Archive for March, 2012

Friday, March 30th, 2012

OzTREKK’s Four For Friday

We have a good feeling March is going to go out like a lamb and we couldn’t be more excited. Why? Because then we can play some funny pranks in the office for April Fool’s Day. The downside? April Fool’s Day happens on a Sunday this year, nixing the opportunity to pull any hilarious office pranks. With that, here’s our OzTREKK Four for Friday. We kidd you not. No foolin’. Just joshin’. And so on…

1. Celebrate April Fool’s Day Facebook Style. Use your favourite social media tool to pull pranks on your internet besties . Change your birthday to April 1, and watch the well wishes for another wonderful year fill your timeline. Oh, the hilarity! Hey, we didn’t say we were geniuses; we’re simply trying to help you accomplish your April Fool’s Day pranks.

2. A Day in the Life of a University of Queensland Science Student. The University of Queensland recently launched a video documenting a day in the life of a University of Queensland Science Student. It’s a nicely produced video that helps you learn more about the services and facilities on campus. See the video below:

A day in the life of a Science Student from Science on Vimeo.

3. Olympic Village Architect Wins Gold Medal. The University of Newcastle professor who has designed multiple Olympic Games venues and villages has been awarded the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest accolade, the Gold Medal. Multi award-winning architect, Professor Lawrence Nield, provides design leadership through the University of Newcastle‘s Architect in Residence program where he acts as a mentor to Australia’s next generation of architects. He was head of master planning for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, designed five venues for the Athens Olympics in 2004, five venues and for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the 2012 London Athletes Village.

4. Shannon’s a Hippie? If you’ve ever read our staff biographies, you’ll learn that Shannon Tilston has often been told she’s a hippie. She is a vegetarian, loves to garden and recycles toilet paper rolls. In April we plan to celebrate Shannon’s approach by profiling a number of environmentally-related programs offered by our Australian university partners and document our OzTREKK student experience in these programs. Happy Earth Month!

Learn more about studying at the University of Newcastle

Become a part of the University of Queensland campus!

Tags: OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Newcastle, University of Queensland
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Thursday, March 29th, 2012

University of Sydney Study: Sitting Can Lead to Early Death

A University of Sydney study has determined that sitting can lead to early death.

*Long Pause*

Sorry, we just thought we’d take a quick break from our desk!

Australian researchers, led by the University of Sydney, says that not only do we need to get more exercise but we also need to spend less of our time sitting down.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports their study of more than 220,000 New South Wales residents found the longer you spend sitting down the greater your risk of dying early, even if you otherwise do regular exercise.

Professor David Dunstan, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, said health workers usually focused on trying to increase people’s participation in sports, and trying to get them to do at least half an hour of exercise every day.

“We need to think more about what we do with the 15 hours of non-exercise wake time,” he said.

Sitting can be detrimental for our health because when we sit down there is an absence of muscle contractions, explains Professor Dunstan. These contractions are required for the body to clear blood glucose and blood fats from the blood stream.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found adults who sat for more than 11 hours a day had a 40 per cent increased risk of dying within three years, compared with those who sat for fewer than four hours a day.

People who sat for eight to 11 hours a day increased their risk of dying by 15 per cent.

Dr Hidde Van Der Ploeg from the University of Sydney, the lead author of the study, said research into the health effects of sitting usually put the blame on sedentary activities such as television watching.

Instead, they looked at the total sitting time throughout the day regardless of the type of activity.

Source: Travis Stowe

“Doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day is still important but it’s just as critical for people to reduce their sitting time,” Dr. Van Der Ploeg said.

He said the average adult spends 90 per cent of their leisure time sitting down. That is insane!

“We sit while eating our breakfast, we sit as we drive, we sit behind our desk all day, we’re always sitting down and this is a health risk.”

Professor Dunstan said the modern, urban environment was conducive to sitting behaviours.

“We need to take those opportunities to stand up, while on transport, at work, during our leisure time,” he said.

He acknowledged that sitting for less than four hours a day was no mean feat.

“It will require people to drastically change, which is hard,” he said. “But that’s the goal.”

