Alumni GradLife e-Newsletter, September 2011

UWS Alumni GradLife e-Newsletter, September 2011 (opens in a new window)

UWS Human Research Ethics Committee Seeking New Members

If you think that you may be able to contribute to this key governance committee, we encourage you to visit the website linked for more information. Read more...

UWS Alumni Profile: Michelle Van Doninck

Since graduating from a UWS Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) course in 1996, Michelle Van Doninck is now working as a Publicist at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Read more...

New GradLife Benefit: Health Insurance Offers with nib and MBF

We are pleased to announce our new health insurance benefits now available to UWS Alumni GradLife members. For more information on these new offers click here.

University News: New Forensic Science Facility Opens at UWS Hawkesbury

The new join forensic science facility with the NSW Police Force and the University of Western Sydney is the only purpose-built crime scene facility in Australia. Read more...

UWS Human Research Ethics Committee Seeking New Member

The UWS Alumni Unit has extended this invitation on behalf of the Human Research Ethics Committee at UWS which is seeking a new member.

The Human Research Ethics Committee is responsible for reviewing all research carried out at the University involving human participants. The Committee is made up of community members and academics.  We are seeking another member of the community to sit on the Committee. 

To maintain the gender balance required by the National Health and Medical Research Council which oversights human research ethics in Australia, we are seeking a male to join the Committee. No particular qualifications are required, although you should not be currently engaged in medical, scientific, legal or academic work.

The Committee meets once a month on a Monday from 4.30pm, normally for 2 hours.  Papers for the meeting are distributed a week prior.

If you feel you may be able to contribute time and energy to this key governance committee, please send an expression of interest to Ms Lauren Sinclair – Human Ethics Officer at l.sinclair@uws.edu.au

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Lauren on 02 4736 0229


Dr Jane Hobson
Manager, Research Quality, Policy and Planning
Office of Research Services
Building K, Penrith Campus
University of Western Sydney
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith, 2751
NSW, Australia
 
Ext: 2880
Tel  61 2 4736 0880 
Fax 61 2 4736 0905

Web http://www.uws.edu.au/research/ors 

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UWS Alumni Profile: Michelle Van Doninck

About my current role at the Australian Museum

I have been employed as the Publicist for the Australian Museum for the past six years. I work as part of a small marketing team that is responsible for positioning the museum as a leading cultural attraction and scientific research institution.

My role is quite diverse given the incredible breadth of subject matter the museum covers. The Museum manages the largest natural history and cultural collection in Australia – we are home to more than 18 million scientific specimens and cultural artefacts. These collections are used not only for scientific research but also as the basis for a vast array of public programs including exhibitions and visitor events.

I am responsible for devising and implementing targeted publicity campaigns to increase awareness of all of these Museum activities and in turn, to drive visitation – both physical visitors to our College Street site and online. This involves on-going liaison with print, broadcast and online media, indentifying unique story angles, briefing museum spokespeople, sourcing background notes and images and tracking resultant media coverage. In addition, the role includes managing daily media enquiries; escorting film crews and photographers; issues management and crisis communication planning; liaison with NSW Ministerial media advisors and the provision of tactical media advice to senior management.

The brilliantly diverse nature of the museum means I can be researching Egyptian antiquities; sourcing an expert for an interview on dinosaurs; writing a media release on the mating rituals of the Birds of Paradise; or – as has been the case this week – pitching stories on two of 19th century Australia’s most prominent natural history artists ahead of our latest exhibition opening – Beauty from Nature: art of the Scott sisters (I wouldn’t be much of a Publicist if I didn’t get at least one plug in!!) 

What other interesting roles have you been employed in since graduating from UWS?

I was employed as a Media Relations Officer at Taronga Zoo from 2001 – 2005. I was one of a small team of five people who managed the Zoo’s relationship with the media. Again, I was fortunate to have such amazing subject matter to work with – not to mention a wonderful mentor in my manager (who remains a good friend) and an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable team of zookeepers from who I learnt so much about wildlife and its conservation.

The highlight of my time at the Zoo involved travelling to Thailand in September 2004 to provide a media escort for the documentary film crew working on the Asian Elephant importation program.

What was your experience studying at UWS?

I really enjoyed my time at UWS. Being a relatively new university at the time, everyone seemed really enthusiastic and incredibly supportive. And being quite small and intimate compared to other more established universities, you got to know people, other students and lecturers, really well and those relationships really helped the transition from high school. I was fortunate to have some tutors stay in touch and recommend me for roles after my course ended so it was great to have that continued support and advice – beyond what you would generally expect.
 
The course was really hands-on and I loved the practicality of getting out of the classroom and actually working on real projects. Some of the best memories I have of university life are of working on the uni paper and shooting video clips and short films for our media production class – working with live snakes, worshipping Boy George, and paying homage to The Pixies! Also, our time between classes always left lots of time for shopping at Penrith Plaza and discovering some fantastic op shopping around St Marys and Kingswood!!

Was your university course helpful in introducing you to your chosen career path?

