Following the plan presented last month, Campus Environment is now progressing to implement the changes outlined in their Implementation Plan. This plan is available on the Renew ANU website.

The College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) continues to develop its Implementation Plan, with the aim of presenting this towards the end of the month.

This week the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) provided an update on the Academic Portfolio Implementation Plan. You can view the update in the DVC(A) newsletter here. Planning for the town hall is currently underway.

Associate Professor Azure Hermes, a proud Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman and Deputy Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics at ANU has been awarded the Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

She has been recognised for her national leadership and world-leading contribution to Indigenous genomics. Her work includes developing culturally appropriate resources about genetics and genomics, including for people experiencing a rare disease, strengthening trust between science and community.

Learn more: Associate Professor Azure Hermes receives Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award

Three exceptional ANU graduates have been awarded prestigious 2026 John Monash Scholarships, recognising their leadership, academic excellence and commitment to creating positive change.

Congratulations to Emersyn Johnson, Nick Bradman and Georgia Leak. Georgia is also an alum of the Tuckwell Scholarship.

John Monash Scholarships are one of Australia’s most esteemed postgraduate awards, enabling scholars to study at leading international institutions and contribute to Australia’s future.

Learn more about the 2026 John Monash Scholars

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joan Leach announces the recipients of the 2025 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Education. These awards provide ANU with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of our educators.

Congratulations to all the recipients.

Learn more: Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Education

There’s no better gift for a budding musician than growing up in New Jersey – home to one of the world’s greatest jazz scenes.  

Music was ever-present in childhood for ANU professor and composer, Kenneth Lampl. 

“My parents played music all the time. When I was three, they bought me a little record player I couldn’t stop listening to,” he says. 

By sixth grade, Lampl had already taught himself how to play the saxophone and spent his teens tooting through local jazz clubs, parades and jamming with friends. 

Learn more: A musical metamorphosis – Kenneth Lampl is mastering the art of reinvention

Astronomers from ANU have revealed how the Milky Way’s hidden gas moves through space, by using the joint power of two of the nation’s flagship telescopes. 

The collaboration, playfully dubbed Radio GAGA, links the Galactic ASKAP survey, on the land of the Wajarri Yamaji people in Western Australia, with the GALAH survey at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, on the land of the Gamilaraay people in New South Wales. 

“We’re using stars as lighthouses shining through the Galaxy’s fog and radio telescopes as giant antennas listening to it,” lead author and ANU astronomer Dr Hiep Nguyen said.

Learn more: Radio GAGA – Australian astronomers tune in to the Galaxy’s hidden gas

As we count down to the release of the revised Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–30, we’re showcasing the great work already taking place across ANU that brings the strategy’s themes to life.

This week, we’re revisiting the theme of ‘more care in more ways’ focusing on how strong partnerships across ANU are improving the quality and reach of care.

Fiona Cornforth, Head of the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, shares how embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives supports safer, more inclusive care across our community.

Learn more: More care in more ways

Year-end planning dates and guidelines for Financial, People, IT, Campus, and Travel Services are now available. These resources are designed to support teams in preparing for the close of the year. Managers are encouraged to share this information with their teams as needed. Questions can be directed to the relevant area.

Expressions of Interest for the 2026 Professional Staff Mentoring Program close on Monday 1 December 2025.

The program connects staff across the University to help increase their skills and confidence and build networks through a mentoring relationship to effectively navigate their career goals.

Learn more: 2026 Professional Staff Mentoring Program – Expressions of Interest closing

Internal Expressions of Interest are now open for the Interim Vice-President (Advancement & Engagement).

The Interim Vice-President (Advancement & Engagement) is responsible for leading the University’s Advancement strategy, overseeing fundraising and principal gifts, alumni relations and advancement services. This role drives the University’s fundraising campaign, fosters meaningful donor engagement and stewards key relationships to support institutional groups. By collaborating across Colleges and Service Divisions, the Interim Vice-President (Advancement & Engagement) will build a culture of philanthropy, strengthen alumni connections and ensure the Advancement Portfolio remains strategically focused, empowered and equipped for lasting impact.

Expressions of Interest close on Sunday 23 November, 11.55pm.

Learn more: Expressions of Interest – Interim Vice-President (Advancement)

Next week, the University Risk Office will host International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) with the theme, Preventing Fraud is a Team Effort. 

Everyone has a role in protecting the integrity of ANU by recognising, reporting and preventing fraud through transparency and accountability. 

You can do your part by registering to attend the ANU Fraud and Corruption Awareness Workshop in Zoom on Monday 17 November, 2pm. This workshop will feature a guest presenter from the National Anti-Corruption Commission who will share insights and practical advice on preventing and identifying fraud and corruption risks.

There is also a series of webinars on offer hosted by the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre. In addition, the ANU Risk Office has worked with the ANU Brand Office to develop an IFAW email signature block to use. You can learn more about fraud and corruption control at ANU by visiting the Risk Office’s webpage.

Friday 14 November, 6.30–8pm

Wisdom of Happiness is His Holiness the Dalai Lama's new movie – a deeply intimate and highly cinematic documentary offering practical advice for navigating the challenges of the 21st century.

