Commencing law students experience the courtroom in first week

Over 200 first year law students packed the gallery of the Banco Court at the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts for their first week at the Griffith Law School.
While no one was on trial, the event capped off Griffith Law School’s orientation week and brought together alumni and industry representatives to give an introduction to the profession and to discuss career paths.
Students were treated to a welcome address from Queensland’s first appointed female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, the Honourable Catherine Holmes.
She explained how the Banco Court is a fitting start to their journey as it is also used ceremoniously to admit apprentice lawyers into the profession.
“I encourage you to go beyond learning just the rules and law from textbooks – get actively involved in your studies, attend court, and observe cases being decided before a judge,” said Chief Justice Holmes.
Industry representatives from the Queensland Law Society and the

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Queensland Conservatorium ranked in top 50 worldwide

The Queensland Conservatorium is among the top 50 performing arts institutions in the world, according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Griffith University’s Performing Arts programs were ranked at number 46.
The list ranks universities across the world, and is determined by surveys of leading academic experts and employers who recruit outstanding graduates in their field.
It is the first time the Queensland Conservatorium has made it into the top 50, alongside internationally renowned music schools such as Juilliard, the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire.
Hitting a high note
“We are delighted with this result,” said Director of the Queensland Conservatorium Professor Scott Harrison.
“Our position in the top 50 globally reflects our determination to be one of the world’s leading conservatoires, and recognises the outstanding work of our faculty who have helped achieve this vision.”
“The undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by the Conservatorium provide a world class learning experience,

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Queen’s Baton Relay has Griffith flavour

Griffith University graduate Elise Appleton has her design work on display across the world, after the Queen launched the 2018 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace this week.
Elise’s colourful design was chosen for the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) emblem.
Elise, who works in Griffith’s Office of Marketing and Communications, created the emblem to celebrate the Baton’s journey across the Commonwealth.
“I drew inspiration from flight paths, and used these to represent the connection and unity of people and places from around the world,” she said.
Griffith Graphic Design graduate Elise Appleton shows off her Commonwealth Games 2018 design
The team, headed by Griffith Studio and Design Manager Romina Vella included Griffith graduate Francis Keil and Queensland College of Art design students Felicity Walsh and Shaun Wilson. They presented four concepts for the QBR emblem to GOLDOC.
The record-breaking relay will span 388 days and travels 230,000 kilometres across all Commonwealth nations and territories.
Like the

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Griffith film graduate wins Hollywood internship

Griffith Film School graduate Lauren Brown has been awarded the coveted Village Roadshow Animal Logic Internship in Los Angeles.
Just months after completing her Master of Screen Production at GFS, she is at the heart of the world’s film industry.
The young film producer will spend the next three months at the Village Roadshow offices in LA gaining first-hand experience in developing, acquiring and producing feature films for the international market.
The Brisbane-based film producer said it was a dream come true.
“I was actually at the hairdresser when I got the call, and I had to stop myself from jumping for joy,” she said.
“For an emerging producer like myself, it is an incredible opportunity to be in Los Angeles working with an amazing company and getting some great support while I’m here.”
The highly sought-after internship is run by Australians in Film (AiF), and is open to recent Australian film graduates who demonstrate significant

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Griffith Health First Peoples Health Plan launched

Closing the gap in health outcomes between Australia’s First Peoples and other Australians is the aim of the Griffith Health First Peoples Health Plan 2016-2022.
Launched by the University in the same week as the Nation celebrates Close The Gap Day (Thursday 17 March), the plan aims to increase First Peoples Health graduate numbers ensuring its wider graduates have the necessary education and training.
“The vision is for Griffith Health to be influential leaders valuing collective knowledge towards better health outcomes for Australia’s First Peoples,” Professor Roianne West from Griffith’s First Peoples Health Unit , said.
“Major strategies include positioning Griffith Health as a faculty of choice for undergraduate and postgraduate future First Peoples students and an employer of choice for First Peoples health staff.
“Aligning with Griffith University’s broader strategic plan, its focus is to set an agenda for practical change and places First Peoples cultures at the centre.
I also believe we are the first university in the country

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Penalty Rate Cuts: who is affected? And who could be next?

