Issue 7 - Friday 18 April
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
- Tim Costello honoured at Ballarat Graduation
- Vision for Theology Faculty
- RSL LifeCare and ACU National partnership extended
- Supporting Indigenous teaching advancement
- Seeking to make a difference in East Timor
- Fulbright Scholarship application now open
- Launch of Vatican II book
- Flagging a celebration of diversity
- Sir Francis Little remembered
- Swags of support for homeless
- WYD08 Canberra activities launched
- Canberra hears tales from Tibet
- Women’s spiritual history explored
- Upcoming Events
Tim Costello honoured at Ballarat Graduation
The class of 2008 from the Ballarat Campus (Aquinas) celebrated the completion of their degrees at the Ballarat Graduation Ceremony at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday 12 April.
World Vision CEO Tim Costello was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to social justice and religious life. In an inspiring key note address The Reverend Costello, a lawyer and Baptist minister, encouraged the 105 graduating students to follow their passions in working life. “The things that give you passion…pursue in a way that develops you and develops others,” he said.
The Reverend Costello also praised the role that graduating nursing and education students will play in their careers. “You have some of the most socially and morally significant roles in our society,” he said.
The Reverend Costello reminded the graduates of their privilege in living in Australia and the need to support those who are not as lucky. “Having been born in Australia, we have won the great lottery of life …we have the opportunity to express the global ethic, to look outside our shores, and assist those less fortunate,” he said.
School of Arts and Sciences (VIC) Lecturer Roger Hillman was honoured to be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award for his outstanding contribution to students and the music curriculum. “My peer’s positive judgement means so much; being nominated for the award means that someone thought about my teaching and thought it worthy to nominate me,” he said.
Vice Chancellor Professor Greg Craven, Ballarat Campus Rector Dr Anne Hunt and honorary doctorate recipient Rev Tim Costello
(l-r) Dr Ann Gervasoni, Roger Hillman and Karen Mclean with Aquinas Student Choir
Vision for Theology Faculty
A working party chaired by Archbishop of Canberra and Goulbourn the Most Reverend Mark Coleridge is examining the challenges facing the possible establishment of a Faculty of Theology.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven has called for support from faculties, schools and members of staff in framing the working party’s terms of reference and appropriate structure for a Theology faculty.
RSL LifeCare and ACU National partnership extended
Vice Chancellor Professor Greg Craven and RSL LifeCare Chairman Rod White renewed their commitment to fully fund the Chair of Ageing at the University’s North Sydney Campus (Mackillop) on Tuesday 8 April.
The agreement forms part of an ongoing affiliation established in 2004 to foster leading edge research in aged care with a particular focus on aged and community care nursing in the veteran population.
ACU National Professor Tracey McDonald renewed her commitment to the professorial goals of enhancing the education, training and professional accountability of RSL LifeCare staff, develop a research program focused on improved resident outcomes for residents of aged care services and demonstrate quality and care outcomes for residents.
The partnership provides ACU National students with clinical placements in aged care, palliative care, mental health, community health and exercise science and supports the implementation of research projects such as ‘successful ageing’.
RSL LifeCare Chief Executive Ron Thompson recently accepted an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professorship in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of nursing and aged care research at ACU National.
Vice Chancellor Professor Greg Craven and Chairman of the Board RSL LifeCare Rod White. Back row: Director RSL LifeCare Board Annette Mulliner, CEO RSL LifeCare and Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Ron Thompson, Professor and Chair of Ageing Tracey McDonald, Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Professor Pauline Nugent, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Gabrielle McMullen, Deputy CEO RSL LifeCare Carolyn Kwok and Head of School of Nursing NSW and ACT, Associate Professor Violeta Lopez
Supporting Indigenous teaching advancement
Over 60 delegates from remote schools in the Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia corner of the country, which contains some of the most remote communities in the world, participated in the conference co-funded by ACU National’s Professor Tony d’Arbon and Dr Jack Frawley in Alice Springs recently.
The Tri-State Conference met to consider issues such as teacher recruitment and retainment, Indigenous leadership, appropriate and meaningful curriculum student health, well being and achievement.
