From the President

  • News of UCA's Melbourne Forum
  • Notice of AGM
  • Invitation to UCA Online Discussion Forums
  • Keeping Safe Online
Membership Matters
  • UCA & Queen's Birthday Honours
  • Women & Leadership Australia Scholarship Funding
  • UCA Executive Contacts
Dear Members,

The impact of COVID-19 on our college communities has continued to be the primary focus of the UCA Executive in recent weeks.  The disruption caused by the pandemic has been significant for individual colleges and for the collegiate community as a whole.  Members of the Executive remain willing to provide support to colleagues and to provide information on matters of concern.  Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Executive if you have a concern that you would like to be addressed.
 
News of UCA’s Melbourne Forum
Since our association’s formation in 1965, conferences and forums have provided valuable opportunities for members to network, communicate face-to-face, and further develop their careers.  This year’s Forum was to be no exception and it is therefore, with great disappointment, we announce that the Melbourne Forum will be postponed a full 12 months - now to be held Wednesday 29th September to Friday 1st October, 2021.

This decision was made in view of ongoing uncertainty in Semester 2 for social gatherings, interstate travel and the financial constraints, particularly restrictions to travel budgets, many of our members are experiencing. 

With organisation well underway and an impressive line-up of speakers confirmed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, livestreaming was considered as an option for members unable to be physically present.  However, feedback from previous gatherings indicates that members find great benefit in the informal social gatherings and opportunities for personal connections provided by the Forum.  We look forward to holding this event in 2021 and hope that you will be able to join us.

We are grateful to the Melbourne Heads for their understanding on this.
 
Notice of AGM
The delay in holding UCA’s Forum will impact on this year’s AGM.  At the time of writing we are yet to finalise arrangements on time, place and method of delivery of the AGM.  This information will be provided to members in the coming weeks.
 
UCA Online Discussion Forums
With physical distancing the ‘new normal’ and as we adjust to our online world, UCA has developed a series of online discussion forums to provide development and connection and to harness the great strength of our profession – collegiality.  All sessions will run via ZOOM at 2:00pm AEST on the second Tuesday of the month commencing 9 June.  Extra sessions will be offered based on demand and on a case by case basis.

Please join us in a series of facilitated but informal monthly discussions on a range of topics and find our brochure here 

To register, contact Deborah Pugh at executiveofficer@universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au
 
Keeping safe online
We are grateful to Universities Australia for inviting UCA members to participate in a webinar on e-safety.  The webinar was held on 20 May.  The key message of the webinar that cyber abuse and the misuse of technology has increased since the onset of the pandemic.  The webinar also referred to the vulnerability of the online environment where abuse may include threats of violence, encouragement of self-harm and offensive commentary.  The E-Safety Commissioner’s office has produced an E-Safety toolkit for universities and this may be accessed on the E-Safety Commissioner’s website here

While I am sure that colleges have well established policies and procedures for dealing with the misuse of technology, you may care to review and reinforce these protocols.

With best wishes,
Barbara Green
President
 
Queen's Birthday Australian Honours
UCA is delighted to announce that its President, Barbara Green, has been awarded an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for significant service to tertiary education, particularly to university colleges, in the Queen's Birthday Australian Honours.
Women & Leadership Australia
Final Call: Last Chance to Register for Scholarship Funding
Women currently working in the education sector have a final opportunity to register their interest in a scholarship worth up to $5,000 to support participation in an online leadership development program.   It is unsure when this funding will be available again, and the registration deadline has been extended until 5pm on June 19. Find out more here: https://www.wla.edu.au/education.html
Contacting the UCA Executive
The Executive have re-iterated their desire and willingness to speak to members of the Association, to share their experiences, to answer members’ questions and to provide general and practical support.   As a reminder, the members of the Executive are:
  • Mrs Barbara Green, President
  • Mr Wayne Erickson, Vice President, St Andrew’s College, Sydney
  • Ms Rose Alwyn, IPP, St John’s College, Brisbane
  • Dr Ian Walker, Committee, Toad Hall, ANU
  • Mr Mark Sampson, Treasurer, University Hall, Perth
  • Ms Joanna Rosewell, Secretary, Jane Franklin Hall, Hobart
  • Adjunct Professor Bill Peirson, Committee, New College & New College Postgraduate Village, UNSW
Find Committee contact details here
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