CQUniversity Podcast - Greatvine

CQUniversity has launched its latest podcast series CQUniversity Commentary. This podcast series brings you CQUni experts in research, work and study, dissecting the issues and current affairs that affect you, your family and your community. CQUniversity has dedicated the first season of CQUniversity Commentary to focus on conversations about the emerging issues from COVID-19. To listen to this podcast series head to Podbean https://cquniversitycommentary.podbean.com/, or find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube. Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

She says her whole life has been about science education, in one way or another, and now CQUni’s Dr Linda Pfeiffer’s legacy in developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in regional Queensland has landed her as a semi-finalist in the Queensland Community Awards. Linda shares about what some see as a ‘glorified classroom’ known as STEM Central (which she helped design and now heads up) has become an amazing state-of-the-art facility in her hometown of Gladstone, thanks to a partnership with ConocoPhillips Australia Pacific LNG. Linda also explores why some kids find science boring and how the chronic teacher shortage is having a devastating impact on STEM education in regional Australia. And while it took her nine years to complete her Doctor of Science, Linda says it's one of her biggest achievements to date. Finally, Linda shares some helpful advice for up-and-coming STEM teachers.

She received a surprise round of tea-room cheers on her first day on campus, was suddenly in bagpipe-induced tears at her first graduation – and for Associate Vice-Chancellor (Victoria) Lara Carton, leading CQUniversity Melbourne has remained a rollercoaster. Lara shares the logistical nightmares of moving a whole campus, how the student cohort has quadrupled in Melbourne, and why you can always expect incredible catering on her campus. A busy mum to twins and a passionate home cook, Lara explains how weekend routines help maintain calm amidst the chaos of life and work. And as Director of Social Innovation, Lara also reflects on some of the highlights of CQUni’s five-year journey driving creative social change – and how it’s already transformed lives for so many students, staff and community changemakers.

Rhianna Wood is a dedicated nursing student with a heart for making a difference in the lives of others. As a child, she never dreamed that she would grow up to be a nurse, but always had a passion to help those around her. This passion led her to The Philippines on a mission and she has continued to help others in her community and afar. As well as being a second-year undergraduate student, the 19-years-old juggles a list of other roles at CQUni with her studies, including chair of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and a member of the Townsville Campus Life Committee. In this podcast, Rhianna shares about her desire to leave uni with more than a piece of paper that says Bachelor of Nursing, and provide tips on how students from any discipline can be more engaged in university life while building their resume for graduation.

Chris Veraa once worked as a barista at McCafe, before he ever drank a coffee, and later became a rural reporter, despite having little farming experience, and now is CQUni’s Director of Student Experience – and in case you’re wondering, yes, this time he’s got loads of experience. As a high school student who excelled at English, Chris decided to study journalism and marketing at university before embarking on a career as a journalist. Later, a working holiday in the UK allowed him to try the art of closed caption writing where he says his touch-typing course in school ‘saved his bacon’. Back in Australia, roles in media relations eventually paved a way to CQUni where he initially became the Director of Corporate Communications and then moved into Student Experience. He shares that his role now is less about being a practitioner and more about leading teams that focus on students’ uni experiences and support. He shares how scholarships and emergency grants can change a student’s life and how donors’ philanthropy help build the pipeline of talent.

With more than a decade of research experience, Nancy Greer has faced crocs at Rockhampton’s reptile farm (for an award-winning study about how excitement impacts gaming habits), tackled gambling studies in Bundaberg, moved to Brisbane and then into the heart of Melbourne to understand the huge and heartbreaking issues around homelessness. Now, her PhD subject has put her in the middle of the high-voltage world of esports, betting and skin gambling – where online gamers bet with money or video game items on professionals playing video games competitively. Nancy shares how she’s breaking new ground with the research, and what parents can do to protect young gamers.

From sacked sandwich maker to VET education innovator, Peter Heilbuth shares some of his early vocational fails and how an opportunity to teach at TAFE led to a rewarding career in the vocational education sector. Today, Peter is CQUniversity's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for VET Operations and Growth heading up the VET operations of Queensland's first fully comprehensive university. He reflects on some of his more interesting occupations - Sydney Opera House usher and magazine journalist - and provides advice to Australia's young job hunters: "Get a job that makes a difference in people's lives" and "use education as leverage".

