WIL Student Video Competition
For the first time this year the WIL Student Video Competition was held, with winning students sharing in $3,000 in prize money.
The winning students had three minutes to shoot a video that captured their WIL experiences and highlighted how their learning has benefited from taking part in practical learning.
Winner, Bachelor of Communications student, Chris Butler:
Aspiring director Chris Butler was the inaugural winner of the WIL Student Video competition and won $2,000 for his efforts.
Chris’s video Working Knowledge: A Day in the Life of an Engaged Learner showcased his placement when he took on various roles in the production of the play Art of War. This was the first acting experience for Chris, who also took on the role of assistant director and created video used in the performance.
Runner-up, Bachelor of Communication Student, Claire Young:
Yak! Student magazine Feature’s Editor Clarie Young, was the runner-up winner of the competition and won $1,000.
Highly commended students, Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts student, Eric Figuerora and Bachelor of Visual Communication Design (Honours) student, Brooke Hall.
WIL Student and Staff Awards 2012
Students and staff shared in more than $12,000 of prize money by taking part in Work Integrated Learning at the University of Newcastle and by applying for the WIL Student and Staff Awards and the WIL Student Video Competition.
Each year the WIL Student of the Year Awards are given to winning students from each of the University’s five faculties. The winning students were acknowledged for achieving excellence and increasing their career-readiness by participating in WIL-based studies as part of their degree program, and were awarded $1,000.
The Awards were given by the University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Caroline McMillen, at a ceremony held at the University Gallery on October 23, 2012.
International researcher Dr Leif Karlsson, Senior Lecturer at Kristianstad University, Sweden gave the keynote address on the night and spoke of the importance of the student experience to improving teaching standards and graduate outcomes.
While visiting the University of Newcastle, Dr Karlsson collaborated with the School of Nursing and Midwifery on an international WIL research project, and he presented to staff on WIL at a number of workshops.
WIL Student of the Year
Seven student awards and six Highly Commended certificates were given this year:
Faculty of Business and Law
Winner, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) student Charmaine Lam:
Undertaking her WIL placement with the Wests Group of registered clubs, international student Chairman Lam created a new system for the organisation to better manage its asset register, to allow for the accounting of assets between the organisation’s different venues. The relational database was user-friendly and has been well received by West’s management and staff. This is the second time a University of Newcastle student has been on WIL placement with the Wests Group who have noted a positive benefit to their business from the partnership. Charmaine’s professional attitude, innovative thinking and ability to work independently impressed her workplace supervisor who nominated her for the award.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Business student Keira Bourke:
Keira Bourke created a strategic marketing plan for a client of Green Chilli Marketing, based at Redhead, as part of her WIL internship for her Project in Business course in 2012. While on placement, Keira demonstrated practical marketing by undertaking market research and applying her findings to make recommendations for the marketing strategy. Green Chilli Marketing was impressed with her great enthusiasm for, and eagerness to learn more about the practical side of the marketing.
Faculty of Education and Arts
Winner, Bachelor of Fine Arts student Kylie Harris:
As a mature-aged student Kylie brought to her studies an understanding of the value of creative engagement and how these practices can directly relate to the lives of others. In 2011, she was commissioned by John Hunter Hospital to create a body of work for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatients’ waiting room. This project was produced in close association with staff and the hospital Arts Health Coordinator and has been received with great enthusiasm and thanks. In the same year, Kylie was commissioned as a photographer for the University of Newcastle’s 100 Woman publication and created imagery in her role as the official photographer for the University’s Confucius Institute’s study tour of China in 2012.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Fine Arts student Emily Rose Braithwaite:
Emily’s interest in music photography has been expanded through WIL and her with University of Newcastle lecturer Sally Walker in the Conservatorium of Music. The images she has captured have been published both online and in brochures promoting the Conservatorium’s programs.
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
Winner, Bachelor of Construction Management student Luke Carrol:
Luke balances his studies with work as a cadet with Australian commercial building company Hansen Yuncken, who have been contracted by the University of Newcastle to manage the construction of the Newcastle Institute of Energy Resources (NIER) Stage Two refurbishment at Callaghan campus. Working from the site full-time as an Assistant Administrator, Luke is responsible for safety management and improving safety standards at the site and has implemented an asbestos register which will be used by the company to improve safety at other sites.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Construction Management student, Anthony Samuels:
Anthony has been employed in a cadet undergraduate position with Newcastle City Council since March 2010. In his role as Property Officer Strategic Property and Fleet Management Services, Anthony has gained integrated professional experience working on a range of diverse projects including assisting with the development of the Newcastle Coastal Revitalisation Masterplan and has managed an innovative tender process to allow Council better manage and maintain its key coastal assets.