OzTREKK did some digging on how to reduce sitting time, especially if you’re working at an office job. Here’s what we found:

Instead of sending an email or picking up the phone, get up out of your chair to ask your co-worker that pressing question.
Make a coffee (or water) date with a co-worker at a set time each day. Or, instead of sitting down with your cup of Joe, take a few laps around the office..
Set an alarm at your computer for around 3 p.m., and when it goes off, get up and go for a walk. Don’t allow any excuses for missing your walk (unless, of course, you’re in the middle of a performance review or presentation – that could get awkward).
Stand or walk while on the phone.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to go play some hacky sack in the board room (you just had a 1990′s flashback, didn’t you?).

Want to conduct research at the University of Sydney? Find out more about studying at University of Sydney

Tags: OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Sydney
Posted in News Blog, University News | Comments Off

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

How to Prepare your Parents for Your Studies in Australia

Knowing how to prepare your parents for your studies in Australia varies for each Canadian student about to embark on this journey.

While some parents may be completely supportive of your adventures abroad, others may be hesitant to send you off on an airplane. Whether you’re on either side of the spectrum, or fall somewhere in between, OzTREKK has some advice when it comes to approaching your parents about the idea of studying in Australia.

1. Do your Research. “So I was thinking of going to Australia for school,” you shoot to your parents one day in the kitchen, providing no further follow-up information. Response? Crickets. Before coming to your parents with the idea, conduct research on your school, accommodation and financial options. Providing a plan to your parents will allow them to take your idea more seriously. You don’t have to be like Marshall Eriksen on How I Met Your Mother when he printed signs to explain random statistics, but you do want to come forward with a plan already laid out.

2. Understand your options. You didn’t go to your Canadian university without conducting research on each school before making your decision, did you? Make that same effort with the Australian universities that offer your program of interest and discover the study options that will best meet your career goals. By outlining your university of choice to your parents and explaining how it offers a well-respected program, your parents will be more easily convinced it’s the right option for you.

3. Listen to your Parents. Though it may be tempting to dismiss any parental concerns, listening to their point of view will earn respect between both parties. If they know you’re listening to their opinion and considering their feedback, they’ll be more likely to reciprocate by lending an ear.

4. Outline expectations. If you’re looking to complete a four-year degree on the Gold Coat, how often would you come home to visit? Who will you live with? Where will you live following graduation? Having these discussions before filling out application forms will put your parents at ease as they’ll know what to expect should you go down this avenue.

5. Attend OzTREKK Events with your Parents. Should you decide to apply to an Australian university via OzTREKK, we provide multiple opportunities throughout the application and pre-departure phases to meet with us so that we can answer any questions you, or your parents, may have. We host pre-departure sessions across Canada, giving your family a guided tour on how to best plan for your time in Australia. These sessions answers many questions and always puts the student and their family at ease.

Want to know what else OzTREKK can do for you? Find out How We Help.

Tags: How We Help, OzTREKK, Study in Australia
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012

Christmas in Australia in 1958

Christmas in Australia hasn’t changed in 50 years.

How do we know that? We’d like to say we got our hands on a time-travel machine, but we wouldn’t want to get into the logistics of our Back to the Future undertakings. Except having a pair of those sweet Marty McFly shoes would roll well at the OzTREKK office.

Film Australia recently released more than 150 videos that were produced between the 1950s and 2008. We came across a video portraying Christmas traditions in Australia. Filmed in 1958, the video captures family gatherings in the bushland and on the beach.

Our favourite part is when the elderly lady is fast asleep in the afternoon sun when visitors arrive (about 6:55). Watch the video for yourself:

Check out their remaining videos, as they outline life in the different cities across the country, including Sydney!

Does social history interest you? Learn more about Australian Arts Programs in Australia!

Tags: Australian Arts Programs in Australia, OzTREKK, Study in Australia
Posted in Video Corner | Comments Off

Monday, March 26th, 2012

University of Sydney Dental School finds Root Cause of Dental Phobia

The University of Sydney Dental School finds the root cause of dental phobia and most women in their forties will squirm when they read this blog.

