University study and elite sport are demanding in different ways. To combine both and achieve success is an even greater challenge.
As members of the Griffith Sports College, Aaron Murphy and Scott Swan are keenly aware of this delicate balance and will share their insights on Friday 14 July at a networking event at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus.
The event is being held on behalf of the Clem Jones Scholarship and Adam Scott Foundation Sports Business Scholarship.
Aaron Murphy
In 2013, Aaron received the Clem Jones Scholarship, which supports high-level sporting achievers who are also financially disadvantaged. It enables them to study at university.
Tasmanian-born Aaron moved to the Gold Coast in his late teens to train at Northcliffe Surf Club under the legendary ironman coach Pat O’Keefe.
All the omens were good. However, sport is no stranger to heartbreaking stories.
“On New Year’s Eve in 2008, I was leaving the club after training when I was
Category: Griffith University Feed
Street-based sex work in research spotlight
As a PhD candidate, Dr Katie Hail-Jares’ days were pretty normal—teaching, writing, and reading—but her nights were more unconventional. For five years, Dr Hail-Jares volunteered with an overnight syringe exchange, driving around Washington, DC to distribute condoms, syringes, and hot chocolate to people who used drugs and street-based sex workers.
That volunteer experience inspired Dr Hail-Jares, now a post-doctoral research fellow with the Griffith Criminology Institute, to pursue epidemiological criminology. “That is a fancy way of saying I am interested in how criminalising behaviour impacts health outcomes for different people.”
During these outreach shifts, Dr. Hail-Jares was especially interested in how street-based sex workers navigated and pushed back against the policies introduced to make them less visible. It was this first-hand experience that formed the basis for her new book Challenging Perspectives on Street-based Sex Work.
Dr Katie Hail-Jares
Edited by Hail-Jares, Corey Shdaimah (University of Maryland), and Chrysanthi Leon (University of Delaware) the
Cyber Security expert awarded prestigious honour
A Griffith University Adjunct Professor has become the first non-American to receive a distinguished award for services to cyber security education.
Professor William Caelli, who has been a Griffith Adjunct since 2008, was awarded the Founders’ Medal by the Colloquium for Information System Security Education (CISSE) in Las Vegas in June.
The award recognizes Professor Caelli’s more than 40 year contribution to cyber security education internationally.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised, as an Australian, for my work in cyber security education and training.”
In 2003, Professor Caelli was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his services to the Information and communications technology (ICT) industry and education in information security.
Media Expert
Often called on by the media for his expertise, Professor Caelli said Australia, like all other nations, has an urgent and vital need to further cyber security education.
“Griffith’s Bachelor of Information Technology is at the cutting edge in IT security teaching students best practice
Griffith Sciences Regional Roadshow Assures Future Employability
Australia’s Chief Scientist acknowledges that 70% of jobs in the future will require employees to have related skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The jobs forecasts in Queensland; by The Australian Institute (April 2016), suggest 20% growth by 2019, with particular emphasis around professional, scientific and technical services, equating to an additional 36,700 jobs state-wide.
To complement these trends, Griffith University’s Sciences faculty is unveiling a unique suite of double degrees to enhance the employability prospects of its graduates.
Regional Queensland and northern New South Wales will have the opportunity to find out more about these new degree programs, as Griffith Sciences Group hits the road during its inaugural ‘Future-proof your career, The Griffith STEM Roadshow’ starting in Ipswich on Thursday 13 July 2017.
“With the continued acceleration in scientific discovery, coupled with the ongoing impact of technological disruption, means individuals with STEM skills will have an advantage in the highly competitive
Remarkable generosity as Annual Appeal tops $100,000
For the first time, Griffith University’s Annual Appeal has topped $100,000 in donations.
The record-breaking mark was reached this week, less than two months after the 2017 appeal was launched.
And with the appeal running until the end of the year, the amount already raised guarantees the provision of 40 Griffith Futures Scholarships for students who excel in their studies despite facing personal or financial disadvantage.
Administered through the Students’ Future Fund, each scholarship is worth $5000, with the University matching every donation dollar for dollar.
