Latest news with #UTAS
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Burnie's new health hub under construction, with 24-hour pathology lab set to open in July
For the past three years, the former University of Tasmania (UTAS) campus in Burnie has sat empty — but that's starting to change. Brothers Jack and Jerome Muir Wilson, a pharmacist and GP respectively, have plans to transform the site into a multidisciplinary health hub combining primary care, allied health and social services. The $24 million health hub will host 16 permanent service providers and require an estimated 180–200 staff once operational. The project attracted bipartisan support during the federal election campaign, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committing $8 million during a brief visit to the site in April. Builders are now on site, working to turn the university's old science lab into a 24-hour pathology lab that will service the North West Regional Hospital, before its July 1 opening date. A development application for the rest of the health precinct will be lodged with Burnie City Council in the coming weeks. If all goes to plan, the new health precinct will be open to the public by the middle of next year. The fate of the old university buildings on Mooreville Road has been uncertain since UTAS moved its Cradle Coast campus to West Park in 2021. At one point, the Tasmanian government — which owns the site — proposed using the site for new Supreme and Magistrates courts. In the face of strong community opposition, the plans were eventually scrapped, leaving the future of the former campus in doubt. Jack said the site was an ideal location for the health hub, but three years of disuse have taken its toll. "The site's been left unused and unserviced for three years. Basically, they rolled out ... and shut the door," he said. Animal droppings left by resident possums were strewn throughout some of the buildings, and empty classrooms showed signs of break-ins and general neglect. But despite the work ahead, Jack said he was confident the health hub would be operational by mid-next year. The centre will bring multiple services under one roof. There will be a GP clinic, mental health care, medical imaging, pathology, a pharmacy, and a range of family and women's services. The Muir Wilson brothers also hope to host Burnie's promised Medicare Urgent Care clinic, pending the outcome of a tender process. Dr Jerome Muir Wilson, the visionary behind the Launceston Health Hub, will lead the GP clinic. While the Burnie health hub will draw on the experience and success of the Launceston Health Hub, Jerome said the Burnie precinct would not simply be a copy of it. "It wouldn't be the same mix that you'd put in Launceston, in Mildura, or on the Sunshine Coast. It's what Burnie needs and it's what services are lacking support and accommodation," he said. Women's Legal Service is one of the not-for-profit service providers set to move into the space once it's complete. Chief executive Yvette Cehtel said the organisation's current office in Burnie was not fit for purpose, so she jumped at the chance to be part of the health hub. "It being fitted out means it will have proper, safe soundproofing, which we don't have in any of our other offices statewide, because we're always going into existing office spaces," Ms Cehtel said. One of the former university buildings will host the legal service, alongside a sexual assault support service, and family planning and parenting support groups. These organisations will share some facilities and consultation rooms, including rooms that are connected to both indoor and outdoor playgrounds for children to use during consultations. Ms Cehtel said she was confident it would make a significant difference for the region. "Having the Women's Legal Service, places like Laurel House, Family Planning, and Playgroup Tasmania all together will provide an opportunity for us to do some really interesting work in the prevention space, and no doubt it'll be a hub for ideas and innovation as well," she said Laurel House is a sexual assault support service that operates in multiple locations across the state, including Burnie. Therapeutic services manager Kerri Collins said a permanent home in the Burnie Health Hub would provide long-term stability for the organisation, and greater confidentiality and anonymity for victim-survivors. "People don't see them walking particularly into our building and go, 'oh, they're going to a sexual assault support service'. The second stage of the development is being finalised, with a development application expected to be submitted to the Burnie City Council in the coming weeks. For the Muir Wilson brothers, who grew up on the north-west coast, the project is personal. "We know that our health system should be better and we know we can do better. We want to see better access and better services for the people of Tasmania," Jack said.
