MGSE staff news

Digital Taskforce Update

The Digital Taskforce is inviting MGSE teaching staff to please complete a quick survey of the teaching and learning activities you use in the on-campus and/or online delivery of your subjects.

The survey is anonymous, should take no longer than 5-10 minutes, and will provide data to help inform our continued support of the teaching and learning within MGSE.

You can access the survey anytime from now until Friday 2 October.

Take the survey

Visit the Digital Taskforce page for further updates.

Update on COVID-19

Health Declaration to be completed daily

As per the Victorian Government's reopening roadmap Health Declarations must be completed each day before accessing the campus until the end of Step 2. The form can be accessed via the UoM website.

The student and staff websites are being updated to reflect this advice, as is on-campus signage. Go to the UoM return to campus roadmap for more information on the University's response.

Worker/childcare permits reminder

  • Childcare permits are required until current Stage 4 restrictions expire at 11:59pm 27 September
  • Worker permits required through Step 2 (which will not end before 25 October).

DHHS has confirmed the following on its website regarding issuing worker/childcare permits:

  • If businesses have issued permits with future date ranges, they do not need to reissue permitted worker permits
  • Businesses can edit and add to the dates on the permitted worker permits they have currently issued to workers if required
  • A new childcare permit does not need to be issued for permitted workers (remote or onsite) who have childcare permits.

However, if new permits are required, templates are available at the DHHS website:

Access to Childcare and Kinder (Working from Home) form (Word) – for permitted workers who are working from home and are unable to supervise their children in the course of their duties and who don’t have anyone else in the household who can supervise them.

Requesting to collect or return items to campus through ServiceNow

There are two options if you need to collect items from or return items to campus:

  1. ServiceNow Request: Staff can book on-campus item collection and arrange to return items via ServiceNow. Details on the process for physical collection and drop-off of items are also included in the forms and reflect the Victorian Government requirements regarding staged restrictions.
  2. Short-term building access: For staff who may need to access to campus buildings to retrieve necessary items/materials (eg those required to conduct online teaching) will need to complete a Health Declaration, Worker Permit and approval by the Dean/Head of Division. Deans must include essential-access@unimelb.edu.au on the email so that security can arrange building access for the individual.

Note that as per DHHS advice, “Penalties of up to $19,826 (for individuals) and $99,132 (for businesses) will apply to employers who issue worker permits to employees who do not meet the requirements of the worker permit scheme or who otherwise breach the scheme requirements.”

As such, the ServiceNow request should be considered as a first option wherever possible.

Educator guide

The guide to support teaching staff who are teaching on campus has been updated with current advice and support regarding the University’s COVIDSafe requirements. The guide outlines key considerations and guidelines for educators, teachers, and lecturers as they return to face-to-face teaching on campus and our number one priority continues to be the safety and wellbeing of our campus community. The guide is available on Staff Hub.

Engage with your graduating students

Following the Victorian Government’s response to COVID-19, the University of Melbourne will not hold traditional graduation ceremonies in December 2020. The University will hold-over all 2020 graduation ceremonies to 2021 when there may be a greater chance of delivering a ceremony format that enables larger graduand volumes and the presence of families.

In light of these new arrangements, the University will offer students more opportunities to graduate in absentia before the end of 2020, or defer to a ceremony in 2021. The first of these additional in absentia graduations will take place on Monday 5 October.

Another in absentia round will be held on Tuesday 22 December with more details to be delivered in the coming months.  Further in absentia conferral opportunities are also planned across January-March 2021 for students as they finish their course requirements, to enable a swift conferral for those students who require it for professional reasons. Below are some ways you can engage with students.

Post a message to students on your faculty’s Padlet page by Monday 5 October

  • Under 'message board' on MGSE’s page of the website, there will be a Padlet page, where you can post congratulatory messages via the Padlet link
  • The message doesn’t have to come from an individual. Group messages are also welcome
  • There is a facility to post GIFs, pictures, or to simply write a message – visit the padlet support page for more instructions
  • Be as creative as you feel like – the page looks best when it’s populated with lots of different messages.

