University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia has a continual roll call of awards, scholarships and prizes presented to staff and students. To recognise these achievements, an article is published on the UWA news page on the website and in UWA Forward on the first week of every month. If you know of great awards or achievements across the University please email [email protected]
Name: Chris McDonald
Achievement:
Dr Chris McDonald, from UWA's School of Physics, Maths and Computing, has been awarded the annual Australasian CORE Teaching Award for the best computing lecturer. The award recognises the importance of providing high-quality education teaching and is given for an outstanding contribution to teaching, or an exemplary innovation in teaching by a team or an individual. CORE, the Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia, is the professional association of university Computer Science departments across Australia and New Zealand. The award will be presented in Melbourne, next February.
Name: Jairo Palta
Achievement:
Dr Jairo Palta, Adjunct Professor in the Institute of Agriculture at UWA was one of two international scientists awarded the Gold Cross Medal by the City of Cali, Colombia in September. A graduate of the University of Vaile in Cali’s School of Biology in 1976, Dr Palta was awarded the medal for his contribution to the adaptation of cereals and grain legume crops to drought, heat, flooding, salinity and climate change over the 46 years since he graduated. Internationally-recognised for his research Dr Palta reminded local participants at the ceremony of the need to do original and excellent science that does not involve just adapting research results from other countries, as scientific research also has an association with the local environment.
Name: Chris Fitzsimmons
Achievement:
UWA Cyber Security Analyst Chris Fitzsimmons was selected to represent Australia at the World Skills competition in South Korea. After entering multiple national cyber competitions Mr Fitzsimmons was selected to be part of the Australian Cyber team for the event. He and his team competed across four days against 12 countries and came in fifth place. The competition involves international teams competing across multiple different skillsets, from manual trades through to technology challenges, including IT.
Image: WA Centre for Rural Health Research Fellow Dr Charmaine Green.
Name: Charmaine Green
Achievement:
WA Centre for Rural Health Research Fellow Dr Charmaine Green’s was awarded a PhD by Edith Cowan University. Dr Green is a Wajarri, Badimaya and Wilunyu woman of the Yamatji Nation. She is a poet, artist and researcher who was born in Eradu, raised in Mullewa and now lives in Geraldton. Her four-year thesis titled Aboriginal Female Autoethnography: Ngatha Wangga (I Talk) Little Yamaji woman : Big Yamaji Narratives examined how knowledge is produced, transferred, transmitted and exchanged in the City of Greater Geraldton, including Mullewa. Dr Green will be presenting her findings through a number of public community forums in Geraldton and Mullewa.
Name: Ivan Lin
Achievement:
WA Centre for Rural Health Senior Lecturer Dr Ivan Lin was announced the recipient of the UWA School of Allied Health Mid-Career Research Award. Dr Lin is a rural researcher and physiotherapist with a strong commitment and passion for rural, remote and Aboriginal health. He combines research and teaching with UWA’s WA Centre for Rural Health and work as a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist with the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service. He is an Australian research leader in musculoskeletal pain and Aboriginal health – especially Aboriginal pain management and clinical communication.
Name: Wil Thorne
Achievement:
WA Centre for Rural Health Research Assistant Wil Thorne has been awarded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Health Promotion Association Scholarship. Wil’s project Empowering Our Men: Leadership, Mental Health and Wellbeing will focus on Aboriginal men’s mental health and resilience, and fathering skills – caring, setting boundaries, nurturing and growing children to be strong and healthy. Wil will work predominantly with youth and young men in Geraldton and Mullewa.
Name: Jay Jay Jegathesan
Achievement:
Jay Jay Jegathesan, from UWA’s Graduate Research School, won gold in the viewer vote and bronze overall in the Australian final of the World Monologue Games. His win gained him a spot in the global finals of the 2022 World Monologue Games, an international event featuring the best performers from 45 countries. Mr Jegathesan was one of only seven people to make the Endurance Category final of the World Monologue Games. The Endurance Category global final will be at 5pm (AWST) on Saturday 19 November.
Name: Bonnie Furzer
Achievement:
Dr Bonnie Furzer, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences, has received a $25,000 grant from the NSW Government to investigate disordered eating and exercise behaviours in the trans and gender diverse community. The exercise physiologist said the group was particularly vulnerable and the reasons were poorly understood. Dr Furzer will work with the trans community to research early warning signs of eating disorders and develop gender-affirming strategies to support healthy eating and exercise behaviours.
Congratulations UWA staff and students.