MGSE staff news
Who's travelling?
The following MGSE staff will be travelling soon. If you have colleagues, potential RHD scholars, prospective students, events, or opportunities in or near the locations that they are travelling to, you are encouraged to get in touch with these staff directly to explore the potential for collaboration.
| Name | Departure | Route | Destination | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazal Rizvi | 22/2/20 | MEL SIN LHR HEL | Finland | Conference |
| Lisa McKay Brown |
28/2/20 5/ 3/20 |
MEL LAX IND IND JFK MIA | USA | Conference |
| Sophia Arkoudis | 6/3/2020 | MEL CBR MEL | Canberra | Meeting |
| Chi Baik | 6/3/2020 | MEL CBR MEL | Canberra | Meeting |
| Dina Uzhegova | 6/3/20 | MEL CBR MEL | Canberra | Meeting |
| Jan van Driel | 14/3/20 | MEL YVR PDX | USA | Conference |
| Anne Suryani |
20/3/20 27/3/20 | MEL SFO DTW DFW SYD MEL | USA | Conference |
Travel advice
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has revised its travel advice for China to do not travel.
In section 5.12 of the University's Student Travel and Transport Policy stipulates student travel to a destination with a DFAT alert of ‘do not travel’, is only possible with the permission of the Academic Registrar. The need to adhere to this requirement remains extremely important at this time.
Staff are asked to please contact students who have plans to travel to China currently and up to March 31, 2020, to ensure that they are made aware of this recent travel advice, and are supported to seek alternative arrangements.
The above arrangement will be in place until the DFAT travel advice changes. As always, the University will update students and staff on travel and related matters as new information emerges.
A reminder to staff that all University-related travel must be booked in the UniTravel system, which enables the University to fulfil its duty of care to staff and students travelling on our behalf. This is particularly important where risk to travellers can escalate quickly, such as in the case of recent advice regarding the risk of travel to Iran.
Booking travel within the UniTravel system also eliminates the need for a travel diary for staff, where the dominant purpose of travel is University business.
Reminder of supervisor responsibilities - Travel
The University's Travel Policy requires supervisors to ensure that staff they supervise undertake travel in accordance with the policy and in a manner that ensures that the University is able to maintain its employer duty of care and fringe benefits tax (FBT) compliance.
Staff intending to travel for business must communicate their travel plans with their supervisor and the supervisor must: ensure the traveller books flights and accommodation through the University's endorsed booking platform; confirm that the travel is being undertaken for legitimate University business; and, if there is a personal component to the travel, confirm that the dominant purpose of travel is for University business. Guidance on supervisor responsibilities, and dominant purpose definition and common examples can be found on the UniTravel webpage. For any enquiries contact: gareth.payne@unimelb.edu.au
Course advice and support regarding the novel coronavirus
The University has prepared course specific information for the student community affected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) on the Novel coronavirus: student advice and support page.
Security access upgrade to Level 9, 100 Leicester Street
Following the refurbishment of Level 9, 100 Leicester St, the security levels for the floor will be altered to match those of other levels. The first doors will remain open within the currently specified hours to allow access for those using the Frank Tate room. The second set of doors will require swipe card access and will be limited to MGSE staff only. As is the case on other levels, guests without their staff card will be required to contact the staff member they are visiting using the directory by the lifts. These changes will be in effect from Monday 17 February.
Single Workload Model for MGSE - Project Working Group kicks off
A project Working Group to develop a single workload model for MGSE had its first meeting on 3 February this year.
The ‘kick off’ meeting was an opportunity to recap on the recommendations from the Wells Advisory report and to consider critical tasks associated with the development of a single workload model. It will take into consideration the full range of academic activities, including teaching, research, leadership and service.
The Working Group is chaired by Keryn Negri and comprises representatives from Early Career (Catherine Smith) and Mid Career academics (Lynda Ball), as well as DD Staffing, Helen Cahill.
MGSE has engaged the services of Professor Janet Verbyla, as our subject matter expert, to assist the Working Group. Before becoming a consultant, Professor Verbyla was acting Vice-Chancellor and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Southern Queensland where she was responsible for developing and implementing a divisional academic workload allocation model that has since been acknowledged as a sector exemplar. We are very pleased that Janet is available to assist MGSE in the design of our single workload model.
