![](/-/media/feature/micrositesnewsandevents/staffnews/suzanne-chambers-460px.jpg)
Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
05 November 2019
Share
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”- John C. Maxwell.
Recently North Sydney’s MacKillop Student Association (MAKSA) Executive spent valuable time on a short retreat with the Campus Ministry Team and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Coordination), Professor Hayden Ramsay, exploring themes of leadership, responsibility and building culture.
The retreat was an important opportunity for outgoing and incoming MAKSA members to engage with one another and be encouraged for the future, and praised for their efforts during this year.
The day saw some team activities followed by input from Professor Ramsay, with significant time for discussion in both small groups and as a whole before each MAKSA member was thanked by Campus Ministry and presented with a memento.
Over 2019, the FX Mission Team, a part of North Sydney’s Campus Ministry, has worked hard to demonstrate to students the love we’ve encountered from God. A great pathway to achieving that has been through a real and transparent friendship with the MacKillop Student Association.
Both Campus Ministry and MAKSA have come to realise that we have the same mission in mind, but under a different name. MAKSA calls it ‘building a vibe’, and Campus Ministry calls it 'showing God’s love', but there is a ‘joy’ and a ‘fire’ that we all long for in common, and working together we’ve been able to bring this to life on campus.
When Campus Ministry has empowered the students as leaders, it encouraged them to be bold and to realise that they really do have the ability to change the student culture of our university, for the better. MAKSA has similarly encouraged Campus Ministry and asked for our involvement and influential footprint.
Since MAKSA and Campus Ministry both desire change, it was easy to engage in our retreat day together, meeting each other where we’re at and consciously inviting Jesus into that space as well.
Professor Hayden Ramsay was able to talk to us about being ‘bridge people’, consciously connecting cultures, faiths and the silos of the university. It was a great honour for Campus Ministry to assist Professor Ramsay in thanking the outgoing MAKSA Executives for their service, and to welcome and encourage the incoming members.
My powerful take-home for the day was that leadership should never be restrained to a title or position. It’s true that there is a difference between power and influence, so be happy to influence even if you don’t have the power.
Michi Lonas
MAKSA and Campus Ministry team member
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.