Graduation - past ceremonies

Thursday, 24 April 2008 at 11am

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences (under graduate courses and HDR 's)

Stage Party

The Chancellor Mr David Morgan presided assisted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor John Rosenberg.

The MC was the Vice-President and Council Secretary, Ms Lin Martin..

The Mace-bearer was Mr Dale Warren.

The Faculty Representative was Mr Alan Taylor.

Presenters were:
Dean, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences, Professor John Catford;
Deputy Chair of Academic Board, Professor Michael Kidd.

The Student Response was delivered by Dr Mark Furlong.

Doctoral Degree Recipients

Dr Fiona Murphy - Thesis Title: "Professionals' Attributions and Referral Decisions when Working with Domestic Violence Clients."

Summary
This thesis was the first national study of workers who have contact with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. It highlighted that the victim and perpetrator's gender, as well as the relevant professional's agency type and experience, all influenced their attitudes to, and service delivery decisions with, domestic violence-related clients.

Dr Emma Bruce - Thesis Title: "Evaluation of the Asthma Friendly Schools Program."

Summary
This thesis examined what makes schools want to embrace the Asthma Friendly Schools program. It also investigated the limitations and barriers of the Asthma Friendly Schools program and explored it¿s uptake by schools and the implications of the findings for the redesign of the program.

Dr Andrea Driscoll - Thesis Title: "Chronic Heart Failure Programs: Does More Equal Less?"

Summary
This national multi-centre study (49 programs, 1158 patients) developed a quality score (HF-IS) and national benchmarks for heart programs. The higher a program scored on the HF-IS the greater the reduction in hospital admissions and mortality. This score has the potential to change national nursing practice and improve health outcomes of patients.

Dr Mark Furlong - Thesis Title: "Disturbing the Dream of the Autonomous Subject."

Summary
This conceptual-empirical inquiry investigated tensions between practitioners and their clients¿ significant-others. At its root, this difficulty was found to reflect embedded ideological, professional and organizational factors aligned with the process of individualization, a disposition which renders significant-other relationships, at best, as irrelevant to the professionals' understanding of their project.

Dr Lillian Kent - Thesis Title: "Changes in the Antecedents of BMI between 1976 and 2006."

Summary
Overweight/obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Australia. This thesis confirmed and extended the relationship between lifestyle and body mass index in that energy dense foods, snacking, low levels of physical activity were associated with higher BMI while plant foods, vegetarianism and, in men, large breakfasts were associated with lower BMI.

Dr Wai Ling Theresa Lai Yeung - Thesis Title: "Food Habits of Hong Kong Adolescents and their Families."

Summary
Findings from this research indicate that parents' eating habits and school food policy did not exert a positive influence on student's food choices. Only very few principals believed education influenced eating habits, and there were discrepancies between the attitudes and expectations of parents and principals.

Dr Ben Richardson - Thesis Title: "Extending Double Standards and Stereotyping Approaches to Hiring Older Workers."

Summary
This thesis examined factors underlying discrimination against older job applicants. Drawing upon stereotyping and double standards-based approaches to discrimination the thesis found that positive and negative aspects of the older worker stereotype can have cumulative effects on hiring decisions and may interact with job requirements to affect discrimination.

Dr Victoria Inglis - Thesis Title: "Socioeconomic Influences on Women's Eating Behaviours."

Summary
The thesis investigated the socioeconomic influences on women¿s eating behaviours. Results showed that women of low socioeconomic position not only perceived higher direct financial costs as a predominant barrier for consuming a healthy diet, but also a number of indirect or non-financial cost factors such as the perceive additional time costs involved in preparing and cooking healthy foods.

Dr Calinda Payne - Thesis Title: "Pathways to Sex Offending."

Summary
This research aimed to contribute to the theoretical understanding of the various pathways offenders follow in committing sexual offences. Using grounded theory a theoretical model was generated which described four major pathways to sexual offending. Quantitative analyses revealed that offenders who take different pathways differ significantly in respect of their risk of recidivism, demographic variables, rape myth acceptance and aggression.

Alfred Deakin Medal Recipient

Mr Luke Vella - Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) with Distinction

These Medals are awarded annually to candidates with a record of outstanding scholarship as well as service to the community and the University.
The awards are named in honour of Alfred Deakin after whom this University is named and were an initiative introduced by the University to commemorate the life of Alfred Deakin.

Vice-Chancellor's Prize Recipient

Mr Mark Brown -Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology)(Honours).

The Vice-Chancellor's Prize is awarded to a student who has submitted the best essay, piece of creative writing, work in visual or performing arts, construction of experimental of field work, or piece of scientific writing during the previous year.

Occasional Address

The Occassional Address (iLecture recording - requires broadband) was delivered by Mr Todd Harper, Chief Executive Officer, VicHealth.

Mr Todd Harper began as Chief Executive Officer of VicHealth in April 2007, following many years in tobacco control. Prior to taking on his current role, Mr Harper was Quit Victoria's Executive Director from 1999 to 2007.

Under his leadership, Quit and the VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control have developed national and international recognition for their work on tobacco control. He is a well known public figure, passionate advocate of healthy lifestyle choices and a strong supporter of anti-smoking campaigns.

Following various positions for Tasmania's Department of Health and Human Services, including in the area of community housing, Mr Harper worked as Executive Director of the Tasmanian Council on AIDS and Related Diseases.

Mr Harper has a degree in economics, a postgraduate diploma in health promotion and in 2006 he completed requirements for a postgraduate diploma in health economics.