Exams commenced on Thursday 31 October and will run until Monday 18 November. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Grady Venville reminds everyone in our community to be considerate and respectful of the needs of those studying for and sitting exams during this time.

Academic staff are required to take their full yearly annual leave entitlement between January and December each year (20 working days per year, pro rata for part-time staff).  

In line with the Enterprise Agreement and University policy, academic staff who have not taken their full yearly annual leave entitlement for 2024 will be placed on rostered leave from the first working day in January 2025. Staff will remain on leave until their yearly accrued entitlement is exhausted, up to a maximum 20 working days.   

 Academic staff who have not yet utilised or submitted sufficient annual leave in the 2024 calendar year to date, will be contacted later this week to advise of this requirement. 

Academic and Professional staff – Excess Leave management 

The University will also continue with the current excess leave management program.  

The University wrote to staff with excess annual or long service leave in June this year, to provide formal notice of the requirement to reduce their excess leave balance. Staff who have not taken sufficient leave within the written notice period, or do not have an agreed leave management plan in place, will be rostered on the remaining period of leave by the University from 16 December 2024. 

Dear colleagues,

I write to provide an update on the recently announced organisational change proposals for Renew ANU (Academic College structure realignment) and the ANU College of Health and Medicine. 

As you may be aware, the implementation plans for these change proposals were scheduled for release this week. These implementation plans have been deferred and we will be seeking to circulate these as soon as reasonably possible.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to this process. The University has received a large volume of feedback and the decision to defer our previously communicated timeline allows additional time over the next week to review and consider this important feedback and to further respond to some matters raised by the NTEU.

The University continues to welcome any feedback relating to the University’s budget repair objectives. This can be sent directly to org.change@anu.edu.au.

I acknowledge the change to the timeline impacts those staff who were awaiting communication of next steps. We will be seeking to provide you with as much certainty as possible as quickly as we reasonably can.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this important phase. We will continue to communicate with you closely over the coming weeks to ensure you are well-informed and supported.

Kind regards,

Kate Witenden

Chief People Officer

Thank you to staff and students for their ongoing engagement in this important review of matters of gender equity and culture in the College of Health and Medicine and its schools.

All submissions will be reviewed by Professor Nixon as she considers her findings and recommendations. The Review team will contact you if any clarification is needed and is available to answer any questions about the submission process. Due to the confined timeframe of the Review, Professor Nixon is unfortunately unable to accommodate any further individual meeting requests.

Any people or groups wishing to submit a written contribution to the Review are strongly encouraged to do so by Monday 18 November. The inbox for submissions and questions is NixonReview@anu.edu.au.

The University has selected Orikan as the new parking management system provider. Please continue to pay and park as per the current signage, until it is replaced in December. Pay and display machines on campus will also be removed from Monday 2 December and replaced with PayStay virtual meters. The PayStay virtual meters align with our Below Zero initiatives reducing our environmental footprint. Further information will be available on the parking website soon.

An internal expression of interest is open for the substantive role of University Secretary. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader to oversee the highest levels of governance at the University, as well as managing the secretariat and corporate services. The University Secretary oversees the Governance Office and provides advice and analysis on all governance matters to the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, University Executive, Chairs of Council Committees and Academic Board, and the broader University to ensure the essential governance of the University is effective.

Expressions of Interest close on Sunday, 17 November 2024 at 11:55pm AEDT.

Thursday 7 November, 3-5pm

The salon is an initiative of the College of Arts and Social Sciences Collaborative Cultures project, which aims to develop the collaborative culture of the University. This event provides a space for people to reflect on the practice of collaboration, partake in activities and meet others interested in collaborative opportunities. This event is open to the ANU community and external collaborators and colleagues.

Register now: Collaborative Practices Salon 7

Tuesday 12 November, 6-7pm

John Safran will be in conversation with Professor Kim Rubenstein on his new book Squat, in which he recounts his time squatting in a Hollywood celebrity’s abandoned mansion.

Register now: Meet the author – John Safran

Thursday 14 November, 9.15am-5.30pm

The Mongolian Plateau is subject to climatic extremes, which have been heightened in recent years by climate change. The Mongolia Update will highlight developments across the country’s economy, politics, culture and environment. The event is run by the ANU Mongolia Institute, the only dedicated hub for Mongolian studies in the Southern Hemisphere.

Register now: 2024 Mongolia Update

Thursday 14 November, 5.30-7pm

‘Islands, archives and ancestors’ is the theme of the 2024 annual ANU archives lecture.  Professor Katerina Teaiwa from the College of Asia and the Pacific will reflect on her process of exploring several archives and collections connected to Australia’s long history of phosphate mining in the central Pacific.

Register now: ANU Archives annual lecture 2024

Thursday 14 November, 5.30-7.30pm

At this public lecture influential scientist Orla Muldoon will unpack and update some of the great debates regarding mental health. Learn how group memberships and social connectedness are key to understanding cardiovascular, immunological and hormonal stress responses and how these findings add value in health policy and practice.

