23 July 2012

RMIT Update - No. 29/2012, 23/07/2012

Read about the new rules for acceptable ICT use, upcoming UniSuper seminars, advertising in next year's student diary, participating in workplace stress studies, a free tai chi workshop and more...

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Project updates

Welcome to RMIT's revamped website

We're very pleased to unveil RMIT's new website. As well as a new design, it includes new sections for prospective students and reshaped landing pages for staff and students. We've also sharpened the program pages and map pages to make it quicker for users to find what they need. The main navigation will also make it faster to get where you want.

But there's still a lot of work to be done as we continue to improve the design and develop audience-based sites. Expect to see ongoing improvements to Staff and Students content, and the remaining areas of the site.

This has been a huge collaborative effort from staff across the University. Sincere thanks to members of the distributed web community, Marketing and Communications, and ITS, who all helped to make some of the most significant improvements to the website in the last decade.

Once you have had a look around, please let us know what you think using the RMIT website feedback form.

Need to find out more? To talk you through the changes, you may wish to read these FAQs. View a concise, illustrated guide to the homepage.

[Source: Jeremy Cotton, Web Services and Information Policy]

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In brief

UniSuper seminars

For UniSuper members, seminars are being held by UniSuper during the second half of the year on the topics below:

• UniSuper101 - an introduction: While especially relevant to members who have joined within the past 12 months, this session is suitable for all members who wish to gain an overview of the basics of UniSuper.
• Understanding contributions and caps: The rules around contributing to super can be complex and confusing. This seminar aims to take away the confusion and explain the different types of contributions to super.
• Retirement planning: This seminar informs members about the key issues to consider before exiting the workforce. It is useful for those planning for an immediate retirement or just seeking to gain a better understanding of the central issues.

To register for a seminar please go to the UniSuper website and follow the instructions.

[Source: Ashley Spark, Payroll and Human Resources Systems]

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Keep informed about the status of RMIT's IT services

The ICT service status page keeps you informed of all scheduled maintenance. Keep your eye on this page to make sure that our service improvements occur without disruption to your work. This week the webpage includes important information for users of:

• Gizknow
• AFI Research Collection catalogue
• Voyager Analyser

View the above web page for a full list of affected systems. If you have any queries, please contact the IT Service Desk on 58888. For information about upcoming ITS projects and milestones view the ITS calendar.

[Source: Steven Petrenko, Information Technology Services]

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Reviews of human and animal ethics processes

RMIT is currently undertaking reviews into human and animal ethics processes. As part of the reviews, academic and administrative staff and students are invited to make submissions. The closing date for submissions is 4pm, this Friday, 27 July.

[Source: Alex Johnston, Research and Innovation]

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Make your service stand out: advertise in the 2013 student diary

The 2013 RMIT student diary is an A5 size, leather-bound, section-sewn bound, 12-month diary with full-colour advertising throughout sections. It has a circulation of 40,000 copies and is provided to TAFE, degree and postgraduate students at the City, Brunswick and Bundoora campuses.

Bookings for advertising and discount vouchers are now open. The booking and artwork deadline is 5pm on Friday, 17 August. Contact Marianna Pettolino for information and rates.

[Source: Marianna Pettolino, University Events and Venues]

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Investigation of psychological distress and mood among university staff

Staff volunteers are needed to participate in a research project investigating the effects of stress, anxiety, depression and mood on psychological health, specifically in university staff.

Volunteers will be asked to complete an anonymous survey and short activity online. This should take no more than 15 minutes. The questions in the surveys relate to anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms, mood and mindfulness, as well as general demographic questions such as age, occupation and methods of mood regulation. All data is de-identified and completely anonymous

Any questions can be directed to Associate Professor Susana Gavidia-Payne or Elizabeth Bassilios.

[Source: Elizabeth Bassilios, School of Health Sciences]

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Promote the RMIT Work Experience Fair to your students

The Work Experience Fair is for all TAFE, degree and postgraduate students seeking work experience. With more than 50 organisations attending during two sessions, it is an excellent chance for your students to meet employers and find cadetships, cooperative programs, internships and vacation work. Suggest your students prepare for the event by viewing the employers list and attending a lunchtime preparation seminar. Student ID is required for entry. This event is supported by the Student Services and Amenities Fee.

Date: Friday, 3 August
Time: Morning session 10am - 12.30pm, afternoon session 2pm - 4.30pm (different employers will be at each session)
Venue: RMIT Storey Hall, City campus

[Source: Adam Rowland, Student Services]

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The teaching tomtom tackles Course Guides

DSC's blog, the teaching tomtom, focuses on tertiary learning and teaching issues and practices. It's all about sharing knowledge and experience and contributing to our community of tertiary teaching.

This week John Benwell, Principal Advisor, Learning and Teaching, tackles Course Guides: "It's that time of the academic year when we have to revise our course guides - the details of the course you are running and an important document for students. Independent learners need a menu, a planting guide, a chart, of what is to be learnt during the semester, and how their learning will be assessed. Without a guide, they will not be able to plan their studies..."

