Honorary doctorate nominations

Curtin staff are invited to nominate candidates for the award of honorary doctorate by the University.

The University Council may confer an honorary doctorate on a person:

• who has rendered distinguished service to the University; or
• who has rendered distinguished service to the community or society more generally; or
• in recognition of distinguished contribution to a field of academic endeavour.

The objectives of the University’s honorary awards are to:

• formally acknowledge an individual’s contribution to the University, or the community or to society more generally; and
• enhance the reputation and standing of the University in the wider community.

Candidates must be nominated by a Curtin staff member, so I encourage you to consider nominating someone from the external community who you believe meets the criteria for this prestigious award.

Nominations must be made via a nomination form, which is available from Stuart Clarke in the Secretariat, s.clarke@curtin.edu.au or call 9266 3323. Once complete, the form should be sent to your executive manager. Executive managers should submit nominations to Jon Porter, Director, Secretariat and Council Secretary, j.porter@curtin.edu.au.

Nominations close on Tuesday 2 April 2013. This is the first round of nominations; a second round will take place later in the year.

Please note, nominations should be kept strictly confidential. Candidates should not be contacted for information regarding their nomination.

How inclusive is Curtin’s workplace culture – have your say

As you will all be aware, Curtin respects and values the diversity of its students, staff and community and is committed to creating an inclusive culture in which all people feel respected, valued, welcome and safe, including people of diverse sexuality and gender identity.

I am delighted to announce that as part of this commitment, Curtin has developed a Diverse Sexuality and Gender Identity Inclusion Strategy, which provides a strategic framework for the University. Staff can access the strategy at https://planning.curtin.edu.au/strategic/plans.cfm

Curtin is also a member of Pride in Diversity, Australia’s first and only not-for-profit workplace program designed specifically to assist Australian employers with the inclusion of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) employees.

Pride in Diversity is conducting an anonymous survey into how inclusive Australian workplaces are, and I encourage all Australian-based Curtin staff to take part. This is a valuable opportunity for you to tell us your perspective of how inclusive our workplace culture is and for us to obtain valuable information about issues to address.

For further information, email the Ethics, Equity and Social Justice team, eesj@curtin.edu.au. The link to the Pride in Diversity survey will be emailed separately.

Professor Kim Scott

I am pleased to announce that Professor Kim Scott, Professor of Writing in the School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts, is one of just seven Australians invited by the Ambassador to the United States of America, The Hon. Kim Beazley AC, to feature in the 2013 Australian Ambassador’s Speakers Series in Washington DC.

The Series highlights and seeks to further broaden the wide range of fields and linkages that Australian universities have with US institutions. Professor Scott will present his work on regional languages and narratives, in June this year.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating Professor Scott.