Issue 12 - Wednesday 25 June
ACU National Update is produced fortnightly for staff, students and friends of Australian Catholic University (ACU National). To submit a news article or event, please email editor@acu.edu.au or call 07 3623 7491
- Principals and school counsellors welcome Vice-Chancellor at advisory days
- WYD08 retreat at Strathfield
- Clemente students sign up
- Days of the Diocese
- Archbishop receives Queen’s Birthday honour
- Graduand launches book aiding perceptions of people with disabilities
- Insight into Scots in Australia
- Catholic Explorations in Practical Theology
- Australia's largest afternoon tea
- Sadness at unexpected death of Archbishop Sir Francis Little DD KBE
- Discussion on Intercultural relations
- Young Vinnies making a difference
Principals and school counsellors welcome Vice-Chancellor at advisory days
Hundreds of school principals and careers counsellors recently attended advisory days at ACU National campuses in Queensland, NSW, ACT and Victoria to hear first-hand from Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven about the University's Early Achievers Program.
The Vice-Chancellor's comments about higher education and working collaboratively to help meet the needs of schools, students and the workforce were welcomed by the visitors.
For example, St Bernard's College Melbourne Careers Advisor David Rosel said it was extremely unusual for Vice-Chancellors to make themselves available at such functions. "We were all very positive about Professor Craven's presence, his insights into developments in tertiary education, and his honest approach," Mr Rosel said.
Visit http://www.acu.edu.au/courses/early_entry/ for more information about the Early Achievers Program for both school leavers and non-school leavers.
Marketing Officer (Student Recruitment) Catherine Watson is joined by Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) Advisory Day
WYD08 retreat at Strathfield
Mission Engagement staff from the Strathfield (Mount Saint Mary) and North Sydney (MacKillop) campuses recently hosted a Pilgrim Preparation Retreat for NSW ACU National students attending World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).
The retreat was facilitated by members of the Young Christian Students (YCS) and Young Christian Workers (YCW) Chantelle Ogilvie, Daniel Nelson and Sarah Lentern.
More than 30 young people attended the retreat and shared openly with each other their expectations of WYD08 and what it means to be a "pilgrim". The event was an opportunity for the students to meet and get to know each other before taking part in the WYD08 journey together. Acting Dean of Students Anne Cummins was present at the retreat, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven visited.
As a dry run for the real WYD08 event in July, students slept overnight in classrooms on the Strathfield Campus. Special thanks were extended to Charlie, Joe and the Strathfield Cafeteria staff for their wonderful catering and to Peter Gibbons from Campus Operations who volunteered to keep watch throughout the night.
WYD08 Pilgrims camp out at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) in preparation for events from 15 to 20 July.
Clemente students sign up
New students in the Clemente Australia program recently took part in an Induction Day at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary). ACU National staff helped students to enroll, gave presentations on library facilities and tips on essay writing.
Clemente lecturer Michael Foley was excited by the welcome University staff gave the students and the support they have offered for the program. I have never been so proud of ACU National's staff engagement and care for students as I was at the Induction Day,” he said.
Clemente Australia, also known as the Catalyst-Clemente program, is a tertiary education program for people who are homeless and marginalised.
These students are completing a Certificate in Liberal Arts provided by ACU National in partnership with a number of community organisations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Ballarat.
Please email iace@acu.edu.au for more information on these programs.
Days of the Diocese
As part of Days in the Diocese celebrations associated with World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08), the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) is presenting an exhibition featuring Stations of the Cross, produced by Melbourne-based school students aged 16 and over and ACU National students.
There are prizes on offer for the best works submitted, with a first prize of $500, second prize of $250 and third prize of $100.
The exhibition will run from 9 to 14 July at the St Patricks Gallery at 26 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy from 11am to 4pm each day, including the weekend. The exhibition is expected to attract considerable interest from visitors to Melbourne during the Days of the Diocese.
The exhibition will also be on show at the Brisbane (McAuley at Banyo) and Strathfield (Mount Saint Mary) campuses later this year.
Archbishop receives Queen’s Birthday honour
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane has been named an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours.
He was recognised for his service to the Catholic Church in Australia, particularly as Archbishop of Brisbane, and to the community through the promotion of ecumenical dialogue.
Archbishop Bathersby described the honour was a “compliment to the Church” and “an honour for Catholics in general”.
“I think it’s an honour for the amount of good work that religion has done and continues to do within our society, and for that I’m quite happy to accept the award knowing that it’s not just for me but it’s also for what the Church is on about,” Archbishop Bathersby said in a recent Catholic Leader article.
Graduand launches book aiding perceptions of people with disabilities
Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) Master’s of Education (Communities and Social Justice) 2007 graduate Jan Daisley, who has profound disabilities, has launched a second book, Rebels with a Cause.
