CQUniversity Podcasts

In this next episode of Conversations with the Dean, Professor Stephen Dobson sits down with educational neuroscientist Professor Ken Purnell. We learn about Ken's early life and career, how he came to find a love of teaching, and the fascinating science behind how our brains and bodies are wired. Prof Purnell's research has uncovered transformational new methods of teaching and learning, demonstr...

  In this next episode of Conversations with the Dean, Professor Stephen Dobson sits down with artist and art teacher Carmen Gray. Carmen talks about growing up in New Zealand and being inspired by an artist there as a young child, before later moving to Australia and finding her way into studying costume and stage design and later falling in love and finding her home with visual art and design. A...

In this next episode of Conversations with the Dean, Professor Stephen Dobson sits down with Dr Karena Menzie-Ballantyne, a Bundaberg-based Senior Lecturer and researcher in Education at CQUniversity. Dr Menzie-Ballantyne talks about her life's journey to "find her passion" in education. She talks about how teaching often gets a bad wrap, yet is a very fulfilling career where you often learn as mu...

In this next instalment of Conversations with the Dean, Professor Stephen Dobson enquires into the wonder of colour, arts practice and teaching philosophy, with accomplished artist and respected lecturer Patrick Connor. From his beginnings into the art world and beyond, Patrick also speaks of the passion for his craft, as well as his love for being a student himself in a never-ending pursuit of le...

In this next episode of Conversations with the Dean, Stephen Dobson chats with Dr Linda Lorenza about all things theatre - where is it heading in the digital age, how did the COVID-19 pandemic impact arts learning, and how can social media platform TikTok be successful in reaching disengaged youth for the better? From Bell Shakespeare in Sydney to Tropical North Queensland, Dr Lorenza tells all ab...

What does it mean to be an historian in the 21st century? Do you still pour over dusty old books or has technology changed they way they work?  CQUniversity's Dean Professor Stephen Dobson chats with Dr Benjamin Jones about being an historian in the modern era and discovers that being an historian means you also play a role in the future. Dr Jones was just 17 years old when the country last went t...

CQUniversity Chancellor Graeme Innes AM has spent a lifetime fighting discrimination. To mark global change initiative  Zero Discrimination Day  on Wednesday 1 March 2023, the human rights trailblazer has shared some of the journey with How to Change a Life. A lawyer, company director and former Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Innes outlines his insights, successes, frustrations and hope...

Some big questions: How can new buildings help achieve our post-carbon future? How can female athletes best return to competition after having a baby? And how can trains stay on the rails, more efficiently and more safely? Surprisingly, there's one answer for them all: outstanding research.  CQUniversity’s annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Researchers recognise academics who have ach...

Her passion for surf lifesaving put CQUniversity physical activity researcher Dr Danya Hodgetts on a unique career path growing sport participation legacy from big events. But the Rockhampton mum never expected her academic skills would help save her own life. Dr Hodgetts shares how her inexplicable declining health meant putting a research focus on her own experience - and was vital in detecting...

The science is in: better sleep helps humans perform better in elite sport, and in countless other facets of life. But CQUniversity sleep researcher Dr Michele Lastella says there’s still a long road ahead to convince our sleep-resistant society of the benefits.  After more than a decade researching how sleep affects performance for elite athletes, Dr Lastella shares his research journey with CQU’...

She’s transformed opportunities for countless First Nations students, and trailblazing Queensland researcher Professor Maria Raciti says her own success started with “giving it a crack”. CQUniversity’s first Indigenous student to graduate with a PhD back in 2004, the Mackay-born academic is now Professor of Marketing in the School of Business at University of the Sunshine Coast, a Director of its...

Australian author Rachel Franks was a CQUniversity research student exploring crime fiction when her focused shifted to true crime. The Sydney-based researcher began her CQUniversity Master of Letters in 2004, then graduated with her PhD in 2011, penning a historical crime novel as part of her work. Dr Franks shares her research journey, as this series of IMPACT research podcast goes back to where...

