On Campus

Staff Edition

Tuesday 17 February

All the important campus news, events and opportunities for ANU staff. 

Audience gathered on University Lawn as a speaker delivers the ANU Commencement Address from an outdoor stage.

Image: Students fill University Lawn beneath a canopy of trees for the ANU Commencement Address. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

The rundown – information you need at a glance

  • Thank you to all ANU staff for the incredible work you do to make sure our students feel welcomed, supported and ready for the semester ahead.
  • 2026 Academic Promotion dates are now available on the ANU website.
  • On Thursday 12 February, Interim Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Rebekah Brown spoke at the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee's Estimates hearing. Read her Opening Statement.
  • Trial the ANU-Civic Loop Bus running on weekdays from 7.30am–7.30pm (excluding public holidays).
  • Shop ANU, the official home for ANU merchandise, is now open on Joplin Lane and operates Monday to Friday, 10am–3pm.

Bulletin

Play  

Image: The address outlined the University’s priorities for the year ahead. Thumbnail: ANU.

State of the University address published online

If you missed the Interim Vice-Chancellor’s State of the University address on Monday 9 February, the recording is now available.

Learn more button linking to State of the University address 2026.
Icon of a woman using a laptop.

Facilities Management System

This Wednesday 18 February, staff can attend an open user training session to become familiar with the new Facilities Management System, launching in March. Dedicated College/School and Office/Portfolio sessions will also be held on Friday 20 February.

For more information, please contact CE.FMS@anu.edu.au.

Icon of two people shaking hands.

Wi-Fi tips to stay connected 

Using your personal hotspot in a lecture theatre can affect everyone’s Wi-Fi performance. Avoid doing so and connect to ANU-Secure, the University’s preferred Wi-Fi network, to ensure improved Wi-Fi for everyone.

Learn more button linking to Wi-Fi tips to stay connected.
Blue Help Point on campus with map, instructions and signage.

Image: Help Points are now part of an expanded safety network across campus. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

Help Points live this week 

29 new Help Points are now active across campus, providing immediate, direct access to ANU Security if you are in an emergency or feel unsafe. They are designed to enable a rapid response, act as a visible deterrent, and provide peace of mind when moving around campus.

Take a moment to learn where they’re located.

View the map button linking to Help Points live this week.
Icon of two people shaking hands.

The Academic Portfolio is now the Education Portfolio

The Academic Portfolio is moving forward under its new name – the Education Portfolio, with the final Implementation Plan now published.

This marks the transition from the design phase to a coordinated implementation phase.

Over the coming weeks, the DVCE Leadership Team will work closely with areas to confirm timelines, facilitate workshops where required, and provide practical guidance and resources to support a smooth transition.

We sincerely thank staff for their constructive engagement throughout the process and for their continued professionalism as implementation progresses.

For any questions, please contact the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at office.dvce@anu.edu.au

Icon of two people shaking hands.

Leadership training

Strengthen your leadership journey with the Leadership in Practice Program. Explore your approach to supporting others while learning alongside colleagues from across the University. Choose a session and join a cohort.

Learn more button linking to Leadership training.
Icon of someone standing next to a clipboard with a check mark on a document.

Safety and Wellbeing Committee - Expressions of Interest (EOI)

Academic and professional staff interested in joining the University’s Safety and Wellbeing Committee are invited to submit an EOI addressed to the Chancellor.

Email your EOI to director.governance@anu.edu.au by Wednesday 11 March, 5pm.

Learn more button linking to Safety and Wellbeing Committee - Expressions of Interest.
Icon of two men and one woman, standing in unison.

Help shape gender equality at ANU

Gender Equality consultations are continuing across ANU to refine target insights in two key areas: Flexible Work and Care, and Safety and Respect.

Consultations remain open until early March, and include focus groups, College and Division discussions, and an anonymous online survey.

Learn more button linking to Help shape gender equality at ANU.

