Issue 2 February 2006

 Global Corporate Challenge - Trophy Presentation 

Olympic gold medallist, Herb Elliott, has presented a very special trophy to a group of Monash Caulfield staff who won the Global Corporate Challenge ‘virtual’ walking race – held from May to November last year. The Australian middle distance runner, who set new world records during the fifties and sixties, presented the group with a bronze replica of one of his running shoes from the 1960 Olympics.   

The Caulfield staff had won the Global Corporate Challenge in which 1430 teams from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US “virtually” walked from Arnhem Land to Antarctica  last year.   

The Monash team, who racked up their daily steps using pedometers, lead from the start and accumulated more than 27 million steps between May and November. They were: Mr Martin Doulton, Dr Jill Grogan, Dr Bala Balanchandran, Mr Peter Lausch, Ms Rosemary Demirtas, Ms Lorraine Foxall, Ms Margaret Croxford and Ms Louise Oliaro.   

Mr Doulton thanked Monash University, his fellow walkers and their families, for support during the race.  

“Our team should be proud of its contribution to the massive combined event total of over 15 billion steps in this year’s Global Corporate Challenge,” Mr Doulton said.   

Herb Elliott, who won gold in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics and broke the four minute mile many times during his career, is patron and ambassador for Global Corporate Challenge – an international initiative that encourages people to improve their health and wellbeing.  

Mr Elliott praised the example set by the Monash walkers who won the race and improved their health through simply walking.  He said exercise must be encouraged in Australia to tackle obesity. “If we don’t address this problem, within three generations obesity will be a great economic and health disaster for this country,” he said.   

Orientation 2006 - Welcome Ceremony & Breakfast 

Chisholm Hall was filled with over 800 students who attended the official 2006 Orientation Welcome Ceremony on Wednesday 22 February.  Many students also enjoyed a complimentary breakfast of orange juice, freshly sliced seasonal fruits and mini danishes and mini muffins prior to the Welcome Ceremony.  Professor Gill Palmer - Dean of Business & Economics, officially welcomed first year students to the campus, with Andy Poon - President of MONSU Caulfield and Kristine Banks-Smith - Vice-President of MONSU Caulfield also welcoming the students and encouraging them to participate in all aspects of university life.

As the City of Glen Eira has adopted The Bahamas as its country to support during this year's Commonwealth Games, we were lucky enough to source a steel/pan drummer who played whilst the Academic Procession entered and exited Chisholm Hall.

An upcoming edition of Offcourse will have photos from the Ceremony. 

Student Assistance Launch - "Steady Course"

MONSU  Student Assistance launched their publication  "Steady Course:  Your 2006 Student Rights Guide" to the Monash University Caulfield community on Tuesday 14 February.  Launched by Caulfield Academic Director, Professor Rob Willis, guests included faculty academic and general staff, services staff and MONSU Caulfield staff and student representatives who enjoyed the special Chateau MONSU wine and nibbles.

In his speech, Professor Willis highlighted the importance of a Student Rights guide saying it was easy to read and full of practical advice with relevant information which all students would find valuable.

The book contains information on Academic Progress Committee Hearings, enrolment, fees, rights and responsibilities.  It also includes a resources checklist, off-campus directory and strategies for academic success.

"We had to strike a balance between not overloading students with too much information, but at the same time give them enough information they needed to help themselves.  We wanted to prevent students from falling into the common traps that students often find themselves in by offering them practical advice and information" says Natalie Pestana (MONSU Caulfield Publications Officer and "Steady Course" editor).  "I'm personally proud of this book.  It was a team effort by Student Assistance and we are also appreciative of the support from the student representatives, some of whom contributed to the writing."

The event also launched the new Student Rights logo - a compass - and motto: "helping you navigate a steady course at university."

"We felt that the compass was the perfect symbol for Student Rights.  Not only does it tie in beautifully with the university's own marketing strategy but it implies a sense of empowerment, that the students can help find their way and achieve a work/study/life balance.  Students, especially high school leavers, often find themselves lost at university.  Our role within Student Rights is to provide them with the tools to find their direction and achieve the correct balance with their studies and home lives."

"Steady Course" will also be launched later next month at Peninsula campus and is available at MONSU Caulfield and MONSU Peninsula service desks, faculty administrative offices, Student and Staff Community Services, Language and Learning and the Service Centre.

(Past & Present Staff of MONSU Student Assistance)

(Staff from MONSU Student Assistance & Community Services at the launch of "Steady Course")

Equal Opportunity (EO) Online Training 

Designed for all staff this training helps to meet the University’s vicarious liability under State and Federal equal opportunity legislation. It is the responsibility of the University to ensure for its members their rights as well as point out their responsibilities under the legislation. As an employer of choice for women it is particularly important that all staff understand the University’s proscription of sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment. EO Online training is available at:
http://adm.monash.edu/sss/equity-diversity/equal-opportunity/online-training/
Staff require Authcate access to undertake the quizzes and successfully complete the training.

