News

New Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies web site launches

The CSCMS site presents the Centre’s studies of Muslim communities using the new contemporary UWS research design. We envision that through the effective employment of this medium, the Centre will advance their user’s understanding of Islam and promote harmony and cultural inclusiveness. Visit CSCMS (opens in a new window) to preview the new look site. 

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Media Observer

January

• The Psychology Summer Internship program was reported by the Bankstown-Canterbury Torch. 
  
• Dr Rachel Robbins recruited for a study, of how visual cues are used for navigation and recognising people. It was covered by:  Fairfield Advance, Liverpool Leader, Canterbury-Bankstown Express, Bankstown Torch, Fairfield City Champion.
  
• Professor Jane Ussher featured on Radio National’s ‘Health Report’, discussing her research on breast cancer and sexual health.
  
• Associate Professor Rocco Crino was approached by the Macarthur Chronicle to write a monthly column on mental health issues. His first piece focused on Anxiety disorders.

February

• Associate Professor Rocco Crino recently appeared on the SBS program Insight. The program explored men’s growing obsession with their bodies. Assoc. Prof. Crino engaged with Jenny Brockie and guests of the show to explore topics ranging from obsessive dieting and weightlifting to serious psychological disorders. Assoc. Prof. Crino was also invited to discuss the topic on countless National radio programs.
  
• Dr Phoebe Bailey recruited for a study, on the ways that older people make financial decisions. It was covered by: Fairfield Advance, Hawkesbury Gazette, Canterbury-Bankstown Express, St George & Sutherland Shire Leader, Liverpool Leader.
  
• Dr Debbie Horsfall calls for health care workers to participate in a series of focus groups, about the ways that informal care networks provide assistance and support for people to die at home. This article was reported by: Central Coast Express-Advocate, Mt Druitt St Marys Standard, Parramatta Sun, Fairfield City Champion, Insight magazine, Penrith Press, Nursing Review.
  
• Dr Rebecca Pinkus was quoted in a Cleo magazine article, about The psychology of quitting.

March

• David Mutton assisted with a Fairfield Advance enquiry, about incidences of road rage.
  
• Dr Emma Power is quoted in a Redland Times (Brisbane) story about pets in high-rise households.
  
• Assoc. Prof. Rocco Crino's article, No need to panic over attacks, was featured in the Macarthur Chronicle.
  

April

• Dr Rachel Robbins was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald story about the ‘ridiculously photogenic guy’ which has become a global hit on news websites.
  
• Deborah Wilmore, a PhD candidate from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology, is conducting a study of how men in ‘reversed-role families’ perceive housework as well as their own masculine identities. 
  
  The UWS Media Unit assisted in promoting the ‘Male Homemaker’ study back in April 2011, when Deborah was looking to recruit men, who have the sole responsibility for the running of their household and caring for their children, to participate in her study.
  
  Since then, the media have maintained a determined interest in Deborah’s study, and have made regular inquiries regarding her preliminary results. In early April, Deborah received an email from Daily Telegraph reporter Lisa Power, which resulted in a prominent article on page three of the paper, Stay-at-home truths don't discourage daddy daycarers, with a pointer to the story published on page one. Lisa Power’s article, Dad's Give kids a leg up, was also published on page 12 of the Herald Sun in Melbourne.
  
• The Courier Mail have quoted the Head of School, Professor Kevin Dunn, and mentioned the results of the Challenging Racism study, in a lengthy feature article on racism called Eyes wide shut.
  
• Dr Phoebe Bailey’s study, on the ways that older people make financial decisions, was mentioned in The Senior article titled How our mind works.
  
• Assoc. Prof. Rocco Crino has published another article in the Macarthur Chronicle, Overcoming Fear of Panic Attacks.

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International Women’s Day Celebrations at UWS

SSAP graduate, Christa Anthony, has won the 2012 Young Women of the West Award for using her skills to deliver dance therapy in the Blacktown area for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special needs.

At 24 years of age, Christa is a graduate of the University of Western Sydney’s Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) program. She has also completed a Graduate Diploma of Counselling and is a qualified dance teacher.

During the day, Christa works full-time as a counsellor and case manager with the Penrith Women’s Health Centre. As part of this role, Christa provides daily assistance for women and children who are the victims of violence and abuse.

During the weekends and evening, Christa runs Studio Dance NSW – a performing arts school in Kings Park that operates under the mantra that everyone, despite their backgrounds or abilities, should have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of dance.

Christa was nominated for the 2012 Young Women of the West Award by her mother,  Sarina Anthony, who describes her as an “exceptional young lady” with “a maturity and strength way beyond her years.”

