent drank soft drinks.
One in two walked daily. But 70 percent believed that taking vitamin supplements would make up for a bad diet, she said.
As part of the research, changes to worksite canteen menus have been made. Printed material promoting good nutrition has also been put on display at worksites.
As the project progresses other tar- get groups will be approached in- cluding "disadvantaged" populations with little control over sources of food and nutrition, such as those living in isolated communities or in institutions.
OUT Central Administration 2 George Street Brisbane 4000 Telephone {07) 864 2111
QUT gambling policy expert Ms Jan McMillen has been appointed to the Machine Gaming Commission to oversee the introduction and operation of poker machines in Queensland. Ms McMillen, a lecturer in the School of Economics and Public Policy, was appointed on the strength of her exten- sive research into the Australian gambling industry since 1983.
State Treasurer Mr Keith De Lacy announced the five-member commis- sion on 23 May as part of the State Government's attempt to establish a squeaky-clean poker machine indus- try.
The commission will review the applications of those seeking to be- come licenced suppliers of poker ma- chines in Queensland.
It will also examine applications from hotels and clubs wishing to be- come licenced operators.
Ms McMillen said a vital role of the commission would be to investigate the personal and commercial integrity of applicants- a role necessary to avoid the well-documented corruption of past gaming practices, particularly in NSW.
"Another important issue is the fact that the commission will be account- able. A report will be published after
12 months," she said.
"The public will have a way of seeing that the Commission's moni- lL>ring proce% is done properly."
The State Government introduced poker machine legislation in April and the first machines are expected to be operating in some clubs and hotels by October or November this year.
According to some estimates, the
"pokies" will earn about $90 million in government revenue in the first year of operation. Of that, $36 million is earmarked for sport and $18 million for charity.
But Ms McMillen said this revenue would depend upon the number of machines introduced, where they were located and how well they were ac- cepted by the public.
She said Queensland was not likely to go down the same road as NSW which today boasts a total of 53 000 poker machines in clubs and hotels and a further 9000 draw poker video games.
"Poker machines were introduced in NSW when there wasn't even TAB.
There will be much more competition from other gambling outlets in Queensland," she said.
Ms McMillen tips the machine manufacturers to be big winners in the forthcoming "pokie" boom.
"This opens a whole new opportu-
nity for manufacturing in states like Victoria and Queensland," she said.
Having also been appointed to the new interim Victorian Gaming Com- mission, Ms McMillen is in a unique position - overseeing the implemen- tation of profound policy changes in the two Australian states which, his- torically, have been most morally op- posed to poker machines.
"Queensland has established a very good regulatory structure. It has taken a very cautious approach," she said.
"Victoria is basing its draft legisla- tion on Queensland's. The other states are waiting to see how it works."
Poker machines were introduced in NSW in 1956 and in ACT clubs and in the two casinos in the Northern Ter- ritory in the 1970s.
"In these states, poker machines have given a major revenue boost to the gambling industry. They are real money spinners."
Ms McMillen said the current gam- bling industry boom was linked to the recession. State governments were also under increasing pressure to rely less on federal government funds and to encourage regional development and job creation, she said.
Her doctoral thesis. due to be sub- mitted this year, argues that the great waves of gambling industry growth in the early 1970s, 1980s and now 1990s coincide with national economic re- cession.
"Gambling is a very popular option for state governments. People don't see it as a painful form of tax," she said.
Despite a historic opposition to ca- sinos, Australia's eight casinos are ex- pected to double by 1995, set to rake in an estimated gross turnover of $10 billion a year.
Victoria and NSW, which have both staunchly opposed the introduction of casinos, are about to develop two each.
Queensland is set to have two more to be located in Brisbane and Cairns.
Ms McMillen was foundation president of the National Association of Gambling Studies in 1985. She is also on the Advisory Board of the In- ternational Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming based in Nevada.
Eig ht new cou rses for 1992
QUT will introduce eight new courses in 1992, mostly at graduate level. Six other programs will be re- structured for improved flexibility.
The new courses are a bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering, honours degrees in Business (Com- munication, Management) and in Ap- plied Science (Chemistry, Maths, Medical, Physics), and master degrees in Arts (Visual Arts) and in Law (Re- search and Thesis).
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• debate page 6
The Graduate Diploma in Educa- tion (Curriculum) replaces the existing, specialist graduate diplomas and the Master of Education replaces two ex- isting specialist masters. A Landscape Architecture strand has been added to the Master of Applied Science (Built Environment) and a Graduate Diploma in Urban Design gives an alternative exit point from an existing masters program. The Business Degree will also be restructured. See story page 4,
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Registered by Australia Post- Publication No. QBF 4778
Vice-Chancellor's comment
Educational Profile must be realistic
QUT must submit an Educational Profile to the Federal Government by the end of June for funding for the 1991-94 triennium. DEET officers will negotiate our bids for teaching, research, capital and equity funding in September/October.
QUT has some exciting plans but our submission must balance the expectations of faculties with the need to be seen to be realistic and responsible in requests. Given Australia's current financial position, competition between universities for limited growth funds will be fierce. In particular universities which submit "ambit" claims will get a cool reception from the Commonwealth.
At this stage, I can say that QUT initiatives will include a significant expansion of postgraduate programs, and capital developments including two major buildings on Kelvin Grove campus (one for the Acad- emy of the Arts) and preliminary work on Sippy Downs campus on the Sunshine Coast.
The university's projected enrolment growth rate of just over four percent per annum, cited in my recent paper on con- text and issues for planning, will not keep pace with growth in new applicants, let alone previously unsuccessful applicants.
The issue of unmet demand for univer- sity places in Queensland will be ad- dressed in QUT's funding submission.
Plans which are part of the submission must be well researched. Initiatives which are not well documented will not be sup- ported by the Commonwealth in this competitive environment.
Professor Dennis Gibson
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Queensland - A State for the Arts. See story page 3.
