StaffNews No 161
Friday 24 June 2005
News of interest to staff of the University of Melbourne
====================
CONTENTS
1. Choice of superannuation funds
2. Feedback on Speeches and Graduations
website redevelopment
3. Rejoinder Writing Information Session
4. Springer Verlag science texts roadshow
5. Web Services template migration
6. University of Melbourne publication grants - research books
7. Travel advice from Environment Health and Safety Unit
8. What's First Year Like Now?
9. Fresh Science: nominations close 8 July
10. Superannuation Co-contribution
11. Experience the latest high tech spectacle-mounted
monocular viewer
12. Staff achievements
13. Computer recycling available on Parkville campus
14. NAIDOC week events
15. Staff Development Opportunities
16. Newsmakers
17. Newsmakers
18. What’s on – on campus?
19. Positions vacant
20. Contributing to StaffNews
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1. Choice of superannuation funds
From 1 July 2005, changes to the law mean that many Australian
employees will be able to choose the fund into which their employer’s
future superannuation guarantee contributions are paid. Staff may
have seen government media advertising promoting what is
referred to as “Superannuation Choice.”
University of Melbourne staff (in common with most employees in
the higher education and research sector) will not have the opportunity
of choice of fund as superannuation is paid in accordance with the
University’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. Advice from the
Australian Tax Office (ATO), the Association of Superannuation
Funds of Australia (ASFA) as well as the University’s own
superannuation fund, UniSuper, is that contributions made
under or in accordance with an Enterprise Bargaining
Agreement made under the Workplace Relations Act 1996
are consistent with the choice of fund rules.
However, staff should be aware that from 1 July 2005, UniSuper
will introduce some important changes to the fund to make
superannuation easier to manage and make investment choice
more flexibile. For further information please refer to the
UniSuper website at www.unisuper.com.au/index.cfm
under 'News & Updates'.
Anyone requiring further information is asked to please
contact the University's Superannuation Officer (8344 7549).
[Source:Mitchell Bown, Workplace Relations Unit]
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2. Feedback on Speeches and Graduations website redevelopment
The Web Services Group would like to thank all feedback participants
who provided comment during the period June 10-17. The Web
Services Group requested staff and student feedback on two site
redevelopment projects: Speeches and Graduations.
These sites are online at:
www.unimelb.edu.au/speeches/index.html
www.unimelb.edu.au/graduation/index.html
Feedback was very constructive. As part of the ongoing process
to share information, the Web Services Group has decided to
include some comments via the web forum at:
www.unimelb.edu.au/webcentre/committees/webforum.html,
with some follow up from the Web team. The process of manually
retrieving feedback in the "How to" section of the website has
also been recorded. See:
www.unimelb.edu.au/webcentre/tools/howto/processfeedback.html
[Source: Claire Spencer, Web Services Group]
=========================
3. Rejoinder Writing Information Session
An information session will be held for applicants writing rejoinders
for ARC Discovery Projects and Discovery Indigenous
Researchers Development for funding commencing in 2006.
The session will be held on Tuesday, 28 June at 1pm-2pm in
Theatre 3 of the Medical Building (Room E307, Floor 3).
Please register at:
www.research.unimelb.edu.au/infosessions/
For further information contact Cassandra Laing
(c.laing@unimelb.edu.au / 8344 2013)
[Source: Jane Pontikis, Melbourne Research and Innovation Office]
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4. Springer Verlag science texts roadshow
All interested members of the University Community are invited
to attend the Springer Verlag Roadshow on Tuesday 28 June
at 5-7pm in the Bookshop, Baillieu Library.
Springer Verlag is one of the world's pre-eminent publishers of
scientific books, journals, and electronic media. A full range of
Springer titles in mathematics, medicine, computer science,
life sciences, statistics and other subjects will be available.
Refreshments will be served. Please rsvp to Sheridan
(8344 6217 / s.nanscawen@unimelb.edu.au).
[Source: Simon Strong, Melbourne University Bookshop]
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5. Web Services template migration
Over the next two months, the Web Services group will be
upgrading from 2003 to 2004 templates. This will not affect
navigation or content on the central University site. Once
completed, this work will ensure template consistency
throughout the university's central site. Please contact
Claire Spencer (8344 0476 / spencerc@unimelb.edu.au)
with any questions
[Source: Claire Spencer, Web Services Group]
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6. University of Melbourne publication grants - research books
The Planning and Budget Committee’s Publications
Sub-Committee is seeking applications for the first round
of 2005 publication grants for research books. A subsidy
of up to $4000 of central funds may be sought for an authored
research book to meet illustration costs, publication charges
or to subsidise the publication price where this is critical to
the work being published. A proportional contribution of
funds is required from the applicant's department/faculty.
Further details and application forms are online at:
www.research.unimelb.edu.au/grants/apply/unimelb/publication/
Applications for round 1, 2005 close Thursday 30 June.