Register here for Wisdom of Happiness: a heart-to-heart with the Dalai Lama

Monday 17 November, 6–7pm

Fresh from the toughest job in Australian media, Chair of the ABC, Ita Buttrose AC OBE will be in conversation with Alex Sloan AM on her memoir Unapologetically Ita. Don’t miss this rare chance to hear from one of Australia’s most influential media leaders, with unparalleled insight into our country and its people. 

Register for Meet the author: Ita Buttrose

Wednesday 19 November, 12–1.15pm

A panel discussion with current and former Mongolian Ambassadors to Australia – His Excellency Davaasuren Damdinsuren, Katie Smith and Dr Joseph Mackay, Research Fellow in the Department of International Relations at ANU.

Register here for Connections Between Mongolia and Australia

Wednesday 19 November, 6–7pm

Three multi-award-winning authors, Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein, will be in conversation with Beejay Silcox on their book The Mushroom Tapes: Conversations on a Triple Murder Trial.

Register for Meet the author: Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein

 

Early in the evening on Sunday, 26 October 2025, friends and colleagues of Emeritus Professor Anthony (Tony) H. Johns AM received news of his passing, aged 97.

“Emeritus Professor Tony Johns was a towering figure in the humanities, whose scholarship shaped generations of students and colleagues across the world. His contribution set enduring standards of intellectual rigour and cultural understanding that continue to define the College of Asia and the Pacific today. He remained actively engaged with our community as a mentor, colleague and friend, and he will be missed greatly,” said Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

Read more: In memory of Emeritus Professor Tony Johns

For staff who have an annual 2025 Focus document, the end-of-year reflection and evaluation should be completed during October – December 2025. This is the final step in the annual process where staff members and supervisors reflect on the year's work and achievements. Please ensure that your Focus document, and those of your staff, are up to date and that this final step is completed before the ANU end-of-year shutdown period.

Staff can complete the 2025 Focus document and draft goals for the 2026 document.

Information, guidance and other training resources are available on the ANU Focus website and ANU Focus SharePoint.

Learn more: Focus reminder – end of year reflection and evaluation

On 30 June 2025, in accordance with the notification requirements of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, ANU lodged its annual public report with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). We have now received a certificate of compliance for 2024-2025, and a copy of the report is available on the website.

Thank you to the staff who participated in the 2025 ANYOU pulse staff survey, which ran from Friday 24 October until Friday 7 November. The overall response rate was 55 per cent. 

Each staff survey is your chance to have your say about your employee experience at ANU. We acknowledge that the past year brought significant change, and your feedback helps us understand how the University is now tracking to further improve the employee experience.

Learn more: 2025 ANYOU pulse staff survey

If you are planning to take leave, please remember to set up appropriate delegation arrangements. You can assign a short-term delegation arrangement via the Employee Self Service in HORUS.  

This will ensure your delegations are properly transferred to another position, allowing work and approvals to continue smoothly in your absence. 

Please refer to this user guide or contact your local HR team for guidance.  

The On Campus story Touching the ancient – The ANU Classics Museum published last week included outdated information.  

The Attic Black-Figure Amphora referenced in the article is currently the subject of an active restitution process with Italy. The ANU Classics Museum continues to care for and research its collection in line with contemporary cultural heritage and repatriation practices.  

If you have any questions or want to learn about contemporary issues and the changing ethics of museum collections, please contact Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney, Friends' Lecturer in Classics and Curator, ANU Classics Museum, at georgia.pike-rowney@anu.edu.au.  

A free lunchtime tour with Dr Pike-Rowney is taking place on Wednesday 19 November, 12.30–1.30pm, where staff can learn about repatriation and restitution, museum ethics and ancient Mediterranean collections in the Australian context.  

Learn more about the Museum’s collection and current projects. 

The Student Regulation team has just launched our new Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) training program. This resource supports our shared responsibility to deliver a high quality and compliant experience for our international students.

All staff are encouraged to complete the training. It will help you understand your obligations under the ESOS Act and National Code, and how these apply to the work we do every day across ANU.

Once you’ve completed the training, make sure you record your completion and take the short quiz to test your knowledge.

Learn more: Education for Overseas Students training

Are you planning your end of year celebrations or getting ahead on 2026 event organisation? Discover how to make your event more sustainable with the Carbon Smart Events Guide.

Events are an important part of the ANU experience, but they can also create significant environmental impact. The good news? There are easy steps you can take to make your event more environmentally friendly.

Explore the Carbon Smart Events Guide for tips on avoiding and reducing waste, engaging sustainable suppliers, minimising food waste and reducing emissions as you celebrate.

Learn more: Big on impact, low on emissions – Carbon Smart Events with ANU Green

You can help ANU scientists test their new tools that screen for mild cognitive impairment in older adults.

This scientific research project is seeking to recruit one group of older adults who have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and one group who do not. Please visit the project’s webpage to determine your eligibility.

Participants will be provided with $20 as a token of appreciation.

To participate, contact Anan Wang, PhD Scholar, Clinical Psychology, via email at anan.wang@anu.edu.au.

This week’s picture comes from Alida Gyory, Senior Consultant, Organisational Development who captured the Dogwood (Cornus Florida) at the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy.

“The Dogwood grove tucked away at the Law building is wonderful. The pink and white blooms last for about two weeks from early to mid-October each year. It's a lovely spot” said Alida.

Got a photo you’re proud of that you’d love to have featured in On Campus? Send in your picture using this form and include a short description about why it's special to you.

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.

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 Employee Assistance Program.

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to this guide developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.