Campus Update
with Sam Avitaia"Spring has Sprung!"
It has been wonderful to see so many students back on campus lately with labs, workshops and a number of tutorial groups returning to campus. We look forward to seeing this continue into 2021. We’d like to congratulate all of our students and staff on the amazing way the UOW Bega community has approached the challenges of 2020. Please continue to reach out to all of our academic and support service staff at the campus as you approach these last weeks of the Spring semester. The photo below was of our unique R U OK virtual staff afternoon tea – can you spot the surprise guest? Welcome back to Brittany Brown (pictured above) in the administration team after 1 year’s parental leave and congrats to our
careers consultant, Samantha Morris on the birth of her second daughter and our four students who have also had babies in the past year! The UOW Bega family is growing by the minute!! Speaking of which, if you have friends and colleagues thinking about study in 2021, please encourage them to get in touch as applications for Autumn 2021 are now open, and drop-in days will be held on campus in December. We already have a good number of applications and are looking forward to orientation and once again reactivating our lively campus environment. The recent Spring rain has the campus looking green, lush and the outdoors are beckoning for all of us. Not long to go now and we’ll all enjoy a well-earned break. Best wishes,
Sam Avitaia, Manager UOW Bega
UOW Bega Student Representative
Hi, my name is Marg Hansen, I’m your Bega Campus Student Representative on the UoW Student Advisory Committee (SAC) and the School of Nursing’s Staff and Student Liaison Committee. The role of the SAC is to advise, consult and make recommendations to the university on matters affecting the academic and social wellbeing of students. The SAC is made up of around 40 Student Representatives from the different Faculties, Associations and Campuses of the UoW who meet regularly throughout the year.
The purpose of the School of Nursing Staff and Student Liaison Committee is to support the on-going quality of the learning experience for the Bachelor of Nursing students. I attend their meetings twice per session, provide Bega Campus nursing students with updates from those meetings and follow-up any questions, concerns or feedback Bega nursing students may have or are seeking answers to. Don’t hesitate to email me on mmh736@uowmail.edu.au or call me on 0400 442 945 at any time if you have any questions, concerns or feedback you’d like me to follow-up on. Thank you,
Marg Hansen
Student Representative, Bega Campus
UOW to prioritise bushfire recovery research
As the Southern Highlands, Far South Coast and Shoalhaven recover from bushfire, drought and floods, and endure the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Wollongong (UOW) has prioritised research projects that address our response to natural disasters.
The University’s Global Challenges Program has brought together teams of researchers to tackle different aspects of disaster and crisis response in the region, with more than 70 researchers across 10 project teams set to work with impacted communities over the coming months.
The disaster and crisis response projects relevant to the Bega Valley are: - Ready for anything – the role and performance of evacuation centres during the bushfires, with the Bermagui evacuation centre as the primary case study.
- #recoversouthcoast – how social media use is affecting bushfire recovery in Bega and the Far South Coast.
- Stories for healing – investigates stories from bushfires in Tathra, Cobargo, BatemansBay, Mogo, Ulladulla, Nowra and Kangaroo Valley to identify practices
that enhance healing and recovery for people, their communities and Country.
- Weed management in post-fire landscapes – Creating a resource to transform post-bushfire weed management across the region.
Online Seminar: Climate, disaster and mental healthThis year alone, our region has seen drought, bushfire and flood and now the world is experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate scientists warn that climate change is contributing to an increase in natural disasters and eco-anxiety has become a very real problem. So what impact does climate change and ongoing disaster have on mental health, and what can we do to recover, heal and build resilience? UOW Global Challenges is hosting an online panel discussion during Climate Change Week (October 19-23) and Mental Health Month (October). The seminar will comprise of a panel with Professor Sharon Robinson, Samantha Avitaia, Dr Joshua Whittaker, Dr Anthony McKnight and Professor Lorna Moxham. Seminar: Climate, disaster and mental health
Wednesday 21 October 2020, 12.30 PM Find out more and register at the link below:
Graduation Update 2020We are investigating creative ways to celebrate with the 2020 Graduating class, stay tuned... In the mean-time those who are eligible to graduate this year need to apply to graduate before 8 November via SOLS.
Summer Subjects for Arts and Business
Enrolments for Summer subjects are now open! There are a number of Summer electives available for Arts and Business students. Contact UOW Bega admin for a full list of online subjects on bega@uow.edu.au and enrol before 13 December via SOLS. Key dates for
Summer
Certificate of Excellence for Hannah!Congratulations to UOW Bega Nursing graduate, Hannah Pearce, who was recently awarded the Certificate of Excellence- Graduate Registered Nurse at Tweed Heads Hospital! Hannah graduated from UOW Bega in 2019 and made the move to Tweed Heads to commence her graduate position at the Hospital. This certificate demonstrates Hannah's passion, dedication and commitment to the Nursing profession, and all in less than a year as an RN. Well done
Hannah!