It has been less than a month since the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) decision to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for hospitality, retail, and fast food employees, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) along with the federal Labor party are still fighting against the ruling.
In a case that dragged on for more than a year, the FWC took in nearly 6-thousand submissions and evidence from various expert witnesses. The reasoning for decision is that it will allow businesses in those industries to increase employment overall on Sundays and public holidays, a conclusion that Professor David Peetz of the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing does not share.
“It’s a myth. There isn’t really a strong case being put there by the Commission”
Professor Peetz said that often studies like theses are measured in hours worked, but that is not the same thing as an increase in the number

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Intern experience pays dividends for Madeline

Proving the adage that practice makes perfect, Griffith Law School graduate Madeline Lacy has obtained a position with law firm MinterEllison after interning with its Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) legal team.
Madeline is one of nine Griffith Law School interns at MinterEllison, three of whom have since gained full-time employment with the firm.
Throughout her internship, Madeline worked on a variety of legal tasks including Intellectual Property tasks and Agreements which collectively are necessary for the coming together of the Commonwealth Games.
“I have a background in athletics, touch football and netball and love anything to do with sport, so the Commonwealth Games internship was a once in a lifetime opportunity,’’ she said.
She said obtaining full-time employment with the firm was the starting point to her new career.
“It’s going to be all hands on deck for the Games and I’ll be using everything I’ve learnt at Griffith throughout my degree

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Griffith Health Strengthens Ties In Public Health With China

On 15 and 16 February 2017, Griffith University welcomed an official visit from The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, with the intention to reflect on their long standing relationship and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU will further build public health capacity building and research collaborations as well as expand into other areas such as hospital services, allied health and nursing.
The high-level delegation, headed by Director-General, Mr Duan Yufei, met with a number of academics from Griffith University’s Health Group over the two-day visit, as well as toured Griffith’s state of the art facilities.
In conjunction with the visit, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Professor Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor and President, and Mr Duan Yufei, Director-General, also in the presence of Ms Zhou Li, Deputy Consul-General, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Brisbane. Professor O’Connor was delighted

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Where music meets science

The Queensland Conservatorium will play host to a series of weird and wonderful sonic experiments as part of the World Science Festival this month.
The series of free events are part of an exciting program called 100 Ways to Listen, which explores the crossroads where music meets science and celebrates the innovative music-making of the Conservatorium’s all-star faculty and students.
The science of sound will be unpacked through performances, installations and sound walks. From a new composition played on 84 pianos across the Conservatorium simultaneously, to music inspired by quantum physics and a large scale interactive music technology installation, there is something for science nerds and music buffs alike.
These sonic experiments will culminate in a publication launched in July to coincide with World Listening Day.
Time Crystals
Associate Professor Vanessa Tomlinson and Dr Erik Griswold have teamed up to create a ‘choose-your-own musical adventure’, debuting a new piece that will be played by 84

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Waste Not Want Not helps reduce food waste

Australians discard $5.2 billion worth of food annually and that figure is increasing.
To help reduce food waste, Griffith University researchers are showing people how to use their leftovers to create delicious, healthy meals.
Waste Not, Want Not is a two-week Social Marketing @ Griffith pilot program starting on March 20. It is led by Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele from Griffith Business School and has been developed in partnership with Redland City Council.
“One way to reduce waste is to start with food in the home,’’ Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele says.
“The overall aim of Waste Not, Want Not is to raise awareness of food waste in Redland City and to help residents save time and money by reducing their waste.
“The program focuses on helping people to cook meals using the ingredients they already have in their fridges, which will in turn help minimise wasted food.”
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the unique campaign was part

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