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CDU Alumni E-News
October - November 2022 issue
CDU Alumni celebrated at Awards Gala
A prominent First Nations singer-songwriter, an entrepreneur, and an INTERPOL Cybercrime specialist are among recipients recognised for their exceptional achievements in Charles Darwin University’s 2022 Alumni Awards.
The awards showcase the best and brightest CDU graduates who have become trailblazers, leaders and have demonstrated excellence throughout their careers.
Students graduate at CDU's first Sydney graduation ceremony
More than 150 students graduated from Charles Darwin University at a ceremony held at Sydney’s Town Hall, in a first for the University.
This graduation ceremony is the first CDU has held in Sydney and recognised students from a range of disciplines including nursing and midwifery, IT, education, law, exercise and sport science and accounting to name a few.
CDU welcomes more than 800 new university places for the Territory
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has been awarded more than 800 university places to tackle skill shortages and give more people from under-represented backgrounds the chance to go to university in the Northern Territory.
Federal Minister of Education Jason Clare announced today that 20,000 additional places will be allocated to students under-represented at Australian universities including those from poorer backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and students from rural and remote Australia.
CDU is among the five higher education providers receiving the most funding for additional places, receiving 831 new places for students starting next year in 2023 and in 2024.
New record of CDU researchers among the most influential in the world
Researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) have enhanced their global reputations as some of the most influential in their fields in the world.
According to a Stanford University study, 24 academics from CDU and Menzies School of Health Research were ranked in the top two per cent of researchers cited in their respected disciplines for 2021 – a record number that tops the previous listing.
The Stanford and Elsevier study tallies the citation, references, and authorships of more than 100,000 past and present researchers, and was published in the journal PLOS Biology this month.
New Director appointed to lead government relations at CDU
A new Director has been appointed to lead Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) government relations, in a newly-established role that will drive partnership opportunities across all levels of Northern Territory and Federal government.
As Director of Government Relations, Ms Bree Willsmore will build, maintain and capitalise on the University’s relationships with local representatives, Territory ministers and the federal parliament.
The role is a first for the university, and offers a fresh perspective on stakeholder engagement.
CDU strengthens educational ties with
Timor-Leste
A new agreement between Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Dili International School (DIS) in Timor Leste will enable pre-service teachers in the Territory to gain practical experience in classrooms in East Timor.
The new Memorandum of Understanding recently signed establishes a formal partnership between the two education providers, enhancing the educational opportunities for CDU Bachelor of Education students who wish to obtain a teaching placement in East Timor as a part of their degrees.
CDU launches inaugural international alumni network in Timor-Leste
Charles Darwin University launched its inaugural international alumni network at the Timor Plaza Hotel in Dili on 7 November 2022. Attended by more than 50 members of CDU's alumni community, the launch of the CDU Timor-Leste Alumni Network celebrated the establishment of a formal network to enrich the lives of CDU graduates who have returned or are now living in Timor-Leste, through alumni-led engagement with the University and one another.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of the network's inaugural Chair, Ms Ovania Mendonca, following a call for expressions of interest for the voluntary position.
Ms Mendonca graduated from Charles Darwin University with a Bachelor in Health Science in 2016, and currently works as the Program Coordinator for the Nutrition, Disaster Management / Humanitarian Australian NGO's Cooperation Program, and Australian Volunteers International portfolios for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Australian Embassy in Dili.
"I am excited to be chosen as the inaugural Chair of the network" said Ms Mendonca. "I look forward to building a strong committee to help maintain supportive relationships with fellow alumni, and foster important relationships with stakeholders resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes".
The Advancement Office encourages any alumni who are living in Timor-Leste and didn't receive an invitation to the launch to update their details by contacting David MacBain, Manager of Alumni by emailing alumni@cdu.edu.au to ensure that they are kept up to date with network information event details.
CDU becomes one of Australia's first universities to offer online engineering degrees
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has become one of Australia’s first universities to offer online engineering courses without the need for on-campus course delivery.
Having recently been re-accredited by Engineers Australia, CDU is now able to offer externally enrolled students the opportunity to complete engineering courses online without the need for on-campus attendance.
This means that students who are studying a Bachelor of Engineering Science, Bachelor of Engineering Honours and a Master of Engineering can choose to study at CDU remotely from anywhere in Australia.
College of Engineering, IT and Environment Dean, Professor David Young, said CDU is well equipped to deliver online degrees which will help to meet Northern Australia’s demand for engineers.
NT Educators honoured at Learning and Teaching awards
Six Charles Darwin University (CDU) staff members have been recognised at this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence, which was held as part of CDU’s Learning and Teaching Week at the Casuarina campus.
The awards celebrated educators and professional staff for their diligence and dedication, acknowledging their commitment to student engagement, outcomes and success at CDU.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said the event showcased the high quality of teaching at the University, as well as opened pathways to national awards and recognition in higher education.
Director appointed for CDU's new Academy of the Arts
A new Director has been appointed to run Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new Academy of the Arts, to shape the direction of the academy and invigorate creative education in the Northern Territory.
Dr Amanda Morris has been appointed as the Academy’s Director and brings considerable experience in the arts and education sectors including 17 years at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), most recently in the role of Executive Director Conservatoire.
