Note to staff

Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Congratulations to Professor Brian Dibble on being short-listed for the 2009 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.  His book, Doing Life: A Biography of Elizabeth Jolley, is among the works from 15 authors short-listed for the $100,000 award, selected from a field of more than 250 entries.

Professor Dibble spent many years researching, to write and publish this biography on one of Curtin’s, and Australia’s, most respected authors.

As Emeritus Professor of Comparative Literature, Professor Dibble founded what is now Communications and Cultural Studies at Curtin.  Aside from his recently published biography of Elizabeth Jolley, Professor Dibble has published many articles on her work and written/edited a dozen books, including his own poetry and prose and two edited volumes of William Hart-Smith’s poetry.

I know that staff will join with me in wishing Professor Dibble well for the final announcement later this year.

Curtin 2009 Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Awards

Following the recommendations from the Awards Committee, I am delighted to announce the winners of the 2009 Curtin Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Awards.  The Committee commented on the strength of the applications which are a reflection on the quality of teaching at Curtin.  This year there are ten award winners who will receive certificates and financial prizes to enhance teaching and learning.

Congratulations to the 2009 Curtin Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award winners:

Awards for Teaching Excellence

Teaching Excellence - Early Career Academic
Dr Lynne Roberts, School of Psychology

Ms Shiew Wei Lau, School of Engineering and Science, Curtin Sarawak

Teaching Excellence - Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies
Dr Lisa Tee, School of Pharmacy

Teaching Excellence - Law, Economics, Business and Related Studies
Ms Lisa Goldacre, School of Business Law and Taxation

Teaching Excellence – Sessional Teacher
Mr Corey Sinteur, School of Marketing

Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning

Programs that Enhance Learning – Innovation in Curricula, Learning and Teaching
BA (Art) Honours Programme, School of Design and Art
Ms Annette Seeman, Ms Pamela Gaunt and Professor John Teschendorff

Programs that Enhance Learning – Innovation in Curricula, Learning and Teaching
Interprofessional Learning Pilot Workshops
Dr Victor Chaung (School of Pharmacy), Ms Leanne Stafford (School of Pharmacy), Ms Beatrice Tucker (Office of Teaching and Learning), Mr Peter Gardner (School of Physiotherapy), Dr Ravani Chetty (School of Nursing and Midwifery)

Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Dr Sonia Dickinson, School of Marketing

For the development of an industry centric learning program that stimulates student engagement, excitement and passion within the field of marketing communication

Associate Professor Katie Dunworth, School of Education

For innovation and leadership in the provision of post-entry English language assessment and the promotion of language enhancement opportunities for students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

C2010 Team, Office of Teaching and Learning - Beverley Oliver; Sue Jones; Sonia Ferns; Maggie Exon; Beatrice Tucker; Veronica Goerke; Jon Yorke; Ann Kosovich; Kathryn Lawson; Lisa Winter; Jane Sneesby; Maria Doyle; John Doyle; Kerry Saunders; Jessica Eggleston; Julie-Ann Pegden; Cynthia Ng; Graham McMahon; Brian von Konsky; Barbara Whelan; Jane Brown; Kym Sher; Megan Donald; Terri Crowe; Doreen Lim; Andrea Hoa

For implementing an evidence-based approach to Comprehensive Course Review leading to increased student satisfaction with course learning experiences.

I would like to invite all staff and Heads of Schools to attend the presentation ceremony of the 2009 Curtin Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Awards to be held on Monday 28 September at 4:00pm in the Council Chamber Foyer, Level 3, Building 100.

For venue and catering purposes, please RSVP to Megan Ellis on ext. 9584 by Thursday 24 September.

Industrial action

I wish to thank those colleagues who attended work on 16 September 2009, and I can report that in the majority of cases, it was business as usual at Curtin.  As at the date of writing, the University has received advice that 68 staff undertook industrial action.  I remind staff of their obligation not to receive pay if they engaged in this industrial action and to notify their line manager accordingly.  It is disappointing that despite the University and the unions continuing to negotiate positively, the University received advice on Monday 21 September of work bans for 25, 28 and 30th September 2009.  Separate advice on these work bans will be forwarded to managers in the near future.

Curtin staff member to lead international chemistry body

I congratulate Dr Robert Loss, Head of Curtin’s Department of Imaging and Applied Physics, who has been elected global President of the Inorganic Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).  The group is charged with evaluating and publishing fundamental inorganic chemical data for science commerce and trade, and recommending funding for projects across the world.

With 2010 being the international Year of Chemistry it is an exciting time for IUPAC, which supports more than 100 international projects.  As President, Dr Loss will be working with a large team of leading international scientists from a wide range of cultures in order to boost international collaboration and promote the importance of chemistry to the wider community.

Indigenous art exhibition opens in Resources and Chemistry Precinct

I encourage you to visit Curtin’s first art exhibition in the public space of our new Resources and Chemistry Precinct.  The exhibition, Ilgarijiri – things belonging to the sky, showcases and celebrates the unique culture of the traditional owners of the land on which Australian scientists hope the next generation radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), will be built.

Ilgarijiri is a joint project between Professor Steven Tingay from the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and staff and artists of Yamaji Art in Geraldton and is part of Curtin’s contribution to the 2009 International Year of Astronomy celebrations.  The beautiful paintings offer a unique way of looking at Indigenous art and culture, while also learning about the universe and radio astronomy developments in WA.  The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm until the end of October.

2009 OPAC one day Symposium – 6 October

The OPAC one day Symposium will this year be held on 6 October at the Thompkins Park Recreation Centre, Alfred Cove.  This event is free to professional staff (levels HECS 1 – 8 inclusive) and the program has been designed in conjunction with the ODU. Closing date for registrations is Wednesday 30 September.  The full program and registration form are available on the OPAC website: http://officeprofessionals.curtin.edu.au/conf.cfm

Night security walk

Members of the Security and Public Relations teams recently joined me for a night security walk.  These walks, introduced early last year to monitor the progress of security initiatives, form an important part of Curtin’s ongoing commitment to safety on campus.  It was encouraging to see new and improved safety procedures and equipment in place as we look for ways to continue our development of security systems, and therefore make Curtin a safer place for everyone.

Jeanette Hacket
Vice Chancellor