Dear Students, it’s been wonderful seeing so many of you around the campus, enjoying university life. I have such fond memories of my time here and really hope that you can create something similar during your time as a student. It’s a unique, world-expanding, and exciting time, so I encourage you to push it to its limits and make the most of it.
Feeling nostalgic about my student days
I recently took a trip down memory lane with Professor John Daly, UOW Head of Nursing, in a podcast for the We Are UOW series. In it, we discuss our meeting as Nursing Students here in Wollongong and the long-time friendship that has continued well beyond our days at UOW. We have both been instrumental in the trajectory of one another’s lives and careers, always encouraging each other to go that step further. I feel so grateful for this and the many other connections I made here. It’s funny to think, the person sitting next to you in today’s lecture theatre, could be the person you one day call a lifelong friend. There’s so much richness waiting for you, just around the corner.
A renewed Reconciliation Action Plan
Last week UOW launched our renewed Reconciliation Action Plan. Our plan seeks to inspire institutional, systemic, and cultural change through a process of learning, truth-telling and healing. My sincere gratitude goes to all at UOW’s Woolyungah Indigenous Centre and our First Nations colleagues and students for showing us the way – but the heavy lifting is up to the rest of us.
Donated artworks on show at UOW’s Gallery
An exhibition showing a sample of the more than 90 contemporary artworks donated to UOW from the art collection of John F. Morrissey is currently on display at UOW’s Gallery in the Jillian Broadbent Building. I had the pleasure of touring the exhibition with John and learnt a lot about the importance of these artworks in making up our cultural history in Australia. The Morrissey Donations is on until 30 March. I highly recommend visiting, with artworks from the likes of Karla Dickens and Adam Cullen.
National Student Safety Survey
This article from various authors including UOW Lecturer in Criminology, Rachel Loney-Howes, makes the point that sexual violence and harassment on campuses are preventable. This week’s National Student Safety Survey findings are an opportunity for our University to make sure of it. As I said in my message yesterday, one incidence of sexual harassment and sexual assault at UOW is one too many and we take ownership of the challenge at UOW. Students or staff who experience any forms of harassment, violence or abuse at UOW are encouraged to speak out and seek support. Our Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) Team is available 9 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday and is on standby to respond to emergencies 24/7 on +61 2 4221 3344 or email uow-sarc@uow.edu.au.
Students doing incredible things
Lastly, I love hearing about the extraordinary extracurricular activities our students get up to! For instance, Max Stapely, a second year Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics student here at UOW, is getting ready to race as a professional triathlete at the Arena Games in Munich next month. Go Max!
Stay safe and thank you for bringing our campus back to life!
My best,
Trish