At NIDA, Dr Morris was also instrumental in establishing VET courses and in developing the NIDA Open Program, a performing arts short course program, which attracted up to 15,000 people annually across Australia.
Children are being seen but not heard in child protection, experts say
Children should be more involved and have a voice when making decisions about their protection, health experts say.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Canberra conducted in-depth interviews with 18 child protection practitioners to determine how they understood participation in the process.
The results, published in Child & Family Social Work, showed that most practitioners understood participation but found it difficult to implement. While other practitioners interviewed discussed participation as child-focused decision-making but did not refer to the child’s involvement in the process.
CDU investing in research with new three-year scholarships
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is continuing its push to attract Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students with a new multi-million-dollar scholarship fund.
The Domestic Excellence Scholars (DES) will offer 18 scholarships to students interested in pursuing a research degree, worth $40,000 a year for three years and includes a living allowance, relocation allowance and other entitlements.
CDU Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Steve Rogers said the scholarship scheme was important to grow CDU’s research excellence in different fields of study.
CDU opens centre to push boundaries on drone research
A new research and training centre for drones has been established for the first time in the Northern Territory at Charles Darwin University (CDU).
The North Australia Centre for Autonomous Systems (NACAS) will ensure the University can maintain leadership in transformative technologies, like drones, in the Northern Territory and the wider Asia Pacific region.
These machines and their associated artificial intelligence will play a key role in logistic supply chains, and the monitoring and surveillance for a broad range of industries and sectors relevant to Northern Australia.
These include border security, agriculture, fisheries, emergency and disaster planning, health care, resource extraction, and energy.
CDU Art Gallery presents:
17 November 2022 - 1 April 2023
Taken from the AM’s extensive archival collection of glass plate negatives, 67 large-format photographic prints showcase the scientific discoveries of Australian Museum scientists between the 1850s and 1890s, while also telling the story of the advent of photography in the young colony, less than 10 years after the birth of photography in Europe.
The images range from the initial tentative experiments in the 1850s to the time when photography was becoming an indispensable part of museum practice in the early 1890s. The subjects vary from a large sunfish and the flipper of a sperm whale to a gorilla and the fragile bones of a flamingo. Most of the specimens photographed at the museum are by taxidermist, Henry Barnes and his son, Henry Barnes Jnr with the help of the AM’s pioneering Curator Gerard Krefft.
Australian Museum Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO, said some of the earliest adopters of photography were scientists.
“They were quick to see its enormous potential for capturing the process of discovery and describing new species which are the foundation of scientific practice,” she said.
“In the Victorian era, museums were the public face of science. At the Australian Museum, the arrival of curator and scientist Gerard Krefft in 1864 marked a fortuitous coming together of skills, experience and technology.”
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Alina Biju
Class of 2020 - Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)
Winner - CDU Alumni Award for Community Service 2022
Growing up in Katherine NT Alina always knew she wanted to stay in the Territory, coupled with a family full of Charles Darwin graduates, moving to Darwin and studying at CDU was the clear progression in Alina’s journey to study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
Alina enjoyed her time studying at CDU so much that she continued on to work at the university as a Student Groups project officer.
When she isn’t working for CDU Alina is deeply invested in public health research and youth engagement. She was also a member of the 2021 NT Youth Round Table and an NT representative on the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition Young Leaders and Advocates Fellowship. Alina has promoted significant and positive change in communities and individuals through advocacy and empowerment.
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Are you a CDU graduate living outside of Australia?
CDU alumni are a vibrant community of more than 70,000 former students and are spread across more than 140 countries around the world.
Remaining connected and engaged with our alumni is important to us. No matter where you go, CDU will always be there for you.
We are hoping to better connect with our overseas-based alumni by developing international alumni chapters in countries that our graduates reside in.
If you graduated from Charles Darwin University and are currently living outside of Australia, we would love to hear from you!
Update your details by clicking below, or reach out to us by email to alumni@cdu.edu.au
LinkedIn Learning Access
You can obtain advice on all matters relating to building your career or even making a change to your current. Here you can access over 15,000 courses, delivered in 7 languages. You can learn a wide range of new skills, anywhere and at any time. You can learn a new language, learn how to build a website or app, become an expert user of Microsoft Office, or even learn how to play a musical instrument!
Alumni Access to CDU Portal
You can now access the CDU portal after you've graduated, so you'll have continued access to online and on-campus library resources, careers centre and your CDU email address.
CDU Careers Centre
Are you looking for a job, promotion, or career change? Did you know that you still have access to CDU careers resources? Absolutely FREE! CDU’s all new online Careers Centre is jam packed with resources to help you navigate the next step of your career. All you need to do is activate your Alumni Account, access the CDU portal then click on the Career Centre tile.
The CDU Careers team also post jobs and opportunities on their CDU Careers Facebook page so make sure you check it out!
Library Access
Though you may have finished your formal study at CDU, with an alumni account, you will have access to a select range of CDU Library’s online resources, which includes access to a growing number of high-quality databases, e-journals and e-books, you are always welcome to borrow physicals materials from any our campus libraries.
Are you passionate about education, research and innovation, or did you benefit from the generosity of others during your studies? Consider a gift to reward outstanding scholars, support a student scholarship or research project, or to develop the resources of the university.
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Charles Darwin University acknowledges all First Nations people across the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders both past and present.
