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Staff Edition
Tuesday 21 October
All the important campus news, events and opportunities for ANU staff.
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The rundown – information you need at a glance
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- Reminder from ANU Council: Nominations for casual Academic Staff Member vacancy close on 24 October 2025.
- Canberra Writers Festival competition winners revealed! Check below to see if your name’s on the list.
- Wattle will be unavailable from 9am AEDT on Monday 1 December for a planned upgrade, with service expected to resume that evening.
- The 2025 ANYOU pulse survey opens this Friday 24 October. Keep an eye out for the Culture Amp email inviting you to share your feedback.
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Image: Cultural burn on Acton Peninsula. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU
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On Saturday 18 October, senior Ngambri-Kamberri Walgalu custodian Paul Girrawah House provided cultural authority and partnership for the ANU Landscape and Conservation team to conduct a cultural burn on Acton Peninsula. Cultural fire management uses First Nations knowledge and responsibility to care for Country, supporting new growth, protecting native habitat and reducing bushfire risk. The fire activity is a right reflected in a number of Articles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) endorsed by ANU.
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Change Implementation Plan updates
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The Implementation Plan for the College of Science and Medicine (CoSM) was released last week. Dean, Professor Kiaran Kirk, and General Manager, Dr Kate Bisshop-Witting presented the Plan to College staff at a Community Meeting held on Thursday 16 October. The Plan outlines final decisions for implementation and how the feedback received has helped to shape the outcome.
The Implementation Plan for Campus Environment will be presented to the Division on Wednesday 22 October before being released to the wider ANU community later that day.
All Implementation Plans, recordings and FAQs are available on the Renew ANU website
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Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) update
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Senior leaders have received the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) outcomes from last week's Recruitment Committee meeting and staff who applied for VSS will receive an update from their local area leaders this week. Staff departing the ANU under the scheme, will receive their paperwork from People and Culture prior to their final departure date at the end of November.
Please contact if you have any questions.
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Image: Graphic Recording by Alan Chen. Photo: Shapeshifters Creative
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Nixon Review Working Groups Presentation Day
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Thanks so much to everyone who attended the Nixon Review Presentation Day on Friday. The seven Implementation Working Groups and the Community Reference Panel shared their final recommendations after 12 weeks of work.
It was great to see our staff and students come together, focused on creating solutions to complex, long-standing challenges. A clear theme throughout the day was learning from best practice, both from within ANU and beyond, to shape practical recommendations that can be scaled across the University.
This work will help shape our next University strategy and create a living document of our values, behaviours and relational qualities as the standard we will hold ourselves to, with opportunities for community input to come.
Kind regards,
Professor Rebekah Brown FASSA
Interim Vice-Chancellor & President
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Image: The ANU-led findings reinforce how each new investment in coal and gas extraction causes long-term environmental and social harm. Photo: gloriaurban4/Pixabay
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New Australian fossil fuel site will have major impact on people and the planet
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Image: Australia is increasingly at risk of dengue fever outbreaks. Photo: Adobe Stock.
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Lessons from Peru – what Australia can learn about the growing risk of dengue fever
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Dengue fever is spreading faster than ever. In 2024, the world recorded 14.1 million cases, double the number from just a year earlier. Peru shows just how quickly the potentially deadly disease can rise.
PhD candidate Wil Laura has been researching Peru as one of the countries hit hardest by dengue, to understand how climate and weather conditions drive outbreaks.
“What my colleagues and I found offers valuable lessons for Australia, where dengue has already made its presence felt.”
Learn more: Lessons from Peru – what Australia can learn about the growing risk of dengue fever
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Thumbnail: Dr Lina Koleilat shares the importance of building inclusive, respectful communities. Photo: David Fanner/ANU
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As we lead up to the release of the revised Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-30, we’ll be highlighting work already happening among our diverse community that aligns with the strategy’s key themes.
This week Dr Lina Koleilat, Academic Fellow in the Residential Experience Division, shares the importance of building inclusive, respectful communities across our residences, and how this work strengthens connection and belonging at ANU.
Learn more: Strength in connection
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2026 Professional Staff Mentoring Program
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Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the 2026 Professional Staff Mentoring Program will be open from Friday 24 October until Thursday 1 December. The program offers participants the opportunity to receive support from experienced senior staff to increase their skills and confidence, build networks and more effectively navigate their career goals at ANU.
Keep an eye on the mentoring website from 24 October for details on how to submit your EOI.
Learn more: EOI – 2026 Professional Staff Mentoring Program
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Image: ANYOU pulse survey poster. Photo: ANU.
