UQ UpdateTo see what UQ Update should look like, visit www.uq.edu.au/update or right click here to download pictures or click on the show images button.

UQ Update - 1 September, 2008  


The latest

Time running out to have your say: Staff engagement survey

This is the final week for UQ academic and general staff (fixed term and continuing) to voice opinions about the University via UQ’s first University-wide staff engagement survey. The University has employed an external survey group to ensure anonymity and confidentiality of responses. The survey gives you a chance to have your say about planning for the University’s future and will help the University to benchmark against other organisations. Results will be shared with staff when they become available. Please take 20 minutes to complete the survey before this Friday, September 5.

Insight project seeks staff input

The Insight team would like to invite interested staff to participate in staff discussion groups for testing brand values and brand concepts. Groups commence this week. Space will be limited in each of the sessions so please follow this link to the Insight website to register your interest. Please note the general staff groups are now full at St Lucia and we are looking for Academic Staff participation. There are still vacancies for both general and academic staff in the groups at Ipswich, Gatton and Herston.

QTAC campaign now online

The latest promotional campaign from the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) has gone live. Targeted at QTAC applicants for 2009, the campaign includes integrated promotion in press and radio, along with a substantial range of web-based tactics, all underpinned by a dedicated micro-website for enquiries. The campaign theme focuses on the experiences our graduates will enjoy after the initial experience of studying at UQ. Details: www.uq.edu.au/qtac.

Date claimer: April 2009 — national University conference

Universities Australia will sponsor a national marketing, communications & development conference in Brisbane from April 1-3, 2009, hosted by South-East Queensland universities. The conference theme is: Relationships, Reputation, Results. OMC will release more details at future faculty marketing officers meetings, ahead of a conference website to be launched. UQ staff are encouraged to consider their 2009 professional development planning and budgets with this important conference in mind. The previous conference, held last year in Melbourne, was sold out with over 330 delegates from across Australia and Asia-Pacific attending.

Timekeeper system live for UQ casuals

The Timekeeper module of UQ’s HR and Payroll system has been rolled out and is live across most faculties and institutes of UQ, with the remaining areas to go live at the end of September. All casual staff will now have access to Employee Self Service via their staff UQ username and password, and schools, institutes and divisions are able to process electronic timesheets to pay casual staff. The Timekeeper project has delivered automated emailed offer letters, electronic timesheet processing and real-time casual payment reports via a HR Portal website. For enquiries about the project, contact the project team.

Academic Staff Consultative Committee (ASCC) meets

The last meeting of the ASCC held on August 21 discussed the following items: Vet School relocation; School of Dentistry restructure; the outsourcing of the UQ Bookshop; the outsourcing of the UQ Printery; Intellectual Property & lecture recording; Job Sharing policy; UQ Travel Awards; UQ People Strategy and the Staff Engagement Survey. Details: please contact any of the elected staff representatives, Dr Andrew Bonnell (56333), Professor Bill Whiten (55808) or Dr Sarah Ferber (56668).

Hear about UQ’s response to climate change at free breakfast

This free breakfast forum will focus on UQ’s response to climate change. It will be on Thursday, September 4 at the UQ Staff and Graduates Club, St Lucia at 7.15am for 7.30am. Details: online. Numbers limited. Register by today, Monday, September 1 to Environmental Services, Property and Facilities Division, email: unigreen@pf.uq.edu.au.

Forum looks at regional climate change and development

Learn more about climate change in the Asia Pacific region at a forum at UQ on Tuesday, September 9, held by “Make Poverty History” at 6pm–8.30pm at Steele Lecture Theatre, 3-206. Hear Fatima Hakaoro from Tuvalu speak about her life as part of a disappearing nation, and find out from a diverse panel of speakers the actions Australia should take on climate change in our region. Speakers include John Quiggin (UQ), Mark Diesendorf (UNSW), and Jean Palutikof (IPCC). A free event, everyone is welcome. RSVP by Wednesday, September 3 or phone 0409 641 721.

