{"id":8747,"date":"2022-07-01T15:51:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T07:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?page_id=8747"},"modified":"2026-07-24T13:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T05:27:23","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"4871,4709,8087,8490,6911,4691","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8747","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"page_components":false,"controls":{"page_switch_toggle":false,"support_toggle":false,"breadcrumb_toggle":true,"navi_toggle":true,"section_nav_toggle":true},"homepage":{"":null,"featured":{"heading":"Featured","articles":[31708,31697,31687]},"popular":{"heading":"Popular","articles":[{"ID":31627,"post_author":"4457","post_date":"2026-07-14 10:04:34","post_date_gmt":"2026-07-14 02:04:34","post_content":"\n

A major new international study<\/a> led by ºìÌÒÊÓƵ has found diabetes risk is about more than just body weight or obesity, revealing muscle health also likely plays a big role in whether people will develop the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published in one of the world\u2019s leading diabetes journals, Diabetes Care<\/em>, the study saw researchers from the Curtin School of Population Health<\/a> and Dementia Centre of Excellence<\/a> at the Curtin enAble Institute<\/a> analyse health data from nearly 480,000 adults over 14 years - all of whom were diabetes-free at the beginning of the study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team found people with both excess body fat and poor muscle health \u2013 a condition known as sarcopenic obesity<\/em><\/a> - were more than three-and-a-half times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with healthy body composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also found people with sarcopenic obesity were 19 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with obesity alone and 91 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with low muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead author and PhD candidate Zhongyang Guan<\/a> said the findings challenge the common perception diabetes risk is primarily driven by body weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Most people know carrying excess weight can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, but our findings show muscle health is also an important piece of the puzzle,\" Mr Guan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People with both excess body fat and low muscle mass had a substantially higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with obesity alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This suggests we need to look beyond the number on the scales when assessing diabetes risk, as maintaining muscle strength and muscle mass may be just as important as managing body weight.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study found nearly 15 per cent of people with sarcopenic obesity developed type 2 diabetes within 10 years, compared with around 11 per cent of people with obesity alone and just 3 per cent of people without sarcopenia or obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The link was particularly strong among women and adults under the age of 60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project senior lead Professor Mario Siervo<\/a> said the results supported a broader approach to diabetes prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Healthcare professionals routinely monitor body weight and obesity, but our findings suggest assessing muscle health could help identify people at high risk earlier,\" Professor Siervo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"As populations age and rates of obesity continue to rise, preserving muscle health through regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits could play an important role in reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes WA Clinical Services Manager Jessica Weiss said the findings highlighted the important role muscle plays in controlling blood sugar levels and reflected what health practitioners were seeing firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"We know our muscles use a lot of our glucose for fuel and working them during physical activity is a great way to help use up glucose from our blood and regulate glucose levels,\u201d Ms Weiss said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPhysical activity also reduces our body's resistance to insulin, an important element to type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more muscle we have and the more regularly we use them, the better equipped our body is to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes.\u201d<\/p>\n","post_title":"Muscles matter for diabetes risk, new study finds","post_excerpt":"A major new international study led by ºìÌÒÊÓƵ has found diabetes risk is about more than just body weight or obesity, revealing muscle health also likely plays a big role in whether people will develop the condition.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"muscles-matter-for-diabetes-risk-new-study-finds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-07-24 10:04:30","post_modified_gmt":"2026-07-24 02:04:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=31627","menu_order":0,"post_type":"media-release","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31594,"post_author":"4307","post_date":"2026-07-09 11:48:54","post_date_gmt":"2026-07-09 03:48:54","post_content":"\n

