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ACU Update - Issue 5

ACU Update is produced fortnightly for staff, students and friends of Australian Catholic University (ACU). To submit a news article or event, please email editor@acu.edu.au or call 02 9739 2514.

Catholic Education Week 2007 (Melbourne) 15-20 March

Catholic Education Week in Melbourne is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with the theme faith and life.

The theme for Catholic Education Week 2007 has been inspired by the document the Catholic school, the 30th Anniversary of which will be celebrated in 2007. The Catholic school was published on 19 March 1977.

The theme also reflects and highlights the document's challenge for Catholic schools to encourage young people to bring together faith and life.

Events include a Catholic Education Week concert for schools 2007, an address by Brother Gerard Rummery FSC at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) on 20 March and a visual arts exhibition. For further information visit http://web.ceo.melb.catholic.edu.au

Shari

Shari Kodituwakku, enrolled in the Bachelor of Education at ACU's Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's), was spotlighted by Melbourne's Leader newspaper group in a recent Catholic Education Week feature for her volunteer work at a local school.

Catholic Schools Week (Broken Bay, Parramatta and Sydney) 11-17 March

The main aim of Catholic Schools Week is to raise awareness and celebrate the distinctiveness of Catholic schools in the greater Sydney area in the dioceses of Broken Bay, Parramatta and Sydney.

The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2007 is learning in action. It will provide an opportunity for catholic schools to showcase what they do by opening their classrooms and inviting the community to experience learning and teaching at its best.

ACU Marketing Officer Catherine Byfield will visit Catherine McAuley High School Westmead and Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta during Catholic Schools Week to participate in a career talk.

Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those that have a stake in Catholic schools – students, staff, families, priests, parishioners and members of the wider community. For further information visit www.ceo.syd.catholic.edu.au

Genevieve’s words to be launched

ACU Research Services Officer Liz Ryan invites staff and students to the launch of a book of the writings of her daughter, the late Genevieve Ryan, who died bushwalking in Hobart two years ago.

The book will be launched at the Book Talk Cafe, 91 Swan Street, Richmond in Melbourne at 7pm on Thursday 15 March by Justine-Sloane Lees from Radio National's Poetica program, and later in Lismore, Hobart, Tumut and Townsville.

“I had made her a promise just before her accident, to help her publish her work,” Liz said. “I have honoured that promise in a book called ...regards, some girl with words which is both her story and her writings. Graphic designers, editors and reviewers including Anne Deveson, Helen Garner and Phillip Adams, have commented that Gen's writing would be very helpful for young people to read, especially young writers.”

For more information, please contact elizabeth.ryan@acu.edu.au.

Genevieves

“Bad language” Psalms explored

Staff and postgraduate students are invited to a research seminar on The Psalms of David, Bad Language and John Dunmore Lang by School of Arts and Sciences (Vic) Senior Lecturer Dr Dianne Gome.

John Dunmore Lang (1799-1878), the first Presbyterian minister in the colony of New South Wales, a parliamentarian and a champion of major causes including free immigration, public education and Aboriginal issues, was also described as “bigoted, pugnacious and ill-mannered”.

The seminar will be held from noon to 1pm on Wednesday 21 March at Room 5.30 at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s), with a video link to Room 501 at the Ballarat Campus (Aquinas).

The presentation will include an opportunity for audience participation in the singing of metrical psalms.

Welcoming new students

ACU’s focus on quality learning includes a First Year Experience Program which takes into account the growing diversity of the student body and their differing transitional needs. Students with disabilities are considered, along with those from low socio-economic backgrounds, rural and isolated areas, and from non-English speaking and Indigenous backgrounds.

Ms Laurine Hurley is the new national First Year Experience Coordinator, replacing Dr Theda Thomas who has taken on the role of Associate Dean (Teaching, Learning and International) in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Ms Hurley is assisted by part-time staff First Year Experience Coordinators on each campus. They are Jo Brady at the Canberra Campus (Signadou), Patricia Cartwright at the Ballarat Campus (Aquinas), Allan Doring at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo), Louise Duvernet at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary), Astrid Frotjold at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) and Isobel Moase at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s).

