The Australian National University condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms, as we again reiterated at last week’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (Antisemitism at Australian universities inquiry).

All claims of racism, including antisemitism, are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Read the University’s full statement on antisemitism.

Find the Vice-Chancellor's opening statement from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and a link to the full appearance on the Parliamentary Engagement website.

At ANU, we are deeply committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse environment where all staff and students feel welcomed and respected. As all schools, colleges and departments begin their yearly planning, we remind staff to please coordinate events and exam timetables around cultural and religious dates.

The Department of Home Affairs maintains an inclusive calendar of significant dates observed by the various communities in Australia. This calendar is a useful reference for ensuring that significant holidays and observances are respected and accommodated in your local area.

For further information or assistance please contact the Inclusive Communities team at inclusive.communities@anu.edu.au or the Staff Respect Consultant at staffdiversity@anu.edu.au.

In last week’s On Campus newsletter, we advertised a registration link for the upcoming 2025 Commencement Address on Monday 10 February. Since advertising this event, the Commencement Address of 2025 has been changed to an online event for staff. This is to ensure as many new students as possible can attend the event in-person.

We apologise for this change and greatly appreciate the interest from many staff members who registered for this event. A link to the live-streamed event will be available to staff in next week's On Campus edition. Furthermore, we will include a recording of the Address in On Campus once it is available online.

Staff who have already registered for this event will soon receive official cancelation of their tickets via email.  

Chief Risk Officer

Applications are now open for our inaugural Chief Risk Officer. This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished and forward-thinking risk executive to shape and lead the University’s risk management framework, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives in research, education, and community engagement.

As a key senior leadership role, the Chief Risk Officer will work closely with senior leaders, including the Vice-Chancellor, General Counsel, and University Secretary, to foster organisational resilience, safeguard the University’s reputation, and drive transformation and excellence in risk management. The role will provide strategic guidance to University leadership and play a pivotal part in establishing the University Risk Office. 

Applications close on Sunday 23 February 2025. Davidson Executive Search is partnering with Executive Search on this recruitment process.

Apply now: Chief Risk Officer

The achievements of the ANU community are shing bright – a solar pioneer, an ACT supreme court judge, a historian and a cultural consultant are among the hundreds of distinguished Australians appointed to the Order of Australia today. 24 of which, are members of the ANU community.

Read more: Australia Day Honours

As of 1 January 2025, ANU has achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity across all campuses, a significant step in our commitment to sustainability. This milestone reflects efforts to source energy from wind, solar and other renewable projects to power ANU campuses in NSW and the NT. These programs complement the solar generation on the Acton campus and the ACT Government's programs to create a 100 per cent renewably powered Canberra.  

Learn more about how ANU is supporting a clean energy future.

Monday 10 February, 7-8pm 

Renowned photographer and social justice advocate Juno Gemes will be in conversation with the former minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon. Linda Burney, moderated by Professor Ann McGrath, as they discuss Juno’s powerful new book Until Justice Comes: Fifty Years of The Movement for Indigenous Rights. 

This landmark publication brings together over 220 photographs that chronicle the history of Australia’s First Nations struggle for justice and self-determination over the past fifty years. From intimate community moments to political activism, Juno’s photographic archive highlights key milestones including the Redfern Revolution, land rights campaigns and the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. 

Register now: Meet the Author – Juno Gemes 

Tuesday 18 February, 6-7pm 

Arnold Dix will be in a conversation with journalist Alex Sloan on his new book The Promise. How an everyday hero made the impossible possible. 
 
In rural Victoria, Arnold Dix is known to locals as a farmer and a part-time truck driver. But his name reached global recognition when he played a pivotal role in rescuing 41 Indian workers trapped after a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas. In vivid detail, Arnold recounts the unlikely rescue that transformed him into a global hero. He reflects on the extraordinary challenges he faced, culminating in his unwavering promise: `41 men are coming home alive.’ 

Register now: Meet the author – Arnold Dix 

The Employee Assistance Program is available to staff and their families to help you work through a broad range of personal and work-related issues. All ANU staff and their immediate family members are eligible for four confidential and free appointments per year with trained professionals in the mental health space.  

Staff and family members can access: 

ANU Staff and family are able to access the UniSuper 360 Health virtual care services, including access to a Mental Health Nurse for enquiries and referral to medical and treatment services.

ANU Staff also have access to additional services. The University provides staff with free confidential professional counsellors who are available on campus. These Advisors can also assist in developing strategies for dealing with workplace issues. Advisors are contactable via email staff.adviser@anu.edu.au or the phone numbers below.  

