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Sam Adie	Developing Cultural Competency
Kate Armstrong	Finding a pathway to financial independence for families who have a child diagnosed with a chronic medical condition in resource poor countries.
Mark Berlage	Strategies and tactics for facilitating research collaborations in Asia.
Dean Brown	Can large Australian retail banks play a role in Asian microfinance?
Kate Cahill	Encouraging the development of Asian-Australian linkages and understanding inside the workplace.
Nick Campbell	Developing Business Leaders Engagement in Asia through Cultural Intelligence Training and Education
Cath Cole	Working locally with our Asia Pacific community: Increasing community involvement in reporting crime
Jennifer Lewis	Tools for Change - It's in the Bag
Ben Mak	Report on diversity and its implications for our firm
Anne Newman	Supporting the CamTESOL conference.
Michelle Phillips and Paola Niscioli	Art as a conduit: fostering Asian-Australian relations in South West Sydney
Anna Reynolds	Climate Change and APEC
Nick Tobin	Australia-China - Creating Local Links
Adam Vance	Local & Regional Asian Utilisation of Holiday Parks

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Sam Adie

Project: Developing Cultural Competency

With recent local and overseas events, there has been much focus on the Muslim community. Several reports have been published encouraging cross cultural interaction, education on Islamic culture and to clarify commonly held stereotypes. With Muslims making up an increasing portion of the Australian population, and Islam being a major religion in Asia and our closest neighbours, knowledge of Muslim culture has applications in community dealings and in the business world.

The aim of this project is the development of a seminar, which will cover basic information about Islam and Muslims, addressing stereotypes as well as tailored advice on protocols for interaction with people from a Muslim background.

The seminar was presented to the NSW Police (Bankstown Local Area Command) and Commonwealth Bank employees. Interest and discussion was generated, and the presentation was a success, with organising members inviting the speaker for another visit.

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Kate Armstrong

Project: Finding a pathway to financial independence for families who have a child diagnosed with a chronic medical condition in resource poor countries.

Research clearly demonstrates that financial burdens are one of the greatest difficulties families in resource-poor countries face when their child is diagnosed with a chronic medical condition such as CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) or Type 1 Diabetes. Morbidity and mortality are directly related to the family's income, and children from very poor families do not survive such a diagnosis. Whilst humanitarian aid in the form of medication, education and optimisation of medical treatment is helpful, long-term, sustainable solutions need to be found if genuine change is to be effected.

In response to these issues, this project links families of children living with chronic medical conditions in Vietnam with locally successful NGOs that offer micro-finance, enterprise development and vocational training in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The long-term goal for the project is that at the time a child in Vietnam is diagnosed with CAH, diabetes or other chronic medical conditions, the family's financial status will be urgently assessed, and immediate referral for specialist assistance instigated if they earn below a pre-ordained threshold deemed necessary for survival and a high quality of life.

This project is a preliminary exploration of the feasibility of such a novel approach to multi-sectoral health care in resource-poor countries.

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Mark Berlage

Project: Strategies and tactics for facilitating research collaborations in Asia.

Too frequently, academic and managerial visits and exchanges result in signing of MOUs in a spirit of good-will and good intentions with little analysis of differing national and institutional policy, strategy, cultural and investment considerations required to make them work in practice.  As a consequence, very often little benefit is derived from them beyond the exchange of undergraduate students and important opportunities for long-term research and innovation collaborations in Asia, particularly with the rapidly developing economies in the region are not realised.

The project will develop a set of recommendations to UTS Research & International Division Heads for activating the research & innovation elements of University Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Asian country institutions.  It will take into consideration the different national and regional policy contexts, especially those relating to priorities and research funding mechanisms and lead to greater activity and realisation of value from research and innovation collaborations through an MOU and a range of tactics to influence future institutional funds disbursements.  In time, it will investigate the potential to develop a research and innovation network with specific Asian country Universities.

Information sessions will be conducted for research leaders at UTS, the NSW & ACT Chapter of the Australasian Research Management Society and a poster and paper will be presented at the International Network of Research Management Societies Congress in 2008.

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Dean Brown

Project: Can large Australian retail banks play a role in Asian microfinance?

