Issue 5 - Thursday 20 March

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.

• Palm Sunday World Youth Day 2008 Commissioning Mass
• ACU sponsoring students and staff to attend WYD08
• Families encouraged to support World Youth Day
• Global citizens at Strathfield
• Careers Advisers on each campus
• ACU Student Ambassador Program
• IT News Update
• Carrick Institute support
• Excelling on the track and in the pool
• Art exhibition opens on Brisbane Campus
• Quality Update
• ACU shaves for a cure
• Seminary neighbours at Brisbane Campus
• ACU Students awarded Teaching Scholarships
• Brisbane boat racing
• Captain Charles, Engineer of Charity
• Upcoming Events

Palm Sunday World Youth Day 2008 Commissioning Mass

Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven joined ACU staff, students and alumni representatives who will lead the ACU Pilgrim Groups at World Youth Day for the Commissioning Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Sunday 16 March.

The Cathedral was packed with young people preparing for World Youth Day. Cardinal Pell spoke of the duty of young people to proclaim their faith and work for those who are in need in society. Representatives of schools read the Prayers of the Faithful in their community languages as a powerful symbol of the international Church and the contribution of people of many cultures to Australia.

The Cardinal thanked the Pilgrim group leaders for their generosity and commitment. Pilgrim group leaders were presented with a WYD08 pin and information package. They will participate in three training sessions over coming weeks and have been invited to bring their group to the Walk with Christ, Feast of Corpus Christi Annual Procession on Sunday 25 May.

Professor Craven with WYD leaders Andrew Profilio, Sara Cincotta and Vanessa Forcella

ACU sponsoring students and staff to attend WYD08

World Youth Day, the largest youth event in the world, will be held in Sydney from 15 to 20 July 2008. Organised by the Catholic Church, World Youth Day gathers young people from around the world to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.

World Youth Day 2008 will be the occasion of the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia who will be welcomed to the "Southern Land of the Holy Spirit".

ACU is sponsoring students and staff to attend. For more information, please contact Anne Cummins at anne.cummins@acu.edu.au or on (02) 9739 2936.

Families encouraged to support World Youth Day

ACU students, staff and community partners across the country are being encouraged by the Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby to volunteer their homes to host international pilgrims travelling to Australia for World Youth Day. “It is a unique opportunity for families to provide overseas visitors with some home grown hospitality and will be a memorable experience for everyone involved,” says Archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby.

Families are asked to host two pilgrims for four nights, prior to the commencement of World Youth Day activities in Sydney from Tuesday 15 July to Sunday 20 July 2008.

Brisbane families

Register to become a BrizStay host (07) 3336 9341 or www.wydbrisbane.org.au

Melbourne families

Families can host two international pilgrims from Saturday 5 July to Wednesday 9 July or Wednesday 9 July to Monday 14 July. For more information visit the official Melbourne Stay site http://www.did08.com/?id=melbournestay

Canberra families

To find out more information and register online visit http://www.wydincanberra.org/wyd.php?sec=96

Sydney families

Further information is available at http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/community_involvement/homestay

Global citizens at Strathfield

International globalisation expert Dr Kamran Mofid spoke on Globalisation for the Common Good at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) recently.

Born in Iran and educated in both Canada and at Oxford, Dr Mofid had worked as an academic economist but felt that mainstream economics was increasingly concerned only with the creation of wealth rather than the fair and even distribution of resources.

“The concentration only on material wealth, the acquisitive society, has brought a bitter harvest”, Dr Mofid said.

After his studies at Oxford in Theology and Philosophy, combined with his economics expertise, Dr Mofid became an international spokesperson and author in the field of responsible economics.

Dr Mofid’s visit to Sydney was sponsored by a number of organisations, including the ACU Institute of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education , Al-Ghazzali Centre and the Islamic Council of NSW as well as the Edmund Rice Centre. He was introduced by the Director of ACU’s Institute for Advancing Community Engagement Professor Jude Butcher.

Conferences on Globalisation for the Common Good: An Interfaith Perspective are held each year in a different location around the world. This year’s conference will be held in Melbourne at Trinity College, University of Melbourne, from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July. For further information visit www.globalisationforthecommongood.info/

Dr Kamran Mofid (centre), IACE Director Jude Butcher (right) and representatives from the Al-Ghazzali Centre and Islamic Council of NSW

Careers Advisers on each campus

Careers Advisors will soon be available to support students on each ACU campus, as part of the Student Services team. All will be available from Monday 31 March.

