A new Griffith University study has found young children with autism display high levels of anxiety symptoms.
“Anxiety symptoms in autistic children can occur early in the life of a child on the autism spectrum and that age is likely to be a factor in the type and severity of anxiety across the lifespan,’’ says lead author Professor Deb Keen from the Autism Centre of Excellence.
“But there has been little research on anxiety and autism in children under eight. Most anxiety measures are for older children and non-autistic populations.”
Anxiety-related symptomatology in young children on the autism spectrum – published this week in the journal Autism – investigated the frequency and range of anxiety symptoms in 95 five and six year-old children on the autism spectrum using an autism-specific measure of anxiety.
The study used data collected through the Longitudinal Study of Australian Students with Autism (LASA). Parents of autistic children aged four-five and
Category: Griffith University Feed
Health research bolstered in latest research funding grants
Griffith University research into malaria, gut infections and streptococcus are some of the projects set to benefit from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2018 Project Grant funding announced this week.
The Menzies Health Institute of Queensland – Griffith University (MHIQ) was awarded three funding projects worth just under $2 million while Griffith’s Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) received two grants totalling more than $1.6 million in funding.
Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Ned Pankhurst said Griffith’s world-leading health-based research will help lead the fight against challenging medical conditions
“The significant and ongoing support from NHMRC will allow our remarkable researchers to move forward with their projects and deliver transformative outcomes.”
MHIQ Professor Glen Ulett received funding for two grants both for streptococcus infection research. The combined funding is worth more than $1.6 million.
Professor Glen Ulett received two project grants
As well, clinical psychologist Associate Professor Lara Farrell was awarded funding worth $567,744 for her research into
Chris McMahon: In search of scoops
One of the most significant reforms in Queensland’s parole and probation system might never have occurred were it not for a series of exposés led by journalist and Griffith University graduate Chris McMahon.
As crime reporter at the Townsville Bulletin newspaper, Chris petitioned the State Government to review the system following the 2016 murder of 81-year-old Beth Kippin, who was allegedly killed by a man released on parole just hours earlier.
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It was Chris who made the initial discovery about the suspect’s parole conditions, with the ensuing review leading to the implementation of 88 recommendations, including the new No Body No Parole law.
Chris, 31, says the process and outcome was all about keeping people honest and supporting the community.
His ethical and quality reporting saw him named New Journalist of the Year at the 2017 Queensland Clarion Awards.
“It was never about me, but it is good
A quest out of Africa
They didn’t quite cross paths during Professor Michael Good’s tour of the Uganda Virus Research Institute in 2013, but Aloysious Ssemaganda quickly became aware that a world-renowned researcher in the fight against malaria had been to his place of work.
He discovered that Professor Good, from Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics, was in Africa searching for a site to conduct malaria vaccine field trials.
His online search also revealed an academic whose unflappable faith in his work had been demonstrated by him being the first person to receive the vaccine he developed.
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Soon afterwards, Aloysious emailed Professor Good to inquire about studying a PhD under his supervision. The response was both prompt and encouraging.
In April 2014, having bid an emotional but temporary farewell to his wife and three young children, Aloysious moved to Queensland and immediately thrived in the unique research environment that the Institute for Glycomics
Institute tackles population growth and challenges to develop smart cities
As our cities and urban populations continue to grow, Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute is bringing considerable expertise to a challenging issue.
Previously the Urban Research Program, the Cities Research Institute launched in May 2017 and is capitalising on knowledge and experience from several disciplines.
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With around 70 academic members, 35-plus adjunct members and more than 120 PhD scholars, the research team is focused on four key themes:
intelligent infrastructure
quality places and changing communities
smart cities and coastal resilience
urban water
Institute Director, Professor Paul Burton, says that by tapping into the expertise of transport and land use planners, civil engineers, system modellers, environmental scientists, economic and social researchers, coastal engineers, geographers and architects, ensuing research projects are designed to bring real benefits to cities.
Projects so far have explored issues connected to the Gold Coast light rail system, CityCat ferry systems, green infrastructure for cities, safe and secure housing, disaster
Wolfe wows the international film set
It began as a simple university assignment, a short documentary about a young man coping with mental health issues during his journey through adolescence.
