The Academic Portfolio Change Proposal was released last week and will remain open for consultation until 12pm, Thursday 28 August. You can find all proposals, Town Hall recordings and consultation feedback forms on the Renew ANU website. 

Students are encouraged to provide feedback as part of this process. If any changes go ahead, we’ll make sure you know what’s happening and what it means for you.

Statements have been released to clarify some common questions about proposed changes to the disciplines of Sociology and Music.

Image: Kambri, ANU Campus, Acton. Photo: ANU

Friday 1 August was an important day for our community with the acknowledgement of the work that has been done, and work that still needs to be done, to address sexual violence on our campus and beyond. Every account of sexual and gendered violence is too many and we continue to work every day to ensure our campus is safe and respectful for our staff, students, visitors and alumni.

Read more: VC's update - acknowledgments

Did you know that you can request IT help from the ANU Service Desk portal? The portal also contains hundreds of how-to guides and answers to commonly asked questions, such as how to print on campus, book a library group study room and report phishing and junk emails. 

For urgent help, call the ANU Service Desk from 8am – 5pm, Monday to Friday at +61 2 612 54321. 

Friday 1 August marked a significant moment for our community, with students and community members gathering in peaceful protest on campus to call for continued action on sexual assault and sexual harassment. This date marks the anniversary of the 2017 Change the Course report, a national study that brought renewed focus to the issue of sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities.

Every member of our community has the right to feel safe and respected. We remain committed to listening, acting and improving. ANU continues to invest in education, prevention and support and as part of this, publishes annual reports and key response actions on our Respect@ANU website.

In the coming weeks, you’ll start to see this stamp on content that highlights work that’s been carried out in response to the University surveys and other feedback. It’s a simple way to show where your feedback is helping shape positive change across the University. The actions we’ve taken range from improvements in leadership communication through to initiatives that strengthen belonging and engagement.

Look for the stamp in future updates to see how your input is making a difference.

Remember, you can suggest ideas for improvement or provide feedback on anything at the University at any time using this University feedback form. It is also available on the ANU OK app along with the Fix My Campus form which you can use to report something in our buildings or on campus that need repair.

Image: Students on ANU Acton Campus, Canberra. Photo: Crystal Li/ ANU

New to ANU this semester? All coursework students who started at ANU in Semester 2 are invited to respond to the ANU Welcome Survey. Check your email for your invitation and claim a free ANU branded scarf if you participate! Survey closes Wednesday 6 August.  

Yesterday the Australian Government announced a new National Planning Level of 295,000 international student places for Australia in 2026. This represents 25,000 additional places across higher education which includes universities, providers and VET. They gave an assurance that public universities, such as ANU, would not receive an allocation that was less than their 2025 allocation.

Scott Pearsall, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (International & Future Students), said "this announcement assists the University with its planning for 2026 and onwards and is a positive signal to our agents and prospective students that the Government continues to value international education".

Public universities will be able to apply for a share of this growth provided that they are making good progress towards their 2025 allocation and can demonstrate provision of student accommodation and an increase in their engagement with Southeast Asia aligned to the Government’s strategy Invested: Australia’s Economic Strategy with Southeast Asia to 2040. Currently ANU has used 83 per cent of its 2025 allocation.

Pleasingly the Government introduced a number of new categories of students who are exempt from this planning limit, including international students transitioning from secondary school studies in Australia or affiliated pathway programs. 

Image: ANU Model United Nations infographic. Photo: ANU Society for United Nations

Applications for the 2025 Australian National Model United Nations Conference (ANMUN) are now open. As Australia’s largest tertiary model UN conference, ANMUN offers three days of debating, negotiation and collaboration, focusing on contemporary global issues. This learning and networking event will be held in September and is for all skill levels. Delegate applications close on Tuesday 12 August. 

Learn more: Australian National Model United Nations Conference 

Image: Worms Against Waste project. Photo: Green Gown Awards Australasia

The ANU Kitchen Garden program, developed by the Student Life team has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2025 Green Gown Awards Australasia under the “Leading the Circular Economy” category, for their delivery of in the “Worms against Waste” project. 

The initiative aimed to demonstrate how the Kitchen Garden could be a living example of a practical, scalable food waste solution, demonstrating how small sustainable actions can make a big difference in our community. 

Learn more: Kitchen Garden and the Worms Against Waste project

Image: Prime Minister Feleti speaks at ANU. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

When the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, The Hon Feleti Penitala Teo, spoke to a crowd at the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre at ANU he was frank about the threat of climate change to his nation’s survival. 

“The grave injustice or irony of the threat of climate change is that climate change is not of our making, but it will certainly remake us,” Prime Minister Feleti said. 

Read more: Tuvalu PM Feleti Penitala Teo’s quest to future-proof his nation against climate change

Photo: Dr Mitzy Pepper and Twinkle at her office desk. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

When Dr Mitzy Pepper knocked on a lecturer’s door as a student, she unlocked a whole new life path filled with quirk and colour.

Dr Mitzy Pepper is sitting at her desk in the Robertson Building. In the chilly Canberra winter, her computer screensaver – the red rocks and sand of a desert scene – is an ever-present reminder of her other office space.

Read more: Desert dreams, pet lizards and unravelling genomes with Mitzy Pepper

Image: Angus Bylsma, Alexandra Mort, Isabella Vacaflores, Yasmin Kirk, Mathias Richter and Alison McCook. Photo: ANU

We are pleased to share that six ANU graduates have been named as 2025 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship recipients - a fantastic achievement worth celebrating! 

Empowering Australia’s brightest minds to pursue their global ambitions, the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship offers an exceptional pathway for future leaders, innovators and change makers. Learn more about the scholarship here. 

