On Saturday 14 October, Australian citizens will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to consult the First Nations Portfolio's Responding to Common Concerns about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice document. Support is also available to staff members through the Employee Assistance Program and the ANU Psychology Clinic. 

About the ANU Psychology Clinic

The ANU Psychology Clinic would like to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait lslander staff and students whose wellbeing is affected by the conversations and reactions to the Voice to Parliament Referendum.

Our team is aware that the referendum may bring up complex personal emotions and that staff and students are also dealing with potentially unwelcome curiosity and deeply challenging views from others. We welcome Indigenous staff and students to seek support from the ANU Psychology clinic as you take care of your wellbeing at this time.

The ANU Psychology Clinic provides psychological services for adults who want to improve their wellbeing in a safe and caring environment. Our staff and students have undergone cultural training with Dr Stewart Sutherland, (Wiradjuri) Associate Dean First Nations, College of Health Medicine, and his staff. In addition, Glenn Williams, Indigenous Psychologist, will provide regular supervision to the clinic supervisors to support students to provide culturally safe and sensitive care.

If you are interested in receiving support from the Clinic please call on 6125 8498 or email psychology.clinic@anu.edu.au. Please make us aware that you are calling in relation to the Voice to Parliament Referendum as the Clinic fees will be waived for this service.

We pride ourselves on being a peaceful, multicultural and supportive community with an international perspective. This week we find ourselves watching several areas around the world with particular concern for those in our community whose loved ones are caught up in conflict and natural disasters.  

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is deeply concerning and comes days after the terrible destruction of the earthquake in Afghanistan. The war in Ukraine continues.  

I encourage staff members who need it to access support through the Employee Assistance Program. If you need to support a student in distress please refer to the guide that was developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.   

As the conflict continues, and in recognition of our University’s role as a place for public discourse, I’d like to remind our community that ANU upholds values such as respect, collegiality, and community, and strictly prohibits discrimination, harassment, and bullying in all work and educational contexts, whether on or off campus. The University treats all forms of discrimination with the highest level of seriousness. 

Mental Health Month occurs each year in October and includes World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on 10 October. Mental Health Month is an opportunity for us to raise community awareness and understanding of mental health, reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health conditions, and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

What is World Mental Health Day? 

WMHD is recognised on 10 October and is an opportunity for us to promote aspects of awareness, belonging and connection in our community. WMHD aims to raise awareness of mental health challenges and support efforts to address these challenges. Talking about mental health breaks down barriers and stigma often associated with seeking support.  

Here at ANU, there are many services to help you with your wellbeing, mental health, health and adjustment needs. Support is available to ANU staff through the Employee Assistance Program. We have also established an incident support hub where staff can access essential support services. 

Help is here when you need it. It is never a weakness to seek help, it is your strength.  

- Comcare has recently produced a suite of evidence-based resources, including videos and better practice guidance in the following areas:  

- Good Work Design to help raise awareness and build manager capability to design good work for their teams. A good place to start is the ‘Managing Work Demands’ checklist for supervisors and staff. 

- Mental Notes to assist with reducing mental health related stigma. Learn how to start a conversation about mental health at work.

If you would like to talk more about support around mental health, you can connect with the Staff Respect Consultant by emailing staffrespect@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 6763. 

On Campus will be profiling the Staff Respect Consultant in a future edition.  

Have you watched Alone Australia on SBS?

You may have seen Dr Kate Grarock, an ANU almuna who did her PhD with the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Sustainability, and worked as an ecologist at Mulligans Flat for a number of years. 

The SBS show sees Kate and her fellow Alone contestants left in a wild, isolated environment to fend for themselves with nothing but ten carefully chosen items, first-aid supplies, their own company – and a whopping 70 kilograms of video equipment to film the whole thing. 

Thursday 19 October, 3-4pm 

This information session introduces ANU staff on how to set up a project for success. We will examine short-term, long term and ongoing projects, complex and straightforward arrangements. We provide tips on receiving help running, administering, staff and budgeting for your project for ANU. Only a few spots left, reserve yours now. 

Register now

Thursday 19 October, 12-2pm 

Join Professor Stephan Fruehling, Lieutenant Colonel James Groves, staff from the Australian Army's Research Centre and your fellow ANU researchers for a light lunch and a brainstorming workshop focusing on the research priorities for the Australian Army Research Centre’s (AARC) Fellowship program, and other research grants available through Army. 

Register now

Monday 23 October, 6-11pm 

Robyn Davidson will be in conversation with Virginia Haussegger on her memoir, Unfinished Woman, the story of a mother and daughter, of love, loss and the pursuit of freedom. 

Register now

Wednesday 25 October, 12.30-2pm 

PhD candidate Sarah Mann (soprano) will present a lecture recital exploring Western operatic singing perception. Why do listeners experience intense emotions to Western operatic singing? What is it about the acoustics of a soprano's operatic technique that modifies our attention? Vocal sound is affected by emotion and conveys information useful for survival. 

