News and events

Combined Adelaide Universities Alumni UK - Second Alumni Lecture

  

Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, Patron of the Adelaide Universities Alumni UK and Director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain delivered the Second Alumni Lecture on 28 April at the Ri in London. Her topic was The 21st Century Mind. Unchanged or Unprecedented and she shared some thought provoking trends such as the force of technology and its impact on human development in terms of indviduality and identity development, particularly of young people. The Lecture was well attended and Flinders alumni Elsa d'Ercoli (Vice-President), Simon Fourmy (Hon Secretary), and Diane Tofts (Hon Treasurer) were among those who attended.

 

The Royal Institution of Australia will be formally opened in Adelaide in October 2009.

  

Mid Year Entry

  

Mid year entry is the opportunity for admission to some of Flinders' most popular undergraduate, Graduate-entry professional conversion and postgraduate courses - details.  

  

Maritime Archaeology - Autumn 2009 Update

  

The latest news on the Maritime Archaeology program is available in the Autumn 2009 Update. Read also about Master of Maritime Archaeology alumni Ben Holthof now working as Curator at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Ontario, Canada and Deb Shefi who is Senior Maritime Archaeologist in the Florida Underwater Archaeology Team in the Bureau of Archaeological Resources (Division of Historical Resources) of the Florida Department of State in the US.

 

Download Flinders University Maritime Archaeology Program: Autumn Update 2007 (PDF 4MB) .

 

Maritime Archaeology alumni can send their stories and photos to Alumni Relations Coordinator, Geoff Sauer, for future editions of the Update.

1999 Law Alumni - 10 Year Reunion

The May edition of the Flinders Law School Newsletter is now available. One item of interest is the forthcoming 10 year Reunion Dinner for the 1999 Law graduates - further information is available from Associate Professor Chris Symes, telephone (08) 8201 3890.

 

Download Flinders Law School - Newsletter May 2009 (PDF 2MB) .

 

 

1984 Flinders Medical Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion

 

The 25-year reunion of Flinders University Medical Graduates was celebrated with a Cocktail party at Springfield House, home of Marty and Emma Ewer, on Friday 27th February, followed by a dinner on the Saturday night at the Naval and Military Club. 

 

Their former lecturer, eminent neurologist Professor Richard Burns, AM, was distinguished guest speaker, with a witty and reflective after dinner speech. Professor Ern and Melva Della, the parents of respected ophthalmologist Professor Neil Della, attended to represent their son who sadly died in 2001.  The Alumni rekindled old friendships and celebrated their successful careers in medicine and surgery. 

 

This reunion was organised with the assistance of the Marketing and Communications Office at Flinders - if you are thinking of organising a reunion please contact Geoff Sauer on (08) 8201 2511 or  geoffrey.sauer@flinders.edu.au

  

Flinders Japan Alumni Chapter planning underway

 

Following the outstanding success of the first Flinders alumni event held in Japan in November 2008, planning has commenced to establish a Flinders alumni chapter in Japan. Professor Kohei Uosaki (PhD '78) and Ms Yuko Nakamura (BA '89) are leading the discussions and both have visited Adelaide, in February 2009 and December 2008, respectively to explore the establishment of a chapter. More details will be available shortly - further information from Geoff Sauer

Flinders Graduates win Churchill Fellowships

Two Flinders graduates, Dr Lesley Shorne (BA 1982 BMBS 1984) and Mr Michael White (BA 1981 BSocAdmin 1990 MSocAdmin 1997) have been awarded Churchill Fellowships in the 2008 selection round.

Lesley Shorne, who is Senior Medical Officer at Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service will visit the UK to study enhanced DNA detection and victim centred approaches to forensic and medical services. Michael White is Place Manager Urban Regeneration, City of Playford, and will investigate the delivery of urban renewal programs in the USA, UK, Netherlands and Sweden.

Churchill Fellowships are awarded annually, and provide the opportunity for Australians to travel overseas to conduct research in their chosen field that is not readily available in Australia. Further information.

Full Professorship for Indonesian graduate

Anak Agung Banyu Perwita received his PhD in Asian Studies in April 2003 and is now Vice Rector for Relations and Cooperation at Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia. He has just received his full Professorship in International Relations from the Government of Republic of Indonesia, and is the second Professor of International Relations in Indonesia. Banyu is also the youngest professor of International Relations in Indonesia, and says that he is "so grateful to Flinders and hopes with his professorship that, I can contribute more to the development of International Relations here in Indonesia and especially contribute to the more fruitful relations between Indonesia and Australia." He would like to see future collaboration between Flinders University and Parahyangan Catholic University.

Flinders Graduate wins Fulbright Scholarship

The neurological condition known as cerebral palsy (CP) is to be tackled from a new research direction, thanks to a prestigious Australian-American Scholarship.

David Hobbs (BSc 1995, BEngBiomed/BSc Hons 2001) , a Senior Rehabilitation Engineer with Novita Children's Services, has been awarded a 2008 Fulbright Professional Scholarship to undertake research into the field of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and CP. David will spend one month at the internationally renowned Cleveland FES Center and two months at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia from August 2008.

The Fulbright Scholarship will enable David to immerse himself in the activities of both US institutions, where he aims to research and investigate the mechanisms for using FES as part of a broader therapeutic program for children with CP to improve their functioning and quality of life.

