MGSE staff news

Stage 4 restrictions -
Worker and childcare permits

The University is developing a process to assess and approve permits for onsite attendance. In the interim, only the Head of Division/Faculty can act as the University’s nominated representative in issuing permits. As no MGSE activities are captured in the list below, it is not anticipated that any staff member will be eligible for a permit. Questions regarding the issuing of permits can be directed to Olivia Stocks.

Childcare update

In addition to other recent measures, the Victorian government has announced a 'childcare permit'. As of Thursday 6 August, “only the children of permitted workers and vulnerable kids will be able to access childcare and kinder.” The University will support this through the following measures (please note these are subject to change in line with advice that may be received):

University childcare centres
The University’s three childcare centres will be operational during Stage 4, with the potential for some restrictions or changes to service offerings subject to changes in child numbers. Childcare services will be available to eligible workers under the new guidelines. Communications will be sent to parents of enrolled children outlining these changes.  Access to University childcare services will require a Permitted Worker Permit (including childcare) to be provided to the Centre.

Childcare permits for University staff
University staff undertaking or supporting a permitted work activity as defined under the permitted industry guidelines are eligible under the guidelines for either a ‘Worker Permit’ or a ‘Permitted Industry Remote Workers’ permit. Under the Permitted Industry definitions, the following Tertiary facilities servicing (including related occupations and activities) are permitted to be delivered onsite, only where remote delivery is not possible and form the list of eligible activities:

  1. Assessments for safe working practice and infection control
  2. First aid training where required for COVID response
  3. Study for health care workers
  4. Clinical health and biomedical science
  5. Commercial cleaning
  6. Aged and disability care
  7. Mandatory assessments for VCE and VCAL students
  8. Activity that relates to medical or other research that requires on-site attendance
  9. Care for animals, agriculture or horticulture
  10. Conduct cleaning, essential maintenance (including facilities, equipment and IT) and provide security

‘Permitted Industry Remote Workers’ are a category introduced as part of the childcare permit scheme for people working from home in the above permitted activities who are not able to supervise their children in the course of their duties, and who do not have anyone else in the household who can supervise them either.

Digital Taskforce Update

Here are some tips with three important aspects of digital teaching and learning:

  1. Interaction and Engagement
    Perusall is a really good way of encouraging students to interact with subject resources in a collaborative way.  You can find some instructions on the MGSE LMS support page.
  2. Academic staff presence
    Don’t forget to set up virtual office hours so students know how, when and where they can talk to you.
  3. Clarity in LMS site structure
    The LMS checklist available on the MGSE LMS support page can help with this.

Visit the Digital Taskforce page for updates for further updates.

Master of Teaching 2022 Project

A big thanks to all who attended the webinar last Friday and our discussion of the Master of Teaching 2022 project. The questions posed were excellent, and the team will definitely be responding to those that we didn’t get time to connect with during the actual webinar. This next phase in the project is crucial, which takes us to August 28.

The project team would like as many people as possible to engage with the Design Brief and to consider the questions raised – about the “point of difference” for the Melbourne Master of Teaching and the ways in which this could be expressed through the course architecture. Both are connected.

People are asked to think creatively and collegially, not feeling confined to any predetermined notions, apart from those identified in the Design Brief. This is a challenging brainstorming exercise, which will benefit from having as many brains as possible contributing.

If you are seeking a copy of the Design Brief, it is accessible via the calendar invitation sent out for last Friday’s webinar. Or please email John Quay or Daniela Acquaro, any questions welcomed.

Thought Provokers Series

The Melbourne School of Government is launching a new engagement project called the 'Thought Provokers Series'. The aim is to bring together an interdisciplinary snapshot on key issues that relate to governance, policy and regulation - with a focus on things relevant to COVID. The first theme is 'A Right to Work from Home.'

The School of Government would like to get some perspectives from the Melbourne Graduate School of Education staff, as there are a lot of things to consider around who provides education and how this is provided. Through this survey we're asking the School is asking to respond to the following statement:

COVID-19 has raised the idea that a ‘right to work from home’ should be enshrined in law. Some organisations have already announced that employees can work from home for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever. Is this something Australia should consider, and what impacts do you think it would have across society?

Seeking guest speakers

The Student Experience team is organising a Q&A session for new MGSE students. The sessions will focus on a particular selfcare topic, with the guest speaker running the session and getting students involved by asking them to share their study experiences.