Register now

Wednesday 25 October, 6-7pm 

Kate Fullagar will be in conversation with John Paul Janke on her new book Bennelong and Phillip. A History Unravelled, the first joint biography of Bennelong and Governor Arthur Phillip, two pivotal figures in Australian history - the colonised and coloniser - and a bold and innovative new portrait of both.  

Register now

Thursday 9 November, 5.30–7.30pm  

Australia’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 will see a huge transformation in our energy system. Australia can continue to be a global player in energy exports - it’s just going to look different. UNSW Professor Renate Egan will discuss the opportunities and challenges we will need to navigate along the way. 

Register now

Procurement for learning management, careers and student placements systems kicks off | ANU Digital Master Plan

Following extensive consultation with staff and students, ANU has commenced the procurement process for some of the University’s foundational systems for learning and teaching, including a learning management system (LMS), work-integrated learning (or student placements) management system and careers management system.  

The Learning Ecosystem program is part of the ANU Digital Master Plan, designed to better meet the learning and teaching needs of our students, staff, industry partners and government. Technology is just one part of wider educational renewal happening across the University, driven by the ANU Learning and Teaching Strategy. Even more important will be shifting how we think about, plan and support learning and teaching across our campus.  

Collaboration and partnership with staff are crucial to this program’s success. A key focus is to work with Colleges and Schools to build implementation plans that meet each local area’s needs. This will include support and communication plans that will underpin the program rollout.  

Read more

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Additional round - Professional Staff Scholarship Scheme (PSSS) applications open 

The Professional Staff Scholarship Scheme (PSSS) will hold an additional round in 2023. Round 3, 2023 is currently open, due to close on Wednesday 1 November 2023, at 5pm. 

The Professional Staff Scholarship Scheme supports a range of career development programs and initiatives to advance the skills and knowledge of professional staff. Priority is given to development initiatives that provide staff a formal qualification. 

Please direct any queries about this grant opportunity to HRD.Development@anu.edu.au. 

Read more

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Book your end-of-year event with University House 

Celebrate the end of 2023 with one of University House’s end-of-year beverages and nibbles packages. Customised and bespoke options are also available.  

Contact University House for more information. 

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Service Effectiveness Assessment Survey 

Next collection: October 2023 

The Service Effectiveness Assessment seeks feedback regarding some of the key support services at ANU, including finance, purchasing, human resources, information technology, marketing and student recruitment, research support, student and teaching support and facilities management.  

The survey will help us to understand how important support services are to people’s roles; how satisfied they are with these services; how various aspects of the services perform with respect to systems, processes and staff interactions and where colleagues might see opportunities for improvement. 

You are able to provide feedback on any ANU service at any time through the University Services Feedback system.

Staff Giveaway - Career guidance through Women’s Mentor Walks    

Friday 20 October, 7.10-8.30am  

We're excited to announce a giveaway for five women staff members to win free registration for the upcoming Mentor Walks event. You’ll have the opportunity to seek great advice from women CEOs, directors, executives, entrepreneurs and leaders in their fields who want to help women succeed and get the career help they need. This is a safe space to discuss any career challenges you may be facing and enable growth and development in your current role. Fill out the entry form for your chance to win a spot at this event next week.   

If you are interested in other mentor opportunities check out the ANU NECTAR Mentoring Program or the Professional Mentoring Program. 

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Invitation to join the Board of the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics 

The National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG) are seeking expressions of interest for the positions of Chair and sitting Board members.  

"We have a commitment to act as custodians of Indigenous genomic data resources for the benefit of our communities. Making this happen takes a village and an important part of this are the ten persons who serve on our Board."

NCIG welcomes applications from individuals with all backgrounds, you do not have to be an expert in genomics. However, it would be advantageous if you have expertise in one or more of the following areas: Indigenous ethics and research, fundraising and philanthropy, Indigenous health, law, business management and finance. 

For EOI and further information, please feel free to contact the Deputy Director, Associate Professor Azure Hermes National Centre for Indigenous Genomics, on 0458 354 604 or via jcsmr.ncig@anu.edu.au. 

Monday 6 November, 6-8pm 

ANU and the ACT Branch of the Order of Australia Association are pleased to present the 2023 Order of Australia Lecture.

Professor Kiaran Kirk AM will deliver this year's keynote on Humanity's ongoing battle with infectious disease. 

For most of humanity's history, infectious disease has been an expected cause of death. Microscopic pathogens - viruses, bacteria, parasites - cause a range of diseases, many of them potentially fatal. The development of vaccines, and of antimicrobial drugs, has been a triumph of medical science in which the ANU has played a significant role. And yet vaccine-resistant and drug-resistant pathogens are continually emerging, necessitating the ongoing development of new vaccines, new drugs. 

We acknowledge and respect the Ngunnawal people, their ancestors and Elders, past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Australian National University is situated. We are committed to honouring First Nations Peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
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