How much can a koala bear?

Posted on by cqunispotlight

They’re cute, they look cuddly and they are certainly not a bear. The koala – incorrectly referred to as a koala bear by some – is one of Australia’s iconic native animals, but the species has had their fair share of problems in recent times due to urbanisation.

CQUniversity expert in koalas, Dr Alistair Melzer, heads up a community-funded research program, Koala Research CQ, which is based at CQUniversity. Alistair is an adjunct research fellow at CQUni and has studied koalas at the University for more than 20 years. His research also encompasses other aspects of conservation biology including the management of environmental weeds in national parks and invertebrate assemblages in grazing landscapes.

The following excerpt has been taken from our recent Greatvine podcast with Alistair.

Continue reading How much can a koala bear?

A bit of competition between siblings never hurt

Posted on by cqunispotlight
Siblings and CQUni Bachelor of Education students Bronte and Elliot Wills

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Sibling rivalry is just par for the course for CQUni Bachelor of Education students Elliot and Bronte Wills. The close-knit brother and sister pair love a good competition, but despite their ambitious natures, they are also very supportive of each other.

Continue reading A bit of competition between siblings never hurt

African memoires

Posted on by cqunispotlight

By Jacobus Vorster

Natal, 1975: I was born in the peaceful halls of Addington hospital – a former war sanctuary situated on the northern beaches of Durban, South Africa. The city exhibits an array of diverse cultures and fabulous architecture that date back to the British colonial 1800s, when people searched for fortune and adventure to tame Mother Africa. This story, however, begins at a moment when a young Jacobus trekked 265 kilometres northeast with his parents, to the ‘Kingdom of the Zulu’. 

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From singing telegrammer to ICT expert - the life of Bruce McKenzie [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

In this week’s The Greatvine, we hear from Bruce McKenzie, an ICT lecturer and coordinator at CQUni Melbourne, whose pathway to teaching included time in a chicken suit, vital beach fishing know-how, and pursuit of the rock and roll dream.

A passionate programmer since the mid-1980s, Bruce has been passing on his expertise for the past 20 years, bringing humour and practical advice to all his lectures. He’s also in his second year of a Doctor of Education, looking at teaching coding into primary schools.

Bruce chatted to the Greatvine as he waited for news of the arrival of his first grandchild – and little Florence arrived just days later. Congrats, Bruce!

Continue reading From singing telegrammer to ICT expert - the life of Bruce McKenzie [PODCAST]

Caring for our carers starts with connection - [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

Adjunct Professor LYNNE PARKINSON watched her mother die from dementia and her sisters struggle to care for her. Now she heads a research project that is helping carers cope with the challenges.

Caring for someone with dementia is a tough job. Every day brings new challenges for people that look after family and friends with this condition. Not only is it difficult to witness loved ones succumb to this condition that claims the lives of thousands of Australians every year, it can also be debilitating for the carers.

Continue reading Caring for our carers starts with connection - [PODCAST]

A remarkable life - [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

Researcher Kirt Hainzer shares about his amazing life journey which led to CQUniversity.

I remember my first trip to Egypt like it was yesterday. I was 7, and I was living in Cyprus with my family. My Dad, a chef from Austria, was working on a cruise ship that made a loop from Limassol to Port Said every week. I remember leaving the ship and being completely inundated with Egyptians selling all matter of goods and haggling to take us on a rickshaw. But it was the state of everyone’s teeth that I remember most vivid. I’ll never forget those teeth. My mum told me that’s what would happen to me if I didn’t brush my teeth, and I’ve kept impeccable oral hygiene since. Continue reading A remarkable life - [PODCAST]

Closing the Gap - Are we there yet? [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

My experience in the Northern Territory, working as an Aboriginal Health Worker, set the scene for my current and future aspirations in nursing and academia.

Recent meaningful changes to the Australian nursing code of conduct has sparked great debate.

Why? Because there are still barriers hindering the change in practice needed for nurses and academics to achieve equality in health and life expectancy. Continue reading Closing the Gap - Are we there yet? [PODCAST]

Restoring the Kidneys of the Great Barrier Reef - [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

Seagrasses are disappearing at an alarming rate globally and if we don’t do something to revert this trend we could see disastrous outcomes for our coastal ecosystems.

By Dr Emma Jackson, Seagrass Restoration Research based in Gladstone

In Australia, seagrass meadows are at critical levels which potentially could have disastrous outcomes for our coastal communities. That’s why our seagrass restoration project here in Gladstone is attracting the attention of experts around the world. Continue reading Restoring the Kidneys of the Great Barrier Reef - [PODCAST]

Tap versus bottled water - [PODCAST]

Posted on by CQUniversity Australia

With thousands of Australians paying top dollar for bottled water each week, a CQUni researcher is asking – why? By PhD Researcher Adam Rose

Recently consumers have turned to bottled water as a preference to good old-fashioned tap water. It may surprise some people to hear that research is now finding that the water coming from the tap is better quality than the bottled water you pay for. Tap water has had to pass strict drinking water guidelines, whereas, bottled water is not subject to the same guidelines, rather the Food Standards Australia Guidelines, specifically the Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Brewed Soft Drinks. Interestingly, there have been reports of more people in developed countries becoming sick following consumption of contaminated bottled water than those consuming tap water. Continue reading Tap versus bottled water - [PODCAST]