Indigenous students welcomed

ACU’s Jim-baa-yer Indigenous Unit held a welcome for new and returning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from the Melbourne (St Patrick’s) and Ballarat (Aquinas) campuses during Orientation Week.

Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Catholic Education specialist Aunty Delsie Lillyst, Victorian Aboriginal  Education  Consultative Member and ACU Indigenous graduates were among the community guests.

A number of activities for Indigenous students are planned for the rest of the semester, along with workshops for non-Indigenous students and staff. For more  information  please  contact  staff  at  Jim-baa-yer at the Melbourne Campus (03) 9953  3004 or Ballarat Campus on (03) 5336 5406.

Celebrating learning

Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) will celebrate the start of the academic year with a Mass with the Bishops of Queensland including Principal Celebrant and Homilist The Most Reverend Michael Putney DD.

It will be held on Wednesday 21 March at 6pm in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and will include an induction ceremony for student association representatives.

Staff and students planning to attend should contact Anne-Maree Phillips ASAP on (07) 3623 7111.

Heady mix

The reflections of ACU Institute of Legal Studies Professor of Law Frank Brennan ST JO continue to make headlines. His latest book Acting on Conscience: How can we responsibly mix law, religion and politics? has been reviewed in the latest issue of Australian Catholics.

Frank Brennan's Book cover

The Cover of Frank Brennan SJ AO His latest book Acting on Conscience: How can we responsibly mix law, religion and politics?

Giving student receives award

Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) education student and student assistant for ACU’s International Education Office Ruth Chapman received a "Young Citizen of the Year" award from the Shire of Whittlesea, Victoria.

Ruth was nominated because of her work at Breakaway Camps with children from underprivileged backgrounds. She was also Plenty Valley Christian College school captain, completed a youth certificate that saw her involved in youth work and spent time at a homeless shelter in Sydney. In 2006 Ruth travelled to Africa where she helped open an orphanage in Kenya and visited the child she sponsors in Uganda.

Mission Engagement at Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary)

During Orientation Week, the Mission engagement Team at Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) was joined by representatives from Caritas, Mary MacKillop East Timor and Catholic Mission as they set up stalls raising awareness and encouraging students to get involved in social justice.

Ash Wednesday Eucharist took place in the Chapel with approximately 100 staff and students gathering to mark the beginning of Lent.

 

Understanding backgrounds

School of Social Work Adjunct Professor Maev O’Collins stressed the importance of understanding the diverse backgrounds of all newcomers to Australia at a recent address at the Canberra Campus (Signadou).

Professor O’Collins spoke on The many faces of Lebanon: Reflections on 10 days in Beirut in December 2006.“I was able to see at first hand how political conflicts with Lebanon and with its neighbours – Israel and Syria – have impacted on all aspects of daily life,” Professor O’Collins said.“Some of those I met have relatives in Australia and they spoke of the successes and problems Lebanese migrants encountered in this new society.  These comments brought home to me the importance of understanding the diverse cultural, political and religious backgrounds of all newcomers to Australia, so that they can not only be welcomed, but also provided with appropriate help.”

Man of letters

ACU Plunkett Centre for Ethics Director Associate Professor Bernadette Tobin was among more than 130 guests at the recent launch of a book of letters by her father and political activist the late B.A. Santamaria, by Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott at the State Library of Victoria.

The book was edited by Patrick Morgan, a contributor to Catholic Life.

Youth achievement awards

Staff and students are invited to nominate extraordinary students from the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) for the Strathfield Council and The Rotary Club of Strathfield Youth Achievement Awards, by Friday 6 April. Categories include arts and culture, sports, community services, and environment, science and technology. For more information please contact Strathfield council events coordinator Nicole Andary on (02) 9748 9992.

