Summer reader
Stories of impact for a changing world CRICOS Provider: 01241G | TEQSA - PRV12043
Volume 2 - 2023
Transforming Tomorrow is a collection of stories of impact for a changing world. Stories that celebrate the tenacious, caring and committed people who make up the Southern Cross University community. scu.edu.au/transforming-tomorrow Chief Marketing Officer: Dean Gould Stories by Michael Jacobson, Jessica Nelson and Karlyn Gibson (Naturopathy), Lee Adendorff (Waterworld) Design and layouts: Stephen Harris Photography: Elise Derwin, Alejandro Tagliafico, Luke Marsden and Peter Derrett 2 – Transforming Tomorrow
We acknowledge Widjabal Country as the Country where Southern Cross University originated and grew, and from where it continues to grow. It seeded the growth of our Gumbaynggirr Campus in Coffs Harbour, our Yugambeh Campus in Coolangatta and it planted the seeds to transform the Countries we are on. Understanding our origins will make each step into the future a more purposeful one, leading all to transform tomorrow.
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Stories of impact for a changing world. This second volume of stories in the Transforming Tomorrow series continues to celebrate changing lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. They showcase a University full of inspiring people, unafraid of challenges. From research for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, housing, health, resource management and water security for future generations, to educators creating innovative ways to teach and learn, this is an anthology of passion and impact, with each story speaking to the many ways that Southern Cross University, these individuals and their communities are Transforming Tomorrow.
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Contents 7.
No place like home Southern Cross University is at the core of a growing network that is creating ambitious strategies to transform tomorrow’s cities and the lives of the people who call them home.
11. Waterworld With the population of Western Sydney projected to increase by more than one million people over the next decade, a team from Southern Cross University is working with Sydney Water to make sure the mighty Hawkesbury can cope.
15. A young voice for our rural future
Young people have a crucial role to play in the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries. Southern Cross University science student Luke Austin is bringing passion and purpose to how that future may take shape.
19. The science of feeling good
Southern Cross University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine is brimming with enterprise. Alongside clinical trials into natural treatments for debilitating conditions, the Centre is pioneering integrated medical knowledge to deliver premier academic courses and advocate for holistic, patient-centric healthcare.
28. Solutions in circulation for the war on waste
Southern Cross University is working closely with industry, business, government, environmental groups and communities on ways to activate and accelerate initiatives around waste and the principles of the Circular Economy.
32. Following the evidence to
transform teacher education Southern Cross University is leading the way in reshaping teacher education to better equip both new and experienced teachers for the evolving demands of the modern and future classroom.
35. The Southern Cross Model The world is changing and the demands on students are changing too. Drawing on a proud history of thinking and acting boldly, we produced a new way to support them to succeed: the Southern Cross Model. The results are coming in and, increasingly, the world is watching.
22. Inspired science brings hope for marine and reef systems
In the era of climate change, Southern Cross University marine scientists, ecologists and oceanographers are turning inspired thinking into brilliant innovation, leading efforts to preserve and restore precious marine environments.
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We are inviting the community to share in and have a say in what we are doing as a university and as scientists, and why we are doing it. - Dan Etheridge Anne Street Garden Villas social housing project in Southport. Architect: Anna O’Gorman of Anna O’Gorman Architect. Photographer: Christopher Frederick Jones. 6 – Transforming Tomorrow
The Living Lab
No place like home: Innovation and imagination for the cities of the future Words: Michael Jacobson
Southern Cross University is at the core of a growing network that is creating ambitious strategies to transform tomorrow’s cities and the lives of the people who call them home If future cities are to be smart, resilient and sustainable, academic “smarts” have a significant role to play – and Southern Cross University is embracing this responsibility. Amid a national housing crisis, a post-pandemic population surge, building company collapses and associated concerns, the University’s academic expertise is informing endeavour across urban planning, architecture and construction, environmental and infrastructure management, and crucially, community wellbeing. Circular economy principles are also to the fore.
All this is happening as campuses on the Gold Coast, in Lismore and Coffs Harbour epitomise areas in focus as to how and where Australians will live in the future – •
the Gold Coast is Australia’s sixth largest city and a hub for the exponentially growing south-east Queensland region
•
Coffs Harbour is an expanding coastal city in a sweet spot for growth midway between Sydney and the Gold Coast
•
Lismore – the second largest city in the NSW Northern Rivers – is a future regional city in progress as it continues to recover after the 2022 floods. Transforming Tomorrow – 7
An exciting contributor to the future cities agenda is Living Lab Northern Rivers, a joint project between Southern Cross University, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the NSW Government. Drawing on the model developed in the post-Hurricane Katrina (2005) environment in the US, Living Lab Northern Rivers seeks to align lived experience and rigorous research to boost resilience, replace outdated systems and provide greater certainty in uncertain times. Academic Director Professor Elizabeth Mossop and Engagement Director Mr Dan Etheridge both worked on the Hurricane Katrina project in Louisiana and bring vast experience to Living Lab Northern Rivers. An Adjunct Professor at Southern Cross University, Professor Mossop served as Dean of the School of Design, Architecture and Building at UTS and is the principal of leading landscape architecture firm Spackman Mossop + Michaels. She has held executive positions at Harvard University, Louisiana State University and the University of NSW. Mr Etheridge graduated from Southern Cross University’s Applied Science in Coastal Management Program in 2002 before working in the US for two decades. He is the co-founder of the Public Interest Design Student Leadership Forum, out of the University of Texas, which has built a network of design and planning schools across the US.
Both agree that Southern Cross University’s civic leadership can enhance its already influential role in education and research. “And not just Southern Cross,” says Professor Mossop. “I think this is what universities must do. Here in the Northern Rivers, our community rightly wants a say in how it rebuilds and, based on our research, we can bring practical and achievable ideas to the table.” A recent exhibition at Living Lab Northern Rivers took this idea and really “brought it home”.