Observer
a day ago
- Business
- Observer
Establishment of UTAS branch in Musandam contributes to balanced development
KHASAB: The establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Musandam Governorate is a strategic project with economic, scientific, tourism and social dimensions. It forms part of the comprehensive development and urban strategy to advance the governorate, aligning with the Oman Vision 2040. The project is expected to contribute to balanced development across Oman's governorates, attract investment in projects and services, and enhance the governorate's economic system, including marine eco-tourism, the fisheries sector, logistics transport services and renewable energy investments. Dr Said bin Hamad al Rubaie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, emphasised that the Musandam branch will strengthen human development factors, increase job opportunities for the local community and supply the labour market with graduates who meet the requirements of the comprehensive development plan. This will be achieved through high-quality educational and training programmes that reinforce national identity and social values while equipping graduates with modern knowledge and skills for life and work. In a statement, he said that the establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences branch in Musandam Governorate marks the first higher education institution in the governorate, aimed at developing Omani human resources and serving as a key driver of social and economic progress. The current admission plan anticipates around 750 students across various specialisations upon the graduation of the first cohort with bachelor's degrees. The number of enrolled and admitted students is expected to grow annually after the completion of the branch's permanent building. He noted that in the 2024/2025 academic year, the university's total student number reached 46,875, including 22,503 male students (48%) and 24,372 female students (52%), in addition to 147 postgraduate students. During the same academic year, the Musandam branch enrolled 328 students. The university offers diverse specialisations across its six colleges: Creative Industries, Education, Applied Sciences and Pharmacy, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Computing and Information Sciences, and Engineering and Technology. These programmes are available at diploma, advanced diploma and bachelor's levels. At the Musandam branch during the 2024/2025 academic year, several unique and in-demand programmes were introduced, aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including cloud computing, financial technology, digital business and analytics, and education. The university also plans to introduce scientific specialisations in the second phase, covering marine navigation, marine systems design and marine product processing technology. These programmes are expected to attract students from across Oman and beyond. He explained that, till the completion of the permanent branch building, a temporary facility has been leased to accommodate students and staff. The interim building includes classrooms, academic and administrative offices, computer and science labs, a library, meeting halls and other service facilities. As for the final designs for the main branch buildings in Khasab, he affirmed that pre-qualification for the project has been completed, and bids from companies are currently being analysed by the university's consultancy office and specialists. Dr Said added that future plans for the Musandam branch include establishing a marine sciences department in a prime location in Bukha. The branch will feature a control tower for boat competitions, a racing circuit, workshops, offices, labs and classrooms — all meeting global standards for higher education institutions. - ONA
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Branch of UTAS in Musandam contributes to comprehensive development
Khasab: The establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Musandam Governorate is a strategic project with economic, scientific, tourism, and social dimensions. It forms part of the comprehensive development and urban strategy to advance the governorate, aligning with the "Oman Vision 2040". The project is expected to contribute to balanced development across Oman's governorates, attract investment in projects and services, and enhance the governorate's economic system, including marine eco-tourism, the fisheries sector, logistics transport services, and renewable energy investments. Dr. Said Hamad Al Rubaee, Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, emphasised that the Musandam branch will strengthen human development factors, increase job opportunities for the local community, and supply the labour market with graduates who meet the requirements of the comprehensive development plan. This will be achieved through high-quality educational and training programmes that reinforce national identity and social values while equipping graduates with modern knowledge and skills for life and work. In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he said that the establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences branch in Musandam Governorate marks the first higher education institution in the governorate, aimed at developing Omani human resources and serving as a key driver of social and economic progress. The current admission plan anticipates around 750 students across various specialisations upon the graduation of the first cohort with bachelor's degrees. The number of enrolled and admitted students is expected to grow annually after the completion of the branch's permanent building. He noted that in the 2024/2025 academic year, the university's total student number reached 46,875, including 22,503 male students (48%) and 24,372 female students (52%), in addition to 147 postgraduate students. During the same academic year, the Musandam branch enrolled 328 students. The university offers diverse specialisations across its six colleges: Creative Industries, Education, Applied Sciences and Pharmacy, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Computing and Information Sciences, and Engineering and Technology. These programs are available at diploma, advanced diploma, and bachelor's levels. At the Musandam branch during the 2024/2025 academic year, several unique and in-demand programmes were introduced, aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including cloud computing, financial technology, digital