Recent topics on the teaching tomtom:

• Teaching Awards - worth the paperwork?
• Feedback on the outer limits
• Bloom 'n' Biggs

[Source: Jon Hurford, College of Design and Social Context]

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Platform Technologies News

The latest edition of Platform Technologies Research Institute's newsletter, Platform Technologies News, Issue 3, July is now available. It features the achievements of all our researchers and HDR students from April to June. If you would like to be included on the distribution list, please email.

[Source: Petra Van Nieuwenhoven, Platform Technologies Research Institute]

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Academic staff needed for Victoria University survey

RMIT academic staff are invited to participate in a survey exploring issues of work stress, work/life balance and employer support for Australian academics.

The project has been approved by Victoria University's Human Research Ethics Committee (HRETH 12/105) and is endorsed by Victoria University's Office for Research. The survey is short, should take no longer than 10 to 15 minutes. All data is de-identified and completely anonymous.

[Source: Marcia Gough, Human Resources]

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Evaluation of complex development interventions

The Centre for Applied Social Research and The Globalism Research Centre present this seminar by Michael Woolcock. Dr Woolcock is the lead social development specialist for the Development Research Group of the World Bank, and lecturer in public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

Date: Tuesday, 24 July
Time: 4pm - 5pm
Venue: Seminar rooms 1 and 2, Storey Hall, City campus
RSVP: to Farida Fleming by Monday, 23 July
Cost: Free. All welcome

Dr Woolcock will discuss appropriate ways to generate and use evidence for complex interventions - in particular the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach. His book Contesting Development: Participatory Projects and Local Conflict Dynamics in Indonesia, is the co-winner of the 2012 American Sociology Association Sociology of Development Section Faculty Book Award.

[Source: Professor Patricia Rogers, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies]

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Lights project on Gertrude Street

RMIT University joins the Gertrude Projection festival, illuminating the facade of Turning Point with two projects. Public art students from the School of Art TAFE will exhibit their interpretation of the site with a focus on the drawn element, while Skypetrait artists, a joint project between RMIT Art in Public Space Program and Reutlingen University in Germany, explore portraiture created via the public interface of Skype in the public context of Gertrude Street.

Date: until Sunday, 29 July
Time: 6pm - midnight
Venue: Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

[Source: Roberta Mascitti, College of Design and Social Context]

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Developing public health and health services research

The Health Innovations Research Institute invites you to a seminar by Professor Jon Adams (PDF 1.21 MB) next Tuesday, 31 July, at Bundoora West campus.

Professor Adams is Professor of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney, where he leads a team of nine complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) researchers. He is also Honorary Professor of Sociology at the School of Social Science, University of Queensland, and Honorary Professor of Health Social Science at the School of Population Health, University of Queensland.

Professor Adams' presentation will outline how a public health and health service research program is essential to understanding and exploring CAM's role in contemporary healthcare, and in addressing the research capacity-building challenges the field faces.

Title: Developing public health and health services research in complementary and alternative medicine: Addressing research and research capacity-building challenges
Date: Tuesday, 31 July
Time: 4pm
Venue: Building 207, level 2, room 2, Bundoora campus
RSVP: Michelle Nicolo on 56606

[Source: Michelle Nicolo, Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi)]

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Free tai chi workshop

As one of the traditional Chinese martial arts, tai chi has slow and graceful movement but is also very good exercise for most people. A new-style tai chi of 24 movements will be introduced in this workshop with thorough step-by-step explanations. For more information please contact Ting Zhao.

Date: Thursday, 26 July
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Venue: Building 202, level 3, the carpeted area, Bundoora campus
RSVP: via email
Cost: Free

[Source: Iris Zhou, School of Health Sciences]

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Multi-faith remembrance service for Norway attacks

The RMIT Chaplaincy is holding a multi-faith remembrance service for those who died last year in the attacks in Oslo and Utøya. This service is open to all - those directly affected and also the wider RMIT community. This is an opportunity for RMIT to come together in remembrance of the lives lost, and support those grieving at this time.

Date: Thursday, 26 July
Time: 12.30pm
Venue: The Spiritual Centre, Building 11, City campus

[Source: Laura Kretiuk, Student Services]

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How to contribute

Contributions to this newsletter must be sent as an unformatted email message with no attachments to rmit.update@rmit.edu.au before 2pm on Thursday for distribution on Monday. The word limit for contributions is 150 words. Do not send personal items, press releases, items that require uploading to the web or repeat articles. View Writing for RMIT Update guidelines (login required).

Only items that relate to the University's core activities will be published. To ensure RMIT Update is distributed on time, we cannot accept late contributions.

The deadline for the next edition, No.30 2012, is 2pm Thursday, 26 July, for distribution on Monday, 30 July.

If you have any comments or queries, please email rmit.update@rmit.edu.au. RMIT Update is produced by Engagement (login required).

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Feedback

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Your thoughts, comments and suggestions will help us provide content that is relevant to you.

Please email your feedback to rmit.update@rmit.edu.au.

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Useful links

Other useful RMIT web sites are available from the staff essentials web page.

More news is available on the news for staff web page.

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