Image: AFR 2023

We are thrilled to announce that our ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt, the only Nobel Laureate to head an Australian university, has been awarded the 2023 AFR Education Lifetime Achievement Award for his singular contribution to research and higher education.

Dr Gemma King’s project ‘Sign on Screen: Language, Culture and Power in Sign Language Cinema’ is the recipient of Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). 

The project aims to discover how contemporary screens represent deafness and how sign language cinema filters Deaf and non-ableist perspectives. For this project, Dr King has partnered with Deaf Connect, which is an Australian Deaf organisation, and the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) where a Sign Language Film Festival will be held in 2025. 

“The project looks at the evolution of representation of sign languages in film and television. We are currently in this revolution where more Deaf-led filmmaking is happening than ever before. We are starting to see different ways of thinking about deafness and the portrayal of sign language as an asset,” Dr King said. 

“However, I am aware of the limits of my own perspective as a hearing person and that I will never fully understand what it’s like to be Deaf.” 

The aim of the project includes establishing Australia as a hub for research and collaboration on sign language in film and television, enhancing Deaf representation and building Deaf capacity in line with Deaf Connect's research policy ‘Nothing about Deaf people without Deaf people’, and generating the world’s first transnational corpus of sign language films and series for academic and public use. 

A dedicated member of the University community, Nishank applied to the Professional Staff Scholarship Scheme (PSSS) in 2022 to fund a portion of his study with the Australian Research Management Society (ARMS). Completing the Established Level Accreditation Program (ELAP), Nishank, alongside other research management professionals, was given the tools to meet the changing needs of the research innovation sector. 

“I am very keen to develop my leadership skills to drive the type of change that will ensure that the University’s 2025 vision of continued global excellence in research [is] second to none in quality and impact.” 

Less than a year on Nishank can already see the difference in his leadership, implementing the strategies and effective communication skills he gained from ELAP to lead his team at the College of Science Research Office.  

If you know of a short course, certificate, program, qualification or conference that will develop you in your professional role at ANU, apply now to the Professional Staff Scholarship Scheme or Professional Staff Development Endowment Fund.  

Round 2 applications are now open and will close at 5pm on Friday 1 September. Please see policy and eligibility for more. 

Friday 25 August, 7-9pm  

We invite you to join us for our Annual Wear it Purple Day movie screening, hosted by our ANU LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network in partnership with the ANU Film Group. 

Lighting up our big screen at Kambri on Friday 25 August is the film Spoiler Alert. Based on the true-life story and memoir of TV journalist Michael Ausiello and his relationship with Kit Cowan, this film will bring you into a world of romance and emotion. 

Intertwined with the lived reality of relationships, an ample sprinkling of awkwardness and raw emotion, this movie is a special treat for this year's Wear it Purple Day as we celebrate the 2023 theme, "Write your Story." 

All are welcome so please feel free to bring a friend, family or colleague. Registration is free for this event. 

As we celebrate Wear it Purple Day, we hope to see you this August in your favourite shades of purple.  

Doors open at 7pm. The film will start at 7.30pm. 

Thursday 24 August – Friday 25 August, 10-8.30pm 

Sound, Image, Text brings together a range of art historians, musicologists and literary scholars to speak on Jean-Benjamin de Laborde’s long-forgotten illustrated songbook Choix de Chansons (1773) and other related topics. 

Register now 

Friday 25 August, 4.30-6.30pm 

Come all to celebrate youth and diversity within our LGBTQIA+ communities on the annual Wear It Purple Day. The ANU Ally Network invites you to a Courtyard Party filled with keynote speakers and performances, local services activities, queer-led small business markets, and food and drinks enjoyed among the sunset fairy lights. 

Register now

Tuesday 29 August, 2-5.30pm

A workshop with experts and practitioners to identify priorities and challenges faced by case management service providers for victims of domestic, family and sexual violence, and sex trafficking.

Register now  

Tuesday 29 August, 5.30-8.30pm

Hosted by the ANU Research School of Economics, Michele Bullock, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), will discuss the RBA’s work on climate change and the transition to net zero emissions. Michele has been appointed as Governor of the RBA, commencing 18 September. 

Register now  

Wednesday 30 August, 6-7pm

Melissa Castan and Lynette Russell will be in conversation with Kim Rubenstein on their new book, Time to Listen. An Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Register now

Wednesday 30 August, 6-7.30pm 

Join Professor Matt Tomlinson from the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific as he examines the different meanings of monologue and dialogue and the ways they are related in political and religious speech. 

Register now

Monday 4 September, 9.30-5pm 

Learn how to better engage audiences by weaving in storytelling, persuasive and interactive techniques that keep people listening when presenting on varying levels of workplace subject-matter. 