Old sites, new possibilities In October 2023, the Bring It On Home exhibition challenged architects to present speculative housing designs that might be appropriate for existing sites in and around the Northern Rivers, and which in turn might expand permanent housing stock. Infill housing is one intriguing option, with case studies at the exhibition ranging from social housing garden villas and dual living development on the Gold Coast to contemporary terraces in Victoria, co-housing plans in New Zealand and raised, low-impact housing on flood-designated land in Newcastle. “Infill development is where you find sites to put in new housing within existing built-up neighbourhoods,”
There are many ways to adapt neighbourhoods and provide better and more affordable housing for a larger number of people. - Professor Elizabeth Mossop
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says Professor Mossop. “Such neighbourhoods are already served by infrastructure, by schools, by access to parks and so on, so you can add more housing into those neighbourhoods.
and delivered on-site – warrant consideration, as do special development zones that exist outside the usual regulatory framework and allow the piloting and testing of innovative solutions.”
“You might be trying to put two houses where there was one, or four apartments where there was one. Or perhaps there is an option to put dwellings into the back of people’s lots, potentially increasing the density of some of those areas.
As recovery continues in the Northern Rivers, Mr Etheridge adds that Living Lab Northern Rivers is prioritising adaptation and improvement, rather than simply putting things back as they were.
“You can also look at different types of co-housing, where dwellings are smaller and more affordable because resources are shared, such as gardens, laundries or other communal facilities.” Professor Mossop says there are many ways to adapt neighbourhoods and provide better, more affordable housing for a larger number of people.
“Going forward, I see Living Lab Northern Rivers as being central to creating and maintaining a space where all kinds of community members and technical knowledge can work effectively together with Southern Cross University.” Learn more about The Living Lab
“In a place of acute need like the Northern Rivers, prefabricated and modular housing – factory-built
Anne Street Garden Villas social housing project in Southport. Architect: Anna O’Gorman of Anna O’Gorman Architect. Photographer: Christopher Frederick Jones.
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The Hawkesbury is an iconic river so many people depend on. We want to make sure it stays that way. - Dr James Sippo
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Image: Elise Derwin
Catchments, Coasts and Communities
Waterworld: catchment science supporting urban growth Words: Lee Adendorff
The Hawkesbury River winds like a crinkled ribbon through the fertile Darug lands north of Greater Sydney. It is central to life here - supporting wildlife, farms, businesses, and providing a playground for endless recreation. Less romantically, it’s also the place where a portion of Sydney’s treated wastewater is discharged and the destination for stormwater runoff from a rapidly growing city. Understanding the river’s ability to cleanse itself as Sydney grows is key to its future. With the population of Western Sydney projected to increase by more than one million people over the next decade, a team from Southern Cross University is working with Sydney Water to make sure the mighty Hawkesbury can cope.
Lack of attention to this balance elsewhere in the world has had dire environmental consequences. “We’re looking particularly at the cleansing capacity of the river system to process nutrients. A big increase Transforming Tomorrow – 11
in population will bring a big increase in treated effluent and stormwater runoff, and a big increase in associated nutrients,” said lead researcher Professor Damien Maher. “At the moment the modelling is theoretical, based on models from other river systems. We’re trying to build a picture from the actual data, so we can base future river management on what is really happening.” The research zone is 80km long with four separate sampling stations stretching from North Richmond to Wiseman’s Ferry. Professor Maher says the scale of the sampling is something to behold. “We collect thousands of samples on each field trip and we take them back to our temporary accommodation where we process what we can on-site. “Then we truck about two tonnes of water samples up to our lab in Lismore where we have the more advanced diagnostic equipment.” Lismore is the location of Southern Cross University’s Northern Rivers campus, where cutting-edge sampling and analysis has seen the University consistently rank among the top environmental science universities in the world. The research findings will help inform many of the infrastructure requirements for water servicing of Western Sydney’s expansion.
Water research with communities at heart Last year the University launched a new Coasts, Catchments and Communities Research Impact Cluster, bringing together expertise and activity in the areas of biogeochemistry, riverine and estuarine science, as well as the integration of social science and Indigenous knowledge. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability) Professor Mary Spongberg said the Hawkesbury project was a clear example of this expertise and capacity at the service of communities. “It’s also a model for how we can work together with industry while providing strongly supportive environments for early career researchers,” Professor Spongberg said. One of those early career researchers is Dr James Sippo, a PhD graduate who is working with Professor Maher, supported by an Industry Fellowship jointly funded by the University and Sydney Water. Dr Sippo has worked for the last six years in the area of blue carbon, or the ability of natural systems like the Hawkesbury River catchment to capture, transform and store carbon. He says the Hawkesbury project is an opportunity to take the science to a new level and scale.
“The Hawkesbury has a high amount of nitrogen but we can already see that it also has a high capacity for processing it, with ideal conditions for microbes in the sediment that process nitrogen into inert gas,” Professor Maher said.
“It’s also a chance to expand our knowledge of carbon capture and storage in these enormous rivers and estuaries,” Dr Sippo said.
“It’s a very deep river compared to other systems, similar to Sydney Harbour’s topography in some ways, with a sandstone drowned river basin and this gives it particular characteristics as a filtering system, but increasing residential and industrial areas located along the river will affect this capability.”
Learn more about the Catchments, Coasts and
“The Hawkesbury is an iconic river so many people depend on. We want to make sure it stays that way.” Communities research cluster
Image: Alejandro Tagliafico
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Dr Sippo and Professor Maher. Image: Elise Derwin Transforming Tomorrow – 13
Luke Austin
A young voice for our rural future Words: Michael Jacobson
Young people have a crucial role to play in the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries. Southern Cross University science student Luke Austin is bringing passion and purpose to how that future may take shape. At just 22, Southern Cross University science student Luke Austin has a wisdom beyond his years, manifesting in a bold vision for Australia’s agricultural future. Recipient of a 2022-23 Horizon Scholarship through rural research and development corporation AgriFutures Australia, Luke is an emerging voice for the generation that will inherit a sector currently beset with problems – from climate change, soil degradation and crop sustainability to economic pressures, ageing farmers, farm succession planning and changing consumer demands.