Enquiries to Michelle Vincent
(8344 2060 / m.vincent@unimelb.edu.au)
[Source: Michelle Vincent, Melbourne Research and Innovation Office]
========================
7. Travel advice from Environment Health and Safety Unit
The Environment Health and Safety Unit advises staff that
the Department of Foreign Affairs has reviewed and
reissued travel advice for the following countries:
There have been some changes to information but no recent
change in overall safety ratings or levels of advice for the
following countries:
**Mexico, Sri Lanka - new information on safety and
security and local law and customs
**Indonesia, Bolivia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Algeria, Iran,
Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Somalia - new information on safety and security
** Kenya - new information on local law and customs
**Benin - reviewed and reissued.
The overall level of advice has been raised:
**South Africa - new information on safety and security
and entry and exit requirements.
The overall level of advice has been lowered:
**Kyrgyzstan - new information on safety and security.
DFAT risk categories for each country and links to
the full DFAT descriptions are listed at:
www.unimelb.edu.au/rmo/travel/TravelAdviceSummary.xls
For further information on the University's Overseas
Travel Policy refer to:
www.unimelb.edu.au/rmo/travel/7_3.pdf
www.unimelb.edu.au/ehsm/7.html#7.1
[Source: Stefan Delaney, Environment Health and Safety]
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8. What's First Year Like Now?
What happens when students of the 21st century get to university?
What is their first year experience like? What role do schools play
in preparing students for their transition, and what are universities
doing to help students adjust to university life? These questions
and others will be answered at a forum presented by Transition
Program staff to discuss the CSHE's "First Year Experience
in Australian Universities: Findings from a decade of national studies."
Speakers from secondary schools will provide insights into the
challenges they face as they prepare students for the move to
university, and academic staff will explain how the University is
incorporating transition strategies into its teaching and
learning practices.
The forum is scheduled for Thursday, 21 July at 9.30-1pm
in the Charles Pearson Theatre.
Review the program and register online at:
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/transition/unistaff/events/index.html
or contact Natalie Dowling (8344 9398 / ndowling@unimelb.edu.au).
[Source: Natalie Dowling, Transition Program]
========================
9. Fresh Science: nominations close 8 July
Fresh Science is a national event for early career researchers
(honours, masters or PhD students or academics no more than
five years post-PhD) to receive media training and then to
present their 'fresh' work to the public and the media in August.
Nominations close with the organisers on Friday, 8 July 2005.
The Committee is looking for people who can tell an interesting
story about their work in 'everyday language.' For further
information, please see www.freshscience.org.
Students or staff who would like some help with their application
are asked to please contact Glenn Swafford (8344 2049).
[Source: Glenn Swafford, Melbourne Research and Innovation Office]
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10. Superannuation Co-contribution
Staff may have seen Government media advertising promoting
what is referred to as “Superannuation Co-contribution.”
The Superannuation Co-contribution is a payment made by
the Commonwealth government to the superannuation account
of eligible people who have made personal after-tax contributions
(including compulsory member contributions) to their
superannuation fund in the previous financial year.
To be eligible to receive the Superannuation Co-contribution,
your total income needs to be less than $58,000 for the
relevant income year. For further information, please visit
the HR Superannuation website at
www.hr.unimelb.edu.au/bulletin/
[Source: Pauline Shi, Human Resources]
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11. Experience the latest high tech spectacle-mounted
monocular viewer
The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the
University of Melbourne is conducting a research project
to evaluate the performance of high technology
spectacle-mounted monocular viewers.
Subjects aged 20 - 40 years are needed to view computer
based imagery using the monocular viewer. All subjects will
complete a battery of standard eye tests and a short
questionnaire before and after viewing. Testing will be
conducted in the Clinical Ocular Response Laboratory
headed by Professor Neville McBrien. The laboratory is
housed in the Victorian College of Optometry building
next to main campus at the corner of Cardigan
and Keppel streets.
Anyone interested in participating in this study or obtaining
further information should contact Dr Shelly Ames
(9349 7478 / sames@optometry.unimelb.edu.au).
A travel offset of $10 per visit is available.
Human Research Ethics Committee approval no. H05 010
[Source: Shelly Ames, Optometry]
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12. Staff achievements
Congratulations to Professor Loane Skene, Law, who has
been appointed to the federal government's Legislation
Review Committee of Australia's human cloning and
embryo research legislation.
Further information about the committee is available at:
www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/content/healt
h-mediarel-yr2005-jb-bis079.htm/$FILE/bis079.pdf
[Source: Contributor: Brenda Masters, Law]
========================
13. Computer recycling available on Parkville campus
There will be a computer recycling skip on the Parkville campus
29 and 30 June, located in the Kernot Road Carpark. Computer
equipment, mobiles, microwaves and TV's that have no value
are acceptable. For more information contact Natasha Cooper,
Environment Programs Coordinator in Property and Buildings
(ncooper@unimelb.edu.au).
[Source: Natasha Cooper, Property and Buildings]
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14. NAIDOC week events
This year staff at the Centre for Indigenous Education will be
hosting 2 events for NAIDOC week. (NAIDOC stands for
National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee).
