Feature stories

A Note from the Director 

Welcome to the Centre Newsletter. We are all facing extraordinary challenges in historically unprecedented circumstances. In times like this it is a pleasure to highlight the continuing work of our talented Centre members.

We're also delighted to welcome new Centre members Lisa Zanotti, Juliet Pietsch, Outi Donovan and Max Grömping.

Finally, it's my pleasure to extend a general invitation to take part in the Centre research seminars, which are now all online thanks to Duncan McDonnell and Ferran Martinez i Coma.

Canadian Health Research Council Grant on COVID-19

Congratulations to Professor Sara Davies and Dr Huiyun Feng who are members of a team that received a Rapid Research Fund Grant as part of a Canadian Health Research Council grant on COVID-19. Health sciences researchers at the Simon Fraser University will co-lead an international team, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. and others from the U.K., Hong Kong and Australia.  The research aims to identify gender-related effects of the outbreak, gaps in preparation and response measures, and provide guidance and recommendations for those crafting policy and public health interventions.  Sara and Huiyun will be leading the China case study in the project.

The researchers will also map out and analyse infections and mortality data to help inform public health responses, decision-making and planning, and improve policy and public health responses to COVID-19. The findings will contribute to the global response of COVID-19 through strengthening understanding of how individuals and communities comprehend and react to the disease. The team will develop an online Gender Toolkit to promote gender-related actions driven by policy development, preparedness and response activities.

Strengthening Industry Engagement to Improve Indigenous Livelihoods 

Professor Ciaran O'Faircheallaigh and Professor Thierry Rodon (Laval University in Quebec) received $110,000 in funding to carry out their research on implementation of agreements between Indigenous people and industry.

The grant was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, via its Knowledge Network on Mining Encounters and Indigenous Sustainable Livelihoods. It will fund a research project 'Realising Indigenous Rights: Effective implementation of agreements between Indigenous Peoples and the extractive industry'. The project is supported by Indigenous organisations including, in Australia, Ely Mine Beneficiaries Trust, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and in Canada, Conseil de la Nation Innu de Matimekush-Lac John. These organisations will provide access to research data and sites, and will make immediate and practical use of the research team's findings.

Visitors from Trisakti University

On 9-10 March Centre members Professor Haig Patapan, Dr Ellie Martus and Dr Cosmo Howard provided academic support and their expertise to a group of Indonesian PhD students visiting Brisbane from Trisakti University, Jakarta, Indonesia.

The forum was run by Griffith International.  As well as welcoming the group to the University, the three worked closely with small groups of students, listened to individual presentations and provided constructive feedback and advice on their work.

Protection of Whistleblowers Vital During COVID-19 

The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates a growing demand for strong public accountability and the importance of whistleblower protection, according to the Centre’s public integrity expert Professor AJ Brown.

AJ has contributed to a global statement written in response to dramatic mistakes by officials and authorities in their reactions to the pandemic. Coalition to Make Whistleblowing Safe During COVID-19 and Beyond is supported by more than 50 organisations and experts worldwide.