Thank you for your engagement with the On Campus newsletter this year. It’s been our pleasure to cover all your news, stories and achievements. 

The ANU Corporate Communications and Engagement team wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyous holiday season. 

The University shutdown is from COB Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025.

From the On Campus Team

The holiday period can be a great time to rest and recover. But it can also be a challenging time for many. Please know that you are not alone. Over this period there are support services available 24/7 if you need any mental health or wellbeing support.  

ACT-based support services available 24/7 

All ANU staff members have access to the Employee Assistance program through two providers.  

Find a full list of external crisis support in the ACT. 

National support services available 24/7 

On-campus counselling support to staff will continue in early 2025. The ANU Advisers to Staff will be back on campus from Tuesday 7 January 2025. Contact the ANU Advisers to Staff via staff.adviser@anu.edu.au. Additionally, the Staff Respect Consultant will be available for appointments in person or online from Monday 6 January 2025. Book an appointment via this link. 

Hi everyone

As we round out 2024, I wanted to say thank you to our community for this year. Since returning to ANU in 2017, and taking on the role of VC in January, I have deeply appreciated the work of our community to support the University as a place of knowledge and transformation. I know that each of us shares a connection to ANU and that is one of the things that makes this place special to all of us. 

On behalf of the University leadership, I wanted to thank each of you for the work, expertise and professionalism this year. I hope you have an opportunity for a restorative break and for those who are working or on call during the shutdown period, thank you.  

I also want to acknowledge that the shutdown period is one that can be challenging for some members of our community and our broader networks. We have support services available, but I also encourage you to reach out for help, or offer help, if you need to. 

Finally, this will be the last On Campus for 2024. We will resume the weekly newsletter from mid-January; and you will hear from a member of the leadership team when the University reopens on 2 January with ongoing updates.

Good thoughts to where this may find you, see you in 2025. 

Genevieve

As Australia’s national university, our purpose is to serve the nation through transformational research and education. Renew ANU sets out how we will continue to fulfil this mission, by ensuring our foundations are strong, and our structure and resourcing are in line with our priorities, expertise, financial reality and prevailing policy environment.

Since it launched at the start of October, the Renew ANU microsite has received over 140,000 total visits. Our executives held 16 townhalls and staff addresses and answered over 400 questions. The FAQs are continuing to be updated to answer key questions from staff either in the townhalls, or through the Renew ANU inbox.   

The Expenditure Taskforce was established to identify opportunities for sustainable non-salary savings. The Taskforce received 138 pieces of feedback from the University community, including 90 items related to existing initiatives and 48 proposals suggesting additional measures. The Taskforce is considering all feedback received – and undertaking a feasibility, risk, and prioritisation process, as we progressively implement savings. We will continue to consult and inform you as these initiatives progress.

Getting down our leave liability is an important contribution to the salary-savings that need to be achieved. We thank all managers for discussing the importance of leave with their teams and thank staff for scheduling leave. Currently, 70 per cent of all staff have submitted a plan to take annual leave in 2025 and close to 400,000 hours of future annual and long service leave have been booked. 

In 2025, we will continue providing monthly leave balance updates in the On Campus newsletter, as our balances contribute to our savings. The next update on the University’s finances over the December/January period will be available in early February 2025. 

We understand that this period of change and uncertainty has been challenging for staff. We encourage you to access our wellbeing and support services throughout this period of change, if help is needed.

Thank you for your continued engagement in the Renew ANU process. Your insights and expertise that have been invaluable in shaping the way forward.

From Wednesday 1 January 2025, the new academic structures under Renew ANU will take effect, including renaming the ANU College of Law to the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics to the ANU College of Systems and Society, the ANU College of Science to the ANU College of Science and Medicine, and the disestablishment of the ANU College of Health and Medicine. These changes aim to align key schools, create centres of excellence, and advance the University’s national mission in education and research.

All staff, unless you have been otherwise advised, will return to work in their current locations. The University is working on the required changes to our systems, processes and services throughout January and will stay in contact with staff to advise them of any changes to their contacts or support. If you have any issues accessing systems or University services, please do not hesitate to email servicedesk@anu.edu.au.

We understand that change can be challenging and want to emphasise that staff will be looked after throughout this process. Existing support remains available to all staff, and we encourage you to reach out if help is needed.

Due to a change in parking providers, parking permits will change from vPermit to ePermit starting Monday 6 January 2025. You cannot apply for an ePermit until Monday 6 January 2025. 

All current permits will be automatically cancelled at the end of the year. If you wish to continue to hold a parking permit in 2025, including a payroll deduction permit, you will need to apply for a new ePermit when you return to campus in the new year.  

