A new Vice-Chancellor, overhauling the judicial system, ExCo and military officials

Murdoch University officially welcomed its new Vice-Chancellor today.

Professor Andrew Deeks is a distinguished academic leader, having graduated from the University of Western Australia where he received a first-class honours degree in civil engineering. He went on to complete his Masters and worked briefly in the industry before returning to pursue his PhD and a career in academia. In 2014 he became the first Australian to lead an Irish University as President of University College Dublin (UCD).

The Governor waits for a photo with the Arch-Chancellor and Chancellor.

A Fellow of the Australian Institution of Engineers, the Irish Academy of Engineering and the Irish Institution of Engineers, a Council member of the Irish Universities Association and the European Universities Association, a Board member of the International Association of Universities, and an Executive Committee member of Universitas 21 and the Worldwide Universities Network, Professor Deeks is sure to be an asset to Murdoch University.

In his speech, the Governor commented on Professor Deeks’ area of speciality;

“When I was reading about Professor Deeks, I discovered that as well as expertise in civil and resources engineering and technology, he is an expert in – of all things – soil.

Who better then to…

• cultivate the academic life of this University,
• care for its growth,
• cross-pollinate with business and philanthropy, and
• germinate new ideas and partnerships here in Western Australia and overseas.

The seedlings of new patents, new technologies, new companies and new partnerships are all taking shoot here.

While growth is important, it must be sustainable. That applies as much to our land and our industries as much as it does to a University.”

Executive Council forges ahead

The Honourable Rita Saffioti MLA joins ExCo via Zoom.

The bi-weekly Executive Council meeting, an important element in the State’s Government system, took place at Government House today. Joining the Governor was the Honourable Stephen Noel Dawson MLC Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation and ICT; Medical Research; Volunteering Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and the Honourable Rita Saffioti MLA BBus Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports.

Challenge yourself

The Chief of Army LTGEN Rick Burr AO DSC MVO is a highly respected senior officer in the Australian Defence Force. As part of his ongoing work to enhance the Defence footprint in WA, LTGEN Burr stopped by Government House for a meeting with the Governor, Brigadier Brett Chaloner CSC, Commander 13^th Brigade, Army, Commodore Ivan Ingham AM RAN, Senior Defence Officer WA and the Commanding Officer of the Special Air Service.

Jailing is failing

A collective of long-standing professionals, those with lived experience and those with expert knowledge of the WA justice system formed an alliance. With the catchy slogan of ‘jailing is failing’ and the belief that the over-use of prisons is fundamentally harmful for all those connected, the alliance became known as the Justice Reform Initiative.

The Initiative recognises, respects and seeks to elevate the work of Aboriginal leaders and Aboriginal led organisations who have been working tirelessly to stop Aboriginal overrepresentation in custody and to build alternatives to incarceration. The Initiative suggests that the majority of people entering prison usually arrive there because of an underpinning cycle of disadvantage and that prison both exacerbates and entrenches a broader cycle of disadvantage. They aim to break this cycle and bring together organisations and people who can action change in the Western Australian judicial system through multiple legislative, policy, social and health service reforms.

This evening, the Initiative was officially launched at Government House.

In his address, the Governor commented on the costs of incarceration:

“It is challenging to hear that the vast majority of people in prison have been there before. Consequently, addressing recidivism not only mitigates enormous societal breakdown and suffering, but also frees up resources for more positive community impact. The cost of imprisonment alone in Western Australia is $691 million a year, or $103,693 per prisoner. The social suffering unquantifiable.”

 

 

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