Semester two graduation ceremonies for University of Newcastle students will be held on Thursday 7 October 2010 and Friday 8 October 2010 in the Great Hall, Callaghan campus.
A total of 1,903 students are eligible to graduate.
Thursday 7 October 2010
10am - Faculty of Education and Arts
The Occasional Address will be by Mr Ray Collins. Mr Collins is the Director of Schools for the Catholic Schools Office in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. In this role, he leads the education program for the 56 Catholic schools in the Hunter and Manning regions. Over a career spanning 37 years, Mr Collins has worked as a teacher, principal and education consultant, and contributed to the lives of thousands of young people locally and across NSW.
A graduate of Newcastle Teachers College, Mr Collins began his career at Bourke Public School in 1973, before moving to Dubbo’s St John’s Primary School. Mr Collins dedicated more than a decade to St John’s, including five years as principal.
2pm - Faculty of Science and Information Technology
The Occasional Address will be by Mr Brad Mullard. Mr Mullard is the Executive Director for Mineral Resources, Industry and Investment NSW.
A geologist, who has been involved in the exploration and mining industry for over 30 years, Mr Mullard is central to the promotion of mineral development opportunities in NSW. As Executive Director he has overall responsibility for the assessment and allocation of the State’s energy and mineral resources.
Mr Mullard’s role is significant role with NSW’s mineral and metal exports worth more than $13 billion each year to NSW. His work is particularly relevant in the Hunter, which is home to numerous mineral developments and the largest coal terminal in the world.
6pm - Faculty of Health
The Occasional Address will be by Professor Debra Thoms. Professor Thoms is the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of NSW. In this role, Professor Thoms provides the professional link between the NSW Minister for Health, the Director-General of Health and the public, private and education sectors of the nursing and midwifery professions. In June 2010 she was also appointed to the position of Chief Executive of Caring Together the Health Action Plan, the Government’s response to the findings of the Inquiry into Acute Public Hospitals (Garling).
Professor Thoms has a wealth of clinical experience gained working in metropolitan, rural and remote health settings in NSW, the Northern Territory and South Australia in acute and community health services.
Friday 8 October 2010
10am - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment/ Faculty of Business and Law
The Occasional Address will be by Dr Alan Broadfoot. Dr Broadfoot’s achievements in engineering over the past three decades have helped put the Hunter on the national and international map. Until recently, Dr Broadfoot was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of local company Ampcontrol, a leading international supplier of electrical and electronic products to the power, energy and mining sectors.
Starting as Chief Engineer in 1991, Dr Broadfoot drove the company’s expansion over the past two decades that involved an ambitious research and development agenda, and impressive growth from 250 employees in 2002 to more than 900 in 2010.
2pm – Faculty of Business and Law
The Occasional Address will be by his Excellency, the Honourable Peter Underwood AC. His Excellency is the Governor of Tasmania and prior to this role, he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania from 1984 until he was appointed Chief Justice in 2004. He assumed the Office of Governor in 2008.
His Excellency was born in the United Kingdom and migrated to Australia with his family in 1950. He attended Launceston High School and attended the University of Tasmania from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws.
He later served in the Royal Australian Navy first as a National Serviceman and then in the Reserve as a sub-lieutenant.
Graduation highlights
Cassia looks towards healthy future
Cassia Lindsay is a true all-rounder. The Indigenous sportswoman and singer will graduate with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the 10am ceremony on Thursday.
Ms Lindsay entered the University through the Indigenous Pathways program offered through the Wollotuka Institute. She has never looked back.
“The degree was very challenging and there was a high volume of work but it all paid off - I have already had two jobs offers,” she said.
Ms Lindsay is a member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia and is proud to become a part of a close network of Indigenous health clinicians working in Australia. But university life is not over for Ms Lindsay. She is currently studying singing through the University of Newcastle Conservatorium and will complete her second degree at the end of 2012.
The avid basketball player has also represented Newcastle at the UniGames for the past three years.
Graduate driven to make a difference
Driven by the need to help the disadvantaged, Rob Williams, 57, is determined to make a difference.
In 2000, after working in hospitality for 30 years, Mr Williams decided to gain his law qualifications. He enrolled in a Bachelor Social Science at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast campus and after graduating in 2006, continued his studies at the Newcastle Law School.
Mr Williams will graduate with a Bachelor of Laws and a Diploma in Legal Practice at the 2pm graduation ceremony on Friday.
“I have a passion for social justice and the law and I have always wanted to help those who are marginalised in society. I realised to achieve something substantial for these people and to really make a difference, a law degree was imperative,” he said. Mr Williams completed his studies part-time over 10 years while also helping to raise a family, volunteering with the Rural Fire Service and working closely with the community to help others less fortunate.
During Mr Williams’ time at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, the tireless mentor has also worked with lawyers to pursue just outcomes for international students and community members.
