Southern Cross Matters

“It’s fantastic to be named on the list and it’s a great accolade for Southern Cross University as well,” Associate Professor Neumann said. 

“It’s wonderful for researchers to have public recognition for their efforts, and for people to learn more about what we do.”

Associate Professor Neumann’s cutting-edge research observes how children interact with social robots and the impact this has on early learning and language development. In a world of technical advancements, social robots are now capable of conversation and engaging young learners. 

To be precise, we have the privilege of welcoming in excess of 200 more new to Southern Cross University domestic students this year than in the first half of 2022. That is a remarkable achievement. This demand for additional places at our institution is spread widely, and has included measurable increases in courses as diverse as Speech Pathology, Psychological Science, Law, Engineering and Early Childhood. We have also seen very substantial growth in our outstanding Diploma programs, which we know provide a very robust platform from which students can build a successful trajectory into their Bachelors programs and beyond. 

As pleasing as all of this is, I am even more impressed by the energy and creativity that has been displayed by so many across the University to make our students feel welcome, to ensure that they are engaged with and supported in their learning and comfortable to make new friends and embrace new experiences. Our wonderful team of First Year Advisors has made an immediate and positive impact and it has been fantastic to hear just how much students have benefited from the wisdom of other students through a refocused peer tutoring program.

All of these things speak to a practical orientation to our values of excellence, boldness and ownership and as will be evident throughout this edition, that holds true in our work in research, where year by year, a greater and greater number of our colleagues are being recognised as genuine leaders in their chosen fields of expertise. Just think how many young lives will be enhanced through the work of our colleague Michelle Neumann through her passion for understanding learning in young children, as one example drawn out in this month’s edition, and I am sure that you will be inspired.

Week by week, month by month, we are building a better and better institution together. As we continue to focus on the myriad elements of work that piece together to pave our path forward, it helps to maintain perspective, direction and ambition if we constantly remind ourselves of our purpose – to change lives through revolutionary learning and to deliver research with real impact. We have begun this year in a manner wholly consonant with this guiding statement and it is for all of us to ensure that we stay true to this as we proceed throughout the remainder of this year and beyond.

Warmest wishes,
Tyrone 

“We are also proud that both grants included early-career researchers who are bringing exciting expertise to the field and building promising track records,” he said.
 
Dr Dylan Poulus completed his PhD less than two years ago and will lead a $37,000 project investigating the factors associated with success in esports – the competitive playing of video games. Dylan and fellow researcher Dr Kyle Bennett will collaborate with Federation University, UTAS and the University of Groningen in partnership with Guinevere Esports, the biggest investor in esports in Australia. 
 
“Esports continue to grow exponentially, attracting huge prizemoney, global audiences and fan groups in the millions,” said Dylan.

“We don't know what makes the best gamers in the world, so we will talk to the best coaches, players and team owners to build a model of performance which might then be applied towards Australia's competitive future in esports.”
 
The second grant is worth $49,500 and will be led by Associate Professor Swann with Associate Professor Chris Stevens and another early-career researcher, Dr Scott Goddard, who completed his PhD at Southern Cross University in 2022. 

They will partner with Athletics Australia, University of Wollongong and the University of Canberra to build a research-based framework for understanding the psychology of optimal performance in elite sprint, power, and endurance athletes.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Tyrone Carlin, praised the efforts of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. 

“Colleagues in the Environmental Sciences field have been refining education programs over the past several years while continuing to pursue research that makes an impact locally, regionally and globally.

“Many of our researchers have dedicated their careers to understanding and solving some of the world’s greatest problems. Their discovery and research generate interest from government and industry and influence public policy.”

The mace is made of Black Bean timber which was once part of a post-and-rail fence, split at Alstonville around 1880. The stones used are green jasper and blue/grey chalcedony, both from the Mount Warning area. The floral inlays are made of natural coloured veneers and feature Black Bean, Wattle, Bull Rushes and Spotted Gum. The Hoya Australis, which spirals around the shaft, was cast in sterling silver from the leaves and flower of a living plant. 

The head of the mace depicts a lighthouse which resembles the traditional symbols of crown and castle. The blue of the sea and the sky is depicted in the blue chalcedony cabochon and also in the lighthouse windows; the green of the rainforest in the dark green cabochons of jasper on the shaft. The Southern Cross University shield is made of solid sterling silver and gold, and represents the lighthouse beacon.

Take a closer look at the mace in this video.

“It’s fantastic to be named on the list and it’s a great accolade for Southern Cross University as well,” Associate Professor Neumann said. 

“It’s wonderful for researchers to have public recognition for their efforts, and for people to learn more about what we do.”

Associate Professor Neumann’s cutting-edge research observes how children interact with social robots and the impact this has on early learning and language development. In a world of technical advancements, social robots are now capable of conversation and engaging young learners. 

“Since digital tablets exploded globally 12 years ago there has been a huge need to research their impact on children’s development, and that now extends to social robots, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality,” Associate Professor Neumann said.

“There is a lot of ongoing work promoting robotics and STEM to school children, but there’s been less work on the social aspect, and how robots can be best used to assist children and teachers in early educational settings in the future.”

