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Issue 24 - Wednesday 5 December

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.

Fethullah Gulen Chair in Muslim-Catholic relations launched by Victorian Governor

ACU’s Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations has been launched in the presence of the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser AC.

The event, held on 23 November at the newly-restored Central Hall, also celebrated the memorandum of understanding between ACU and the Australian Intercultural Society that was signed in early June.

Attendees at the event included the inaugural appointee to the Chair Dr Ismail Albayrak, Australian Intercultural Society Executive Advisor Mr Orhan Cicek, Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations Monsignor Peter Kenny, and senior staff of the University.

“As Christians and Muslims seeking to promote dialogue, deepen understanding and build relationships, we do indeed live in the worst of times and the best of times,” said Monash University Herb Feith Research Professor for the Study of Indonesia Professor Greg Barton at the launch. “We certainly live in interesting times, in challenging times. But tonight we should take heart. This new century promises to see so much more achieved in Muslim-Christian relations and in the scholarly understanding of Islam and Muslim society than was achieved last century. The launch of this Chair at this university, I believe, represents something very good and something of great significance that goes well beyond any one institution and any one appointment. This, insh’allah, God willing, is the start of something big.”

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Professor Raymond Canning, Mrs Fatma Albayrak, Dr Ismail Albayrak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen, AIS Executive Advisor Mr Orhan Cicek, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO and AIS General Coordinator Mr Emre Celik.

Bus and tram posters spread message

Qualify for life posters on buses in Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney, and on trams in Melbourne, are continuing to alert prospective students to the advantages of studying with ACU.

The campaign will run throughout December, accompanied by the website www.acu.edu.au/qualify which is designed to help future students explore study options and find out more about the University. It features video interviews with current students, a discussion forum and more.

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Renewed support for Plunkett Centre for Ethics

ACU and St. Vincent’s and Mater Health in Sydney have renewed their support for the Plunkett Centre for Ethics, pledging to contribute more than $1.3 million over the next five years.

“The Plunkett Centre explores the moral and ethical dimensions of the health care profession, which is vital in ensuring that Australia’s health care system remains a world leader,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO.

St.Vincent’s CEO Mary Foley added: “The Plunkett Centre is a great example of collaboration between health and higher education organisations to achieve a shared vision.”    

Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed on Monday, Associate Professor Bernadette Tobin will continue as Director of the Sydney-based Centre. Both ACU and St. Vincent’s and Mater Health will each contribute $131,250 annually to the running of the Centre.

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Associate Professor Bernadette Tobin, St.Vincent’s CEO Mary Foley, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO and Sister Helen Clarke RSC.

ACU reaches out to Schoolies

A team of student recruitment staff and student ambassadors from the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) made the trip to Schoolies Week on the Gold Coast late last month, as they distributed ACU branded lip balm, water bottles and beach towels to high school leavers and prospective students.

Liz Fisher, Student Recruitment Officer at the Brisbane Campus, said the exercise was a fantastic opportunity to maintain a high visibility and spread the word about ACU.

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ACU looks to support regional student

The Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) is currently seeking applications for the Gleeson Family Scholarship.

The scholarship, which was established in 2006 by the family of John (Jack) Gleeson AM, is open to students entering their first year in either business, education, health or a social welfare related discipline and who have listed ACU as their first preference with QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre).

The scholarship is valued at $4,000 per annum for the three or four years of an undergraduate course. Preference will be given to applicants from rural and regional Queensland who can demonstrate a commitment to the Catholic community.

Applications close on Friday 7 December, 2007. Application forms and further information can be found at www.acu.edu.au/qualify or by contacting Jane Thompson, Manager Fundraising and Development Queensland, on (07) 3623 7146.

Book launch and opening of intercultural art exhibition

Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sheehan AO will launch three new Springer Press publications by colleagues associated with the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning on Wednesday 12 December at 4pm at the ACU Gallery at 26 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.

At the same time and place, Professor Sheehan will open an art exhibition by students of the Melbourne Interfaith and Intercultural Cluster of the Australian Government’s Values Education Project.

Indigenous Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Applications are invited for a postgraduate scholarship to undertake full-time research degree candidature at ACU leading to the attaining of either a Master’s or Doctoral degree in any of the University’s three faculties. 

This scholarship, for study commencing in 2008, is open to postgraduate research degree candidates who are already enrolled at ACU as well as new candidate applicants. It is valued at $20,000 per year. Applications close on 14 December.
 
Applicants must be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.  To be considered, applicants would normally hold a Bachelors degree with Honours or equivalent, or be a graduate with relevant professional research experience, or for Doctoral applicants holding a Masters degree.

For application forms and further information, visit www.acu.edu.au/indigenous or contact Robina Bamforth, Research Services at or r.bamforth@patrick.acu.edu.au or on (03) 9953 3838.

Importance of children’s exercise

In the lead up to a forum at the Shoalhaven Showgrounds that will look at nutrition and exercise in children under the age of 12 years old, Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan (COPAAL) Director Dr Geraldine Naughton recently spoke on ABC regional radio on the importance of finding a balance between nutrition and exercise.