Stimson fill s u rban studies chair ~~ student say ... ''
Brisbane Airport could become the nation's second busiest in passenger and freight use early next century says new Chair in Urban Studies Professor Bob Stimson.
The Chair in Urban Studies at QUT is the first of its kind in Australia. It is fully-sponsored by the Brisbane City Council at an annual cost of $100 000.
Professor Stimson took up his five- year post on 20 May. He says the land around the airport and the Brisbane port area represent the city's greatest resource for long-term economic de- velopment.
"Neither area is land locked. Popu- lation growth will naturally enhance economic development" Professor Stimson said.
"But their potential relate to a fu- ture orientation to the Pacific Rim and its trade and tourism activites."
With careful planning, he says the Brisbane ports area could become the hub of a major economic boost in transport, communication, tourist and distribution industries for the Brisbane region and the state.
The Brisbane sea port needs to be linked to a national rail network and it is crucial that the new international airport is "fast tracked".
Professor Stimson is project direc- tor of The Brisbane Plan: A City Strategy and the former director of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies. He strongly supports a multi-disci- plinary approach to address major ur- ban development issues.
Professor Stimson
"The great challenge will be to maintain the quality of life that attracts people to Queensland while facilitat- ing its economic development poten- tial," he said.
"To address growth management properly will not only involve the tra- ditional disciplines of town planning, engineering and built environment.
"It should also include business,
law, economics, environmental sci- ences, human resource management and politics."
In the light of such a multi-discipli- nary direction, the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering has ap- pointed Professor Stimson to direct a proposed Institute of Land, Environ- ment and Development.
Yet to be considered for university approval, the joint-faculty proposal has received approval from the faculties
Letter to the editor
KP student is fed up
I am a student at Kedron Park cam- pus and I am fed up with the deroga- tory attitudes adopted to the non- Gardens Point campuses of QUT. The amalgamation is seen by many Gar- dens Point people (as evidenced by student comments in Inside QUT, 1 May 1991) as a lowering of stand- ards.
In my opinion, the Kedron Park campus is a mighty little college, do- ing its job well under some difficult circumstances, and I much preferred it when it was part of BCAE.
I have heard that Kedron Park nearly amalgamated with the University of Queensland, St Lucia. In my opinion, this would have been preferable. At least then we would have had the prestige of being allied to a REAL university.
I also think that Inside QUT should be renamed Inside QUT - except Kedron Park campus as we are nearly always ignored. In the edition of I May 1991, I could not find the tiniest snip- Page 2 INSIDE QUT, 3 June 1991
pet relating to this campus. Even if you made up some news, it would be better than ignoring us completely!
Colleen Plastow (Ms)
Bachelor of Arts, the University of Queensland
Almost-Graduate Diploma of Business (Administration)
Kedron Park
It is editorial policy not to separate campuses when referring to schools or departments in Inside QUT.
Campuses are named in the course of making stories complete when reporting events. Inside QUT has worked consistently since amalga- mation to promote unity and the concept of one QUT.
In Student Say in our 16 May edi- tion, a student from each campus, including Kedron Park, was inter- viewed. News tips are sought from all campuses. We would welcome more tips from Kedron Park. - Editor
of built environment and engineering, business, education and law.
Professor Stimson said Brisbane's role in urban consolidation emerged as a vital issue during the past year he worked as project director of the Bris- bane Plan.
Along with many commentators, he stresses increased housing density is a major imperative as is traffic and transport planning and management.
New housing estates need to achieve up to 40 percent more density. Protec- tion of high quality natural environ- ments and the establishment of natu- ral area networks was also vital.
Urban development could be !Jtter and could avoid the ad hoc approach of the past if coordinated and directed in both time and space.
The Brisbane Plan, an initiative of the former Brisbane City Council to develop a strategic guide for the next 20 years, was circulated in draft form to the public in February. A final strategy plan will be presented to the Lord Mayor Alderman Jim Soorley in August.
A major task within Professor Stimson's new position will be to de- velop improved links between QUT and government departments working in the urban development and man- agement field.
Professor Stimson, a high school teacher in the 1960s, completed a doc- torate thesis on social geography through Flinders University in Ad- elaide in 1978.
He also holds a Bachelor of Letters (Geography) and a Bachelor of Arts (Geography), both from the Univer- sity of New England in Armidale.
After a number of academic posts in national and overseas universities, his most recent position was Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Manage- ment at the University of Canberra, formerly the Canberra College of Ad- vanced Education. He has published extensively and lists housing policy, public policy evaluation and Pacific Rim regional development as long- standing research interests.
The Chair in Urban Studies was first launched last year by the Atkinson administration.
Retained by the new Soorley coun- cil, it is the third fully-sponsored chair at QUT.
- - - Correction - - -
In the last issue of Inside QUT we reported that Ms Jan Hannant won the Outstanding Graduate of the Year award.
We said the award was presented by the QUT Alumni but failed to mention QUT's Convocation.
The award is, in fact, presented an- nually by the Alumni and Convocation as a joint project.
'No' to military service option
The Federal Government last month announced a proposal to encourage school-leavers to undergo 12 months full-time army reserve training before starting tertiary education.
Under the proposed scheme students would be eligible for 50 days tax-free pay for an ensuing four to five years of study.
Inside QUT asked students views on such a program and how they felt about the prospect of military service.
Brett Campbell (right) 18, Bach- elor of Applied Science (Surveying), Gardens Point.
"I don't think the money would be a big enough incentive to become a part of the military.
It certainly doesn't appeal to me because my career is the most impor- tant thing.
As an alternative to the unemployed maybe it would be viable but I believe people should do things that appeal to them.
I also think students would prefer to find some other way."
Rick Kerswill (right) 28, Bachelor of Business (Accountancy), Kedron Park.
''I'm in the army reserve but I don't think it would be a good idea.
People going to university are totally different to people who join the army.
The army is a total commitment.
In the army you're not allowed to think for yourself and people here have got to think for themselves.