Why?

Women in their forties are more likely to have dental anxiety than any other age group according to the University of Sydney Dental School study on dental anxiety and phobia.

OzTREKK has highlighted Australian Dental Schools as its Program of the Month, and we would be remiss if we ignored a common concept that sitting in the dentist’s chair can be intimidating for some patients.

The case-control study, now entering its fifth year, aims to help improve dental management for patients with dental fear, anxiety and phobia. It has found women in this age group are most likely to have perceived a traumatic dental experience, abuse, trauma and oro-facial trauma. They are also more likely to have higher levels of depression, general anxiety or suffer from stress. Character traits of perceiving pain in alarmist ways and poor coping with pain have strong correlation with dental anxiety.

University of Sydney Dental School Special Needs Dentist, Dr. Avanti Karve, who is the study’s co-ordinator, admits that for some, the very mention of the word ‘dentist’ can evoke an instantaneous response of dread.

“Dental anxiety is very real and complex and it should never be downplayed,” says Dr. Avanti Karve.

“To date despite all the advances in the dental field, dental fear is reported in up to 40 percent of the western population. A recent national telephone survey found that a person with severe dental anxiety waits on average 17 days to make an appointment when in severe pain, as opposed to three days in the remaining population.”

According to Dr. Karve the key to alleviating and managing this fear is to take the focus away from our teeth, and review the whole person.

University of Sydney Dental School Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Professor Chris Peck says regular visits to your dentist are part of a good oral health strategy where the focus can be on prevention rather than surgical intervention.

This will of course help calm any fear related to visiting your dentist, Professor Peck says.

“More and more, medical research is linking poor oral health with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies and obesity so it is important that we feel comfortable visiting our dentists. Going forward, we want to investigate the relationship between pain perception, pain coping and dental anxiety, and measure the success of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches” Professor Peck says.

How can you relieve that anxiety? Here are some OzTREKK staff tips:

Focus on the positive. Try to focus on how a visit to the dentist is good for your overall health
Take deep breaths. The more relaxed you are when going to the dentist office, the better the experience
Bring your iPod. Sometimes the mechanical sounds can be nerving. Bring your iPod to listen to soothing music to drown out the noise.
Tell your dentist about your fears. By sharing these fears with your dentist, they’ll understand your anxiety and better communicate with you during your appointment.

Learn more about the University of Sydney Dental School!

Find out how to apply to Australian Dental Schools

Tags: Australian Dental Schools, OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Sydney Dental School
Posted in News Blog, University News | Comments Off

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Monash University Bikery Encourages Cycling Lifestyle

Monash University has set up a bikery, providing students and staff with cheap bike maintenance, bicycle parts and accessories along with refurbished bikes and general cycling advice. This is such a good idea!

Not only are they encouraging an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, they’re pushing for a healthier lifestyle, too. That’s so Australian. In other words, that’s so cool.

Located off Union Loop Road, the Monash University Bikery is the bike hub of the Clayton campus and it has a permanent staff roster along with student volunteers who offer the following services:

flat/punctured tire repair
brakes adjustments
gear adjustment
provide expert advice
order parts
Show cyclists the best way to and from campus
Direct cyclists to the new Bike Station (bike storage and showers)

The Monash University Bikery will also host maintenance workshops to show others how to fix basic problems with their bikes such as patching a puncture or changing brakes.

If you’re currently studying at Monash University and you like the idea of saving money and the environment, or you’re just a bit of a bike nerd (their words, not ours), you can also volunteer at the Bikery. Volunteering at the Monash University Bikery will give students the opportunity to learn lots about bikes and to also take part in a grassroots movement that’s actually doing something about a sustainable future.

The Bikery also gets involved in bicycle events such as cycling breakfasts and supporting the Monash University Community Bicycle User Group (McBUG), which is a cycling advocacy group.

Learn more about Monash University

Want to be a part of sustainability? Make sure you stay tuned for OzTREKK’s April edition of the OzTREKKER. We will highlight some amazing sustainability and water management programs!

