Dean's Report

We have nearly completed the second, and likely final week of the fourth lockdown we have endured over the past 18 months. While the restrictions are familiar, I think we were all a little surprised to find ourselves working from home again. I hope it has been a relatively smooth transition for you all although I know it is particularly difficult for those of you with caring responsibilities, including home schooling. It’s important that we all acknowledge the additional strain lockdown brings to our lives and prioritise self-care. The information today that various restrictions will be eased late on Thursday evening is good news indeed.

COVID-19 Update

The University is conscious that some staff may have personal circumstances that mean they are unable to work from home. Within the current guidelines, there are instances where work from campus is permitted when there is genuine hardship and health or wellbeing concerns, or where it is impractical for someone to perform their work remotely. Please speak to your supervisor or manager if this applies to you. As always you can stay in touch with the latest COVID-19 news on the University’s dedicated website or on our intranet.

PSR Phase 2 Update

Last week the final Phase Two Change Plans for the Pandemic Reset program were released by the University. Since the release of the plan, various webinars have been held to provide staff with details of the Change Plan and I encourage anyone seeking further clarification to contact Keryn Negri and/or Paula McAllister. The affected areas of Phase Two at MGSE are Communications and Marketing, and Student Recruitment and Admissions – these areas will be transitioning to Shared Services on the 30th August. Some staff will remain connected to MGSE in embedded roles while others will take up positions in different parts of the organisation, and some will leave the University. This is a difficult time for our professional staff so I trust that we will all display sensitivity and understanding to those affected. We will have to work in some new ways after the 30th August and it will, of course, take time for MGSE and the University to make the transition.

Staff Farewells

In the next few weeks, we will say farewell to two of our highly valued professional staff as they leave the University. Tracy Houston, who has worked at MGSE in alumni relations, and as our development officer in Advancement, has not only expertly nurtured our donor relationships but brought her energy and enthusiasm to the MGSE social club, lifted colleagues’ spirits and brought some fun to MGSE. Genevieve Jordan, our Senior Manager, Academic Services is also leaving the University at the end of the month. Genevieve has managed the Academic Services portfolio with a wide range of responsibilities including marketing, recruitment, placement, and student experience. She has also represented MGSE on various committees and groups across the University. Her strategic leadership skills have been vital during the pandemic as she has expertly guided her team to ably support MGSE academic staff move to online teaching, suspend and re-arrange placements for our students, and continue to recruit and support students in a wholly online environment. I thank both Tracy and Genevieve for their invaluable contributions to MGSE and particularly for their collegiality and comradery. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

It is with hope and anticipation that I look forward to interacting with many of you on a face-to-face basis in the very near future.

Jim