Issue 4 Thursday 27 May 2004

Heart Day 

Heart Week 2004 was celebrated on the Caulfield Campus with monies raised on Heart Day, Friday - 7 May "Dress Red, Give Readily".

Community Services was into the spirit with reception staff taking the message on board and encouraging the campus to give generously.

Community Services staff getting into the spirit of Heart Day

Community Services Staff spreading the message of  Heart Day

Photos courtesy of Melissa Latu-Lutui

Thank you to all who enthusiastically participated in the day - over $300.00 was raised.

Free Bike Cage Hire

The bike cages are now being offered "FREE" hire until the end of 2004.  If you are interested in securing a bike cage, please contact the Student Union Service Desk on level 2 of S Building. 

A deposit or bond of $50.00 for the key is payable, which is refunded when you return the key.

MONSU Caulfield Clubs Resource Room

A new Resource Room for MONSU Caulfield Clubs was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor on 7 April.  The Resource Room was previously the dental surgery, but has now been transformed to provide clubs with workstations and computer facilities to undertake club tasks.  The room is  furnished with whiteboards, pin boards and lockers for Clubs to utilise and enables Clubs to hold committee meetings.  One wall has been decorated with art works by the Art & Design Society and photographs by the Photography Club.

The new Clubs Resource Room, fitted out with workstations and computer facilities.  Artwork by students of the Art & Design Society.

The official opening was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Larkins, Deputy Chancellor, Paul Ramler, CEO of Monyx, Andrew O'Brien, staff from Monash and Monyx, Student Representatives and Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Caulfield Clubs.

From left to right: At the official opening, Leo Ostroburski, 2004 Clubs Officer, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Larkins, 2004 Student President, Michael Josem.

Photos courtesy of Leo Ostroburski

Thursday - BBQ Day

BBQ Thursdays have been a big hit at Monash Caulfield. Next Thursday (3 June) will be the last until the start of spring - so get along and enjoy.  If it is raining, the bar-b-que will be located next to the Lavazza coffee cart on the ground floor walkway.  Home-made burgers and vegetable burgers will be standard offerings, with a "special" eg., chicken burgers, grilled fish also offered each  week. 

Mixed Netball

The staff mixed netball team is going from strength to strength!!  Staff from Community Services have now joined members from IT, Facilities & Services,  Monash International and Campus Manager's office for a fun, if a bit tiring, weekly social game of netball.

Staff from Facilities & Services, Monash International, IT and Campus Manager's Office after their first victory.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Latu-Lutui

Staff/student games take place every Tuesday in Chisholm Hall from 12.30 p.m - no charge.  If the students can't play games between staff teams are played.

This is a great opportunity to meet other people from around the campus.    If you are interested in being added to the staff team please contact Christel Kent on email:  christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au

Campus Nurse Report

Judy Evans, our Campus Nurse has kindly agreed to write a regular article on health issues for Offcourse.  Here is her first article:

10,000 steps program – Every Step Counts – A health initiative

 My vision for the Caulfield campus is that all staff will wear a pedometer, and the greeting will be “good morning, how are you, and how far have you walked today?” A pedometer is the latest gizzmo in health.  It is about as big as a match box, worn on the waistband and it calculates the distance walked.  The 10,000 steps program is a worldwide initiative to get people more active and improve their health.

 The Heart Foundation recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, such as brisk walking.  This activity can be accumulated in bouts of ten minutes or more if this is more convenient.  10,000 steps a day is calculated on 30 minutes of walking being the equivalent to 3,000 steps with the remaining 7000 steps expected to be undertaken as part of daily living.  The average, non-sedentary, but under active-for-health person takes approximately 6,500 steps per day.  Adding a 30 minute walk to this brings the daily total to about 10,000 steps.

 Physical exercise is the corner stone to good health.  It does not mean that you have to join a gym or swim the English Channel (unless you want to).  But is does mean that you have to get out of the chair and get moving.

 Being physically active is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle.  At any age, physical activity provides a range of health benefits. People who are physically active regularly tend to:

• Have improved long term health
• Be less likely to have a heart attack
• Feel more energetic
• Manage their weight better
• Have a healthier blood cholesterol level
• Reduce risks of diabetes
• Have lower blood pressure
• Have stronger bones and muscles (less osteoporosis)
• Feel more confident, happy, relaxed and are able to sleep better.

Join the 10,000 steps per day programme.  Research reveals that by doing 10,000 steps per day, every day,  we are maintaining an activity level that will provide positive long term health outcomes.  If you want to become fitter or  lose weight, just increase the number of steps.  

If you would like to know more, contact Judy Evans Campus Nurse. Ext 31177

ESOS Briefing   

ESOS ( Educational Services for Overseas Students)

Robert Barrett, Manager ESOS Compliance will give an ESOS briefing at the Caulfield campus on Thursday 3 June in the Clayfield Room from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

The briefing is aimed at both new and existing staff and will outline staff and university obligations under the ESOS Act as well as provide an update on emerging issues, developments and interpretations in the area. 

The briefing will be for an hour's duration and will include the opportunity for questions.  If you would like to attend please email: wendy.blastock@monint.monash.edu.au

Flu Vaccination

The flu season is in full swing and the Health Service does have some stocks of the flu vaccine left.  If you would like to have this vaccination please arrange an appointment with one of the doctors at Monash Caulfield Health Service, located in Level 1, B Block, ext 31177.  The cost is $15.00. 

