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Issue 2 - Thursday 5 February 2009

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 2533.


ACU sponsors colloquium on bioethics


ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven and academics joined bioethicists from around Australia recently at the fifth National Colloquium for Catholic Bioethicists in Melbourne.

The four-day event, sponsored by ACU and opened by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Gabrielle McMullen, was themed Ethical and pastoral issues in care of the ageing and At the end of life.

Professor Craven, Head of the School of Philosophy Professor John Ozolins, Nursing Lecturer Ms Joanne Grainger and Associate Professor in Aged Care Dr Fran McInerney spoke at the event.

Ms Grainger and Professor Ozolins will be representing ACU at the International Association of Catholic Bioethicists Colloquium in Germany from 12 to16 July.

Visit www.bioethicscolloquium.com.au for more information.

 

2009 Bioethics Colloquium
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven presenting at the colloquium


Brisbane professor receives top European nursing research honour


ACU Nursing Professor Paul Fulbrook from the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) was awarded Fellowship of the European federation of Critical Care Nursing associations (EfCCNa) recently for “outstanding contribution” to critical care nursing in Europe. Professor Fulbrook was one of only four nurses to be awarded Fellowship with the federation, which has 23 member countries.

The recognition has come as a result of his extensive research into intensive care nurses’ practice, which has contributed to efforts to standardise the role and education of nurses in the European Union. He has conducted a number of surveys, including one on family witnessed resuscitation that led to the publication of a European Position Statement.

His current project with EfCCNa is a 20 country survey of European intensive care nurses’ levels of knowledge. ACU honours student Ben Sidebottom is assisting Professor Fulbrook with the project, expected to be presented at the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine world congress in Italy later this year.

Professor Fulbrook
Award winner Professor Paul Fulbrook

Australia Day honours


Two of ACU’s honorary doctorate recipients have received recognition in recent Australia Day honours. Both Mr Julian Burnside QC and Professor Richard Divall OBE were appointed as officers (AO) in the General Division.

Mr Burnside was recognised for his service as a human rights advocate, particularly for refugees and asylum seekers, to the arts as a patron and fundraiser, and to the law.

Professor Divall was awarded for his contribution to the performing arts as a conductor, composer and musicologist, through the preservation of Australia’s musical heritage and support for young performers, and to the community.

On a local level, teaching student Adam Moedt, 20, from the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) was named Mitchell Shire Council’s Young Citizen of the Year at Broadford’s Australia Day Celebrations.

Adam has been leading camps for autistic children and troubled youths with community organisation YMCA since he was 18, and was recently appointed director of the camps, the youngest male to be in this position.

He also works as an integration aide for various primary schools in Kilmore helping children with behavioural problems and disabilities, plays cricket and football for Kilmore and volunteers with Hawthorn Football Club.

Adam Moedt
Young Citizen of the Year Adam Moedt

Radio prepares to go live


A group of 20 ACU students from all campuses gathered in Brisbane recently for two days of intensive training in radio broadcasting skills.

The radio camp was aimed at providing students with skills for using equipment and creating programs for the ACU Wired National Radio Station.

The students, who will be responsible for running the station, were given the opportunity to participate in practical workshops and listen to a variety of guest speakers.

ACU Wired will air early this year with the support of a number of staff, including Program Director Nigel Munro-Wallis, Mission Engagement Facilitator Andrew Beiers and IT Client Support Officer John Dixon.

Podcasts of past programs are available at the Wired Radio website.

Radio Camp
ACU students at radio camp in Brisbane

Scholarships Office now taking applications


Applications for all 2009 ACU scholarships and bursaries, excepting the Gleeson Family Scholarship, are open until Friday 6 March. Several scholarships are on offer for both commencing and continuing students.

Students can now apply by submitting the one generic application form to the Scholarships Office with the appropriate documentation before the due date.

Information on the University’s scholarships and bursaries, along with instructions on how to apply, is available on the Scholarships page of the ACU website.

Email scholarships@acu.edu.au for more information.

Graduates join Sydney’s new wave of seminarians


ACU exercise science graduates Christian Stephens and Lewi Barakat are preparing to enter the Good Shepherd Seminary in Homebush this week.

The graduates, 24, who met while studying at the University’s North Sydney Campus (MacKillop), made the decision to begin their journey to the priesthood after World Youth Day last year.
 
Christian, formerly a personal trainer, said the thought had been in the back of his mind for a long time.

“It was definitely something I tried to ignore at first,” Christian said. “The best way to describe it was like a dripping tap, it was always in my thoughts and wouldn’t go away.

“I used to spend a lot of time clubbing and going out, and although it was a lot of fun, I slowly realised there was a big difference between pleasure and joy. God made us with certain traits, and for us to be happy we need to fulfil these.”

Lewi said the decision was not just about becoming a priest.

“I’ve had an increasing passion for God since my uni days and I’ve always wanted to serve him, whatever I did, whether I was working as a personal trainer or in the office,” Lewi said.

“I made the decision just after World Youth Day, but it’s something that I’d pondered throughout my youth and become more open to in the last two or three years.”

Lewi and Christian will enter the seminary tomorrow where they will study for the next seven years.

Christian Stephens and Lewi Barakat
New seminarians Christian and Lewi

An institute transformed

As part of the ACU restructure, the Institute for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning has been renamed the Learning and Teaching Centre (LTC).

LTC, with a fresh logo courtesy of University Relations, also has an expanded staff, to offer a more comprehensive professional development program.