Cutting-edge digital tools used on major infrastructure and construction projects will soon be in the hands of WA students, with a new partnership between ºìÌÒÊÓƵ and Octave Intelligence<\/a> set to build a future-ready workforce for Australia and the Asia-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Octave NextGen Builders Program will give students practical, hands-on experience using industry-grade digital construction software before they graduate, helping bridge the gap between university learning and real-world practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/tUtd99T6S7A\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, demand for skilled workers in construction, infrastructure and engineering continues to outpace supply, with major projects increasingly constrained by a shortage of digitally capable talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program has been designed to address this challenge by preparing students for connected decision-making across the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects \u2014 from design and construction through to operation and protection \u2014 while also reshaping perceptions of careers in these sectors as technology-driven and innovation-led.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the partnership, Curtin will integrate Octave\u2019s \u2018OnSite Visualize\u2019 software into selected construction and built environment units, enabling students to work with the same professional tools used across industry projects and gain practical, project-based experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtin Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) Course Co-ordinator Dr Vasilios Papastamoulis<\/a> and Associate Professor Jeremy Wu<\/a>, Associate Head of the School of Design and the Built Environment, are co-leading the digital transformation of the B-CONM program over the next few years, with strong industry alignment seen as critical to ensuring graduates are workforce-ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis partnership equips our students with in-demand digital skills and real-world experience, while highlighting the vital role careers in construction and infrastructure play in shaping Australia\u2019s future,\u201d Dr Papastamoulis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudents participating in the program will learn how to transform complex Building Information Modelling (BIM) data into construction-ready work packages. Using industry-standard software they will combine and review federated models to detect and resolve clashes, producing well-coordinated models that support improved project sequencing, coordination and efficiency\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Octave Vice President APAC Fabio Yada<\/a> said the program responded to both workforce shortages and the changing nature of modern infrastructure delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCritical industries are facing a dual challenge: a growing skills shortage and an ageing workforce, combined with the need to attract a new generation of digitally minded talent,\u201d Mr Yada said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe NextGen Builders Program is about making sure graduates are ready for the reality of modern projects, where decisions across design, construction and operations are increasingly interconnected, but also about demonstrating that careers in these industries are innovative, high-tech and genuinely exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam Greyling, a Curtin student set to participate in the program, said it was an exciting opportunity to work with the same digital tools and technologies used across real construction and infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI'm looking forward to being part of this cutting-edge program, which bridges the gap between industry and the classroom, giving me the knowledge for success,\u201d Liam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the program grows, it is expected to expand to additional universities, supporting a stronger pipeline of digitally skilled graduates and helping position Western Australia as a leader in future-focused infrastructure and construction capability.<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Curtin partners with Octave to train next generation of digital builders","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"curtin-partners-with-octave-to-train-next-generation-of-digital-builders","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-07-09 14:54:00","post_modified_gmt":"2026-07-09 06:54:00","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=31594","menu_order":0,"post_type":"media-release","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":31597,"post_author":"4490","post_date":"2026-07-09 11:48:48","post_date_gmt":"2026-07-09 03:48:48","post_content":"\n

University students are set to benefit from a new Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success<\/a> (ACSES) publication bringing together recommendations from some of the most impactful student equity studies of the past 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Evidence to Impact 2026<\/a> will provide tertiary practitioners, policymakers and institutional leaders with one concise resource containing a broad range of ACSES-funded research \u2013 and how they can put the findings into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACSES Executive Director Professor Shamit Saggar said the report distils high-quality research and evidence into policy and practice summaries aimed at driving meaningful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted to inform Australian universities on how they can improve outcomes for their underserved students,\u201d Professor Saggar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAustralia has made significant commitments to equity in higher education, but commitment without evidence to act upon is insufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis publication shows what rigorous, practice-connected research looks like.\u201d
The first edition presents the work of researchers at universities across Australia on subjects ranging from increasing the number of Aboriginal school teachers, to addressing student placement inequities and financial hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It looks at key equity groups including students from low socio-economic backgrounds, First Nations communities, regional and remote areas, and students with disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral projects also address students who are the first in their family to attend university, as well as students experiencing compounding disadvantage,\u201d Professor Saggar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis reflects a growing recognition that formal equity group categories, as recognised in the Australian higher education equity framework, do not always capture the full complexity of students\u2019 circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACSES Research and Policy Program Director Professor Ian Li said the report comes as institutions work towards achieving new participation and equity targets set by the Australian Universities Accord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis timely collection of research directly provides the evidence base universities and governments will need in order to meet the Accord\u2019s ambitious equity targets,\u201d Professor Li said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom students and practitioners to senior leaders and governments, I hope all readers will consider how they can play their part in making Australian higher education fairer and more equitable for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Evidence to Impact 2026 is now available in full on the ACSES website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"New report shows how universities can put student equity research into practice","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"new-report-shows-how-universities-can-put-student-equity-research-into-practice","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-07-09 11:53:37","post_modified_gmt":"2026-07-09 03:53:37","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=31597","menu_order":0,"post_type":"media-release","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}]},"events":{"heading":"Curtin Events","content":"

Find out what\u2019s on at Curtin. There are a wide range of events both on the campus and online, with something for everyone.<\/p>\n","button":{"title":"See all Curtin Events","url":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/events","target":""}},"videos":{"heading":"Videos","link":"\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UChBLhSHywtT4tCbwDdwubFA"},"podcasts":{"heading":"Podcast - The Future Of","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/podcasts"},"explore":{"heading":"Explore all topics","topics":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Campus and global community","slug":"campus-and-global-community","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":2447,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":79,"name":"Health","slug":"health","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":79,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":344,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":40,"name":"Technology","slug":"technology","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":40,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":104,"name":"Space and physics","slug":"space-and-physics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":104,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":58,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":41,"name":"Environment","slug":"environment","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":41,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":150,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":28,"name":"Art and design","slug":"art-and-design","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":28,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":63,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":49,"name":"Business, innovation, management and law","slug":"business-innovation-and-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":49,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Get advice on courses and careers in business, innovation, management and law. ","parent":0,"count":173,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":82,"name":"Society and culture","slug":"society-and-culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":81,"filter":"raw"}]}}},"featured_image":false,"author_meta":{"first_name":"Curtin","last_name":"University","display_name":"ºìÌÒÊÓƵ"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-02 08:33:55","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"post_tag","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}