Issue 30 - 30 August 2000

Excellence award for water quality study

Water quality study team members Dr Margaret Hellard (left) and Dr Martha Sinclair accept an award from Victorian Health Minister Mr John Thwaites.

A $3 million world-first study on water quality conducted by a team of Monash scientists has won the Victorian Department of Human Services 2000 Award for Excellence for Public Health Research.

Victorian Health Minister Mr John Thwaites recently presented the award to the Water Quality Study Team from Monash's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.

Associate Professor Kit Fairley, who headed the project, said the team had developed a research tool for measuring water quality and its impact on humans that was refined enough to use for changing and shaping policy and practice.

"This study represents a change in the way people view water quality. Instead of focusing entirely on measuring something in the water, it broadens the measurement of water quality to include a human health outcome," he said.

"So in addition to measuring what's in the water, we put the emphasis on what happens to people drinking the water."

He said the study had applications worldwide as the research tool could be used to better determine what levels of water treatment and filtration were necessary in certain areas by testing whether people were becoming ill through their water supplies.

Dr Fairley said 600 families in Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs took part in the study to see whether they contracted gastroenteritis from Melbourne's water.

"The answer was 'no' and, as a result of that finding, it's very likely Melbourne will not go ahead and put in a $500 million filtration plant previously being proposed," he said.

The study was undertaken as part of Monash University's work in the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment.

"Now we have to focus on other important health issues relating to water quality and carry out the necessary research to provide policy makers with the information needed to make decisions and formulate their policies," he said.

South Africa project moves to Johannesburg Pro vice-chancellor of Monash University South Africa Professor John Anderson relocated from Melbourne to Johannesburg early this week to oversee the continuing development of the new university and strengthen links with the surrounding communities. Since the arrival of a billboard on the site of Monash South Africa, 20 km north-west of central Johannesburg in Roodepoort, numerous inquiries have been made to the university's local marketing office from interested parents and prospective students. Locally based student liaison officer Ms Caryn Ralston has been involved in a busy round of visits to schools to promote the first-year undergraduate studies in arts, business and commerce and computing. Students will commence in February next year. "Judging by the level of inquiry to date, the marketing campaign has worked well and future demand by students looks promising at this stage," Professor Anderson said. "We won't know the numbers of applicants for next year until the end of October, which is the closing date for university applications in South Africa." Meanwhile, project teams in Australia and South Africa are focusing on preparing first-class facilities and services for the new students. "We are creating a safe, high-quality environment that will support our teaching and research activities," Professor Anderson said. He announced recently that other external organisations were interested in space within the new buildings to engage in joint research activities. "Monash has a commitment to assisting with South Africa's transformation and will seek out opportunities for research with local industries, universities and governments. "We are there because we have a contribution to make within South Africa, as well as being able to provide broader opportunities for Monash staff and students." Arriving in Johannesburg, Professor Anderson joined Monash South Africa project managers Mr Rob Reid Smith and Ms Jan Houge who had relocated earlier in August. Late this year, they will be joined by about 15 newly-appointed academic staff who will work with the three heads of schools to deliver the teaching programs. "Monash academic staff and project teams have been working hard to meet the tight deadlines for the February start-up," Professor Anderson said. "The expertise and dedication of those involved is both impressive and important. The new campus is a significant step forward for Monash University, and I look forward to providing first-hand reports from South Africa in the near future."

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