Jan, a board member on the People with Disabilities Foundation, made headlines in 2005 with the release of her first book, I Hear More Than You See, after she completed a Bachelor of Education (Habilitation) degree at ACU National in 2004.
"I wrote the books because I want to show people that there is life after a disability," Jan recently told the Inner West Weekly. Her latest book includes input from a colleague, the late John Roarty, who wrote Captives Of Care.
Education Lecturer Bob Finlay has praised Jan’s many achievements. “Jan has indirectly changed many mindsets about people with disabilities amongst people with disabilities themselves, their families and carers through modelling and example,” Bob said.
Copies of the books, $25 each, can be bought by phoning Elaine on 0407 074 107 or Peter on 0407 937 479.
Insight into Scots in Australia
School of Arts and Sciences (NSW) Associate Professor Malcolm Prentis has released The Scots in Australia, a book examining the immigration of Scottish people to Australia.
The publication is a comprehensive history of Scottish immigrants, including convicts and free settlers, and their descendants in Australia from 1788 to the present.
It combines anecdotal, biographical and historical analysis along with commonly held assumptions and myths from both ends of the migration process, with Associate Professor Prentis demonstrating that the Scots have had an influence in Australia disproportionate to their relatively small numbers.
The Scots in Australia is printed by UNSW Press and retails for $39.95.
Catholic Explorations in Practical Theology
Assistant Head of the National School of Theology Dr Terry Veling recently attended the first of a series of four meetings in a research project, Catholic Explorations in Practical Theology, at St John’s University in Collegeville in the US.
The project received a distinguished grant from the prestigious Lilly Foundation in the US, and involves eight Catholic scholars working together in the field of Catholic Practical Theology. The next meeting will take place at Fordham University in November.
ACU National's Dr Terry Veling (back row, second from right) with (clockwise from back left) Tom Beaudoin of Fordham University, Ray Webb of University of the St Mary of the Lake, Susan Abraham of Harvard Divinity School, Kathleen Cahalan of St John's University, Edward Foley of the Catholic Theological Union, Lynn Bridgers of the Catholic Diocese of Sante Fe and Bryan Froehle of St Thomas University.
Australia's largest afternoon tea
North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) staff recently gathered for Australia's largest afternoon tea to raise funds for cancer research, prevention and support services.
Mary Evripidou and Joanne Wheatley have been organising the afternoon tea for the past seven years. The annual afternoon tea gives staff a wonderful opportunity to get together and support family, friends and work mates affected by cancer.
A similar morning tea event also took place at the Brisbane Campus (McAuley at Banyo), thanks to the efforts of the student association, with more than $300 raised by donations from academic and general staff. The money will be donated to the Queensland Cancer Council.
Dean of Students Anne Cummins (left), Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven, Junne Kamis and Finance Director Mr John Ryan at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) afternoon tea
Sadness at unexpected death of Archbishop Sir Francis Little DD KBE
ACU National Vice-Chancellor Professor Craven has expressed the University's sadness at the recent unexpected death of Archbishop Sir Francis Little DD KBE, the inaugural President of Australian Catholic University Ltd.
"He maintained a deep interest in and support of the University following his retirement as Archbishop of Melbourne," Professor Craven told the University's Senate recently.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen attended the Solemn Mass of Christian Burial for Archbishop Little on April 15, as did the University's Foundation Vice-Chancellor Professor Emeritus Peter Drake AM.
Discussion on Intercultural relations
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen were joined by inaugural Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic Relations Dr Ismail Albayrak as they visited the Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) on 18 June.
The AIS aims to promote interfaith dialogue, harmony and peace in the many diverse multi-faith communities in Australia.
Young Vinnies making a difference
Education, nursing and paramedic students at the Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) are currently involved in a number of community outreach activities. One such group is the Aquinas Young Vinnies Society.
Members of this group, with the financial backing of United Way Ballarat Community Fund, organise Kids’ Camps, Family Days and Activities Days throughout the year for children from the Ballarat region.
Society members have a passion for a making a difference in the lives of children. They have supported local families by conducting weekend camps and activities days for children between the ages of 8 and 11 years who may not otherwise have such an opportunity. All participants meet new friends and enjoy many experiences and challenges in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Recently, more than 25 children enjoyed a weekend of fun and friendship at Pax Hill Scout Camp, Ballarat. The camp was organised and run by 15 ACU National education students. Activities included scavenger hunts, games, orienteering, a disco, obstacle course, flag-making and mini-olympics.
Thanks to the wonderful commitment of the student leaders and support from Mission Engagement, a fantastic weekend was enjoyed by all.
Upcoming Events
- University Experience: Monday 30 June – Thursday 2 October
- Queensland Catholic Education Week: Sunday 27 July – Saturday 2 August
Details on this 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
