EPSW Bulletin - February 2023

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

Welcome back to what promises to be another busy and exciting year for the College and the University. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit which is associated with the concepts of prosperity, hope, peace but also incorporates cleverness and positivity. So, for our college, 2023 will be the Year of the Rabbit and People.

Click here to read the full update.

Update from Prof. Mary Katsikitis, Dean (People and Resources)

In Mary's update she talks about upcoming workshops for our College leaders as well as recruitment news, and welcomes ideas for an ambitious campus activation project for 2023 and College-wide activities to sustain and/or improve wellbeing of our staff.

Click here to read the full update. 

Update from Prof. Pablo Munguia, Dean (Education)

In Pablo's update he encourages us to keep our students' experience front and centre. He touches on Festival Plaza, Canvas and Artificial Intelligence, and explains the new L&T Framework.

Click here to read the full update.

New students kick off their College journey 

On Monday, 20 February, the College held its annual Orientation welcome events. The day included welcome lectures for new students, a well-attended Mature-age Morning Tea and the College Welcome Lunch in the Law Courtyard. These events provided opportunities for new students to meet and mingle with their peers, as well as with faculty and staff.

A big thanks to Ali Enright, who led EPSWs Orientation activities this semester, and who has taken engagement and quality from strength-to-strength. Of course, the various events were a collaborative effort, with many academics and professional staff from across the College involved in planning and executing. With your help, the Orientation event provided new students with a warm welcome to the College and an opportunity to learn more about the resources available to them. We look forward to seeing these students achieve great things in the coming years!

Get to know your College

Staff Movements

There have been a number of other staff movements and changes in roles within the college since our last newsletter:

• Ali Enright is now deputy undergrad course coordinator in Psychology
• Mel Takarangi is now deputy TPD in Psychology
• Dan King is now Academic Integrity Lead in Psychology
• Shane Pill is now Research Section Lead for Teaching and Learning
• BSHaPA coordinator is currently vacant (Deb Agnew is dealing with all enquiries)
• AFEC in Social Work is currently vacant
• Academic Integrity Lead in Education is currently vacant
• Rebecca Starrs will remain as BSW course coordinator
• Trudy Sweeney will remain as Primary course coordinator

EPSW in Festival Plaza: courses to be offered in 2024

We're looking forward to teaching a number of our degrees in Festival Plaza from Semester 1 next year.

• Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Activity
• Bachelor of Psychological Studies (Graduate Entry)

Please note all degrees on offer in Festival Plaza have a seperate SATAC code from those offered from Bedford Park. 

Further communication about our presence in Festival Plaza will be forthcoming. In the meantime, you can view the full list of courses on offer from 2024 here. 

Let the Library help you prepare for Semester 1 2023 teaching

With the beginning of semester 1 fast approaching, please fill out the Textbook Notification form in Service One - this helps students, the Library, and Booktopia know which textbook you are using. Now is also a good time to review and update your Readings List. There are self-help resources in the Readings guide for TCs, or you can enrol in an online workshop to learn more about editing your lists. And if you would like assistance finding learning resources to use, submit an Online Content for Topics request in Service One to organise a consultation. The Library can help you find relevant online textbooks, videos, podcasts, and more!

The Library's Education Engagement team also offer support in embedding information literacy skills into topics. This includes:

• A suite of resources that facilitate scaffolded support and can be linked to from FLO topics.
• Point-of-need support, such as Q&A sessions via collaborate, FLO discussion forums, and drop-in sessions.
• Learning resources and activities for teaching staff to use in developing students' information literacy (including train the trainer support).
• Help creating quizzes to check students' understanding of information literacy concepts and skills.

Contact them via the Embedding library skills in my topic form on Service One to submit a request or arrange a meeting to discuss how they can support your students.

CEPSW Staff Wellbeing Sessions

Our free fitness classes are running weekly on Wednesdays. Qualified instructors from Flinders University Sport and Fitness run Strength, Pilates and Yoga classes. Designed to be "no sweat", floor mats and equipment are provided. BYO water bottle, and towel if you like.

Use of Preferred Name at Flinders University

At Flinders we have made a commitment to our students to ensure we consistently and correctly use their preferred names in all correspondence and communications. We have made some important decisions and we are taking action towards improving our student experience in this space.

A few tips to help avoid mis-naming and mis-gendering students:

• Please do not rely on system generated class lists or do 'roll-call' style attendance. Invite students to tell you their preferred name and pronouns.
• You can also invite students to email you if they wish to inform you that there may be a different name in the system to the one they would like you to use. 
• Role model sharing your pronouns. Additional info can be found here.
• Avoid referring to people/groups as 'girls' 'guys' etc. or assuming gender. Practice using other non-gendered terms, eg 'folks'. 
• If you do not know for certain someone's pronouns, use they/them as default. 

For any additional queries or to learn more about the Pride Network and our Committee work at Flinders please email pride@flinders.edu.au.

Truth Telling: Apology Day 2023

The film is made up of three sections.

1. Commemoration music: Reunited - Performed by Robert Taylor and members of the ASO.
2. Documentary: Truth Telling: Apology Day 2023 Documentary
3. Community Video: Always Was, Always Will Be, dance performance by students at Christies Beach Primary School

FIMHWell welcomes new Little Heroes Professor of Child and Adolescent Mental Health position

Our own Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell) will be home to the recently announced Little Heroes Professor of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 

This new position will be funded for five years through a generous donation of $1.2m from Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and Little Heroes Foundation. 

The Little Heroes Professor of Child and Adolescent Mental Health will be responsible for leading a research program in child and youth mental health across prevention, early intervention and treatment; liaise with other child and adolescent mental health researchers; promote the research outcomes and liaise with service providers in South Australia to build capacity in evidence-based practice. 

