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Issue 5 - Thursday 19 March 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.
Your chance to be heard – survey launch on Monday!
Office of Planning and Strategic Management
ACU holds Catholic Education Week seminar
Psychology student wins three awards
Shave for a Cure
Exchange Fair opens a world of possibilities
ACU student rallies against climate change
Visiting scholar shares research
Launch of the inaugural Mounties Faculty Cup Competition
Homework help
Opening of the Academic Year in Sydney
Golding Centre Colloquia 2009
Student social activities
Supporting families in need
The role of social work in bushfire recovery
Your chance to be heard – survey launch on Monday!
‘myVoice’, the University’s first staff opinion survey, will be launched on Monday 23 March. ‘myVoice’ provides staff with the opportunity to voice their opinions about working for the University.
It is important for the University to regularly survey the opinions of staff to assist in guiding strategic and operational decisions. ‘myVoice’ will provide staff with an additional means of communicating with management, and an opportunity to participate in the overall development of the University by informing the decision-making process.
The survey has been developed by Voice Project, a research and consulting company operating under licence from Macquarie University. The survey is anonymous and participation is voluntary however all continuing and fixed-term staff are encouraged to participate in the survey. Look out for the email from the Vice-Chancellor on Monday, 23 March, with a link to the ‘myVoice’ survey. The results from ‘myVoice’ will be independently analysed and communicated to staff in June 2009.
Staff members who complete the survey can enter a competition to win a $500 travel voucher to the holiday destination of their choice*.
* Terms and Conditions apply (these are available at myACU).
Office of Planning and Strategic Management
A new directorate, the Office of Planning and Strategic Management (OPSM) will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic planning framework for the University, which OPSM Director Evelyn Picot anticipates will generate a culture of planning and an environment of progress at ACU.
“A commitment to continuous improvement is necessary,” said Ms Picot, “especially at such an exciting time of development and growth when there is so much happening in the sector and across the University.
“With changes underway as part of the Federal Government’s higher education reforms, it is crucial that OPSM assists the University in focusing on strategically achieving its mission and goals as a single unit.
“ACU is well positioned to meet the outcomes of the Bradley Review. Now is the time for the University to capitalise on these opportunities for growth”.
OPSM will oversee and provide support for staff in the planning cycle, which will soon be underway. Please visit the OPSM website for more information.
ACU holds Catholic Education Week seminar
Catholic Education Week is being celebrated across Melbourne from March 14-20, with the theme of ‘In the Footsteps of St Paul’. Australian Catholic University (ACU) is sponsoring the week and recently held a seminar to celebrate.
The faculty of Education and the Catholic Education Office (CEO) in Melbourne organised the event, which was hosted by Professor Marie Emmitt, Dean of the faculty of Education and Stephen Elder, Director of CEO.
The seminar’s topic was ‘Inclusive schooling and community building – the challenge of ensuring access and equity in education,’ with Michael Yore, Chief Executive Officer of Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service the keynote speaker.
“The night was a great success and we were able to profile and celebrate a most productive collaboration with the Melbourne Catholic Education Office in developing a unique and distinctively Catholic course on wellbeing and inclusive schooling,” Professor Emmitt said.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to jointly present the Social Inclusion Checklist which was formally launched by the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, in October 2008.
Psychology student wins three awards
Psychology masters student, Gabrielle Lusis of ACU’s Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) was recently awarded three separate prizes for her academic achievements in 2008.
The psychology honours graduate was awarded the Australian Psychology Society (APS) Honours Award, which includes membership to APS for one year and the opportunity to submit an abstract in the annual APS Conference.
Gabrielle also received the ACU Faculty Honours Medal, for the best overall results in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the University Medal for completing her Bachelor’s degree with first class honours and achieving the best academic results.
This is the first time that any one student has received all three awards.
Gabrielle Lusis.
Shave for a Cure
On Wednesday 18 March, staff and students at ACU joined together to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation through the Shave for a Cure campaign, by either colouring or shaving their heads or waxing their legs!
Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) staff member Lisa Richards bravely shaved her head, raising over $3000.
While North Sydney Campus (Mackillop) student, Lauren Kirby raised $400 in just 10 minutes.
To donate or for more information please visit the World's Greatest Shave website.
Lisa Richards after the shave.
Lauren Kirby during the shave
Exchange Fair opens a world of possibilities
Students at ACU’s North Sydney (MacKillop) Campus were invited to explore the idea of studying at one of the University’s partner organisations all over the world this week at the 2009 Exchange Fair.
The event was organised as an opportunity for students to receive advice from staff members and hear testimonies from students who have participated in the exchange program. A presentation was also given by St Norbert University Wisconsin Exchange Coordinator Joyce Tullbane.
Ms Tullbane said the benefits for students participating in exchange programs were numerous. “Students learn so much about the world and about themselves,” she said. “They grow so much,” she said.
Visit www.acu.edu.au/exchange to find out more about ACU’s exchange programs and destinations.
Joyce Tullbane at the Exchange Fair.
ACU student rallies against climate change
Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) social science and counselling student Coni Forcey is again this year helping to organise the Locals into Victoria’s Environment (LIVE) Climate Change Human Sign.
The Human Sign promotes environmental responsibility, and will spell out “We demand a safe climate future for our children!”
The initiative invites families, schools, community groups, and individuals to register and participate in forming the sign on St Kilda Beach, at 11am on Sunday 17 May 2009.
Last year’s event attracted around 2,500 people, with this year’s hoping to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records with 10,000 people in attendance.
Visiting scholar shares research
Visiting scholar Professor Philippe Obert from the University of Avignon in France, recently shared his expertise on techniques for measuring blood flow with exercise science researchers at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary).