This week on the Greatvine we chat with Bachelor of Digital Media student Beau Moloney. Beau shares about how a horrific car crash changed his life forever, forcing him to reevaluate his career ambitions and eventually leading him to his love of the arts, videography and animation. He talks about how he overcame many hurdles to study at CQUni and about the support he received from the University and a CQUniCares scholarship. Looking to the future, Beau discusses his future job prospects and how a recent internship at Channel 9 News has led to a casual camera operator and editor position, and he’s loving it!

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Experience and Governance Joanne Perry. Joanne shares the many changes she’s been a part of at CQUni over the years and tells us there are some things that haven't changed – the Uni’s commitment to students and communities. Growing up in Mackay, just down the road from where the Ooralea campus stands today, Joanne talks about a carefree childhood, later studying hospitality at TAFE after completing high school. A move to Rockhampton in her early 20s, saw a change in career paths to learn new skills in administration, which eventually lead to a position at CQUni in the Finance department. Fast-forward 23 years, Joanne now heads up the Division of Student Experience and Governance as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She says the role is as diverse as it is rewarding. As we approach R U OK Day this Thursday 12 September, Joanne discusses the importance of supporting colleagues and students who may be struggling with life’s ups and downs. She also talks about the CQUniCares Appeal which kicked off for 2019 on Monday and encourages people to support this great cause.

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's hospitality teacher Charlie Jensen. Charlie shares how a smile can make all the difference to finding success in the hospitality profession. Her positivity and bubbly personality is something that always shines through as a teacher, but she’s modest about having her hard work recognised with a Queensland Training Award in 2018. She also shares the challenges and rewards of her work with Central Queensland’s disengaged youth through her involvement in the Project Booyah program. Not only that, Charlie shares the secrets behind what makes the perfect cup of coffee.

This week on the Greatvine we chat with Professor Corneel Vandelanotte. Corneel shares about his childhood growing up in in a small village within Flanders, the northern portion of Belgium, surrounded by farms lands, animals and lots of places to get dirty. We learn that his mother encouraged him to start Judo, which formed part of the reason why he studied physical education at Ghent University. And while his research realises new ways in which others can become more physically active, Corneel explains that he, too, lives a very healthy and active lifestyle. In fact, he recently completed the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory, walking 223 kilometres from east to west in just 17 days. He also shares that he’s tackled the South Coast and Overland tracks in Tasmania, and is planning to ride 1000kms, from Mundaring to Albany in Western Australia, as part of the Munda Biddi Mountain Bike Trail. If that wasn’t enough, he and his partner sailed 1600kms of open water from the New South Wales coast to New Caledonia and then back via Gladstone, and have a long-term dream of circumnavigating the globe – a three to four year adventure.

Growing up in Bargara, regional Queensland, Associate Professor Celeste Lawson lived a carefree childhood, where she did what she loved and what she found interesting. In this podcast, we learn she unconsciously followed in her father’s journalistic footsteps, but soon realised that it wasn’t for her. She shares that her desire to help people led her to become a Rockhampton-based police officer and then an employee of the Corruption and Crime Commission in Western Australia, before her career logically progressed and came full circle back to Rockhampton. We also learn that although Celeste may be studying her seventh qualification, there is no stopping her – study is her hobby and she has already got the next two courses picked out! Celeste shares with us the reason behind her bold hair and that pink isn’t actually her favourite colour. Can anyone guess what it is?

Science isn’t just a profession, but even more so a passion for CQUniversity Adjunct Professor Simon Robson. And as the country celebrates National Science Week, we chat with the CQUni scientist that made huge news earlier in the year when he, along with a research team, rediscovered the world’s largest bee! We hear about why the news was so big and if the rediscovery continues to generate media buzz. We also delve into Prof Robson’s love for biology and learn about how ants are contributing to science robotics. Prof Robson also fills us in on his upbringing and where his fascination for animals came from and we even get an insight into what his favourite animal might be – you might be surprised!

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's Senior Lecturer and Head of Course for Environmental Science Dr Nathan English. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Nathan now lives and works in Townsville, North Queensland. We learn that Nathan grew up in a very ‘non-traditional family’ and delve deep into his passion for the environment, in particular, the natural sciences. We also discover that Nathan loves geology and we learn about the buzz he gets from discovering new things – especially if it means collecting on ‘beer bets’! Nathan – a dad of two boys – hopes to ensure the preservation of the environment and its natural beauty not just for his children and his children’s children but for every generation to come and we hear how he’s doing just that through his teaching. We also hear Nathan’s thoughts on Climate Change and we find out all about what’s inside Nathan’s CQUni Townsville campus office – bird skeletons and all!