So if this was to be introduced I think it would lower the standard of the army."
Kylie Burke (left) 23, Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), Kelvin Grove.
"I don't agree with the whole con- cept of the army.
I can see how some people would be interested because when it comes down to money there are some who would do just about anything.
But I think it is definitely a moral question and it wouldn't matter how desperate I was.
I still wouldn't go against my feel- ings.
A lot of young people find the thought of war abhorrent."
Cathy Waugh (left) 18, Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood), Carseldine.
"I don't think it would be a very popular move, perhaps some of the male students would feel differently, but I would say the majority of stu- dents would not look favourably on the idea. I guess the remnants of the Gulf Crisis are still fresh in our minds as well - and nobody likes war and would wish to be associated with the prospect of it in any way."
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Children favour helmet law Moves by Goss
On 1 July it will become compul- sory in Queensland for bicyclists to wear safety helmets, a new law ap- proved of by the children of Dalby, on the Darling Downs.
The children, in action research conducted by QUT's Communica- tion Centre, reported that making helmets law was the only way to convince their peers to wear them.
They were involved in the re- search survey in the latter half of 1989, supervised by the centre's di- rector and acting head of the School of Communication and Organisa- tional Studies, Associate Professor Tony Stevenson. Research officer, Ms June Lennie, helped him with the analysis.
It was part of a pilot study of an average-sized Queensland country town for the Queensland Health Department's Health 2000 cam- paign to promote community-based health programs.
The purpose of action research is to encourage communities to come up with solutions for their own problems.
"The strategies are developed by the people for the people," said Professor Stevenson.
"If people develop their own so-
lutions they are more inclined to adopt them."
Professor Stevenson and Ms Lennie supervised workshops with groups of students in the Year 6 to Year 12 (10 to 16-year-old) range.
The students were encouraged to become active participants in the research and to develop practical strategies to increase helmet wear- ing.
An earlier survey by communica- tions lecturer, Ms Pam Byde, had identified poor design and peer group derision as the main barriers to helmet wearing.
Professor Stevenson said it was interesting the solution finally agreed upon by the children mir- rored that arrived at independently
Youngster Bella Lund happy to wear her bicycle helmet.
by road safety authorities.
The project demonstrated that action research methods could be successfully used to involve and em- power children in making appro- priate decisions about health-related behaviours.
"The more traditional research methods did not highlight the solution of making helmet wearing compulsory," said Professor Stevenson.
as action research that got to the truth."
Romance replaces realism in the lives of teenage girls
Teachers can use popular soaps such as Home and A way and Neigh- bours to help teenage girls broaden .the range of life options open to
them.
Teenage girls are still hooked on
"living happily ever after". But they would be better off "living independ- ently ever after" says QUT sociology of education lecturer, Dr Sandra Taylor.
She advises against devaluing or ridiculing romantic fiction. It is better used to help teenage girls work through issues, she says.
Dr Taylor, who specialises in gen- der, and education and policy studies, has been studying the effects on teen- age girls of popular soaps and books such as the Dolly fiction series.
Her work has culminated in the book Fashioning the Feminine: Girls, Popular Culture and Schooling co- authored by James Cook University academic Dr Pam Gilbert and pub- lished by Allen & Unwin.
Research included interviewing girls from migrant backgrounds at a Melbourne all-girls high school, and girls at working class and middle class high schools in Brisbane.
Her findings showed that despite 15 years of the "feminist revolution" girls still left school with fewer options than boys.
They were more likely to end up with no qualifications or skills, and there were still gender inequities in the labour market with women earn- ing on average 79 percent of male earnings.
A growing number of women were dependent on welfare payments.
"While teenage romance novels have become more modem and less stereotyped the happy ending is alive and well," said Dr Taylor.
"The limits and constraints are still there. Women are still portrayed as dependent on men."
Dr Taylor said what teenage girls read or viewed was crucial because their research showed that, even though girls knew the situations portrayed were not realistic, they used teen romances to tell them how to model themselves and how to act on dates.
"Girls' ideas about what it is to be a woman are still very limited," said Dr Taylor.
"The ideas they have are at a very deeply held personal level and are not easy to shake off.
"Teenage years are crucial because that is when life choices are being made. That is why it is important to broaden the repertoire available
Dr Sandra Taylor
to them."
Dr Taylor said she believed teach- ers could play an important part in broadening the repertoire, particularly by helping teenagers come to their own conclusion about issues.
They could discuss the strict story guidelines laid down by publishers.
The marketing of popular fiction should be studied so girls could dis- cover for themselves that it was a commercial enterprise.
Students could write their own ro- mantic novels or soaps to develop an understanding of their construction.
They could develop their own materi- als and deal with issues relevant to their own lives.
Literature which actively showed a range of options also could replace more gender restrictive materials.
government to assist movies
The Queensland Government is determined to establish a viable film and television industry in the state, says the head of QUT's School of Media and Journalism Professor Bruce Molloy.
He was commenting on the recently released state government arts com- mittee report Queensland: A State for the Arts.
"It seems to me that the state gov- emment has decided that they want to have a film and television industry in Queensland," Professor Molloy said.
"The arts report does provide a very basic framework for this sort of devel- opment."
The report looked at providing more support for the Queensland Film De- velopment Office.
"The QFDO obviously needs a lot more support and high level staffing and more funding, but I don't think the Queensland Government is ever going to fund film extensively," he said.
"I think they will try to provide in-
centives to people to make Queens- land films or to make films in Queensland. They will provide some sort of facilitating structure to help get those productions organised, but they're not going to invest heavily, I think, in film in Queensland and per- haps they should not either."
He said he believed the state gov- ernment would help make it easier for Queensland projects to gain Film Fi- nance Commission (FFC) funding.
He estimated that only six percent of FFC funding had found its way to Queensland in the past two years. The greater proportion had gone to NSW and Victoria.