Potential topics include:

  • Studying teaching in isolation
  • Managing stress while teaching kids online
  • How to stay active at home

These sessions will be an opportunity for students to feel connected and engage with their peers and the Graduate School by creating a two-way conversation and a sense of community.

If you have particular expertise in selfcare, the Student Experience team invites you to share you knowledge and engage with MGSE students. Contact Taylor Eisen for more information or to volunteer to host one of these sessions.

Computers running on Windows 7 and XP

The University is seeking your assistance to ensure all eligible Windows 7 or XP computers upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft ended its support for Windows 7 in January 2020 and no longer provides security or functionality updates. This means computers running Windows 7 or XP are a real cybersecurity risk to you and the University due to their vulnerability to cyber-attacks.  The University is aware that not all Windows 7 computers can upgrade to Windows 10. So the Business Services team is asking for your help to identify computers that cannot upgrade.

This may include computers that would have software or instrumentation compatibility issues.  If you're the primary user of a University Windows 7 or XP computer, please enter the details for any computers that cannot upgrade to Windows 10 by filling out this form.

Please provide this information by COB Friday 14 August. If this information isn't provided, computers may be upgraded automatically. For more information contact: windows10-upgrade@unimelb.edu.au.

2020 Best Practice Awards

The ATEM annual Best Practice Awards recognise outstanding practice in tertiary education management across 10 categories. Nominate yourself, your team or colleagues by downloading the Awards Criteria brochure and the Nomination form. Anyone who works in the sector or related industries can apply or nominate.

Nominations close Thursday 27 August.

Launch of Open Days

Full Open Days program goes live: Wednesday 19 August
Undergraduate Open Days: Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 September
Graduate Open Days: Monday 14 - Thursday 17 September

Find out more

Given current restrictions, 'Open Days 2020' will be delivered virtually this year, with over 200 webinars and online information sessions planned.

Over the coming days, the University will start promoting Open Day events through social content and digital advertising, see a sneak peek at the 'Redefine Possible' marketing campaign.

Kate Challis RAKA Award

The Kate Challis RAKA Award is now open for applications from Indigenous poets. RAKA, which means 'five' in the Pintupi language, is awarded to an Indigenous artist in one of five categories annually, including creative prose, poetry, script writing, drama and visual arts. In 2020, the $20,000 award celebrates the best book of poems already published between 2015-2020 written by an Indigenous author. The award was established by eminent art and cultural historian Professor Emeritus Bernard Smith. It is named to honour the memory of his late wife, Kate Challis, who was known in her youth as Ruth Adeney.

Applications close Monday 7 September. For any enquiries contact Amanda Morris.

Change your Zoom profile picture and name

The University locked down Zoom profiles for staff and students before the Semester 1 examination period due to security concerns, and consequently, staff aren't able to adjust their Zoom profile picture and name on their University Zoom account without assistance from the Service Centre. Chat online with the Service Centre or call 834 40888 to change your Zoom profile picture or account name.

Once your user profile has been changed, sign out of Zoom and then sign in again to see your changes take effect. For more information see this article on 'How to change your Zoom profile' or go to IT support services for enquiries.

Melbourne Microcerts now open for registration

The University's first group of Melbourne MicroCerts - industry-aligned microcredentials - are now open for registration. Five Melbourne MicroCerts are currently open on a range of topics including people and change in agriculture, leadership, professional boundaries and cybersecurity in organisations.

Most of the courses are open for anyone to register, including University staff. Several more Melbourne MicroCerts will open for registration over the coming weeks. Further are in development as faculties engage industry and professions to design more Melbourne MicroCerts for 2021. If you're interested in learning more about how to get involved in designing Melbourne MicroCerts visit the website.

Ensure you receive important emails

To ensure emails from the COVID-19 Response Team reach your inbox and don't get sent to your Other folder, please save corona-virus-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au in your contacts or mark it as a safe sender. The same applies for any other important emails you'd like to ensure you see every time. If you routinely ignore a certain sender, or delete their messages without reading, for example, Outlook will put future messages in Other, so they don't distract you from emails you interact with more often - opening, replying, clicking links etc.

So it's up to you to influence Outlook's behaviour and ensure you receive the important  information you need.

QR code scanning in on-campus teaching space

The University has introduced QR code scanning in Semester 2 teaching spaces as part of our safe return to campus. QR codes are an easy way for your students to log their information and allow for quick contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 case on campus. This will help us to protect you, your students, and the University community.