EPSW Bulletin July / August 2025

Flinders University acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, these are the Traditional Lands of the Arrernte, Dagoman, First Nations of the South East, First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee region, Jawoyn, Kaurna, Larrakia, Ngadjuri, Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri, Warumungu, Wardaman and Yolngu people. We honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

Update from Prof. Deborah West, Vice-President and Executive Dean

In Deborah’s latest update, she reflects on the momentum across the College as Semester 2 unfolds. There’s a strong sense of growth and optimism, with increased engagement across all campuses and a healthy pipeline of future students. The College’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030 sets a clear direction for the future, focusing on student success, research excellence, and strong partnerships. Deborah also reflects on the recent Open Days which were a strong success, thanks to the excellent collaboration of staff, volunteers, and academics.

Click here to read the full update

Update from Prof. Mary Katsikitis, Dean People and Resources

Mary welcomes a large cohort of new professional and academic staff, and shares an update on promotion applications, performance review timelines, 2026 workload planning, and the opening of OPS applications.

Click here to read the full update

Update from Prof. Pablo Munguia, Dean Education

Pablo reflects on a year of momentum and growth across the College, crediting the collective efforts of staff for supporting students and strengthening industry ties. Social Work is thriving under the new leadership of Kathomi Gatwiri, with new colleagues driving innovation in workforce development and accreditation. Celebrations are on the horizon, including an Education Careers Expo in October and the Student Achievement Awards in November. Colleagues are actively shaping learning and teaching through their work in the L&T Academy and a new grant initiative led by Gretchen Geng.

Click here to read the full update

College Research / FIMHWell Update

This year has seen meaningful progress in aligning research efforts, including the formation of the College Research Committee - bringing together research leaders, EMCRs, and HDR representatives - and the reintroduction of Research Sections.

The College is now exploring how best to define and support research labs and groups, with further details to be shared soon. Several targeted funding schemes have also been launched, alongside new communication channels designed to keep researchers informed and connected.

Click here to read the full update

Welcome to our new starters!

Welcome to Sam Howie, Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education

Sam joined us on the 22nd of July.

Click here to learn more about Sam Howie

Welcome to Rebecca Williams, Field Education Coordinator (Occupational Therapy)

Rebecca joined us on the 23rd of July.

Click here to learn more about Rebecca Williams

An update on some staff movements:

Laura Edney has been appointed Senior Research Fellow in Psychology

Emily Edmonds has been appointed Recruitment Advisor

Lara King has been appointed Research Fellow in Psychology

Christiana Harous has been appointed Associate Lecturer in Psychology

Tisha Beasley has been appointed Associate Lecturer in Education

Ian Zajac has been appointed Breakthrough Research Fellow in Suicide Prevention

Michelle Ciola has been appointed Lecturer in Social Work

Lizzie Osborn has been appointed Associate Lecturer in Psychology

Michael Billows has been appointed Associate Lecturer in Psychology

Nadine Hutchison has been appointed Research Associate in Psychology

Joanne Zhou has been appointed Research Fellow in Psychology

Sarah Crossman has been appointed Research Associate in Education

Reminder: Required Training via the Staff Learning Portal

As we approach the September deadline to complete the Required Training via the Staff Learning Portal, we would like to take a moment to highlight the importance of completing the training.

Recent data from People and Culture shows that completion rates across the College of Education, Psychology & Social Work (CEPSW) remain below expectations, with only 49% of CEPSW academic staff and 61% of College Services staff having completed their assigned training. These figures underscore the need for renewed attention and collective effort.

Please log in to https://flinders.okta.com/ and review your assigned training. Supervisors are encouraged to check in with their teams and provide support where needed. If you encounter any issues, speak with your manager to agree on a completion timeframe, ideally no later than the end of September 2025.

Click here to read the full update

Nominations Now Open: 2025 CEPSW Student Achievement – Community Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2025 CEPSW Student Achievement Community Awards – recognising and celebrating students who truly embody our university values of Integrity, Courage, Innovation, and Excellence.

We want to hear about the students who go above and beyond – those who inspire others, strengthen our community, and represent the very best of who we are.

👉 Submit your nomination here

Submissions close: 5pm, Friday 12 September

Click here to learn more

First Aid Procedure and Contacts

We’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of our first aid procedure.

Click here to learn more

New Open Textbook: Mental and Physical Health Dimensions

Mental and Physical Health Dimensions is now available as an Open Educational Resource, developed by Flinders and UniSA authors and Library teams. Tailored for health students, this accessible, evidence-based resource bridges mental and physical health in an Australian context.

Ideal for teaching staff seeking adaptable, student-friendly content!

Click here to learn more