Register now

Tuesday 5 September, 10.30am-1pm 

Universities have a rich history of collecting nationally and internationally significant cultural and scientific materials from around the world. These collections allow for complex, multidisciplinary research, teaching and engagement with community, and also present a tangible connection to the University’s research legacy. Come hear the panel, featuring expert voices from the University of Glasgow Hunterian Museum and ANU, discuss how the university sector can drive developments in collections and research. 

Register now

Tuesday 5 September, 5.30-7pm 

Author Thomas Parks will discuss his new book – Southeast Asia’s Multipolar Future: Averting a New Cold War. This discussion will be moderated by Associate Professor Mathew Davies. 

Register now 

Tuesday 5 September, 6-7pm

Sam Roggeveen will be in conversation with Rory Medcalf on his new book The Echidna Strategy: Australia's Search for Power and Peace.

Register now

Racism and discrimination on campus 

The ANU community is inclusive, open and respectful. We are committed to creating a learning and working community that is free from racial discrimination, harassment, and vilification.  

 "We are stronger because of our diversity"

Our diverse community of students and staff makes us who we are. We are stronger because of our diversity. The many different cultures and backgrounds that make up our community bring a richness that The University prides itself on. 

Racism, discrimination, bigotry, intolerance, and harassment or vilification of any kind are not acceptable behaviours within our community. 

If you have experienced, or witnessed, an incident of racism or discrimination, we encourage you to submit a complaint of racism or discrimination. For more information on how to do this, please visit the Submitting a complaint of racism or discrimination webpage. All submissions are treated with care and confidentiality. 

Discrimination of any kind will be met with decisive action. 

If you need to speak with someone about an incident of racism or discrimination at The University, or feel like you need further support in making a complaint, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the below services and teams; 

The Dean of Students 

ANU Students Association (ANUSA) 

ANUSA BIPOC Department 

Student Safety and Wellbeing 

ANU Counselling 

The Australian National University is a proud signatory of the Australian Human Rights Commission Racism. It Stops With Me. campaign. 

To learn more about the campaign, and to access further resources and information, please visit the Racism. It Stops With Me webpage. 

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ANYOU Survey update 

The ANYOU Staff Engagement Survey was held in March this year. Senior and local leaders have received their results, and were encouraged to communicate and cascade results to their College and Portfolio teams, as well as identify and implement actions to take as a result of staff feedback. Over 100 actions have been identified as a result of the feedback. More information is available on the ANYOU Survey web page, including examples of actions that are being implemented around the University. We will continue to provide updates on progress via On Campus and the ANYOU Survey web page. 

For questions, please contact HRD.Development@anu.edu.au. 

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Enterprise Bargaining update

We have had a very good week of intense bargaining with the NTEU and bargaining representatives. We have progressed a long way on the majority of clauses in the agreement and will continue to work through issues that are outstanding this week.

We are hopeful of achieving an agreement in principle in the very near future. Before we get to an agreement in principle the NTEU will require their members to vote before a final agreement is achieved. Of course, we will be letting staff know in detail next week key changes to the proposed agreement.

For questions or feedback, please contact ea.comments@anu.edu.au.

Jawun secondment Q&A session 

Wednesday 30 August, 12-1pm 

ANU has an incredible partnership with Jawun, where staff can work with First Nations organisations to expand your skills, experiences and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities. 

Join us at this lunchtime session to see how a six-week secondment opportunity can further your professional and personal growth and expand your connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. You will hear from previous ANU secondees as well as Jawun Regional Directors. 

The application round for secondment placements in 2024 is now open in ANU Recruit. This opportunity is available to high performing staff, academic level B and above or professional level 8 and above. 

Applications are now open and will close on Friday 15 September.

Register now for the Q&A session

Saturday 9 September, 7-9pm  

Songs for Freedom is an inspiring concert bringing you soul, blues, and unique country music, created by artists in the Ieramugadu community (Roebourne, WA) and beyond. Together with guests from around this country, Songs for Freedom tells stories of the vast and striking beauty of this place and its people. 

Guided by Ngarluma and Yinjibarndi Elders, and an inter-cultural band including Shellie Morris, Kankawa Nagarra, Fred Ryan and John Bennet, Songs for Freedom joins these friends and other musicians in paying tribute to the family of John Pat in the 40th anniversary year of his passing in custody. Musical direction is provided by Grammy Award winner Lucky Oceans, with a powerful narration by Ngarluma man, Patrick Churnside. 

Songs for Freedom is the tangible manifestation of a project that has been running since 2010. Supported by Elders, the project has delivered workshops in the community, the school, and the prison, creating digital content, music, theatre and performance to create a positive change in Ieramugadu and beyond. 

We welcome everyone to this is family-friendly concert experience, that will fill your night with hope, peace, and freedom. 

We acknowledge and respect the Ngunnawal people, their ancestors and Elders, past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Australian National University is situated. We are committed to honouring First Nations Peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
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