The Conference, sponsored by the Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council (APAPDC) and co-funded by the New South Wales Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in conjunction with research partners from the Bachelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) in Darwin, facilitated a workshop with a special focus on educational leadership in remote communities.
The workshop is a component of data gathering for the ARC Linkage project - Linking Worlds - being conducted by the Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership at ACU National.
Seeking to make a difference in East Timor
ACUSA (Australian Catholic University Students for Awareness) held a lunchtime forum titled East Timor's past, present and future - How can we make a difference? at the Melbourne Campus (St. Patrick's) on Tuesday 8 April.
Guest speakers included a UN representative at East Timor elections Peter Westmore and Past Principal of Bacau Teachers College Br Mark Paul. The engaging presentations resulted in lively discussion amongst the guest speakers and students, and raised the challenge to the ACU National community to continue to make a difference in the troubled region.
Peter Westmore and Br Mark Paul with St.Patrick's Staff and Students for Awareness at the Forum which was held in our Vault
Fulbright Scholarship application now open
Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Fulbright Symposium. The annual Symposium, worth $30 000 , is awarded by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission. The Symposium focuses on topics of current bi-national interest between Australia and the United States and engages leading speakers from both countries.
The grant is awarded following a national competition with proposals assessed on criteria including a topic of bi-national significance, defined outcomes and benefits, and the wider professional and institutional interest and support. The Symposium must be held between 1 March and 1 October, 2009.
ACU National’s Chair in Nursing Research Dr Linda Worrall-Carter is currently working in collaboration with Fulbright Scholar Dr Barbara Reigel from the University of Pennsylvania on research into the self-care of patients with heart failure.
Applications forms for the 2009 Fulbright Symposium, further information and details of previous Symposiums are available at www.fulbright.com.au, with application closing at the end of July, 2008.
ACU National’s Chair in Nursing Research Dr Linda Worrall-Carter
Launch of Vatican II book
ACU National’s Institute of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education (ITPRE) has released a new book analysing the outcomes of the Vatican’s Second Ecumenical Council.
“Vatican II: Did anything happen?” was launched by President of the Catholic Institute of Sydney The Reverend Dr Gerard Kelly, at the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) on Tuesday 14 April.
The book, written by ITPRE Director Professor Neil Ormerod along with John O’Malley, Joseph Komonchack and Stephen Schloesser, reflects on the impact on the Catholic Church that followed the decisions made at Vatican II, which was held between 1962 and 1965.
Vatican II: Did anything happen?
Flagging a celebration of diversity
A ceremony to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of international students at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) was held in the Student Common Room on Tuesday 15 April.
The display of 60 flags from the home countries of currently enrolled international students was instigated by a recent research study conducted by ACU National Counsellor Judy Wright on the needs of international students at the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) . The ceremony was the result of a suggestion from these students to recognise their home lands with the visual representation of flags.
Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Wilson (Research and International) and Acting Dean of Students Anne Cummins attended the celebration, along with MacKillop Student Association President Joshua Ang and Vice president Yvette Burgess.
Beneath the flags of Australia, Indigenous Australia and of the Torres Strait Islands, Professor Wilson spoke of the symbolism of flags and how they would allow the campus to “celebrate the diversity of backgrounds of students who come to study at ACU National.”
Ms Cummins spoke from the basic meaning of “Catholic” as “universal”, from which ACU National draws its position as a University that is open to all and values all. “I hope that the display of flags will be of great symbolic value and serve as a reminder that we should make friends with many others while at University,” she said.
ACU National Mission Engagement facilitator Cath Leary provided a blessing and prayed that ACU National would be “a place of diversity, of harmony, of belonging” and that the continuing display of flags would be “a constant reminder of our richness and our togetherness.”
Responses to the flag ceremony from international students included comments that it made them feel “accepted, proud, respected and welcomed” and that it will assist in alleviating the stress of being away from their home countries.