I had originally considered other university choices but after a few horror stories about overcrowding and being made to stand in hallways and listen to lectures, I opted for the new, local university. I was attracted to the course because of its diversity - you had 18 months of general study before you had to choose your specialisations. I remember alot of the other courses I considered were either straight journalism or public relations. At the time when I left high school, all I really knew was that I loved English and loved to write. I had done a couple of weeks work experience as both a journalist and a publicist and I enjoyed them both. Looking back, that is just not enough to base a career decision on and I think it’s often impossible for 17-18 year olds to know what they want to do with their lives when high school ends. The UWS course gave me the time and practical experience to make an informed decision.

What will we find you doing when you are not working?

 In the park with my beloved boys – my husband, my son and my dog!

Any advice for current students?

Simple as it may seem, my advice would be to know your basics –

• Proper grammar, spelling and punctuation - It may seem obvious but you can’t always rely on spell check and the written word is at the very core of everything you will do, all day, every day.

• Know how to structure a media release – a well written media release will make the difference between your story getting noticed by a journalist or discarded as rubbish. Practice writing as many as you can.

• Get as much practical hands on experience as you can – I went for a few jobs after university and lost out to applicants who had virtually the same degree, but more work experience. Volunteer one day a week if you can or seek internships in the semester break. You can’t beat real work experience and the contacts you make could prove incredibly valuable once you enter the job market.

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University News: New Forensic Science Facility

The recent opening of a new joint forensic science facility with the NSW Police Force and the University of Western Sydney will make it tougher for criminals to evade arrest and prosecution.

The Joint Facility for Forensic Science Research and Training is a unique million-dollar hub which can create crime scene scenarios in locations as a diverse as a residential home, illegal drug lab, motor vehicle and outdoor area.

The NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Hon. Michael Gallacher MLC, the NSW Police Commissioner Mr Andrew Scipione APM and UWS Vice-Chancellor Professor Janice Reid AM officially opened the facility on Tuesday 19 July 2011.

Based at the UWS Hawkesbury campus, the building is the only purpose-built crime scene facility in Australia and its design draws inspiration from forensic facilities around the world. UWS students and scientists and NSW Police will use the facility for training and researching new forensic techniques.

Mr Glenn Porter, Head of the Forensic Science program at UWS, says its vital forensic science students experience realistic scenarios.

"In real life, a crime scene is extraordinarily complex and can be literally anywhere a crime has been committed. Students need to know what to look for and what to bag for further analysis. This new facility will help students become adept at assessing a crime scene and efficiently identifying the key pieces of evidence, says Mr Porter.

At the new facility crime scenes are staged by strategically planting key evidence in the scenario rooms. The students are given a brief and then evaluated on the way they navigate the crime scene and their effectiveness in locating the evidence which could range from a single strand of hair to a weapon hidden under a lounge cushion.

The scenario rooms are furnished as they would be in real life. There are bedrooms with beds, dressing tables, bedding and accessories, an office with a desk, computer, bookshelves and filing cabinets, a lounge room with a sofa, armchairs, television, coffee table - even magazines - and there's an open plan kitchen and dining room.

Above the rooms is a gantry, or elevated walkway, which looks down into the scenario rooms. The gantry is used by students watching demonstrations of how to work a crime scene and by instructors assessing students without interfering or influencing their activity.

There is also a purpose designed area for analyzing blood spatter, an outdoor area where evidence can be buried and a garage for examining crime scenes in and around vehicles.

The realism extends to students conducting their 'investigations' in full protective suits.

"Unlike the forensic experts on TV shows, real scenes of crime officers don't wear designer clothes to work. They wear hot and stuffy crime scene suits - full head-to-toe overalls - gloves, face masks and eye protection. It's uncomfortable, but without it the crime scene could be potentially contaminated and forensic evidence rejected by the courts."

Mr Porter says the Joint facility with the NSW Police Forensic Services Group also encourages close collaboration with operational forensic experts.

"The benefits of working with active forensic officers are tremendous. Students have the opportunity to interact with police and build real, professional relationships with the organisation. The joint facility also encourages greater collaboration on forensic science research with real world challenges facing the police informing our directions in research."

UWS is already a leading centre for forensic science research with current projects on detecting bloodstains underneath paint using reflected infrared photography, assessing the reliability of CCTV images as forensic evidence, analysing the health risks associated with clandestine drug laboratories, the detection of tattoos removed by laser and the recovery of finger marks from bullet casings.

UWS graduates of the Bachelor of Natural Science (Forensic Science) program can work as forensic specialists in a variety of areas including state and federal police, environmental protection agencies, border protection agencies and workplace health and safety authorities.

UWS students from diverse fields such as policing, law, nursing, business and health are also using the new forensic science facility to get a fundamental understanding of crime scene management which may be useful in their professional careers.

The Joint Facility for Forensic Science Research and Training is a collaboration of the UWS School of Natural Sciences and the Forensic Services Group within the NSW Police Force.

The new joint facility builds on established strong links between UWS and the NSW Police Force. UWS offers the undergraduate Bachelor of Policing program and the NSW Police Force has located its Police Leadership Centre on the Hawkesbury campus.