MGSE staff news

Launch of MGSE’s Statement of Reconciliation

Date: Tuesday 31 May 2022
Time: 10:30am - 11:30am

Register to join us for morning tea during National Reconciliation Week to celebrate the launch of MGSE’s Working to effect change: A Statement of Reconciliation.

The purpose of this statement is to build a common understanding and shared responsibility throughout MGSE to contribute to the critical work of foregrounding Indigeneity within our practices. We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the approximately 50 staff who attended workshops to help draft this Statement of Reconciliation.

Enquiries: jacinda.liau@unimelb.edu.au


LMS accessibility workshops

Andrew Normand (Web Accessibility Lead) is running a series of workshops to support staff to design LMS sites for accessibility.

Topics include: current common issues with accessibility in the LMS; navigating accessibility issues and what can be done to improve accessibility.

Workshop dates:

  • 15 June 2022 at 11am-12pm
  • 12 July 2022 at 11am-12pm

Register now


MGSE call for Health & Safety Representatives

MGSE is looking to fill a vacancy for an employee Health and Safety Representative (HSR) for our Designated Work Group (DWG).

We are commencing the nomination and election process in accordance with our obligations under the Health and Safety Act. The full procedure is detailed in the Health & Safety: Health and safety representative election guidelines.The ‘Returning Officer’ is MGSE’s Health & Safety Business Partner, Georgie Anning.

The term of office is 3 years and the HSR will be a member of MGSE’s OHS Committee, which meets quarterly. This year the Committee has a focus on mental health and wellbeing.

Further information about the role of a HSR at the University is available from the Health & Safety: Consultation representation and committee requirements

Nomination Proces:

  • HSR’s are elected by University staff members who are members of the DWG (MGSE)
  • Any University staff member who is a member of the DWG as at the opening of nominations at Monday 23 May is eligible to be nominated
  • Any University staff member who is a member of the DWG at the opening of nominations is entitled to vote
  • Nominations must be supported by at least two staff members of the DWG. Nominations must be made on the nomination form attached
  • Each nomination form may be accompanied by an electoral statement from the candidate of no more than 200 words, stating why the candidate is suitable to serve as a HSR of the DWG.

The nomination forms should be submitted to Georgie Anning.

Nominations close on Friday 3 June  (COB). 

If no nominations are received by the closing date, the HSR position will be declared vacant.

If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, then an online voting process begin from Monday 6 June.

Please get in touch with Georgie Anning if you have any questions about this process.


Participants Wanted in a Maths Lesson Filming for a Pilot Study

Date: Tuesday 21 June

Time: 13:30 - 15:30

  • Would you like to participate in a research project on teacher decision making?
  • Do you want to find out more about the research classroom facility in the Kwong Lee Dow Building?
  • Are you interested to participate as a student in a demonstration maths lesson in the research classroom while being filmed?

The International Community for Classroom Research (ICCR) Hub is running a pilot study investigating teacher decision making. We will be filming a demonstration mathematics lesson in the research classroom in the Kwong Lee Dow building (234 Queensberry Str). The demonstration lesson will be taught by an experienced teacher in the area of fractions in primary mathematics. We are seeking adult volunteers to participate in the lesson as students on Tuesday June 21st from 1:30-3:30pm. Volunteers will receive a $15 gift voucher and a tour of the research facility after the lesson filming (HREC Project ID: 22924).

More information and registration: https://education.unimelb.edu.au/iccr/projects/tdcp/tdcp-recruitment

Enquiries and registration: mc.chan@unimelb.edu.au


Sessional Teaching Staff Recruitment for Second Half Year 2022

We are now in a position to commence sessional teaching staff recruitments for Second Half Year 2022. For subjects commencing on or after July 18th, we will be using the Casual Tutor Recruitment System (CTRS) to facilitate this process.

It is preferable that sessional appointments are made through CTRS as it allows for a diverse pool of candidates.

All Second Half Year subject coordinators will be contacted by the Academic Programs team early next week to seek confirmation of their intention to use the CTRS and to request details of subject-specific questions to be asked of applicants. The sessional vacancies will then be advertised on the sessional academic opportunities site for a period of three weeks.

Once applications close, academic staff can select their preferred applicants and the CTRS team will advise all applicants of the outcome. A letter of offer and a sessional employment contract will then be sent to successful applicants.

If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact the CTRS team.

If you have special contextual needs or circumstances, or any issues with adopting the CTRS system, please discuss these directly with the team. We are happy to provide support as you need to participate in this process.


MGSE Awards Evening

All staff are invited to attend the 2022 Awards Evening on Thursday 02 June 2022 from 5.00pm.

It is a very exciting year as it is our first in-person Awards Evening since 2019. This annual event is a highlight of the Graduate School’s calendar and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students, graduates, and staff.

Please register your attendance by Thursday 26 May. Guests are welcome to attend the event – please ensure they register their attendance.

Please note it is a requirement for anyone attending University of Melbourne campuses to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (or have a valid medical exemption). Guests are required to provide proof of vaccination at this event upon request.

Volunteer call out

The MGSE Events Team is looking for staff volunteers to help with the MGSE awards night this year. Volunteers are needed between the hours of 3.30pm and 8.30pm.

Subject to agreement with your manager and in line with university policy, you may also receive overtime pay for staff levels UOM6 and under, or time and a half in lieu for levels UOM7 and above. Meal allowance is payable for staff working beyond 7pm and a Uber voucher will be provided to ensure you get home safely. 

