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Issue 3 - Thursday 19 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 07 3623 7491.
Early achievers welcomed to ACU
Support for victims of bushfires
Campuses come alive for Orientation Week festivities
Fr Frank Brennan speaks on bill of rights
$1.04 million grant for learning and teaching
Centre for Early Christian Studies launches new books
Friends of Mercy Campus Centenary Celebration
Homework club volunteers receive commendation for community engagement
Peer leaders making a difference to campus life
ACU builds international ties
Advances in education in East Timor
Ballarat Student Association supports community
ACU staff and students nominated for community television awards
Education student shouts out for youth
Upcoming Events
Early achievers welcomed to ACU
Commencing students joining ACU through the inaugural Early Achievers’ Program are celebrating their success at special welcome events at the University.
The events acknowledge the special achievements that have gained the commencing students their places through the program, such as their community involvement and extra curricular activities, as well as academic merit.
Students, parents and principals are attending the events, which include a special address to the early achievers and an opportunity to meet other students and University staff.
The events are taking place in Brisbane, North Sydney, Ballarat and Melbourne, and finishing in Canberra on 5 March.
Early Achievers at the Ballarat welcome event
A successful EAP applicant with Ballarat Campus Dean Professor Anne Hunt
Support for victims of bushfires
Mission Engagement will be offering counselling and support for any staff or students who have been affected by the Victorian fires. Cash grants will also be made available to replace clothing and equipment, to help affected students return to their studies.
Anyone who requires assistance can contact Mission Engagement staff at their local campus.
Staff and students at all campuses are invited to join in prayer for all those who have been affected by the fires at start-of-year liturgies in coming weeks.
Campuses come alive for Orientation Week festivities
First-year business students Sam Watts and Carlos Nehme (left) met first-year nursing students Meagan Swain-Barber and Katrina Ooms during Orientation Week at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop).
They were among thousands of new students who were welcomed to the University at Orientation Week events across all campuses.
The week has been an opportunity for all commencing students to find out more about university life through a variety of workshops and activities.
A number of social events were also organised to allow new students to get to know each other, including sports competitions, scavenger hunts and live music.
Orientation Week will wind up tomorrow, with all students returning to class next week.
Canberra commencing students enjoy the free food at Orientation Week
Canberra students get to know each other in Orientation Week activities
Fr Frank Brennan speaks on bill of rights
ACU Legal Studies Professor Father Frank Brennan SJ spoke on his role as Chairman of the Committee for National Human Rights for Consultation in Australia at St Francis Xavier’s Church Lavender Bay recently.
The meeting was just one of many to be held all over Australia, as part of wide consultation on people’s various ideas on a statutory bill of rights. It dealt with the controversial topic, demonstrating that such changes would come about through a law made by Federal Parliament, rather than a Constitutional change by referendum.
Father Frank and various other legal experts present discussed the many complexities of the issue, and arguments both for and against the proposed legislation.
As well as providing these consultation meetings, the committee is inviting submissions from anyone interested, and already more than 10,000 have been received.
The committee has also written to the judiciary and has consulted with advisors to the UK and Canadian charters and with those in the states (WA, Victoria and ACT) which have such legislated charters.
Fr Frank Brennan with new North Sydney (MacKillop) Campus Chaplain Fr Steve Astill from St Francis Xavier, Lavender Bay
$1.04 million grant for learning and teaching
ACU has received a $1.04 million grant through the Commonwealth Government’s 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.
More than $300,000 was granted for excellence in learning and teaching, and another $700,000 for improvement in learning and teaching.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven has extended his thanks to staff members who have contributed to the University’s performance, particularly those in business and health sciences.
The funding will be allocated to improve learning outcomes for a larger and more diverse student body through teaching quality and academic skills assistance.
Centre for Early Christian Studies launches new books
ACU’s Centre for Early Christian Studies (CECS) launched three new publications at its annual meeting in Brisbane recently.
The meeting was attended by international honorary fellows, and featured the launch of The Eschatology of First Thessalonians by ACU Research Officer Dr David Luckensmeyer, Sophronius of Jerusalem and Seventh-Century Heresy by CECS Director Professor Pauline Allen and Old Testament Hebrew: Essential Vocabulary, Grammar and Syntax for Exegesis by Dr Johan Ferreira. Dr Ferreira’s book will be used in an online Hebrew unit offered at ACU in 2010.
The Centre also recently launched a book edited by School of Theology Professor David Sim, Matthew and His Christian Contemporaries, a comparative text opening the New Testament up to new areas of theological discussion.
Friends of Mercy Campus Centenary Celebration
Friends of Mercy Campus, a former Melbourne campus of ACU, will gather at the Laurel Hotel at 298 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 28 February.
It will be the 100th anniversary of the blessing of the three-storey “scholastic gothic” building at Ascot Vale, which opened as a central training college for teachers in Catholic schools and Novitiate for Melbourne Sisters of Mercy in 1909.
All former staff and students are invited to attend. A tour of the building, which is about to be restored and renovated, is expected to take place between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
For more information and to book, please contact Sister Marie Kehoe RSM at mariek@mercy.org.au or (03) 9331 4894.
Homework club volunteers receive commendation for community engagement
A group of staff and students from ACU’s Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) recently received a commendation for outstanding community engagement from Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven.
The commendation was in recognition of their volunteer work with the Atherton Gardens Homework club, a study group for refugees in the local community.
The club, formed as a way of helping the large number of refugee children in the area to keep up with their studies, is now in its seventh year and serves more than 80 students.
Staff and students from ACU have been giving up their time to tutor the children, and were also responsible for collecting 200 books which were donated to the club at last year’s Christmas party. Their work has also been commended by the Vietnamese Mothers’ Association, The Smith Family and Jesuit Social Services.
