Join Us for This Inspiring Keynote Session
| Thursday, November 9, 2023 |
| 3:30 PM - 5:20 PM |
| Auditorium |
Overview
Keynote Session Chair
Professor Russell Roberts, Charles Sturt University, Conference Co-Chair
3:30pm – 4:10pm
Farmstrong: Live Well, Farm Well
Gerard Vaughan, Farmstrong NZ
4:15pm – 4:55pm
Small Changes, Big Impact: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter in a Regional University Setting
Erika Cross, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser, Charles Sturt University
4:55pm – 5:00pm
Day 2 Conference Reflection
Professor Russell Roberts, Charles Sturt University, Conference Co-Chair
5:00pm – 5:15pm
Closing Words from Australian Storyteller Murray Hartin
5:20pm
Meet in Level 1 Lobby for Guided Walk to The Albury Club
Speaker
Erika Cross
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser
Charles Sturt University
Small Changes, Big Impact: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter in a Regional University Setting
Abstract
This presentation will focus on the themes of equity, diversity and inclusion and explore how they impact the experience of staff and students in a regional university context.
Regional universities help drive innovation, make positive social, economic and cultural impact on their communities and contribute to regional and rural workforce by providing training and education. However, people living in rural and regional Australia are less likely to have a university degree than individuals living in metropolitan areas. Compared to metropolitan universities, regional universities also have higher enrolments of students from equity groups recognised in policy and funding frameworks that seek to improve higher education access and participation. These frameworks focus on improving the representation of students that are from regional and remote areas, non-English speaking backgrounds, have a disability, are women in non-traditional areas, identify as indigenous, or are from low SES (socioeconomic status) locations.
Research and analysis shows that many students from these diverse groups face barriers that impact their access to higher education, how they participate while they’re studying and their ability to complete a degree. This includes challenges related to geographical location, access to resources and technology, living costs, family responsibilities and issues that impact wellbeing such as isolation from family and support networks and unfamiliarity with the expectations of university life and culture. Intersectionality, when a student belongs to more than one of these traditionally under-represented groups, can compound and exacerbate these challenges.
Examples and case studies based on the presenter’s experience working with students from diverse backgrounds will be used to highlight how bias, power and privilege can impact feelings of exclusion and belonging. Participants will be provided with examples of the big impact that small changes in how we communicate, interact and work can have on how safe and included people feel.
Regional universities help drive innovation, make positive social, economic and cultural impact on their communities and contribute to regional and rural workforce by providing training and education. However, people living in rural and regional Australia are less likely to have a university degree than individuals living in metropolitan areas. Compared to metropolitan universities, regional universities also have higher enrolments of students from equity groups recognised in policy and funding frameworks that seek to improve higher education access and participation. These frameworks focus on improving the representation of students that are from regional and remote areas, non-English speaking backgrounds, have a disability, are women in non-traditional areas, identify as indigenous, or are from low SES (socioeconomic status) locations.
Research and analysis shows that many students from these diverse groups face barriers that impact their access to higher education, how they participate while they’re studying and their ability to complete a degree. This includes challenges related to geographical location, access to resources and technology, living costs, family responsibilities and issues that impact wellbeing such as isolation from family and support networks and unfamiliarity with the expectations of university life and culture. Intersectionality, when a student belongs to more than one of these traditionally under-represented groups, can compound and exacerbate these challenges.
Examples and case studies based on the presenter’s experience working with students from diverse backgrounds will be used to highlight how bias, power and privilege can impact feelings of exclusion and belonging. Participants will be provided with examples of the big impact that small changes in how we communicate, interact and work can have on how safe and included people feel.
Biography
Erika Cross is based on Wiradjuri Country in Albury. She has a background in environmental science, but her passion for working with people led her to her current role as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Adviser at Charles Sturt University.
Erika is part of a small and committed team that deliver staff-focused diversity and inclusion initiatives across Charles Sturt. Their work seeks to promote a university culture that provides dignity and respect to all, values differences, and helps to break down barriers that impede diversity and inclusion.
Erika has vast experience supporting regional university students, including those navigating complex personal and professional challenges. She is an accredited Mental Health First-Aid facilitator who provides engaging training to students and staff on topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Murray Hartin
Australian Storyteller
Closing Words
Biography
Muz grew up in the northern NSW town of Moree playing Saturday morning footy, Sunday morning cricket and hanging out with his mates.
He spent 5 years at Sydney's Barker College, worked in Sydney for Amoco, then for Caltex and TNT in Tamworth before stumbling into journalism with the Northern Daly Leader after winning the inaugural Bush Poetry competition in 1987.
He went full-time with his entertainment career in 1996.
