Welcome to our last edition for 2023. 

We wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyous holiday season. 

The University’s official shutdown is from close of business (COB) Friday 22 December 2023 and the University will reopen Tuesday 2 January 2024. 

We'll be back with our first edition of the new year on 23 January 2024. 

The upcoming holiday shutdown period can be a challenging time for some in our community.

The Student Safety and Wellbeing office will be closed during the University shutdown period COB Friday 22 December 2023 to 9am Tuesday 2 January 2024 

During this period, you can still contact the ANU Wellbeing and Support Line 1300 050 327 or text 0488 884 170 (available 24/7) or visit Urgent support for details of other support services.

If you need assistance from emergency services (police, ambulance or fire) at any time, please call 000. If you are on-campus and able to, please also contact ANU UniSafe on 6125 2249. 

There are a number of free and confidential community services that can provide support, including: 

- ACT Access Mental Health for mental health emergency access and support service. Phone: 1800 629 354 or 6205 1065

- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)

- 13YARN 13 92 76: free call crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (24/7)

- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 476 (24/7) 

- 1800 RESPECT is the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, sexual assault, domestic or family violence, as well as support for friends and family of people experiencing violence. Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)

- QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. 1800 184 527 (3pm to midnight Monday – Sunday) 

When Nathanael Koh appeared in a documentary by Channel NewsAsia’s On the Red Dot at the tender age of 12, the internet couldn't stop buzzing about his genius. Fast forward to now, at the ripe old age of 13, Nathanael is rocking the academic world at ANU, juggling not one but two university degrees in mathematics and music.

Read the story

In the throes of a global health crisis, Matt Nurse, soon to be Dr Matt Nurse, stands as a beacon of dedication and resilience. His unique PhD and parenting journey through the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, is a testament to the power of perseverance and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

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A team comprising 8 students specialising in science, health and medicine recently ventured to Paris for an international Synthetic Biology (undergraduate SynBio) competition. Their innovative project not only captivated judges but also earned them a well-deserved silver medal.

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We asked Associate Professor Pierre Portal from ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute to describe why the blackboard is such an integral part of his working life, and the enjoyment of mathematics.  

“We love them because they are really critical to creating this bit of magic that happens when mathematicians manage to really communicate with one another,” he says. 

Read the story

A reminder that Wi-Fi services will be interrupted next week on Monday 18 December between 6-9am to upgrade the Wi-Fi network. Staff may experience intermittent outages. For more information contact the IT Service Desk or visit wi-fi project. This upgrade is part of the Digital Master Plan.

As announced on Tuesday 28 November, the Art & Music Library is now closed to allow for hail remediation work on the School of Arts building.   

Safety is absolutely paramount, so during the remediation works the Arts & Music Library will be inaccessible to ensure we are meeting our WHS responsibilities. Only qualified construction staff will be allowed in the library space.  

The library’s service is being relocated to the 24-hour Chifley Library to ensure it remains available while the essential building work is carried out. Due to the work, the building is likely to remain closed until mid Semester 2 next year.  

We understand that some members of our community are concerned about the impact of the closure, which is why we are doing everything we can to ensure resources and materials are available to staff and students while the hail remediation work is underway. Heavily used elements of the collection, serials and reference, will be relocated to the Chifley Library in order to ensure they remain accessible while the building is closed. Relocation will be completed in January 2024.  

The remainder of the collection will also be made available by the library and new material will continue to be acquired to meet the needs of the community.    

When the building reopens in mid Semester 2 2024, the area currently used for the Art & Music Library is expected to be repurposed as a student focused space. The co-design of the new space will begin in Semester 1 next year.   

We welcome your feedback on ways to enhance access to the Art & Music Library collection, both during the period when the essential building work is underway and beyond, please refer to the Library contacts & feedback page.  
 
Keep reading On Campus for information and updates throughout this process.   

The Student Urgent Relief Bursary (SURF) provides support to ANU students who are experiencing financial hardship and require immediate financial assistance.

Current students can apply for the Student Urgent Relief Bursary and receive up to $2,000 of support. There is no deadline to apply and every effort will be taken to process applications in a timely manner.

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