Calling for process improvement ideas
News 27 MarchWe all encounter university processes firsthand every day and sometimes these processes require improvements. Tell us what to fix.
07 December 2017
Share
A message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning and Teaching) Professor Anne Cummins:
Dear colleagues,
This month I have asked Jane Ceolin - Director, First Peoples and Equity Pathways to write my piece. I think you will find it interesting as she will be sharing about the recent ‘Nganana’ - Leadership, Spirituality and Cultural study tour to Central Australia.
With every good wish
Professor Anne Cummins
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning & Teaching)
In November, a group of 22 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, accompanied by ACU staff, participated in the Leadership, Spirituality and Cultural Study Tour – 'Nganana' to Central Australia.
The aim of the tour was to deepen the students’ understanding of Aboriginal culture, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Aboriginal Spirituality and the Mission of ACU and broaden their experience of leadership. Students were asked to reflect on and consider the connections between Leadership, Indigenous Spirituality and Culture Journey in the context of their studies, as community members and future professionals. It was an extraordinary experience.
As part of the tour, the group explored the diverse Country of the Arrernte and Anangu peoples and, on most days experienced the beauty of early sunrises and sunsets against the majestic background of the ranges. The group was also physically challenged, taking on three to five hour hikes each day across rugged mountains and gorges at Kata Tjuta National Park and Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) and traversing the base of Uluru.
Participants connected Indigenous Knowings through cultural and spiritual stories of place with recent Western knowledge sourced from anthropological and geological information.
The group also visited Alice Springs and Yulara and the remote Aboriginal Catholic community of Santa Teresa where each offered a different learning experience to all.
In conjunction with exploring, students also participated in practical workshops including:
Testimonial from an ACU student, Jade Kerr
“By participating in the Nganana tour, I have been inspired to do more with my life. Through learning about all of our different experiences of culture and identity, being able to practice culture, and sharing our hopes for the future of Australia.
This tour has truly been a life altering experience which has ignited a thirst within me. I have been inspired to learn more of Kamilaroi culture and have enrolled into language classes commencing in 2018. I am hoping to seek placement in a remote community for my Bachelor of Nursing degree, so that when I graduate I will know how to properly care for our mob and can give back and help close the gap in health care.
I also hope to pass on all that I have learnt to others, in particular my two younger brothers, and have arranged to take them on a ‘Back to Country’ tour in January 2018, which will conclude in Yulara.”
Thank you to all the staff and students who made this tour a success and I would also like to thank Father Harry Chan (Chaplain, Campus Ministry), Helen Murnane (Student Admission) and Tom Armstrong (Student Advocacy) who all shared and contributed to this extraordinary experience.
Wishing you all a pleasant holiday season.
Jane Ceolin
Director, First Peoples and Equity Pathways
We all encounter university processes firsthand every day and sometimes these processes require improvements. Tell us what to fix.
A message from Vice President Fr Anthony Casamento csma: This week is the most solemn week in the Church’s liturgical year, but what makes it holy?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online and face-to-face next month, including Difficult Conversations, Lead from Anywhere and Creating Respectful Workplac...
ACU has a new process for submitting cases of academic misconduct. From Monday 8 April, all potential cases must be lodged through the Student Academic Misconduct Management System (SAMMS).
All ACU campuses will be closed between Friday 29 March and Monday 1 April inclusive for the Good Friday and Easter Monday public holidays (except for some library services).
This week we are invited to participate in the greatest story ever told and the most moving drama ever imagined – the Holy Week.
Register to attend the first Aquero lecture for 2024, ‘You are what you eat and how you sleep!’ divulging the lessons learned from 50 years working with elite athletes.
ACU’s eMarketplace catalogue features a wide range of products from a growing list of preferred suppliers. Find out more about the ACU eMarketplace catalogue and how to access it.
St Thomas Aquinas wrote a great deal about love and one of his most famous quotes is “To love is to will the good of the other”. Inherent in these words is a recognition of the authenticity of real lo...
A message from Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Cogin: As I settle into the role and community, I’ve felt a warmth and culture of deep caring.
Cut off dates for the submission of all timesheets and other supporting documentation for salary payments have been brought forward due to the Easter Holidays observed on 29 March and 1 April 2024
Teaching staff are encouraged to check their units have been correctly linked to their names for the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys in upcoming teaching periods.
Enhance support for your students by incorporating the standardised feedback comments, developed by the Academic Skills Unit, for use in Canvas SpeedGrader to save time.
Wondering about the best way to ensure you research is more discoverable? Join the Library in this Research Essentials webinar.
Be part of the ACU Big Sing for a big cause - a collaborative, community-wide project involving multiple campuses.
Include an additional question in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Trimester 1 (202432).
Having problems accessing library resources? Check out these tips to improve your access.
A message from Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis: Over the last three weeks, I had the pleasure of visiting all ACU campuses to introduce staff to Vision 2033, our strategy directi...
It is important that staff are aware of the legislative obligations relating to international students.
Join us on the road to Santiago De Compostela to undertake the Camino walk in Spain. The pilgrimage will take place 1–9 October 2024.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.