Issue 14, Monday 1 September 2003

Visit by the new VC

Chinese nurses undertake community training

Twenty-five senior nurses from various hospitals and health care facilities of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau  (BMHB) recently undertook a three week Community Nurse Training Program at the campus.

The visiting Chinese nurses were participating in the second phase of a two-part program with part one of the program was held in Beijing in October/November last year with Monash University guest lecturers Ms Jenny Oates and Ms Beverley Bird from the School of Nursing.

The focus of the Australian component of the program was community based and ambulatory care and a study of the Australian health care system.

According to Ms Bird, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau is the Chinese Government organisation responsible for all the hospitals and health care facilities in and around Beijing. It also oversees the medical and nursing education in Beijing's extensive university system. 

With a population of over 17 million people in Beijing alone the BMHB is constantly looking for international best practice in a range of health programs around the world, she said.

While undertaking the course at the university the delegation lived in Frankston. They were introduced to the city by Leading Senior Constable John Wardle from the City Safe program at the beginning of their stay.

The group was given the low down on the public transport system as part of their introduction to the City of Frankston.

 Winemaking at home for the serious beginner

The concept of 'home brewing' has been around since time immemorial but is mostly associated with beer. Now a new short course aimed at introducing the art of winemaking to serious beginners is being run at the Peninsula campus.

Winemaking at Home has a diverse group of 27 people undertaking the course, which enables people to explore the production of small quantities of wine or enhance their existing love of wine. 

The School of Applied Sciences at Monash, which is located within close proximity to the Peninsula's burgeoning wine industry, has recognised the part it can play in responding to the keen interest in wine throughout the area.

The spectacular growth of nearby vineyards and wineries has opened up an opportunity for the campus to join with various players in the industry and provide a 'hands-on' introductory course for serious beginners.

The course is a mix of on campus sessions matched with field visits to local wineries and wine laboratories. Mr Keith Harris, President of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association welcomed Monash's continued commitment to the development of wine education for people in the local area.

"The involvement and participation of our members in making their facilities available and providing professional expertise adds a further dimension to the course and contributes to the growing awareness of our region amongst course participants," he said.

The course encompasses the serious elements of winemaking focussing on the major wine styles, with topics including grape handling and composition, juice selection and analysis, measurement of sugar and acid, yeast and fermentation processes, wine faults and tests to avoid spoilage, additives and aging potential, and innovation in winemaking. 

Course participants receive a range of hands on experience as part of Winemaking at Home.

 Orientation Special Projects funding

The University Orientation Committee is calling for submissions for special project funding for activities and events for Orientation in 2004.

The grants are intended to fund orientation projects of particular merit, designed by staff and/or by students at one or more campuses. Projects must address the university’s transition policy, and applicants are required to consult with their respective campus orientation committee. All projects should be designed with a view to generating models for future orientation activities that may be applicable across the university.

While the funding process is carried out in October each year, the grants are intended to fund orientation activities conducted at anytime of the year ie applications for mid-year orientation are encouraged.

The closing date for applications to be considered by the Campus Committee: is 19 September 2003. Closing date for applications to University Orientation Committee is 26 September 2003. Criteria and application forms are available online at www.monash.edu.au/orientation/staffonly together with a list of successful projects from previous year. All applications must be returned to Julie Ryan by 19 September. For further information, contact Julie Ryan on extn 44015.

Relay for Life fundraiser

The Faculty of Business and Economics Peninsula Relay for Life team, the Bus-E-Bees, have organised a charity skate to raise money for the their Relay for Life team.

WHERE:
Olympic Ice-Skating Centre
1080 Centre Road, Oakleigh South
Melbourne VIC 3167
Tel. (03) 9579 3755

WHEN:
Date: Sunday 12 October
Time: 1.30pm – 4 pm

Never tried ice-skating? Fret not! Skating is easy and lots of fun for  young and old. Bring your friends! Bring your children! Come along to the Olympic Ice-Skating rink and give it a go, and help raise much-needed funds for cancer research while you’re trying something different!

To register for this event, visit one of the Fitness Centres at the Peninsula or Caulfield campuses, or the Sports Centre at Clayton Campus. The admission fee is $11 per person (that’s $2 off the regular  price!!), and includes skate hire.

Closing dates for registration are 08/10/03 at Clayton and Caulfield,
and 09/10/03 at Peninsula. For enquiries contact extn 44038.

Joambo joins the ambos

	Joanne O'Reilly, or Joambo as she is affectionately known by many, from MUCAPS has recently started a new career path as an Ambulance Paramedic
Jo was accepted into the Metropolitan Ambulance Service and left her previous job in the centre's administrative area recently. Jo was involved in many things on campus including the staff social club and Relay for Life. We wish Jo well in her new role and hope to see her in uniform around campus.

Peninsula notes

Viva Voce performance at Peninsula  

The Monash student choir Viva Voce will perform at the Peninsula campus on Wednesday 24 September in the Student Lounge of the Student Union. The choir is directed by none other that the campus's hear of ITS Phill Smith some come along and enjoy the talents of out staff and students. Time 1.10 pm.

Taming your thesis with technology (note change of venue)

The next postgraduate/research seminar will cover 'Taming Your Thesis with Technology' on Tuesday 2 September at 1 pm in A2.16.

Presenter: Professor Liz Kendall, Peninsula School of Computing and
Information Technology, Faculty of Information Technology

This workshop will focus on the technical aspects of writing a thesis using
Word for Windows and Endnote 4. The emphasis is on practical tips that
automate the formatting of a thesis, saving time and energy!
Postgraduates and staff from all faculties are welcome. There is no charge, but bookings are essential. The workshop is open to staff and students. Further seminars for the semester can be found online.

***The Monash Postgraduate Association has been working very hard to support postgraduate students and researchers at the Peninsula campus, so please support their efforts and pass this information onto students and staff who might be interested in attending.***

Change to bookshop opening hours

As of 8 September the Monyx bookshop will be open the following times

Monday to Thursday from 9.15 am to 4.30 pm
Friday from 9.15 am to 4 pm

Authorised by the Office of the Academic Director - Peninsula