Giving to UniSA
A group of 34 people participated in the most recent Chancellor’s Circle tour, for an insider’s view of how our future nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and podiatrists are taught.
The tour was held on 8 May at the City East Campus and was hosted by Pro Chancellor Peter Smith. It included an informative tour of the City East Campus, providing a comprehensive overview of the unique experience our students gain through UniSA’s curriculum, training and research.
Participants of the Chancellor’s Circle tour had the opportunity to see skills training in progress, and to hear three informative speakers; Dr Lucy Chipchase, the Program Director of Physiotherapy; Professor Helen McCutcheon, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery; and Dr Sara Jones, Program Director: Podiatry. On display during the tour were new methods for student learning.
"The tour showcased to the visitors the recently installed touch screen computers in the Clinical Learning Laboratories," said Professor McCutcheon. "This equipment provides students with an interactive online learning tool to enhance students learning experiences, flexible delivery of clinical learning resources and opportunities for simulated learning activities."
The tour of the new nursing skills laboratories, the Physiotherapy and Podiatry clinics enabled the group to see training in progress as well as understand how these facilities are used to assist in the wider community. Dr Chipchase explained that the Physiotherapy Clinic provides an open service to the community and treats a wide range of people in the community ranging in age from a few weeks to late nineties. Dr Jones explained that the Podiatry Clinic does volunteer work in rural and remote areas. Both academic staff and podiatry students provide hands on support to Indigenous communities. This self funded service directly assists with targeting some of the side effects of diabetes.
"The Chancellors Circle tour …. was a very beneficial way to showcase the activities and facilities within the School of Health Sciences," she said. "The visit allowed the Chancellor’s Circle group to see the uniqueness of this clinic and to discuss with students the value of the clinic to their professional learning."
Deputy Chancellor, Ms Alice McCleary, hosted a small group of dedicated supporters of UniSA to a morning at the Mawson Lakes Campus. Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Andrew Parfitt welcomed the group and provided a detailed overview of campus. Guests were amazed by the diversity of facilities, course and research that Mawson Lakes Campus encompasses. Prof Parfitt also acknowledged the many, and varied scholarships that are able to be offered due to generous donation.
The group was then introduced to the concept of nanotechnology, by Prof Peter Majewski, and highlighted the importance that continual research has had on history, with advancement continually changing the future.
Prof Chris Daniels shared his experiences and findings from a recent urban ecology research project involving the general public. The study tracking the population of Sleepy Lizards gained great public support with many keen to share their stories. Listen out for "Operation Possum" currently being promoted on ABC Talkback Radio.
The
tour concluded with a tour by Helen Livingston of the John Dowie
Sculpture Pillars, ‘The Art of Learning’. The Mawson Lakes Library has
been the home to72 of these remarkable sculptures since they were
installed around the original building in 1972. The final 13 sculptures
were only secured in 2005 through 13 charitable benefactors. Learning
that the 2.7 metre cast aluminium alloy mullions depicted the art of
learning from the rock age aboriginal, through the hieroglyph and
ideogram, to the alphabet, was an ideal way to see donations being
incorporated into UniSA, for all to enjoy.
Plans are underway for the next Chancellor’s Circle Tour in November. Participants will be treated to an interesting morning in the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art viewing the Tapestry Exhibition From Here to Eternity. The tour and morning tea will be hosted by the Chancellor, Dr Ian Gould, and Museum Director, Ms Erica Green.