Monday 11 August, 11am-12pm 

Come along for an inspiring keynote by Dr Katrina Wruck, founder of Nguki Kula Green Labs, as she shares how her groundbreaking profit-for-purpose venture is set to revolutionise the consumer goods industry. Using the power of green chemistry, Dr Wruck is tackling harmful 'forever chemicals' and paving the way for a safer, more sustainable future. 

Often described as "the first Indigenous scientist I've ever met", Dr Wruck is a proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman, deeply passionate about community and dedicated to empowering the next generation to pursue careers in STEM.

Register here: In conversation with the 2025 Young Australian of the Year – Scientist, Dr Katrina Wruck

Monday 11 August, 6-7.15pm 

The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) is initiating a review to consider whether the legal definition of a ‘terrorist act’ remains fit-for-purpose.  

Join the National Security of College (NSC) to formally launch the review and release of the Issues Paper. 

Register here: Reviewing the definition of a 'terrorist act' 

Monday 11 August, 6-8pm 

Sensing Industry Connect is a networking event organised by the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) aimed at providing researchers, manufacturers, designers, developers or deployers of smart sensing a space to build valuable relationships. This event is an opportunity for those in the sensing sector to meet new clients, suppliers and collaborators from across the sensing ecosystem.
 
Register here: Sensing Industry Connect 

Monday 11 August, 6.30-8pm 

Join renowned pediatrician and child advocate Dr Sue Packer AO as she shares powerful insights from over 50 years of championing children’s rights and wellbeing in this public lecture. 

From treating trauma to shaping child-friendly hospitals, Sue has never stopped advocating for better outcomes for children. She speaks with warmth, honesty, and a deep belief in community and the power of purpose. 

Register here: How to make a difference: in conversation with Dr Suzanne Packer AO 

Monday 11 August – Thursday 21 August

Are you passionate about innovation? Excited to turn bold ideas into real-world impact?

Register for InnovationACT and pitch your game-changing business concept to a panel of highly acclaimed judges to win from a pool of $10,000 AUD!

Register here: InnovationACT entrepreneurship competition

Tuesday 12 August, 5.30-7pm 

Professor Michael Laffan from Princeton University will unpack elements of a text that seems to have enjoyed popularity in parts of Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century. Written in Arabic script Malay, the Hikayat Maryam wa Isa offers an account of the miracles surrounding Mary, Jesus and their kin, though perhaps not the miracles that modern Christians or even many modern Muslims would recognise today. 

Register here: Tony and Yohanni Johns Lecture 

Saturday 9 August - Monday 17 August

This National Science Week, hear about the latest scientific research at the pub with Pint of Science Australia, attend a STEM Future Careers panel at Questacon, take a tour of the ANU Science Precinct with She Shapes History and discover the lesser-known legends of Australian science, explore the University’s Biology labs or become a parasitologist for the day through the Parasite Pandemic event suite.

Register here: National Science Week

Image: 250kg fragment of the Henbury Meteorite. Photo: R. Mandow

It began its journey in the stillness between Mars and Jupiter. A fragment of a shattered world, drifting through space for billions of years. 

Then something changed. Gravity nudged it off course. Once part of a 20,000 kg mass of iron, it hurtled towards the Earth, blazing through the sky in a firestorm of light and sound. Most of it vanished. But this 250kg piece survived... and you can touch it.  

Now it rests quietly at Mount Stromlo. A relic from space hiding in plain sight. 

Applications are now open for 2026 Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships, available to commencing postgraduate coursework and research students. Apply now and you could receive:   

Applications close Wednesday 27 August. You can also register here to attend an online information session on Wednesday 6 August from 1-2pm.  

Learn more: Lead your way with a Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship 

Image: Green traffic light for bicycles. Photo: Adobe Stock

The ANU Green Awards are about celebrating students and staff who are taking real steps to achieve real environmental impact.  

Get involved through the One Small Step x ANU platform. Complete everyday environmental challenges, such as composting, switching up your commute or avoiding food waste, and earn points as you go. 

Whether you are flying solo or part of a team, your actions count. Awards run until Friday 31 October with themed prizes, surprise challenges and a celebration to wrap it all up! Open to all staff and students.

Register here for the info session and join the challenge on the ANU Green website.

Image: Uni-Norths Owls Women’s Rugby Team Members with Honour Board. Photo: Uni-Norths Owls Rugby Canberra

The University's local rugby club Uni-Norths Owls made history on Wednesday 16 July with the unveiling of an Honour Board at The Barn, dedicated to 14 remarkable women who have risen through the ranks of grassroots rugby to represent their countries on the world stage.

Read more: Uni-Norths Owls celebrate women’s rugby with honour board unveiling

Planning an event on campus? From Friday 8 August, a new and improved Functions on Campus application will make it easier to organise and gain approval for your event. The app walks you through key steps and policies and will be mandatory for all staff and students hosting events at ANU.

Event submissions made before this Friday 8 August will still be processed through the current eForm platform.

Learn more: Functions on Campus

Wi-Fi coverage refers to the area where a wireless signal is available and reliable. Think of it as an invisible bubble surrounding an access point.

Achieving optimal coverage requires strategic placement of access points, considering physical barriers such as walls, floors, appliances and reflective surfaces like mirrors and metal, which can impact signal performance.

At ANU, we’re actively working to enhance Wi-Fi coverage across our campuses. Our goal is to provide you with a seamless connection, so you can collaborate and stay connected from your device - anywhere, anytime.

Learn more about our efforts to improve Wi-Fi coverage at ANU.

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, ANU encourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options. 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security at (02) 6125 2249