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As a marine science student, Luke wondered whether he even qualified for consideration for the two-year scholarship, which is awarded to selected undergraduates in an agriculture-related degree. A year later, his scientific and philosophical scope has so broadened that he has become an erudite advocate for agricultural and industrial transformation. He has strong support from Southern Cross University, which is leading the educational push to rethink our approach to farming. Along with strong research collaborations across plant science, agronomy, ecology, agroforestry, environmental chemistry and
Benoit Belleville & Esther Falade (University of Melbourne) with Luke Austin in the Twi Islands.
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socio-ecological systems, the University’s sustainable farming program is designed for students eager to transform farming practices and build more resilient farms and farmers for the future. Luke is enjoying plenty of opportunities to observe agriculture in action. In 2023 alone he has visited 15 countries and every state in Australia twice, taking advantage of professional development workshops, industry placements and events, and other initiatives. Sponsored by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), he has visited Japan to observe the development of bioplastics from seaweed, and also travelled to the Tiwi Islands, off the Northern Territory, to witness the extraction of DNA from forestry species to help build a more profitable timber industry for the local First Nations people. In another highlight, earlier this year he represented AgriFutures and Southern Cross University on the Pathway to 2050 panel at leading innovation festival SOUTHSTART, sharing the stage with South Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Caroline McMillen. “I believe in the fresh perspectives of young people who represent the sole future workforce of Australia’s rural industries,” says Luke, who is in the final year of a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science and Environmental Science) at Southern Cross University’s Coffs Harbour campus. “Our unique experiences, aspirations and knowledge position us so well to contribute to policy and program design.” “The next generation of agricultural scientists can lead that, ensuring the future of agriculture is environmentally sustainable and linked to rural prosperity.” Luke elaborates on the theme in AgriFutures’ most recent report – Listen Up: Young people’s perspective on the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries – which affirms the role that young people must play in shaping the future of the sector, and essentially, why rural industries must engage, listen to, nurture and collaborate with them. Ironically, Luke gave little thought to agriculture before his scholarship. Growing up in Coffs Harbour, he was free to indulge his love of the ocean and made plans for a career in marine science. Enrolling at Southern Cross University provided access to the superb teaching and facilities at the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC). He embraced the opportunities that have come his way, including data mapping of remote marine debris at Cape York, membership of the Ministerial Advisory Board delivering policy advice to the NSW Government, and working as a research assistant for the NMSC’s Reef Restoration and Adaption Program. Since April 2023, he has been working with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, engaging in regulatory operations covering forestry, catchments and pesticide use in horticulture.
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The more he learns; the more he discovers correlation and connection. “I was surprised at just how relatable my marine studies were to the rural sector, where industries and people share a task that balances environmental sustainability with feeding and fuelling the world,” he says. “That intersection between land and sea is where so much change needs to be made and I want to be a part of that. When advocating for values like biosecurity, food security, custodianship and sustainability, young people must play a leading role in fostering an environment that promotes authenticity, sustainability and inclusivity alongside innovation.” Clearly passionate, it would be an error to suggest Luke’s passion is unbridled. Rather, he is a realist about the structure and scale of strategic change. “Change does not mean the end of one thing to maintain another,” he explains. “For instance, I am not advocating the complete cessation of logging to save our forests, or the total shutdown of the pineapple industry to help the Great Barrier Reef. I think the
I believe in the fresh perspectives of young people who represent the sole future workforce of Australia’s rural industries “either-or” approach to change often just replaces one set of problems with another. “What I am about is finding balance, about a measured approach to how science, industry, education, communities and environmental interests work together to find methods of practicable and sustainable change.” Luke eventually hopes to work at the intersections of regional development, industry and sustainability to foster a more sustainable and productive rural industry surrounding aquaculture. “That is where the University and the scholarship are so important,” he says. “Science does not get done without the scientists, so it is good to be liaising and engaging with others who are bound by a vision for a better future and are coming at it from other scientific fields, be it agricultural science, veterinary science, sustainable farming or, like me, marine science. “To hear different values, perspectives and ideas infiltrates your own thinking, your own goals, so you get a broader picture of things. You seek and find common ground and, as young people about to become the next generation of scientists, that must be beneficial. Listen to Luke about the challenges facing our marine environments
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Peter Mouatt inspects the Echinacea in the University’s medicinal 18 – Transforming Tomorrow
herb garden with student Cameron. Image: Elise Derwin
Naturopathy
The science of feeling good: Southern Cross University delivers a new era for naturopathic medicine Words: Jessica Nelson, Karlyn Gibson
Southern Cross University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine is brimming with enterprise. Alongside clinical trials into natural treatments for debilitating conditions, the Centre is pioneering integrated medical knowledge to deliver premier academic courses and advocate for holistic, patient-centric healthcare Walking the lush, sub-tropical grounds of Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus, Professor Jon Wardle inspects the flourishing plants beside Australia’s only certified medicinal herb garden. Drawn to an Echinacea plant – a purple, daisy-like
flower known for its immune-modulating activity – he notices other plants in bloom, such as the seemingly innocuous elderberry shrub. “Elderberry is showing promising results for its antiviral potential,” says Professor Wardle, Foundation Director