Advanced Equal Opportunity training for staff and management
Face-to-face workshops are available to all staff who have successfully completed the EO Online training. These workshops build on legislative rights and responsibilities, provide specific information about university policies and procedures and equip participants with specific skills to help them apply the principles of equity management to the complex situations that can arise in practice. Managers and Supervisors in particular need to understand and implement these policies and procedures and are encouraged to attend workshops specifically designed for them.

Wednesday 8 March (10.00 a.m.-1.00 p.m. in Clayfield Room), and again on
Wednesday 13 September (2.00 p.m.-5.00 p.m. in Clayfield Room)

Further information about equal opportunity training can be viewed at: http://adm.monash.edu/sss/equity-diversity/equal-opportunity/training/

Justice of the Peace on campus  

Rod Simpson, Justice of the Peace, is available on Tuesdays from 10am to 2.30pm to provide a Certification and Statutory Declaration/Affidavit witnessing service.

For the dates of Tuesday 28 February, Tuesday 7 March and Tuesday 14 March Rod will be based in Room A1.19. From Week 4, Tuesday 21 March, Rod will be working from one of the pods in the Service Centre.

If you need to contact Rod by telephone please call the switchboard on x32000.

Media Communications Office  

The Media Communications Office now has a presence on campus.  Robyn Anns is working at Caulfield on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and her office is 3.115 in Building H.  Robyn can be contacted on 0417 568 781.

Religious Service - Catholic Mass 

Peter Hoang, Catholic Chaplain, will hold a regular Catholic Mass on Thursdays in Room T3.01 at 1.15 p.m.  For additional information please visit website:  monashcatholics@blogspot.com

Campus Nurse Report   

I am pleased to say that our  weekly walks continue and we have a core group of about 10-15 who meet regularly on a Tuesday at 1.05 p.m.  All members of the campus community are welcome to come along on a Tuesday: staff, student or  friend of the campus.   Look forward to seeing you. For those participating in the 10,000 Steps, "Welcome to The Bahamas Challenge", here are a couple of tips for getting more steps into your day:

To squeeze more steps into your day remember to:

   * use the stairs rather than the lift;
   * walk to the shops or station rather than drive;
   * throw away the TV remote and get up to change the channel;
   * walk to see your colleagues at work rather than using the phone or
     sending an email.

Fitness Tip

• Surround yourself with supportive people.
• Decide what kind of support you need: Do you want them to remind you to exercise? Ask about your progress? Participate with you regularly or occasionally? Allow you time to exercise by yourself? Go with you to a special event, such as a 10K walk/run? Be understanding when you get up early to exercise? Spend time with the children while you exercise? Try not to ask you to change your exercise routine?
• Share your activity time with others.
• Make a date with a family member, friend or co-worker.
• Be an active role model for your children.

And above all, have fun while keeping yourself as healthy as is possible.

Thanks from Judy Evans (Campus/Practice Nurse)

Caulfield Profiles

This month Andres Villamizar of International Student Support Unit is profiled.  

What is your position here at the Caulfield campus?

I am an International Student Advisor in the International Student Support Unit (ISSU).   

How long have you been at the Caulfield campus?

Three years as a student of a Bachelor in Visual Arts and eight months as a staff member.

 Please tell us your country of birth and how long have you lived in Australia?  

I came as an international student, originally from Colombia (not Columbia) five years ago.  I became a permanent resident in April 2005 and can't wait to be an Aussie citizen.  I will be eligible for that in April 2007.

Do you have family here in Australia?

My only family is my partner, who was also an international student from Sweden doing a masters in Electronic Engineering at Monash Clayton.  We met in 2003 and have been together ever since.  My parents and siblings have never been to Australia, but I went to visit in 2004.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

I study Swedish, practise tae-boxing and swimming, as cliched as it sounds, I love going to the movies at The Jam Factory and have a browse at magazines and books in Borders while having a nice coffee.  Decided not to get a TV a year ago when we moved into a new place and I read a lot more ever since.

Do you have a favourite quote you would like to share?  

''Life is an ocean of opportunities, you just have to take challenges and look for the good waves',and 'Always fight a negative attitude with a smile and looking at people in the eye'.
 

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Lecturing Spanish at university and doing my PhD on the impact of Hispanic culture and Spanish in Melbourne.

Have you done much travelling?  If so, where was your favourite destination? If not, do you have plans to travel soon?

 I lived in California, New York and Florida for a couple of years in my early 20s, that was fun!  But my favourite holiday was certainly Stockholm 2004! Absolutely amazing midnight sun and beautiful 24 degree summer!

 If you would like to be "profiled" in an upcoming edition of Offcourse, please email me at Christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au
 

Authorised by the Office of the Campus Manager 

Caulfield Contributions can be emailed to Christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au