"There has not been a proportionate amount for Queensland and we've got to try and tum that around," Professor Molloy said.
He said there were three ways in which Queensland could address the
issu~.
• Education: "If you don't produce the people, who will be able to take an active role in producing films in Queensland?"
• Attract experienced producers to Queensland: "There are things start- ing to happen ... but we need people who have the experience to mount productions and involve local people who have the skills and expertise but don't have the experience, so that they do get an insight into how to do it."
• Introduce policies designed to at- tract overseas capital and overseas productions: "This would ensure a continuity of production and a conti- nuity of employment, because if these things happen then everything else falls into place."
If people came to Queensland to work in the industry it would attract the infrastructure, such as laboratories and post-production and special
Professor Bruce Molloy effects facilities.
All the things needed to create a viable industry would come once the first step had been properly taken.
"It's the chicken and the egg,"
Professor Molloy said.
"If you don't have the infrastruc- ture you won't get the production, and the production won't come here without the infrastructure.
"We have to find some way of breaking the nexus between the two and getting something started so that the rest will be attracted."
The arts report provided a basic plan for making that intervention. Its sug- gestion relating to the Pacific Film and Television Complex (PFTC)was a very significant innovation.
The PFTC working group, in which the QFDO is involved, grew out of Queensland's ill-fated bid for the pro- posed Multi-Function Polis.
The working group consists of a range of people from all areas of the film and television industry.
It aims to develop Queensland as a major centre for film and television production, with particular emphasis on the early establishment of support infrastructure.
The arts report recommends that the state government support the estab- lishment of a film processing labora- tory in Queensland.
Professor Molloy has suggested that a major post-production/editing suite be considered before a laboratory.
He said the PTFC working group was aiming at the Japanese market because the Japanese had abundant disposable income and already had considerable real estate holdings in Queensland.
"They also need production quality that Australian technicians and film- makers are capable of and is not seen often in Japanese film or television,"
he said.
"We think there are possibilities in terms of attracting Japanese produc- tion to Queensland and setting up some sort of ongoing reciprocal relationship.
"I hope it will be extended into ex- changes of film-makers, cultural ex- changes and student exchanges."
Campus quickies
Buildings and Grounds section held an "invitation only" morning tea on 15 May to mark its consolidation at Kelvin Grove. But on the day, Buildings and Grounds manager Ron Goward and some invitees ended up having morning tea at Gardens Point at a more important meeting.
0 0 0
Part of his crusade to make the world's largest fruit crop resistant to viruses, QUT's Associate Professor Jim Dale just returned from Egypt. The world's largest fruit crop is the humble banana, not the date, but professor Dale was preoccupied with the latter.
0 0 0
Someone in the Law Faculty should apply for a grant to study Scot- tish influence on the law. Fifteen percent of staff in the law course have a surname beginning with Mac or Me!
0 0 0
Here's one for the funny names file. Accounts Payable has a staffer by the appropriate name of Steve Cash.
0 0 0
A QUT student must have been impressed when his lost bag including lecture notes and valuables was personally delivered to the Computing Science School at Gardens Point on 27 May by a young policeman.
Page 3 INSIDE OUT, 3 June 1991
QUT graduates to~ choice for real-world employment
QUT is the state's most popular ter- tiary institution with prospective em- ployers and executive recruitment agencies.
A recent survey found a majority of employers preferred graduates from QUT and the University of Queens- land (UQ).
But QUT was preferred by 40 per- cent of businesses against 33 percent who preferred UQ.
The survey was conducted by Coopers and Lybrand for the com- merce journal Business Queensland.
Results were published in a special report on education and employment.
The report said its conclusions were based on a survey of 200 businesses and a series of in-depth interviews with major executive recruitment agencies in Brisbane.
The survey's objectives were to de- termine:
• overall attitudes of employers to the performance of tertiary education in- stitutions
• perceptions of the attributes and de- ficiencies of graduates by employers
• employer preferred tertiary institu- tions for graduates entering their in- dustry from executive recruitment agencies
• numbers of applicants applying for executive positions; current salary re- quirements; age preferences; trends in interstate applications for executive positions.
Coopers and Lybrand divided the education and employment section of their survey into two parts - tertiary education perceptions and executive selection.
They found that when questioned about the performance of tertiary in- stitutions Queensland businesses con- sidered they were performing only just up to standard in equiping graduates for the work place.
But QUT was the clear overall win- ner as the preferred tertiary institution in Queensland.
James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland both attracted six percent of the total.
Griffith University was preferred by five percent of businesses.
The wide-ranging survey also looked at specfic job areas, such as accounting. Accountants were in high demand in 1990 but the industry has slowed, resulting now in too many accountants chasing too few jobs.
Coopers and Lybrand found that in the present economic climate compa- nies were recruiting only in areas seen as essential for company survival.
Productivity of existing staff was be- ing increased.
Recruitment at mid-range manage- rial levels had declined more mark- edly than other levels. The industry perceived by executive recruitment agencies as being most affected by the recession was construction.
In an appendix where those sur- veyed offered advice to the state's ter- tiary institutions, most were advised to increase their graduates' awareness of the real world - an already estab- lished priority at QUT.
The Business Queensland survey follows a Bulletin magazine article published in February this year which rated QUT second among Australian universities.
Digital TV researched
The Bulletin rating was based on graduates finding full-time employ- ment in commerce, industry and gov- ernment.QUT's Communications Centre has won $93 000 to research the potential of high definition television.
The research project will ensure that Australia is not left behind in the glo- bal race to cash in on the commercial future of digital video communications (DVC).
The Communications Centre is part of the Faculty of Business. It won the contract from among 72 applicants.
Research will be funded by Telecom and the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce.
Centre director Associate Professor Tony Stevenson said the extent of op- portunities offered by DVT was un- known because the technology was so new.
The project itself would determine what, if anything, had been developed in other countries.
"Australia tends to follow rather than lead in the world market," said Professor Stevenson. "We hope our research will give Australia a chance to be among the leaders in exploiting this exciting new technology."
