On Campus

Staff Edition

Thursday 14 May

All the important campus news, events and opportunities for ANU staff. 

Carousel of images from the Community Meeting on 12 May 2026, showing University leaders speaking with staff in a lecture theatre, including Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown, Peter Coaldrake AO, Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA and facilitator Professor Peter Kanowski.

Photos: Jamie Kidston/ANU

Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown held a Community Meeting on Tuesday 12 May, facilited by Professor Peter Kanowski with speakers Peter Coaldrake AO and Council member and Acting Pro-Chancellor, Andrew Metcalfe AO.

At a glance

  • Reminder: The University's core student administration system, Campus Solutions, is being updated. Systems including ANUHub, MyTimetable, Syllabus Plus, Accept ANU, eForms, Extenuating Circumstances Applications (ECA) and Assessment Extension Applications will be unavailable from Friday 15 May, noon to Monday 18 May, 8am.
  • are available for all staff, to support a healthy campus this winter.
  • Sunday 17 May is IDAHOBIT Day, a day that recognises and raises awareness of discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ communities. Learn more about the .
  • Complete our brief and help shape the stories, updates and content delivered to more than 4,000 staff who read On Campus each week.

Council news

Seeking your feedback on the attributes of our next Chancellor

The Council wants the community's feedback on what attributes they are seeking in the University's next Chancellor.

Feedback is anonymous unless you choose to provide your contact details. 

The survey will remain open until Friday 15 May.

Bulletin

Thank you for taking part in the ANYOU staff engagement survey

The ANYOU staff survey closed on Tuesday this week, with an overall response rate of 50%. Thank you to all staff who participated and shared their feedback. 

Results from the survey, including a summary of the University-wide results, will be shared with staff by early June via On Campus.

Australian National University sign at the Acton campus, representing the Office of Integrity’s role in supporting accountability and trust across ANU.

Photo: Crystal Li/ANU

Office of Integrity phase one

In its first phase, the Office of Integrity will provide a central, coordinated integrity and complaints oversight function for the University. It will serve as a single institutional gateway for integrity concerns and complaints, undertake triage and referral to appropriate policy owners, monitor progress and consistency, support effective escalation pathways, and provide consolidated reporting and insights to the Executive and Council.

To support this initial phase, recruitment is now underway for three foundational roles:

  • University Integrity Officer
  • Manager, Integrity Office
  • Assessment Officer

These positions are open to both internal and external applicants. Staff are encouraged to consider applying or promote these opportunities with others in your networks who may be well suited.

 Applications close 18 May.

Deferred exam period semester one

The University has updated the semester one examination schedule to enhance student and staff experience. From semester one, the examination periods will be:

  • Examination period: 4–20 June
  • Deferred/supplementary examination period: 20–24 July

This change removes the first deferred examination period previously scheduled in semester one and is intended to establish a consistent examination pattern for future semester one teaching periods. The existing semester two arrangement of two deferred examination periods will remain unchanged.

Learn more button linking to Thanks for taking part in the ANYOU staff survey.
Professor Peter Yu speaks at a podium during the Stronger Smarter Together Summit in Brisbane, with an First Nations Portfolio presentation displayed on screen behind him.

Photo: First Nations Portfolio

Reimagining Sovereignty

Professor Peter Yu, Vice-President (First Nations), delivered the keynote speech at the Stronger, Smarter Together Summit in Meeanjin (Brisbane) on Friday 8 May.

The summit’s theme was ‘Reimagining Sovereignty’.

“The seminal 1992 case of Mabo Two did not, beyond rejecting the repugnant fiction of the Terra Nullius lie, that we were vacant country, address the question of our legal sovereignty. The High Court feared that any recognition of Indigenous sovereignty would fracture the legal skeleton of the Australian state,” Professor Yu said.

“We must ask on what premise do we continue to assert ourselves as Indigenous peoples?”

to learn more about Professor Yu’s reflections on sovereignty, truth-telling and the future of Indigenous self-determination.

Graphic for National Reconciliation Week 2026, 27 May – 3 June, featuring the theme, All In for Reconciliation.

Graphic: Reconciliation Australia

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) will take place from Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June, with the theme “All In”, calling on all Australians to commit to reconciliation every day.

Learn more about the ways staff and students can engage with reconciliation both during NRW and beyond.

Learn more button linking to National Reconciliation Week.
Illustration of an ID card, representing changes to where staff cards are printed and collected.

Graphic: Adobe Stock

staff card printing and collection

New and replacement staff cards will now be printed and collected from different locations.

New staff cards are printed and collected from the Provisioning Team at Chancelry 10B (Lower Ground Floor) by appointment.

Replacement cards are printed and collected from Security in the Fulton Muir Building (Building 95). Staff can just drop-in.

