ANU logo
 
 

On Campus

ANU Staff Newsletter

Tuesday 27 June

All the important campus news, events and opportunities for ANU staff. In your inbox every Tuesday.

What you need to know

  • Enterprise Agreement (EA) negotiations are going well and we are tackling all the major issues on each parties log of claims. We have made positive progress on several clauses so far. To date, discussions have taken place in relation to over 75 per cent of the matters within the current Agreement. Please see full update from Chief People Officer Kate Witenden in notices below.
  • There have been reports of scam emails and phone calls claiming to be from the ANU Remuneration and Conditions team about withheld tax and overpayment of wages.

    --Please note ANU will never request bank details via email, over the phone or ask for a lump sum immediate payment.

    --All official ANU communications related to payroll are only sent from employment.services@anu.edu.au. If you are dealing with your College’s financial team, the email must have a ANU domain: @anu.edu.au.

    --For more information on how to be vigilant against these types of scams, visit the ANU Information Security Office.

     

ANU DVCRI Professor Keith Nugent to step down in January 2024   

After what will be a five-year term at ANU, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Keith Nugent, will step down from the role in January 2024. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said that Professor Nugent has brought a wealth of experience to his role since he joined ANU at the beginning of 2019.  

"Keith's academic career scaled the heights of twice being an ARC Federation Fellow, an ARC Centre of Excellence Director and a Laureate Professor in physics at the University of Melbourne. He has served as Director of the Australian Synchrotron to help see it through a difficult time in its history," Professor Schmidt said. 

"He brought the vital perspective of a world-class researcher to his leadership role here at ANU, as well as the critical experience of a research leader following a six-year stint as DVCR at La Trobe University in Melbourne. 

"I thank Keith for his leadership and collegiality over the past four-and-a-half years and wish him well in the next phase of his career." 

Read more

Lord Chris Patten

Winter Innovation Festival – Uncharted Territory

Experience Uncharted Territory from 7 July to 16 July in Canberra, celebrating creativity, innovation, and groundbreaking ideas. Discover workshops, installations, performances, and be part of a vibrant community shaping the future of arts and innovation. 

Come along to events like the launch of 'To Be Continued,' a groundbreaking podcast unearthing Australia's hidden literary history from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Join us for captivating narrations, insightful discussions, and a journey back in time, as we redefine Australian literature and launch on 9 July 2023, at the National Library of Australia. 

Follow the Uncharted Territory Instagram or Facebook account to stay up to date on all the upcoming events. 

Check out the festival program

Events & activities

A cartoon image of a paintbrush

Uncharted Territory - ANU MakerSpace Pop-Up

Friday 7 July – Sunday 16 July 

Discover the ANU MakerSpace, a vibrant community where learning happens through hands-on experiences and interdisciplinary collaboration. Experience our newest addition, the ANU MakerSpace Pop-up, featuring cutting-edge tools like 3D printers and more, alongside friendly staff to assist you. Join our engaging workshops during the festival to explore accessible technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and sewable electronics. 

Register for the ANU MakerSpace Pop-Up

A cartoon image of nature

Uncharted Territory - Street Art, Science & Engagement – Public Symposium

Saturday 8 July, 2-3.30pm 

Join us in a stimulating public symposium where we explore the role of science-inspired street art as a form of science communication and its impact on environmental discourse. With guest speakers from the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) and beyond, we'll delve into the intersections of street art and science communication, showcasing innovative research and learning activities at ANU. Don't miss the launch of The ANU ‘Sci_Burst’ podcast's street art episode, which delves into the captivating cultural influence of science. 

Register for the Public Symposium

A cartoon image of a paintbrush

Uncharted Territory - From Stars to Sustainability: Exploring Space Innovation’s Power to Transform Life on Earth

Tuesday 11 July, 4-5.30pm 

An enlightening panel discussion on the intersection of space innovation and sustainability, showcasing the research expertise of leading scholars. Explore the transformative potential of satellite data in revolutionising agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster response, as well as advancements in water filtration critical for space exploration and addressing global water scarcity. Discover how you can contribute to this important work through collaborations between academia, industry, government, and the community, shaping a future where space technology and sustainability align for the betterment of our planet. 

Register for From Stars to Sustainability

A cartoon image of a paintbrush

EnergiZine: Nurturing Energy Transitions 

Wednesday 12 July, 6.30-8.30pm 

Thursday 13 July, 6.30-8.30pm 

Embark on an immersive journey where wellness and energy transitions merge in EnergiZine: Nurturing Energy Transitions.  It’s a hands-on experience that ignites your imagination, inspiring you to curate and create your own unique wellness zine for energy transition options. Guest speakers, including First Nations experts and ANU researchers, share perspectives that enrich your EnergiZine. Presented by Engaged ANU and Questacon.

Register for EnergiZine: Nurturing Energy Transitions

2023 ANU Reconciliation Lecture

The 2023 ANU Reconciliation Lecture highlighted the importance of being a voice for generations, in a speech by one of the lead architects of the Voice proposal.  
Professor Tom Calma AO, an Aboriginal Elder from the Kungarakan and Iwaidja peoples, has dedicated over 45 years to Indigenous affairs at various levels. Currently serving as Chancellor of the University of Canberra, he has held influential roles, including as a former Social Justice Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner, and has been actively involved in initiatives addressing health, education, justice, and reconciliation. 

Professor Calma addressed the misinformation that had surrounded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, providing valuable insights for Australians preparing to vote in the upcoming referendum. 

