Issue 8 - 1 May 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.

Landmark National Child Protection Survey
Exhibition presents African history you can wear
ACU students organise Kids’ Camp
Professor delivers paper on homeless students in literature courses
Earth Link weekend retreat
Strathfield second-hand bookstore raises money
New interactive Blackboard resource, Live Smart
Canberra’s Café a huge success!
Homeless Awareness Week soccer match
Papal honours for an ACU founding principal
ACU attends VCE Age expo 2009
Study investigates Indigenous women and leadership in Universities
Free lectures on Melbourne Campus
Events

Landmark National Child Protection Survey

The Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS) at ACU’s Canberra Campus (Signadou) is carrying out pioneering research on the relevance and role of values in statutory child protection practice.

In collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU) and the National Centre for Child Protection, the Institute has received funding from the Australian Research Council to conduct the first Australian national survey on this topic.

Aimed at child protection practitioners, the survey, How relevant is the role of values in child protection practice, aims to explore the intersections of organisational, professional and personal values and expose tensions that can occur when individuals experience “values” conflict in their work.

The first round of data analysis will be presented by the Institute in July in a series of social work and community welfare seminars to be held at the Canberra Campus.

If you are a child protection practitioner and would like to be involved in this survey, please contact the research team:
Principal Researcher: Dr Morag McArthur, e: morag.mcarthur@acu.edu.au
Co-investigator: Stella Conroy, e: stella.conroy@acu.edu.au

Exhibition presents African history you can wear

A textiles exhibition celebrating African cultures opened at the Strathfield Campus art gallery recently.

The exhibition, Walala Wasala; the Fabric of African Politics, features a collection of printed fabrics accumulated by Tracey Naughton, Country Director of community aid organisation Pact Mongolia.

The exhibition was opened by African Women’s Advocacy Unit Director Juliana Nkrumah, winner of the 2007 Woman of the West award for her active support of African communities and the rights of women and refugees in Australia.

ACU Gallery Coordinator, Lachlan Warner, said the University was privileged to host the exhibition.

“It has particular relevance to the Art and Design students, and those studying textiles here at the University, as well as the large African community within our student body and in the local area,” he said.

The exhibition is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm each day, and will be open until 23 May 2009.

Lachlan Warner and Tracey Naughton at the opening night of the exhibition, with one of the exhibits ‘Nelson Mandela – South Africa’ featured behind.


‘Princess Diana, Queen of Hearts’; three textiles featured in the exhibition, collected in Mozambique in 1998 and 1999.

ACU students organise Kids’ Camp

The ACU Ballarat Campus Aquinas Young Vinnies' group recently conducted a Kids’ Camp for underprivileged children aged 8-12 years.

The 28 children were selected from eight primary schools and attended the week-long camp at Creswick’s Eastern Hill Camp.

The Aquinas Young Vinnies would like to thank the United Way Ballarat Community Fund for sponsoring the event.


Students get active at the camp.

Professor delivers paper on homeless students in literature courses

Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) Associate Professor of Literature, Michael Griffith, recently delivered a paper at the Creative Communities: Sustainable Solutions to Social Inclusion Conference at Griffith University.

The paper, Using web-based technologies to empower creativity in literature classes for the homeless and disadvantaged, outlined the challenges and outcomes of working with groups of homeless students in literature courses.

“The courses were designed to deepen student skills in critical reading and to stimulate creative responses to their own life experience,” said Professor Griffith.

The courses were part of the Clemente/Catalyst program and were organised by ACU with the help of Mission Australia.

Earth Link weekend retreat

Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) lecturer, Dr Terry Veling and his Theology and Ecology class recently attended the Mercy Sisters’ Earth Link project weekend retreat at the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Held at the Mercy Sisters’ Four Winds property, the weekend was an opportunity to develop a partnership between St Paul’s Theological College and the Mercy Sisters’ project.

Four Winds, a 43 acre property, provided a focus for the activities of Earth Link, which included workshops and reflective opportunities in spirituality and earth-human wellbeing.

The weekend was lead by Sr Mary Tinney, Director of Earth Link and Dr Philip Costigan.

Visit www.earth-link.org.au for more information about the project.


Sr Mary Tinney (far left), Dr Philip Costigan (centre back row) and Dr Terry Veling (second from right) with ACU students at the Four Winds property.