Expansion into the Asian markets for Australian retail banks is a common strategy. Development in these markets also represents an opportunity to contribute to the development of the local economy, which quite often is mandated as part of the foreign banks licensing requirements.

The modern microfinance model begun in Bangladesh in 1974 has expanded into many parts of Asia with varying levels of success.  Some adaptations of the models are charity based returning all profits to the microfinance business to drive sustainability.  Others are owned and operated by banks, are also profitable and can provide a shareholders return.

Many co-operatives and institutions are operating throughout Asia to provide saving, finance and insurance services to this 'micro' market. Many of these are in partnership with NGO's and government or international organisations.  Retail banks have also become involved, with some operating profitable microfinance operations; however, it is not a traditional banking model, and requires new skills and disciplines to operate.  Microfinance methodologies conflict with existing Australian retail bank cultures and operating procedures.

Microfinance represents a challenge to traditional bank management, with borrowers at the very bottom of the social economic scale, and in many cases below the poverty line.

This project researches the risks, mitigants, opportunities and options for Australian banks expanding into Asia and considering the microfinance market as a potentially profitable but also a socially responsible way to help the development of the host country and its poorest people.

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Kate Cahill

Project: Encouraging the development of Asian-Australian linkages and understanding inside the workplace.

If you are interested in this project, for more information please contact Ms Kate Cahill by email kate.cahill@freehills.com

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Nick Campbell

Project: Developing Business Leaders Engagement in Asia through Central Intelligence Training and Education

The Asian region is an expanding market for the establishment and on-going delivery of healthcare and related services.  At the same time these markets are very different from western market and require different leadership skillsets.  J&J business leaders across Asia (and also in the US) need to be adequately equipped to deal competently and confidently in the Asian region. This project will audit and review current internal and external cultural intelligence training for J&J business leaders in Asia, research best practice in cultural intelligence training and develop recommendations for training and engagement across the region for incorporation into country manager, managing director and business unit leader training programs.

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Cath Cole

Project: Working locally with our Asia Pacific community: Increasing community involvement in reporting crime

Currently a member of the public can engage with NSW Police Force by calling Triple Zero (000) for emergencies, Police Assistance Line (131444) to report non urgent crime or Crime Stoppers (1800333000) to provide information on wanted people, unsolved crimes and people they know have committed criminal offences where they have not been arrested.   
They can also access the NSW Police Force web site at www.police.nsw.gov.au and use the Crime Stoppers 'Reporting Knowledge of Criminal Activity Online" form to provide information to the police.  
 
This project aims to improve the reach of the Crime Stoppers program to allow people from Non English Speaking Backgrounds to access on-line information in their own languages particularly Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic and Cantonese to gain an understanding of the program and how to complete the reporting forms.  The project is also aimed at improving community confidence in reporting crime and the quality and timeliness of reporting crime.

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Jennifer Lewis

Project: Tools for Change - It's in the Bag

This project will publish a framework of elements to be considered when designing a change program focused on institution-building and economic development in developing countries. The framework is based on practical on the ground experience in Indonesia and Vanuatu and research based on experience in other locations. The Framework is intended to be a tool box, a practical guide suggesting alternatives and options, for those moments when the current approach is not achieving results.

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Ben Mak

Project: Report on diversity and its implications for our firm

For PwC our people are the key to our success.  Large organisational cultural change was implemented in the late 90"s when PwC recognised that it was not retaining some of its best and brightest employees, who as women, were choosing more family friendly workplaces to grow their careers.

In 2005, there were approximately 177 thousand students studying commerce related bachelor's degrees in all universities around Australia.  Of this population approximately 40% of the students are from overseas countries and 3.7% are students from a non-English speaking background. As a result, PWC's Australian practice is recruiting a more culturally diverse workforce as part of its graduate program.

Faced with a growing talent shortage, however, it becomes increasingly important that staff is retained and developed into management positions and beyond.

This project, working with PWC's HR Department and relevant PWC Partners will examine current workplace practice and identify areas of improvement to help retain and grow the careers of PWC's culturally diverse workplace.