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of the University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) and Maurice Blackmore Chair of Naturopathic Medicine. “We are working with international bodies to review the plant’s role in a comprehensive suite of natural therapies.” Elderberry is far from the only plant in the NCNM’s focus. Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Northern NSW, the Centre is transforming the global conversation about health through advocacy for patients and the naturopathic profession, and by playing a leading role in the natural products sector. Southern Cross was the first Australian university to offer degrees in naturopathy and integrative medicine and is one of just two Australian universities in the USbased Academic Consortium of Integrative Medicine and Health, alongside institutions like Harvard and Stanford universities. It is also the only public university in Australia that qualifies graduates as clinical naturopaths able to practise in specialised and integrative settings in four years. Furthermore, the NCNM’s team of international experts is pioneering new integrated medical knowledge while delivering world-class Bachelor and postgraduate courses in Naturopathic, Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine. All this is happening at a time of enormous industry growth. “The complementary medicine sector is a $5.6 billion industry in Australia and is one of Australia’s most successful export industries. It is poised to become a booming industry on the Gold Coast and in the Northern Rivers,” says Faculty of Health Executive
Dean at Southern Cross University, Professor Julie Jomeen. “We offer unparalleled infrastructure to support naturopathic training and research, including one of only two Therapeutic Goods Administration-certified natural product analytical laboratories in Australia. “Our Gold Coast and Northern Rivers campuses are acknowledged as a hub for expertise. There is no better place in the world to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.” Since the NCNM was established in 2020 – the result of an historic $10 million donation from the Blackmore Foundation – it has become synonymous with internationally-recognised research in integrative medicine. “The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is about supporting the body’s own ability to heal itself, and of empowering patients to be an active part of their healthcare journey,” says Professor Wardle. “There is so much we can do to improve healthcare beyond our traditional approaches. It might be new plant-based or natural therapies, better use of Indigenous and traditional knowledge, or creating healthcare teams that look at a person’s wellbeing from multiple angles. We are also seeing great results in group care models for better healthcare outcomes.” Professor Wardle’s area of clinical focus has long centred around endometriosis, a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it and in other parts of the body, causing life-disrupting pelvic pain. For the estimated one in nine women in Australia who struggle with endometriosis, often there is an
Images: Elise Derwin
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accompanying story of either having symptoms downplayed or subject to delayed diagnosis. Accordingly, and understandably, many women then seek out the care of a naturopath to help manage endometriosis.
“For example, we are working with Parkinson’s disease patients to hear what works in terms of their health. One of our projects is investigating their experiences with using cannabis and cannabidiol oil (CBD) and how that either helps or hinders their health.
NCNM PhD candidate Sophia Gerontakos is researching under the supervision of Professor Wardle and has developed a new naturopathic group care model for women with endometriosis.
“Based on what they tell us, we then pose scientific questions and design experiments to understand their experiences.”
“We’re still analysing the final results,” says Ms Gerontakos, “but from initial patient reports there appears to be a therapeutic aspect to the empowering nature of being part of these groups, as well as the educative nature of the visits which helped women better self-manage their endometriosis using the therapeutic treatments.” Professor Wardle says that while endometriosis has largely been overlooked or neglected by clinical communities, it is a naturopathic research priority for the NCNM. Areas of focus include – • examining the potential role of cannabis in treating pelvic pain • a collaborative project with Western Sydney University and Endometriosis Australia about the positive health impacts of more flexible working arrangements to help women manage their endometriosis • a research project with University of Technology Sydney, led by NCNM naturopathic course coordinator Ms Rebecca Redmond, which is looking at historical and traditional interpretations of symptoms that are suggestive of endometriosis, to see what might be learnt from those traditional medicines.
Our Gold Coast and Northern Rivers campuses are acknowledged as a hub for expertise. There is no better place in the world to train the next generation of healthcare professionals Potentially transformative research is happening throughout the NCNM. Dr Andrea Bugarcic is another example as she leads multiple pre-clinical trials using traditional knowledge to guide laboratory research, all of which is informing the US National Institutes of Health recommendations for natural products research. “I work in the pre-clinical space, listening to patient experiences and figuring out how we can test traditional knowledge at a cellular level to help fight disease,” says Dr Bugargic.
Dr Bugarcic is also spearheading a project looking at traditional knowledge in treating cancer, particularly lung and colorectal cancer and bacterial infections. “This is really interesting work. We are looking into the suite of traditional evidence and examining the impact on human health,” she says. “We will use this knowledge to identify novel herbs and compounds for treating bacterial infections (specifically biofilms) and understanding any anti-cancer properties.” Dr Bugarcic works closely with Clinical Research Fellow Dr Janet Schloss, who is leading several projects at the NCNM. Among them is Australia’s including largest clinical trial on medicinal cannabis oil to establish evidence for its use to treat sleeping problems; a drug-absorption study looking at how CBD is absorbed and excreted from the body; and a novel herbal formula to relieve anxiety during menopause. The NCNM’s Deputy Director of Education, Associate Professor Matthew Leach, says there is a growing body of evidence to support integrative medicine in mainstream healthcare settings. “Southern Cross University is trailblazing the development of new shared models of healthcare. We know team-based care is best practice care – this is where every patient has a team around them to support their health and wellbeing – it is a wholeperson approach,” he says. “Every Australian should have a naturopath who works collaboratively with their GP and other relevant health professionals, including nurses, osteopaths, psychologists and occupational therapists, to ensure their health and wellbeing needs are met.” “We know that around one-half of Australians live with a chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, and about 80 per cent of these chronic illnesses are influenced by lifestyle factors. “Many of these factors can be addressed early through naturopathic care and lifestyle medicine, which in turn can drastically improve quality of life and optimise health across the population.” Learn more about The National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
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Oceans and Reefs
Inspired science brings hope for marine and reef systems Words: Michael Jacobson
In the era of climate change, Southern Cross University marine scientists, ecologists and oceanographers are turning inspired thinking into brilliant innovation, leading efforts to preserve and restore precious marine environments. Southern Cross University PhD candidate Meryl Larkin may be early in her research career, but she is already creating knowledge that might claw a precious and threatened coral back from the path to extinction.
is one of 100 priority species listed on the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Strategy.
