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Issue 11 - Wednesday 6 June

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.

Bushfires research reveals stronger communities

Many people affected by bushfires in Canberra in 2003 believe their local communities and neighbourhoods were strengthened after the fires, according to recently released research findings from ACU and its partners.

Recovering from the 2003 Canberra bushfire: A work in progress is based on survey responses by more than 500 people and follow-up interviews. ACU, the University of Canberra and the ACT Department of Health joined forces to carry out the research, with funding by Emergency Management Australia, under their Research and Innovation Program, and support from the ACT Government.

As well as the extensive range of support coordinated through the Bushfire Recovery Centre at Lyons, the sources of greatest help and support identified by many affected were found to be family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues who showed compassion and understanding, and gave practical and financial help. Complete strangers were also noted for their helpfulness, as well as the local media.

While the research findings show a good general recovery among the affected community, many respondents continue to experience ongoing mental health and psychosocial problems similar to those reported after other natural disasters in Australia. The research highlights the need for focused strategies to optimise mental health outcomes for people affected by future disasters.

More information is at Emergency Management Australia's website, www.ema.gov.au

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Canberra Campus (Signadou)

Cartoonist Michael Leunig honoured

Celebrated and often controversial newspaper cartoonist and national living treasure Michael Leunig was awarded an honorary doctorate at the University's recent Melbourne graduation ceremony for more than 330 Arts and Sciences graduates.

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO said Mr Leunig possessed the rare ability to demystify the human condition through his engaging cartoons, which were often challenging or thought-provoking, but always ultimately hopeful and positive.

"From his earliest days as a writer for radical press, to his current incarnation as a cartoonist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers and author of more than 20 collections of art, poetry and prayer, Michael Leunig has stirred the social conscience of Australians with his sometimes quirky, but always insightful drawings" Professor Sheehan said. "Michael has the innate ability to challenge the worst of human folly through his colourful and irreverent art, while still expressing all the joy, fun and emotional poignancy of human life. It is this talent that led the Archbishop of Canterbury to refer to him as a 'most penetrating spiritual commentator'. Michael Leunig was declared a national living treasure by the National trust in 1999.

"For his services to the arts, to public discourse, and to promoting a greater understanding of who we are as a people, Michael is a highly deserving recipient of ACU's highest honour" Professor Sheehan said.

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Michael Leunig with ACU graduates

Compassionate community activist recognised

Renowned community activist Margaret Gurry AM has received an honorary doctorate from ACU at a recent Melbourne ceremony for more than 380 Education graduates.

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO said Ms Gurry "has dedicated her life to community engagement, lending a helping hand wherever she sees people in need".

"As an active member of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Margaret recognised early on in her career the importance of helping people lift themselves out of poverty and structures that severely limit their life opportunities.

Ms Gurry works with the society's Friday Night School offering education to disadvantaged people living in Melbourne high-rise flats. She is also involved with Melbourne Refugee Sanctuary Group, the Sisters of Charity Foundation and the Australia Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a charitable trust. Ms Gurry, a nurse, trained at Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital in the 1960s. In a long and varied career, she has used her skills in nursing, midwifery and intensive care to treat those suffering from malaria and other tropical diseases in Papua New Guinea.

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Margaret Gurry AM

High school students learn more about social justice and business

Students from Brisbane high schools heard Queensland Governor Ms Quentin Bryce discuss social issues at the University's recent Social Justice Youth Forum. They took part in workshops at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) and learned more about the St Vincent De Paul Society, Rosies Youth Mission, Lifeline, Caritas, Amnesty International and many other charitable organisations.

In the same week, Brisbane high school students took part in the Buzz with Business Conference at ACU's Brisbane Campus, held jointly with Education Queensland and the Business Educators Association.

social_justic Deputy Vice-Chancellor John O'Gorman, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Vice-Chancellor Peter Sheehan with students from Mt. Maria College

Unique Courses in Human Rights

Innovative and stimulating courses taught by some of Australia's leading human rights and social justice commentators will offer an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human rights.

The Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Human Rights will cover a wide range of current and relevant topics, including terrorism, the rights of Indigenous peoples in the South Pacific, operation of international human rights mechanisms and the philosophy of human rights.

The courses commence in second semester 2007 and the first units being offered are Philosophy of Human Rights and Australian Human Rights. Both units will be taught in intensive mode over four Saturdays at the North Sydney Campus.

Great Bed Race in Canberra

Students at the Canberra Campus (Signadou) recently held their second annual Great Bed Race to raise funds for the ACT Epilepsy Association's education, advocacy and counselling work. Epilepsy affects about one in 50 people in Australia, yet it remains largely unrecognised and misunderstood in the wider community. Members of the student association dressed as doctors, nurses and patients and hurled themselves through the carpark on hospital beds

This year's event also marks the recent introduction of the Bachelor of Nursing to ACU's Canberra Campus. The degree, being delivered in partnership with Canberra Institute of Technology, has been launched to help combat a shortage of registered nurses in the region.

