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Issue 16 - Wednesday 15 August

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.

New Vice-Chancellor appointed

ACU Chancellor Brother Julian McDonald CFC AO has announced that Professor Greg Craven has been appointed as the University's new Vice-Chancellor, to assume the role in February 2008.

Professor Greg Craven, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy & Planning) at Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, will succeed Professor Peter Sheehan AO, who is stepping down after 10 years "of extraordinary leadership" Brother Julian said.

He added, "On behalf of the entire University community I would like to warmly congratulate Professor Greg Craven on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor and look forward to welcoming him to the University in the near future." Professor Craven was the foundation Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Australia and has also served as Crown Counsel for the State of Victoria.

professor craven
Professor Greg Craven


ACU honours international Catholic education leader

ACU has awarded Archbishop J Michael Miller CSB with its highest honour, Doctor of the University (honoris causa), paying tribute to his outstanding international contribution to Catholic education.

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO said Archbishop Miller, current Secretary to the Congregation on Catholic Education at the Vatican, was one of the most significant writers and communicators in the Catholic Church today and a leading ambassador for Catholic education.

"Archbishop Michael Miller is a person of outstanding intellectual merit. His tireless commitment to preserving the Catholicity and intellectual life of higher education institutions around the world serves as an example to us all" Professor Sheehan said.

Archbishop Miller was a keynote speaker at the recent Fourth International Conference on Catholic Educational Leadership hosted by ACU's Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership.

Miller_hon_doc_left_Tony_DArbon_right Archbishop J Michael Miller CSB (left) with Catholic Education Services of England and Wales Executive Director Mrs Oona Stannard and International Flagship Leadership Conference Convenor Professor Tony d'Arbon

Melbourne Campus students compete in Bangkok games

A trio of Exercise Science students from the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) are representing their country - and ACU - at the 24th World Student Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bachelor of Exercise Science students Sarah Katsoulis and Chelsea Carpenter are both competing in swimming events at the Games, while Certificate III Exercise Science student Grant Nel is competing in springboard and synchro diving events.

The Games are running from 8-18 August, with university students from more than 50 countries taking part.

Grant Nel Grant Nel at Melbourne Airport before departing for the World Student Games
Sarah Katsoulis Sarah Katsoulis in action in the pool

ACU staff receive nine Carrick Awards

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO has commended the hard work and innovation of nine members of staff, who last week received Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning at the 2007 Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching.

"(These staff members) recognise the value of quality learning, both as the hallmark of a great university and as a key factor in helping graduates to serve the needs of diverse communities," Professor Sheehan said.

The Carrick Citations are an initiative of the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, and reflect the Australian Government's commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in university teaching.

A full list of ACU's Carrick Citation recipients can be viewed here.

Dr Michael Yapko welcomed

More than 60 dignitaries, academics and professional psychologists attended a ceremony last Tuesday, 7 August, at ACU's Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) to welcome internationally renowned US clinical psychologist and depression expert Dr Michael Yapko.

Dr Yapko is presenting a number of free public lectures and seminars and professional development workshops at ACU during August and September.

For details and to register, please visit http://www.acu.edu.au/ACU_National/Schools/psychology/news_events/Dr_Yapko_Visit

Original logo selected for ACU radio station

wired

Fourth-year Education student Teressa Patterson from the Canberra Campus (Signadou) has won a student competition to design a logo for ACU's new student radio station, to be launched later this year.

"The logo plays on the concepts of youth, technology, and the  'airwaves'," Teressa explained. "The use of the term 'wired' was chosen to exude the idea of sparks, energy, enthusiasm, and connectedness; all of which join the students, staff and communities between our campuses."

radio comp Canberra Campus Rector Professor Peter Camilleri (left), with radio logo competition winner Teressa Patterson and Canberra Campus student president Kathleen Dixon

Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Gabrielle McMullen Andrew Biers Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen (left) "on air" with Mission Engagement Officer Andrew Beiers who is coordinating the new radio station

Prize presentations celebrate academic excellence

The achievements of Melbourne Campus students were celebrated on Friday 10 August, with a ceremony to confer the annual Halliday, Witts and Callinan academic prizes.