Information about the project is available on the intranet and will be updated as the project progresses. The Working Group will remain in place for the time it takes to develop the single workload model (approximately 6 months).
For more information about the project please do not hesitate to contact Keryn Negri.
2020 Chancellery Women in Leadership participants
Congratulations to Dr Jenny Chesters and Dr Victoria Millar who are the successful applicants for the Women in Leadership initiative which aims to enhance academic women's understanding of leadership in a University context. The program is one of several strategies aimed at addressing women’s under representation in higher level academic appointments and on key policy, decision making and governance bodies. This remains an issue of strategic importance to the University.
Australia Day honours MGSE 2020
Congratulations to our MGSE colleagues who were awarded Australia Day honours last month.
Associate Professor Erica Frydenberg AM
For significant service to psychology as a researcher, educator and adviser.
Professor Lea Waters AM
For significant service to education, and to psychology. University of Melbourne · Professor and Founding Director, Centre for Positive Psychology, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, 2014-2017.
Emeritus Professor Warren Arthur Bebbington AM
For significant service to education, particularly to the study of music.
Officer in General Division of the Order of Australia, Dr Linley Margaret Martin AO
For distinguished service to education, particularly to student equity, educational standards and academic administration.
Join the new UoM Emergency Services Volunteer Network
If you are you a University of Melbourne staff member who also volunteers for an Australian or Victorian emergency service there is an opportunity for you to join the newly-established Emergency Services Volunteer Network - a community for those actively engaged in volunteering roles focused on emergency response, relief and recovery.
The network comprises a CFA volunteer firefighter and community safety coordinator and a VIC SES operational volunteer and training section leader. They are keen to connect people to share experiences, knowledge, skills and advice to support each other in undertaking the important yet challenging volunteer work we all do. Please get in touch to find out more and get involved. Send an email to uom-esvn@unimelb.edu.au for more information and registration or call 0409 847 060.
Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
The University is constantly working to bolster cybersecurity capability to prevent, detect and respond to cyberthreats. As part of this the University is implementing a new Single Sign On (SSO) and Multifactor Authentication (MFA) technology for all staff and students.
Visit the Cybersecurity@Melbourne page to keep up to date with the latest news and updates.
Install the 2020 Sustainability calendar
The 2020 Sustainability desktop calendar is here. Install the desktop wallpaper calendar to view upcoming University holidays, important dates and sustainability tips right on your desktop. The 2020 update will automatically roll-out to users who have it previously installed. For new users, visit the Sustainable Campus website for instructions on how to install the calendar, or to download the PDF file.
Join the MGSE Go Green team
MGSE Go Green is currently recruiting new team members for the Green Impact Initiative in 2020! This initiative is a behavior change and engagement program that supports staff and students, in teams, to become more sustainable in their workplace. Whether you have a lot or a little time, Green Impact is for you! If you think you can contribute a little bit (or a lot) to make MGSE more sustainable, please reach out and join the team in 2020! MGSE Go Green has achieved Bronze and Silver levels in 2018 and 2019 and is aiming to smash the Gold level in 2020. For more information, check out the Green Impact page and see what’s involved. To join please email Pian Zhang at pian.zhang@unimelb.edu.au before Friday 13 March.
Call for mentors - 2020 Access Connections Mentoring Program
The Access Connections Mentoring Program is now recruiting mentors to be part of the program for 2020. Mentors can be staff who have studied at the University and would like to volunteer their time in providing career guidance and advice to students as they navigate through their career decision-making process and transition into professional life. Mentees of the program are second year and above students who either started their university journey via the Access Melbourne Scheme or an Access Scholarship. A workshop will be conducted at the start of the program to ensure mentors feel confident and ready to launch into their mentorship connection, with ongoing support provided by the Program Coordinator throughout the program. More information and registration visit the Mentoring at Melbourne website or email: access-connections@unimelb.edu.au.
Thank you to those who donated
As part of the University's partnership with the Jawun Development Program Keryn Negri (Executive Program) and Gemma Barry (Employees Secondment Program) visited Ceduna in South Australia to learn from key Indigenous leaders and provide support to Indigenous organisations. The community has a goal to increase school attendance.