The research techniques help to improve understanding about conditions impairing blood flow.
NSW Institute of Sport Principal Scientist Kenneth Graham was among the diverse audience the lecture, which was hosted by the ACU’s Centre of Physical Activity across the Lifespan (CoPAAL) within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Professor Obert also conducted workshops and other public lectures at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) and St Vincent's hospital in Melbourne.
"Professor Obert's expertise and generous offer of future collaborations are invaluable to our dynamic team of early career researchers in CoPAAL," said CoPAAL Director Professor Geraldine Naughton.
Professor Geraldine Naughton, Professor Philippe Obert and Davide Greene at CoPAAL lecture.
Launch of the inaugural Mounties Faculty Cup Competition
On Wednesday 4 March, Strathfield Campus staff and students joined with special guests to launch the inaugural Mounties Faculty Cup competition and commence the first round of activities.
The inter-faculty competition is comprised of sporting, oratory, performance, problem solving and musical challenges, with the aim to enhance on-campus life for both students and staff.
The competition will run for seven weeks, with the faculty accumulating the most points at the end of this period awarded the Mounties Faculty Cup trophy.
Following the first round of competition, the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy (joined by the School of Social Work) has the lead at 6 points.
Member of ACU Senate, Br Anthony Robinson fms and SCSA President Stacy Allan, cut the ribbon to launch the competition.
Theology, Philosophy and Social Work Captains, Marc Bumanglag and Meghan Wallace.
Homework help
ACU education students regularly volunteer to tutor 90 primary school pupils from refugee backgrounds, at the Atherton Gardens Homework Club in Melbourne’s Fitzroy.
A number of parents also attend, observing literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and gaining confidence to help their children at home.
“Through programs such as the Homework Club we can play a key role in breaking the cycles of disadvantage, raise educational aspiration and offer hope for a better tomorrow,” said the University’s Institute for Advancing Community Engagement Relations Coordinator, Mary Campbell.
The advantages work both ways, as student Stacey Riddiford of Ferny Creek explained.
“I believe this is a very valuable experience outside the typical classroom environment, and a great way to further develop my teaching skills,” Stacey said.
In light of the Bradley Review, ACU continues to embed community engagement into the curriculum. The University’s Mission commits to working for social justice and the common good.
Stacey Riddiford helping out a student.
Opening of the Academic Year in Sydney
Both Sydney campuses of ACU recently celebrated the Opening of the Academic Year.
At a Mass held at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) staff and students were joined by special guests including members of the University Chapter and Senate, representatives from the Catholic Education Offices and family and friends.
Strathfield student Pauline Purser was joined by her parents and grandmother, Mrs Irene Ryan. Mrs Ryan, who thought she would never visit a university, said she made the most of her “first day at uni”.
At the North Sydney event, student representatives lit candles representing Australia, Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa to celebrate the fact that students at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) come from 65 countries.
Student leaders were welcomed, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven, Student President Michael Villella, Mission Engagement Facilitator Cath Leary and Campus Chaplain Fr Steve Astill spoke of the importance of respect, equality, truth and justice, and prayed for a spirit of acceptance, celebration and encouragement of diversity.
The student associations of both campuses were inducted during the ceremony.
North Sydney Student Association member receives pin.
Golding Centre Colloquia 2009
On Saturday 18 April, ACU’s Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) will host the 2009 Golding Centre Colloquia. The Colloquia will discuss three theological doctors’ theses, with various academic guests speaking at the event.
On the day, registration will begin at 9.30am, with the third colloquium concluding by 3.30pm. To help cover the costs of morning and afternoon tea and lunch, the event is priced at $20 a head.
Please email Sophie McGrath at sophie.mcgrath@acu.edu.au if you are interested in attending or would like more information.
Student social activities
The Student Association at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) kicked off the social calendar for 2009 with a Semester Fiesta party including an authentic Tropicana band and an adult-sized jumping castle.
Volunteers at the Semester Fiesta.
The Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) recently held a pizza and games night to welcome the new international students, and is now planning a Cultural Diversity Concert for Wednesday 29 April.
International Students and SCSA members proudly display their Vegemite Paintings of Australia.
Supporting families in need
The Canberra Campus (Signadou) recently supported the ‘Marymead and Karinya House Fundraising Dinner’ by donating two Camilla Wollaston statuettes to the community auction in support of vulnerable women, children and families in the Canberra community.
The event, held at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, raised $12,594.85. The President of Karinya’s Management Committee, Sarah Kelly, expressed her appreciation for those who had sponsored the event through the donation of raffle and auction prizes.
“The world is struggling with the effects of financial irresponsibility but I believe that our sense of social responsibility remains grounded”, she said.
Camilla Wollaston statuettes
The role of social work in bushfire recovery
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) School of Social Work and the Australian Association of Social Work ACT Branch recently joined together to host The World Social Work Day BBQ Fundraiser.
Former Director of the Canberra Bushfire Recovery Centre and PhD student at ACU Canberra Campus (Signadou), Chris Healey, was the guest speaker at the event.
Chris has previously been involved in the collation of a report to identify factors and support services for people to recover after a disaster.
Chris’s research, The Social Work Role in Bushfire Recovery , focused on the importance of the ‘one-stop’ recovery centres and the personal support workers, counsellors and community organisations who operate within them.
Drama Performance, 'A Night of Vaudeville': 20 March 2009.
Edmund Rice Business Ethics Forum: 25 March 2009.
Mercy Foundation 'Housing When?' Forum: 02 April 2009.
Taking a look at being Catholic colloquium: 15 April 2009.
Details on this and other upcoming events can be found on the events page of the website. Promote your event by listing it on the myACU events section and by emailing details to editor@acu.edu.au.