Tags: Monash University, OzTREKK, OzTREKKER, Study in Australia
Posted in News Blog, University News | Comments Off

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Outback Loo With a View

Hey, OzTREKKERs! We don’t usually go off the grid with our blog posts, but today we couldn’t help ourselves. We came across this bizarre video filmed by an Australian reporter in the Outback.

We don’t even know where to start with it, but there are many things we love about the video. Not only does a farmer simply allow a news team to crash at his place for the night, they’re welcomed into an Outback lifestyle with a one-of-a-kind bathroom suite. That is, if you consider a bathroom suite an outdoor hole covered with aluminum siding. Ok, we’ve said too much!

Have fun watching this video this morning. Consider it your time waster of the day. Or, consider it an educational learning experience, and know that if ever you need to crash at a farmer’s place in the Outback, you may be so lucky to come across a loo with such a gorgeous view.

<p><a href="http://video.news.com.au/2213131495/Outback-loo-with-a-view">VIDEO: Outback loo with a view</a></p> <p>

We’re sure a public health authority would be happy to come across such a sight! If you’re interested in public health, find out how you can apply to Australian Public Health Schools in Australia!

Tags: OzTREKK, OzTREKKER, Study in Australia
Posted in News Blog | Comments Off

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

University of Sydney Alumni? Take a Hike! (No, literally…)

The University of Sydney is notorious for its world-renowned programs, beautiful campus and amazing location in downtown Sydney.

But the university is also a pro at keeping its alumni connected and challenged. Across the world the University of Sydney hosts consistent alumni events, bringing together former students to give them the opportunity to re-connect and meet others who had the same (and amazing) experience as their peers at the University of Sydney campus.

Take Hong Kong for example. Does the University of Sydney organize a coffee date for its alum? Umm, not even close. Instead, they’ve challenged the nearby alumni to hike High Jung Peak. No big deal. Kudos to the University of Sydney as they bring former students together to embark on an activity that encourages exercise in a social setting !

The alumni groups also host educational sessions. If you’re in Beijing, for example, you can connect with your former school mates while learning about how to navigate through the world of social media. Later this month the Beijing alumni chapter will host a social media seminar. So cool.

But let’s not pretend University of Sydney alumni don’t like to have a good time! Living in Shenzhen, China? Alumni and friends living in and around that city can join other alum for drinks at Decanter Bar in the KK Mall. Or, if you’re in Auckland, alumni will be getting together for drinks there as well.

The University of Sydney has also opened up to the Canadian alumni market, having hosted alumni gatherings throughout the country.

“As University of Sydney alumni, both Beth and I always keep an eye out for their next great alumni gathering,” says OzTREKK Director Matt Miernik. “They have a way of wanting alumni to get together and reconnect every so often. It’s a great way to establish contacts with former Sydney alumni, and it definitely makes me re-visit my days spent on campus.”

Matt adds the alumni events are so popular because University of Sydney alumni take pride in calling the University of Sydney their university.

Want to become a University of Sydney alumni? Then learn more about studying at the University of Sydney!

Tags: OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Sydney
Posted in News Blog, University News | Comments Off

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

Macquarie University launches Physiotherapy School!

Macquarie University recently launched the Macquarie University Physiotherapy School!

This will be the first Doctor of Physiotherapy degree offered in the State of New South Wales, demonstrating how Macquarie University continues to prove itself as a leading health sciences university.

Canadians interested in studying at an Australian Physiotherapy School will be interested to learn more about the Macquarie University Physiotherapy School. Not only is the Doctor of Physiotherapy program intended for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree, the school wants to provide the best possible leadership, research and clinical experience for its students.

So, let’s review the program, shall we?

About the Program

The Macquarie University Physiotherapy School Doctor of Physiotherapy is an extended master’s level, professional-entry degree and will produce physiotherapists with advanced clinical decision-making abilities to practice person-centred health care in contemporary health-care environments. Students will learn the skills of the physiotherapist based on the best available evidence to effectively assess, diagnose, treat and educate people across all ages with disorders of movement resulting from a range of conditions. Macquarie University Physiotherapy School students will graduate with advanced clinical skills as well as business, management and leadership training and will be ready to launch a fulfilling career as a physiotherapist across a broad range of health-care settings.

