News : January - June 2008
Vacancy for Research Assistant in the Children's Research Centre.
The Children's Research Centre wishes to employ a Research Assistant to work on a study of out of school time activities for young people aged 11-14 years old in a local community in South Dublin (e.g. after school clubs).
Newly appointed Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr Barry Andrews, TD, visited the Children's Research Centre
Newly appointed Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr Barry Andrews, TD, visited the Children's Research Centre on 24th June 2008. During the visit he was briefed on the Centre's range of research activity.
The School of Social Work and Social Policy and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) hosted the 9th North Sea Dementia Care Symposium on 24th - 26th April 2008
The School of Social Work and Social Policy and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) hosted the 9th North Sea Dementia Care Symposium on 24th - 26th April 2008 attended by some 30 delegates (researchers and practitioners) from across 11 different European countries. The Symposium organized by Dr Suzanne Cahill and opened by Professor Robbie Gilligan took place in College's Henry Jones Room. Both small scale research studies and more macro dementia care issues including the forthcoming UK national dementia care strategy and Ireland's new (soon to be rolled out) residential care standards including dementia care standards were discussed and debated during this three day meeting. Other topics covered included falls and dementia (Professor RoseAnne Kenny), France's Third Alzheimer's Plan (Mari-Jo Guisset), and a very novel Belgian project reported on by Jurn Verschraegen where dementia experts are working with the police to protect community-based cognitively impaired people prone to wandering. Some excellent papers were also presented on the topic of environmental design and dementia, and training and best practice in dementia care. On the final day of this Symposium, site visits to recently opened Speciliast Care units here in Ireland were arranged for our European collagues. These included the (i) Anam Cara supportive housing complex for persons with dementia in Glasnevin and (ii) the new Barchester active lifestyle nursing home village located in Trim.
Congratulations to Owen Corrigan who has been successful in his application for an Ussher Fellowship.
The Fellowships aim to support and develop gifted research students. They are awarded competitively on academic merit.
Congratulations to Jenny Scholtz, research student on the Children, Youth and Community Relations Project
Congratulations to Jenny Scholtz, research student on the Children, Youth and Community Relations Project, who has been successful in her application for a Family Support Agency PhD Studentship, for her proposal entitled ‘Immigration, Identity and Children's Community Relations'.
Congratulations to Elena Moore and Jennifer Cronly who have been awarded postgraduate research scholarships from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS).
Elena's dissertation is being supervised by Dr. Evelyn Mahon and is entitled "Post-Separation Parenting: The social reality of access and custody orders for post-separation parent child contact". Jennifer's dissertation is being supervised by Dr Paula Mayock and is entitled "Heroin Initiation among young people ".
Changing Lives in Ageing Societies: Exploring the Relationships between Research, Policy and Practices
Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre hosts second annual conference entitled ‘Changing Lives in Ageing Societies: Exploring the Relationships between Research, Policy and Practices' in Trinity College Dublin on 14th May 2008. The conference which was opened by Dr Garret Fitzgerald featured international Speakers from the OECD, Cornell University in the US, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Brunel University in the UK, and Trinity College Dublin.
New book 'Ageing Societies: A Comparative Introduction' is published by Virpi Timonen, Lecturer in Social Policy and Director of the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre
"Ageing Societies: A Comparative Introduction provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of ageing, highlighting the interconnections between health, economic and social aspects of ageing. Virpi Timonen’s book is written in a lively and accessible style and will be particularly valuable for undergraduates and students on professional courses." Sara Arber, University of Surrey, UK.
Australian Ambassador visits the National Institute for Intellectual Disability
Her Excellency, Anne Plunkett, Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See visited the National Institute for Intellectual Disability on Monday 14th April 2008. The Ambassador met with students undertaking the Certificate in Contemporary Living. The students gave a presentation to the Ambassador outlining the course and enjoyed discussing with her their experience in third level education. Michael Lambert presented the Ambassador with a piece of artwork he created.
Researcher in the Children's Research Centre awarded prize for best poster at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference
The poster prepared by Elizabeth Nixon for the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference held in Dublin on 2-4 April 2008 was awarded the prize for best poster. The poster was selected as the winner from 256 posters for its 'outstanding content and presentation'. The poster is based on work conducted for the 'Study on Intercountry Adoption Outcomes in Ireland' conducted by the Children's Research Centre on behalf of the Adoption Board and published in 2007.
Businessman Denis O'Brien Opens Art Exhibition by Students of the Certificate in Contemporary Living Course
People with intellectual disabilities have the right to the same opportunities as all our citizens and TCD's Certificate in Contemporary Living for people with intellectual disabilities is about opening up opportunities for education, participation and transition to meaningful employment, stated businessman, Denis O'Brien on the occasion of the opening of a visual art exhibition by students of the Trinity College course for people with intellectual disabilities on Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
Students of the Pioneering Trinity College Course for People with Intellectual Disabilities Graduate
The first class of students of a pioneering university course for people with intellectual disability graduated at a formal awards ceremony on February 15 th in Trinity College Dublin. Nineteen students were awarded with the Certificate in Contemporary Living when they graduated at the ceremony.
Launch of book on home care for ageing populations
The Irish Government faces pressing challenges in home care for older people, Dr Virpi Timonen of TCD's Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC) stated on the occasion of the launch of her new study ‘Home Care for Ageing Populations: A Comparative Analysis of Domiciliary Care in Denmark, the United States and Germany' at Trinity College Dublin on 13th February 2008. The book which has been co-authored by Martha Doyle also of TCD's SPARC was launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for Older People in the Dept of Health and Children, Máire Hoctor in the 1592 Restaurant, Dining Hall, Front Square, TCD.
Children's Research Centre hosts international conference on intercountry adoption
An international conference on intercountry adoption organised by Trinity College's Children's Research Centre and the Adoption Board took place on February 12th in Dublin Castle. The conference entitled, ‘The Irish Study of Intercountry Adoption Outcomes (2007) in an international context' featured a number of international experts in the field of intercountry adoption as well as the Minister for Children, Brendan Smith TD and Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chairperson of the Adoption Board.
New book on Social Security in Ireland
Gerry Mangan, Director of the Office of Social Inclusion, on behalf of the Minister of Social & Family Affairs, launched a book by Dr Sophia Carey entitled ‘ Social Security in Ireland 1939 -1952: The Limits to Solidarity ’, Irish Academic Press, on 15th January 2008. Dr Sophia Carey is a research associate in the School of Social Work and Social Policy. She was funded by a post-doctoral fellowship from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) while completing the book.
Research Vacancies for two PhD studentships
The School of Social Work and Social Policy in association with Dementia Services Information and Development Centre are launching a research programme on dementia care in Ireland. Holders of these PhD scholarships will contribute to this programme and conduct their doctoral research on an agreed dementia-related topic. These full-time studentships carry a stipend of €16, 000 plus fees per annum for three years.