Dr Naughton said that most parents should assign a minimum of one hour after school for their children’s exercise and that research shows that in most cases children do not get enough exercise during school hours.

Links with Chile

Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) textiles lecturer Dr Louise Duvernet has been working with the Mapuche People of Southern Chile in a program coordinated by the Catholic university in Temuco.

She also met fellow textiles lecturers in the Catholic university in Santiago and discussed advantages of student exchanges.

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Workplace behaviour and discrimination information

Staff who have not already done so are invited to complete two online courses about bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

For assistance in accessing the courses, contact Organisational Learning and Development Manager Monique Kinerson at monique.kinerson@acu.edu.au or on (02) 9739 2151.

Institute for Advancing Community Engagement website

The University’s Institute for Advancing Community Engagement (IACE) website fosters effective connections between teaching, research and community engagement.

“We seek to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve a better tomorrow in the communities with whom ACU engages,” said IACE Director Professor Jude Butcher.

Visit www.iace.acu.edu.au to view the IACE’s evolving website.

2008 Handbook orders open

University Relations is currently seeking expressions of interest from the University community for orders of the 2008 Handbook.

As in previous years, the 2008 Handbook will be published on a cost-recovery basis. The cost for each handbook will be dependant on the total orders received. In 2006 and 2007, this cost was $30 per unit.  A comparable cost can be expected for 2008, dependant on the number of orders received.

Staff wishing to have a copy of the 2008 handbook should liaise with their Faculty, School or administrative area to ensure a coordinated and authorised order.

Orders should then placed with Ted Doherty ted.doherty@acu.edu.au or  (02) 9739 2363 no later than Monday 10 December. Please remember to send your cost codes when placing your order.

ACU historians in New Zealand

Five historians affiliated with ACU recently took part in the biennial New Zealand Historical Association (NZHA) conference in Wellington and associated Welfare History and Religious History conferences.

Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) History Tutor Heather Holst and Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) Tutor Nell Musgrove presented papers to the welfare history conference based on their research on nineteenth century Victorian welfare and charity. Melbourne Campus Tutor Amanda Barry and School of Arts and Sciences (Victoria) Reader Professor Shurlee Swain attended the welfare history conference and both presented papers to the main conference, on 19th century Aboriginal education and on "the value of the vignette" in the promotion of welfare organisations, respectively. Malcolm Prentis attended the religious history conference and his paper to the main conference was about his introduction of NZ and Australasian perspectives into his teaching of Australian and Pacific history at ACU. As a long-time member of the NZHA, this was Malcolm Prentis fourth NZHA conference and he has been actively pursuing trans-asman historical connections over the past decade.

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Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) History Tutor Heather Holst (left) Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) Tutor Nell Musgrove, School of Arts and Sciences (Victoria) Reader Professor Shurlee Swain, Melbourne Campus Tutor Amanda Barry, and School of Arts and Sciences (NSW) Associate Professor Malcolm Prentis. 

Scientists In Schools

The Scientists in Schools program is designed to promote science education in primary and secondary schools, by helping students to engage in science and broaden their awareness of the variety of exciting science careers. Since the establishment of the program, over 350 partnerships have been established across Australia, however many schools are still waiting to be partnered with a scientist. The project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training and is administered by CSIRO Education.

Since joining the School of Arts and Sciences Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's) as an Associate Lecturer in July this year, Dr Angelo D’Amore has joined the ‘Scientists in Schools’ program. He has partnered with the local St Gabriel’s primary school in Reservoir, visiting the school to teach the students interesting facts about science and perform fun experiments with the students. His visits in Term 4 involved discussions and experiments with Year 5 and 6’s on the science of energy, where lemon batteries, electric motors and a model water turbine were just some of the demonstrations. Dr Angelo D’Amore has found that the experience of teaching the students has been most rewarding for both the student’s interest in science and his perspective of research and teaching science.

For any scientists interested in joining the program and partnering a primary or secondary school, information is available at www.scientistsinschools.edu.au

ACU academic recognised by creative showcase

Dr Tracey Sanders, Academic Co-Coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts on the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo), has been invited to participate in the National Creativity Showcase. Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Gabrielle McMullen (Academic Affairs) nominated Dr Sanders for the showcase after she received an Excellence in Teaching Award in 2006 and was short listed for a Carrick Institute Award earlier this year.

The Showcase, which will be held at the Queensland University of Technology on 6 -7 December, recognises outstanding creative teaching work of academics through the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

Dr Sanders will be sharing her work on Creative Productive Pedagogies, and will explore the concepts of ethnodrama, role play, cultural immersion and social justice.

Dr Sanders has led a number innovative teaching programs designed to immerse students in different cultural and social contexts subcultures to provide them with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the community around them. 

Dr Sanders work in ethnodrama has resulted in a number of exciting drama performances including “The Cold Comfort” homeless project and “Scattered Lives” and “The Big Issue” – both which explored the notion of marginalisation of refugees and the homeless in society.
 
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Dr Tracey Sanders with two students of the Catalyst program, at the performance of Ki

Upcoming Events

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

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