Semester 1 programs include eLearning, Orientation for New Academic Staff, Sessional Staff Induction, Assessment and Grading, and ‘First Class, First Year’ for staff teaching first year students.

Details and registration are available here. Key contacts are available on the LTC website.
LTC Logo

OnTRACC team to present innovative student support project


A team of ACU lecturers will be presenting their Online Teaching Resources and Collaborative Communication (OnTRACC) project on Wednesday 11 February for the benefit of teaching and administrative staff.

OnTRACC, funded through ACU’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement Scheme (TALES), uses Blackboard in new ways to provide online support and resources to students completing clinical and practical placements and other work experience.

The project team, convened by Lecturer Dr Anne Drabble and made up of staff from the schools of Education and Nursing, will be presenting the project from 10am to noon (Brisbane) and from 11am to 1pm (EDST).

The presentation can be viewed from all campuses in videoconferencing rooms.

  • Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) AC22
  • North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) 1.6
  • Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) B
  • Canberra Campus (Signadou) 110
  • Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) 501
  • Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) 530

Application deadline for grants applications approaching


Staff are reminded that applications for 2009 Teaching Development Grants will close Monday 23 February. The grants are made available each year to groups or individuals for research into new and innovative approaches to teaching in the University.

Priority areas for 2009 are teaching international students and the production of online resources and assessments. Proposals for non-priority areas will be considered.

The application form and guidelines are available on the LTC website along with a list of funded projects from previous years.

Tour of Holy Land


ACU Research Associate Dr Abe Ata will lead a series of tours to Egypt, Jordan and the Holy Land this year for interested staff and students.

The 17-day tour will include Cairo, Mt Sinai, Petra and Amman, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth and Bethlehem, finishing in Jerusalem and Jericho.
 
Students are able to participate in the tour as part of their studies, depending on approval from their course coordinator.

While departure will be from Melbourne primarily, arrangements for departure from local international airports can be made. The cost of the tour will start at $5,795, covering all expenses except lunches, tips and personal expenses.
 
Students may submit a preference for one of four departure dates, either June 21 to July 7; July 5 to 21; November 22 to December 8; or December 6 to 22.
 
Email abe.ata@acu.edu.au for more information.


ACU to launch new website

A new and improved ACU website will be available to students, staff and the general public from 10 February 2009.

The website has been redeveloped to provide a more user-friendly, interactive and accessible site. The new layout will help promote and uphold the University’s achievements,values, and the activities of staff and students both internally and to the broader community.

This website will be constantly evolving with ongoing improvements being made.

New features of the site include: 

• One-stop login point for Blackboard, email Student Connect and eLearning
• News, events and important dates tabbed for easier location
• Links to key areas now found on homepage
• Major links provided in the form of a horizontal navigation menu.

Please email Web Services Manager Peter Coppola at peter.coppola@acu.edu.au with and questions and comments.

Spirit of the Dominicans remains at Signadou


Canberra Campus (Signadou) Acting Campus Dean Professor Peter Camilleri has emphasised the many valuable contributions of the Dominicans following their recent departure from the Blackfriars building at the campus.

“The spirit of the Dominicans permeates our campus, and their importance and commitment to education is a wonderful basis for ACU’s future in the national capital,” Professor Camilleri said. “The Dominicans have been a significant part of the Canberra community, helping shape it with their commitment to ecumenism and intellectual rigour in examining difficult questions.”

Blackfriars is one of the two buildings that make up the Canberra campus. The Dominicans opened the priory in 1967, and had lived there until late last year.

The building was acquired by ACU in partnership with the Archdiocese of Canberra in Goulburn in 2004. It has since been renovated and is now being used by staff and students of the University, as well as the Catholic welfare agency Centacare Canberra and Goulburn.

Pacific Calling Partnership appeals to world religions


Two representatives from the Pacific Calling Partnership, which ACU supports, will be speaking at an event opening the Parliament of the World’s Religions at Melbourne’s Town Hall on Sunday.

Geraldine Kearney from the Good Samaritan Sisters and Wilfred Muller from Kiribati will be speaking on the climate change challenge for people of faith.

The event, Melbourne Making a Difference, will go from 4pm to 8.30pm and will offer talks, performances and a variety of cuisines. Those wishing to attend can register on the day.

For more information visit the Parliament’s website.

Professional development opportunities for university staff


Australian Tertiary Education Management (ATEM NSW/ACT) will run two professional development sessions for university staff this month. The sessions are aimed at developing professional skills and providing an opportunity to network with staff from other universities.

On Thursday 12 February, an afternoon lecture looking at developing strategies for writing conference papers will be presented by Gavin Moodie, a leading policy and academic figure within the sector.

On Friday 13 February, two sessions will explore the theory and practice of process mapping. The morning session will set out theoretical aspects, and the afternoon session will run as a hands-on workshop on process illustration using Microsoft Visio.

Visit the ATEM website for registration forms and more details.   


Upcoming Events

  • Morning tea for new international and mature age students - Wednesday 18 February (Strathfield)
  • Pancake Tuesday and launch of Project Compassion – Tuesday 24 February (Strathfield)
  • Ash Wednesday Masses – 25 February
  • Opening of Academic Year Commencement Ceremony - Wednesday 4 March (Brisbane)
  • Opening of Academic Year Mass - Wednesday 4 March (Strathfield)
  • Opening of Academic Year Mass - Thursday 5 March (Melbourne)
  • Opening of Academic Year Mass - Wednesday 18 March (Ballarat) 


Details on this and other upcoming events can be found at www.acu.edu.au/events. Promote your event by emailing details to editor@acu.edu.au and listing it on the myACU events section.