The first event is on Tuesday 5 July 2005 – a performance of
the play “I Don’t Wanna Play House” by Tammy Anderson. This
is a one-off event, with only 390 tickets available, to be held
in the Union Theatre at 7:30pm. For tickets and more information
contact Dot Button (8344 7722 / dbutton@unimelb.edu.au).
Full Price $15.00 - Concession: $10.00.
The Second event is the Launch of new CIE t-shirts, which is
scheduled for 1:00pm on 6 July. Students Erin Birch and
Sharon Barnes developed slogans for the t-shirts and
Jirra Harvey designed the art work on one of them.
All staff are welcome to participate in these events which
celebrate and offer special recognition of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is a community
based event, so family and friends are welcome to attend.
[Source: Fiona Rigney, Centre for Indigenous Education]
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15. Staff Development Opportunities
Recruitment & Selection of General Staff - 19 July.
Apply by 6 July
For more information see:
www.hr.unimelb.edu.au/scheduled-programs/
[Source: Kirsty Waring, Human Resources]
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16. Newsmakers
Selected University of Melbourne staff in the news:
Newsmakers is a representative selection of University staff
members whose comments are reported in the news media.
It is compiled from daily media monitoring reports
(print and broadcast). It is by no means comprehensive.
Daily media monitoring reports may be obtained from
the Media Unit.
Marcus Pandy, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering, on the function of leg muscles in walking.
The Age, 20 June.
Hugh Taylor, Ophthalmology, on the preventability of eye
disease as assessed in a Centre for Eye Research
Australia report handed down today.
The Australian, 22 June.
Steven Curry, CAPPE, talks on “ethical dilemma”, discussing
issues such as ‘Dr Death’ (Dr Jayant Patel), and beggars.
ABC 774 Melbourne, Drive, 21 June.
Kevin Nicholas, Zoology, on research into wallaby milk
targeted towards the dairy industry.
ABC Goldfields WA, 20 June.
David Castle, Psychiatry, on new methods in mental
health care. Weekend Australian, 18 June.
Phil Batterham, Genetics/Bio21 Institute, on research
into insect pests. Sunday Age, 19 June.
Tonia Eckfeld, MIALS, on Imperial Tombs in Tang China.
The Age, 16 June.
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17. What’s on – on campus?
events.unimelb.edu.au
PUBLIC LECTURE: NASA Astronaut and US Air Force
officer Colonel Pamela Melroy will give a public lecture
for the Faculty of Science on the topic “Human Space
Exploration - Space Shuttle, Space Station, and Beyond”
on Tuesday 5 July at 2:30pm - 4.00pm in Theatre A
of the Elisabeth Murdoch Building.
PUBLIC LECTURE: Dr Vincent Castranova, of the United
States’ National Institute for Occupational Health and
Safety will give a public lecture for the Centre for
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNST) on the topic
"Toxicity of single walled carbon nanotubes and other
ultrafine particles” on Thursday 14 July at 6:30 – 7:30pm
(refreshments from 6:00pm) in the Ground Floor Lecture
Theatre, Building 1, Department of Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering. RSVP to Rob Johnson
by 8 July (8344 9063 / r.johnson@unimelb.edu.au).
INAUGURAL PROFESSORIAL LECTURE: University
of Melbourne Chair of Language and Literacy Education,
Professor Joe Lo Bianco, will deliver his Inaugural
Professorial Lecture on Tuesday 12 July from 6pm to
7pm in the Prince Phillip Theatre, Architecture Building
on the topic “Language planning for globalisation:
tensions and trends”. For more information visit:
www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/about/news/events/lectures.shtml.
PUBLIC LECTURE: Dr Andrew Jamieson, RE Ross
Curator from the Centre for Classics and Archaeology
will give a lecture on the topic “Assyria, Australia,
Agatha Christie and the Ian Potter Museum of Art”
on Thursday 30 June at 6:30pm - 07:30pm in the
Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre A, Elizabeth Murdoch
Building. Enquiries to Liz McRae
(8344 5148 / potter-info@ unimelb.edu.au).
MIEGUNYAH LECTURE: Professor E Tory Higgins,
who is the Stanley Schacter Professor of Psychology,
Professor of Management, and the Director of the
Motivation Science Center at Columbia University,
New York will give a Miegunyah Public Lecture for
the School of Behavioural Science on Friday 15 July
at 6.30pm in the Basement Theatre, Sidney Myer
Asia Centre on the topic "Where does value come
from?" For more information contact Sarah Drew
(8344 6377 / sarah@unimelb.edu.au) or visit:
www.psych.unimelb.edu.au/news/events.html
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18. Positions vacant
www.hr.unimelb.edu.au/jobs/
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19. Contributing to StaffNews
Email to: staff-news@unimelb.edu.au
by 5pm Wednesday
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To view the contribution guidelines in full visit:
www.mpso.unimelb.edu.au/mpso/uni_access/media/staffnews_guidelines
This week's StaffNews was compiled and edited by Katherine Smith.
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