Unigreen News for UQ staff and students

The latest issue of Unigreen News, a newsletter for UQ staff and students, highlights environmental initiatives. This issue examines biodiversity initiatives on campus, tracks energy consumption since Earth Hour in March, and answers a range of frequently asked questions. The newsletter is produced by Environmental Services, Property and Facilities Division. Register for the Unigreen Mailing List at: www.pf.uq.edu.au/unigreen.html.

Complete Library survey to improve resources, services, spaces

From today until September 21, the Library wishes to hear what you think about Library information provision, spaces, and services, via an online survey. There are three participants’ draw chances to win an iPod Touch. Last year’s survey led to many improvements in Library services including:

Learn about research commercialisation

UniQuest, UQ’s main commercialisation company, invites staff involved with research to attend a half-day Introduction to Research Commercialisation seminar, offered through UQ’s Staff Development Program. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, September 17 from 9 am–12 pm in the Conference Room, Duhig Building (#2), St Lucia. Topics include: commercialisation processes and pathways, Intellectual Property protection, and support for researchers interested in commercialising their work. Register online.

Low cost English classes at ICTE-Q

The Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education offers low cost English Language classes to all adult learners. A 36-hour course costs only $30 if 90percent of the lessons are attended. The two-hour lessons are taught in the afternoon and focus on speaking, listening, vocabulary and grammar. The teachers are training to become qualified English Language teachers. The next courses begin on September 15 and October 2. Details: phone ext. 66770 or email ICTE.

Only two weeks until the 2008 Brisbane Writers Festival

This year, UQ’s involvement includes public lectures at UQ by some of the key writers participating in the Festival to be held from September 17-21. UQ students and staff will be able to listen and learn from great writers of fiction, environmental journalists and commentators, poets and essayists, on subjects from alchemy to psychiatry and beyond. Details: www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au, and for the UQ events contact Tara Young, Marketing and Advancement Manager, Faculty of Arts ext. 53072.

Annual Richard Cooper Memorial Lecture 2008

The Richard Cooper Memorial Lecture series this year will be presented by Associate Professor Paul Myburgh from the University of Auckland on the topic Admiralty law – What is it good for? The lecture will be held on Wednesday, September 10, between 5.30pm–6.30pm in Court 1, Commonwealth Law Courts, Level 7, 119 North Quay, Brisbane. Refreshments will follow. Attendance is free, however registration is essential. Contact the TC Beirne School of Law School by email t.vasiljevic@law.uq.edu.au or phone ext. 69350 to register.

Justice is served: JATL holds annual professional breakfast

UQ’s Justice and the Law Society (JATL) will host its annual professional breakfast on Friday, September 19 at Customs House at 6.45am for 7am. This year’s keynote speaker will be Queensland’s new Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Tony Moynihan SC. The breakfast will be chaired by JATL’s patron, the Honourable Justice Debra A. Mullins of the Supreme Court of Queensland. The 2008 edition of Pandora’s Box, JATL’s annual academic journal will also be launched. Cost: $45 for professionals, $40 for JATL members, $24 for student members, $28 for student non-members. RSVP by Friday, September 12 by contacting JATL or phone ext. 57997.

Staff invited to Diamantina Institute’s annual Oration

Attend the Diamantina Institute`s annual Jian Zhou Memorial Oration, an evening to honour the late Dr Jian Zhou and celebrate achievements in the field of medical research. It will be held at Customs House on Wednesday, September 17 at 5.45pm. The evening will commence with a special performance by Opera Queensland. The guest speaker is Professor Christopher Goodnow, Founding Director of The Australian Phenomics Facility, John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU. RSVP by September 3. Details: the Institute’s website.