For building access enquiries, please email security@anu.edu.au.

Split image showing historic black-and-white campus and modern campus with 1946 anniversary emblem.

Graphic: ANU

80th Anniversary Trivia 

This week’s trivia question is:

What are the three elements represented in the Crest?

Congratulations to our recent trivia winners, staff winner Imogen Bailey and student winner Seungbin Kang. Please contact Corporate Communications to collect your prize.

Last week’s question and answer:

How many Australian PMs are alumni? Answer: Two – Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd.

Did you know? Other graduates have gone on to become Nobel Prize winners, High Court judges, astronauts, Rhodes Scholars and internationally renowned comedians. Learn more about the .

Graphic for Green’s “A season of change” mini series, showing illustrated autumn trees, hills and gardens promoting care for campus through winter.

Graphic: Green

A season of change: caring for campus

Over the coming weeks, Green is heading into campus landscapes and gardens with the ANU Landscape and Conservation and Kitchen Garden program sharing how our green spaces are cared for through Autumn and Winter. From managing green waste and improving soil health to planting for biodiversity and preparing for spring growth. 

Follow for simple gardening tips and sustainable practices you can apply at home, whether you have a backyard garden, balcony or a few pots on your windowsill.  

Exterior of the School of Music building with concrete staircases and signage in soft evening light.

Photo: ANU

School of Music recognised

Three of the 30 artists and leaders featured in the Australian National Academy of Music’s 30 Stories project have connections to the School of Music, highlighting the school’s strong ties to industry and community.

Featured in the project are alumni Ronan Apcar and James Munro, alongside current Head of School Chris Sainsbury. The project celebrates influential voices shaping Australia’s music landscape.

Panellists speaking with microphones during a live Democracy Sausage discussion on Australian politics.

Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

Democracy Sausage: Farrer by-election tea leaves

What are the challenges for One Nation in navigating a path to opposition status in Australian politics following a dominant political victory? Does Angus Taylor have the political capital to survive the long road back to political relevance for the Liberal Party of Australia?

Psephologist Ben Raue and Political scientist Dr Jill Sheppard dissect the Farrer by-election result and its implications, if any, on politics beyond.

Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić standing outdoors on the campus surrounded by trees and greenery.

Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU

An researcher’s journey from the centre of Earth to Mars and beyond

Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić FAA is on a mission to inspire the next generation of scientists. The researcher has just begun his Australian Laureate Fellowship to lead a research group on deep Earth and planetary seismology.

With over $3.8 million in funding from the Australian Research Council and significant support from ANU, this is important recognition of the value of curiosity-driven research.

“It’s exciting because of the trust placed on the research directions that I want to pursue,” says Professor Tkalčić from the .

Experts in the media

For a deeper understanding of federal by-elections and budgets, it's always worth speaking with an academic.

Associate Professor Sheppard told Triple J youth radio’s that the federal by-election result should serve as a wake-up call to the major parties, but it was too soon to assume Pauline Hanson’s party would win several more House of Representatives seats at the next election.

To the budget: Associate Professor Ben Phillips of POLIS told he was disappointed, but unsurprised, that the government hadn’t announced an increase in JobSeeker payments. On , Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre, discussed budget spending on Australia's Pacific neighbours; foreign aid spending allocations for Pacific nations will remain unchanged, with some additional funds set aside for the Pacific.

 

Over the past week, more than 15 Australian National University experts provided commentary across a wide range of issues, including the March ANUpoll, the Federal Budget, housing policy, Australia-Japan relations, EU leaders meeting in Armenia, extremism and radicalisation in the Philippines, and legal issues surrounding fake websites created by AI.

IT updates

Global Canvas cyber incident

The recent global Canvas outage, which affected some learning and teaching activities on the afternoon of Friday 8 May, was a result of a cyber incident impacting the provider of the system, based in North America. Access to Canvas has since been fully restored and is available for use as per normal. Please remain vigilant by:

  • Reporting any suspicious emails, unsolicited phone calls, or suspicious content on Canvas by submitting a report .
  • Reporting an incident in  for any further issues with Canvas. 
  • For additional updates and advice, continue to check our webpage:  

Health and wellbeing

Photo: Cancer Council

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

Thursday 21 May

Bring your team together for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to help raise money for the Cancer Council. Teams across are encouraged to host a morning tea and share their event details with injurymanagement@anu.edu.au to be featured on the SharePoint site.

Parenting and breastfeeding rooms on campus

Balancing work with parenting isn’t always easy. The is an accredited and offers parenting and breastfeeding rooms across campus.

The University’s  contains guidance on all the breastfeeding spaces on campus including locations, access and opening times and the type of facilities in each room.

