ARO Weekly Newsletter #32 - 15 August 2016

Admissions: (Domestic) - Anushia has gone on Long Service Leave, and won’t be back until February 2017 - The team will go from 5 to 4 during this time, but Rajesh, Amy, Andri and Tegan are a great team and are ready to tackle the impending ‘TISC season’ - The team has started processing TISC applications for Semester 1, 2017 - Website updates will be made over the coming weeks to reflect relevant information such as closing dates, entry requirements, additional forms, etc. - Please remember to use ext. 7458 or email [email protected] for enquiries

Careers and Employment: - We are currently promoting the following on-campus event for Law Students

- Other Student Events and Opportunities we are currently promoting on CareerConnect - “How to Find Experience” – Workshop @Careers Centre (for all students) Tues 16 Aug 12.30pm – 2pm (bookings on CareerConnect) - “How to Find Casual/Part-time Work” – Presentation @Hill Lecture Theatre (for all students) Thurs 18 Aug 12.30 – 1.30pm (no bookings required) - Volunteer Turtle Tagging commencing 5 Nov – Pendoley Environmental Pty Ltd - Undergrad Accountant – commencing 22 Aug - Titan Plant Hire

- ** Do you have a surplus desk in your area? The Careers Centre are seeking a temporary desk from August – November. If you have a desk you aren’t using, may we borrow it? We promise to return it! Please contact either Xander or Suzanne if you can help. CUTL: (Learning Support) Language and general study skills consultations - will begin in week 3 and will be Mondays 1.00-3.00, Tuesdays 1.00-3.00 and Wednesdays 9.30-12.30 - If students need one to one assistance, they can book with our academics at [email protected] - Workshops commenced in week 1 Numeracy support consultations - started in week 2 and will be Mondays 9.30 – 12.30 and Fridays 9.30-12.30

Engagement: (Domestic) - Last week we celebrated the Yr10 iScience students completing their program, which saw 42 students spend time at Murdoch, as well as industry experiences. iScience is a collaboration between Murdoch Uni and the Kwinana Industries Council. Phil, Michelle and Kerina attended the presentation night, where 8 participants were awarded scholarships to attend the Conoco Phillips Science Camp which is being held at Murdoch for 4 days in December.

- This week is National Science Week which will see our Outreach team representing Murdoch on and off campus hosting secondary school students and delivering a range of activities. A key NSWk event for the team is hosting the ‘Women in Physics’ event this Friday, which will include a keynote address in the KBLT and activations on Bush Court. There will be over 520 year 10-12 students plus teachers attending from a great representation of 18 schools (Baldivis Sec. College, John Curtin College of the Arts, Waneroo Sec. College, Lesmurdie SHS, Ocean Reef Senior School, Cape Naturaliste College, Kelmscott SHS, Carine SHS, Armadale SHS, Thornlie SHS, Willetton SHS, Leeming SHS, North Lake Senior Campus,, Gilmore College, Emmanuel Catholic College, Rossmoyne SHS, Mater Dei College, and Methodist Ladies College.

- The FSOs spent last weekend at the Skills West Expo and this week continue their secondary school visits. This week sees presentations/visits with The Kings College, Manjimup SHS, Iona, Eaton Comm. College, Safety Bay SHS, Bunbury Cath. College, Coodanup College, Frederick Irwin Ang. School, Rossmoyne SHS, St Stephens, Santa Maria, Lynwood SHS, Kalamunda SHS, John Curtin Coll. Of the Arts, and Applecross SHS. The team will also be supporting this week’s Kulbardi ‘Deadly Dreaming’ event. - The Mature Age and Alternative Pathways evening is coming up on Wed 31st August. Please direct any enquirers seeking info to register for the evening at http://www.experience.murdoch.edu.au/ - Sadly, two of the FSO team are leaving us to embark on new career adventures; Malcolm’s last day is Fri 26th Aug and Sharyn’s last day will be Fri 19th Aug. We thank them for their collective contribution to domestic recruitment, and wish them all the very best. We will be celebrating their time at Murdoch from 4.00-6.00pm on Friday 19th Aug in the Tav. All welcome. (International) International Welcome Scholarships - We launched our new International Welcome Scholarships. These scholarships will be on offer for 2017, 2018 and 2019 intakes and are targeting specific cohorts; citizens from Bangladesh; Bhutan; China; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Nepal; Pakistan and Sri Lanka. - The value of the scholarships are:  $10,000 scholarship for all Business and Governance degree courses or  $7,000 scholarship for all other degree courses - With each scholarship to be paid in two equal instalments for the students first year of study at Murdoch University and directly to their tuition fee. - More information can be found at http://our.murdoch.edu.au/Student- life/Finances/Browse-scholarships/INTL_IWS-Scholarship/ Japan - A group of 20 Upper Secondary 1 &2 students from Himeji Nishi High School, Japan visited South St Campus as part of their learning exchange program with Rossymoyne SHS. School of Arts and Int’l Engagement jointly hosted the visit and conducted a presentation to the students. The students were challenged with quizzes at the end.