Celebrate Spring and Father’s Day

The Symphony in Spring concert on Sunday, September 7 at 2pm in the QPAC Concert Hall will feature the UQ Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Werner Andreas Albert. The orchestra’s Musical Director Gwyn Roberts will be the soloist, celebrating his 25th year as Music Director of UQSO, with the Dohnányi Konzertstück. The program will also include Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony, Pärt's Festina Lente for Strings and Les Préludes by Liszt. Tickets: $21.50 adults, $16.50 concession from Qtix 136 246 or www.qtix.com.au.

neo goth: back in black exhibition activities this week

On Friday, September 5 at 12pm, join UQ Art Museum Director, Nick Mitzevich on a free guided tour of works from the blockbuster collection at the Mayne Centre, St Lucia, meeting in the foyer. All welcome. On Saturday, September 6, from 10.30–11.30am, Dr Shaun Wilson and Alison Kubler will discuss The Australian gothic mode in film and video art. Free. All welcome. Morning tea will follow. RSVP or phone ext. 53046 by September 4.

Miracle worker awards

UQ staff are invited to the lunch and ceremony on Wednesday, September 10 at 12.15pm for 12.30pm–1.30pm. Recipients of 2008 Miracle Worker Awards will receive certificates from the Chancellor, Sir Llew Edwards. It will be at the Kathleen Room, Staff and Graduates Club. Cost: $30 per person includes Tempura battered fish fillets with tartare sauce & chips or sirloin steak on potato mash with pan jus, bowl of steamed vegies and garden salad. Freshly brewed coffee & tea with assorted cake slices. Contact: k.hendrickson@uq.edu.au.

Introduction to Records Management

This session on Friday, September 12 from 2–4pm is presented by Marguerite Stringer, Manager, Records and Archives Management Services. It will be at the TEDI Seminar Room, Building 15, St Lucia. Details: online.

Enrol in staff development courses

Places are still available in the following staff development courses:

General

Teaching & Learning:

For details of all Staff Development Program courses, visit www.tedi.uq.edu.au/sdh/.

UQ Business School’s executive education courses

Register your interest now for one of these Executive Leadership courses:

Details: contact the Executive Education Team on ext. 67105 or 67115, email execed@business.uq.edu.au or visit www.business.uq.edu.au/execed.

Looking for a better way to communicate?

The Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies presents the following professional development courses:

Contact Sandra Padova on 1300 364 562 or email profstudy@uq.edu.au.

Child social skills group at UQ Psychology Clinic

The social skills program for children from 7-12 years focuses on teaching participants to develop and practice social skills through a variety of fun activities. A concurrent parent group also runs. This program is not appropriate for severe Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, or behavioural difficulties. The program runs late September/early October to mid-December with 11 weekly sessions. Fee: $250. Details: phone: ext 56451, or email psyclinic@psy.uq.edu.au.

Working people needed for online survey

Any person currently employed is invited to participate in an online survey examining employees' attitudes toward work. Participation involves completing a short online survey, which takes between 10 and 15 minutes. This study aims to develop and validate important new measures of organisational engagement for use in further research into the roles that work plays in people's lives. Details: online or email Gareth Simpson.

Healthy volunteers needed for pain study

The UQ Division of Physiotherapy is investigating pain mechanisms underlying whiplash and knee osteoarthritis. Researchers seek healthy volunteers aged 35-80 who have not required treatment for bodily pain in the past 12 months. Volunteers will undergo sensory testing that is not painful. The testing session will take approximately one hour. Details: email Lucy Yan or phone 0432 425 869.

Drivers needed for VR simulation study

Male participants (aged 20–45 years) are needed for an obstacle avoidance driving task (one hour session) in a VR simulation of an underground shuttle car which has a lever steering control. Volunteers should have at least two years’ driving experience and not be susceptible to motion sickness. The experiment is located in the VR Lab, in the Human Movement Studies Building, St Lucia campus. Details:Christine Zupanc.


© 2008 The University of Queensland | ABN 63 942 912 684 | CRICOS Provider No: 00025B
Authorised by: Director, OMC | Maintained by: webservices@uq.edu.au