Professor Stevenson described DVC as one of the most important techno- logical developments in history.
"It will be part of the biggest artifi- cial construction on the planet - the worldwide telecommunications net- work," he said. "We take it for granted we can pick up a phone or send a fax to any corner of the globe. It's possi- ble because of the telecommunications network."
High definition television was the visual equivalent of the CD record - digital vision.
"What you can now do with the fax, computer and television you will be able to do visually- and with cinema quality," he said. "Theoretically you
Mitsubishi RAM
Associate Professor Stevenson should be able to tune in to any tel- evision channel around the world, or look at any data linked to a computer system.
"You can even divide a television screen into, say, four and preview four channels at once."
Professor Stevenson said nobody could have imagined the diversity of uses the video screen would be put to.
Equally, it was impossible at this stage to image the potential of this new technology.
The survey would give Australia the chance to capitalise on opportunities particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Areas of possible exploitation in- cluded monitoring industrial proc- esses, medical diagnosis artd enter- tainment.
Professor Stevenson said the project, which was already under way, would look at the social as well as commer- cial ramifications of DVC.
"We want to put it to appropriate uses to enhance society," he said.
He estimated that DVC was I 0 years away from full development.
Business Queensland's survey re- sults have been corroborated by the Centre for Information Technology and Communication (CITEC) which recruits new graduates for most state government departments.
CITEC reports that out of 44 new graduates so far recruited in 1991, no less than 19 carne from QUT. There- mainder was evenly spread over six other universities.
Business degree restructured
A survey of students and counsel- lors this year had shown a business degree with a range of specialisations was preferred over a general business degree, Dean of QUT's Business Fac- ulty, Professor Bernie Wolff said yesterday.
Professor Wolff said the survey re- sults were taken into account in re- structuring QUT's Business degree for I 992 following amalgamation with Brisbane College of Advanced Edu- cation last year. He said new areas added included industrial relations, banking and finance, film and televi- sion, international business and or- ganisational communication. Professor Wolff said QUT business graduates had an enviable employment record.
"QUT must be responsive to the changing needs of employers," he said.
"We will not be guilty of serving up the same old material to students year after year so they can get a qualifica- tion."
The new degree would allow elec- tive study in other QUT faculties and through other universities.
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New book to help out pre-school teachers
When Mary and Johnny are hav- ing a battle royal over a favourite toy at pre-school should the teacher let them solve their own disagreement?
Should the teacher intervene even though busy reading a story to an- other group of childrer.?
This recognisable moment in an average pre-school day typifies situ- ations that Dr Vi McLean has stud- ied for her newly released book The Human Encounter - Teachers and Children Li1•ing Together in Preschools.
Dr McLean is a senior lecturer in QUT's School of Early Childhood Studies.
Her book looks at how teachers make decisions in their interactions with pre-schoolers.
She said her book aimed to try to better explain the nature of teaching.
"A lot of academic work has been done on children," said Dr McLean,
"but until recently we haven't put a lot of research effort into under- standing what teachers do."
The publication, by The Falmer Press of London, is actually a report on a piece of original research for her doctorate from Arizona State University in America.
Dr McLean said she chose Arizona State because of its reputation in the field of education and its links with the former Kindergarten Teachers' College at Kelvin Grove.
She said the publication was not a text book, rather something that teachers and teacher educators would find interesting.
Dr Vi McLean
"An early childhood teacher in a pre-school is not constrained by a set of guidelines," she said.
"At any given time they are deal- ing with many competing concerns and demands. It is a juggling act in which the teacher has a lot of balls in the air at the same time. My research looked at how the teacher made de- cisions about their actions with children in classroom circum- stances."
She hopes the book will help teachers see dimensions of their work they have not seen before and help them to better understand the nature of their work with children.
By doing this they may become better teachers which will, in turn, benefit children.
QUT staff suggestion scheme award winners
A suggestion that will save QUT more than$ I 6 000 in electricity within two years has won a special award for a School of Physics laboratory man- ager, Mr Bob Jeffery.
Last month Mr Jeffery received a plaque and $150 cheque from Asso- ciate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ron Gardiner, in recogni- tion of his idea.
The staff suggestion scheme was introduced in 1990 to encourage staff to contribute their ideas to QUT.
Last year, 28 suggestions were re- ceived, resulting in more efficient and safe work practices.
Under the program, the following staff members received awards:
Certificates of Commendation Don Caruana - Trolley for manual handling in computer services Civil Engineering workshop staff Cecil Bynon, Brian Pelin, Gary Rasmussen, Neville Tooth - Furni- ture manufacture in the civil engi- neering workshop
Christopher Cook- Services register Jim Dennis- Moving electronic signs;
Laptop computers for committees Ray DeVere- Mailing lists supplied
by mail room
Annis Dickson - Finance trammg;
Trolley for manual handling in com-
puter services
Keith Done- U Block delivery sign Prue Dwyer- QUT uniform Allan Hunter -Examiners return re- view format
Bob Jeffery - Reducing costs of lift foyer lighting; Electricity saving (airconditioning timers)
Joanne Wilkinson - Hazardous ma- terials poster
Plaques of Recognition David Eather - QUT courier receipt book
Bob Jeffrey - Redesign order form;
Energy savings (ventilation timers) Geoffrey Kibbey - Alcohol ther- mometers
Anthony Smith - Light sensitive switches
Cash Award
Bob Jeffery - Electricity savings (ventilation timers)
Formal suggestions from staff are welcomed by the Staff Development Unit.
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Page 4 INSIDE OUT, 3 June 1991
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Pusan/QUT design show opens
Industrial designs by students from Pusan National University of Technology, South Korea, will be exhibited for the first time in Aus- tralia at the Queensland Museum this month, along side QUT designs.
The opening on 12 June will co- incide with the launch of the annual QUT industrial design graduate exhibition.