Paul Monsour has worked as a men's domestic and family violence behaviour change practitioner for 18 years.  For much of that time, he has been the Coordinator of Services and Practitioners for the Elimination of Abuse (SPEAQ) network. In this podcast, Paul reveals perspectives that reflect his continuing to deepen his learning about the area of “working with men” and his vast experience in direct...

Senior Lore/Law Man, Yuru, Bindal Nation (Dyirbal and Birrigubba Language Group) Randal Ross is the Manager Cultural and Community Relations for North West Remote Health (NWRH).  Randal has vast experience in the area of “working with men”, including as the Co-founder and Senior Facilitator for the Red Dust Healing program.  It is this wonderful knowledge that informs this podcast in which Randal...

Dr Chez Leggatt-Cook has worked as a researcher in both Australia and New Zealand, across diverse areas including domestic and family violence, child protection, elder abuse, disability and homelessness. In her current role as Principal Advisor Research and Evaluation at UnitingCare, Chez aims to build and apply evidence that empowers practitioners in their work with individuals, families and comm...

Dr Brian Sullivan, CQUniversity Senior Lecturer brings a unique voice to this podcast, exploring the merging of practice, research and education.  Currently the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Facilitating Men’s Behaviour Change, Brian is also part of the Centre and has much experience in writing, facilitating and upskilling others in men’s domestic and family violence (DFV) interventio...

In this podcast, listeners will hear a contemporary frontline practitioner’s perspective on “working with men”. Dr Brodie Evans is currently the Men’s Program Coordinator for the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service (BDVS), developing and coordinating perpetrator intervention efforts, including supervising group facilitators. Brodie has experience in social and criminal justice research and universi...

This episode features Dr Heather Lovatt, the Centre’s Director, discussing the Centre’s interests in the area of “working with men” and providing listeners with a snapshot of the season ahead.  Appointed QCDFVR Director in March 2018, Heather has led a diverse range of research projects relating to gendered violence.  She currently oversees the Centre’s work, which has a practice orientation acros...

Who gets to be an entrepreneur? According to the World Bank, just one in three businesses globally is owned by a woman. And in South Asia, the figure is as low as 18 per cent.  CQUniversity School of Business and Law academic Dr Vanita Yadav is a lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and she’s exploring the barriers women face to launching start-ups, and how they overcome them.  On this epi...

Each year, from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days of Activism campaign calls for action against one of the world’s most persistent violations of human rights – violence against women. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women marks day one, with day 16 falling on World Human Rights Day During the 16 Days of Activism, people around the world will unite to raise aware...

When you protect vulnerable communities, you protect the whole community. That firm belief prompted CQUniversity Public Health academic Dr William Mude to investigate how COVID-19 was impacting different racial communities differently.  His global study found that in western countries, the prevalence of coronavirus cases was 156 per cent higher among black people than in the white community, and 1...

Words matter. And when it comes to First Nations languages, two CQUniversity linguists are hoping that work to preserve Indigenous culture through language could also unlock better health and wellbeing for North Queensland communities. Cairns-based Adjunct Professors Alexandra Aikhenvald and Robert Dixon are leading the research for CQUni’s Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research, and they sh...

Parenting is tough - and the challenges can sometimes reach boiling point on the sidelines of kids' sport. CQUniversity psychology researcher Dr Cassy Dittman is driving an Australian-first program to help parents develop positive strategies for supporting children to play and enjoy their sport.  The proactive initiative has seen CQUni and UQ researchers work with the National Rugby League and Que...

Humanity has never been more immersed in technology. But as its influence grows in every aspect of our lives, CQUniversity Associate Professor of Information and Communication Technology Michael Cowling says debate continues to rage about technology’s role in the classroom. The academic and tech enthusiast is a National Teaching Fellow advocating for pedagogy before technology, and he shares his r...

Why do people do what they do, instead of making choices that could make them healthier and happier? CQUniversity expert in behaviour change Dr Amanda Rebar says a big part comes down to habit.  Researching and designing health interventions to improve our lives, the Director of Motivation of Health Behaviours Lab shares the keys to sustainable change - and her own struggle shift habits - on this...