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Student Justine Baker (left) with Medical Science Lecturer Michael Larkin, student Brendan Lentell, Reuben Parige whose mother Myra is studying nursing, and students Kylie Mann, Leah and Griffith

Rave reviews for Romulus, My Father

The film adaption of Professor Raimond Gaita's memoir Romulus, My Father has opened to rave reviews across Australia.

The book and film focus on Professor Gaitor's difficult childhood as an immigrant in regional Victoria. Professor Gaita is a public intellectual known for his focus on ethics. His role as Chair of Philosophy at ACU is supported by the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

"Nick Drake has written the screenplay that I trusted he would: courageous, understated - but the more emotionally powerful for it - and, of course, poetic," Professor Gaita said. "It enabled Richard Roxburgh to direct a film with the same qualities and gave to its principal actors roles that have, I think, proved to be among their best. The film honours my book and stands as an independent work of art."

The quote is an extract from, "From Book to Screenplay to Film" an introduction to Romulus, My Father: The Screenplay, published by Currency Press. An edited version appears today in The Australian Literary Review.

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Professor Raimond Gaita

Student's essay up on MySpace

New insights on mental health are offered in a Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) nursing student's essay comparing events in the movie Flourish with what could be expected from the research literature.

Alyce Callaghan's essay, Experience of mental illness in Flourish, can be viewed on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/flourishmovie.

School of Nursing Lecturer Deb Nizette said: "Alyce received thoughtful and encouraging feedback from the film maker, appropriate recognition for her initiative and enthusiasm. I was excited for her and pleased that she had the motivation to engage deeply in learning about psychosocial and mental health nursing."

Graduate leads in Catholic education

Dr Wayne Tinsey, who graduated with his teaching qualification from a predecessor college of ACU's Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) and also received his doctorate from ACU, was recently awarded the Brother John Taylor Award for his outstanding contribution to Catholic Education.

Chair of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference Commission for Church Ministry and Maitland-Newcastle Diocese Bishop Michael Malone noted Wayne's educational influence using the Gospel images of salt and light, bringing immense value into the world. Chair of the NSW Catholic Education Commission Bishop David Walker acknowledged the quality of Wayne's educational leadership in the Church.

"Wayne's educational vision is based in the Jesus Story within which he believes the poor and marginalised have a special place," said ACU Institute for Advancing Community Engagement Director Professor Jude Butcher. "Wayne will take this vision to his new role as Executive Director of Edmund Rice Education Australia in October this year."

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Dr Wayne Tinsey (left) with Bishop Michael Maloney

Thai delegation looks beyond differences during visit

ACU's Institute for Advancing Community Engagement (IACE) recently welcomed a delegation of Thai visitors, from the Province of Pattani, to the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary).

In a country that is predominantly Buddhist, differences in history, culture and religion have all contributed to the recent violence and instability in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, the three southern-most provinces of Thailand, where the majority of the population is Muslim.

The visitors engaged with students and staff from the University, members of the Columban Mission Institute team and representatives of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation. Short presentations, including from Indigenous staff of the University, were followed by a short time for quiet personal reflection. People focused on conflicts each faced in their own culture, and what hopes there were for change.

"Small group conversations allowed everyone present to listen and learn from each other and to identify commonalities in our experiences, despite our different contexts," said IACE Director Professor Jude Butcher. "Each group looked at possible strategies which would help people to begin to move beyond differences, towards a resolution of conflict and to genuine mutual engagement."

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IACE's visitors from Thailand with staff at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary)

NSW Prizes and Awards Ceremony

The Australian Catholic University Foundation hosted the NSW Prizes and Awards Ceremony at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) last week.

Awards and scholarships from nearly 40 categories were presented to students from all faculties – some made available by the University Foundation and others by benefactors from a wide range of fields including business, accounting, health, welfare, education, publishing, and religion as well as charitable, service and recreational organisations and private individuals.

The University appreciates the donors' generous support and confidence in the University and the encouragement to our students by acknowledging excellence in their academic studies.

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Dan Stewart Community Service Prize winner Teresa Georges with sponsor and ACU 1994 education graduate Mr Jeff Egan, a director of Flagship Communications

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Archdioscese of Sydney Executive Director of Schools Brother Kelvin Canavan AM FMS (left) with James Carroll Scholarship (CEO Sydney) 2007 recipients Dominique Goode, George Arcella, Anne-Maree Locke and Kylie Seymour

Requiem – from death through to new life

Recent paintings and mono-prints by well-known Brisbane artist Kerry Holland will be on display in the ACU Gallery in Melbourne from 14 to 22 June.

While exuberant and colourful are not words usually associated with a Requiem theme, Kerry's 11 piece work could be described in this way. Her experience of singing and of listening to choral music provided a rich starting point for the expression in the work.

"When I was 17 I sang in a performance of the Verdi Requiem. The drama of this work has stayed with me. I heard Peter Sculthorpe describe a choral Requiem as a movement from darkness to light and I knew I wanted to explore this idea in paint" says Kerry.

In conjunction with the exhibition opening on Wednesday 13 June the ACU Choir will be performing John Rutter's Requiem works at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne at 8pm.

