News and Events
SoPH Visited by Clontarf High School students
- On Monday 8th June Chris Richardson (from Health Safety and Environment) hosted a group of 15 students from Clontarf Aboriginal College. The students walked over, toured campus and ended up here in the School. Richard Ashley‐Jones Prospective Student Advisor, Corporate Communications led the group and said "There was also a real buzz within the group, and they all commented how they felt “very welcome” at Curtin." Some of the student comments were:
“I actually learned something this morning” (lol).
“That was lot of fun, I will be checking my salad tonight before dinner!”
Richard emailed Chris directly after the activity and said "Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to make these tours as successful as they are. A big part of a student’s experience, relies on the practical nature of faculty activities, something other Universities simply don’t offer when they run a campus tour. Just wanted to let you know that your efforts are appreciated, and each different group that comes through never fails to impress upon me how much they enjoy the public health activity!"
Chris has worked hard to make the food safe and hand washing education topical with the inclusion of information on Swine Influenza and does a great job in showcasing the spirit of our school.
Former SoPH Master of Public Health student wins prestigious award
- BronwynFerrier was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) on 8 Jun 09 in the Queens
Birthday Honours List. This was for "meritorious achievement as the
Officer-in-Charge of the Fleet Industrial Hygiene Support Unit".
Bronwyn says "Much of the skills I used in that job were from what I learned in the Master of Public Health program at Curtin University in environmental health, environmental health management, and occupational health an safety management - and not to mention further developing my writing skills with assignments, dissertation and getting an article published."
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19/06/2009: Letter to the West Australian 'Restrict fast-food shops'
- Scool of Public Health's Professor Colin Binns wrote a letter to the West Australia regarding extended supermarket hours and how it relates to the obesity epidemic.
Please see attached file to read the letter.
[ Download file... ]
School of Public Health Researcher wins the National Dietitians Award
- Curtin University of Technology researcher Roslyn Giglia has won the Dietitians Association of Australia’s best New Researcher Award.
Dr Giglia’s nomination is the result of her recently completed PhD titled, Alcohol consumption and Cigarette Smoking by Australia Women: changes with Pregnancy and Lactation. Her recommendations have been included in new guidelines released by the National Health and Medical Research council (NHMRC) for drinking while breastfeeding.
Click on the link below to read more.
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SoPH in the News: 'Safety in the Heat' (Various papers, May 2009)
- Press clippings were printed in four papers regarding the launch of the ‘Safety in the Heat’ program that Graham Bates and Veronica Miller have been working on in the Middle East. Mention is also made to Darren Joubert (a former staff member and current PhD student), in a couple of them, plus Curtin University is mentioned as well.
The papers were: Khaleej Times: 21 May, Ameinfo: 20 May 2009, Emirates Business: 24 May, Gulf News: 21 May 2009
See attached file to view one of the clippings.
[ Download file... ]
SoPH at the 'Australian Health Promotion Association National Conference'
- The 18th National AHPA Conference: “Make Health Promotion a Priority: Evidence, Advocacy and Action” was held at the Perth Convention Centre from the 17th to 21st May. The conference was well attended by national and international experts with a good mix of representation from governmental and nongovernmental organisations. The School of Public Health was well represented with School staff presenting 18 papers, in addition to several posters and Chairing many sessions. Gemma Crawford worked tirelessly as
a member of the organising committee and also as Chair of the Program Committee of which Peter Howat and Alexandra MacManus were also members. Health Promotion and WACHPR staff also ‘manned’ the information booth.
Report on the WACHPR Forum
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On Tuesday 26th May the Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research (WACHPR) held a forum for agencies to explore the ethical issues that arise within youth peer support programs as they balance youth engagement and youth participation with their duty of care to participants and peer educators. The forum titled Ethical Practice in Youth Peer Support was hosted by the My‐Peer project and covered a range of dilemmas including boundaries, dependency, negative peer influences and the impacts on young people who take on roles of peer educators/supporters and responding to these within a range of settings such as drop‐in centres, youth camps and in online forums.
The My‐Peer project is producing an online toolkit of best practice standards, templates and tools to design, implement and evaluate peer‐based youth programs. The toolkit is being developed through an action research project headed by WACHPR staff Graham Brown, Roanna Lobo and Jonathan Hallett
in collaboration with five youth agencies and four research centres. The forum outcomes will contribute to the formation of example policies and procedures and case studies as a component of the toolkit that addresses ethical practice. The project website can be seen at:
http://www.curtin.edu.au/research/projects/mypeer/
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22/07/09: School of Public Health Postgraduate Coursework Orientation/Information Session
- The SoPH Postgraduate Coursework Orientation/Information Session is to be held on
Wednesday 22nd, July, 2009
in Building 400, Room 30.
See the attached file for details.
[ Download file... ]
Fair Trade for SoPH
- The SoPH Sustainability Committee invited all staff from the SoPH to join in a Fair Trade Coffee Break as part of the morning tea at 10.30 on Friday 8th May . After hearing from Sue Fyfe and Jill Downie a short film 7 minute film called 'The Okapa Connection' was shown. The film traced the production of coffee in Papua New Guinea to a café in Melbourne. This event was part of the Fair Trade Fortnight (an international event to raise awareness of fair trade) and to re-launch the School of Public Health as a certified Fair Trade Workplace. They also gave out free samples!
You can watch this and another video at the link below.
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SoPH staff member is successful in his application for a competitive
- Professor Andy Lee has been a successful applicant for a national competitive Australian Academy of Science-Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invitation Fellowship to Japan. The main part of his research program is to collaborate with A/Prof Naoko Hiramatsu, Laboratory of Nutritional Science, University of Hyogo, on projects relating to nutritional factors for the prevention of chronic diseases. Andy will also visit and give guest lectures at other institutions including Kochi University, Shinshu University, Kagawa Nutrition University, and the National Cancer Centre in Tokyo. Both Hyogo and Shinshu universities have signed an exchange agreement with Curtin.
Congratulations Andy on this prestigious achievement!
SoPH in the News: 'Chewing the Fat' (West Australian 21/04/09)
- A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips? Not all fats are bad for you!
It's is a common belief fat makes you fat. But recent research has shown not all fat is created equal. Denise Griffiths, spokeswoman for the nutrition and dietetic program at Curtin School of Public Health, said some fat was vital to provide the
body with fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Click on the link below to read the full article.
[ Download file... ]
SoPH in the News: 'Fast-food for thought in sports funding debate' (Weekend Courier 24/04/09)
- WAFL director of football Grant Dorrington believes a blanket ban on fast food and alcohol sponsors in sport would not reduce its consumption. But accredited dietician Denise Griffiths favours blocking such brands from putting money into sport in an effort toreduce obesity rates...
Click on link below to read full article.
[ Download file... ]
2007 SoPH Annual Report
- The School of Public Health presents its 2007 Annual report.
[ Download file... ]
SoPH Winter School 2009
- The School of Public Health run a Winter School each year during mid-semester break.
Please click on the link below for detail.
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SoPH student Wins the Dietitians' Association of Australia Underwood Award!
- Award-winning Curtin University dietetics graduate Suzanne White wants people to make healthy eating a priority. Mrs White, from Canning Vale, was the WA winner of the Dietitians' Association of Australia Underwood Award after achieving high standards in her dietetics course at the School of Public Health, Curtin University.
Click on the link below to read more...
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Also see our Conferences and Seminars section...
For information on past events, please check our archive.