Brisbane

Mary Ward (07) 3623 7539 or mary.ward@acu.edu.au

North Sydney

Caroline Spurway (02) 9739 2055 or caroline.spurway@acu.edu.au

Strathfield

Rachael Grassi (from 25th March) Ph TBA or rachael.grassi@acu.edu.au

Canberra

Maria Hegerty (02) 6209 1211 or maria.hegerty@acu.edu.au

Melbourne

Jo Messer (03) 9953 3373 or jo.messer@acu.edu.au

Ballarat

Suzanne Dooley (03) 5336 5405 or suzanne.dooley@acu.edu.au

ACU Student Ambassador Program

The national student recruitment team has been busy training new student ambassadors to work in promoting ACU and its courses to future students during 2008.

National Coordinator of Student Recruitment, Shawn Walker believes the student ambassador program is an integral part of promoting ACU courses to future students.

“The Student Ambassador Program gives our current students the opportunity to share their first hand experiences of life at ACU with prospective students and their families,” Mr Walker said. “The program, which first commenced in 2003, continues to be central in executing our student recruitment activities across Australia.”

The Ballarat Campus recently undertook a training seminar for their new student ambassador team. Ballarat Campus Rector Professor Anne Hunt met with the student ambassadors and spoke about future career ambitions, their experience of studying at ACU and the international exchange program.

To find out more about the program or to recommend candidates contact Shawn Walker (07) 3623 7278 or Image captions in black below

Ballarat Campus Rector Prof. Anne Hunt with Student Ambassadors Melanie-Bree Hardy, Kylie Peel and Jane Lowthler

IT News Update

The first IT Newsletter for 2008 has now been released. The directorate has changed its name from ‘Information Technology & Communication Services’ (ITCS) to ‘Information Technology’ (IT), to avoid confusion.

The newsletter includes information about updates and improvements to IT services, including a new teleconference system, Cisco Meeting Place (CMP), which replaces the ‘meet me’ line and conference line facilities.

The complete newsletter can be viewed at http://my.acu.edu.au/staff/services/it_support/help/itcs_bulletin

Carrick Institute support

ACU’s Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning recently gained a new staff member dedicated to assisting staff apply for recognition from the Carrick Institute. Phoebe Palmieri, based at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s), is available to support staff in writing quality grant applications and nominations for programs of the Carrick Institute.

Programs include the Leadership for Excellence in Teaching and Learning scheme, which is accepting applications until Thursday 10 April. Pheobe can be contacted on (03) 9953 3374 or phoebe.palmieri@acu.edu.au

Excelling on the track and in the pool

Two athletes associated with the University’s School of Exercise Science have achieved recognition for excellence in their sporting endeavours.

Second-year exercise science student Sarah Roy from the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary), placed first in the Australian Sprint Championships (Triathlon) and has also qualified for the Australian Team to compete at the Triathlon World Championships to be held in Canada in June as well as the Duathlon World Championships in Italy in September.

Exercise Science graduate Debbie Watson has been awarded the IOC Oceania "Women and Sport" Trophy. Tropies were presented for Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe to women who have made outstanding contributions in their chosen fields of work. Debbie, a water-polo player, won a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and received her award for her work with the Australian Olympic Committee.

Exercise Science student and star triathlete Sarah Roy in competition

Art exhibition opens on Brisbane Campus

The Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) has celebrated the opening of the Queensland Education Minister’s Award for Excellence in Art Touring Exhibition, currently showing in the Arts and Sciences Gallery.

The exhibition, which features works produced by art students in Queensland schools, is open weekdays until Thursday 21 March. It combines traditional art forms such as painting and sculpture, with newer works such as electronic imaging and assemblage.

Brisbane Art Exhibition - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Engagement), Professor John O'Gorman with Arts and Sciences lecturer Alasdair Macintyre

Quality Update

The latest edition of ACU Quality News has been released ahead of the Australian Universities Quality Agency’s (AUQA) audit in August.

The publication provides a progress update on the work that is being undertaken in the lead up to the audit, including a comment on the AUQA visit by Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven.