business and analytics, and education. The university also plans to introduce scientific specialisations in the second phase, covering marine navigation, marine systems design, and marine product processing technology. These programmes are expected to attract students from across Oman and beyond. He explained that, till the completion of the permanent branch building, a temporary facility has been leased to accommodate students and staff. The interim building includes classrooms, academic and administrative offices, computer and science labs, a library, meeting halls, and other service facilities. As for the final designs for the main branch buildings in Khasab, he affirmed that pre-qualification for the project has been completed, and bids from companies are currently being analysed by the university's consultancy office and specialists. The permanent building will be designed in the shape of Oman's five-petaled desert rose, featuring administrative and academic buildings, engineering workshops, a theater, a library, restaurants, student and staff housing complexes, and green spaces. Dr. Said added that future plans for the Musandam branch include establishing a marine sciences department in a prime location in Bukha. The design will resemble the "sextant," a navigation tool historically used by Omani sailors, and will feature a control tower for boat competitions, a racing circuit, workshops, offices, labs, and classrooms—all meeting global standards for higher education institutions.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Rare Tasmanian eucalypt primed for climate change as others decline
Eucalypts vulnerable to climate change are in decline across Australia, but scientists say a rare one found only in southern Tasmania is actually expanding its range in part because it is so "well adapted" to warmer, drier conditions. The endemic Risdon peppermint (Eucalyptus risdonii) is a "scraggly looking tree" with unusual blue leaves, found around Risdon Vale on Hobart's eastern shore. Species distribution modelling by consultant Peter Harrison during his PhD predicted an increase in the extent and number of areas suitable for the species by the end of this century. Plant scientist Rebecca Jones, of the Eucalypt Genetics group at the University of Tasmania (UTAS), said the species had proven its ability to adapt to harsh conditions. "I'm recommending people plant it because it's actually one of the only eucalypts that climate modelling predicts will be able to expand its range under future climate change because it loves hot, dry conditions," Dr Jones told ABC Hobart. "There's been research at UTAS on this eucalypt for 40 years or so. There are a few really cool things about it, other than it being totally beautiful." Dr Jones said the species was unusual because it retained its blue-grey baby foliage. "It stays blue. Most trees don't, they go from blue to green," she said. "In fact, the early explorers thought they were two different species and described them as such. "And you can't blame them really, they look pretty different, but they're actually the same thing. "But Eucalyptus risdonii, it holds those juvenile leaves its whole life. So, the whole crown of the canopy are juvenile leaves, and you can see little flower buds coming out on those juvenile leaves. "It's thought that's an adaptation to the sort of harsh conditions that it lives in in [postcode] 7016, on the north-west facing slopes." Eucalypt trees dominate the Australian landscape. Botanists have identified about 900 species of them and 29 are known to be native to Tasmania, including the Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) and brown stringybark ( Known collectively as Tasmanian oak, these are commonly used as building timbers. The Risdon peppermint, on the other hand, has ornamental qualities and is better equipped than some eucalypts to handle climate change. Another Tasmanian eucalypt, the Morrisby gum (Eucalyptus morrisbyi), has suffered catastrophic declines due to rising temperatures and drying soils. "It's kind of a scraggly tree but the foliage itself is quite beautiful," Dr Jones said. "It's the kind of stuff you might see in foliage arrangements." Its smaller size is also better suited than most eucalypts to home gardens. "It doesn't really make a proper tree. It sort of makes a mallee kind of form. So, it sprouts out [like] a little low bush," she said. "But I think that's what lends itself well to planting it in your garden, right? Because it's not going to grow up into a big tree. You can chop out the top of it and it loves that." Dr Jones said research suggests the species' peculiarities "might be an adaptation to extreme environments". As well as its grey-blue baby foliage, it has grey, waxy branches that may "deter things from eating it," she said. "It can help with water conservation and things like that." It has stout leaves, which merge across the stem, making one leaf with the stalk growing up through the middle. "When they're dead, they actually dislodge from the stem while remaining attached to the branch and start spinning around and so when you're walking through that forest in the wind you'll hear it rattling around as it spins," Dr Jones said. Forensic scientist Thais Ribeiro Pfeilsticker, who studied the Risdon peppermint as part of her PhD at UTAS, believes hybridisation is also assisting its spread. Her thesis provided evidence supporting her supervisor Brad Potts's PhD in the 1980s, which hypothesised that hybridisation was contributing to the expansion of the rare tree in the range of the widespread Eucalyptus amygdalina. She said if you went to Risdon reserve, it would be clear the tree had a restricted distribution to the "hotter slopes of the place", but there was evidence that it was expanding its footprint despite the fact eucalypts could not move their seed far. "[My supervisor Brad Potts] came up with this idea that the pollen was actually landing on related species and another species, which is called Eucalyptus amygdalina," Ms Pfeilsticker said. "And by doing that, it was actually expanding its distribution. So instead of like landing and crossing with another risdonii, it was crossing with a different species. And then you would start to grow populations of things that we call hybrids." Dr Jones said it was pleasing to see this type of movement with a rare tree. "It's currently expanding, but very slowly through the seed dispersal mechanism. It won't become more than just rare without human intervention," she said.
