Appointments & Achievements

Professor Deborah Brennan, from the Social Policy Research Centre, has been elected Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

One of the country’s leading researchers in families and work, early childhood education and community service provision, Deborah is the fourth member of the Social Policy Research Centre to be given the honour. Professors Bettina Cass and Peter Saunders and conjoint Professor Sheila Shaver are also Fellows.

The Academy is an autonomous non-government organisation devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences.

Fellows of the Academy are elected by their peers on the basis of having achieved a very high level of scholarly distinction and for having made a distinguished contribution to one or more disciplines in the social sciences.

Associate Professor Sue Green, director of Nura Gili, has been appointed to the third Indigenous Higher Education Council.

The nine-member Council, announced by Education Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Innovation, Science and Research, Kim Carr, last week, will provide policy advice to the government on issues of education, research and research training in relation to Indigenous higher education.

Committed to halving the gap for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in year 12 by 2020, the Rudd Government has committed $108 million over four years to develop the link between universities and schools to increase Indigenous students and parents exposure to higher education.

Along with this partnership, the Council will continue to oversee its joint project with Universities Australia, the Indigenous Cultural Competency in Australian Universities initiative, which aims to assess cultural competencies, develop pilot projects and, eventually, create a national framework for universities.

Professor Julian Disney, from the School of Law, has been appointed Chair of the Australian Press Council with his term commencing next month.

Julian, Director of the Social Justice Project, takes over the position of Chair from Professor Ken McKinnon who has been in the role since 2000.

The self-regulatory body of print media, the Australian Press Council aims at to preserve freedom of the press and promote responsible and ethical journalism.

The Council consists of 15 members, representing publishers, the journalists' union, independent journalists and members of the public.

Professor Andrew Schultz, head of the School of English, Media and Performing Arts, has been awarded one of Australia’s top awards for music composition.

A noted composer, Andrew won the $15,000 Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize for his recent work To the evening star.

The Paul Lowin Prizes reward outstanding achievement in Australian composition and are presented by Perpetual Limited and the Australian Music Centre.

The jury unanimously agreed on Andrew’s winning entry describing it as “a mastery of technique and form”. He was recently presented with the award at the Sydney Opera House.

Andrew is best known for three operas - Black River, Going Into Shadows and The Children’s Bach. His music also covers chamber, orchestral and other vocal work.

Professor Andrew Byrnes, from the School of Law, has been elected President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANSIL).

ANSIL is the principal forum for international lawyers providing academics, government lawyers, NGOs, students and practitioners with an avenue to discuss research and issues of practice.

Andrew, Chair of the Australian Human Rights Centre at UNSW, is also co-director of studies at the Australian branch of the International Law Association.

UNSW has been nominated as a finalist in the 2009 Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AGGE) Graduate Recruitment Industry Awards.

UNSW is one of seven finalists in the category of Award for Best Careers Service for Employers.

The AAGE is a national body of organisations that recruit and develop graduates or offer services in graduate recruitment and development.