"FES is a very promising and well-established treatment, and was first used almost 40 years ago to artificially stimulate human muscles", notes Hobbs. "It was used primarily with people with a spinal cord injury or post-stroke, to stimulate muscle that could no longer be stimulated naturally."

However, recent FES research efforts have turned to the neurological condition CP, which has the primary effect of impairing muscle function, meaning that movements can be unpredictable and muscles can be stiff or tight - which makes walking either very hard work (energy intensive) or near impossible.

"FES trials involving children with CP have demonstrated that the treatment can produce positive benefits, particularly for children who have difficulty walking. Small scale trials showed that the FES treatment improved walking patterns and coordination, leading to more energy efficient walking."

Worldwide, the incidence of CP is the same - approximately 1 in 400 births. There is no pre-birth test and no known cure for CP, and the cause is largely unknown. In Australia, on average, a child is born with CP every 18 hours, and it is estimated that CP costs the Australian Government $1 billion per year. Novita caters for more than 1,280 children across South Australia, and CP is the main condition affecting 60-65% of Novita's clientele.

David hopes to use his experience and the Scholarship to develop an FES program that will improve the way children with CP walk.

The prestigious Fulbright program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind, created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright and the U.S. Government in 1946. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange, it operates between the U.S. and 150 countries. In Australia, the scholarships are funded by the Australian and U.S. Governments and corporate partners and administered by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission in Canberra.

See the full list of Flinders Fulbright recipients.

Combined UK Alumni Chapter Update

Elsa D'Ercoli (BA 1977 DipEd 1978) is now Vice-Chairman of the Chapter, and Simon Fourmy (BA Hons 1997) is Secretary. Other Flinders alumni on the committee are Jane Chapman (DipAppSc Ng 1986, BNg 1992), Tamsin Jones (BSocPg 2000), Di Tofts (BNgEd 1989 MNg 1998), and Andrew Kaines (MPH 2003).

Check the Chapter's website.

Flinders Alumni Receive Awards in Jakarta

Two Flinders alumni, Mr Abdul Mu'ti (MEd 1998) and Mr Samsul Bahri Usman (MEdMgt 2004) received Inspiration Awards at the inaugural Australian Alumni Awards in Jakarta in 2008. These Awards recognise outstanding Australian alumni whose work, professional or voluntary, is an inspiration for others.  

Mr Abdul Mu’ti's  significant achievements inspire young Indonesians. He completed his Masters degree in the School of Education at Flinders under the AusAID scholarship scheme from 1995-1997. Mr Mu’ti has been very active within the Muhammadiyah Organisation, the second largest Islamic organisation in Indonesia, since he was a young student in Central Java. Currently he is Chairman of the Muhammadiyah National Youth Organisation and is also Executive Director for the Centre for Dialogue and Cooperation Among Civilisations (CDCC). CDCC aims to promote better understanding and peaceful relations between religions, cultures, nations and civilisations at large.  He is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the State Institute of Islamic Studies Walisongo (IAIN Walisongo) in Semarang.

Mr Samsul Bahri Usman has made a significant contribution to the field of education. A recipient of the Australian Development Scholarship, Mr Usman also studied in the School of Education at Flinders. Since his return to Indonesia, he has worked tirelessly to overcome the devastating effects of the Aceh tsunami. Mr Usman is currently the Office Manager for the Education Rehabilitation Program for Aceh which his supported by AusAID. He has been engaged in the building of education infrastructure and educational management for schools in five Aceh districts. Following the tsunami, he has been a key contact person for many Australian agencies working in Aceh and has provided valuable assistance in the promotion of Australian Scholarships in his home region. Mr Usman is an active writer who has contributed numerous articles in newspapers in his home province of Aceh and more broadly. He is the current President of the Australian Alumni Association in Aceh Province (IKAMA-ACEH).

The Australian Alumni Awards is an initiative of Australian Education International (AEI) Indonesia and acknowledge the contributions to Indonesia of the many Indonesians who have studied at universities, schools, and technical colleges in Australia.

Flinders Graduate Appointed Consul-General in Hong Kong

Mr Les Luck (BA Hons 1971) is Australia’s Consul-General in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China.

Australia has significant interests in Hong Kong as an export market, trading partner and source of investment in utilities and transport infrastructure. The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, with over 1000 members, is among the largest in Hong Kong and is the largest Australian chamber overseas.

Australia has strong people-to-people links with Hong Kong. There are around 60,000 Australians in Hong Kong and 90,000 Hong Kong expatriates in Australia. Hong Kong is Australia's third largest source of international students (24,600), there are over 300,000 Hong Kong alumni from Australian universities, and 153,000 Hong Kong tourists visited Australia in 2006-07,

Prior to this appointment, Les Luck was First Assistant Secretary of the Americas Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a position, and his previous postings have included Ambassador for Disarmament and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.

Ozmate for Indonesian Alumni - Alumni Awards 2009

Ozmate is an interactive online networking community exclusive to Indonesians who have studied or are still studying in Australia. In Ozmate, alumni can find old friends, network and communicate with others, as well as engage in the online forum discussions, receive information about upcoming events and job opportunities. Ozmate membership is free and easily accessed at the website. 

Saturday 21 February is the Australian Alumni Awards Dinner to be held in Jakarta - tickets are on sale now, and you must be an Ozmate member to be able to buy tickets. Details of the Awards and the nomination process are available on the Ozmate website.