8 July 2005
A message from the acting vice-chancellor, Professor Stephen Parker
Monash staff and students will by now have heard about the tragic events in London. I have been in contact with Dr Chris Churchill, the Executive Officer of the Monash University London Centre, and can advise that our staff there are safe, as are the staff at our associate body, the Menzies Centre, in Russell Square.
We have a list of other Monash staff, derived from the new Flightlock travel system, whom we believe may be in the London area and we are endeavouring to ascertain their wellbeing at present. We have certainly not heard that any have been directly affected by the bombings.
It is quite likely that staff and students currently in the UK will make contact with someone back at their normal campus. I would be grateful if you could forward any relevant email message to the university's Security Manager, Russell Gammie at russell.gammie@adm.monash. edu.au or contact University Community Services on 03 9905 3156, so that we can continue to monitor the situation.
For the information of those staff and students with family or friends likely to be in London, I can also advise that a Consular Emergency Hotline has been established on 1800 00 22 14 ( http://www.dfat.gov.au/ ).
The consular advice is as follows, 'Australians worried about family and friends in the UK should endeavour to contact them directly through phones, e-mail and other methods. If unsuccessful, our emergency hotline on 1800 00 22 14 will take details and provide further information as soon as possible.'
At this stage Monash staff are still able to travel to London on university business, but DFAT have issued a revised travel advisory for London, warning Australians to avoid the affected areas and not to travel unnecessarily around the city. Monash staff are therefore requested to exercise appropriate care and also to monitor the DFAT web site ( http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ ) regularly to ensure they remain informed of the situation there. | 