Further information may be obtained from the ACU Gallery in Melbourne. Contact Elke Kerr (03) 9953 3242 or e.kerr@patrick.acu.edu.au

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Kerry Holland's Sacrifice

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Kerry Holland's Garden
 

Applications for the prestigious 2008 John Monash Awards open

Eight Australians of outstanding academic achievement, community consciousness and service and leadership potential in their field and the community will win John Monash Awards in 2008.

The awards, offering up to $150,000 over three years, will help them carry out postgraduate study at any of the world's best universities. Past winners have come from fields as diverse as science, engineering, law, philosophy, health, arts and music.

Applications are now open, and close on 31 August. For more information, please visit www.monashawards.org

Scholarship applications open

High achievers in their fields are invited to apply for scholarships under the Endeavour Programme, an initiative of the Australian Government which brings leading researchers, students and professionals to Australia to undertake short or long-term study, research and professional development, and provides opportunities for Australians to do the same abroad.

Applications will close on 31 July. For more information, visit www.endeavour.dest.gov.au

ACU in the media

A significant number of ACU stories are currently appearing in the media. These include:

A report on the Clemente / Catalyst program will shortly be screened on ABC TV's 7.30 Report.

Staff and students from the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) including School of Education Lecturer Maya Cranitch, who were recently featured on ABC Radio National's Life Matters program, speaking about Community Futures Australia, also known as the Sudanese Pathways Project. For details, visit http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2007/1919428.htm

Recent ABC TV series Choir of Hark Knocks was filmed in Central Hall at ACU's Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's). More information is at http://abc.net.au/tv/hardknocks/

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Left-Right Ballarat student Jenni Kidman-Hicks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Gabrielle McMullen, Victorian Minister for Industrial Relations Rob Hulls and Ballarat Campus Student Association President Louise Pearce

Making Poverty History

Mission Engagement staff at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) have been distributing patches of calico for staff and students to make their mark on as part of the Make Poverty History campaign.

The completed patches will be joined together and sent to OXFAM to form part of an attempt to create the Guinness Book of Records world's longest banner, taking a stand against poverty.

The banner will be displayed outside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in September.

Golding Centre 2007 Colloquia

The recent annual colloquia of the Golding Centre for Women's History, Theology and Spirituality at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) covered Mission through journalism based on the doctoral thesis of Pauline Shaw; The Marist Sisters in Fiji informed by the archival research of Joan McBride SM; and Through learning to healing – a response to the NSW Parliament inquiry into adoption practices in NSW, 1950-1980, based on the doctoral thesis of Antionette Baldwin RSJ. Participants from around Australia rated the day as stimulating and informative.

Public lecture on Chinese urban youth and the search for meaning

Beijing Center for Language and Culture Director of Research Jean-Paul Wiest will discuss attitudes of contemporary Chinese urban youth and young intellectuals towards life and the church in a free public lecture in the Ryan Auditorium at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) on Monday 25 June from 6.30pm.

For more information, please contact School of Theology Professor Raymond Canning on (02) 6209 1135 or at raymond.canning@acu.edu.au

RSVP to Anne-Marie Fonteyne on (02) 6209 1172 or at anne-marie.fonteyne@acu.edu.au

Retirement workshop

All general and academic staff aged 45 or older and their spouses and partners are invited to attend a free one-day planning for retirement workshop.

Applications close on Friday 8 June 2007. For more information, please contact Organisational Learning and Development Staff Development Coordinator Vanessa D'Souza on (02) 9739 2211 or at vanessa.d'souza@acu.edu.au

Social Work community seminar

A social work community seminar on the intersection between politics, ethics, social justice and international social work practice in Australia and elsewhere will take place at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary)on Monday 25 June between 9.30am and 11.30am.

The guest speaker will be social worker and consultant Sylvia Winton, and the response will be provided by School of Education lecturer Maya Cranitch.

Room C2.60 in the Edward Clancy Building at 163 to 167 Albert Rd Strathfield RSVP to Jennifer Pace-Feraud on 02 9701 4218

International 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.

More information is at www.acu.edu.au/conferences

National religious education and ministry national symposium

British Journal of Religious Education Editor Professor Robert Jackson BA MA PhD DLitt PGCE, also an academic and religious education researcher, is the keynote speaker at the National Symposium on Religious Education and Ministry, to be held at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) from 26 to 29 June.

Professor Jackson has researched the religious upbringing of children in Britain from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, new religious movements, values education and various aspects of teaching and learning in religious education, intercultural education and citizenship education.

Registrations close on 15 June, and may be posted to May Ortiz, ACU Strathfield Campus, Locked Bag 2002, Strathfield NSW 2135 or faxed to (02) 9701 4034.

For more information, email conferences@acu.edu.au or Download Conference Brochure and Registration Form www.acu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/9476/CEL-2007_Conference-Brochure.pdf

Accolades for staff

ACU Faculty of Arts and Sciences Research, Research Training and Partnerships Associate Dean Dr Jan Seruga has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society for his "distinguished contribution to the field of Information and Communications Technology, especially in the promotion and development of education and research in information and communications technology".

School of Theology (National) Senior Lecturer Rev Dr Lawrence Cross has been honoured with promotion to the position of Archpriest. This is the highest title a married priest can hold.

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.