Associate Professor Neumann originally studied science with honours, then education, working 10 years as a primary and secondary teacher while raising her five children and completing her PhD a decade ago, followed by postdoctoral research and university lecturing. She joined Southern Cross University in March 2022 and is Deputy Leader of the recently-launched Early Years Research Lab, and course coordinator of the Bachelor of Education with Honours. Associate Professor Neumann is also co-investigator on ARC Discovery project ‘Parent involvement goes online: New ecologies of school-home relations’.

“Children are so amazing, they are developing and learning all the time. They are so inquisitive and they really inspire me. They are the reason I decided to pursue a career in education,” she said.

Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie Knowles, Faculty of Education Dean at Southern Cross University, congratulated Associate Professor Neumann for topping the Early Education researchers list for the third time in three years. “This national accolade is a testament of Associate Professor Neumann’s transformative and impactful research in early childhood education,” she said.

The Australian partners with research analytics firm League of Scholars, using a database of more than 77,000 Australian researchers and big data techniques to collate results.

The goal is to “intentionally get in front of students from the beginning,” Dr Johnson explained. As the landscape of higher education is changing, so are student needs. The First-Year Success Program aims to provide a personal touch in ensuring students know the academic and support resources available rather than directing them to a website or something less interactive.

“Research shows that how students navigate the first year of university and the support they receive can either make or break their experience. If we are intentional about student success, we can anticipate and mediate known first-year obstacles. The First-Year Success Program is about living our values, demonstrating real care for our students through early interventions and practical support,” said Brendon Nelson, Vice-President (Students) and Registrar.

What does the program include?

Early Orientation

A more personal invitational approach was taken for Term 1 to encourage students to attend Orientation program activities on campus and online spanning five weeks. New students were contacted with a welcome phone call and received a physical invitation to Orientation events from the Vice-Chancellor. 

Transition Workshops

Over 20 innovative, wide-ranging transition workshops were run prior to, during, and after O-Week, with 736 attendees.

First Year Advising 

The First Year Advising Pilot Program commenced in Term 1, 2023 and supports first-year domestic, undergraduate, main campus and online students studying in the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Business, Law and Arts. 

In the first few weeks of the pilot, First Year Advisers (FYA) have assisted 247 first-year students with timely planning, support and advice about how to effectively navigate being a student at Southern Cross. FYAs are proactively identifying advisees who might be at risk of disengaging or dropping off and provide timely tips and tricks to navigating the Southern Cross model. 

Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS)

PALS Mentors are role model students who receive training in communication and facilitation skills to effectively share essential study skills and strategies. 980 students have been targeted for the 1:1 Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALs) pilot program from units in Term 1 that historically have had higher fail or withdrawal rates. 

The program, cross-disciplinary in nature, engages academics, researchers, associate deans, discipline chairs, directors and associated roles across multiple faculties and colleges.

The program launch was held at a pop-up café on the Lismore campus with over 40 leaders from all campuses convening to hear from Vice-Chancellor and President Tyrone Carlin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability) Mary Spongberg and program facilitator Mark Krnjaic, Director Organisational Development.

Each of the leaders in attendance had an opportunity to share a current leadership challenge or aspiration, as well as the opportunity to connect with peers and new colleagues for the first time. The launch created an inspirational foundation for the rollout of the program which will abound in opportunities for participants to experience both gentle and challenging moments to reflect on leading self, others and within the University as a way to create meaningful and lasting IMPACT!
 
"A special thank you to Katie McDonough, Louise Schiebel and Leah Aboody who were instrumental in the design, planning and logistical organisation of the launch. Thanks also to Ben Roche and Renea Duignan who generously donated exquisite furniture to transform a familiar space into a buzzing pop-up café," said Mark Krnjaic.

Other learning spaces on campus are also in for a revamp. At the Northern Rivers, early planning is underway to investigate transforming Level 1 of the Learning Centre into a one-stop-shop for students comprising of student administration services, the technology help desk, library services and career services. The works will also see study spaces throughout the library refurbished to allow for both quiet and collaborative study.

However, it is not just student spaces that are receiving makeovers. For colleagues at the Northern Rivers, a refurbishment of A Block Level 3 will provide more quality workspaces for staff. It is hoped construction will commence in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile a blank canvas approach being taken to see how spaces at the Gold Coast can be better utilised, with staff workshops underway to gather input across the faculties and professional units. 

“We’ve got a lot of office space that is underutilised because people are working across campuses or working in hybrid mode. It's about re-imagining spaces where people can still come to work, have sense of privacy, use their computer and feel like it is a welcoming space,” Mr Morris said. 

The University will also assess opportunities to improve amenities at the Gold Coast including a wider variety of food offerings. 

Southern Cross University Vice-President (Strategy and Implementation) Jack Williamson said he is motivated to drive more people back to campus through the refresh projects.

“I started at the University in November 2021, so there were no students on campus (due to the pandemic restrictions). Then being based in Lismore throughout 2022, that effectively continued because of the floods. So, this is the first year that I’ve seen a lot of students and colleagues come back to campus and that’s extremely exciting and I want to continue with that momentum.”

There will be extensive consultation periods for the projects that are underway so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for opportunities to provide feedback!

•    Exploring the Impact of Remote Working – 24th May 2023
•    Enhancing Positive Self Esteem – 21st June 2023
•    Managing Anxiety – 19th July 2023 

If you have any questions about registering or accessing the session, please contact [email protected].