Picture: Dr Leonie Stickland from School of Arts alongside student group from Himeji Nishi HS at the Chinese Garden.

VLS delegation visit to China - Maple Fu (Our China BDM) visited HZAU in Wuhan and NWAFU in Xi’an together with our VLS delegation, exploring student exchange and articulation opportunities with two universities. Study Abroad & Exchange - The official Murdoch University Study Abroad & Exchange – Inbound Facebook page is up! If you'd like to see what it's all about, insights on student experiences and just how incredible the Study Abroad program is here at Murdoch, please head on over and click like on the page. On launch day. Athira was rewarded with 43 likes, not too shabby we think  https://www.facebook.com/Murdoch-University-Study-Abroad-Exchange-Inbound- 1444394375587293/ - SAE students had a busy week with Orientation Sessions and activities which includes a visit to the iconic King’s Park, and to the Caversham Wildlife Park. The Study Abroad co-hort also got a taste of Western Australia at a didgeridoo lesson held in the heart of Fremantle.

(Outreach) - A/Prof. Phil Nicholls and Outreach Officer, Julia Lees are currently running a Biology program for students in years 3-4 at Beeliar Primary School. This is a partnership between the CSIRO Scientist and Mathematicians in Schools program, Beeliar Primary School and the Murdoch Outreach Team. The club is being run during the school day as a science extension for 12 budding science enthusiasts. They are looking at the life cycle of insects and discussing their impact on our everyday lives, from Bees and their importance in pollination to the not so nice fruit fly. Phil has been busy collecting caterpillars so the students can follow their life journey and transformation into moths/butterflies and Julia has been busy keeping warm insect in the Murdoch warm cupboard. The students will attend an expedition to the South Street Campus towards the end of term three to see what insects they can spot and collect on our campus, and identify them using our state of the art microscopes. - Murdoch Molecular Biology and Toxicology students ran numerous master classes in facial reconstruction at Applecross Senior High School on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 August, as part of various activations organised by the Murdoch Outreach Team. Human Biology and Biology Students in Years 11 and 12 at Applecross, will undertake a full facial reconstruction, under the direction of the Murdoch undergraduates. Some 180 students will benefit from the experience. - On Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August, as part of National Science, the Murdoch science community, including academics, researchers, the outreach team and student ambassadors, ran hands-on and explosive activities for the general public. Some 15,000 science enthusiasts attended the festival over the weekend. The Murdoch marquee hosted activities such as: The Power of Legumes, Forensics Facial Reconstruction, Virtual Reality, A Robotic Spider, Maths and Bubbles and Parasitology. Our Technical Resources Manager, Andrew Foreman, along with his Lab Techs, put on a Live and Explosive chemistry show. Dr Amanda Hodgson, also presented in the State Library on the Saturday, showing footage of her latest research in the use of Drones and the health of Whales and Dugongs. - Today! Monday 15th August will see Andrew Porter from the Murdoch School of Arts, and Jade Castle, Murdoch Arts Outreach Officer, present to 180 Year 9 students at Applecross. Andrew, a current 7 news TV producer, will show students the advantages of using drone technology in creating dynamic and cutting edge media footage. - On Thursday 18 August, Professor Lar Bedger, from the Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit (MUCRU) will speak and present to 180 Year 7 students regarding his research and show footage on his work using drones with whales and dugongs. - Anna Pryor, Science Outreach Officer, and Murdoch Science Student Ambassadors, will put on a master class of forensic activities, for 140 Year 5 and 6 students, as part of their national science week program. Students, teachers and parents will be hands-on, solving crimes, using the science of forensics including: white power analysis; facial reconstruction; statue and height estimations; blood stain analysis and entomology (live maggots).