The success of the 2017 appeal so far follows on from another record-breaking year in 2016 when $85,659 was raised.
To donate to the 2017 Annual Appeal, click here.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Martin Betts thanked donors for their remarkable generosity.
“This is truly something to celebrate because it represents donors’ belief in our students, in the power of education and in our University,” said Professor Betts.
“This outcome confirms how
Griffith’s world-leading drug research institute’s new direction
Creating knowledge that transforms lives.
With a new purpose, direction and name, the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery’s vision to be a world-leading hub targeting the most devastating global diseases with outstanding people and resources is on its way.
Officially unveiled by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who has generously visited the Institute twice in two months, the new name positions the GRIDD to be a highly networked facility dedicated to developing innovative solutions that lead to translational outcomes and saving lives.
Ms Palaszczuk said for more than 20 years the Institute had been at the forefront of drug research, leading new discoveries and making inroads in the global biotechnology sector.
“Now as GRIDD it will continue to grow Queensland’s reputation as a science and innovation hub, with researchers advancing major scientific discovery such as treatments with stem cells for spinal cord injury,” she said.
“The new name positions the institute for the opportunities ahead and clearly
Warning on alumni telephone scam
Griffith University has been made aware of alumni from some Australian universities being asked to disclose their credit card details over the telephone by someone claiming to represent that University.
Griffith University does not charge for Alumni registration, and membership of our overarching Alumni Network is free worldwide. You can always check on the name of any person purporting to be a staff member here: and just type the name in the search box.
If you believe you have been contacted by somebody who claims to represent Griffith University but does not seem legitimate, please send us an email to let us know.
Alternatively, you can phone us on +61 7 555 27473.
Griffith Law School urges political leaders to endorse ‘Uluru Statement’
Griffith Law School recommends that any Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples must be informed by an understanding of their ‘ancient sovereignty’.
In a statement released during NAIDOC week, the Griffith Law School called on Australia’s political leaders to work towards the goals expressed in the historic ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’.
Amending the Constitution, to give Australia’s First Peoples a voice, is an important and overdue step needed to advance reconciliation according to the Griffith Law School.
Griffith Law School has also pledged to support the work outlined by the Uluru Statement through its own teaching, research and advocacy work in promoting justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Full statement from the Griffith Law School
Griffith Law School accepts the invitation expressed in the recent Uluru Statement from the Heart, to walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as part of ‘a movement of the Australian people for a better
Five minutes with…Peter Creed
Professor Peter Creed began professional life as a practitioner working with adolescents and adults who were displaced, confused about their life direction, or struggling with their careers. These interests carried over to research in the areas of career development, career progress, and career achievement. We spent five minutes with Peter to learn a little more….
In what area/s does your research interests lie?
My recent research interests have focused on the application of goal setting/ self-regulation theories …to understand how individuals set and adjust their career and life goals and manage the consequences of goal disruption, such as how they deal with negative affect[s] and implement behaviour change to reduce stress and improve performance.
[My] studies with young adults (including…[those] with special needs, e.g., youth in-care, hard-of hearing adolescents) have focused on career development and disruption and career transition, [and specifically], career distress, self-perceived employability, career calling, career-related feedback, goal importance, goal disengagement,
Griffith lecturer Paul Mason helps tell story of new comic series Kid Phantom
Move over Spiderman and Captain America – there’s a new superhero in town, Kid Phantom.
Griffith Film School animation lecturer Dr Paul Mason grew up devouring comic books. Now the talented illustrator has been chosen by Frew Comics to reboot the adventures of The Phantom.
Kid Phantom is the first spin-off of The Phantom in its 81-year-history, and Paul admits that re-imagining The Phantom for a new generation was a daunting prospect.
“I was very nervous about tackling such an iconic character – there are people out there who are big fans and real traditionalists who have been reading The Phantom for years,” he says.
“There is a real nostalgic connection to this character, and taking it on was intimidating at first.
“It’s been a real learning curve for me, but it’s great that a company like Frew have embraced local creators and are passionate about creating new stories.
“It’s been a lot of long hours,