This week’s notable highlights include the start of a Youth Policy in Schools discussion series, grants for new investigations into veterans affairs, and success for a student Beatbox talent.
Beatbox talent wins recognition
Adelaide Festival Centre crowned the winners of its Students Got Talent competition on Saturday 13 February at Her Majesty’s Theatre, with Beatboxer and Flinders University student Zhiyi He (pictured left), awarded second place. He was joined on the podium by First Place winner, 19-year-old Malaysian-born singer Estée Kitingan, who is studying a Bachelor of Popular Music at The Elder Conservatorium of Music, and Indian dance group Malwai Bhangra Academy Adelaide taking third place. Hosted by Adelaide comedian Jason Chong, the contest’s 11 finalists performed to a full house of more than 900 ticketholders at Her Majesty’s Theatre as well as national and international viewers via livestream on Adelaide Festival Centre’s Facebook page and Channel 44’s website – which attracted more than 7000 online audience members and engagement from international viewers from countries including Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Malaysia and China. The livestream recording can be viewed on Adelaide Festival Centre’s website and Facebook page and will be airing on Channel 44 on Sunday 7 March at 8pm.
Grant to investigate veterans in corrective services
Associate Professor Ben Wadham (right), together with co-investigators Professor Mark Halsey and Ann-Louise Hordacre (College of Business, Government and Law), Dr Elaine Waddell (College of Education, Psychology and Social Work), Ms Kellie Toole (University of Adelaide) and Professor Pauline Collins (University of Southern Queensland), have won a $173,000 grant from the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the project entitled ‘Research into experiences of ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in corrective services systems in Australia.’ This is the first national study that will investigate why veterans become involved in the Australian Criminal Justice System (CJS). This includes understanding the types of offences they have committed, their needs in the community and in prison. Our aim is to identify and understand the risk factors for veteran criminal offending in order to develop recommendations for the military and correctional services on strategies to enhance desistance from crime among that group. The study will take place in South Australia, Queensland and NSW.
Youth policy for schools series commences
Dr Andrew Bills, lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management, and Ms Helen Connelly, the SA Commissioner for Children and Young People, have initiated a Youth Policy in Schools series for 2021. This is a partnership involving The Australian College of Educators (ACE), the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP), and the Flinders University College of Education, Psychology and Social Work – and its first event is scheduled for 4.30pm on Wednesday, 3 March at Flinders in the City (Victoria Square, 1st floor). The topic for the first session is ‘Young People and Mental Health and Wellbeing – Policy considerations for schools’ and speakers include South Australian Mental Health Commissioner David Kelly, followed by Q&A with a stakeholder panel including: Professor Michael Kyrios, Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work; Steven Wright, Executive Manager of Youth Services Sonder; Dr Sally Gibson, Department for Education and Jenni Cook, Deputy Principal Mt Barker High School. Attendance is free but please register early via Eventbrite as strong demand is expected and only 80 places are available.
Top three-minute summary earns prize
Dr Monica Cations, from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, was awarded the 2020 Australian Clinical Psychology Association Malcolm MacMillan Prize. The $750 prize is awarded annually to a student member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association who presents the best three-minute summary of their research project completed during their Clinical Master’s program.
US award for Work Integrated Learning achievements
Emeritus Professor Janice Orrell is the recipient of the CEIA James W. Wilson Award 2021 for research and leadership in Work Integrated Learning. CEIA is the Cooperative Education and Internship Association in the United States. This award recognises outstanding contributions to the promotion and advocacy of research activity in cooperative education.
Recognition for Precision Medicine data analysis
Dr Ahmad Abuhelwa, a research fellow in the Precision Medicine Group at the College of Medicine and Public Health, has won the 2021 Global Data Sharing Innovator award from the Vivli Centre for Global Clinical Research Data and its Data Analysis Challenge. This recognition represents another international accolade for the Precision Medicine research group.