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Since 2017, there has been a downward trend in our University’s performance in key international rankings schemes.

The University has established a taskforce led by the Research and Innovation portfolio that is identifying why our ranking performance has declined and what we can do to improve.

Find out more in this update from ANU Provost and Senior Vice-President, Professor Rebekah Brown.

The Expenditure Taskforce recently conducted a comprehensive analysis of expenditure categories. This week the Chief Operating Officer discusses insights from the analysis of the travel and technology expenditure, including identified opportunities for savings. The findings highlight key areas where change is necessary to better manage costs and improve resource utilisation. 

Learn more: Optimising travel and technology expenditure for future sustainability

Since reminders about leave began about a month ago, our total leave balance has started decreasing, which is a positive step in the right direction. It has been great to see many staff members utilising the school holidays and non-teaching period to take a well-deserved break. Summer is just around the corner, and it is a good opportunity to take a break and enjoy the warmer weather, especially as the teaching load decreases during the December and January period.

We will be tracking our leave balance monthly within On Campus to ensure we all prioritise taking a break and we work collectively on bringing down our leave liability.

This month ANU annual leave is sitting at approximately 22.4 days per person, whereas our peers in the Go8 are sitting at 17.7 days.

Planned leave is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, offering rest and rejuvenation that can enhance productivity and creativity, helping to prevent burnout and exhaustion from prolonged periods working without a break. Please take the time to discuss any leave plans with your supervisor. The sets out key semester dates that can assist you in planning to take a break, to support and promote a positive work-life balance.

Are you interested in being a professional staff mentor, mentee, or both? Expressions of interest for the 2025 Professional Staff Mentoring Program are now open to professional staff. This program offers mentees the opportunity to receive support from experienced senior staff to increase their skills and confidence, build networks and more effectively navigate their career goals at ANU. It also provides mentors the chance to reinforce and refine their own understandings as they share their experience and expertise with junior staff. For any queries about the program contact HRD.Development@anu.edu.au. 

Expressions of interest close Friday 29 November.

Monday 4 November, 5.30-7.30pm 

Join the at the 2024 ANU Solar Oration to hear the Director of Climate Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, explore the global solar energy shift, including Australia's innovative strides in solar and wind generation. Discover how technology and international cooperation are reshaping the future of energy. 

Monday 4 November, 6-7pm 

Benjamin Stevenson will be in conversation with local novelist  on Benjamin's new novel Everyone this Christmas has a Secret, a Christmas addition to his bestselling Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two and a deadly advent calendar of clues. 

Register now: Meet the author, Benjamin Stevenson

Wednesday 6 November, 5.30-7pm 

The 2024 Annual Lecture on Indigenous Diplomacy will be delivered by Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, North American Member on the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Wednesday 6 November, 6-7pm 

Shaun Micallef will be in conversation with Federal Minister on Shaun’s new book Slivers, Shards and Skerricks. “A one-man anthology by one of Australia's most intelligent and more handsome Renaissance men.” 

Register now: Meet the author, Shaun Micallef

Thursday 7 November, 6-7.30 

The invites academics, students, and interested attendees to join an expert panel discussion on the 2024 presidential election and its potential implications for the future of American democracy and beyond, the realities facing women and minority groups, and the role of the United States on the global stage. 

Wednesday 13 November, 12.30-2pm 

Curious about small changes you can make to your course to enhance student learning? Join the for an online lunch and learn session to see examples of simple, high impact learning activities, explore how to blend online and in person learning and try out technology and tools that work in Canvas. 

Registration closes Wednesday 6 November. 

Thursday 21 November, 9.30am-4.30pm 

This workshop run by People and Culture offers learners an interactive project management awareness experience. Learners will develop a work breakdown structure, present a business case and learn to close off projects upon their completion. 

Don’t miss out on your last chance to partake in professional development run by for 2024. 

Registration closes on Sunday 10 November. 

Saturday 30 November, 9.30am-2pm 

All ANU staff are invited to bring their families along to the annual End of Year Kids Party, a beloved tradition of the staff community. Enjoy a fun-filled days of activities, including face painting, a science show, Indigenous storytelling, a reptile zoo and of course, a visit from Santa.  

(JCSMR) marked its 75th anniversary with a symposium on 24 October 2024, celebrating its transformative journey in advancing medical research in Australia. Founded in honour of Prime Minister John Curtin, JCSMR has grown into a leading research institution and the proud home of three Nobel Laureates. 

This milestone event welcomed JCSMR's own as the guest of honour, who emphasised the importance of great institutions in driving scientific innovation. 

Growing up in small-town Ulverstone in Tasmania, Sam Watson may not have envisioned that one day he would be walking through the doors of the prestigious Oxford University on a full scholarship.  

And yet, the recent recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship – which provides fully paid tuition, a stipend, and return airfare – will commence his postgraduate studies there in 2025. 

The prestigious scholarship recognises outstanding all-round students. For Sam, it’s the culmination of all of his hard work and dedication to his values. 

It has been wonderful to see our staff engage with Health, Safety and Wellbeing Month this October. Health, Safety and Wellbeing Month will conclude on Thursday 31 October at the final expo. There is still plenty of time to participate in a free health activity, including health checks and fitness classes.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Expo Four – Moot Court

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the final Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Expo on , 10am-3pm at the Moot Court - 6A Fellows Road, featuring stalls from internal and external vendors, plus a raffle with $50 vouchers to be won. 

Spring picnic

Join us for a at the College of Law, lawns on 31 October from 12pm - 2pm. Please bring your lunch, water and a hat. Picnic rugs and lawn games will be provided.

The ANU Information Security Office is introducing a brand-new Cyber Sense training series featuring ANU alumnus and comedian Chris Ryan plus a few other familiar faces. Right now, you can watch the Cyber Sense Introduction Training video. Coming in November are three exciting modules on phishing, protecting your privacy and protecting your device. Stay tuned as ANU rolls out these important modules.

Events are an important part of the university experience, but they also produce a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Good news is there are easy steps we can take to have a positive impact.

Explore the Carbon Smart Event Guide for suggestions such as ANU tree tours, potluck picnics and a cycling tour of key Canberra sights.

If you are dealing with a personal or work-related issue, including distress related to the conflict in the Middle East, the University encourages you to seek support through the .

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to that was developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.