Through his extensive travels around Australia Muz has met a vast and varied collection of remarkable Australians. They are the inspiration for his stories.
People like the late Northern Territory station-owner and legend Billy Hayes, former world champion surfer Mark Richards and The Hog Whisperer, Scotty Parker, Muz’s mate from Queensland.
His story “Rain From Nowhere”, written in February, 2007, addressing the issue of rural suicide, has touched the hearts of people Australia-wide. It is already being spoken of as one of the most significant pieces of Australian verse in recent memory.
Muz's diet story "A-Z", directed and animated by Zenon Kohler, made the final 16 of the 2007 Sony Tropfest short film festival.
In 1999 his poem Turbulence made it into the Top 20 of Australian Country Music charts – a unique feat for a piece of Aussie verse.
Muz throws great characters into a blender with funny situations, adds a big dash of poetic license and a whole lot of humour, flicks the switch and it all comes out in rhyme. It's a good recipe.
Gerard Vaughan
Farmstrong NZ
Farmstrong: Live Well, Farm Well
Abstract
Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that launched in 2015 focussing initially on farmers, and over time the wider agricultural sector. Farmstrong also attracts followers and champions from rural service organisations, charitable trusts, community programmes, commercial businesses and government organisations.
Farmstrong supports farmers and growers to learn from their peers and relatable experts about mental fitness actions that lead to better farming outcomes.
Key principles that underpin Farmstrong are:
• Small mental wellbeing changes in individuals across large populations will lead to significant changes in overall health improvement and injury reduction.
• Mental wellbeing and mental strengths can be increased through a range of skills that can be easily learned.
• People are motivated to learn new skills by seeing them in others like them i.e. with whom they have a shared social identity.
In 2022, 21% of all NZ farmers and growers (over 17,000 people) attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to their engagement with Farmstrong.
The presentation will outline the science and theory of change that underpins Farmstrong. It will use examples to show the range of ways Farmstrong is delivered and what we are learning about what works and why. Results from the 2023 annual monitor survey will be shared along with our plans for sustaining Farmstrong into the future.
The presentation will be relevant for those interested in how communities can drive solutions and engagement to deliver better mental health and wellbeing outcomes in rural agricultural communities. The presentation will draw on learning from programme development phases of scoping, designing, launching, scaling and measuring impact.
The topics covered will also be relevant for those with an interest in; strengths based population wellbeing promotion; action research, partnerships and collaboration, story telling in social learning programmes and the role of impact monitoring and return on investment (ROI) in attracting resources.
Farmstrong supports farmers and growers to learn from their peers and relatable experts about mental fitness actions that lead to better farming outcomes.
Key principles that underpin Farmstrong are:
• Small mental wellbeing changes in individuals across large populations will lead to significant changes in overall health improvement and injury reduction.
• Mental wellbeing and mental strengths can be increased through a range of skills that can be easily learned.
• People are motivated to learn new skills by seeing them in others like them i.e. with whom they have a shared social identity.
In 2022, 21% of all NZ farmers and growers (over 17,000 people) attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to their engagement with Farmstrong.
The presentation will outline the science and theory of change that underpins Farmstrong. It will use examples to show the range of ways Farmstrong is delivered and what we are learning about what works and why. Results from the 2023 annual monitor survey will be shared along with our plans for sustaining Farmstrong into the future.
The presentation will be relevant for those interested in how communities can drive solutions and engagement to deliver better mental health and wellbeing outcomes in rural agricultural communities. The presentation will draw on learning from programme development phases of scoping, designing, launching, scaling and measuring impact.
The topics covered will also be relevant for those with an interest in; strengths based population wellbeing promotion; action research, partnerships and collaboration, story telling in social learning programmes and the role of impact monitoring and return on investment (ROI) in attracting resources.
Biography
Gerard has worked as Farmstrong Programme Director since it began in 2014. He has led (along with the small team) the programme through its various phases of partnership establishment, scoping, design, launch in 2015 and continued growth and development.
Gerard also chairs Governance Groups of other NZ mental health programmes within manufacturing, construction and NZ Rugby. He also provides advice to Scotland as they establish their Farmstrong programme.
Prior to Farmstrong Gerard spent five years as CEO of the Alcohol Advisory Council of NZ (with a mission to reduce harms from alcohol misuse), and five years leading NZ’s national mental health campaign Like Minds, Like Mine.
Conference Chair
Russell Roberts
Professor
Charles Sturt University, Manna Institute
Keynote Presenter
Erika Cross
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser
Charles Sturt University
Murray Hartin
Australian Storyteller
Gerard Vaughan
Farmstrong NZ
Moderator
Shinade Hartman
AST Management
Mel Stewart
Director
AST Management
Justine White
Event Manager
AST Management