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ANYOU pulse survey launching this week
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The 2025 ANYOU pulse staff survey will be open from Friday 24 October until Friday 7 November. This is your chance to have your say about your employee experience at ANU. Staff who are continuing, fixed-term and continuing contingent-funded, will receive an email the morning of 24 October directly from the survey platform, Culture Amp.
Since the last pulse staff survey in September 2024, ANU has experienced a year of uncertainty and significant change. The 2025 pulse survey is a measure of this point in time, that we can look back on to see how the University has improved the employee experience, and what still needs to be done.
Your response to each survey helps ANU make evidence-based decisions on how to improve in the short and long term.
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Wattle access changing in 2026
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From 2026, Wattle will no longer be used for teaching. All courses will be delivered in Canvas, giving staff and students a single platform for learning and teaching. Spring 2025 will be the final teaching period in Wattle.
Although Wattle will no longer be used for teaching, the system will remain available with limited access in 2026 and 2027. Arrangements will be in place to ensure staff and students can access essential historical course resources as needed. The process and timelines will be confirmed and communicated once finalised with Colleges and central administration teams.
We are working with stakeholders across the University to make sure the process for accessing Wattle material meets everyone’s needs. A dedicated student communication plan will ensure students are well prepared and supported throughout the transition.
At this stage, no action is required from staff. The transition is being centrally managed and updates will be provided to ensure staff have the information and support they need before the change.
For more information, visit the SharePoint site or get in touch with the Digital Plan Learning & Teaching team.
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Focus: end of year reflection and evaluation
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The final step in the 2025 annual Focus process should be completed between October and December 2025. Staff members and supervisors should meet to reflect on the year's work and achievements and record the discussion outcomes in the Focus document. Supervisors should ensure that this process is completed for all their staff on annual Focus documents, before the ANU end of year shutdown period.
The 2026 annual Focus documents will be created in early December 2025. Staff can complete the 2025 Focus document and draft goals for the 2026 document in December during their one-on-one discussion with their supervisor.
Information, guidance and other training resources are available on the ANU Focus website and ANU Focus SharePoint.
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Rights, Relationships and Respect
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The ANU Rights, Relationships and Respect program is a suite of education modules on consent and healthy relationships for the University community. It supports our commitment to preventing gender-based violence and other harmful behaviours on campus.
The Inclusive and Respectful Communities team has developed three tailored modules which build understanding of prevention and support services, teach appropriate responses to discolsures of harm, and promote active bystander behaviour.
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- Rights, Relationships and Respect – for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students.
- Rights, Relationships and Respect in Research – for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates. Also available to HDR supervisors as an optional renewal activity.
- Rights, Relationships and Respect @ Work – for professional and academic staff. This module is already mandatory for new staff.
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Image: Cyber Security Awareness Month poster. Photo: Information Security Office/ANU
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Cyber Security Awareness Month – Software updates
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The ANU Information Security Office is hosting a month of tips, events, workshops and prizes for all staff and students as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month.
This week’s focus is software updates:
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- Updates are new or improved versions of your apps or system that fix problems and improve security.
- Cyber criminals hack devices by taking advantage of old, vulnerable software.
- Turn on automatic updates so your device stays safe without you having to remember.
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Senior leadership recruitment update
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Dean, ANU College of Systems and Society
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We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Aaron Quigley as the new Dean of the ANU College of Systems and Society.
Professor Quigley is an internationally recognised leader with over two decades of experience across academia and industry in Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. He has pioneered research, strategic innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration and brings a visionary approach to understanding and shaping the interplay between technology, society and systems. His research spans human–computer interaction, pervasive and ubiquitous computing and information visualisation.
A Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Professor Quigley joins ANU from CSIRO’s Data61, where he served as Science and Deputy Director. He has also held senior leadership roles at UNSW, the University of Sydney, the University of St Andrews and the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA).
Professor Quigley will formally commence as Dean in January 2026.
We extend our sincere thanks to Professor Stephen Eggins for his dedicated leadership as Interim Dean. Over his three-year term, he has led the College with great distinction. His commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and respect has greatly shaped the College and the University. We wish him all the best for his well-earned retirement.
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Expressions of Interest – Director, Research School of Economics
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Internal Expressions of Interest are now open for the Director, Research School of Economics.
The Director provides strategic leadership and is responsible for fostering research and educational excellence. The role includes the effective management of staff, students, and financial resources, and overseeing the School’s large and complex teaching programs. The Director ensures a strong research culture, supporting high-quality outputs, while cultivating a collegial and inclusive environment.
Expressions of interest close Sunday 2 November 2025.