2020 ScholarshipsThis year, UOW Bega had eighteen Community Scholarships on offer to our students! Despite the difficulties of 2020, the continued support of our local sponsors has helped bring to life the vision of our talented students at UOW Bega. Unfortunately this year we were unable to hold our usual scholarships ceremony as a gesture of thanks to our sponsors, however, scholarship awardees were able to send letters and emails to show their appreciation. Our local sponsors include: - Mumbulla Foundation
- Bega Cheese
- Tarra Motors
- Tathra Lions Club
- Bega Lions Club
- Bega RSL Sub Branch
- Rotary Club of Bega
- Rotary Club of Pambula
- Bendigo
Community Bank Pambula
- Jim and Moira Collins
Congratulations to those students who were awarded a scholarship in 2020. Scholarships for 2021 will be on offer early next year so keep an eye out! Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Return to CampusWe have implemented a number of physical distancing and hygiene measures on campus. Please be sure to follow these so we can all stay safe. If you are unwell, please stay home. If you would like to use a classroom, please see campus admin or book ahead by emailing bega@uow.edu.au
- Keep 1.5 metres apart from others at all times.
- Adhere to maximum occupancy limits in all rooms. The room capacity has been displayed on the door of each room.
- Regularly use hand sanitiser stations located across the campus.
- A reduced number of computers spaced 1.5 metres apart are available for use. Sanitary wipes are available for users to clean the keyboard and mouse before and after each use.
Education Update with Sue Duchense
Congratulations to our final year Master of Teaching students who have successfully completed their final professional experience and are already being employed in schools. Jennifer, Acacia, Travis, Amanda, Erin, Emma and Nikita have impressed our local schools with their professional skills and enthusiasm. We wish them all the best for their careers. Below are just a few examples of the positive feedback our teaching students have received. Well done and good luck to you all! “The English Faculty are very impressed with the PEX teachers from the University of Wollongong. Nikita has in the short time she has been with us, shown her skills and values of developing relationships with the students which result in deeper engagement
and enjoyment of learning. We look forward to Nikita joining us in the future.” - Jane Dwyer, Bega High School “I have been mentoring UOW pre-service teachers since 2014. Over the years, I have supervised numerous talented educators and it has been my pleasure to watch them grow into quality practitioners..." - Mardi Porter, Eden Public School Our first year pre-service teachers are gearing up for their professional experience in just a few weeks. We look forward to hearing about their triumphs and challenges. It’s an exciting time in education world! Picture (left to right): Eden Public School Principal Tanja
Vogt, UOW Bega student Acacia Peterson, former UOW Bega student Mahli Jackson and Mardi Porter.
Become an In2Uni Mentor in 2021!
Inspire young primary and high school students by joining the In2Uni team and gain yourself some key employability skills in the process. Contact UOW Bega admin on bega@uow.edu.au or
6494 7035 to register your expression of interest in becoming an In2Uni mentor!
University Preparation Program 2020 This year, UOW Bega offered it's University Preparation Program (UPP) to 25 local Year 12 students via Zoom. UPP is a 15 week program designed to help Year 12 students through their HSC with tips and advice from their In2Uni mentors, who are current UOW Bega students. This year, our mentors had to adapt to deliver the sessions online and it was a great success! The program was well received by the Year 12 students and a lot of fun! As part of UPP, the students are
encouraged to apply for UOW early admissions to guarantee them a spot at University before sitting their HSC exams. Out of the 25 students in the program, 15 received offers without being required to attend an interview. This is an awesome achievement and shows the dedication of some of our local high school students! UPP is just one of the great programs you can be involved in as an In2Uni Mentor!
Koori Aspirations ProgramThe Koori Aspirations Program (KAP) is designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from years 7-11 and focuses on connection to country and identity. The main themes of the program include making choices, pathways after school, future and current learning, leadership and mentors, and managing competing priorities. The program is being delivered across local
schools and has received excellent feedback so far!
Learning Development with Deb GoughEDMT writing circle Recently, myself and Sue Duchense hosted the EDMT writing circle with the Master of Teaching students. A writing circle involves active rather than passive learning. In other words it is not a
workshop being delivered to the students by ‘an expert’, it is about all participants contributing to the learning in the session. The facilitator is there to prompt discussion, support the students in their deliberations, summarise key learnings and to provide support materials as needed. For students it is focused time with their peers to look at an assessment, which they seem to find really stimulating and thus valuable. Tackling your Assessments: Steps to Success In week 8, we had our first on campus workshop for those new to study which concentrated on the
process of satisfying assessment requirements. We didn’t look at content, but looked instead at generic ‘tools of the university trade’ such as: what information you need to gather to satisfy an assessment and where to find it, how to interpret the material, design a plan, research effectively, write to a structure, submit in good time and receive feedback (with an open heart). As always, please feel free to reach out to me via email gough@uow.edu.au for all things learning development! This includes help with essay writing, exam preparation, finding resources and interpreting marking rubrics and feedback.