Scientists led by Meryl have for the first time mapped the reproductive strategies and life cycle of the endangered purple cauliflower coral, Dendronephthya australis.
The species has been all but wiped out in the estuary during the past three years due to the devastating impact of sediment shifts, flooding and other factors. Ramifications extend to its role as vital habitat for other species, including the endangered White’s seahorse and baby snapper.
Endemic to south-eastern Australia – with the largest populations historically found in the Port Stephens estuary in New South Wales – the purple cauliflower
It is therefore remarkable that such a dire situation should now inspire optimism, thanks to scientific breakthroughs including new IVF methods devised by
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Distinguished Professor Peter Harrison, who pioneered the Coral IVF breeding process, on the Great Barrier Reef.
Meryl – with advice and support from coral biologists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) – to produce larvae in the lab and successfully reintroduce coral babies into the wild. Meryl’s work has been co-funded and supervised by the University and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, with ongoing work funded by the NSW Environmental Trust. “Our discoveries open new doors for conservation strategies, including potential restoration efforts,” she says. “It has given us real hope we can keep this coral off the extinction list.” Southern Cross University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability), Professor Mary Spongberg, says Meryl’s work is a clear example of the University’s intent to harness its distinct research strengths to create a better world. “The other aspects of Meryl’s research – about which we are really proud – are that we are solving these problems in deep partnership with others, while also providing strong, supportive pathways for early career researchers,” says Professor Spongberg. The breakthrough research Meryl is doing today joins a Southern Cross University tradition going back decades in seeking to understand and meet the challenges facing the world’s oceans and reefs. It also connects seamlessly with the work of globally recognised Distinguished Professor Peter Harrison, who pioneered the Coral IVF breeding process and whose commitment to marine research is now in its fifth decade. Much hope is being placed on Coral IVF and other
processes to achieve large-scale reef recovery around the world, although nowhere is the need more pressing than on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Home to 3,000 individual reef systems and an incredible array of marine life, four mass coral bleaching events in the past seven years have provided stark evidence of the Reef’s vulnerability. Despite UNESCO’s decision in August 2023 to keep the Reef off its World Heritage in Danger list, it remains under serious threat. Restoration, protection and sustainability are at the heart of marine science at Southern Cross University, as evidenced by the launch of the Reefs and Oceans Research Impact Cluster to consolidate and accelerate solutions for underwater ecosystems worldwide. The science happening within the Cluster is imaginative and inventive. For instance, at the University’s National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) in Coffs Harbour, Dr Daniel Harrison is experimenting with ‘cloud brightening’ technology to help clouds reflect solar energy away from the reef. When scaled up, this technique may be able to cool ocean temperatures and reduce bleaching. The project is part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, a partnership with the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. “Marine cloud brightening sees microscopic sea water droplets sprayed into the air, creating a plume of salt crystals which interacts with cloud to reflect solar energy away from the reef waters when heat stress is at its maximum,” says Dr Harrison. Transforming Tomorrow – 23
Marine cloud brightening sees microscopic sea water droplets sprayed into the air, creating a plume of salt crystals which interacts with cloud to reflect solar energy away from the reef waters when heat stress is at its maximum. - Dr Daniel Harrison
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Image: Alejandro Tagliafico
Watch Video Understanding the sex life of coral gives hope of clawing it back from the path to extinction
Image: Meryl Larkin
Following more than 30 years of theoretical work, Southern Cross University is the first in the world to take brightening technology outdoors. This has been with the support of local Indigenous communities and with permits granted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. “Fogging” is another technique under trial, which mimics the effects of fog by adding seawater to the air from a generator on moored platforms or vessels. It has the potential to protect reefs from solar radiation for short periods, potentially reducing coral bleaching in a cost-effective way while buying precious time for longer-term climate change mitigation. Mitigation and adaptation go hand in hand for the NMSC’s Dr Emily Howells, who is investigating the capacity of reef-building corals to adapt to climate change. In focus are corals with a genetic predisposition for thermal tolerance and, by extension, how this innate adaptivity might be harnessed for broader coral health and sustainability.
“So our choice is to stay on our course or explore every avenue to help protect our communities from the profound impact of the climate emergency, which we
are now seeing in extreme events around the world. ” Dr Howells is collaborating with AIMS in Townsville and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudia Arabia. Part of her research involves taking samples from thousands of corals and measuring their heat tolerance during bleaching events and controlled experiments. Throughout the Reefs and Oceans Research Impact Cluster, no idea is off the table, even if some might seem counter-intuitive at first glance – such as adding industrial matter to the oceans to mitigate climate change. All becomes clear as Associate Professor Kai Schulz explains the process of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) for carbon dioxide removal and storage. “OAE involves the controlled addition of crushed minerals or suitable alkaline agents from industrial processes into the ocean to mitigate climate change,” he says. “Next to rock minerals, industrial inorganic byproducts have the capacity to be an effective, oceanbased conduit for carbon capture and storage. “The ocean already absorbs more atmospheric carbon dioxide than anything else and perhaps, through strategies like OAE, it might be helped to do even more, although we must not proceed without full knowledge of what it means for the oceans themselves Transforming Tomorrow – 25
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement R&D Program, a multi-funder effort incubated by the Carbon to Sea Initiative.
Agreement in 2015, the research community is turning to climate system scale interventions, known as geoengineering.
In November, Associate Professor Schulz was co-author of a new publication, ‘Guide to Best Practices in Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Research’, which was showcased in the UAE at COP28, an event related to the latest UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“I wish we weren’t having to think about this,” says Associate Professor Schulz. “We would have been better to deal with the threat of climate change by reducing emissions, but it is clear now that we will not get there with reductions alone.