Faculty of Health
Winners, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences students Brianna Bassett and Evan Williams:
Brianna and Evan completed an eight-week placement at the University of Newcastle developing an innovative genetic test to detect pig materials in pharmaceuticals and food products, to ensure that the products are Halal and Kosher and therefore suitable for consumption by Muslims and Jews. The simple laboratory test is the first of its kind in Australia and formed part of a poster presentation the students made at the Australian Society for Medical Research in June 2012. They also collaborated to author a chapter on genetic models of iron loading, working in collaboration with researchers from Newcastle and three other universities, to a book Brain Changes in Iron Loading Disorders.
Winner, Bachelor of Medicine student Matthew Rowlandson:
Matthew completed a Health Equity course as part of his studies for a Bachelor of Medicine, where he travelled to Ghana to see firsthand how inequitable access to healthcare effects the treatment of illnesses such as malaria, in that region of Africa. His experience gave him an understanding of the treatment of illnesses and disease in impoverished areas and has broadened his career outlook to a global one.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy student Alexandra Dickson:
Alexandra Dickson has worked in rural medicine and travelled overseas, as part of her WIL experience. The Occupational Therapy (OT) student was selected to take part in an international cultural exchange to Japan, where she was given an international perspective on the practise of the therapies and was exposed to how cultural differences can affect healthcare delivery and outcomes. She also completed a rural healthcare placement in Dubbo, NSW. Alexandra is also working with lecturers at the University of Newcastle to improve the learning experience of OT students.
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
Winner, Bachelor Science/Bachelor of Mathematics student Sean Jamieson:
Improved outcomes in targeted cancer treatment for women could be the outcome of Sean’s WIL experience. In Semester 1 2012, Sean enrolled in the Phys3330 Industrial Project and approached the Calvary Mater Hospital to work with cancer researcher and conjoint lecturer Claire Dempsey, in the speciality of Medical Physics. Sean worked to set up and commission a Nucletron CT/MR Brachytherapy Applicator Set, used to provide cutting-edge and targeted treatment of gynaecological cancers. He applied his knowledge and identified an error in the collaboration protocols of the high-dose-rate device, which when corrected improved the precision and efficacy of the treatment provided to patients.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Visual Communication Design (Honours) student Brooke Hall:
Brooke is the first Bachelor of Visual Communications student from the University of Newcastle to join the Westpac Customer Experience (CX) team to complete a WIL internship. During her internship Brooke impressed her supervisors exhibiting skills of a professional designer with several years’ experience, as well as an ‘incredible intuitive intelligence and ability’. Brooke worked on a visualisation project that will help the design team to better provide information to a diverse range of stakeholders. The project was well received by the CX team who are considering adopting elements of her work.
Highly commended, Bachelor of Communication student Emma Fischer:
Emma Fischer completed a public relations internship with international resources company Rio Tinto Coal and Allied. During her internship she was responsible for developing community engagement opportunities for the company, including the initiation of an Energy Efficiency Grants Program for community halls in the Singleton Shire. Emma impressed her workplace supervisors with her commitment to the role, attending many community engagement events outside her regular hours of work.
Highly Commended, Bachelor of Development Studies students, Cathy Forbes, Sherelle Hendriks, Grace Bell, Kristen Anderson, Rosy Rose, April Almond, Gemma Neil:
The group of Development Studies students travelled to a remote part of the Northern Territory to complete their WIL project, to create a Seasonal Bush Calendar for Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours. The group of third year students displayed strong ethics and cultural sensitivity in gathering the oral history from Indigenous tour operators Graham and Lynette Kenyon, to create the Lumilngan Wulna Seasonal Bush Calendar, which is the first resource of its kind detailing the food stuffs available to the local Indigenous people at different times of the year.
Postgraduate Student of the Year Award
Winner, Master of Business student Ruth Hartman:
The working mother was awarded for her placement with electricity generator Macquarie Generation when she completed a series of projects focussed on Human Resources, including reviewing and streamlining the parental leave policy and procedures to incorporate changes in a new Enterprise Agreement and Federal legislation. Ruth’s placement was considered extremely beneficial by Macquarie Generation and she is now employed by the company to work on related projects as a Research Assistant.
Highly commended, Master of Pharmacy students Kate Blanch, Lisa Fluetcher, Janis Safar, Emily Vincent:
The Master of Pharmacy students completed a two-week clinical placement at the University Of Newcastle Department Of Rural Health based at Tamworth, organised in conjunction with the Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital, when they organised an After School Learning Centre to promote a ‘Keep Your Germs to Yourself’ health message to local primary students.