Register now: Revisiting the social determinants of health

Thursday 14 November, 6-7pm

Dr Ross Garnaut will be in conversation with The Hon Barry Jones on his new book Let's tax carbon: and other ideas for a better Australia.

Could Australia become a full-employment, renewable-energy superpower? Ross Garnaut says yes, and it starts with taxing carbon.

Register now: Meet the author – Ross Garnaut

Monday 18 November, 9.45am-4.30pm

The ANU Disability Research Network’s showcase will spotlight ground-breaking disability research and inclusion projects across ANU. ABC’s National Disability Affairs Reporter Nas Campanella will provide the keynote address. Presentations will be given by ANU Honours and PhD students, early career researchers, senior academics and professional staff.

Register now: ANU Disability Research Network showcase

Saturday 1 February 2025, 9am-4.30pm

Partake in an immersive journey into the world of spoken Sanskrit. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, this summer school is designed to enhance your conversational skills and deepen your understanding of this ancient language.

Secure your spot now in this exclusive class of 15 students.

Register now: The fifth Australian spoken Sanskrit summer school

We are pleased to announce that former Pro-Chancellor Pauline Griffin is the first distinguished woman honoured through the University’s new building renaming initiative. The Pauline Griffin Health and Wellbeing Centre was officially renamed in a ceremony held last week, Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell and former prime minister the Hon. Julia Gillard unveiled the building's plaque together.

Throughout her working life, Griffin promoted and protected the rights of working women. Her connection with ANU began in 1978 when she was appointed to the University’s Council. She became deeply engaged in campus life, leading and serving on numerous committees—including as Chair of the Public Affairs Committee, which oversaw the University’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Griffin was appointed as the eighth Pro-Chancellor of ANU in 1991.

Read more: ANU renames Health and Wellbeing Centre after former Pro-Chancellor Pauline Griffin

Six remarkable ANU researchers have been honoured as leaders in their fields. Between them, the group is tacking some of the world’s most pressing issues in areas as diverse as solar technology, Indigenous health and economics.  

In recognition of their trailblazing work, Professors Genevieve Bell, Andrew Blakers, Alex Brown, Paul Burke, Ray Lovett and Helen Sullivan are being celebrated by some of the country’s leading independent academies of experts. 

Read more: Sensational six, top honours for world-leading ANU researchers 

The Winter Institute is an annual collaborative three-day seminar between ANU, the University of Tokyo, New York University and the University of Bonn. This year’s theme is ‘Techne and the Human Sciences in the 21st Century’.

The University is seeking expressions of interest to send four delegates to the 2025 Winter Institute, held at the University of Tokyo from Tuesday 7 January to Friday 10 January. There are two places on offer for PhD candidates and two places for early career academic staff, levels A and B.

Applications close at midnight (AEST) on Wednesday 13 November.

Learn more: Winter Institute international seminar

Renowned surgeon and researcher, Professor Klaus-Martin Schulte MD FRCS FRACS, has been appointed Professor and Chair of Transdisciplinary Health Research at the Australian National University to push knowledge frontiers in foundational and translational health sciences across ANU. His new position will be based in the John Curtin School of Medical Research.

For the past decade, Professor Schulte was Professor and Chair of Surgery at the ANU Medical School and VMOh at Canberra Health Services. We are deeply grateful for his service to our students, patients, the faculty and the wider medical community which he delivered with skill, dedication and integrity. He has now stepped aside from this role to deliver on his substantial and expanding research portfolio. As lead investigator he currently commands $23 million grant funding, including MRFF-funded research into Indigenous pharmacogenomics, and a major Space Research Trailblazer Universities grant comprising five national and international industry partners. Professor Schulte will continue his long-standing surgical and academic practice at King’s College Hospital London and King’s College London on a part-time basis.

We have observed a rise in bicycle thefts and break-ins to bike cages across campus. This has prompted a focused effort to safeguard our community's property. The ANU UniSafe Management Team is working with ACT Police to develop additional security strategies and to investigate incidents.

To keep your bicycle safe, we recommend:

We encourage the ANU community to remain alert to any suspicious behaviour near bike cages or parked bicycles. To report suspicious behaviour, contact ANU UniSafe on 6125 2249. For non-urgent reports, email security@anu.edu.au.

Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell held a special thank you event on Tuesday 22 October to honour the dedicated fire warden’s, first aiders, health and safety representatives and occupational strains liaison officers for their invaluable service. These positions play an important role in maintaining a safe work environment for our staff community. We acknowledge the commitment and hard work required to take on these duties and express our appreciation and gratitude to this cohort.

If you are dealing with a personal or work-related issue, including distress related to the conflict in the Middle East, the University encourages you to seek support through the Employee Assistance Program.

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to this guide that was developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.