Associate Professor Vesna Popovic said today's economic cli- mate emphasised the significance of industrial design and its important role in Australia and overseas.
She said cooperation between QUT and Pusan National University of Technology was a vital interna- tional link.
"All designs exhibited demon- strate the innovative ideas, the strength and talent of these young designers whose potential will be realised in the near future," Profes- sor Popovic said.
A total of 12 Korean designs, in- cluding a state of the art pancake maker and a multi-function child seat, will be displayed.
QUT industrial designs were shown at the Korean university for the first time last October.
About 20 QUT industrial design graduates and students will also have their work exhibited at the museum.
Among them will be a veterinary anaesthesia machine designed by Ms Julia Newman (photographed).
Ms Newman says the design is based on the findings of a veterinary research report which pointed out the inadequacies of anaesthetic machines used in the profession.
By concentrating on the ergo- nomics of the machine, her design aims to increase safety and minimise operator error.
It features all standard compo- nents of a conventional anaesthesia machine but without unneccessary clutter.
Each component is positioned in
Ms Julia Newman with a scale model of the veterinary anaesthetic machine, one of 32 OUT and Pusan student designs on show at the Queensland Museum 12 June - 7 July.
relation to the order of gas flow, thereby removing much of the tubing of a conventional model.
The design, which has a front and rear facility, can be wheeled easily into an operating theatre.
Gas cylinders are housed at the rear
to clear the working area during surgery. A rear handle bar forms part of a lock bracket to secure the gas cylinders.
The exhibition will open on 12 June at noon and will continue until 7 July.
Home r w can be poison says QUT health professor
Home brewers are among those most at risk of metal poisoning caused by using incorrect containers warns QUT's Professor Conor Reilly.
Professor Reilly, head of the School of Public Health, recently has had published the second edition of his book Metal Contamination of Food.
His book reveals that more than 80 elements are classified as metals or metalloids. All can occur in foods.
Some are natural ingredients, some the result of environmental pollution and others the outcome of food processing.
Professor Reilly wrote the first edition 10 years ago. He described metal contamination in food as a very specialised topic.
"But it is pertinent to the present widespread concern about environ- mental contamination and the original edition of the book has appealled not just to professionals like medical or research scientists or food technologists but was of in- terest to environmental and com- munity health, and the general public," he said.
The publishers, Elsevier Science Publishers, were surprised that a specialised book of its type sold as many as 100 copies each year.
"So they wanted a second edition and wanted it directed even more towards the general public," Pro- fessor Reilly said.
The book sells well in Japan and has been translated into Russian.
home-brewing. Jt's probably one of the worst ways of getting metal poisoning.
"I've seen people using galvanised iron drums for making beer,"
he said.
One of the most common causes of metal contamination in food was the use of badly-made cooking utensils.
Professor Reill:v warned that all cooking pots and utensils should meet minimum Australian standard requirements.
He also warned that crockery and vessels such as some metal wine goblets should be avoided.
"Never use crockery of any kind that has been designed purely for decorative purposes," Professor Reilly said.
Recreation, sport and
fitne~s safety review to quiz Federal role
Against Australia-wide competi- tion QUT has won a Commonwealth Government contract worth more than $40 000 to conduct a survey in partnership with Price Waterhouse Urwick, Brisbane.
The joint survey will review the Commonwealth role in safety in sport, recreation and fitness activi- ties says QUT senior lecturer in human movement studies Dr Andrew Hills.
Success for the QUT-Price Waterhouse Urwick team was an- nounced by the Federal Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories, Ms Ros Kelly.
Ms Kelly said her department (DASETT) had for years provided vi- tal support to Australia's key water safety organisations.
Recently, there had been concern that wider Commonwealth involve- ment in safety in sport, fitness and recreation areas was desirable.
"We will be seeking to develop a comprehensive picture of what is cur- rently happening, who is involved in the area and what the key issues and needs are," Ms Kelly said.
"From this I expect to receive a re- port indicating the areas that the Com- monwealth and others should be ad- dressing, as well as what it will take react effectively.
"I am confident that the consultants that have been selected will provide an excellent blueprint for action."
She said the review was expected to be completed by mid-July this year.
Dr Hills said about two months ago DASETT called for tenders for a re- view of the Commonwealth role in sport, recreation and fitness safety.
"This, I think, was initially a spin- off of a research project that was commissioned by the national better health program.
"One of the areas of focus is acci- dent prevention," Dr Hills said.
"A study that was conducted last year looked at the incidence of sport- ing injuries in the community. It was felt that by just looking at sport and, in a lot of cases elite sport, was not giv- ing us a true indication of the status of the whole area of safety in activity."
DASETT decided to broaden the gamut to consider sport, recreation and fitness activities in the wider context.
"This particular Commonwealth department is keen to have sporting and recreation groups throughout the country identify whether the Com- monwealth has a role to play in the provision of safe practices in physical activity throughout the country,"
Dr Hills said.
The Commonwealth was involved to varying degrees through such agen- cies such as the Australian Sports Commission, which had a spin-off in terms of the coaching council and its relationship with a range of sporting bodies.
Apart from the extensive funding
Dr Andrew Hills
Mr Philip Davis
of the surf lifesaving and the Royal Lifesaving Society, and some attempts at controlling the fitness industry, the federal government had not been deeply involved in sport, recreation and fitness safety.
Dr Hills said: "Really, throughout the country there's been a piecemeal approach to the whole issue of safety so this exercise is one of a co-review process to identify what the percep- tion of the population is, how they perceive the role of the Common- wealth department and to try and set some guidelines for the future."
Safety in all areas of sport, recrea- tion and fitness would be considered, including training methods and safety equipment used.
"We shall consider the whole issue of equipment, rule changes, educa- tional programs and many other ar- eas," he said.
Sporting groups would be asked if they saw the need for the Common- wealth department to have a joint working relationship with state bodies which, in most cases, already held di- rect control in the states and territo- ries.