The program consists of a combination of coursework and supervised clinical placements. Students will undertake 150 days of clinical practice, both integrated throughout your program and in five-week blocks. Students will learn from leading physiotherapy academics and researchers as well as from expert clinicians to provide you with a sound foundation of evidence-based physiotherapy practice. Students will also be required to complete a research project.

FAQs

Here are some FAQS that will help answer some of your questions:

Why has Macquarie decided to branch into Physiotherapy?
Macquarie University offers a suite of allied health courses in audiology, speech pathology, clinical and neuropsychology. Physiotherapy is a valuable addition to these services in light of the new Macquarie University Hospital (MUH) and associated clinics as well as the Australian School of Advanced Medicine. The addition of this discipline will enable a collaborative and interprofessional approach to education and patient management in a modern health environment.

Beyond Macquarie University, research shows an increasing shortage of physiotherapists across Australia. Graduates will be work ready and highly qualified to launch a long, fulfilling and broad career both in Australia and internationally.

What are the prerequisites?
Students must have completed at least a three-year undergraduate degree with pre-requisites in various subject areas. Typically they will have completed bachelor degrees in exercise science, biomedical or health sciences.

Is there a cap on the number of places available?
Entry into the Macquarie University Physiotherapy School Doctor of Physiotherapy will be highly competitive with a limited number of places offered.

What skills will this program develop?
Students will study the scientific basis of physiotherapy and develop competence in the practice of physiotherapy. Graduates will have with work ready skills in the the assessment, treatment and education of people with a wide range of conditions affecting movement across the lifespan. They will also learn and develop advanced clinical, business, management and leadership skills, preparing the graduate physiotherapist for a long term and broad career in a variety of clinical settings, research and management.

Will there be clinical placements in MUH?
The Macquarie University Physiotherapy School will work collaboratively with the Advanced School of Medicine and the Macquarie Hospital and Clinics to offer students extensive clinical experience. In addition, students will undertake clinical placements in a range of settings with healthcare providers and industries external to the University.

Where can students go post-graduation?
Macquarie University Physiotherapy School graduates will be well prepared to meet the future healthcare needs in Australia and internationally with education in advanced areas including health technology, imaging, management and leadership as well as a focus on chronic disease management, disability and aged care.

Apply now!

Applications for the March 2013 intake are currently being accepted and close March 30, 2012. If you’re interested in this program, please ensure you contact OzTREKK’s Australian Physiotherapy School admissions officer, Shannon Tilston. She can give you all the applications details and work with you to get the application completed.

Apply now to the Macquarie University Physiotherapy School!

Tags: Australian Physiotherapy School, Macquarie University, Macquarie University Physiotherapy School, OzTREKK, Study in Australia
Posted in Career Spotlight, News Blog, University News | Comments Off

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Program of the Month: Australian Dental Schools

Australian Dental Schools have the ability to bring your long-term career dreams to a reality! As this month’s OzTREKK Program of the Month, we highlight how the Australian Dental Schools system works and how Canadians have the opportunity to register back home in Canada.

Australian Dental Schools have traditionally been structured similarly to many other professional programs offered at Australian universities. At most Australian universities, students can enter a dental science program directly from high school. Students from Canada, who have already completed an undergraduate degree, can also apply for entry in to the bachelor programs. These undergraduate-entry level dental programs at Australian Dental Schools are typically five years in length.

For those who have completed an undergraduate degree, the University of Melbourne Dental School launched a new Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program in 2011. The University of Sydney Dental School‘s Doctor of Dental Medicine is also a graduate-entry program.

International applicants can enter the James Cook University Dental School Bachelor of Dental Surgery and the University of Queensland Dental School Bachelor of Dental Science directly from high school or after having partially or fully completed post-secondary studies.

