New pilot programs build industry links
The South Australian Government has pledged up to $1.85 million to establish two Industry Doctoral Training Centre (IDTC) pilot programs. Based on the UK Centres of Doctoral Training model, the South Australian IDTCs aim to facilitate collaboration between the state’s universities, research and business to develop innovations for translation to market, and support greater mobility of graduates between research and industry.
The IDTCs will support a cohort of 30 domestic and international students to complete their PhD research projects in partnership with a business from their chosen industry sector, with a focus on two fields of increasing global relevance: biomanufacturing and the industrial application of quantum technologies.
Micro-X’s Peter Rowland, Chief Executive Officer of industry partner of the Tonsley-based X-ray imaging company, says the program will build stronger connections between research and industry, upskilling Micro-X’s future workforce while accelerating commercialisation of world-leading technology.
Alumna becomes State Theatre Artistic Associate
Shannon Rush, who graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Directing with First Class Honours from Flinders University, is the new Artistic Associate at State Theatre Company SA (STCSA). She joined the company as part of its resident artist program and will work on several productions throughout the year.
A theatre director, Shannon trained at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and has directed, performed and facilitated in Australia, Europe and the UK. She made her STCSA directorial debut with Cathedral in 2022, a co-production with Country Arts SA, and previously directed Sophia Simmons’ Limit as part of the 2019 Umbrella program. Later this year, she will direct the world premiere of Anna Goldsworthy’s Welcome To Your New Life, which opens in the Space Theatre in November.
McGrath part of Australia’s winning World Cup team
Flinders graduate Tahlia McGrath was part of the triumphant Australian Women’s Cricket Team which won the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday night. In defending their women’s T20 World Cup title with a 19-run victory over hosts South Africa in Cape Town, the team has now set the remarkable record of winning six World Cup titles.
Tahlia, who graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree in (Middle and Secondary Schooling) and a Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2022, was the not-out batter in Australia’s innings, and bowled two overs in the thrilling final. It underlines her status in international cricket, which was reinforced when she was crowned ICC Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year in January, and she attracted a bid of $245,000 in the Women’s Indian Premier League auction, being the fourth highest paid Australian player in the auction. Congratulations Tahlia.
Prof Crotty included in national advisory panel
Defining long COVID and understanding knowledge gaps about the condition and its impacts in Australia were among major themes discussed at a recent national expert roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra that included Professor Maria Crotty, from Flinders’ Professor of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care at the College of Medicine and Public Health.
The Australian Academy of Science in partnership with the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences organised the roundtable discussion to inform the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport’s Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections. It was the first time the two Academies jointly convened a roundtable to provide expert, independent advice to a parliamentary committee inquiry.
The roundtable followed a joint submission to the Inquiry from the Academies. It brought together experts from across disciplines and sectors, such as infectious diseases, epidemiology, respiratory medicine, primary care, allied health and public health, as well as patients with lived experience.