In brief
Giving Nauru a heart start
Nauru Hospital has a new HeartStart First Aid Defibrillator (heart start machine) and training package after UniSA’s Professor of Business Law, Dr Jennifer McKay, donated her prize won in a competition entered while waiting at an airport for a flight.
The company Laerdal Medical, in partnership with St John, funded the HeartStart competition worth more than $8000 to raise awareness of the importance of early CPR and defibrillation to businesses and consumers. It was displayed by the Qantas Club in Sydney and Melbourne airports.
Prof McKay travels extensively in her role as a recognised world specialist in water and water law and, in addition to her important work role, is an active supporter of several local and international charities.
Surprised when told of her win and being aware of the difficulties facing
the health system in the Republic of Nauru, Prof McKay was keen to
contribute. She offered the defibrillator to AusAID for donation to the
Nauru Hospital. And as part of the prize,
St John Ambulance Australia will train hospital staff on how to use and
maintain the HeartStart defibrillator.
Work and life balance
UniSA
showcased its approach to work/life balance as hosts of the federal
government’s 2007 Work and Family Awards launched by the Minister for
Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews (pictured right) last
month.
The awards, held since 1992, are the only national awards that focus exclusively on recognising work and family achievements. They acknowledge businesses with outstanding working arrangements that meet the needs of employees with family responsibilities.
Speaking at the launch, UniSA’s Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley AO highlighted the University’s approach to work/life balance, which has been recognised both internally and externally. This includes being named the winner of the Public Sector Gold Award in the 2005 Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry/Business Council of Australia National Work and Family Awards, and named an employer of choice for women in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 awards by the Equal Opportunities for Women in the Workplace Agency.
"We have not rested on our laurels since winning the National Award in 2005. Our most recent initiatives include the launch of new multi-access suites and our accreditation as a breastfeeding friendly workplace with the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)," Prof Bradley said.
The multi-access suites are modern, dignified spaces that have been created on each University campus to support the needs of breastfeeding mothers, parents, and people with disabilities or medical conditions who need privacy. To date the University is one of only about eight South Australian workplaces to receive this accreditation with the ABA.