University: James Cook University Dental School
Course: Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Duration: 5 Years
Description: The James Cook University Dental School Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is a broad-based program that includes all aspects of dental practice and aims to promote improved oral health care delivery, particularly to people living in rural, remote and tropical regions of Australia. The curriculum integrates the basic sciences with dental clinical sciences and preventative oral health strategies. James Cook University Dental School students will have early exposure to clinical practice, with an increasing proportion of the course dedicated to clinical skills in the later years.

University: University of Melbourne Dental School
Course: Doctor of Dental Surgery
Duration: 4 Years
Description: The University of Melbourne Dental School offers the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), which incorporates all aspects related to the provision of advanced general dental care to patients as well as teaches students to prepare, develop, execute and write for publication a small research project.

Students will spend their entire final year in clinical settings including the planned University of Melbourne Dental School private dental clinic, community health centres and rural community clinics which will include provision of oral health care to the aboriginal community. Students will also learn how to run a private practice based on a small-business model.

University: University of Queensland Dental School
Course: Bachelor of Dental Science
Duration: 5 Years
Description: The University of Queensland Dental School Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) students enter this program in second year, following one year of science at the university. The remaining four years of the program involve three years of applied dental science and one year of extramural clinical practice. Clinical work begins in second year and is broadened in the third and fourth years of study. Each student is assigned patients and is then responsible for the dental care of these patients. The final year of study provides external clinical experience. Students will be rotated to a variety of state government health clinics including rural, school, hospital and community clinics.

University: University of Sydney Dental School
Course: Doctor of Dental Medicine
Duration: 4 Years
Description: The University of Sydney Dental School’s Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) is a graduate-entry program that has been purposefully designed to adhere to the well-rounded course structure of the North American postgraduate model, but has also maintained the sophisticated clinical training for which the University of Sydney Dental School has come to be renowned, giving students an applicable knowledge of dental health from the community to the laboratory.

The University of Sydney Dental School is about comprehensive learning, and embracing all the aspects of becoming a successful dentist. Sub-units integrate academic disciplines such as endodontics and orthodontics with the requisite training needed to evolve dental health knowledge into the highly specialized skills of a dental health professional.

Practising Dentistry in Canada

An exciting agreement has been formed between the Australian Dental Council and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), which is good news for Canadians who want to complete a dentistry program in Australia.

Two years ago, a reciprocal agreement was signed between the two organizations, which will recognize both Canadian and Australian graduates from accredited programs for certification and licensure.

CDAC Coordinator Lee Callan told OzTREKK this agreement means that Australian Dental Schools graduates will be deemed to have the same credentials as Canadian and American dental school graduates.

“Graduates from accredited Australian dental school are now on par with Canadian standards and will receive the same privileges as Canadian and American dental school graduates,” she explains. “They will be eligible for licensure in Canada.”

Following successful completion of an accredited dentistry program in Australia, Australian Dental Schools graduates are eligible to write the national board exam administered by the National Dental Examination Board of Canada, which is the principal requirement for a licence to practise dentistry in Canada, subject to current provincial regulations. With successful completion of the national board exam, graduates are eligible to apply for provincial registration, requesting for a licence to practise dentistry.

What does this mean for Canadians who wish to study dentistry in Australia?

Previously, no overseas program outside North America was accredited by CDAC. Graduates of non-accredited dental programs had to successfully complete an accredited two-year qualifying program prior to being eligible to participate in the board’s certification process. It’s a competitive program with many applicants vying for limited spots. Now that the reciprocity agreement was signed, Australian Dental Schools graduates complete the program and are no longer required to complete the bridging program. Instead, they complete the same licensure process in Canada as Canadian and American dental school graduates.

“The national board exams will be accessible to Australian dental school graduates,” says Callan.

Apply now to Australian Dental Schools!

Learn more about the James Cook University Dental School
Learn more about the University of Melbourne Dental School
Learn more about the University of Queensland Dental School
Learn more about the University of Sydney Dental School

Tags: Australian Dental Schools, James Cook University Dental School, OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Melbourne Dental School, University of Queensland Dental School, University of Sydney Dental School
Posted in Career Spotlight, News Blog | Comments Off

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