Event highlights included the Inaugural University of South Australia Reconciliation Lecture with Dr Ros Kidd and the Annual Hawke Lecture with Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d). However the Centre has delivered many other events that can be relived via YouTube and podcast.

Inaugural University of South Australia Reconciliation Lecture: Understanding and Resolution
with Dr Ros Kidd, Specialist in Aboriginal Affairs, Queensland
28 May 2015

At this event Dr Ros Kidd discussed how her PhD thesis exposed over 100 years of government controls over Aboriginal lives, work and finances. Ros discussed how she used this knowledge as ammunition to assist others in their continuing fight for justice.

Greece and the Eurozone Crisis: Past, Present and Perspectives for the Future
with H.E. Mr. Haris Dafaranos, Ambassador of Greece to Australia
24 June 2015

This lecture aimed to elucidate the causes that brought on the crisis. On the one hand, the deficiencies of economic governance by the Greek State. Aspects such as the European convergence criteria: budget deficit and national debt ceilings, were addressed, along with the dimension of over borrowing of Greece. H.E. Mr. Haris Dafaranos discussed whether this crisis could have been foreseen and averted.

The Art of Pain
21-22 July 2015

In conjunction with the Art of Pain exhibition, three lectures were presented covering various aspects of severe pain management.  They included the keynote address with Professor Michele Sterling and Professor Lorimer Moseley – Whiplash – Current Concepts and Future Directions. During this lecture, Professor Sterling provided an overview of the prevention and management of whiplash associated disorders. Her lecture was followed by an interactive session in which she and Professor Moseley discussed some of the more perplexing aspects of neck pain.

The second lecture in the Art of Pain series was titled Morphine and Mindfulness – same room, different windows? Panel members Professor Mark Hutchinson, Dr Tim Semple, Georgie Davidson and Dr George Khut each provided a unique perspective on the topic. Mark Hutchinson (a world authority on the interactions that opioids have with the brain) explained how drugs can be helpful but also problematic. Tim, a Pain Medicine Specialist and Deputy Head of the RAH Pain Unit, discussed the use of opioids and mindfulness from his perspective running a public hospital pain clinic. To conclude Georgie Davidson is a physiotherapist, yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner, discussed the use of mindfulness in the real world, both as part of clinical practice and as a way of life.

To conclude the series Dr Valeria Bellan, Eugenie Lee and Cat Jones presented Playing Tricks With The Mind – Illusion and its affect. Dr Valeria Bellan discussed how the processing of tactile and painful stimuli informs multisensory integration and body representation – and in particular how our understanding of our peripersonal space informs our experience of pain. Valeria was joined by two of The Art of Pain exhibiting artists, Cat Jones and Eugenie Lee, who have both worked alongside her in order to test how artistic tools and processes concerned with illusion can contribute to this research.

18th Annual Hawke Lecture: MH370 and MH17 Disaster and Crisis:  An Examination of Australia’s Response
Delivered by Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d)
14 September 2015

At this year’s Annual Hawke Lecture, Sir Angus Houston examined the circumstances and Australia’s response to the MH370 and MH17 Malaysian aircraft disasters. Sir Angus spoke about his involvement and his prediction for the future of the investigations. He offered a personal perspective of the crisis which brought home the heartache and stresses involved.

The Rosie Batty Story with 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty
10 October 2015

During this lecture Rosie Batty discussed her personal tragedy and the great loss of her 11 year old son, Luke, who was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of his father in a very public assault. Rosie told a remarkable story of resilience, courage and inspiration.