“It’s a progressive move that underlines Flinders University’s position as a leader in the research and treatment of young people’s mental health issues,” says Institute Director Professor Tracey Wade.

Read the full article here. 

SA Woman of the Year Award finalist in our midst

Congratulations to Prof. Tracey Wade, who is a finalist in The Advertiser Sunday Mail, SkyCity Woman of the Year Awards!

Nominated in the OCPSE Leader of the Year category, Tracey has been recognised for her extensive work in the field of eating disorders, as well as her wider contribution in the mental health and wellbeing space as Director of Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and the Blackbird Initiative. 

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on March 6.

CEPSW All Staff Pancake Breakfast

To kickstart semester 1, we held a pancake breakfast for all staff on Wednesday 15 February. Thank you to our wonderful Operations Team who organised the breakfast and a special thanks to Steve Corrie and Joss Rankin who perfectly flipped the pancakes. Let's just say our pancake breakfast was definitely not a flop.

INVITATION: Advancing Mental Health Support for Aussie Kids

Professor Tracey Wade, Director of Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing (FIMHWell), invites you to join Professor Jennie Hudson from the Black Dog Institute, along with a panel of experts from FIMHWell, to discuss how we can use science to better understand and support the mental health of Australian Children.

Thursday, 16 March
pm for 5:30pm start
SA Health and Medical Research Institute

Register Now

International Women's Day

On Wednesday 8 March, between 10-11am, the University's International Women's Day celebrations will take place in the Plaza. The event is open to staff and students and a few short speeches will be followed by a morning tea. 

Podcast collab delivers health and social services resource

Social Work Innovation Research Living Space (SWIRLS) has worked in partnership with Emerging Minds to develop a range of resources for health and social services workers, including a two-part podcast series.

Hear from SWIRLS' Director Professor Sarah Wendt, Dr Kate Seymour, Kirsty Lowe and Nicola Trenorden as they discuss the effects of intergenerational disadvantage and substance use issues on children and families. They describe how a focus on parenting capacity can help to motivate change, while also allowing for honest and explicit conversations about concerns.

Click here to learn more and listen to the podcast.

Jake Summerton to Leader the Panthers in 2023

The South Adelaide Football Club has announced that Flinders graduate Jake Summerton (BEd (MidSecSch), BA '15) will lead the South Adelaide Football Club in the 2023 Hostplus SANFL League Season. Summerton was voted as captain through a leadership process involving the team's senior players where it was established that Summerton upholds the core values of the group. Summerton said that he is "grateful and humbled" to be voted as captain.

Read the full article here.

Making their mark

Congratulations to the many deserving Flinders graduates recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours. EPSW graduates who were recognised are Reverend Peter Sandeman AM (BA '80, BSocAdmin '83, MSW '96) (main photo), Mr Paul Crate OAM (DipT '82), Mrs Clare Hopley OAM (BSpecEd '95), Ms Sarah Norris PSM (BTeach(JP/P) '94). 

Read more about these recipients and see the full list of recipients the full article here

Howzat!? All-rounder rewarded after breakout year

Australian cricketer and Flinders graduate Tahlia McGrath (BEd (MidSecSch), BHlthSc '20) has been named the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year. McGrath became Australia's eighth women's T20I captain in December.

Read the full article here

Welcoming some new residents to showcase our research

They're hard to miss... but if you haven't been to the Education Building recently, you may have done just that!

We recently welcomed life-sized cardboard cutouts of our three researchers who feature in the University's current edition of Fearless Research Magazine: Dr Stephanie Wong, Professor Murray Drummond and Research Associate Luke Cantley. 

These cutouts have multiple objectives:

• Profile some of the exceptional research that's being undertaken in our College;
• Market the Fearless Research Magazine in a fun, unique way; 
• Demonstrate to current students how our research can translate into top-quality education outcomes, while helping inspire them to pursue a career in research;
• Activate the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work space. 

Thanks to Steph, Murray and Luke for being good sports with these ones - we're sure you've received your fair share of good-humoured ribbing! 

Flinders at the Fringe in 2023

The Adelaide Fringe is in full swing. If you're interested in creative arts or science, get inspired by our list of shows involving Flinders alumni, students and staff - and grab tix before they sell out. 

Click here to read more.

A message from our Work Health and Safety Advisor

A reminder to all staff and students that kitchen appliances are only to be used in kitchen facilities provided in each building.

CEPSW in the news

School attendance rates are dropping. We need to ask students why
Featuring Andrew Bills and Nigel Howard
Read more

St Peter’s College introducing the traditional Aboriginal game Parndo
Featuring Shane Pill
Listen on ABC Radio

Do your students feel a sense of belonging at school?
Featuring Rachael Hedger
Read more

Adelaide BMX program aims to improve young people's mental health with 'practical' approach
Featuring Dan Fassnacht
Read more

How some people could soon be able to check if their partner has a history of domestic violence
Featuring Sarah Wendt
Read more

In search of parent volunteers
Featuring Sam Elliott
Read more

Putting 3-5 year olds into organised sport can have a negative effect
Featuring Emelia Mysko, Sam Elliott and Murray Drummond
Read more

What is the purpose of the EPSW Bulletin? 

The purpose of the EPSW Bulletin is to showcase what has been happening around our College and the University as well as what is coming up. We promote and celebrate the hard work of all our teams and welcome new faces! The Bulletin will be distributed bi-monthly and the College welcomes article submissions to cepsw.operations@flinders.edu.au. 

We have a new distribution process for the EPSW Bulletin, so if you know anyone who should receive this newsletter and does not receive it, please forward it to them and email cepsw.operations@flinders.edu to request they be added to our distribution list.

Flinders University
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park South Australia 5042