The Halliday Prize - named after the late Fr Denis Halliday sdb, a former ACU student, and recognising outstanding achievement by a second year student in the Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Studies) - was awarded to Jennifer Hill by Fr John Preset sdb. The award is co-sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Salesians of Don Bosco

The Witts Prize - named in memory of deceased former ACU student Justine Witts and annually presented to an outstanding student from the Drama major in the Bachelor of Arts - was given to Nicholas Addison by Justine's father Kieran Witts, for his authorship of the play God Vs Mohammed. The award is sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Finally, the Callinan Prize - named after ACU founder, the late Sir Bernard Callinan, and awarded to the top graduating business student each year - was awarded to Tereza Smekalova by Sir Callinan's son, Chris Callinan. The award is sponsored by the Callinan family.

Jennifer received a prize of $1,000, while Nicholas and Tereza each received $500 for their efforts.

Melbourne Campus award winners Prize winners (from left) Jennifer Hill, Nicholas Addison and Tereza Smekalova

Region's education leaders sharpen their skills

Ten "Fellows", leaders in education from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and East Timor, are attending an 11-week professional development program at the University's Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) until the end of September.

Their visit is sponsored through AusAID's Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowships program, within the Flagship's project, Mastering the new basics in educational leadership: A professional development program in capacity strengthening for educational leaders, which received a $423,500 grant.

The goal of the program is to develop appropriately trained current and aspiring leaders who, in the short-to-medium term, will be in a position to advance key regional policy issues, said Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership Australian Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr Jack Frawley.

region leaders Australian Leadership Awards Laos Fellows Ms Daravone Kittiphanh and Ms Sivilay Phomachanh
region leaders Australian Leadership Awards East Timor Fellow Dr Avelino Guterres Correia (left), with East Timor Consul General Mr Abel Guterres, East Timor Fellow Mr Jose Manuel Mendes, and NSW Premier's Department Principal Advisor to the East Timor Consul General Mr Alexander Weilsmann

Sport and recreation programs for ACU

School of Exercise Science Head of School Associate Professor Wayne Maschette, in collaboration with the ACU Student Association (ACUNSA), has announced that new sport and recreation programs for staff and students will be provided by the University, Australian Sports Commission and Australian University Sport.

"We are excited with the opportunities that this new program will present for ACU in terms of marketing, community engagement and the overall physical health and wellbeing of both its staff and students" Professor Maschette said.

Development of the programs will be guided by School of Exercise Science (Victoria) Senior Lecturer Dr Paul Callery, while Sport and Recreation Manager Mr Mark Young will oversee the running of the programs from the Brisbane Campus.

For more information email mark.young@acu.edu.au or telephone (07) 3623 7479.

Winter sleep-out raises funds for Canberra's homeless

Students at the Canberra Campus braved the cold on Friday night, 3 August, to raise much-needed funds for the ACT's homeless.

More than 20 students took part in a 'winter sleep-out' on campus, which raised more than $700 for the purchase of specially designed portable beds called Street Swags.

"We wanted to try and help Canberra's homeless by easing the cold and discomfort in their lives during winter, when sleeping on the street is even harder than usual" said Canberra Campus Student Association President Kathleen Dixon.

Street Swags are the brainchild of ACU graduate and Brisbane school teacher Jean Madden. More than 1000 of the beds have been donated to homeless people across Australia.

Winter Sleep-out Canberra Campus students Kathleen Dixon (front) and Damien Webb sleep out to help the ACT's homeless

Attitudes to Muslims under study

ACU Research Fellow Dr Abe Ata recently met with Attorney General the Hon Philip Ruddock MP at Treasury Place in Melbourne to discuss his research into national surveys on attitudes towards Muslims and Islam among non-Muslim school students.

"The Muslim community, though still small, is one of the fastest growing religious communities in Australia but so far, is little studied by researchers," Dr Ata, of the ACU Institute for the Advancement of Research, said.

"My findings show Australian students are generally ignorant about Muslims and Islam, and few believe that schools are filling the gaps in their knowledge. While non-Muslim students agree that acceptance of Muslims does not come easily in Australia, school does not emerge as a site for change." Dr Ata's research is continuing.