A promotional campaign for the second edition already is under way in Japan.
Professor Reilly said he was hop- ing there would be a presentation at the Australian Food Science and Technology Association meeting at Hobart this month.
Patients put on an act
"We hope to have a close working relationship with the department of sport and recreation in each state or its derivatives," Dr Hills said.
The review panel consists of a steering committee comprising Dr Hills and associate director of Price Waterhouse Urwick, Brisbane, Dr Philip Davis.
Professor Conor Reilly
The book was written in a manner that made it suitable for "the read- ing public", he said.
"No natural food needs to be avoided," Professor Reilly said. "But if food has been produced in unsuit- able cooking facilities then there is a danger that it will have picked up metals from badly-made saucepans or containers."
He warned that the use of certain pewter vessels for alcoholic bever- ages, the use of badly-made, tinned cooking pots and the use of metal drums for holding drinking water that never had been intended to hold drinking water were all areas of danger.
"And one of the big worries is
QUT drama students got in on the act last month to help nursing students complete assessment.
The budding actors volunteered their role-playing talents and became
"patients" during a three-week assess- ment of 340 first year nursing students.
While the drama students practised role play, the nursing students were assessed for communication and clinical skills.
Drama foundation year coordinator Ms Christine Hoepper said it was an innovative cross-faculty initiative which created a sense ofreality for the nursing students.
Right: Drama student Karen Rawlinson (left) plays her part as patient for first year nursing student Emma Harold during course assessment.
Both are also members of the working committee.
Other members of the steering committee are Professor Tony Parker, of the University of Wollongong, and Professor Conor Reilly, head of QUT' s School of Public Health.
Four more staff members of QUT make up the working committee, together with coordinator Ms Linda Wolter and Mr Andrew Morgan, Price Waterhouse Urwick consultants.
The QUT staff are lecturers in the School of Human Movement Studies Mr Mark Forward, Mr Michael McDonald and Mr Bob Boyd, and lec- turer in occupational health and safety Mr Terry Farr.
Page 5 INSIDE OUT, 3 June 1991
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Aila Keto adds voice to debate tomorrow
Well-known conservationist Dr Aila Keto will take part in the great environment debate at QUT to- morrow (4 June).
The debate has been organised by QUT environmental scientist Dr Jim Davie to coincide with World Envi- ronment Day on 5 June.
He has gathered a formidable line- up of speakers on both sides of the sustainable development fence.
The proposition to be debated is:
In the final analysis the resolution of our environmental problems will depend upon our capacity for design and technology.
On the affirmative team will be Mr William Curnow (design man- ager of building services with Theiss Contractors Pty Ltd, Brisbane), Ms Rebecca Middleton (a Brisbane solicitor) and Mr Tom Clark (senior project manager with PRODAP Services, Gold Coast).
Joining Dr Keto to speak against the proposition will be green activ- ist and Q UT humanities lecturer Mr Drew Hutton and QUT School of Planning and Landscape Architec- ture head Associate Professor Phil Heywood.
Dr Davie, who will chair the de- bate, said the team able to sway the audience vote would win the debate.
"All interested people are invited to attend and participate in the au- dience," Dr Davie said.
He said the rules of the debate would generally follow those estab- lished by the Oxford Union Debat- ing Society. The event forms part of the QUT first year undergraduate environmental science program.
Proceedings will be filmed by QUT'S ETV for educational purposes.
The debate will be held at lecture theatre G3L at 1pm and is expected to finish about 2.30pm.
Tanya's tyres form exhibit
Visual Arts student Tanya Hillman has certainly not tired of collecting old car tyres to make
a
point on World Environment Day on 5 June.Tanya has been amassing this collection to form part of an exhibit for the Department of Environment and Heritage. She and other fellow students will team on the day to turn everyday garbage into a stark backdrop for the department's exhibit on the Queen Street Mall.
Industry seeks QUT help
QUT has been awarded $15 000 to develop intensive environmental training short courses for the Queensland Confederation of In- dustry (QCI).
The Queensland Tertiary Educa- tion Foundation awarded the fund- ing last month to QUT environ- mental educator Dr Roy Ballantyne.
A lecturer in the School of Social, Business and Environmental Edu- cation, Dr Ballantyne will develop and manage two three-week courses to be available by June next year.
He will work in conjunction with a former colleague from the Uni- versity of Cape Town, Professor Richard Fuggle, who will arrive at
QUT on 12 June to take up a three- month adjunct position.
Head of the Department of Envi- ronment and Geographical Sciences at the university, Professor Fuggle is a recognised authority in envi- ronmental impact assessment.
Dr Ballantyne said the courses would focus on integrated environ- mental management and environ- mental conflict resolution. He said QCI approached him to develop the courses because of increasing pub- lic and industry demand for im- proved green management.
"Internationally, the historical role played by industry in contrib- uting to environmental deterioration
is well established," he said.
"Industry realises that the provi- sion of such courses is essential if industrialists are to exercise re- sponsibility towards society."
He said the courses would aim to produce sound environmental workplace practice.
Environmentally compatible processes and products would also be promoted.
The courses will be delivered by various academics from Brisbane universities.
Dr Ballantyne's work will be con- ducted through the Social and En- vironmental Education Research Unit in the Faculty of Education.
! actiOn
Maths research does sums for garbage policy
Statistical analysis being carried out at QUT may help the Brisbane City Council formulate its future garbage disposal policies.
The issues of landfill dumps and the Pacific Waste trash disposal contract were crucial in the recent BCC elec- tion.
Statistical analysis on the progress ofBCC recycling trials is being carried out by the Statistical Consulting Unit under the direction of the head of QUT's School of Mathematics Pro- fessor Tony Pettitt.
The unit is available to help or- ganisations make use of applied sta- tistics to overcome specific problems and help formulate future policies.
American statistics expert Professor Sandy Weisberg will visit QUT this month for a series of lectures in applied statistics on regression diagnostics.