Peer leaders making a difference to campus life
The Ballarat Peer Leadership Network has welcomed its second year with 53 new students volunteering to join the program and participating in a day of intensive training.
Established by ACU Psychologist Shannon Thompson, the Peer Leadership Network aims to provide first-year students with support from peers who had already finished first year.
“The network really enables students to provide practical advice and to recognise peers who are experiencing difficulties with self confidence, work pressures, social isolation and schooling deadlines,” said Ms Thompson.
“Our peer leaders really advocate the benefits of student services, and assist in breaking down barriers so that students can access support sooner rather than later,” she said.
The training program highlighted the importance of open and clear communication, listening, and differentiating between empathy and sympathy.
Second-year education student Jayne Earle said that becoming a peer leader had given her useful skills for a variety of situations.
“It’s nice to gain skills to help understand others and to draw on my experience as a first-year student, to help out and be a mentor,” said Jayne.
Peer leaders Alex Cairns (left), Jayne Earl, Jessica Murray, Matt Faravoni and Nicole Goyne
ACU builds international ties
ACU Associate Professor Pamela Gibbons was in India and Singapore recently, where she finalised international agreements with training and education organisations on behalf of the University.
The agreements will allow ACU to licence its Diplomas in Business and Business Information Systems to be offered in Singapore, and sponsor a Skill Development Program and a Career Resource Centre for students in Kerala, India.
Professor Gibbons has also opened discussions with Rajagiri College in India regarding future academic collaborations in the areas of information technology, business, education, social work and child protection.
Principal of Singaporean training institution SSTC Mrs Rose Yeo signs licensing agreement
Director of Naipunnya International, Kerala Fr Jose Thottaka with Professor Gibbons
Advances in education in East Timor
ACU School of Education Lecturer Margie Beck, who has been working in East Timor for seven years, saw her newest round of students graduate at a ceremony in Bacau recently.
Ms Beck has been offering her services in collaboration with Children in Crisis (CiC) and the Centre for Formation of Teachers (ICFP), to help East Timorese students achieve tertiary qualifications in education.
325 teachers received their Certificate in Teaching and Learning at the graduation ceremony, which was attended by a number of dignitaries, including the East Timorese Secretary of State, Senhor Virgilio Smith.
The Certificate, which was developed in line with the one offered at ACU, provides graduates with an officially recognised tertiary qualification from the University. The success of the courses so far has led to talks of increasing the number of units offered through the program.
Ms. Beck with East Timorese education graduates
Ballarat Student Association giving back to the community
Ballarat Aquinas Student Association (ASA) made a $1,000 donation to the Victorian Murray to Moyne cycling competition this week.
ASA President Jess Cannane and Vice President Andy Lamond presented ACU Murray to Moyne cycling team captain Joseph Perry with the donation.
Andy said that the donation formed part of the student association’s key goals of supporting the local community.
“We wanted to contribute to the community," said Andy, "and through sponsoring the ACU cycling team we are able to achieve this and assist the team in reaching their fundraising goals.”
ACU Nursing Lecturer Joseph Perry, the cycling team coordinator, said that the funds raised from the cycle will go towards supporting and expanding a medical clinic in Baucau, East Timor.
“The ride forms part of the Faculty of Nursing’s commitment to social justice and community engagement, and allows us to be active in assisting those less fortunate at an international level.”
The Murray to Moyne fundraiser will take part on 4 April this year. Contact j.perry@patrick.acu.edu.au to make a donation. 
Andy Lamond (left) with Nursing Paramedicine Lecturer Murray Bardwell, Nursing Lecturers Alysia Cummins and Joseph Perry, and Jess Cannane
ACU staff and students nominated for community television awards
Staff and students from ACU’s Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) have been nominated for several awards in the 2009 Antenna Awards, Australian community television sector's “night of nights”.
The awards honour the contribution of volunteer community television makers from across Australia, showcase up-and-coming talent in the media industry, and celebrate multiculturalism and diversity.
The Pinoy TV program, which is produced by a not-for-profit community group and assisted by ACU’s School of Arts and Sciences in Melbourne, was nominated for two awards.
It was named in the Outstanding Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Program category, and the School’s Technology Support Officer Al Noveloso was nominated for Outstanding Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Producer.
Mr Noveloso was also nominated for his Outstanding Individual Contribution to community television.
Pinoy TV is aired on C31 Melbourne and Adelaide, TVS Sydney and QCTV Brisbane. The winners of the 2009 Antenna Awards will be announced on 27 February 2009.
Education student shouts out for youth
ACU education student Melody Gardiner has become a columnist at her local paper, the Hills Shire Times, writing about youth.
Her column, Shout Out, will aim to promote youth issues and the needs of young people in her local community.
Melody has been a volunteer with Hills Shire Council’s youth services for six years and is a youth ambassador for the area. She is currently helping to organise local events for Youth Week, which begins in late March.
Melody has also been actively involved with community engagement at ACU, working as a researcher for the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement’s Clemente Program.
Upcoming Events
- Pancake Tuesday and launch of Project Compassion – Tuesday 24 February (Strathfield)
- Ash Wednesday Masses – 25 February, all campuses
- Opening of Academic Year Masses – all campuses
- Launch of inaugural Mounties Faculty Cup – 4 March (Strathfield)
- Pizza and Games Night for International Students – 5 March (Strathfield)
- Edmund Rice Business Ethics Breakfast – 5 March (Sydney
- Catalyst / Clemente National Forum – 18-19 March (Sydney)
- Mercy Foundation Housing When? Forum – 2 April (Sydney)