He says the publication will serve as a guiding framework for research across the world, which is required to assess the benefits and risks of changing the ocean’s pH levels as a possible response to climate change. As modelling makes it clear the world will not reach the 1.5C warming target set by the Paris
“We know there is a clear relationship between the alkalinity of water and its ability to absorb C02 – so we know there is potential there. But we also need to understand all the possible causes and impacts.
is much we need to determine before we can even think about projects at scale in our oceans.” Driving these and other projects is a cohort of Southern Cross University scientists with a profound understanding of, and concern for, the planet’s reefs and oceans. Their efforts are fostering environmental transformation via protection, restoration and sustainability, while also supporting the hundreds of millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on these systems.
Learn more about Transforming Tomorrow
“What will it mean for plankton, for instance, and the role it plays in ocean food chain? What might it mean for ocean ecosystems? There
Watch Video Introducing the Reefs and Oceans Research Impact Cluster at Southern Cross University
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Richmond Dairies is the site of a RecCirculator project. Image: Peter Derrett
Zero Waste
Solutions in circulation for the war on waste Words: Michael Jacobson
Southern Cross University is working closely with industry, business, government, environmental groups and communities on ways to activate and accelerate initiatives around waste and the principles of the Circular Economy A pilot project led by Southern Cross University is providing “concrete” evidence of how technology, shared vision and environmental empathy can improve how we deal with waste. In partnership with international building material company CRDC Global, the project is using plastic waste as an aggregate replacement in concrete for construction applications. Southern Cross University is leading the structural testing of the material in Australia. With financial benefits around waste disposal and the cost of raw materials, along with environmental gains from diverting valuable materials away from
landfill and back into new products, the project typifies strategic thinking towards new practices and sustainable ends. It is the Circular Economy in practice – and it is not the only example in which Southern Cross University has a major role. “It is a small start, but transformation often starts that way,” says Professor Andrew Rose, environmental engineer and Academic Director of the University’s ReCirculator program. “Waste has certain connotations – that it is useless, contaminated and without value – and these have long influenced what we do with it. We need to see waste as
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a resource, or at least as a potential resource, then instil that message into our thinking and our behaviour.”
When Professor Godfrey talks rubbish, it is worth listening to.
The imperative is simple: it does not matter how or where you start; simply that you do.
“The Circular Economy is really about sustainable resource management,” she says. “It tracks the movement of resources through an economy which, for now, has been very linear: that is, we extract resources, we make things, we consume things, and we throw them away.
A key component in Southern Cross University’s regional commitment is ReCirculator, a $2m Federal Government-funded project to support information exchange, cutting-edge research and technology implementation around waste. Part of the University’s ZeroWaste research cluster, ReCirculator brings together expertise in geochemistry, environmental science, engineering, business and education to develop solutions at local level. The potential gains go beyond the environmental to also impact at social, economic and behavioural levels, all arising from new thinking on what waste is, and how it can be utilised as a resource. In other words, how waste no longer simply goes to waste.
We are dealing with a global transition to a whole different economy. This is an enormous undertaking. It is not just about recycling and changing waste. It is about how we use resources and how we value resources. It is fundamental change to society. - Professor Dirk Erler. In May 2023, a public event entitled The Impact Forum on the Circular Economy fleshed out how this is happening and why it must. Held at the University’s Lismore campus, the forum featured seventeen speakers and engaged influential groups such as Business Lismore, Business NSW, NSW Environment Protection Authority, Circonomy, Circular Australia, the Centre for Regenerative Design and Collaboration and Institute Sustainable Futures. The event was also part of the University’s Live Ideas initiative to activate ideas for positive change. Keynote speaker was Professor Linda Godfrey, global leader on the Circular Economy and, among many roles, Principal Scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (South Africa). Throughout an illustrious career she has provided strategic input to waste and green economy initiatives for the European Union, United Nations, departments of Science and Technology and Environmental Affairs; the Development Bank of South Africa; the Academy of Sciences of South Africa; the Institute of Waste Management and several universities. 29 – Transforming Tomorrow
“The Circular Economy is more than waste management because by the time you get to the point of waste and pollution, it is too late. It is an end of pipe solution. We have got to move the entire discussion upstream in terms of our consumption behaviour. We need to use less, we need to use longer, and we need to reuse.” Southern Cross University’s Professor Dirk Erler agrees. Chief Investigator for the ReCirculator program, he bemoans our “make, take, waste” society. “We are dealing with a global transition to a whole different economy. This is an enormous undertaking. It is not just about recycling and changing waste. It is about how we use resources and how we value resources. It is fundamental change to society.” In the town of Casino, Richmond Dairies is participating in ReCirculator by looking at ways to extract nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, then taking them back to the farmland in the form of a slow-release fertiliser. Water can then be released into nearby wetlands rather than paying for disposal through a sewage treatment plant. The company’s Chief Financial Officer Mr Craig Kelly is convinced of ReCirculator’s potential. “From an environmental viewpoint, we must be adept at recovering waste,” he says. “There is also a commercial imperative because customers want to deal with firms that are reducing their carbon footprint. That is why liaising with Southern Cross University is so valuable. Dirk and the ReCirculator team are bringing us to the forefront of new research.” Just down the road at The Casino Food Co-op, the region’s largest employer has several waste streams that require better treatment to improve sustainability. Southern Cross University is working with the company to treat its tannery wastewater and enable the discharge of clean water. Other projects in the ZeroWaste research cluster are making their own contributions, bringing expertise and initiatives to areas such as waste mitigation in red meat processing; plastic and polymer production; marine plastic pollution; and fertiliser pollution in our waterways. Meanwhile, schools are participating in waste reduction programs devised at Southern Cross University, and a redeveloped Bachelor of Engineering Systems is nurturing a whole-of-system understanding of engineering solutions by tomorrow’s engineers. All initiatives are part of a broader push towards transformation in the Northern Rivers. And the impact is both professional and personal.
Professor Linda Godfrey speaking at the Circular Economy Impact Forum
“I grew up in the Northern Rivers. It is such a beautiful region and I was aware very early of the importance of trying to protect that beauty,” says Professor Rose.
