ACU Update - Issue 8

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.

• Health and wellbeing in focus at national games
• Role of Catholics
• Teaching by example
• Indigenous champion
• Spreading the word
• Scholarships welcome at Ballarat Campus
• Melbourne Campus hosts US guest at philanthropy forum
• ACU hosts international Catholic universities' conference
• ACU's $10,000 prize for ethical research
• Art and Easter
• Remembering Dr Robert Charles (Peter) Hill
• Learn about Lonergan
• Multicultural methods
• Celebrating joint history with Edmund Rice feast day
• Fun at the Fayre
• Dramatic look at mental health
• Upcoming Events

Health and wellbeing in focus at national games

Some 86 students from the University's six campuses converged on the Canberra Campus (Signadou) from 12 April until 15 April for the inaugural ACU Games, making friends while increasing their sports knowledge and skills.

Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) student ambassador Mark Young, who organised the games, described them as "a social sporting event that promotes health and well being through physical activity". "It encourages students to participate in both sport and recreation regardless of skill or ability," he said.

Two-time Olympian and triple Commonwealth Games Gold medalist swimmer Martin Roberts, the Games Ambassador, discussed the benefits of events that promote participation and enjoyment during an official welcome event with Father John Woods of St Christopher's Cathedral, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Outreach) Professor John O'Gorman and Dean of Students Associate Professor Tim O'Hearn.

Students at the inaugural ACU Games

Role of Catholics

Representatives of a wide cross-section of Catholic organisations met at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) this month to debate contemporary issues facing Catholic agencies in Australia.

"Church-based organisations throughout the education, health care, welfare, youth work and other sectors face scrutiny about their Catholic identity and fulfilment of their mission, particularly in our increasingly secular society," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen.

"It is important that this Catholic identity is maintained, strengthened and celebrated, to ensure agencies remain viable and stay true to their mission of serving the Church and the wider community."

Mission and Identity in Church-based Organisations was co-sponsored by the University and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Health Australia, the Catholic Institute of Sydney, Catholic Religious Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, and the National Catholic Education Commission. More than 30 agencies and 100 individuals took part.

Teaching by example

Former teacher and Queensland Parliamentarian Terry Sullivan told graduating Education students at a Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) graduation ceremony, that the most essential element of teaching was "the relationship between teacher and individual student".

Mr Sullivan received the University's highest honour, Doctor of the University for his service to the people of Queensland and his commitment to social justice. He said "students will learn their most important lessons from you because of the person you are and because of the example you set".

Terry Sullivan

Indigenous champion

Acclaimed Indigenous performer Jimmy Little OAM was also awarded an ACU honorary doctorate at Brisbane graduations, where he performed two songs as part of his occasional address to graduates and their families.

" Jimmy has used his fame as a platform to selflessly champion improved health and education outcomes for Indigenous people," said Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO, who praised his teaching and mentoring work at the Eora Aboriginal Education Centre at Redfern, his ambassadorial roles with the Fred Hollows Foundation and Kidney Health Australia, and his stewardship of the Jimmy Little Foundation which promotes better health in remote Indigenous communities.

Jimmy Little

Spreading the word

ACU's student recruitment team members recently attended The Age VCE Careers Expo in Melbourne and the National Careers and Employment Expo in Brisbane. The team will also attend major careers markets in Sydney and Canberra in coming months.

The team will visit more than 100 schools and some 70 careers markets this year, spreading the word about the University's Mission and undergraduate courses to more than 100,000 school students.
They say prospective students are showing a keen interest in the newly released 2008 Undergraduate Courses Guide, which can be viewed online at http://www.acu.edu.au/media/online_publications

Student Ambassador Joel Schneider (centre) discusses course options with prospective students at the National Careers and Employment Expo in Brisbane.

Scholarships welcome at Ballarat Campus

Scholarship support amounting to $50,000 was presented to 14 students at the Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) at a recent ceremony.

Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors congratulated the students and thanked other donor representatives, from the Rotary Club of Ballarat South the Ballarat Diocesan Schools Board, the Sandhurst Diocese, the Dr Henry Backhaus Scholarship Award and the George Alexander Foundation. Donors, students, their families and friends celebrated academic excellence and the helping hand of supporters.

Rotary representatives Michael Coutts and Yoko Murphy (left) with scholarship winners Raelene White, Jennifer Godfrey, Kathleen Zibell and Alina Popping.

Melbourne Campus hosts US guest at philanthropy forum

Building better links between philanthropic foundations and community organisations was the focus of a popular workshop held at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) earlier this month.

Guest Peter Hero, Senior Adviser to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in California which has assets of nearly $1 billion and gives annual grants of more than $100 million, shared success stories in Convening and Collaborating for Community Change.

The workshop was co-presented by the Melbourne Community Foundation (MCF) and Changemakers Australia. Mr Hero is in Australia as part of MCF's 10th anniversary celebrations.

Peter Hero at the philanthropy forum

ACU hosts international Catholic universities' conference

Representatives of the International Catholic Universities of Saint Thomas Aquinas (ICUSTA) recently gathered for their 2007 conference at ACU's Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) and Ballarat Campus (Aquinas).

It was the first time the conference has been held in Australia. Key visitors included Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell, Emeritus Archbishop of Maputo, Mozambique Cardinal dos Santos, Archbishop Okenaga from Osaka and Archbishop Berhaneyesus from Addis Ababa.

