South Australia’s 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards features a host of outstanding Flinders University staff and alumni among the nominees for its People’s Choice Awards 2023.
The winners of the various categories – which applaud the leadership, vision, excellence and commitment of young people, while highlighting their efforts and success – will be announced at a Awards Gala Presentation at the Hilton Adelaide Hotel on Friday 5 May.
Conservation scientist and campaigner Rhys Abbott (BEdSt ’19, BSc ’22) has been nominated for the Scouts SA ESG Award. His most successful campaign, “Save Our Outback”, encouraged thousands of people to engage with their local representatives to protect SA’s incredible rangelands. He has produced a short climate justice documentary, founded multiple environmental community groups, and has amassed 250,000 followers on his environmental education page, Earthly Education.
Dr Dhani Dharmaprani (BEng(Biomed)(Hons) ’16, PhD(Med) ’20) and Dr Lauren Jones (BMedSc ’16, BSc(Hons) ’17, PhD(Med) ’22) have been nominated for the The University of Adelaide STEM Award.
Dr Dharmaprani, a Research Associate in Cardiac Electrophysiology at Flinders University, is using math to find treatment for a heart rhythm disorder. Named South Australian Fresh Scientist 2021 and a Superstar of STEM in 2022, Dr Dharmaprani applies novel mathematical and computational concepts from chaos theory and statistical dynamics to understand how spirals causing cardiac fibrillation form in the heart and how they behave.
Dr Jones is researching enterochromaffin cell biology and the gut-brain axis. Her research demonstrates an interoceptive pathway by which enterochromaffin (EC) cells physically sense food, allowing EC cells to release serotonin and drive healthy gut function and digestion. Her work with the Gut Sensory Systems Lab in the College of Medicine and Public Health will continue this year when she moves to University College London.
Rebekah Reardon (BHlthSc ’18) and Kaleb Wilden (Mphysio ’21) have been nominated for the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Rural Health Award. A sonographer at Benson Radiology, Ms Reardon is making ultrasound services accessible to local individuals without the extensive travel. In 2021, she received the Benson Managing Partner Award. During Covid-19, Rebekah provided ultrasound to the Mount Gambier Hospital Emergency Unit so that local individuals could access acute care under ultrasound.
Mr Wilden is a neurological physiotherapist offering allied health service through his business, Wilden Exercise Services, which provides home visit therapy to those with mobility and transport issues, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with limited accessibility to healthcare.
Daniella Cutufia (LLB/LP ’17) has been nominated for the Websters Lawyers Achievement in Law Award. A long-time volunteer at the Women’s Legal Service SA (WLSSA) assisting with their legal advice during her studies, she became the inaugural Deputy Associate of Her Honour Judge Dickson before returning to private practice at David Burrell & Co.
The CRAM Collective has been nominated for a Creative Achievement Award. The CRAM Collective is a South Australian independent theatre company, that crams together passionate and daring artists to create, revive, augment and merge art forms. CRAM was co-founded by Flinders University Drama Centre graduates Connor Reidy, Ren Williams, Aarod Vawser and Melissa Pullinger. Over the past year, CRAM have produced sold-out seasons of two world premieres, opened the CRAM Hub on Pirie Street and won the Helpmann Creative Innovator Program.
Lucy Solonsch (BHlthSc(Hons) ’22) has been nominated for a Department of Human Services Pride Award. Having published her honours thesis on gender affirming care policy, she is advocating for autonomy and leadership opportunities for LGBTQIA+ community members by advocating to bodies including the Public Health Association of Australia and SA Health. She also runs workshops and publishes articles to help clinicians provide better care to LGBTQIA+ people.
For more information about the Young Achiever Awards, visit the website.