Book launch in memory of John Paul II

John Paul II: Legacy and Witness, a book commemorating the second anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, edited by ACU Head of the School of Theology Professor Robert Gascoigne, will be launched on Monday 2 April at 7.30pm by Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli, Apostolic Nuncio.

The launch will be held in the Leone Ryan Auditorium at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop). For more information please contact Ms Trucdoan Nguyen on (02) 9701 4252 or at T.Nguyen@mary.acu.edu.au.

Dr Anne Hunt wins ATF Book Prize

ACU Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) Rector Associate Professor Anne Hunt has won this year’s Australian Theological Forum (ATF) Book Prize.

Dr Hunt, a lecturer in systematic theology, received the award for her book Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith.

Trinity, chosen from six finalists, explores the history of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, from early church teachings through to contemporary theology.

“I warmly congratulate Dr Hunt on receiving this prestigious award,” said ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO. “It recognises the quality of her scholarship and makes a very important contribution to the profile of ACU in the literary arena.”

anne hunt

Associate Professor Anne Hunt

Holocaust lecture by US author

ACU recently hosted a public lecture on The Holocaust and the Christian World by Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies and Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Richard Stockton College, New Jersey, USA Dr Carol Rittner.

Dr Rittner discussed the effects of scholarly treatments of Scripture minimising or mythologising the Jewish character of the Old Testament, Darwinian views of “the races”, and Hitler’s plans for the final solution, received in “widespread Christian silence”.

Dr Rittner is Executive Producer of the Academy Award-nominated documentary short film The Courage To Care and the Golden Globe-winning short documentary film The Triumph Of Memory.

Dr Carol Rittner

Dr Carol Rittner

New theological role

Congratulations to ACU School of Theology lecturer Dr Frances Baker RSM from the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) who has been appointed Deputy Master of Catholic Theological College, Melbourne. Dr Baker will continue to work with ACU on a part-time basis.

Good sports

Some 700 delegates are expected to flock to ACU next year when the University hosts the prestigious Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS) Conference at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) from 27 to 30 March 2008.

Listen to the children

A study on children’s experiences of homelessness has underlined the critical importance of talking to children rather than simply relying on adults’ accounts. This  finding was discussed by the University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies Director Morag McArthur and Research Fellow Tim Moore at a Rose Garden Seminar at the Canberra Campus (Signadou) earlier this week. Previously researchers have relied almost exclusively on adults when collecting data about children's thoughts, feelings and experiences, they found. Engaging children in research, however, provides the opportunity to gain insights on the issues affecting their lives if carried out using a range of age and developmentally appropriate tools.

The study was funded by the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services to develop an understanding of how children’s experiences of homelessness might assist in more effectively respond to the needs of homeless children and their families.

Applications invited for Excellence in Teaching Awards

High quality teaching is in focus, with applications invited for ACU Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2007. Up to three prizes of $3,000 will be awarded by the Academic Board to outstanding teachers or teams, to be presented at graduation ceremonies in 2008.

The selection criteria are identical to those for the Carrick Award for Australian University Teaching, and include: approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn; approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning; and respect and support for the development of students as individuals.

Applications should be emailed as an attachment to the Secretariat by 30 April 2007, at secretariat@acu.edu.au.A signed, hard copy of the application should be forwarded by the nominating committee to the Chair of the Teaching Development Grants and Awards Committee, C/- The Administrative Officer, Secretariat, Vice-Chancellery, North Sydney Campus (MacKillop), 40 Edward Street, North Sydney, NSW, 2060, by 4 May 2007. For more information, please contact Professor Barry Fallon at barry.fallon@acu.edu.au.

Vision, challenges and reality for Catholic educational leadership conference

ACU staff will be offered special rates to attend Directions for Catholic educational leadership in the 21st Century: The vision, challenges and reality, an international conference to be held from 29 July to 1 August at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, Sydney.

Upcoming Events

Details on these and other upcoming events can be found at www.acu.edu.au/events

Promote your event by listing it on the myACU events section and by emailing details to editor@acu.edu.au.