Learn more: Expressions of interest – Director, Research School of Economics
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Image: Canberra Writers Festival Poster. Photo: Canberra Writers Festival
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Canberra Writers Festival
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Wednesday 22 October, 6.30pm – Sunday 26 October, 3.30pm
The Canberra Writers Festival is back, bigger and bolder than ever. More than 200 writers, thinkers and creators will take part in over 100 events across Canberra's most iconic cultural institutions and venues.
In a previous edition of On Campus we asked you to describe your favourite book using only six words for the chance to win one of 10 double passes to the festival.
Congratulations to our winning entrants below! Can you guess the book titles? Answers will be revealed in next week’s edition of On Campus:
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- “Revenge fails; whale finishes the job!” – Colin Klein
- “Consciousness chews itself, laughs, then weeps” – Cyan Metcalf
- “She's singular, yet just like me” – Isla Moore
- “Memory, mangoes, Big Things lurking unsaid” – Grace Hefferan
- “Mice and mayhem at the nunnery.” – Aisha Collins
- “Gruelling, unforgettable, life-changing, uplifting, relentless, mind-altering.” – Aileen Egan
- “Magical, cyclical, family, loneliness, legendary, generations.” – Dong Yunshu
- “He is half of my soul.” – Ella Stevenson
- “Heartfelt ode to brotherhood, dogs & grief.” – Lily Harrison
- “Hilariously, embarrassingly, endearingly and sincerely human.” – Grace Leong
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Wednesday 22 October, 10–11.30am
Join this practical workshop to broaden your understanding of the ANU Risk Management Policy and Enterprise Risk Management Framework. Through guided exercises, you will learn how to conduct meaningful risk assessments tailored to your function or business area. This is the last session for this year.
Register for the Manage Risk Workshop
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Strategic Imagination: Essays in Honour of Brendan Sargeant
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Wednesday 22 October, 6–7.30pm
An evening celebrating the life of Brendan Sargeant and to consider his big idea of 'Strategic Imagination'.
The book will be launched by Greg Moriarty, Secretary of the Department of Defence. Hear from some of the authors and Brendan's daughter, Sita Sargeant.
Register for Strategic Imagination: Essays in Honour of Brendan Sargeant
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ANU School of Art and Design Drawing Prize: People's Choice Announcement
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Malaysian Film Night and Director Q&A - Ninavau by Bebbra Mailin
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Image: A 19th Century Blüthner Grand piano located in the ANU School of Music. Photo: School of Music/ANU
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Whispers of the keys – ANU Keyboard Institute and Collection
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Hidden within the ANU School of Music lies a collection that feels almost secret, a quiet chamber where history hums beneath your fingertips.
The Keyboard Institute and Collection houses Australia’s largest assembly of historic pianos and keyboards. From a delicate 1770 Henri Henrion square piano to a 19th century Viennese Sewing Table Piano, whose keys are tucked inside what looks like an ordinary piece of furniture.
Visitors and students can play replicas of early keyboards, discovering the subtle touch and resonant sounds that once inspired composers centuries ago. Step inside, and the faint echo of old melodies lingers in the air, waiting for curious fingers to awaken them.
If you would like to know more about the collection, or become involved, please email the School of Music for further information.
Learn more: Whispers of the keys – ANU Keyboard Institute and Collection
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Converge onsite appointments
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To continue supporting staff, Converge onsite counselling appointments have been extended until 31 October 2025, available Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Room 6.08 of the RSSS Building.
Appointments are also available with the Advisers to Staff (additional appointment times now available), or our external EAP providers, Converge and Assure.
For more information or to book, visit Employee Assistance Program | Services or email injurymanagement@anu.edu.au.
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Notice: Planned Wattle upgrade – Monday 1 December 2025
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Wattle will undergo a planned system upgrade at 9am AEDT on Monday 1 December. The outage is expected to conclude later in the evening.
Although Wattle will no longer be used for teaching from 2026, it remains an essential system for data retrieval and retention. This upgrade will move Wattle to the latest long-term support version of Moodle (4.5), ensuring continued stability and security until 2027.
This scheduled downtime aligns with the annual IT maintenance window listed in the University Calendar. An upgrade will be delivered during this time, providing important security enhancements.
This outage will affect both staff and students, so please plan teaching and administrative activities accordingly.
A series of communications will also be shared with students ahead of time to ensure they are aware of the outage.
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Image: National Water Week x ANU Green Awards poster. Photo: ANU Green
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Make every drop count: National Water Week x ANU Green Awards
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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 – (02) 6125 7979
Contact the media hotline during business hours or email media@anu.edu.au for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our Experts Guide.
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Help is available if you need it. The University has a range of information and services that can be accessed by Managers and staff.
Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek counselling support through the .
If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to developed by the team.
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The Australian National University, Canberra
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
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The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
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