Over the Christmas period, a call for donations went out to staff for school shoes and bags to benefit the Remote School Attendance team in Ceduna, helping to get Indigenous kids to school.
As a result of your donations, two large boxes of bags and shoes were posted in time for Term 1. Peter Jericho, the Manager of the Ceduna Youth Hub thanked MGSE stating “they will be a welcome support to some students and their families”.
We thank all those for their generosity and for contributing to this worthy cause.
Upcoming changes to the University's mobile phone service
New features will reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities, streamline the process of resetting a forgotten passcode, wipe data off lost phones and arrange faster replacement phones. To enable these features, University-owned mobile phone users will soon be asked by email to download and install the 'MobileIron' mobile app. All University-owned mobile phone users are expected to install the app, which assists the University to support mobile phone users. It can't be used to view or share mobile phone data. For more information visit the Knowledge Base or for assistance please raise a Service Now ticket.
OneCRM Program Toolkit and resources
The OneCRM Toolkit has been launched and has details what the program is, what we have delivered, and how you can get involved.
Staff resources to support student mental health
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a number of resources to assist staff to support student mental health. Staff can contact CAPS for a confidential secondary consultation (mental health advice) regarding any student or staff-and-student related mental health concern during business hours.
All staff can enroll in the free 40-minute online training program 'Supporting Student Mental Health' to learn how to respond to students with mental health problems and about available services and resources.
For those requiring more in-depth training, the two-day Mental Health First Aid programs, delivered by CAPS counsellors and free to University staff, are now open for registration. First program dates are 17 and 18 February. For further information or tailored mental health training requests, see the CAPS website for details. Visit the Services for Staff page for more information or call 8344 6927.
Expressions of interest - Professional Staff Conference 2020 committee
EOIs close Monday 17 February.
Expressions of interest are now open for the 2020 Professional Staff Conference (PSC) organising committee. Professional staff across the University who are interested in being involved in the organisation and planning for this year's PSC are invited to submit their expression of interest by Monday 17 February to: go.unimelb.edu.au/3jcr for any enquiries contact: psc-info@unimelb.edu.au.
2020 MGSE Social Committee volunteer recruitment
Social Committee meeting
Date: Thursday 20 February
Time: 2.30pm
Location: Level 9, 100 Leicester Street, L917
The Social Committee hope you have enjoyed the various events organised by the MGSE Social Committee in 2019, it was a fantastic year with many highlights. MGSE staff came together earlier this year for a morning tea to raise funds for the bushfire relief, and together everyone raised $4000.
These events are the result of staff volunteers who have given their time to help enrich the MGSE community, and now the Committee is looking for new recruits!
The committee now has four members and in order for us to continue holding events and activities we need more volunteers. Ideally, we would love to have an academic and professional staff representative from each floor. Thank you to past volunteers - Lisle Williams, Neryl Jeanneret, Terry Bowles, Rhonda Di Biase and Kapisha Patel.
For more information please contact, Tracy Houston or come to a Social Committee meeting on Thursday 20 February at 2.30 in meeting room L917.
Salary sacrifice parking permit - new rate applied
Last year, the University approved adjustments to car parking rates for 2020.
These account for the rising costs of running the car park service, including the state congestion levy. The last time car parking rates were adjusted was in 2014. The staff salary sacrifice rate increased from $2650 per annum to $2850 per annum. This new rate began in the pay period commencing on 11 January. The staff casual parking discount rates also changed for some locations. A full comparative schedule of pay at the gate rates, including the staff casual discount rates, is available on the Staff Services Portal. The new pay at the gate rates were applied on 1 January. For any enquiries email transport-parking@unimelb.edu.au or call 834 40888.
Graduate Student Association (GSA) has moved
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has temporarily moved to the Doug McDonell Building while the 1888 Building is being fully renovated and refurbished as part of the New Student Precinct Project scope of works. The interim new home of GSA, located next to the level 3 entrance to the ERC, can be accessed via the internal elevator and staircase in the Doug McDonell Building or via the external staircase accessed via Porter's Lane.
During the renovations taking place over the coming 8-12 months, it'll be business as usual for the GSA team, who continue to provide representation, services, events, training and support for enrolled graduate students in 2020. Visit the GSA website for more information or email leah.hyland@unimelb.edu.au for any further enquiries.