Nb. These boards are moderated, so your message may take a couple of hours to appear on the pages

Share the celebration on your social media accounts on Monday 5 October

  • For those with public social media accounts, share MGSE’s video or a link to the website via Instagram or Twitter.
  • Use the hashtag #UniMelbAlumni2020 to join the broader conversation
  • If you would like, you can add your social media posts to MGSE's Padlet page using the 'Link' button.

Invitation for feedback

'UniPlus' co-curriculum

Chancellery (Academic) invites staff to provide feedback on the activated and recognised co-curriculum initiative of the Student Life strategy.

Provisionally named 'Uniplus', this initiative will promote and recognise students' participation in activities outside of the classroom, helping to build connection for students with each other, with the University and with the broader community. These activities can also bring new meaning to the curriculum, allowing students to create new understandings and connections.

Understanding staff and students' views will be an important step for successful development and implementation of Uniplus, which will have significant impact on students' experience and learning.

UoM Early Childhood Centres - applications open for 2021

Applications are now open to enrol your child for a place in one of the UoM Early Childhood Centres at Queensberry and Swanston Street. To apply, please complete and return the application form by Friday 23 October to be considered for vacancies commencing from January 2021.

For any enquiries email childcare-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

Recording available: Dungala Kaiela Oration

The annual Dungala Kaiela Oration delivered by Dr Lois Peeler on 'The River is Us - Carrying the Spirit and Strength of Dungala' is available to watch on UoM's Reconciliation website.

Updated editorial style guide

The UoM editorial style guide has been reviewed and updated. The changes include a review of number formatting, use of pronouns and gender neutrality, and UoM specific terminology: eg Melbourne curriculum, Melbourne experience, Student Life.

You can access the guide via the Staff Hub or from the MGSE Branding, logo and images page in the 'Other resources' section.

IT Update

Claim your LastPass password manager account

LastPass is offering all University staff a personal LastPass Premium account. LastPass is a password manager application that helps you to create strong and unique passwords, eliminates the pain and frustration of forgetting passwords.

You can use the LastPass web browser extension/application to save and access your passwords in one safe place. After saving your credentials, LastPass enters your username and password when you next log into a saved website.

LastPass is offering the University two different packages:

1. University enterprise licence - only available to staff in Business Services, Architecture Building and Planning (ABP) and Melbourne Law School (MLS) for now.

2. Personal Premium licence account - complimentary offer for all University staff with enterprise licence.

For more information visit the Password Manager section on Cyrbersecurity site.

Sustainability Update

Virtual Sustainability Tour launched

The Sustainability Team is delighted to announce the development and launch of an interactive virtual tour. We hope this tour will support the University community and allow people to engage with our beautiful campuses while working and studying remotely.

Explore the University's sustainable initiatives, services, and infrastructure on our virtual tour. Navigate the map of the Parkville campus to hear from experts across the University explain how we embed sustainability across our campuses in order to reduce our collective environmental impact. The virtual tour covers initiatives within five broad areas of sustainability: waste, water, energy, biodiversity and transport. Content will be updated regularly so check back in fortnightly for additional tour stops, covering more of our campuses.

The tour comprises a number of short videos and can be completed in your own time.

Take the tour

For any equiries contact: sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au

Have your say - University's Sustainability Plan

The University's Sustainability Plan expires at the end of 2020, and a new Plan for 2021 to 2025 is being developed over the coming months. The new Plan will shape the University's commitment to lead and act on the critical challenges of global sustainability and a changing climate, and to model our campuses as sustainable and resilient communities.

To inform the new Sustainability Plan,  the University is seeking input from staff, students and alumni on three key questions:

1. What does sustainability mean to you?
2. What role do you think the University can and should play in transitioning society to a sustainable future?
3. What priorities would you like to see reflected in the University's Sustainability Plan 2021-2025?

Have your say by submitting your response via a survey or join an online session:

Visit Our Sustainability Commitment page for more information or for any enquiries contact: sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au.