On Saturday 14 October, Australian citizens will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to consult the First Nations Portfolio's Responding to Common Concerns about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice document. As always, support is available through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team and the ANU Psychology Clinic. 

About the ANU Psychology Clinic

The ANU Psychology Clinic would like to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait lslander staff and students whose wellbeing is affected by the conversations and reactions to the Voice to Parliament Referendum.

Our team is aware that the referendum may bring up complex personal emotions and that staff and students are also dealing with potentially unwelcome curiosity and deeply challenging views from others. We welcome Indigenous staff and students to seek support from the ANU Psychology clinic as you take care of your wellbeing at this time.

The ANU Psychology Clinic provides psychological services for adults who want to improve their wellbeing in a safe and caring environment. Our staff and students have undergone cultural training with Dr Stewart Sutherland, (Wiradjuri) Associate Dean First Nations, College of Health Medicine, and his staff. In addition, Glenn Williams, Indigenous Psychologist, will provide regular supervision to the clinic supervisors to support students to provide culturally safe and sensitive care.

If you are interested in receiving support from the Clinic please call on 6125 8498 or email psychology.clinic@anu.edu.au. Please make us aware that you are calling in relation to the Voice to Parliament Referendum as the Clinic fees will be waived for this service.

We pride ourselves on being a peaceful, multicultural and supportive community with an international perspective. This week we find ourselves watching several areas around the world with particular concern for those in our community whose loved ones are caught up in conflict and natural disasters.  

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is deeply concerning and comes days after the terrible destruction of the earthquake in Afghanistan. The war in Ukraine continues. 

Support is available for students through Student Safety and Wellbeing team, you can set up a confidential conversation via students.wellbeing@anu.edu.au, phone +61 6125 2211, or visit the Health and Wellbeing Centre in Kambri between 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday. ANU also provides a range of financial support options available for students, including emergency grants.  

As the conflict continues, and in recognition of our University’s role as a place for public discourse, I’d like to remind our community that ANU upholds values such as respect, collegiality, and community, and strictly prohibits discrimination, harassment, and bullying in all work and educational contexts, whether on or off campus. The University treats all forms of discrimination with the highest level of seriousness. 

Mental Health Month occurs each year in October and includes World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on 10 October. Mental Health Month is an opportunity for us to raise community awareness and understanding of mental health, reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health conditions, and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

What is World Mental Health Day? 

WMHD is recognised on 10 October and is an opportunity for us to promote aspects of awareness, belonging and connection in our community. WMHD aims to raise awareness of mental health challenges and support efforts to address these challenges. Talking about mental health breaks down barriers and stigma often associated with seeking support. 

Here at ANU, there are many services that can help you with your wellbeing, mental health, health and adjustment needs.  

Help is here when you need it. It is never a weakness to seek help, it is your strength. 

Support is available for students through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team. You can set up a confidential conversation with a case manager via students.wellbeing@anu.edu.au, phone +61 6125 2211 or visit the Health and Wellbeing Centre in Kambri between 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday. 

Other support services are available at: 

ANU Counselling 

ANU Medical Centre  

Incident Support Hub 
 

Some important things to remember: 

- ANU support services are confidential and free. 

- Always access support early. 

- Your professors and tutors understand the issues and challenges that can impact university students, including international student concerns, and are across University policies and procedures to support students. Remember, they were all once students too.  

- Accessing support is a normal part of the university journey. 

Have you watched Alone Australia on SBS?

You may have seen Dr Kate Grarock, an ANU almuna who did her PhD with the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Sustainability, and worked as an ecologist at Mulligans Flat for a number of years. 

The SBS show sees Kate and her fellow Alone contestants left in a wild, isolated environment to fend for themselves with nothing but ten carefully chosen items, first-aid supplies, their own company – and a whopping 70 kilograms of video equipment to film the whole thing. 

Monday 23 October, 6-11pm 

Robyn Davidson will be in conversation with Virginia Haussegger on her memoir, Unfinished Woman, the story of a mother and daughter, of love, loss and the pursuit of freedom. 

