Important Corporate Services information for the 2016 / 2017 Christmas close-down period

A message from the Chief Operating Officer Dr Stephen Weller:

Dear Colleagues,

With the 2016 Christmas Closedown period nearly upon us, the information below provides advice of service provision during this time by Corporate Services.

Office of the Chief Operating Officer

The Office of the Chief Operating Officer will close on Wednesday 21 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

Dr Stephen Weller will be on leave from Wednesday 21 December 2016 to Wednesday 11 January 2017. Scott Jenkins, Director of Finance, will be acting Chief Operating Officer during this period.

Office of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer

The Office of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer will close at 5pm on Thursday 22 December and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

Governance

The Directorate of Governance will close at 5pm on Thursday 22 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

General Counsel (OGC)

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) will close at 5pm on Thursday 22 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

Finance

The NSW Finance office will close at 3pm on Thursday 22 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017. The Vic and QLD Finance offices will close at 3pm on Friday 23 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

Important Finance dates:

Information Technology (IT)

The Office of Information Technology (IT) will close at 5pm on 23 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

The IT Service Desk will be available from 11am to 3pm AESDT on Wednesday 28 December, Thursday 29 December and Friday 30 December 2016. It will be otherwise closed from 3pm on Friday 23 December until Tuesday 3 January 2017. Requests can still be placed online at https://itservicedesk.acu.edu.au/.

Please note: Any calls to the Service Desk during these times will need to dial the full telephone number including the QLD area code (07) 3623 7878.

Marketing and External Relations (MER)

Marketing and External Relations will close on Friday 23 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017 in NSW and from Monday 26 December 2016 to Tuesday 3 January 2017 in all other states. During this time traditional and social media will continue to be monitored.

Office of Planning and Strategic Management (OPSM)

The Office of Planning and Strategic Management will close on Friday 23 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

Human Resources (HR)

Human Resources (HR) will close at 5pm on Thursday 22 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017 in NSW and from Monday 26 December 2016 to Tuesday 3 January 2017 in other states.

Payroll Processing Deadlines – changes for December 2016 /January 2017

To enable timely salary payment over the Christmas period, it is important that all staff and supervisors are aware of the following adjustments to the normal deadlines for the submission of salary payment documentation:

Deadlines for salary payments in December 2016 /January 2017

Due to the compression of the normal salary payments and associated work together with the processing of termination payments prior to the University closedown, it will not be possible to process claims received after the published deadlines, nor process any requests for manual payments.

Your salary payments – changes in December 2016 / January 2017

Properties and Facilities

For all emergencies, access needs or assistance throughout the Christmas shut down period contact the ACU National Security Centre on 1300 729 452 or x 8888. The National Security Centre is staffed with trained personnel and will provide assistance and support with any issues on all campuses during this period.

Development and Major Projects offices will close in all states on Thursday 22 December 2016 and re-open in Victoria, NSW and ACT on Wednesday 4 January 2017, and the following Monday 9 January 2017 in Brisbane. Please note that no project work is planned during the Christmas shutdown period. For project specific information related to an emergency please contact John Kouris 0475 821 235in Victoria, David Browning 0437 695 584 in NSW/ACT and Chris Gill 0447 950 638 in Queensland.

For matters relating to Facilities Management during the shutdown period, please contact Neil Hodgson 0476 823 651 in Victoria, Dean Smith 0476 824 266 in NSW/ACT and Martin Cichero 0476 824 265 in Queensland.

Academic Registrar and Student Administration

AskACU (North Sydney and Strathfield) counters will close at 1pm on 22 December 2016. Student Administration services in all states will close on Friday 23 December 2016 and re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017.

On behalf of all staff within Corporate Services, I wish the University community a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Regards, Stephen