Senior leadership updates

Internal EOIs

Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President. This is an opportunity for an accomplished ANU academic leader to play a key role in the continued advancement of the University, supporting the Interim Vice-Chancellor and President in leading and managing the University and delivering our strategic priorities. Applications close Sunday 1 March, 11.55pm.

Applications open

Director, ANU Pathways. As a key member of the Education Portfolio Senior Leadership Team and the University Leadership Group, the inaugural Director will lead and advance ANU Pathways; developing programs, partnerships and systems that expand access, support future student success and strengthen the University’s education pipeline. Applications close Sunday 1 March, 11.55pm.

Applications closing

General Manager, ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy. As a member of the College Executive, reporting to the Dean, the General Manager leads operational plan implementation, resource management and the delivery of efficient, responsive professional services across the College. Applications close Sunday 22 February, 11.55pm.

Further notices

Two students smile and pose with peace signs at an outdoor campus sports event, with others gathered in the background.

Image: Bringing the campus community together through sport and recreational fun. Credit: ANU Sport.

Get active with ANU Sport 

ANU Sport offers programs that support wellbeing by making movement accessible, social and fun.

Jump in, build skills and feel good while staying active this semester.

Get active button linking to Get active with ANU Sport.
Bicycles parked in metal racks outside a red brick building on a sunny day, with trees and greenery around.

Image: Cycle Smart helps riders map safe routes and build confident commuting skills. Photo: ANU Green.

Discover the new Cycle Smart program

Thinking about cycling to work? Cycle Smart is a new 10-week pilot program launching in March to help staff ride to campus safely.

With discounted hot drinks and free workshops on offer, you will build skills, confidence and routine in a supportive environment.

Places are limited.

Learn more button linking to ANU joins the global Healthy Campus program.
Three women in academic regalia smiling in a theatre with red seats during a graduation ceremony.

Image: Democracy Sausage unpacks the ideas shaping Australian politics. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP. 

New Democracy Sausage and live pub show

Listen to the latest episode of Democracy Sausage, where Mark Kenny dives into last week’s political insights, and stay tuned for today's newly recorded episode.

Learn more button linking New Democracy Sausage.

Plus, be part of a live recording of the show on Tuesday 24 February, 6pm at Badger & Co pub.

Host Mark Kenny will be in conversation with Marija Taflaga, Jill Sheppard and Jason Koutsoukis.

No registration required.

Two side-by-side photos of a woman smiling, one in front of a campus building and one outdoors with a mountain backdrop.

Image: ANU students Lily Kelsey (left) and Malika Knapp (right) have received NCP scholarships for 2026. Credit: ANU Reporter.

ANU students receive New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarships for 2026

23 ANU students will live, study and intern in the Indo-Pacific after receiving NCP scholarships for 2026. 

It’s the largest cohort of students the University has ever had in a single scholarship round since the program’s inception in 2014.

Learn more button linking to ANU students receive New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarships for 2026.
Stylised illustration of a black horse running through swirling clouds against a gold background.

Image: In a year of change, the Fire Horse invites us to move forward together. Illustration: Crystal Li/ANU.

Lunar New Year – the Fire Horse rides in

When the Year of the Fire Horse dawns on 17 February 2026, millions of people across Asia and the Pacific will gather to celebrate new beginnings.

Last appearing in 1966 – a rare fusion of the Horse with Fire signals passion, courage and a drive for change in Chinese astrology.

Learn more button linking The Fire Horse rides in.
Two side-by-side photos of a woman smiling, one in front of a campus building and one outdoors with a mountain backdrop.

Image: Healthy Campus sets a framework for strengthening wellbeing across the University. Credit: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

ANU joins the global Healthy Campus program

ANU has officially signed on as a Healthy Campus signatory, committing to building a healthier, more supportive University environment for students and staff. This recognition highlights the work already underway across the University to promote physical activity, mental wellbeing and inclusive participation.

Learn more button linking to ANU joins the global Healthy Campus program.