Art & Design - Short Courses

INTRODUCTION TO KILN-CASTING SLUMPING AND FUSING

By offering considerable hands-on experience in kiln casting and slumping and fusing, this class will help students develop the confidence they need to work on their own.  They will make open plaster/silica moulds from clay positives, and create a coloured fused & slumped project.  Loading moulds with glass, firing schedules, and the cleaning and finishing of pieces will also be covered.   This class is suitable for both beginning and experienced glassworkers.  It is also designed for teachers and artists who have access to ceramic kilns and who are interested in using them with glass.  Students wishing to study glass in the future will find this course valuable in terms of folio preparation and gaining basic glass working knowledge.

For further information please phone: Bethany Wheeler - 0439 638 508

INTRODUCTION TO GLASS BLOWING

This course is intended for beginners who have little or no experience with molten glass.  Emphasis will be placed on the skills necessary to complete simple paperweights and blown vessels.  Classes will be small, enabling the instructor to provide special attention to each student.  No glasswork experience is required.

For further information please phone: Suzanne Palmieri - 0409 526 866.

Briefing - Strategic Cost Management  

All interested staff are invited to attend a Briefing Session on Strategic Cost Management, the financial management process and budget process at Monash on Thursday 1 July between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. in the Clayfield Room.  Please register your interest to attend by emailing Wendy McManamny at wendy.mcmanamny@adm.monash.edu.au

Further information about  Strategic Cost Management is available at http://www.firm.monash.edu.au

University Watch

Chris Riskas from Facilities & Services advises:

There have been  two weekend "break ins" during May. Staff are reminded to secure offices when out of their office and to immediately report any suspicious behaviour or person to security on extn. 333 or 9903 2211.

Additional security cameras have been placed in the Melbourne Racing Club car park and should be operational by Tuesday 1 June, 2004.

Security cameras will be placed in the foyer of each floor of N and S buildings over the next couple of months.

A reminder that the security shuttle bus operates from 5.30pm until midnight Monday to  Friday and  staff are encouraged to utilise this service, especially if you are parked at the Melbourne Racing Club.

Parking Fine Mural

Student representatives of MONSU are making a "parking fine" mural and would be happy to receive any paid parking fines to place on their mural.  Please forward your parking fines to Leo Ostroburski, 2004 Clubs Officer, MONSU, Level 2, Building S.

Caulfield Profiles

Michael Josem 2004 Student President of MONSU Caulfield is profiled in this edition of Offcourse:

* What does it mean to be President of MONSU Caulfield?
Being President of MONSU Caulfield has been a great opportunity for me to work hard to listen to students, have fun doing it, and then hopefully work constructively to deliver a real outcome. As a student representative, I think it's really important to remember to listen to what students think, so that we can be more representative.
 

 * How long have you been a student at Monash Caulfield - What subjects are you studying?
I try to avoid the use of the word "studying" to describe my time at
university, and prefer "enrolled." I've been a student here at the leading campus of Monash University since 2000.

* During your time here, what do you see as the three most significant changes (good and bad) at the University and why?
1) Faculty of Art & Design Building
The Faculty of Art & Design Building opened just before I started my course, and, as a local resident, I watched it being built. I believe that it really gave the Faculty a very visible home, and made a significant positive contribution to the image of the campus. The development of the faculty continues to bring an added dimension to the campus, and hopefully in my small way I've made a contribution to that by strongly supporting student
art work being on display in MONSU Caulfield areas.

2) International Students
The increasing number of international students, as long as it is properly managed and administered, continues to deliver real benefits to all students here at Caulfield. While, financially, the contribution is important, the interactions in class and in the corridors are much more valuable in the long-run. If multiculturalism is to succeed here in Australia into the
future, it needs to go beyond merely eating souvlaki and watching dragon dances, but must build and develop the interactions that are so valuable in class.

3) Monyx
The establishment of Monyx, while only very recent, has already led to better services to students. Despite only opening for trading on 1 August last year, we've already seen a number of new and exciting catering developments (with more to come in the next few months), improved retail services, and more customer oriented service. The foundations that have
been laid are also important in terms of future benefits to students, through superior service, profits returned to student organisations and Monash, and lower amenities fees.

* What is your most inspiring quote?
"Not too long ago two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, "We don't know how lucky we are." And the Cuban stopped and said, "How lucky you are! I had someplace to escape to." In that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom
here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man." - Ronald Regan, 1964 (and he used it several times afterwards).

* What advice do you give to struggling students?
Seek help early and often - here at Caulfield, we have the most wonderful and patient staff who are just as committed to helping you pass as you are. It's depressing to sit on an Academic Progress Committee long after the problems first arose, when many of them could have been fixed early and easily (and at much less financial and emotional cost to the student).

* What do you like to do in your spare time?
I'd like to have more spare time for starters, but I enjoy cheering for the Hawthorn Football Club, watching Top Gun, and complaining about bias in Government-funded institutions.

If you would like to be "profiled" in the next edition of "Offcourse", please contact Christel Kent on ext 31000 or christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au

Muppet Man

Caulfield Moves

Are you or someone you know making a move this year either to a new job, a conference or through a collaborative venture? Please let  Offcourse  know. 

Authorised by the Office of the Campus Manager 

Caulfield Contributions can be emailed to Christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au