Delegates came from Ethiopia, Chile, The Philippines, Italy, Ireland, Mozambique, USA, Argentina, Japan, China, Spain, Brazil and Australia.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) Peter Wilson thanked School of Philosophy Head Associate Professor John Ozolins and fellow staff members Susanne Dick and Jasmin Chen for their roles in organising the conference.

Delegates at the recent ICUSTA conference hosted by ACU

ACU's $10,000 prize for ethical research

Applications for the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prise close at 5pm on Friday 4 May.

ACU is sponsoring the $10,000 Eureka Prize for Research in Ethics for the sixth consecutive year.

In keeping with the University's Mission, which focuses on social justice and ethics, the award recognises outstanding research into theoretical or practical ethical issues that contribute to the understanding and development of ethical standards.

Entrants to the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes – Australia's premier awards for science and science promotion – stand to share in $200,000 total prize money across 20 awards, including honours for research and innovation, leadership, school science, and science journalism and communication.

For information on how to enter, visit the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes website at www.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka.

A list of past winners of the Eureka Prize for Research in Ethics may be viewed at www.acu.edu.au/research/eureka_prize.

Art and Easter

During Holy Week, Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) staff and students gathered in the cloisters to reflect on the Way of the Cross together before celebrating Mass.

Visual arts students studying 3D Modelling created life-sized figures, a powerful focus point for the Stations of the Cross, representing various scenes from Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trial and death.

Staff and students with sculptures at the Strathfield Campus

Remembering Dr Robert Charles (Peter) Hill

Dr Robert Charles (Peter) Hill, a founder and Honorary Fellow of ACU's Centre for Early Christian Studies, has died.

Born in Auckland in 1931, Dr Hill was a member of the Christian Brothers for many years, serving in its leadership team in Rome for six years. Until his retirement he taught at ACU's predecessor colleges in Sydney.

Educated in Sydney and Rome, Dr Hill was a distinguished biblical scholar best known for his prodigious talent as a translator of Patristic biblical commentaries on the Old Testament. Nearly 30 volumes of his translations have been published, and at the time of his death another two were in the press. He also gave generously of his time and knowledge on many levels, for decades teaching weekly classes for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in Sydney. In recognition of this work in 2003 he was awarded the papal cross Pro Ecclesiaet Pontifice by Pope John Paul II.

In the face of months of suffering before his death Dr Hill exhibited inspiring courage and good humour. He is survived by his wife, Marie.

Learn about Lonergan

A conference aimed at furthering understanding of the methods of Canadian philosopher and theologian the late Father Bernard Lonergan SJ will be held at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) in the Christ Theatre from 27-29 April.

The conference will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Insight, with presentations from Canadian author, educator and Lonergan expert Dr Philip McShane and others a conference dinner will be held on Saturday 28 April.

For more information, please contact John Little, Director of the ACU Centre for Research into Ethics in Decision Making on (03) 9953 3270.

Multicultural methods

ISANA, a representative body for international education professionals in Australia and New Zealand who work in student services, advocacy, teaching, and policy development in Australia and New Zealand will hold a professional development session Teaching and Facilitating Multicultural Classrooms.

It will be presented by Dr Shanton Chang of the University of Melbourne, at Central Queensland University (CQU) Sydney International Graduate Campus on Friday 27 April from 12.30 pm -5.00pm.

Academics who wish to develop a greater understanding of the multicultural classroom and develop strategies for success in intercultural facilitation and teaching are invited.

For more information please contact Ross Lehman at r.lehman@syd.cqu.edu.au or Melanie Duncan at m.duncan@mackillop.acu.edu.au

Celebrating joint history with Edmund Rice feast day

On Wednesday 2 May, staff and students at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) will celebrate the feast day of Christian Brothers founder Edmund Rice.

Christian Brothers and representatives of Edmund Rice agencies will be on campus to help celebrate the joint history of the campus location, activities and ideals.

Fun at the Fayre

Arts students at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) will host the annual Medieval Fayre on Monday 21 May from 9.30am to noon.

Staff and students are invited to dress in medieval costume, dance, sing and enjoy authentic medieval fare.

For more information, contact Lecturer in Drama and Academic Co-ordinator Dr Tracey Sanders on (07) 3623 7187 or at tracey.sanders@acu.edu.au.

Dramatic look at mental health

Advanced Bachelor of Arts drama students at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) will launch their production of Australian play Cosi by Louis Nowra in the drama studio in F.B.33 on 24 and 25 May at 6.30pm.

The play, set in a mental institution in 1970, traces the journey of seven patients who decide to stage a production of the opera Cosi Fan Tutte. Their inexperienced director Lewis is not so confident. The result, whilst hilarious at times, highlights the poignant moments of people coming to terms with their own creativity amidst mental health challenges.

Tickets are $5. For more information, contact Lecturer in Drama and Academic Co-ordinator Dr Tracey Sanders on (07) 3623 7187 or at tracey.sanders@acu.edu.au.

Upcoming Events

•Wednesday 2 May - Feast Day of Christian Brothers founder Edmund Rice (Strathfield)
• Saturday 5 May - Ballarat Graduations
• Tuesday 8 May - Sydney Graduations
• Friday 27 April - AQUA Presentation (North Sydney)
• Thursday 3 May - AQUA Presentation (Melbourne)
• Thursday 10 May - AQUA Presentation (Ballarat)
• Friday 11 May - AQUA Presentation (Canberra)
• Monday 21May - Medieval Fayre (Brisbane)
• Thursday 24 - 25 May - Staged production (Brisbane)
• Tuesday 28 - 29 May - Melbourne Graduations

Details on these and other upcomming 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.