While here, he also will be guest speaker at a meeting of the Queensland branch of the Statistical Society of Australia.
His talk, called How Much Gar- bage? will tell how the state of Min- nesota passed laws during the 1980s that forced local authorities to find alternatives to landfill garbage dumps.
In July Professor Weisberg will ad- dress Statcomp Biostats 91, a confer- ence organised under Professor Pettitt's guidance to be held at Coolangatta.
The conference will take place I to 5 July at the Greenmount Hotel. It has attracted more than 150 registered
participants.
Professor Pettitt said most partici- pants were Australian but some were coming from New Zealand, Canada and the US.
"We also have three speakers com- ing from the UK and we are flying in one from China and one from Thai- land," he said.
The purpose of the conference was to disseminate recent research and activity in statistical computing and biological statistics, which involved agricultural and medical research, Professor Pettitt explained.
Professor Peter Hall, of the Aus- tralian National University, is one of the keynote speakers. He will talk on the computational techniques for the
"bootstrap".
Professor Pettitt described him as
"a world authority on the bootstrap".
"The bootstrap is a way of finding statistical results which minimise the number of assumptions that you make about the data," he said.
"It is essentially trying to robustify the conclusions from your statistical analysis.
"The bootstrap, however, is very greedy for computing power."
Other themes of Statcomp Biostats include statistical image analysis, time series analysis, quantitive genetics and projections for numbers of HIV and AIDS patients.
Further information on the confer- ence is available from Professor Pettitt on (07) 864 2309.
Students foster rainforest to preserve inner-city life
Foresight and hard work has changed a Kelvin Grove garbage dump into an enchanting rain forest domain.
The rain forest, with a canopy of more than 750 trees, abutts the golf course between S and H blocks at Kelvin Grove campus.
Life science lecturer Dr Jack Marsh said the project began in association with Westpac Bank, then known as the Bank ofNSW, who donated $1500 towards plants and essential works.
Dr Marsh said the former garbage dump was an open stretch of grass before the rainforest was started about 16 years ago.
A pond was dug, rocks introduced and water courses were established.
Now, a sophisticated sprinkler system cares for the rainforest in dry weather.
Laboratory technician Ms Chris Marsh said there were no trees on the original area at all.
The rainforest project was estab-
lished to supplement forest ecology work in the field.
Dr Marsh said: "We wanted to demonstrate the fact that you can es- tablish rainforest in urban areas.
"The other thing is that by having these sort of rainforest pockets we provide habitats for birds and animals that are travelling from one area to another."
All the work in establishing and maintaining the rain forest has been carried out students and staff.
Dr Marsh said the project had cre- ated widespread interest. Visitors came from all walks of life to see it and to ask how to establish a rainforest.
Close by is the One Teacher School Museum. Ms Marsh said groups vis- iting the museum would also take a walk through the rainforest.
Late last month even more tree~
were being planted, adding more than 70 to the rainforest total.
Feeney's trek through Kimberleys a tough endurance test
Physical education lecturer Mr Paul Feeney expects to wear out at least 12 pairs of leather boots trekking through the Kimberleys to trace rare Aboriginal rock art.
The six-month expedition, arranged through QUT's Professional Experi- ence Progam (PEP), began late last month. It is sure to prove as physically gruelling as it will be fascinating.
Mr Feeney, an experienced outdoor educator and r'etired Army reservist, has teamed with self-taught Aboriginal art expert Mr Grahame Walsh.
The former National Parks and Wildlife Ranger plans to trace unre- corded rock art throughout the Kim- berley district in an attempt to piece together social change in Aboriginal culture.
Mr Walsh works for the Takarakka Page 6 INSIDE OUT, 3 June 1991
Rock Art Research Centre based at Carnarvon Gorge in Central Queens- land. He is consultant to the Dreamtime Cultural Centre in Rockhampton.
The pair met as members of the Royal Geographic Society of Queensland. Now they are four-wheel driving their way from Carnarvon Gorge to the Kimberley district.
"In six months we will be going through an area the Aboriginal people wandered in and out of for some 30 000 years," Mr Feeney said before his departure.
"Grahame has been interested in the Kimberleys for the past three years mainly because it is believed to be the main area of origin of Aboriginal culture."
Their transport has taken the form
of a 4WD Land Cruiser utility and two agricultural motor-bikes.
"We'll go as far as we can in the ute, then get on the bikes and where they can't go - we'll be walking. Searching along cliff lines and over- hangs will have to be done on foot."
Although personally intrigued by Aboriginal art, Mr Feeney's main task is to run the expedition.
To the uninitiated, such a trip may simply seem like a wonderful adven- ture. But the harsh terrain and remote nature of the Kimberleys is expected to be extremely demanding both physically and mentally - particularly for as long as six months.
"My job will be to coordinate the trip, keep a check on the equipment and take care of the food," he said.
"In these kinds of expeditions,
health and nutrition are difficult to maintain and those involved often break out in severe skin ulcers."
Mr Feeney hopes the addition of herbs and vitamin supplements will overcome these difficulties.
"This will be a personal learning experience at a very intense level and will have implications for future out- door education at QUT."
Presently, outdoor education at QUT is taught as one subject within the physical education program. Expedi- tions in the past have been more aligned to light-weight backpacking and canoeing trips.
Mr Feeney is also planning a major wet season research project to Cape York starting in January next year.
Organised through the Royal Geo- graphic Society of Queensland, the
10-week expedition will comprise 32 individual science research projects based at Heathlands, 200km south of Bamaga.
More than 40 researchers from universities, museums and state de- partments will take part.
Unlike its popular image as a rain- forest tract, many areas of the Cape lie in a dormant withered state in the dry season only to come alive botanically and biologically in the wet.
Few researchers have conducted lengthy studies in the region because of poor accessiblity during the wet season.
The Cape York project was offi- cially announced by Environment Minister Mr Pat Com ben last month at the society's headquarters in Fortitude Valley.
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