The Staff Respect Consultant can provide confidential, person-centred and trauma informed support available to all ANU staff, providing space to discuss concerns related to their role. These concerns could include, but are not limited to, ablism, sexism, racism, discrimination, harassment, bullying and sexual harassment. You can reach out by emailing staffrespect@anu.edu.au, calling 02 6125 6763 or by booking an appointment through the booking link. 

The ANU Safety and Wellbeing team has developed a Wellbeing SharePoint available to all ANU staff. This SharePoint offers a wealth of resources, events and connections to support mental health and wellbeing. The ANU also offers support and connection with the Staff Networks available. 

If staff experience behaviours that are not aligned to the staff or student codes of conduct, they can submit a disclosure using the Harmful Behaviour Disclosure tool. A disclosure of harmful behaviour is not a formal report or complaint but is a mechanism for the University to provide you with information and support through the Staff Respect Consultant. The form provides an identified or de-identified disclosure option. 

In January 2020 more than 160 building were damaged by hailstorms. Since then, the University undergone multiple stages of construction to repair buildings across campus.  

Construction at the College of Business and Economics is now complete. The final five buildings are undergoing repairs and are projected to complete by June 2025. Please note that this timeline is subject to weather. 

We thank the University community for your patience as you have lived and worked alongside multi-year restorations. We look forward to our campus architecture being revived to its original state. 

ANU Staff Relief Fund 

The ANU Staff Relief Fund is here to support our community, assisting staff with cost-of-living pressures, medical expenses, family needs, and more. This fund is available to all staff experiencing unexpected financial hardship. Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a real difference in a colleague's life. Learn more about the fund and how to donate. 

The ANU Staff Networks offer a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues, share experiences, and contribute to an inclusive and vibrant campus. From the Disability Action Network to cultural and professional groups, these networks foster support and collaboration.  

Build connections, exchange ideas, and play an active role in shaping the ANU community. Whether you seek personal growth or wish to champion diversity, there's a network for you. 

Learn more: ANU Staff Networks

Each year, the ANU Philippines Institute awards grants to projects that work to advance Philippines-related research activities, outreach and expertise across ANU. Funding is offered under three main schemes. 

Applications close Friday 31 January. The results will be released by Friday 21 February. 

Learn more: ANU Philippines Institute Grants and Awards 

The Graduations Office is seeking volunteers to assist with the upcoming February 2025 graduation ceremonies, taking place from Tuesday 4 February to Friday 7 February 2025, at Llewellyn Hall (Building 100). 

Volunteers will play a vital role at graduations by assisting with tasks such as marshalling and providing information.  If you’re available and keen to be part of this special occasion, please contact the Graduations Office. 

Register to volunteer for the 2025 graduation ceremonies 

We are excited to announce that the full list of 2025 professional development workshops is now live. Offering a range of courses tailored to help you sharpen your skills, foster career growth and advance your professional journey, these workshops are perfect for anyone looking to deepen their expertise or explore new areas. 

Explore the full range of workshops now and find the perfect fit for your development. 

Register now: 2025 Professional Development Workshops 

In December 2024, the University’s new PDR system Focus launched. To support the implementation of this new performance development tool, People and Culture are holding regular skill-builder training sessions on goal setting and giving feedback. These free, drop-in training sessions will help you learn how to effectively draft career goals and to give and receive feedback. These skills align with the requirements of Focus.  

See the full timetable for goal setting and giving feedback sessions to plan your training. Sessions run through to the end of March.  

The University is situated in a bustling urban environment. Whether you're walking, driving, or cycling, it's important for everyone to prioritise roadway safety. The Health and Wellbeing SharePoint now includes key safety tips when navigating campus while driving, walking, cycling or e-scootering, as well as information on what to do in instances of bike theft, slips, trips and falls, and reporting transport hazards.  

Learn more: Pedestrian and transportation safety on campus 

For staff who work remotely, it is important to complete your Off Campus Workstation Assessment as part of your Flexible Work Arrangement to ensure the health and safety of staff. The assessment form can be located and completed in HORUS under the HR Forms tile.  

The assessment should take no longer than five minutes, with 12 survey questions. You must also upload a photo of yourself working from your workstation, for assessment. 

If you have an injury or pre-existing condition and you require support, or for other enquiries relating to injury management or injury prevention please contact injurymanagement@anu.edu. Remember to please submit a Figtree incident notification for all work-related injuries. 

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security.  

Media hotline 24/7 - (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our Experts Guide.  

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.

And finally... today we bid farewell to our colleague, Abby Sykes who has been an integral part of the On Campus newsletters for the past two years.

While we're sad to see you go, we’re excited for the adventures that await you as you return to the United States. Wishing you all the best for this next chapter!

Please excuse this breach of the ANU style guide.