You are welcome to breastfeed anywhere on campus; these rooms are an additional option if you prefer privacy or a quiet moment.

Hantavirus – travel advisory update

Hantavirus is a rare but serious illness linked to rodent exposure. Staff travelling overseas are encouraged to stay informed and follow simple precautions, although the current risk to the community remains low.

International SOS has provided the latest travel advisory update.

Reminder: is a smoke-free campus

Smoking, vaping and the use of all smoking products are prohibited across all campuses, including buildings, residences, grounds and vehicles.

Professional development

Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders Program

Applications are open for the fourth cohort of the Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders Program, hosted by the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse and The Privilege Project, School of Regulation and Global Governance.

This fortnight-long program is for PhD students, early career researchers and professionals seeking to engage in theory, research methods and knowledge mobilisation related to planetary health equity.

Senior leadership update

Application open – Director, John Curtin School of Medical Research

Director, John Curtin School of Medical Research is a key leadership role within the College of Science and Medicine and a member of the College Executive team. The Director provides strategic leadership to drive excellence and innovation in research and education, while fostering a supportive, inclusive and collegial environment for staff and students.

Applications close on Sunday 7 June 2026, 11.55pm AEST. 

What's on

Illustrated poster promoting the Winter Carnival Latin American Night Market, featuring colourful carnival dancers, market stalls and string lights at night.

Graphic: Latin American Students' Association

Latin American Night Markets

Friday 15 May, 6–9pm

University Avenue is set to come alive with samba, capoeira, live music and Latin American street food. Expect local Latino-owned food vendors, DJs, dancers and a carnival atmosphere.

Come early for the food and stay for the music!

Schubert’s Fantasy & Octet

Saturday 16 May, 7.30–9pm

The Australian Chamber Orchestra will perform Schubert’s Fantasy & Octet at Llewellyn Hall, directed by Richard Tognetti. The program celebrates the emotional depth and lyrical beauty of Franz Schubert’s chamber music.

School of Music Staff Lunchtime Concert

Tuesday 19 May, 1–2pm

Join School of Music staff for a relaxed lunchtime concert featuring cello faculty member Rachel Johnston, with a program including Schumann’s Fantasiestücke and Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata

Multimedia Meet Up

Wednesday 20 May, 3.30–5pm

Join colleagues from across to explore studio spaces, connect with the multimedia community of practice and share ideas for content production across learning, teaching and engagement. The session will also include a short workshop on using Power Automate and Copilot AI to improve everyday workflows.

Powerlifting Meet

Saturday 23 May, 8–10am

Join Sport for a day of strength, community and personal bests, with qualified judges assessing form and providing guidance across bench press, deadlift and squat. Whether you're competing for the first time or chasing a new PB, the event is designed to be both competitive and educational. Lifters will also receive a free event T-shirt on the day.

Meet the Author

Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke government. Book cover pictured..

Frank Bongiorno will be in conversation with Joshua Black, Marija Taflaga and Peter Yu.

Monday 18 May, 6–7pm

“Opera Wars

Shaun Micallef will be in conversation with Adam Shirley

Monday 25 May, 6–7pm

Banner image showcasing the latest Meet the Author event with a fully seated venue.

Photo: Katarina Pearson

More upcoming events 

  • – Monday 18 May to Wednesday 20 May, 6–9pm
  • Exhibition Opening: Painting Itself – Thursday 21 May, 5.30pm
  • – Thursday 28 May, 12–2pm
Banner image linking to Experience ANU.

Before you go

Video: Bryant Evans/ANU

Three questions with Dr Dominique Dalla-Pozza

Dr Dominique Dalla-Pozza, Senior Lecturer at College of Law, Governance and Policy, shares what she is most passionate about in her work, her favourite spot on campus and what makes her most proud to work at ANU.

Picnic table beneath autumn trees on the campus, with golden leaves scattered across the ground and benches in morning light.

Photo: Crystal Li

Scene on our Campus

This week’s picture comes from Crystal Li, Digital Designer, Communications and Engagement.

"Autumn is my favourite time on campus. I took this photo of fallen leaves on a table, it’s a spot people walk past every day without thinking twice. But in autumn, even simple, everyday places can look really beautiful. This photo is a reminder to notice those little moments you might otherwise miss."

Got a photo you’re proud of?  and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.

 

Key contacts

Security – (02) 6125 2249 

For life-threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call Security.

Media hotline – (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the media hotline during business hours or email media@anu.edu.au for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our .

Do you need support?

Help is available if you need it. The University has a range of information and services that can be accessed by managers and staff.

Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek counselling support through the .

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to  developed by the  team.

 

, Canberra 

is a smoke-free campus, with all smoking products prohibited under the .

TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906

acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

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