You can read the full address or watch the complete recording of the 2023 ANU Reconciliation Lecture here.

2023 VC Award for Reconciliation

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 VC Award for Reconciliation, Dr Oliva Evans and Dr Junwen Chen. Their leadership in developing the course 'PSYC2012 Culture and Psychology' has had a significant impact on over 250 undergraduate students each year, addressing the colonial roots of psychology and promoting cross-cultural understanding. Their dedication and contributions to reconciliation initiatives and decolonizing the discipline are truly commendable, and they deserve the recognition they have received, including the 2022 ANU College of Health and Medicine Dean's Award for Excellence in Education (Indigenous Education).  

Well done, Olivia and Junwen. 

Honourable mention to the other nominees: ANU School of Engineering's Bandalang Studio and Dr Denise Angelo. 

Notices

ANU Information Technology Services | Overleaf, LaTeX editor access for all students and staff 

ANU is providing Overleaf access for all students, faculty, and staff who would like to use a collaborative, online LaTeX editor for their projects. 

Access by signing in through the ANU Overleaf portal page.

If you have any Overleaf related questions, please, get in touch with the Overleaf support team directly at support@overleaf.com

********** 

Our 2022-2023 Workplace Gender Equality Report is now available for comment. Submit your feedback to the Staff Diversity team by close of business 25 July 2023, or directly to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency

********** 

Academic Portfolio and Student and University Experience (SUE) Portfolio Realignment 

From Monday 3 July, the Academic Portfolio and Student and University Experience (SUE) Portfolio will be realigning some key functions to help enable greater collaboration. The changes are as follows: 

1. Access and Inclusion will be renamed Accessibility and move from the Division of Student Administration and Academic Services (DSAAS) to the Student Safety and Wellbeing Team in the University Experience Division.

2. The Engagement and Success team in the University Experience Division will be renamed Student Life. 

3. Australia Awards will move from DSAAS to Student Life in the University Experience Division.

4. Student Central will move within DSAAS to the Deputy Registrar.

5. Equity and Belonging will be renamed Inclusive Communities and move into the University Experience Division.

We aim to make this as smooth a transition as possible for all staff and to minimise any disruptions to daily responsibilities.  With the realignment process now completed we will move forward together under the Academic Portfolio banner. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact academicnews@anu.edu.au

********** 

The Division of Planning and Service Performance (PSP)  

PSP has developed a new streamlined process (via Microsoft Power App), for applying for a Non-Standard Student Survey (NSSS)

Any researcher, student or staff interested in conducting a Non-Standard Student Survey (e.g. survey, focus group, interview) requires approval from the PSP Director. The approval is necessary to ensure surveys comply with ANU policy and procedure. 

********** 

Message from the Chief People Officer, Kate Witenden - Update on the University’s Enterprise Bargaining  

The negotiations of the University’s Enterprise Bargaining are going well and we are tackling all the major issues on each parties log of claims. We have made positive progress on several clauses so far.  To date, discussions have taken place in relation to over 75 per cent of the matters within the current Agreement. To further progress bargaining, ANU, NTEU and the other bargaining representatives are engaged in four days of bargaining discussions this week.   

Some of the proposals that have already been put forward by the University as part of the negotiations include:  

-Salary offer that provides a 16.99 per cent cumulative increase to staff salaries since the last increase provided in 2022; 

-A commitment to limiting the use of casual employment to circumstances where the work is genuinely temporary, irregular or of an intermittent nature, and to providing pathways to more stable employment options, as well as a range of other initiatives to support our casual employees such as reviewing casual sessional academic activity definitions; 

-Strengthening provisions for staff access to flexible work arrangements

-Provision for existing staff to access choice of superannuation fund, in alignment with choice of fund legislation; 

-A commitment to professional staff career pathways, to support our professional staff in achieving their potential; 

-Incorporating our sector leading partner leave provisions from policy to the Agreement; 

-Improved provisions to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members, including enhanced access to cultural leave and; 

-Paid gender affirmation leave, to provide support to our staff in their affirmation/transition; 

-Wellbeing leave of up to two days per annum, provided for under existing staff personal leave entitlements; 

Good progress has also been made on clauses relating to workloads, academic freedom, organisational change, review of decision, disputes and grievances.  

As you can see, this is a strong indication on how parties are continuing to work hard to achieve an agreement. 

You may have also seen that last Wednesday, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) voted to strike for half a day on 27 July 2023.  NTEU have advised that this strike in response to the salary offer and casual employment matters being discussed in the course of bargaining, and their members would be meeting one week prior (i.e. 20 July 2023) to review progress made in bargaining, and to consider if the strike will take place.  In the University’s communications with all bargaining parties, as well as the NTEU, all say that strike action is not their preferred action, achieving an agreement is their goal. This is a joint goal shared by ANU.   

Further information on the bargaining process can be found on the Enterprise Agreement webpage. If you have any questions, please contact ea.comments@anu.edu.au 

ANU Alumni Awards – Nominations close next week

Do you know of any exceptional ANU graduates or student volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and serve as inspirations to others? The ANU Alumni Awards aim to honour and acknowledge the diverse accomplishments of our alumni and student volunteers who are actively making a positive impact in various fields. These awards highlight the remarkable skills, passion, and achievements that establish ANU alumni as leaders within the community. 

Nominations close on Tuesday 4 July 2023 at midnight.  

Start your nomination now

 

The Australian National University,
Canberra 

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

ANU logo