MGSE staff news

Digital Taskforce Update

Information, support and admin modules available

An Information, Support and Administration module for MGSE Students has been imported into all seond-half year MGSE subjects (excluding Breadth and MSPACE).

This module comprises five pages covering some of those items of compliance in the MGSE LMS Checklist. Access the Canvas Commons page of the MGSE LMS Support community or self-enrol for more information.

Visit the Digital Taskforce page for updates for further updates.

Canvas update

Learning Environments will continue to offer professional development workshops, via Zoom, through the end of semester and the non-teaching period. Upcoming workshops include, Canvas: Getting Started, Canvas: For tutors, Canvas: Advanced Assignments and a new workshop Gradebook. For the full schedule and to register visit the Workshops and webinars page.

Resources and support for staff during stage 3 restrictions

With the return to Stage 3 ‘Stay at home restrictions’ in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, and with most students returning to remote learning, resources have been updated to support staff and managers with continued remote work and balancing work and family commitments.

Staff Hub – Working from home or remotely

• To make the ‘Working from home’ content easier to find, the resources have been moved to the COVID-19 response page.
• Staying connected and maintaining positive relationships will remain critical for navigating remote work.  The site includes updated tips and resources encouraging staff to reach out, connect and show care for colleagues.
• Creating clear boundaries between work and personal time while ‘home is work and work is home’ can be difficult.  There are some tips on setting up healthy work habits to help with proper mental separation of work and home, even if physical separation is not possible.
• Working from home safely and effectively – an online training module is now available in TrainMe to support staff with working effectively from home.
  
  Staff Hub – Wellbeing resources

• Dealing with remote work and physical distancing can leave us feeling isolated and can take a toll on our energy levels and mental health.  On this page you will find some tools and resources to look after your own wellbeing and mental health as well as look after others and support family members and colleagues.  
  
  Flexible work arrangements

• With many staff needing to take on additional responsibilities for home schooling and carer responsibilities, staff are encouraged to have a conversation with their manager about their individual circumstances.

New cut off deadlines for payments of supplier invoices

The University is introducing cut-off times for payments to supplier 'pay runs', effective from Friday 3 August. The current practice of accepting approval of invoices and/or holds releases up to a few minutes before submitting a payment file to the bank is no longer sustainable in an environment where payment flexibility must be balanced against University cash needs, and be managed with increased precision and forecasting reliability.

Domestic payments cut-off time is 11am the day before the Tuesday and Thursday pay runs. International payments cut-off time is 8am on Wednesday. Divisional users are asked to note the new cut-off times so they can plan invoice approval and/or holds releases in accordance with the new deadlines. Visit the Knowledge Base article about payments to find out more.

Kate Challis RAKA Award 2020 applications open

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.

University of Melbourne Archives (UMA) turned 60

UMA turned 60 years old on Monday 29 June. Since the formation of the Archives in 1960, UMA has expanded its collections to over 20 kilometres of historically and culturally important material across a range of collections. Today it is one of the largest non-government archives in Australia.

To mark the occasion, Archives and Special Collections have created a video celebrating the story and significance of the University of Melbourne Archives. A range of contributors were crowd sourced from their various places of social isolation in order to help tell the story of the UMA. Featured contributors include researchers, academics, archivists as well as staff and students past and present.  Their contributions demonstrate the varied use of archival records and highlight the depth of material held in the UMA.

2020 Best Practice Awards in Tertiary Education Management

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.