ANU in the news 

  • The Daily Telegraph: Dr Jessamy Perriam offers insight into a new AI trend that reveals how much these digital tools know about us.
  • The Conversation: Dr Brenton Prosser discusses rising ADHD prescriptions and why children from wealthier families are most likely to be medicated.
  • ABC News: Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić outlines the importance of the Warramunga facility in the Northern Territory, which monitors for nuclear tests around the world.

What's on

Icon of someone giving a lecture.

Voices of the Thar Desert

Thursday 19 February, 5–6pm

Assistant Professor Dr Aleksandra Turek, Chair of South Asian Studies at the University of Warsaw in Poland, introduces the distinctive cultural and textual world of Rajasthan.

Register here button linking to Voices of the Thar Desert.
Icon of an open book.

Book Launch – Women, Indenture, and Resistance

Thursday 19 February, 5.30–7pm

Join Emerita Professor Margaret Jolly for the launch of Dr Margaret Mishra's new book, which explores the lived experiences of Indian indentured (girmitiya) women in the Fiji Islands between 1879 to 1920.

Register here button linking to Book Launch – Women, Indenture, and Resistance.
Icon of three people standing in unison, supporting each other.

Future of multilateral cooperation

Tuesday 24 February, 1–2pm

In this Public Lecture, Dr. Comfort Ero will discuss this moment of transition in conflict prevention and mediation across the globe.

Register here button linking to Future of multilateral cooperation.
Icon the of an atlas globe showing Australasia.

Annual Phillipa Weeks Lecture

Wednesday 25 February, 5.30–7pm

Join the Hon Justice M B J Lee of the Federal Court of Australia as he gives the keynote address at the annual Phillipa Weeks Lecture highlighting key issues around labour law.

Register here button linking to Annual Phillipa Weeks Lecture.

Meet the Author

Book cover of Like, Follow, Die.

Meet the Author – Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Tuesday 24 February, 6–7pm

Register here button linking to Meet the Author – Ashley Kalagian Blunt
Book cover of The Shortest History of Innovation by Andrew Leigh, with bold pink title text on a yellow background.

Meet the Author – Andrew Leigh

Thursday 26 February, 6–7pm

Register here button linking to Meet the Author – Andrew Leigh

More upcoming events

  • Three Nobels. One Stage. – Monday 2 March, 6.30–7.30pm
  • Meet the Author – Louise Milligan – Wednesday 4 March, 6–7pm
  • Drag Queens on "Make a Diva" – Thursday 5 March, 4–5.30pm
  • Meet the Author – Amy Remeikis – Tuesday 10 March, 6–7pm
Banner image linking to Experience ANU.

Before you go

Students enjoy coffee at the Rex Espresso coffee shop in Kambri at ANU.

Image: An array of cafes across campus provides welcoming spaces to pause and recharge. Credit: ANU.

Cafes open on campus after 3pm

Check out these spots that are still open after 3pm:

  • LAB at ANU
  • Tasa Coffee House
  • The Gods Cafe
  • Rex Espresso
  • As You Like It
  • Cafe Mantra.
Bare tree branches painted bright blue against a clear sky.

Image: Blue trees spark conversation and help reduce stigma around mental health. Credit: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

Blue Tree Project 

Standing alongside Sullivans Creek, in front of the China in the World Building, a painted Blue Tree stands as a symbol of hope. It’s a powerful reminder to look after our mental wellbeing and to check in on those who may be struggling.

Next time you’re walking across campus, take a moment to go and visit the University’s restored Blue Tree.

A close-up of a lizard’s head and upper body, showing detailed green and blue scales against a softly blurred background.

Image: Our campus supports a diversity of wildlife, including this sun-basking lizard. Photo: Lewis Tremayne

Scene on our campus: Scaly friend 

This week’s picture comes from Lewis Tremayne, Research Assistant at Cybernetics, who captured a lizard’s profile on campus.

"This scaly fellow decided to join me in soaking up the summer sun and posed long enough for a close-up!"

Got a photo you’re proud of? Send in your picture using this form and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.

Key contacts

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.

Do you need support?

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.

 

The Australian National University, Canberra 

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906

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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