“Christa believes she is fortunate to have found not one, but two professions which she loves and cannot choose between,” says Sarina.

“Her work with the Penrith Women’s Health Centre is very rewarding and of course very emotionally draining... She leaves her day job to begin her other love of providing children, teenagers and adults with the joy of learning dance, singing and drama in a non-judgemental, safe and welcoming environment.”

Christina Luzi, a friend and classmate of Christa’s from St Andrews College in Marayong, explains that Christa was always a student who went above and beyond – particularly when volunteering for St Vincent De Paul.

“She would feed the homeless, give them blankets for warmth and just give them some company... It was no shock to me when Christa told me she wanted to go into counselling as a profession. Talking to her now, it is easy to see how much she loves her job and values the people she encounters,” says Christina.

In establishing Studio Dance NSW in 2009, it was Christa’s vision to provide her students with quality, affordable tuition in dance, singing and drama, and a place they could call their own. She welcomes students of all ages and abilities; offers “bonus” classes for free to help families, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds; and encourages students with special needs by treating them the same as their classmates, irrespective of their skills and abilities.

Christa’s nomination for the Young Women of the West Award was supported by a number of parents and students of Studio Dance NSW, who recognised the many ways that Christa goes above and beyond, to make a difference in their lives.

She is described by these parents and students as someone who is “always there with a smile and willing to listen,” “and inspiration to all” and a “great, caring, genuine friend.”

Christa considers this success as a way to show her students that, with a caring family and a sound education, it doesn’t matter where you live or where you come from – what matters is that you can succeed and share your success by making a difference and giving back to your community.

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HDR Orientation day

The School of Social Sciences and Psychology held an orientation session for new PhD candidates on 6th March, 2012. This was held in the X-lounge and was well attended. Professor Kevin Dunn warmly greeted and welcomed new candidates. He outlined the important position they held in the school and painted a vision for the future.

Associate Professor Michael Darcy, as Head of Research added his welcome to that of Kevin’s and spent a little time telling the candidates about the new structure of the School. He showed the important place that research candidates have in the school and made them aware of their entitlements and commitments.

Danuta Chessor and Vicki Fox then tried to demonstrate for candidates that all the required administrative information is contained in one place in the HDR handbook on Sharepoint with current links to the Research Pages for UWS. Unfortunately, although Vicki and Danuta had worked hard on the handbook, Sharepoint had gone down earlier that morning. So, rather than show HDR candidates the handbook online, Danuta presented a very well received talk.

Later in the morning current PhD candidates and some supervisors joined the group for lunch and informal chat. It was obvious that this had been a welcoming and informative session for the new candidates.

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SSAP hosts a morning tea to welcome International HDR candidates

Leaving your own country and moving to another part of the world is both exciting and daunting. SSAP had the privilege of welcoming  13 HDR candidates to our research community on the 27th February. We had students from as far as Nigeria and Indonesia joining us.  They are all working with various supervisors from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology or the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies or the Urban Research Centre.

Michael Darcy formally welcomed the candidates to UWS. He spoke about their courage and tenacity in coming to study in Australia. He also acknowledged some of the sacrifices they have made to come to study here.

A fine morning tea was provided as refreshment for the occasion.
It was a great opportunity to put names to faces and to have personal contact with these students.

We look forward to ongoing work with this international community.

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Honours Orientation and Advising Session

The School conducted its second orientation session for this year’s Psychology Honours cohort on the 31st of January (the first occurred on December 5th last year).

The session began mid-afternoon with a two-hour library session. Thanks to Narelle Oliver who took over the session on very short notice and also adapted her presentation to accommodate a much larger attendance than had been anticipated. This was  a ‘hands on’ session where students were shown how to download a copy of the EndnoteX4 software, and were able to start creating their own Endnote libraries.

The library session covered APA 6th referencing formats for varying materials. Training notes are available from the Library endnote page. Narelle also covered topics from basic information on how to manually add and edit references, to the very well received  section  where students were shown how to import references from the university library's catalogue, databases and online journals directly to their endnote libraries. The final part of the session focussed on how to insert references into documents/reports/thesis.

Students were very positive and appreciative of being shown how to use this programme to help with their research and writing. 
 
After a short break, the second half of the session was presented in Lecture Theatre 1. This part of the session focused on a general overview of the Honours year, a discussion of the thesis process and some points regarding supervision. Another important component of the presentation was to update students on the changes created by the UWS restructure, particularly in the area of ethics approval.

Special thanks go to Vicki Fox who organized the session and introduced the students to the mysteries of SONA during the lecture theatre presentation. The next Psychology Honours event is the colloquium which takes place on April 23,24.

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