Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn, a distinguished alumnus of the University (PhD, Dip OT, BA, MEd, Dip Cont Ed), led the Faculty of Health Sciences through an extraordinary transformation during her seven-year term as Dean.

We take this opportunity to celebrate her achievements and to acknowledge her dedication to the Faculty, and the energy she has devoted to all its endeavours as she steps down in 2012 from her role as Dean. Find out more

Two academic staff members of the Faculty of Health Sciences recently received national awards in recognition of their outstanding teaching.

In total, the University of Sydney had seven academics named among the 152 national winners of the 2012 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. The citations are awarded annually by the federal government's Office for Learning and Teaching to recognise quality teaching practice and contributions towards student learning. Find out more

University of Sydney Olympians finished with a total of eight medals – one gold, three silver and four bronze – at the 2012 London Olympic Games, following four medals in the final three days of action. It was our second most successful Olympic campaign ever after Sydney 2000.

The medal winners include our very own Nicola Zagame and Brooke Pratley from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Radiation Sciences) Diagnostic Radiography student Nicola Zagame scored one of the goals that helped the women's water polo team beat Hungary 13–11, taking the bronze. While physiotherapy alumna Brooke Pratley (BHlthSc (Physiotherapy) '02) took out silver in the Rowing Women's Double Sculls.

Our congratulations also to alumna Megan Rivers (BAppSc (Exercise & Sport Science) '03) who competed in her second Olympics as a member of the Hockeyroos team and to current Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) student Krystal Weir who competed in the Laser Radial single-handed women’s class sailing race.

At the Faculty of Health Sciences, we initiated the FHS Abroad program so that all of our students would have the opportunity to take on a life-changing experience and put their skills into practice in a supportive environment.

FHS Abroad is an exciting initiative that provides senior students across our undergraduate and graduate entry master’s programs with the opportunity to gain international experience in development contexts as part of their study program.

In its first year, the FHS Abroad program had just five participants. Today, we have over 40 students enrolled to take part in an international placement from June and a strategic goal to have 100 students per semester enrolled in placements by 2015.  

If you would like to hear more about how you can support FHS Abroad, please contact Aleks Duric on 02 9351 3951 or email aleks.duric@sydney.edu.au.

The University of Sydney will be working with Bond University, the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Sport following a Commonwealth government announcement that Bond University had been awarded a $5.75 million Collaborative Research Networks (CRN) grant to lead a $14 million national sports science research project.

Bond University will establish a CRN with the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Sport to increase its research capacity and strengthen research systems. It will achieve this through a world class program of research in the areas of sports science and health. 

PhD students and early to mid-career researchers will work with acknowledged discipline leaders in sports science, human genetics and the study and treatment of bone, and other diseases.

A range of mechanisms will be implemented to enhance cross disciplinary and cross institutional collaboration to build long term research capacity and world class research outcomes.

Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh, Discipline of Exercise and Sports Science, will lead the University of Sydney component of this collaboration with Bond University.

Balance and strength training integrated into everyday routines could reduce falls in older people by almost a third, according to a new study led by Professor Lindy Clemson.

The research, published online in the British Medical Journal by researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences, found balance and strength tasks integrated into everyday activities were effective in reducing the rate of falls in older, high-risk people living at home. Find out more

Ageing Australian city-dwellers are more likely to suffer from non-infectious chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, arthritis, cancer and asthma than their rural counterparts, according to new research.

The study, conducted by academics from the University's Faculty of Health Sciences and published in this month's edition of the Australasian Journal of Ageing, tracked seven years of longitudinal data for 1256 over-45s who had lived in the same area for at least 20 years.

Results showed people living in urban areas had greater odds of having from a non-infectious chronic disease than people in rural and remote areas. Find out more

Do you remember your first day of clinical practice as a student? Suddenly you’re in a real health facility, with real patients, who have real health conditions! You’d studied to pass the exams, researched and critiqued to write endless assignments, reflected, introspected, self-directed ... hell you were a lean mean clinical machine. Except it was all theoretical, and now that it came to the real deal, the machine threatened to break apart, and you badly needed a confidence overhaul.  

Fortunately, your Clinical Educator was there to support, guide, encourage, and yes, critically assess – all of which enabled you to become a skilled clinician and gain employment in the profession you chose. I’m sure you remember the educators that you admired and respected, and who took the responsibility, and opportunity, to impart their knowledge. 

Supervised clinical practice was a vital component to your transition from student to clinician, and it remains so for allied health students at the Faculty of Health Sciences today. And so, as valued alumni, we are asking you to consider contributing to the University’s clinical training program by supervising a student for a short period of time. It is an investment not only in your profession, but in your own professional skills.

You will be fully supported each step of the way by the ‘Work Integrated Learning’ (WIL) Team at the University, including training workshops prior to any commitment you might make, and access to professional and administrative consultation throughout the entire placement. A perceived lack of time, desk space, or your own confidence need not be barriers any more than they were when you were studying.

Muse on the idea. Call the WIL Team any time. Make That Change ... Be That Change.       

For more information about how you can contribute and how we can support you, click here.