Please contact Yvette Macdermott if you are interested in volunteering and for more information on available roles.


2022 Semester 1 GR Orientation & Welcome session

The MERI Team hosted the 2022 Semester 1 GR Orientation & Welcome session as a face-to-face event on Thursday 7th April.   It was great to see so many in person and some for the first time since the start of the pandemic two years ago.

The event was an enormous success attended by close to 50 graduate researchers and staff.

The session covered a wide range of topics, focusing on candidature milestones (related policies, procedures, and guidelines), including resources and support services available in key areas like the Library, Counselling and Psychological Services and Graduate Student Association.   It also included a message from the Associate Dean-Research Training and a panel session on student/supervisor experience, all of which were very engaging and informative.

The event provided plenty of opportunities to network, discuss and form connections with peers and staff from within the School and other areas of the University. The attendees enjoyed a fun evening of food/refreshments and drinks, and took home exciting show bags, including a complimentary MGSE hoodie which we hope to see to see our GRs wear with pride around the campus.

The MERI Team would like to take this opportunity to thank all GRs for their attendance and to all presenters for their valuable time and support in making the event a huge success.

Feedback received was very positive and we look forward to hosting many more events throughout the year.

View GR Orientation and welcome session image gallery


Sharing Schools, Building Communities

Presented by the Building Connections research team and partners, the Sharing Schools, Building Communities exhibition will explore how we can design, govern and use school infrastructure to better meet the needs of Australian communities.

This multi-media experience will include around 25 inspiring examples of schools as community hubs and summarise the latest evidence and advice for new hub initiatives. Our target audience includes policymakers, school leaders and teachers, built environment professionals, philanthropists and the broader community.

Discussion panels and presentations will supplement the exhibition displays. Add it to your diary now!

When: 18 July to 26 August 2022
Where: The Dulux Gallery in the Melbourne School of Design
Contact: building-connections@unimelb.edu.au


Teaching and Learning Summit 2022

The 2022 Teaching and Learning Summit is only two weeks away. The summit held on Wednesday 3 June explores two themes: experiential learning (morning session) and diversity in the curriculum (afternoon session). Join us for part, or all, of the day.

Enquiries: robyn.hodge@unimelb.edu.au
More information: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/8exe


Wattle Fellowship

Wattle Fellowship application deadline extended.

The Wattle Fellowship is the University's program for students to foster leadership on global sustainability. The program focuses on multidisciplinary
approaches, leadership development, experiential learning and practical skills development. Undergraduate and postgraduate students from all faculties are eligible to apply by 19 June.

Enquiries: linh.do@unimelb.edu.au
More information: www.unimelb.edu.au/wattlefellowship


University's travel policy

The University’s Staff Travel Policy has been updated to reflect changes in travel requirements following recent global events. You can see all the changes to the Policy, including updated information on travel insurance relating to COVID-19 and links to a new TrainMe travel module that all staff are strongly encouraged to do before booking travel or approving staff travel, on the new page. All staff who may be travelling in 2022, or who will be approving staff travel, are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these changes and to book travel using the required UniTravel booking system.


Research Computing Portal

Do you do research with big data, or with data that has special requirements when it comes to storage, management, sharing, computation and showcasing? Check out the new Research Computing Portal where you can access Research Computing Services’ specialised computing resources for doing data-intensive research. Researchers can now request, manage and track their research computing needs from this one handy place.

More information: https://gateway.research.unimelb.edu.au/resources/platforms-infrastructure-and-equipment/research-infrastructure-platforms/research-computing-services/news/introducing-rcp-research-computing-portal


CAPS - Mental Health First Aid Training

Date: 19 - 20 July

MGSE staff are encouraged to participate in Mental Health First Aid Training. The University’s Counselling and Psychological Services team provide an accredited 2-day MHFA course which includes information on major mental health diagnoses, crises, and how to open a conversation with someone about their mental health. Free for staff - register via TrainME for the 19 - 20 July session.


Salary increase

The University has provided a 2.5% salary increase to all enterprise agreement covered staff (continuing, fixed-term and casual employment), effective from 1 May 2022 - this includes continuing, fixed-term and casual employees. Salary increases will be processed for continuing and fixed term employees in the pay due Friday 27 May 2022 and for
casual employees in the pay due Thursday 2 June 2022. All adjustments will be back paid to 1 May 2022.

For any questions about the salary increase, please contact HR Assist on 03 834 40888 or submit an online request.


MGSE Talks

Did you miss MGSE Talks on Monday 9 May? The audio recording of the event as well as the slide deck are now available for download.


Resilience Beyond Borders: Im/Mobilities of Underrepresented Academics During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Are you a member of an historically underrepresented demographic group (race, gender, disability, religion, etc.) within higher education? Then we invite you to complete this 15-20 minute online survey.

You will be asked to respond to questions about underrepresentation in higher education; the challenges experienced in relation to mobility and immobility; and personal strategies employed, and institutional support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research project, funded by Universitas 21, is being conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS-IRB-2021-989), The University of Melbourne (Project ID 23757​), The University of Queensland (2022/HE000296), University of California-Davis, and The University of Hong Kong (EA220038) and is open to academics and PhD students.

Contact Dr Ethel Villafranca for more details or visit https://resilientacademics.com/contribute-to-the-project/.