- Murdoch University will be hosting the Australian Institute of Physics – Women in Physics lecture on Friday 19th August (see attachment). Some 550 students, from as far as Busselton, will be descending on the South Street campus for a day of Physics explanation and exploration. Dr Catalina Curceanu, from Germany, will give an engaging talk entitled: “Modern Quantum Technologies: The off spring of Schrödinger's famous cat”. In addition to this inspiring talk, academics from the School of Engineering and IT with host an array of physics, chemistry, math and IT activations on Bush Court. After a Subway lunch, the students will also be invited to attend a panel discussion and Q&A session with representatives from WA universities under the topic of ‘Physics, good for society, good for me’. This will also include representatives from physics university alumni who have used their physics degree to forge a successful career. - Marine Biologist from Murdoch University will be exhibiting at the Canning River Environment Education Centre as part of national science week, on Saturday 20th August.

Enrolments & Fees: Enrolments - As it is now week three of semester unit coordinator approval is required for any semester 2 unit enrolment - Student enquiries are under control and travelling comfortably, so far - The main round of semester 1 academic progression is pretty much complete, with exclusions and suspensions actioned last week and the follow up for mandatory interviews and academic performance plans. A second round from late and sup/deferred results is currently underway. Trimester 2 onshore BOE is this week, but it normally has a very small number of progression issues. A number of transfers have been processed over the last three weeks for students needing to change enrolment after academic progression. - Statistics errors are also being dealt with, which is earlier than we would normally get to them. Fees - Census date is at the end of next week, and we are monitoring International and domestic students with outstanding liabilities and dealing with their enquiries and advices. We will be focussing particularly on permanent residents and up-front commonwealth supported students who haven’t provided a TFN in the run up to the census date. - We still have 61 commonwealth supported students who wish to defer their contribution and have not provided a TFN. There are 55 students who have not yet provided a commonwealth assistance form (CAF). These students are being reminded that their enrolment will be cancelled if they don’t provide the TFN/CAF by the census date. ESOS - COE renewals are continuing, but it is now very close to deadlines. Follow up on Inactive students will commence this week.

Equity and Social Inclusion: Aussie Rules Football Blockbuster Extravaganza 2016! - For International students trying to learn more about Australian culture. Presented by The Guild’s Postgrad Student Assist Officer, Mark Tan, this historic event will give students an understanding of this game and the reason why millions follow it with unbridled fervour! Details are as follows: Date and time: Tuesday, August 23, 12.30.1.30pm Venue: Social Sciences Building, Rm 2.035 And later in Bush Court, weather permitting - An informal Ally discussion group is starting and will be held fortnightly. The Murdoch ALLY program is a network of people who are allies to students and staff identifying as lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ), and are committed to together to creating a positive university environment free from harassment or discrimination. Students and staff will have the opportunity to meet in a safe place and discuss issues that affect the LGBTIQ community. Students and staff can bring their lunch, and join in an informative, friendly and inclusive conversation. When: Thursday, 25 August Time: 12.30-1.30pm Venue: ECL1.1026 (tea and coffee making facilities available)

Graduations: Graduations - Academic Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 August 2016 Results - Winter results were released on Friday 12 August 2016. We are in the midst of graduating all eligible students. - T2 onshore Board of Examiners is happening this week and the results will be released Friday 19 August 2016 - We are processing supplementary and deferred results for Semester 1 2016 as we receive them

MU Health: Counselling - Our series of counselling workshops starts this Thursday 11 August, with Learning to Surf – riding the challenge and change of student life, 12.30-1.30pm, Postgrad suite, ECL 2.031. Please help us to promote it to your students (see attachment) To register, they just need to email us their name and mobile number at counselling@[email protected] or call us at 9360-1227. They will receive a reminder text.

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