Appointments available Tuesday and Thursday via Zoom.
Upcoming Careers Central Online Events Careers Central offer a range of online events and workshops for students to enhance their career development, all from the comfort of their home. Take a proactive approach and join in on our ‘How to’ series. Workshops include; - How to: Write a successful resume and cover letter
- How to: Start networking & do it well
- How to: Find work using creative methods
- How to: Ace your job interview
Approaching Graduation or Career Planning? If you’re looking for some personalised guidance on where your degree could take you or how you can put in place a
solid career plan, book a career chat. LinkedIn- An effective careers tool LinkedIn is an online platform where you can create an online resume, browse and apply for jobs, research career profiles and study pathways and it can help you establish professional connections while you are still studying. To find out how to make the most of LinkedIn, visit our website. The Alumni tool on LinkedIn shows you what UOW Alumni and current students are doing in their career journeys. This helps you explore career paths, discover top employment destinations and connect with alumni for advice. Careers Central have put together a LinkedIn Alumni Search video guide to show you how it is done. To book a consultation with a Regional Careers Advisor, please contact Bega Admin on bega@uow.edu.au
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)Looking for a boost in the last few weeks of session as we inch ever closer to exam period? Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), formerly known as PASS, is just the thing for you! Every PAL session is led by a current UOW student who has previously excelled at the subject. These leaders facilitate fun, relaxed and engaging study sessions, where enjoying yourself and having a good time is just as important as the actual study. At the Bega campus, PAL supports the following subjects: - ACCY112
- COMM121
- SNUG105
- HAS121
- GEOG122
To see which weeks and what time PAL runs for your subject, visit the PAL timetable site or email pass-enquiries@uow.edu.au for more information.
Mental Health MonthDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritising mental health and wellbeing has been more important than ever. October is Mental Health Month. Remember to take some time for yourself.
UOWx Leadership Series ContinuesUOWx is excited to be launching a free online workshop series based on best-selling leadership and personal development books. In less than an hour, you will watch a video summary of the book featured that week (so you don't have to read the entire book to participate), work on an action plan for applying it to your life, get feedback from your peers in a breakout group, and commit to implementing your plan after the class is over. Each workshop is divided across two main themes, Mental
Toughness & Dealing with Failure. The video summaries are provided by Readitfor.me who have animated and condensed the key takeaways from these best-selling titles. CLICK HERE for more information about the UOWx Leadership Series and to Register for the workshops. UOWx Virtual Seminar: Building Community Relationships & Resilience Looking to build your connections within your local community, but unsure how to do so or where to start? Join us for this UOWx virtual Seminar to find out how! In this seminar, you will learn: - How to build connections in your local community (practical tips on HOW to do this and the opportunities this can open up)
- Recognise the importance of resilience and the role it plays in building relationships
- Understand how to utilise different opportunities in the community (volunteering, attending different events
etc).
There are two session available. Please register below:
UOW Bega and Batemans Bay Staff Honoured for Bushfire Response
Staff from the University of Wollongong’s Batemans Bay and Bega campuses have been recognised in the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for their work in supporting their communities during the Black Summer bushfires on the South Coast. Jaimey Facchin, Campus Manager of UOW Batemans Bay, and Sam Avitaia, Campus Manager of UOW Bega, both received the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Award in acknowledgement of the tremendous responses of both campuses during the days and weeks after the bushfires that devastated communities at the beginning of 2020. Nicola Bath, Learning Development Lecturer and Administrative Assistant at UOW Batemans Bay, received the Excellence in Community Engagement Award for her immense contribution to helping
others during the crisis.
PhD candidate and UOW Bega Nursing tutor Sharon James has three new publications! Check them out via the links below: James, S., McInnes, S., Halcomb, E., & Desborough, J. (2020). General practice nurses’ communication strategies for lifestyle risk reduction: A content analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing (in press). Read article here Halcomb, E., McInnes, S., Williams, A.,
Ashley, C., James, S., Fernandez, R., Stephen, C., & Calma, K. (2020). The Experiences of Primary Healthcare Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Read here Halcomb, E., Williams, A., Ashley, C., McInnes, S., Stephen, C., Calma, K., & James, S. (2020). The support needs of Australian primary health care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Nursing Management (in press). Read
here
The first cohort of graduates from Bega Valley Innovation Hub – where are they now?ABOUT REGIONAL | SHARON KELLY | 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
The first cohort that graduated from the Bega Valley Innovation Hub (BVIH) included some very determined, very business savvy and very bright people running diverse businesses.
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