The Circular Economy is more than waste management because by the time you get to the point of waste and pollution, it is too late. It is an end of pipe solution. We have got to move the entire discussion upstream in terms of our consumption behaviour. We need to use less, we need to use longer, and we need to reuse. - Professor Linda Godfrey
“I also like building things, so environmental engineering seemed the perfect combination to me. It is about trying to improve society by using technology in a way that is both respectful of the limits on the environment and of our impacts as humans on the environment. “The Circular Economy relates well to environmental engineering, which has that technical aspect while also encompassing economics, social behaviour and social expectations. It has the potential to transform our attitude towards resource use in society.” In other words, on a planet with finite resources, making better use of waste is never a waste of time.
Learn more about the ZeroWaste cluster
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Image: Luke Marsden
Teachlab
Following the evidence to transform teacher education by Michael Jacobson
Southern Cross University is leading the way in reshaping teacher education to better equip both new and experienced teachers for the evolving demands of the modern and future classroom. The imperative for evidence-based transformative change in Australia’s education system is more pressing than ever, says Professor David Lynch, Research Director at Southern Cross University’s TeachLab education research group. In a period marked by critical issues such as teacher shortages, burnout, declining student teacher enrolments and waning respect for the profession, Professor Lynch offers a compelling perspective on the necessary course of action. “In a rapidly changing world in which the classroom is becoming ever more complex, Australian teachers have never had less agency in their own profession or less respect outside it,” he says. “That is no small irony for a profession which plays such a part in the future of generations of Australians.”
A former teacher and school principal, Professor Lynch’s extensive experience is informing TeachLab’s central mission: to deliver research that enables the education sector to undertake evidence-based change on how teachers are prepared, how they can best teach, and how improvement is undertaken. TeachLab’s work is happening at a time when the magnitude of the current teaching crisis cannot be overstated. In October 2023, an investigation by The Australian newspaper revealed a nationwide surge in teacher resignations, with numbers doubling in NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. Queensland saw a 34 per cent increase in resignations in 2022 alone. Simultaneously, the influx of new teachers entering and remaining in the system has declined significantly. Further revelations in the Sunday Mail newspaper
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that almost 200 Australian schools are trialling Artificial Intelligence tutors in the classroom are also significant, especially for what this means for teachers and their authority going forward. The AI concerned is a version of Mathspace, complete with a cartoon dog named Milo as the educator.
Pre-service teachers will combine learning and practice in the teaching school classrooms from day one of their studies. It is anticipated that by spending more time at the “classroom coalface” before they graduate, many will be more likely to remain as teachers in the region after graduation.
While the Federal Government-appointed Teacher Education Expert Panel has identified several priorities and initiatives, including the need for stronger teacher education programs and improved practical teaching experience, Professor Lynch hopes the response to the Panel’s recommendations is commensurate with the crisis it is addressing.
The Director of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore, Mr Adam Spencer, said the partnership will harness the collective strength of the schools and Southern Cross University, fostering an optimal learning environment for teachers and students.
“For example, combining university studies with increased practical experience in schools can pay enormous dividends in preparing teachers for their careers,” he says. “But of even greater importance when it comes to curricula, teachers must know more than what to teach. They must know how to teach. Simply throwing assets at teacher education is not a solution. “We need first to ask ourselves what we are preparing the teacher for, because currently the classroom teacher is being asked to be all things to all students. Teachers are being swamped with extraneous requirements and the results are there to see.” Professor Lynch also emphasises the need to rethink support structures within schools, proposing a stratified teaching workforce model akin to nursing, which involves different levels of practice. He says such a model, when applied to teaching, could revolutionise teacher education by offering diverse training regimes. Crucially, Professor Lynch asserts that teacher education reform must be grounded in evidence. TeachLab is leading that charge in ways that align strongly with the long-standing ethos of Southern Cross University’s education faculty, including existing research which has been generated but largely ignored in successive waves of education reform produced at the top and handed down in slabs to those in the classroom. “For too long, teachers, school leaders and especially students have not been involved in the shaping of reform,” says Professor Lynch. “We believe we need to disrupt this paradigm and I am happy to say that this is now happening. “Based on the University’s willingness to partner and co-design with schools and teachers – in ways which put students at the centre of reform – exciting research agreements are being struck.” In August 2023, Southern Cross University announced a three-year, $1.2 million agreement with the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, spanning school communities from Tweed Heads at the NSWQueensland border to Laurieton on the mid-north coast of NSW and west to Dorrigo on the Northern Tablelands. 33 – Transforming Tomorrow
A second project, announced in November 2023, is a $500,000, three-year agreement with St Andrews Lutheran College, at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast, to examine how to better prepare in-service teachers for the demands of the future. Both projects are led by TeachLab and will benefit from evidence-based change and co-design principles, bolstered by the University’s presence in regional settings. They also pave the way for innovation such as micro-credentials – focused and concise course units designed to accelerate proficiency in teacher education – and, of course, AI. Furthermore, the projects will contribute to the development of a Southern Cross University model of teacher education, one that prioritises evidencebacked strategies to improve student outcomes, support teacher development, and create highly individualised school environments. Southern Cross University’s Dean of Education, Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, has affirmed that TeachLab’s research will not occur in isolation to the broader national conversation around teaching. Rather, it will draw the research into the way these partnerships are working to create models that lead the country in supporting teachers and students in extraordinary classroom environments. “For too long our teachers have been taken for granted, blithely expected to fulfil so many extraneous duties that remove them from what they were actually trained to do,” concludes Professor Lynch. “This is placing teachers under enormous stress and pressure and it must change. I believe that the projects and research we are undertaking at Southern Cross University in the name of teacher education will help to shape that change for the better. “Let our teachers teach, within an education sector informed and reformed by evidence that prepares teachers comprehensively for their careers, restores respect and agency, and reduces the reasons for leaving the profession, or for never entering it in the first place.”