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Anne Newman

Project: Supporting the CamTESOL conference

Background:
CamTESOL began as a workshop in Phnom Penh in 2004 with the vast majority of participants being Cambodian teachers of English.  It has continued to grow in popularity as an annual professional development opportunity with participants from the provinces of Cambodia being assisted through organisations and governments.  As a conference it attracts highly regarded presenters within the fields of English language teaching and linguistics who often participate without cost.  In 2007, registration for the conference totalled 891. Of the total registrations, 676 were Cambodians.  98 participants came from foreign countries specifically for the event.  There were 168 provincial teachers at the conference, 149 of whom were Government high school teachers sponsored by a range of donors, notably by the US State Department.

This project endeavours to assist in building support for this event as a regional opportunity for professional development in English language teaching through promoting the exchange of knowledge, encouraging research within the region, and helping to create a regional support network. It is hoped the project allows for the establishment of support that continues throughout future conferences. For more information about the conference, please go to:  http://www.camtesol.org/

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Michelle Phillips and Paola Niscioli

Project: Art as a conduit: fostering Asian-Australian relations in South West Sydney

The aim of our project is to foster the development of Asian-Australian relations at a grass roots level using Art as a conduit.
 
The Casula Powerhouse will reopen to the public after extensive refurbishment in early 2008 with an opening exhibition Australia. The exhibition contains 12 culturally diverse Australian artists, six of these identify as Asian background

The project will develop education programs for primary and secondary schools in South West Sydney for the Casula Power Houses' launch exhibition, Australia as an addition to an existing outreach and mentoring program conducted by Optus and other member companies of the Australian Business in the Community (ABCN).

The education program will extend the relationship between mentors and students to consider Asian-Australian cultural representations.

Mentors from companies participating in ABCN supported school engagement programs in South West Sydney and students participating in these programs are the prime beneficiaries of the project.

The education program will create a forum for a unique discussion about identity, culture and difference between Australia and Asia. It will also create a sense of pride in local participants that high quality art and culture is accessible in their own backyard.

Casula Powerhouse will benefit through raised awareness and increased visitation among South West Sydney communities.

Asialink Leaders Program participants for 2007 and 2008 will also be invited to attend public programs and to launch events.

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Anna Reynolds

Project: Climate Change and APEC

The countries that are part of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) will be some of the worst impacted by the effects of climate change. It is these nations that will also determine whether we can avoid a dangerous level of climate change. The APEC economies will be the engine room of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades. The nations presently account for approximately 60% of the world's energy generation and use - mostly sourced from coal and oil - and this is projected to rise significantly in coming decades because of the growing populations and technological and manufacturing capacity of APEC member economies.
 
The goal of this project was to ensure that WWF International helped to communicate the opportunities and threats of climate change at the APEC meeting in Australia in 2007 as a constructive non-government presence.

The project activities included gathering intelligence on the likely elements of the climate change discussion at the APEC Leaders Summit, preparing high quality briefing materials for the media and decision-makers interested in climate change and ensuring key Asia Pacific staff attended and be engaged in the APEC process.

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Nick Tobin

Project: Australia-China - Creating Local Links

For too long local government councils have entered into often ad hoc so-called Sister City relationships with other cities around the world. These relationships have, in general, been very superficial with few long-term benefits for either party.
In recent years there has been a trend for regional governments in China to seek formal relations with Australian Councils.  Willoughby, due to its large Chinese born population, regularly receives four or five requests per annum from Chinese District Governments.  Currently, we have no appropriate framework for dealing with these requests.

This project aims to develop a practical framework to establish meaningful links between regions of Australia with regions of China in an effort to encourage business and cultural ties which deliver real benefits to individual communities and encourage better understanding of each country's cultures and contexts.

Project: Local & Regional Asian Utilisation of Holiday Parks

Vacations in Holiday Parks are seen as a historical Australian holiday experience, with generations of families traditionally utilising parks across a range of holiday periods (especially Christmas). This project addresses the challenge of breaking down these perceptions, increasing local and regional based Asian market penetration and ultimately building a "family tradition" amongst a new market.

A culturally aware strategy has been developed and in the first stages of implementation. It will expand the capabilities of each of the NRMA Holiday parks to meet the needs of domestic Asian background customers as well as inbound Asian customers, welcoming a new market to the experience.

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