ABC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Staff cuts and humanities department changes flagged at UTAS to address declining enrolments
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) will cut 13 arts and humanities staff and scrap dedicated tourism courses, as part of a proposed restructure. The university's proposal will merge the humanities and social sciences faculties into a single school, which would lead to some courses being discontinued. The 13 positions would be cut through targeted and voluntary redundancies. The restructure would also include dividing the School of Creative Arts and Media into two parts, and re-establishing the music conservatorium. The National Tertiary Education Union's (NTEU) Tasmanian secretary Ruth Barton told ABC Radio Hobart that university staff are feeling angry and disappointed. Professor Lisa Fletcher, UTAS Interim Academic Lead, College of Arts, Law and Education said financial challenges, workload issues, and declining student numbers in arts programs informed the decision to restructure. The ABC understands the university decided to discontinue the graduate certificate, graduate diploma and masters of tourism, environmental and cultural heritage in 2023. Professor Fletcher said the university is committed to delivering courses across the humanities, social sciences and creative arts. Undergraduate student Ally Brown is studying psychological sciences at UTAS, and a gender studies course. She said she felt the university's decision devalued and de-prioritised the arts and humanities faculties. "You feel a bit [on the] outer, for sure, doing a humanities degree because the uni doesn't care about it and UTAS isn't known for it," Ms Brown said. Dr Barton said students may be forced to move to the mainland to study subjects that aren't available locally. "If students want to do things like certain specialties or follow certain interests, their ability to follow those interests will be limited," she said. Ms Brown said this would be problematic due to the financial strain it may put on students. "A lot of people don't have the option to switch to a mainland uni financially," she said. There are a number of proposed changes to humanities and creative arts and media courses. The university has proposed to discontinue Asian Philosophy units in its Philosophy major, as well as Indonesian and German language studies. Up to three staff in the Arts department and one in the Theatre department will lose their jobs. Dr Barton said this decision was confusing for staff, as Tasmania has a prominent arts sector. Professor Fletcher said UTAS was committed to ensuring the continuation of arts — both creative and the humanities — in their proposal. "It is fundamental that we continue to offer those vital disciplines, not just for the career opportunities that they drive, but also because they lead to a better society," Professor Fletcher said. Dedicated tourism courses will also be cut. Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT) chief executive Amy Hills said she was disappointed UTAS would no longer have a dedicated tourism course. According to the state government, tourism contributes to $4.55 billion or 10.8 per cent of Tasmania's Gross State Product. The direct and indirect contribution of tourism in Tasmania to GSP is the highest in the country. "One in six Tasmanians are supported by the visitor economy," Ms Hills said. Professor Fletcher said students can still study a Bachelor of Business majoring in tourism or hospitality management. "Tourism is an important industry for Tasmania and the university continues to support the sector where we can add value," she said. The university's proposal will also see social work and psychology shift to the school of health. It would also see police and emergency management courses moved to paramedicine, with two roles within policing and emergency management to be axed. The university said it will carry out a four-week consultation period with staff about the proposed changes. Dr Barton said that the process is tokenistic. Ms Fletcher said the proposal period is "genuine".
