Improving communities, enhancing student learning
by Katrina Kalleske
Key members of the Northern Summit Communication Team (from left) Neil Otway, Carolyn Bilsborow, Prof Kerry Green, Chancellor Ian Gould, Prof Hilary Winchester, Susan Luckman and Denise Wood.
UniSA’s commitment to community work was demonstrated by the high level of nominations in this year’s Chancellors Awards for Community Engagement.
Nine projects were recognised for partnering with communities in projects that provided positive outcomes for all involved.
UniSA Chancellor Dr Ian Gould said the nominated projects represent some of the best examples of community engagement activities that are taking place in the University.
"The initiatives are prolific throughout the University because community engagement is a part of the culture of our institution," Dr Gould said.
"Our engagement mission is not only one of our three corporate statements – it is actually enshrined in the establishing legislation of the University."
The overall winner was the Northern Summit Communication Team with prize money of $10,000 awarded to the project team from the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages.
The project stemmed from an existing UniSA project, the Northern Summit, which was held in August 2008 to bring together northern suburbs stakeholders in a bid to further develop and improve the area.
The School was approached to be involved with the summit, to research life and culture in Adelaide’s northern suburbs through a documentary project. The team involved students from three courses - Public Relations, Journalism, and Film and Television - to create two videos. Both were written and produced by PhD student Carolyn Bilsborow.
"We took up the opportunity to be involved with the summit by producing an introductory video for it called Look Again which encouraged participants to take another look at the positive things happening in the community," said Professor Kerry Green, Head of the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages.
"After the summit, the team developed a second documentary, Creating the Future, which investigated economic and cultural opportunity in the northern suburbs, and the summit’s role in effecting change.
"We contributed to a project that produced real change in the northern suburbs with Federal Government support committed to the region following the summit."
The prize money from the award will go towards pursuing further funding opportunities that will produce positive outcomes for the northern suburbs.
Another significant winner at the community engagement awards was the Mimili Community Tawara Watiku Student Design and Construction Project, undertaken by the School of Art, Architecture and Design.
With Federal Government funding, the School is designing and building new housing for single men in the Mimili community in the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia.
In line with cultural traditions, single men’s housing replicates
the traditional separation of single men from extended family
groups, called tawara watiku. The camp provides a place for young
men to learn traditional law and culture, commonly referred to as
men’s business.
"The major benefit for the Mimili community, and potentially for other remote Aboriginal communities, is the opportunity to develop design alternatives for housing that current conventions and economies in housing provision cannot provide," said Jason Oaten-Hepworth, Lecturer in Architecture and project coordinator along with fellow lecturer David Morris.
"This needs to be done through extensive consultation and the University, with its research culture, is well placed to undertake the level of consultation and community engagement which housing providers are not able to budget for."
The project has involved numerous students from various degrees within the School and is part of a Student Design and Construction elective that students undertake during holidays.
Oaten-Hepworth said the educational opportunities it provides students is one of the biggest benefits.
The $7000 awarded to the Mimili project will go towards ongoing community consultation, engagement and research in Indigenous communities.
Two other projects were $7000 winners at the community engagement awards.
The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute won for its Community Panel project that is a joint initiative with the two city councils of Tea Tree Gully and Burnside. They established community-based online panels, giving the community a voice and a greater role in local decision-making, as well as building a sense of community and enhancing governance.
The other $7000 winner was the School of Education and the Centre for Regional Engagement (Whyalla campus) for its Place-Based Professional Experience Pilot Study. The project addressed the need for more graduate teachers in regional areas. The project team coordinated a unique work experience program in Whyalla for a group of students, and as a result, many indicated they will now seek a regional posting after graduation.
The $5000 winner was a team from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Centre for Regional Engagement for its Student, Children Interaction Project. Four other projects were given a commendation.