But an application to the Berlin International Film Festival changed the course of Claire Randall’s third year of study at the Griffith Film School in an extraordinary way.
With Griffith graduates Lachlan Morton and Shannen Tunnicliffe, Claire travelled to Berlin in February 2017 to premiere their documentary, Wolfe.
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Excited just for their film to be shown, elation soon followed when Wolfe won a prestigious Crystal Bear award for Best Short Film in the Generation14plus category. This is the same category that previously featured Aussie films such as Red Dog, Girl Asleep and Bran Nue Dae.
The win paved the way for a whirlwind year, with Wolfe screening at 11 other film festivals, including Cannes and Sydney.
The Griffith filmmakers also shared the red carpet with
Andrew Stone: Showman to the stars
During a hectic four-month stint leading up to April 2017, Andrew Stone criss-crossed the world, battled sleep deprivation and enjoyed a grand total of two days off. Of course, that’s the kind of commitment required when you’re preparing for an Australian tour by Adele.
While the British superstar songstress was the biggest act to reach our shores in 2017, Griffith University business alumnus Andrew is no less dedicated in his efforts for other tours and events. His reputation has been built on, and counts on, attention to every detail.
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“Adele had never done that type of production before, but when someone of her calibre goes ‘Wow!’, then that’s fantastic. Still, it can be a little like torture sometimes,” he says.
“I learned fairly early in my career that events management is crisis management.”
Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Business from Griffith Business School in 2003, having
Awards recognise female entrepreneurs
The achievements of a group of female Griffith University alumni were recognised in the prestigious Cosmopolitan 2017 Women of the Year Awards.
Announced in October, Sabo Skirt founders Yiota and Thessy Kouzoukas took out the Fashion Designer of the Year award, a huge honour for the Griffith business graduates.
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Fellow Griffith Business School graduates Sarah Schoeller and Marissa Bowden, founders of the now-iconic The Village Markets at Burleigh Heads, were nominated in the category of Entrepreneur of the Year.
In speaking about the origins of the markets nine years ago, Sarah says: ‘Marissa and I worked together for a finance company in marketing and we used to talk about how the Gold Coast didn’t have a great fashion market.
“When we were made redundant (during the Global Financial Crisis), we had some time on our hands. We’d been to some great markets in London and Sydney, so we
Griffith workshop to tackle the decline of democracy in Southeast Asia
Academics from Griffith University and other esteemed institutions will gather for a two-day workshop this month addressing the deterioration of democracy across Southeast Asia.
Led by Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Diego Fossati (of the Griffith Asia Institute and the Centre for Governance and Public Policy), participants will draw from their deep regional knowledge to discuss the extent to which democracy in Southeast Asia has deteriorated in recent years, the key forces driving this development, and the implications for accountability between citizens and politicians.
The group of Australia-based and international experts will canvass areas such as populism, political Islam, civil society, deliberative democracy, democratisation, political parties, social media, and clientelism in addressing its central issues, Dr Fossati (pictured) said.
“We think this is a timely and topical event because of current developments in Southeast Asia,” he said. “In recent years, challenges for democracy in this region appear to have intensified.
“By the account of many observers of the region, the quality of democracy in most Southeast Asian
Tenancy law reform urgently needed to help domestic violence victims
Domestic violence victims should be able to terminate their leases immediately if they are at risk of further abuse according to a new Griffith University study.
As part of her Honours thesis, law student Bianca Fernandez examined the consequences for victims of domestic and family violence when they are forced to terminate a lease in Queensland to escape abuse.
Bianca Fernandez
“Currently a victim must apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a termination order and remain on the premises before they are allowed to terminate their lease,’’ she says.
“If a victim terminates their lease without the requisite termination order she remains legally liable for the rental property. This means if the property is damaged or the perpetrator does not pay the rent, the victim is liable to compensate the landlord.
“Additionally, she could be listed on a tenancy database as an unsuitable tenant for breaching her tenancy agreement meaning it will be very