Learn more about Transforming Tomorrow
Professor Lynch, Dr Lana McCarthy and students. Image: Luke Marden
Let our teachers teach, within an education sector informed and reformed by evidence that prepares teachers comprehensively for their careers, restores respect and agency, and reduces the reasons for leaving the profession, or for never entering it in the first place. - Professor David Lynch Transforming Tomorrow – 34
The Southern Cross Model
We were focusing on one thing: our students’ success Words: Michael Jacobson
The world is changing and the demands on students are changing too. Drawing on a proud history of thinking and acting boldly, we produced a new way to support them to succeed: the Southern Cross Model. The results are coming in and, increasingly, the world is watching. At Southern Cross University, student success rates are up, fail rates are down, satisfaction is high and other benefits are emerging. The numbers are compelling, but it is people who are the heart of this story. In 2023, the University finalised a seismic shift from the old semester-based education model to a revolutionary approach specifically designed to meet the needs and demands of today’s students and today’s world. The Southern Cross Model comes with a set of principles at its core, including greater focus, flexibility and interactivity to help students achieve a better balance of study, work and other commitments. Gone, in most instances, are traditional lectures, exams and textbooks as the University moved to a more immersive and active form of learning and assessment.
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Dividing the university year into six terms each six weeks in length, with a maximum two units taught per term, the Model raised some eyebrows initially. However, increasingly the evidence confirms its positive impact and acceptance with students. When comparing the first half of 2023 with the baseline pre-pandemic year of 2019, international students have experienced a nearly 20 per cent increase in pass rates, reaching 85 per cent. This positive trend has extended to higher Grade Point Averages and sustained student satisfaction. Student stories are also encouraging. Gold Coast student Hollie Robards spent almost a decade as a Registered Nurse before choosing to pursue her true passion – teaching – by undertaking a Master of Teaching (Primary) at Southern Cross. She says the calendar structure, appeal, flexibility and
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interactivity of the Southern Cross Model gave her a great learning experience and supported her need to balance study and work commitments.
“With the traditional semester system presenting less and less relevance to today’s students, we looked at the type of learning we deliver,” says Professor Roche.
“Studying for me looks different every day, so the adaptability of studying online under the Southern Cross Model was ideal,” says Hollie.
“Instead of students sitting in lecture theatres and listening, we wanted them talking, interacting, solving problems and working on cases.
“The six-week terms go by quickly and you learn exactly what you need in that time. I was also able to fast-track my degree over the summer semester, picking up an extra term so I could finish a little earlier.”
“We set about finding ways to help students gain more focus in their study and no longer juggle so many tasks.”
Psychology (Honours) student Sahar Mokhtarpour is of a similar mind when she says that working under the six-week term structure of the Southern Cross Model enabled her to meet her study goals and strategies. For her Honours thesis, Gold Coast-based Sahar researched psychological impacts on women as pertaining to gymnasiums, body image and body satisfaction. She plans to become a clinical psychologist and says the Southern Cross Model provided a contemporary and relevant platform for her study needs and career objectives. “I was so happy with the 6 x 6 system as opposed to the traditional semesters,” she says. “While the learning was focused, I found I had enough of a break between terms and was always excited to start the next phase. “The unit content was so up to date, keeping me on task, and there was great access to the convenors who always responded so quickly and were always there for you. That is so important for a student.” Co-designers of the Southern Cross Model – Professor Thomas Roche (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Quality) and Professor Erica Wilson (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic Innovation) – emphasise that its initial success stems from that essential alignment with the learning needs and lifestyles of modern students.
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Among innovations, assessment procedures have undergone a major change. “Most of the heavily weighted examinations have been removed under the Model,” says Professor Wilson. “We don’t believe that is the best way to assess students. We want more authentic, lived assessment that means something in the real world.”
Studying for me looks different every day, so the adaptability of the Southern Cross Model was ideal. – Hollie Robards, Master of Teaching (Primary) Full implementation of the Southern Cross Model was preceded by four years of research, testing and planning. Signs were good and forecasts optimistic, with 2022 data – based on analysis of 13,000 grades – revealing a 16 per cent increase in student success rates (passing a unit of study) and significantly declining fail rates. While the findings were positive, 2023 always loomed
as central to generating more comprehensive evidence as the Model became embedded in every discipline and at every campus.
University Library, which had been advocating for the inclusion of OERs in the Southern Cross Model.
The subsequent data offers affirmation and cause for ongoing optimism, although an ever-mindful Professor Roche and Professor Wilson caution that the Model’s effectiveness does not happen automatically.
“The Southern Cross Model was an opportunity to further endorse the use of OERs given students could not be expected to purchase multiple prescribed texts for six-week units,” says Librarian (Library Education and Research) Ms Carlie Daley.
They advise students embarking on study to stay engaged from the beginning of each term and to actively participate in quizzes, activities and group work to make the most of the 6 x 6 system.
“Following the Psychology initiative, the Library has since created a special collection to map OER texts for all faculty areas. It is a great win for students and learning at Southern Cross University.”
Though it is still early days, the Model is already influencing other initiatives at Southern Cross University, notably one led by Coffs Harbour-based senior lecturer Dr Desiree Kozlowski within the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
News of the Model’s success is spreading, as evidenced by the Social Science Research Network, a global Open-Source Platform that holds thousands of academic papers and research findings.
Psychology students are saving thousands of dollars by replacing traditional, expensive and often outdated textbooks with Open Educational Resources (OERs), which include e-textbooks and other freely available online material. Bringing this Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative to fruition has been a team effort between Dr Kozlowski, Faculty of Health colleagues and the Southern Cross
Southern Cross University has harnessed SSRN to share its own research around the Southern Cross Model and by October 2023 more than 1000 papers had been downloaded throughout the world, thereby building overall reputation. As the world changes, and students change with it, the Southern Cross Model is proving to be a powerful response.
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