It can be viewed online at http://www.acu.edu.au/acu_national/about_acu_national/quality/plan-quality/resources/quality_news_-_march_2008

ACU shaves for a cure

ACU has thrown its support behind the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave fundraising drive. The Brisbane, North Sydney and Melbourne campuses held events to raise money to assist cancer patients and their families with the cost of treatment and associated accommodation and travel, as well as research into fighting the disease.

Staff member Debbie Ferguson decided to shave her blonde locks in tribute to her brother-in-law, who passed away from Leukaemia on Christmas Day last year aged just 47.

“The experience was a very traumatic one for my family, and I felt that if I could help at least one family to avoid the heart break we went through, shaving my head would be worth it,” she said.

ACU staff member Rachael Parun (Information Resource Management) with her mother Esther, Theology student Daniel Gullotta

ACU staff member Debbie Ferguson

Seminary neighbours at Brisbane Campus

The Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) has a new neighbour following the opening of St Paul’s Seminary College.

The seminary commenced operation in late January, with 15 seminarians expected to move into the modern apartments in 2008. The seminary rector Fr Michael McCarthy is supported by spiritual director Fr Gerry Kalinowski.

The seminary will be formally opened by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal William Levada on 26 April.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Quality and Engagement) Professor John O'Gorman with seminarians from the newly opened Holy Spirit Seminary

ACU Students awarded Teaching Scholarships

Nine ACU students from the Canberra Campus were recently awarded Teaching Scholarships by Archbishop Mark Coleridge. The $3,000 Teaching Scholarships are offered by the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Catholic Education Office (CEO). The scholarships were awarded to five first year students currently studying the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and four students currently undertaking the Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary). The students were required to undertake Religious Education as part of their course to be eligible for the scholarship.

The recipients were chosen on the basis of academic merit and their written application statements. New student Geoffrey Ryan was delighted to receive the scholarship, mentioning how the money will help him to cover the costs of university, including text books.

“I decided I wanted to be a primary teacher late last year when I learned how few male primary teachers there are,” Geoffrey said. “I chose to study at ACU because I would like to be able to teach in Catholic primary schools when I finish my degree.”

Head of the School of Education (ACT) Dr Carolyn Broadbent was pleased to see the scholarships being offered for the 11th year. “The role of the CEO in providing such financial support to our students has been of significant assistance to their success in their studies,” Dr Broadbent said.

Recipients include Bachlor of Education (Primary) students Rosemary Burgess, Clair Corkery, Rebecca Griggs, Rachel Kelly and Geoffrey Ryan, and Graduate Diploma (Secondary) students Naomi Aigner, Vince Barclay, Tom Guinane and Richard Sachse.

Grad. Dip in Education (Secondary) scholarship recipients with Archbishop Mark Coleridge and CEO Director Moira Najdecki

Brisbane boat racing

Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) staff members Kim Moyle and Heather Styman won silver medals recently at the Queensland Dragon Boat State Championships held on the Sunshine Coast.

Staff teams have competed in corporate Dragon Boat racing in the past two years, and are again encouraged to participate in 2008. This year’s corporate regatta will be held on 17 May, in a race that encourages physical activity, team bonding and showcases ACU to the wider community. Please contact Kim at kim.moyle@acu.edu.au to join or support the “McAuley Mongrels” team.

Kim Moyle and Heather Styman with their silver medals

Captain Charles, Engineer of Charity

The St Vincent de Paul Society invites ACU staff and students to the launch of ‘Captain Charles, Engineer of Charity’.

The book traces the remarkable life of Gordon O’Neill, the founder of The St Vincent de Paul Society in New South Wales.

Author Stephen Utick and researchers turn back the clock to Old Sydney Town in the 1880s as the age of gold slides into Australia’s first great depression – a growing city of poor immigrants, slums, bigotry, ‘Nancy Whiskey’ and a man on a quest ‘for the sake of the poor’.

The launch will be held at 2pm on Sunday 27 April in the Auditorium of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, 99 Albert Road, Strathfield.

For further information and bookings contact Corporate Events Officer Mary Hadchiti on 02 9568 0220 or mary.hadchiti@vinnies.org.au

Captain Charles, Engineer of Charity

Upcoming Events

• 27th Mar 2008 - 30th Mar 2008: AAESS 2008 Science and Nutrition in Exercise and Sport From Research to Practice Melbourne.
• 1st Apr 2008 - 30th Apr 2008: April is exchange information month at ACU.

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.