Dear Members
 
Just less than four weeks until our biennial forum “Leaders and Partners in Changing the Course“ to be held at Brisbane's Rydges Southbank on 28^th and 29^th September.
 
This forum program has been designed to be practical whilst meeting policy imperatives in the context of the AHRC recommendations.  Key speakers from Universities Australia (Dr Renee Hamilton) and the Australian Human Rights Commission (Natasha de Silva) and the University of Queensland (Professor Joanne Wright) confirmed for the first day.
 
We are looking forward to hearing from and collaborating with these (and other) key organisations and our members as we work together to make decisions that address the recommendations presented in Changing the Course and consider also those practical recommendations made in the UNSW HRC’s report On Safe Ground. 
 
In recognising and respecting the individual and unique nature that makes up our membership, it is important that we work collegially on a baseline standard to ensure our students are safe and supported.   Moreover, to consider this in light of the rapidly changing context of the provision and leadership of university residences in this country.   It is vital that we continue to distinguish ourselves as academic/educational communities of connection, collaboration and character – as part of the university ‘sector’, rather than as part of the housing/student accommodation ‘industry’. ‘

The dinner on the evening of the first day will provide a much needed break from the day’s work and an opportunity to talk to colleagues from different states and university environments together with guests from our partners AACUHO, ACUHO-I and NAAUC.
 
The focus for the second day will be on approaches to wellbeing with key speaker Dr Tom Nehmy, Founder and Co-Director of the Healthy Minds Program.  We will also hear from Dr Tim Corney on our exciting new project in partnership with Vic Health and the Burnet Institute which will trial a new app across four Colleges in Victoria.  Together with Tim, Keith Conley will present on practical ideas and sharing of good practice in alcohol harm minimisation.
 
To register your interest in one or both days of the Forum as well as the Forum Dinner, please click here.

For catering purposes, registrations will close on Thursday 14th September.
 
We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to share best practice initiatives and achieve good practice in the provision of safe, supportive and inclusive colleges and halls of residence.
 
Best wishes,
Rose Alwyn