Last week, we launched our ANYOU pulse survey which is now open for feedback until Monday 16 September. On behalf of the senior leadership, we want to strongly encourage staff who have received the invitation link to complete the survey, if you haven’t already.

This survey is a critical tool and an invaluable opportunity for our community to share feedback with University leadership. The feedback you provide allows us to understand what’s working well, what needs attention and how we can shape the organisation for the better. Every piece of feedback is valuable, and the more voices we hear, the better our understanding becomes.

We want to hear from as many people as possible, so please do take a moment to complete the survey, it only takes 4 minutes, and responses are confidential. You can find more information and access the survey via the ANYOU survey website.

ANU is fortunate to have a long history of remarkable, legacy-building women among us. However, out of 150 named buildings at our University, only five bear women’s names. In early 2024, Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell called on the ANU community to nominate names of inspiring women who have significantly shaped the University.  

We thank the ANU community for its outstanding response to this request. We received over 50 nominations and from those nominations we have selected four buildings and four trailblazing women to name them after. Nominations that were not chosen for building renaming are being considered for other recognition.  

The first building renaming event will take place on Wednesday 30 October, with others to follow from early 2025. The names of successful nominations will be announced and celebrated within the week of their respective renaming event. 

Learn more: Renaming ANU buildings after remarkable women

The Government has released indicative caps on new international student enrolments for all universities. This is still a provisional number until legislation is passed. Our international students are an important part of our university community. We are working on the modelling of how these changes could be implemented from next year and the impact on our finances. We will continue to share updates with our community when we can.

We are pleased to advise the establishment of two leadership roles, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Future Students) (PVC IFS) and the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO), along with their associated realignments, which will take effect later this month.

The establishment of a new PVC leadership role reporting to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) will strengthen our strategic focus on student recruitment and international relationships and ensure our key objectives in recruitment are delivered. The PVC (IFS) will lead several business units to deliver recruitment and diversity goals, enable participation in global exchange programs and develop educational partnerships. The Future Students arm of the International Strategy and Future Students Division (ISFS), the ANU International Office (AIO) and the China Liaison Office (CLO) will all move under this role.

The CMCO role will lead business units working on external affairs to enable collaboration, unified strategic direction and coordinated delivery in matters relating to marketing, brand, communications and strategic engagement, and is crucial to enhancing the University's profile on both national and global stages. The ANU Communication and Engagement Division (ACE), and the Brand and Marketing arm of ISFS will amalgamate under this new role within the COO Portfolio, replacing the previous Director, ACE position.

To facilitate a smooth transition, we will seek to directly appoint an internal candidate into the PVC (IFS) role and run an internal closed EOI to act as an interim in the CMCO role while a formal recruitment process is underway. We intend to launch the substantive process imminently. This will help ensure that the re-alignment is less disruptive and can proceed without delay. These changes, effective at the end of September, will involve reporting line adjustments only, with no changes to roles or work locations.

Thursday 26 September, 9.30am-4pm 

People and Culture are hosting an all-day workshop that will develop your understanding of the key components of performance management. This includes expectation setting, empowerment, evaluation, reward, and ongoing feedback. This workshop is closely aligned with the ANU Focus performance cycle (the new performance and development review process) and will empower you to engage in productive conversations that contribute to a culture of excellence at ANU.  

Registrations close Sunday 15 September.  

Register now: Effective Performance Conversations 

Wednesday 18 September, 1.30-5pm 

Join the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions for this year’s ANU Energy Update to hear about recent developments in energy research and analysis with a focus on green industry policy and regional transition. This annual event brings together energy researchers, policymakers, industry and the public to discuss an overview of energy sector developments and present an update on trajectories to decarbonisation.  

Register now: ANU Energy Update 2024 

Tuesday 29 October, 9.30am-3.15pm 

Do you have a passion for education? The Learning and Teaching Innovation Showcase is designed to celebrate, connect and inspire educators and staff from every corner of ANU. See examples of projects that have kickstarted transformation and impact, ask questions, form connections, partake in workshops and leave inspired.  

Register now: Learning and Teaching Innovation Showcase 

Monday 25 November – Friday 29 November 

Exploring Learning and Teaching is a five-day practice-based program that introduces you to vital aspects of learning and teaching in a higher education context. The program is ideal for teaching professionals who are new to teaching or looking to strengthen their teaching fundamentals. Cultivate your understanding of engaging teaching practice and relevant ANU policy, services and structures. This program will run two week-long intensives, a morning group from 9.30am-12pm and an afternoon group (online) from 1-3.30pm.    

Register now: Exploring learning and teaching 

Tuesday 17 September, 6-7pm 

Don Watson will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on his quarterly essay High Noon: Trump, Harris and America on the brink, in which Don offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other. 

This is a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.

An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Register now: MTA Don Watson 

It’s been nearly a year since ANU set its ambitious target to reduce travel emissions. So, how are we doing?   

Our Travel Emissions Tracker shows that travel emissions are currently 29 per cent below the same period in 2019, reducing our footprint by approximately 7,780 tonnes of CO2e in the first half of the year.  

In a recent survey, 97 per cent of respondents said they have taken at least one action to reduce their travel footprint. The most popular action? Organising online meetings instead of in-person ones. Find out more ways ANU staff and students can stay connected while reducing their carbon footprint in the update below. 

Read more: ANU carbon smart travel progress

The Australian National University holds a licence to self-insure and manage its workers' compensation liabilities under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). 

Under the conditions of licence, the University is required to lodge with the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC), a copy of its annual report for each financial year, within 7 days after it is first tabled in Parliament. 

The University has asked the Commission to vary this licence condition and extend the period from 7 days to 60 days, to ensure the timeframe is manageable. 

This variation, should the SRCC agree, does not affect employees directly, nor does it affect entitlements to workers' compensation in any way.

Strategic thinking is a process that enables you to work with your team on plans to achieve your goals. Spend 5 minutes per day developing these skills to make better decisions in the face of uncertainty. This skills coach course is designed for people managers.

As an ANU staff member, you have access to skills coach development courses. Use your U number email address and then click ‘Sign in with SSO.’ For any enquiries or feedback about skills coach please contact HRD.Development@anu.edu.au.

Learn more: Strategic thinking skills coach

The ANU College of Health and Medicine National Poster Competition is your chance to see innovative ideas of future health leaders. High school students from across the country have submitted their visions for how AI can shape life, health and wellbeing for Australians in the future. All ANU staff and students are invited to vote for their favourite poster. See the shortlisted entries and help us celebrate the next generation of creative thinkers. 

Voting will close on Monday 23 September.  

Learn more: Health and Medicine National Poster competition

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.