To support this transition, parking in permit zones will be free on Thursday 2 January and Friday 3 January 2025. After this period, a valid permit will be required. Fees will continue to apply in PayStay zones.  

Learn more: New ePermit parking starting 2025

Staff and students will no longer be required to source and display ANU disability parking permits. ANU will now only require the display of an Australian Disability Parking Permit or Temporary Australian Disability Parking Permit.

Learn more: Disability Parking Permit process changes

The 2024 Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Education provide the University with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of our educators. The landscape of education is constantly evolving, and the achievements we highlight through these awards reflect the dedication, innovation and passion of the ANU learning and teaching community. 

Read more: The 2024 Vice Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Education

The University is pleased to introduce eduroam - a secure, worldwide roaming Wi-Fi service that can be used when travelling to other participating institutions around the globe.  

Designed for the international research and education community, eduroam is now available to all ANU staff, students and researchers. 

How to connect: 

While ANU-Secure remains the primary and preferred Wi-Fi network on campus, eduroam is available as an alternative. It is especially useful when travelling to other participating institutions. 

Learn more: Eduroam

In advance of Microsoft no longer supporting Windows 10 next year, a Windows 11 upgrade was recently sent to all ANU managed Windows 10 devices.   

If your device is still operating on Windows 10, it may update to Windows 11 after your next restart. This upgrade will take about one hour to complete. If you are prompted to update, we recommend that you do this as soon as possible to ensure ITS support is available to you, if required.   

ITS had intended to roll out Windows 11 in a staged manner. However, a configuration change last week has resulted in the update being deployed immediately. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you do experience any issues, please seek support via the ANU Service Desk Portal or call 02 6125 4321, noting our shutdown period from Wednesday 25 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025.   

For more information about Windows 11, please consult the Windows 11 guide.

ANU is excited to announce the establishment of the McCusker Institute, an initiative focused on creating transdisciplinary learning opportunities that inspire students to make a positive social impact by tackling real-world challenges.

Enabled by a landmark philanthropic gift of $5 million from the McCusker Charitable Foundation and with support from the National Priorities Industry Linkage Fund, the Institute will provide an essential platform for our University to develop and convene a wide range of impactful and engaged learning activities that benefit our partners and communities, and provide invaluable learning opportunities that inspire our students to become engaged citizens and community-minded leaders.

Key objectives of the McCusker Institute include building meaningful partnerships with community-sector organisations, providing students with an innovative curriculum initiative that offers hands-on learning opportunities and supporting ANU staff in delivering impactful teaching and research aligned with the ANU graduate attributes. 

The Institute’s pilot SoCIETIE curriculum initiative will commence in Semester 1, 2025. Further details on the Institute's leadership and activities will be shared soon.

Learn more: McCusker Institute at ANU

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, but it's also important to stay safe while enjoying the season. Whether you're hitting the beach, going for a hike, or just lounging in your backyard, here are some essential tips to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy all summer long. 

Hydration 

Staying hydrated is crucial during the hot summer months. Dehydration can sneak up on you, especially when you're being active outdoors. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty.  

Road safety 

Summer often means road trips and more time spent driving. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before hitting the road. Check your tires, brakes, and fluid levels. Always wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers do the same. Avoid distractions like texting or eating while driving and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  

Sun safety 

Protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays is essential. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and reapply every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or sweating. Wear protective clothing, such as hats and sunglasses and seek shade during the peak sun hours between 10am and 4pm. Don't forget to protect your lips with a lip balm that has SPF. 

Swimming safety 

Swimming is a great way to cool off, but it comes with its own set of risks. Always swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Never swim alone and keep a close eye on children at all times. Learn basic water rescue skills and CPR in case of emergencies. Avoid alcohol when swimming or supervising swimmers, as it can impair your judgment and reaction time. 

By following these simple tips, you can enjoy a safe and fun-filled summer. Stay hydrated, drive safely, protect your skin and swim smart.

Dendy Cinemas Canberra and On Campus have come up with the perfect activity to enjoy over the Christmas break. Opening in mid-December, the Dendy Canberra IMAX is the ultimate film destination, combining state-of-the-art IMAX technology and Dendy’s signature boutique atmosphere.   

On Campus readers can receive a 15 per cent discount on all IMAX tickets with the code ANU15.  

To apply the discount: At the 'Cart' tab of the checkout process the relevant film information will be displayed. On the page there is a tab underneath the pricing to 'Add Gift Card, Voucher, Promo Codes'.  

Terms and conditions: IMAX ticket codes are valid until Saturday 1 February 2025.

Help is available if you need it. Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, 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.