Issue 1, Friday 28 January 2005

A message from academic director  

Dear colleagues,

Welcome back to Peninsula campus for 2005, and a big welcome to the new staff and units joining us for the first time.

New Health Sciences programs in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Health Sciences/Social Work are commencing at Peninsula this year with new students currently enrolling in the 150 additional places given to Peninsula campus by the Federal Government and the University.

Renovations are currently underway for the new Health Sciences students and staff to be housed in B building, and until these works are finished they are being housed temporarily in the A portable building to the rear of G building.

Also starting this year are Monash College programs in Business and Economics, and Information Technology at Peninsula. These programs are available to both fee paying international and Australian students, and also to local bursary students.

Students who successfully complete the one year Monash College program are then able to move into second year of either a Business or Information Technology degree at Monash.

Other major plans for Peninsula campus for 2005 include:

• Working with the University on the development of a Peninsula campus directions statement, operational plan, and urban plan.
• Working with Frankston City Council and other stakeholders on the development of a Frankston Health and Wellbeing Centre located on the Peninsula campus which could include a swimming pool, gymnasium, health and recreational facilities, teaching, research etc.
• Working with two local schools on a Schools Access Monash pilot program to improve tertiary transition rates in the region.
• Working to promote research work at the campus and develop an area of research excellence that is unique to Monash Peninsula.
• Further work to the A plaza and Library forecourt landscaping project.
• Major renovations to both wings of B building to accommodate Health Sciences programs both in 2005 and beyond.

Peninsula campus has major initiatives being implemented in 2005 and further initiatives under discussion. The campus has a really exciting future and I thank you all for your input and support, and look forward to working with you at Peninsula during 2005.

Peninsula campus research committee  

A campus-wide research committee has been established, chaired by Academic Director, Professor Phillip Steele and representation from each faculty.

Professor Steele said, “the research committee was established as one of the mechanisms to build research and raise the profile of research at Peninsula.   The bringing together of all the academic units on campus provides opportunities that may not be available to individual groups.”  

He also suggested that there are a number of cross-campus collaboration opportunities that would be supported, thereby improving opportunities for staff to engage in research.  

Membership consists of:

• Mr Malcolm Boyle, Centre for Ambulance and Paramedic Studies
• Dr Mary Cole, Centre for Wine Food and Agribusiness
• Prof Michael Ewing, Faculty of Business and Economics
• A/Prof Trevor Gale, Faculty of Education
• Dr Liza Heslop, Centre for Health Services Operations Management
• A/Prof Jenny Hocking, National Centre for Australian Studies
• Mr Tom Jeavons, School of Applied Science
• Dr Asad Khan, Faculty of Information Technology
• Prof Margaret O'Connor, School of Nursing
• Prof Phillip Steele, Academic Director Peninsula  

Research supervisor training

The research committee is investigating the possibility of undertaking campus based training for prospective research supervisors. Staff will shortly be asked to indicate their interest in such training. Those who have partially completed training will also be asked to respond.  

Campus seminar program

The campus is developing a seminar calendar for 2005. The seminars will take place on Thursdays, between 1 pm - 2 pm in the business seminar room. This is will provide the opportunity for students and staff to present their work to their colleagues across the campus. Presentations on research-related topics will also take place. The University Research Office has kindly offered to participate in the program.

Staff who have suggestions for appropriate seminar topics should contact their faculty representative, listed above.  

To launch this initiative, Benny B. Nasution from the School of Network Computing will be presenting ' Intelligent System Data Security and Distributed Computing - Incorporating Graph Neurons (GNs) to the Trusted Transient Simple Network (TTSN) Security Control System Architecture'.

Date:     Monday, 31 January 2005
Time:     1.00 pm - 2.00 pm
Venue:    E2.45, Peninsula campus

Benny is a PhD candidate at the School of Network Computing.

Australian innovation festival

The Australian Innovation is an Australia-wide event to celebrate the best in Australia's innovation. This year, it will be held from 25 April to 15 May.  

Monash will be participating and the campus plans to run two days of events to lift the profile of research at the campus, and to engage with the community and business.

The theme this year is 'Valuing and regionalising innovation'. Staff who have suggestions on possible presentations or activities should contact their faculty research committee representative.

Peninsula notes

University health service fees in 2005

The fee structure for the Accredited General Medical Practices at the Clayton, Caulfield and Peninsula campuses will change for staff in 2005.

Bulk billing has been the main form of practitioner billing at these medical practices and has been very popular with the university population. Various forces within the Australian Health Care System have resulted in the practitioners reviewing fees charged.

From January 1, 2005 practitioners will charge fees to university staff. A co-payment of $10, together with Medicare Card, will be required.

All students, both international and local, will continue to be bulk billed in 2005 with no co-payment.

For further information, contact the University Community Services on ext 53156, or the Health Service on ext 53175.

THRIVE at Peninsula

Place it in your diary now and commit to attend this successful program for Monash staff. The program will commence on Monday 4 April, and will run for eight weeks from 1 pm - 2 pm at Community Services.

Participants will learn very useful life skills such as relaxation; worry control, values clarification, how to combat procrastination, assertiveness techniques and how to sleep better.

THRIVE offers:

• An eight week cycle of one hour sessions
• Workbook provided by Student and Staff Services Division
• Relaxation CD
• Homework
• Individual coaching sessions
• Referral to other resources
• Presentations by experienced psychologists

Massage services

Start the new semester with a massage! Georgina Watts will be back at Community Services on Monday 7 February and each fortnight following. Georgina is a qualified remedial massage therapist and provides remedial massage, sports and relaxation massage at very reasonable rates for staff:

• 30 minutes $30.00
• 1 hour $45.00

Georgina is a member of the AAMT for those with private health cover.

To make a booking, contact Community Services on 44223 or call into level 1, A building. A deposit of $10 is required at the time of making the appointment and is refundable with at least 24 hours notice of cancellation.

Georgina is happy to start earlier if there are sufficient bookings.

Authorised by the Office of the Academic Director - Peninsula