Published: Wednesday 14th February 2018

Our Official Launch

We are looking forward to the Official Launch for ACU Engagement, which will be held in North Sydney on Monday 19 February, hosted by the Vice Chancellor and President. As part of the event we have included a giving opportunity in keeping with the University’s commitment to community engagement. On the night, we will be collecting new children’s books (suitable for a child aged 2-8 years) which will be donated to our community partners. If you can’t make it to the launch we will gladly accept donations on any of our campuses. Please send us an email at acuengagement@acu.edu.au so we can make arrangements to collect the books from you.

Meet Jessica Innes-Irons

Hello! My name is Jess and I am the Community Engagement Officer at our Melbourne Campus.

I am very excited to be onboard with the ACU Engagement team, and will be working to connect external organisations with ACU to develop robust and meaningful community engagement opportunities for our staff, students and alumni.

I have a background in working with a diverse range of people from vulnerable and marginalised environments and I look forward to contributing this experience to our university. I am strong believer in the power of connecting with people through humility and kindness to build an understanding of our common human experiences amongst our unique diversities.

I have been involved with ACU since 2009 as both a student and a staff member. Before commencing my current role, I previously worked with AskACU and prior to this, with Marketing and External Relations in Student Recruitment and Alumni Relations.

One thing I love about my role in ACU Engagement is the ability to collaborate with so many excellent people across the university! I am particularly looking forward to seeing the growth of a national approach to community engagement opportunities across campuses.

In developing our partnerships with external organisations, I am working to source opportunities for ACU that are mission aligned and help to build aspiration and agency for both communities and individuals. If you have a Melbourne based or national idea or a passion project that you think will benefit from the support of our staff or students, I’m very happy to chat further. If you are interested in participating in a staff opportunity for community engagement please feel free to say hello any time!

Shrove Tuesday – with Campus Ministry

On Shrove Tuesday Campus Ministry cooked up a storm around the country providing pancakes on every campus.  ACU Engagement was delighted to help with the cooking and donation of toppings. There was an excellent turn-out of hungry people on all campuses and they enjoyed helping themselves to a delicious array of toppings on their pancakes from healthy fresh fruit to salted caramel sauce.

All gold coin donations went to Project Compassion.

OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Are you a staff member in NSW who is looking for an opportunity to get involved in Community Engagement? In March, ACU Engagement are offering an opportunity to volunteer at the following organisations/programs:

Foodbank NSW

Foodbank NSW is reliant on volunteers to help fight hunger, so your time volunteering will make a huge difference. Staff will be packing and sorting food to help feed those in need across NSW and the ACT.

Volunteers will need to make their own way to the Foodbank NSW and ACT Distribution Centre (50 Owen Street Glendenning).

Conversation Club

The Strathfield Conversation Club Program is a weekly program aimed at reducing social isolation and building confidence in conversational English for adults in the Strathfield Council Local Government Area who are from non-English speaking backgrounds. Come along on Thursday 22 March from 10am to 12pm to share stories and engage in conversations with participants of the program. There will be opportunities for you to contribute to whole group and small group activities.

Volunteers will need to make their own way to Strathfield Main Library (65-67 Rochester Street, Homebush).

Chatterbox Café

Chatterbox Café is a weekly program for adults in the Strathfield Council Local Government Area looking to improve their English language skills. The program provides a friendly environment where participants are given the opportunity to build their social networks and improve their understanding of Australia and other cultures, while broadening their English language skills. Come along on Friday 23 March from 9:30am to 11:30am to help participants with English-language related group activities.

Volunteers will need to make their own way to Homebush Public School (Rochester Street, Homebush) and will require a valid Working With Children Clearance number prior to participating in the program.

For more information on, or to register your interest for, any of the above initiatives, please email: acuengagement@acu.edu.au

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