Highly commended, Master of Pharmacy student John Jones:
John completed a four-week clinical placement as part of his Master of pharmacy studies, working as an clinical pharmacist intern at NSW Health facilities in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and in Murwillumbah in the Northern Rivers. He received full marks for each competency area and displayed outstanding communication and patient empathy skills.
To find out more about WIL programs and how your career-readiness can be enhanced through practical learning visit Work Integrated Learning or speak to your program convenor or lecturer.
WIL Staff of the Year Awards
The efforts and professionalism of staff, both academic and professional, in providing practical-based learning opportunities for University of Newcastle students, was rewarded with the giving of the 2012 WIL Staff of the Year Awards.
Faculty of Business and Law
Winner, Christine Yap:
Providing ‘real’ experiences for University of Newcastle business and commerce students to apply and test their knowledge in a professional setting, is the aim of the WIL initiative and course, Project in Business, developed by Newcastle Business School lecturer Christine Yap. Christine consulted with local business and industry to create the program that gives students an opportunity to complete a project for an organisation that is relevant to their discipline major. Over the last three years Christine has developed more than 50 WIL partnerships with local business, industry and community organisations. The student’s work is well received and is often implemented by their host organisations, with some students gaining employment from the experience.
Faculty of Education and Arts
Winners, Dr Tamara Blakemore and Lou Johnston:
Dr Blakemore and Lou Johnston are lecturers who have helped to implement strategies to improve the professional placement processes for students in second year of the Bachelor of Social Work degree. Together they developed and coordinated the University’s first ‘Social Work Big Day In’, an event held at Callaghan campus, to give students the experience of a ‘day in the life of’ a social worker. Field practitioners and practising social workers were organised to attend the event and acted as ‘clients’ in the mock scenario. The practitioners observed each student and gave feedback on their participation to the students and lecturers.
Faculty of Health
Winner, Fiona Hawke:
The Podiatry lecturer, who is based at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Campus, launched a Paediatric Lower Limb Clinic in 2011 to provide specialised clinical experience for podiatry students. The clinic was established at the University of Newcastle’s Podiatry Clinic at Wyong Hospital. Working under the supervision of lecturers and professional podiatrists, the students assessed, diagnosed and treated the lower leg problems in children. Their experiences were detailed in a Clinical Log Book, created by Fiona, and they then took part in a peer-review process with the other students, to determine ways they could further enhance their clinical and professional skills. Community feedback about the clinic has been overwhelmingly positive, with the clinic being booked weeks in advance.
Highly commended, Laura Boyce:
Laura is a lecturer and coordinator of the clinical placement for Masters of Pharmacy students at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health and Rural Clinical School, at Taree. Since 2003, Louise has worked to forge partnerships with the community pharmacies in the Manning Valley area, which provide clinical placements for students. Catering to the individual clinical interests of students, and incorporating hours working in hospital settings, Louise managed more than 1500 student practical hours in 2011.
Highly commended, Louise Morgan:
Louise is an Administration Officer responsible for the coordination and behind-the-scenes support for third year students who travel overseas, to work in remote and medically under-resourced locations, as part of the Health Equity selective course. In her role she has had to overcome language, cultural and technological barriers to streamline the placement and assessment process for students, academics and the clinical supervisors on the ground. The students appreciate her support and pastoral care, with some sending her postcards while on placement.
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
Winner, Debbie Cook:
Debbie is a Professional Administration Officer responsible for the organisation and management of the WIL placements for two cohorts of students completing a Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Communication Design degree. She has been in this role since 2008, and aware of the time consuming nature of completing the necessary documentation for students, academics and workplace supervisors, Debbie has created and implemented a new online system to streamline the agreement and reporting process for placements. The new system has been so well received by the WIL partners, academics and students that the Faculty of Science and Information Technology is looking to introducing the online administration device to all of the WIL initiatives offered by its Schools.
Highly commended, Mark Roxburgh:
Associate Professor Roxburg established a WIL partnership with the Westpac Customer Experience (CX) Team in 2010. Since beginning work at the University of Newcastle in 2012r, he has worked to evolve the program to offer an opportunity for Bachelor of Visual Communications (Honours) students to undertake research and gain valuable practical experience, in a cutting-edge professional setting. The innovative partnership will continue into the foreseeable future and Associate Professor Roxburg will continue to liaise with the Customer Experience team to develop the engaged learning experience for Visual Communications postgraduate students.