This week we chat with CQUni's Publications and New Media Officer, and Be mag editor, Priscilla Crighton. With preparation underway for the 30th edition of Be Magazine, we hear from the lady behind the publication about its creation and some of the most memorable front cover stories. We learn that Priscilla’s love of writing started in high school, where she dabbled in poetry and public speaking, and has since led her to work at CQUni, where she has spent the last 17 years of her career. Priscilla shares how her family encouraged her passion, and how her study journey has influenced her sons. We hear stories about how changes to the digital world has had an impact on her career.

This week on The Greatvine we hear from CQUni's Pro Vice-Chancellor of Indigenous Engagement and BHP Chair in Indigenous Engagement, Professor Adrian Miller. A proud North Queenslander and even more proud of his Indigenous heritage and culture, we hear how Adrian has a real passion for education and its transformative effect. We learn that Adrian, like everyone, sometimes needs a little distraction from the day-to-day world and his way to take his mind off it is to hit the road on a Harley and we also find out about Adrian’s upbringing in Innisfail and discover how he got to where he is today professionally. And we learn about Adrian’s first love – archaeology – and find out whether it’s something he may turn to later in life. Adrian wishes he’d understood the significance of mentorship earlier in his life and provides advice to future leaders on the importance of having a mentor.

This week, in conjunction with NAIDOC Week, we chat with CQUni's Deputy Director for Student Life and Wellbeing and proud Indigenous woman Melinda Mann. Melinda shares about her childhood growing up in small rural and regional areas, surrounded by her Indigenous family and friends, where fishing, hunting and camping were some of her favourite pastimes. We learn that her childhood was a rich cultural experience which nurtured a love of learning and education. We hear how her Auntie Mabel Edmund became her mentor after she addressed her Year Five class about the impact of racism on Indigenous people and how kindness and generosity were so important in their communities. We also learn that she became the first in her family to attend university and has now completed a PhD at CQUni. Melinda tells us that she believes it is so important to identify your values early in life and to surround yourself with good people as they give you perspective. So true Melinda!

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's koala researcher Dr Alistair Melzer. While he grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and initially studied at the University of Queensland, we hear that Alistair was destined to work in Central Queensland. And while his research spans a variety of environmental management fields, for the past 20 years he has been dedicated to the research of Australia's iconic native animal, the koala. We learn that a stint as a research diver on the Great Barrier Reef, looking at the crown of thorns starfish, somehow led him to CQUni where he has been since 1996 and today is an adjunct research fellow. We learn that much of his koala research has been in conjunction with other organisations, such as Earthwatch, and has been greatly supported by a group of committed community volunteers. We learn that the koala's story is both one of gloom and opportunity and he sheds some light on what we can do to help koala populations survive in Australia.

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUniversity's Deputy Director of Development and Alumni Relations Francois Gallais. His first ambition was to be a professional soccer player, but once he discovered his skill set didn't match his passion, a young Francois quickly turned his attention to another love ... cheese. In this week's podcast, we hear how Francois' early years growing up in France involved a robust school life with a mix of soccer and tennis, which eventually led him to business school and later a Masters in Marketing at a university in the UK, followed by his first job selling cheese – very French! We hear about his roles in fundraising and how being 'too comfortable in France' led to his family moving to Central Queensland where he landed a role at CQUni. We learn about CQUni's diverse alumni and Francois' role to provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to engage with and support CQUni's endeavours. Finally, we learn that life is pretty busy for this father of three, who spends his spare time sailing and being a taxi for his teenage children.

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's Vice-Chancellor Nick Klomp. He has been in the top job now for four months and has just completed his inaugural tour of CQUni's many locations, so it is timely to hear about his first impressions of CQUni. We also discover how his career has progressed over the years and about his drive to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. We learn about his fascination with the science of teaching and his research interests in seabirds which took him across the globe to study in Glasgow. Nick chats about his family, including his seven-year-old dog Lola, who is having a ball in Central Queensland. He also shares about the University's new strategic direction along with the challenges and opportunities that exist for CQUni. Plus, we hear about his love of running, which he believes helps him become more organised, as well as discover that his 'happy place' is listening to music while hitting the pavement on his electric skateboard.