Acting Dean of Students Anne Cummins, Director of International Education Valerie Hoogstad, International Office Manager Diana Stevens with Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) Professor Peter Wilson and Cath Leary (Mission Engagement) at the Celebration of Diversity at North Sydney Campus
Sir Francis Little remembered
A vigil Mass will be held in rememberance of the life of Most Reverend Sir Francis Little at St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne on 14 April at 7.30pm, with a solemn pontifical concelebrated funeral Mass to be held the following day at 11am.
As Archbishop of Melbourne, His Grace played a crucial role in the decision to establish Australian Catholic University in 1990, through the amalgamation of the Catholic College of Education Sydney, the Institute of Catholic College in Victoria, McAuley College in Brisbane and the Signadou Dominican College of Education in Canberra.
As the inaugural President of Australian Catholic University Limited from 1990-1996, His Grace provided important leadership at a time when the newly-formed University was finding its way within the higher education sector and the Church. His support for and interest in the University continued after his retirement.
Swags of support for homeless
ACU National graduate Jean Madden, inventor of the Street Swag, visited the North Sydney Campus (MacKillop) and met staff and students, including the Student Association President Joshua Ang and Vice-President Yvette Burgess, on Friday 11 April. Jean explained the benefits of her water-proof, roomy and light-weight Street Swag for homeless people.
Following the visit, Jean oversaw proceedings as hundreds of Sydney-siders took part in the Big Sleepout at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to draw attention to the plight of those who sleep on the streets every night. Sponsored by Macquarie Bank, QANTAS and Visa, the crowd included many elite sportsmen from the Waratahs, Firebirds and Sydney Swans.
Jean, who holds degrees in Arts, Education and Theology from ACU National, is just one of many of our graduates who go out into the world with the ACU National Mission inspiring their careers and community involvement.
ACU National graduate and Street Swag creator Jean Madden Street Swags with MacKillop Student Association President Joshua Ang and Vice-president Yvette Burgess
WYD08 Canberra activities launched
Staff and students gathered for the Canberra Campus (Signadou) launch of World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08) activities on Friday 11 April. Guest speaker, Catholic Life’s Nathan Kensey, spoke passionately about his own experiences with past World Youth Days and his excitement that Australian youth will have the chance to be part of such a unique and moving event.
Third year Bachelor of Education (Primary) student Tim Cook says WYD08 festivities are “a wonderful opportunity for young people from around the world to connect with other young people. I am looking forward to being part of something on such a global scale”.
As part of WYD08 activities, the Canberra Campus, in partnership with Centacare and Holy Rosary Parish are sponsoring students from East Timor to travel to Australia for the event.
Staff and students at the launch of World Youth Day 2008 activities on the Canberra Campus (Signadou)
Canberra hears tales from Tibet
Canberra Campus (Signadou) Mission Engagement hosted a visit by Venerable Alex Bruce on Thursday 3 April. Students and staff attending the session were moved by his honest and passionate talk, as he shared his experiences in relation to the present issues in Tibet.
Venerable Alex spoke of the challenge to other nations, including Australia, as China prepares to host the 2008 Olympics and the possible ways of assisting to bring about change in such a troubled area of the world.
Venerable Alex is a monk ordained into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of His holiness the Dalai Lama and has recently returned from two months in India.
Women’s spiritual history explored
The Golding Centre for Women’s History, Theology and Spirituality held its seventh annual colloquia on the Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) on Saturday 5 April.
Participants were challenged and entertained by key presenters including Dr Jennifer Herrick, sharing insights from her doctoral thesis Trinitarian Intelligibility in the Contemporary Arena; Professor Peter Wilson, a keen researcher of musician Clara Schumann; and Dr Judith Godden who spoke to her recently published book Lucy Osburn, a lady displaced, Florence Nightingale’s envoy to Australia.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) Professor Peter Wilson is joined by ACU National’s Dr Jennifer Herrick and Dr Cindy Leigh with UNSW’s Dr Lesley Hughes and Sydney University’s Dr Judith Godden)
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday 1 April – Wednesday 30 April – Exchange Information Month (National)
- Tuesday 22 April – Rose Garden Seminar (Canberra)
- Wednesday 30 April – WYD08 Promotional Day (Strathfield)
- Wednesday 7 May – Edmund Rice Day (Strathfield)
Details on these 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.
