Why mentoring made all the difference

The UOW Mentoring Program continues to unlock the professional power of alumni and student connections.

Transforming legal minds

How a unique law internship is making a lasting impact on students’ careers

Hometown heroes: Regional teachers making a local difference

Meet the graduates of UOW's Master of Teaching program building futures in their own communities.

Welcome to The Stand Magazine

We bring to life subjects that illustrate the impact our students, teaching, research and graduates make in the world.

The Stand exists to unlock the knowledge and expertise inside the University of Wollongong (UOW), telling stories about our people and their accomplishments that inform, educate and inspire. This magazine was born out of a renewed sense of place, purpose and values that will guide the University in fulfilling its role in exploring how to resolve society’s large and complex social, environmental and economic challenges.

We believe education is one of the most powerful transformative forces on communities and individuals. It opens minds and helps people find purpose, meaning – and solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.

This is our unified story – a story that draws on our past, understands the present, and looks to the future.

Articles

Putting a lid on recycling myths

National Recycling Week (11–17 November) aims to improve recycling knowledge and promote better practices. We asked UOW's Dominique Di Leva to set the record straight on some of the most persistent recycling misconceptions.

Finding beauty in seaweed and sustainability

“You’ve got to create solutions that work,” says Dr Pia Winberg, a celebrated marine ecologist, entrepreneur and graduate of the University of Wollongong (UOW). Her focus on seaweed and microalgae is not just about products but a mission to address global sustainability challenges.

Why community gardens have taken root along the South Coast

A new food survey is examining the rise of and demand for urban agriculture in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

Turning plastic waste into homewares

In Australia, just 12 per cent of recyclable plastic produced each year is being recycled, and 88 per cent of all possible recyclable plastics ends up in landfill. 

Home truths on housing affordability

Delving into the shifting landscape of home ownership and living arrangements, UOW's latest Luminaries webinar showcased the socio-economic forces reshaping our understanding of 'home'.

A student’s guide to wellbeing at university

If there is one thing I have learnt during my degree, it’s that university life is a rollercoaster of experiences.

Guaranteeing a healthy childhood

Making sure children maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise can be a tough task for parents and carers. That’s why these researchers are putting their plans into action.

Mind and matter

Three scientists share how their passion for psychology led them down different research paths

Podcasting pioneers

A desire to share the day to day reality of social workers has seen a podcasting production collective flourish.

10 years of better mental health

What started as an experiment is now an established program that profoundly impacts both students and participants

A 3D-printed vision for the future

A research team led by the University of Sydney’s Professor Gerard Sutton, with researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) has scored an early goal in efforts to develop a 3D bio-engineered cornea to revolutionise sight-restoring transplants.

Voting with two wheels

Cycling to work can help improve physical and mental health, reduce congestion and mitigate climate change.

Could cannabis, MDMA and mushrooms be the answer the mental illness?

From July, some psychiatrists will be able to prescribe MDMA and psylocibin to patients.

How coincidence and connections helped a shark attack survivor heal and tell his story

In 2014, exercise science student James Forsyth was completing his Honours project at the University of Wollongong (UOW) when then 21-year-old Brett volunteered for his study.

What does an ageing population mean for Australia?

As Japan grapples with longer life-expectancy and declining birth rates, world leaders are using the situation as a wake-up call.

Lessons from motherhood

Laureine Gabriel taught herself English when she moved from Lebanon to Australia, though it was learning how to write academically in English that she found more challenging upon commencing her studies in nursing at UOW Sutherland.

Nursing a passion for a healthy community

Graduating from UOW over 25 years ago, Jill Deering has since put her knowledge and experience into improving the health of the Sutherland Shire community for the better.

Purpose and passion

At the heart of Honorary Professor Tanya Buchanan’s remarkable career impact lies a singular vision: to advance public health in Australia and around the world. As Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Council Australia, she is a leading voice in addressing our most pressing health challenges.

Perfect chemistry

Next-generation smart sensors enabled by nanotechnology are leading advancements in diverse fields, delivering previously unimaginable levels of sensitivity and portability.

The three of us: Fiona Sheppeard, Kathleen Clapham and Peter Kelly

Fiona Sheppeard, a proud Dunghutti woman and UOW psychology graduate, is examining the importance of place in Indigenous culture, and how it can be incorporated into mental health approaches for First Nations People in Australia.

From lockdown to meltdown

There are ways to help our kids ride the emotional wave of change after the end of lockdown

Digital fatigue is real

A few tips on how to combat emotional exhaustion while in lockdown

The three of us: Kelly Newell, Katrina Green and Helen Clunas

PhD candidate Helen Clunas is investigating the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in depression under the watchful eye of Supervisors Dr Katrina Green and Associate Professor Kelly Newell from the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.

The Community Resilience project

The Community Resilience project was supported by Global Challenges in 2019 with the plan to explore the adaptability and resilience of teachers and nurses as frontline workers. When COVID19 hit in early 2020, the team found themselves interviewing Australian frontline workers during the worst pandemic of our generation.

Career Advice for Women in Science

‘Diversify your skills and communicate what you do’. They were the key messages from a recent interview with Dame Bridget Ogilvie, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, and a successful British Scientist who has split her time between the two countries for the last 14 years.

Leading change

Despite being over-represented at undergraduate and entry levels in academia, women are still underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines. Furthermore, women make up only 20% of senior leaders in STEMM, which means Australia and the world are missing out on a large portion of their top talent, expertise and knowledge.

Environmental research making an impact

As a university with a focus on research quality and impact, UOW academics are driving projects of excellence that are making a difference. The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) framework identifies research excellence at Australian universities compared to national and international institutions.

Future of: Virtual Interactions

Lisa Kervin is a Professor in Language and Literacy Education in the Faculty of Social Sciences at UOW. Lisa also serves as the Associate Dean Research and leads the “Play, Pedagogy and Curriculum” research group for Early Start Research.

The Future Of: Aged Care

The Future Of series asks UOW experts and researchers a set of five questions to gain some insight into the future states of our lives, our communities, and the world.

The Future Of: Regenerative Medicine

“The Future Of…” series asks a variety of UOW experts and researchers the same five questions, to provide insight into the potential future states of our lives, communities and world.

The Future Of: Disease & Antimicrobial Resistance

“The Future Of…” series asks a variety of UOW experts and researchers the same five questions, to provide insight into the potential future states of our lives, communities and world.

The Future Of: Healthy Being

“The Future Of…” series asks a variety of UOW experts and researchers the same five questions, to provide insight into the potential future states of our lives, communities and world.