Register now

Wednesday 25 October, 12.30-2pm 

PhD candidate Sarah Mann (soprano) will present a lecture recital exploring Western operatic singing perception. Why do listeners experience intense emotions to Western operatic singing? What is it about the acoustics of a soprano's operatic technique that modifies our attention? Vocal sound is affected by emotion and conveys information useful for survival. 

Register now

Wednesday 25 October, 6-7pm 

Kate Fullagar will be in conversation with John Paul Janke on her new book Bennelong and Phillip. A History Unravelled, the first joint biography of Bennelong and Governor Arthur Phillip, two pivotal figures in Australian history - the colonised and coloniser - and a bold and innovative new portrait of both.  

Register now

Thursday 9 November, 5.30–7.30pm  

Australia’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 will see a huge transformation in our energy system. Australia can continue to be a global player in energy exports - it’s just going to look different. UNSW Professor Renate Egan will discuss the opportunities and challenges we will need to navigate along the way. 

Register now

Residential Life Survey for Semester 2

Do you live on campus? The Residential Life Survey for Semester 2 survey is now open. Check your ANU email for your invitation. You could enter the draw to win 1 of 5 ANU hoodies.

Survey closes Wednesday 18 October.  

Read more 

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Explore global opportunities for your degree with ANU Global Programs 

Are you interested in broadening your academic horizons and gaining a global perspective? Applications for exchange in Semester 2 2024 are now open and will close on Thursday 30 November.  

With 2023 coming to an end, there's no better time to start exploring the opportunities available to internationalise your degree in. 2024. Check out the last two information sessions for the year:

Understanding location and Risk - Wednesday 11 October, 3-4pm

Final Q&A - Wednesday 25 October, 3-4pm

ANU Global Programs also provides Vice-Chancellor Coursework Travel Grants to eligible students who are participating in approved short-term or semester study abroad programs.   

To stay up-to-date on exchange opportunities, check out the Global Programs website for upcoming information sessions, drop-in to talk to a member of our team, subscribe to our global horizons e-newsletter and follow ANU Global Programs on socials. 

Read more

Student Giveaways  

Meet the Author - Robyn Davidson 

We have a special giveaway for the Meet the Author event with Robyn Davidson on Monday 23 October. You can win a copy of her new book and be one of the first in line to have it signed at the event. 

Robyn Davidson will be in conversation with Virginia Haussegger on her memoir, Unfinished Woman, the story of a mother and daughter, of love, loss and the pursuit of freedom. 

Two copies of Robyn’s book are up for grabs for ANU students (any program level) to win. Follow the instructions in the entry form to go into the draw and you could be one of the lucky winners!  

The competition closes at noon AEDT on Monday 16 October (Terms and conditions apply). 

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Meet the Author – Kate Fullagar 

We have a special giveaway for the Meet the Author event with Kate Fullagar on Wednesday 25 October. You can win a copy of her new book and be one of the first in line to have it signed at the event. 

Kate Fullagar will be in conversation with John Paul Janke on her new book Bennelong and Phillip. A History Unravelled, the first joint biography of Bennelong and Governor Arthur Phillip, two pivotal figures in Australian history - the colonised and coloniser - and a bold and innovative new portrait of both. 

Two copies of Kate’s book are up for grabs for ANU students (any program level) to win. Follow the instructions in the entry form to go into the draw and you could be one of the lucky winners!  

The competition closes at noon AEDT on Wednesday 18 October (Terms and conditions apply). 

Monday 6 November, 6-8pm 

ANU and the ACT Branch of the Order of Australia Association are pleased to present the 2023 Order of Australia Lecture.

Professor Kiaran Kirk AM will deliver this year's keynote on Humanity's ongoing battle with infectious disease. 

For most of humanity's history, infectious disease has been an expected cause of death. Microscopic pathogens - viruses, bacteria, parasites - cause a range of diseases, many of them potentially fatal. The development of vaccines, and of antimicrobial drugs, has been a triumph of medical science in which the ANU has played a significant role. And yet vaccine-resistant and drug-resistant pathogens are continually emerging, necessitating the ongoing development of new vaccines, new drugs. 

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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