Strathfield second-hand book store raises money

Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) Mission Engagement recently held a second-hand book store in their continued efforts to raise money for students at the Catholic Teacher’s College in Baucau, East Timor.

Staff and students were asked to donate unwanted books to the store, to later be sold for a small donation. Mission Engagement was inundated with books, ranging from student textbooks to religious texts and romance novels.

The store raised almost $900 in staff and student donations.

The next second-hand book store sale will be held in semester two.


Books galore at the second-hand book store.

New interactive Blackboard resource, Live Smart

A new Blackboard resource for students, Live Smart, was launched by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Gabrielle McMullen via video to staff and students at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo) recently.

Developed by Carolyn Toonen, the University’s National Counselling Manager, the interactive resource was created to build self awareness, develop communication skills and help with careers advice and decision making.

“This resource will offer students an opportunity to access information and support across campuses, at all hours, on or off campus,” said Carolyn Toonen.

The resource was developed in collaboration with Senior Drama Lecturer Dr Tracey Sanders, Brisbane drama students, North Sydney Campus Careers Adviser Caroline Spurway and careers expert Professor Jim Bright.

Live Smart can be found on Blackboard under ‘Special Project Counselling Resource 2009’.


Dr Tracey Sanders (left) with drama students Matthew Wilson and Catherine Martin, and National Counselling Manager Carolyn Toonen (right).

Canberra’s Café a huge success!

ACU staff and students at the Canberra Campus (Signadou) have welcomed the opening of the new Campus café.

Construction began in November and was completed over the Easter period.

The upgrade included a relocation from the Signadou to the Blackfriars building and is now three times its original size.

The upgrade and refurbishment is thanks to the BURF (Better Universities Renewal Fund) Commonwealth Government grant.

Jim Andriopoulos and his mother Nancy (pictured below) will continue to run the café at the new premises.


Emma Clarke (left), Maria Hegerty and the caf é staff, Jim Andriopoulos, Paula Koulouris and Nancy Andriopoulos.

Homeless Awareness Week soccer match

Homeless Awareness Week celebrations kicked off this week with a staff v student soccer match on the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo).

After reaching a penalty shoot out, the third annual soccer match saw the staff win against the previously undefeated students.

All proceeds from the event go to Homeless Awareness Week initiatives .


The student team ready to take on the staff.


Action on the field between John Echewodo and Andrew Pratt.

Papal honours for an ACU founding Principal

Pope Benedict XVI recently bestowed Papal honours upon a former Principal of Christ College, one of ACU’s founding colleges, Professor Bernard Daffey for his service to the church.

Professor Daffey, who was also previously the Director of the Institute of Catholic Education (ACU’s predecessor), received the award: Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great.

Papal honours were also bestowed upon six others from the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

ACU attends VCE Age Expo 2009

ACU recently participated in the annual Age Vocational Careers Expo (VCE), which provided Victorian school students, their parents and the school community with information on VCE subjects, study and career options.

Each year, the three day event attracts over 25,000 visitors and includes a wide range of seminars and forums.

“It’s a great opportunity for students and parents to receive information about ACU’s courses and upcoming events such as open day,” said student ambassador Margie Dimech.


Student Ambassador, Felicity Harrison, speaks to students.

Study investigates Indigenous women and leadership in universities

ACU Associate Professor Nerada White was recently a co-chief investigator in a study looking at Indigenous women and leadership in the University sector.

The project, Tiddas Showin’ Up, Talkin’ Up and Puttin’ Up: Indigenous Women and Educational Leadership, is published online at the Australian Learning and Teaching Council Website.

Free lectures on Melbourne Campus

The ACU School of Philosophy is holding a series of free lectures on the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's), commencing on 10 June 2009.

Open to the public, the lectures will run over seven weeks, concluding with a final discussion panel lecture on 22 July.

This year’s lecture topic is “Gaza: Law, Morality and Politics”.

For more information please visit the events page.

Events

Brisbane Advisory Day: 1 May
Melbourne Advisory Day: 5 May
Canberra Advisory Day: 8 May
North Sydney/Strathfield Advisory Day: 19 June
Ballarat Graduation Ceremony: 2 May
Melbourne Graduation Ceremonies: 2-5 May
North Sydney Social Justice Youth Forum: 27 May
Brisbane Social Justice Youth Forum: 29 May
National Symposium on Religious Education: 29 June

Details on this and other upcoming events can be found on the events page of the website. Promote your event by emailing details to editor@acu.edu.au.