Mr Ruddock and ACU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen were key note speakers at the launch of Dr Ata's book Catholic and other Christian intermarriage in Australia late last year.

Book launch at Brisbane Campus

Dwelling in the Household of God: Johannine Ecclesiology and Spirituality, written by School of Theology (National) Senior Lecturer Dr Mary Coloe PBVM and published by Liturgical Press, was launched recently at the Brisbane Campus by Professor Tony Kelly CSsR (pictured below with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Outreach) Professor John O'Gorman).

The book follows another book by Dr Coloe, God Dwells with Us: Temple Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel.

"Both books therefore explore the loving mutual relationship between God and the believer in a communion of life" said Dr Coloe, a Presentation Sister who holds a joint appointment at ACU and St Paul's College Banyo and has taught the Gospel of John in Berkeley and Boston.

Mary Coloe

Screenplay shortlisted for Victorian Premier's award

A screenplay by a Melbourne Campus lecturer has been shortlisted for the 2007 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.

Chris Thompson, a sessional lecturer in the School of Arts and Sciences (Victoria), received the prestigious nomination for his screenplay The Tumbler.

Chris Thompson Chris Thompson

World Youth Day Expo at ACU Strathfield

Strathfield Campus recently hosted a World Youth Day Expo aimed at informing students about the various programs and activities on offer in the lead up to and during WYD 2008, to be held in Sydney between 15 and 20 July.

Organisations included Josephites, Edmund Rice, Josephite Community Aid, Vincentian Family, St Vincent de Paul Society, Caritas, Magis 08, Young Christian Students, Marists, Dominicans, La Sallians, Parramatta Diocese, and the World Youth Day Office.

Programs on offer by these organisations range from immersion experiences and pilgrimages to prayer and reflection programs. World Youth Day Universities Committee campus representatives Vanessa Forcella and Andrew Profilio were thanked for their assistance in organising the expo.

world youth day 2
Representatives from Magis 08
world youth day 1
Tajana (World Youth Day Office) and Vanessa Forcella (Student)

What Catholics believe

Staff, students and friends of ACU are invited to learn more about what Catholics believe about war and peace, human rights, work and unemployment, poverty, refugees, discrimination, freedom of religion and care of the environment.

An informal lunch-time talk and discussion will be led by School of Religious Education Associate Professor Kath Engebretson with Mission Engagement team members at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) on Tuesday 28 August from 1pm to 2pm. A light lunch, tea and coffee will be supplied.

RSVP by Monday 20 August to kath.engebretson@acu.edu.au or on (03) 9953 3292.

Simone Weil Lectures on Human Value

Leading philosopher of criminal law Professor Antony Duff of the University of Stirling, Scotland, will speak on To whom must we answer? Criminal responsibility and human community, at the Christ Lecture Theatre, Melbourne Campus at 6.30pm on Thursday 30 August, and in Sydney at the Metcalfe Auditorium, Macquarie St Wing, State Library of NSW, at 5:30pm for 6:00pm on Tuesday 28 August.

His addresses, the 2007 Simone Weil Lectures on Human Value, are presented by the University's School of Philosophy and Institute of Legal Studies, with an introduction to be given by ACU Chair of Philosophy Professor Raimond Gaita.

While the Melbourne event is free, the cost in Sydney is $22, $20 for seniors, and $15 for friends and students, and includes light refreshments. For more information, please email jasmin.chen@acu.edu.au or telephone (03) 9953 3160. To book for the Sydney event, please email Bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or telephone (02) 9273 1770.

Rose Garden Seminar

Child, Youth & Family New Zealand Executive Manager Operations Sharon Nelson-Kelly will discuss The NZ Practice Framework:linking philosophy, principles and practice at the August Rose Garden Seminar, to be held between 5pm and 6pm on Monday 20 August in Room S3 at the Canberra Campus.

Sharon, a Maori from Paki Paki on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, will present the evidence-based, child-centred, family-led and culturally responsive NZ Practice Framework that is evidence based.

A gold coin donation is requested for drinks and nibbles. Enter the Signadou building near the car park on Antill Street and follow the signs to room S3.

RSVP ASAP to gabrielle.culhane@acu.edu.au

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.