Issue 17, Monday 25 June 2001

Lectures Online

Expressions of interest are being sought from lecturers at Peninsula campus who are interested in being involved in Monash Lectures Online (MLO) in Semester 2.

If you are scheduled to teach in Theatre F1.01 or Theatre A4.16 in Semester 2 and would like to have the lectures in your subject/s recorded using MLO, would you please advise Jill McLachlan if your:

• Subject Coordinator's name;
• Subject Code and Name,
• Time and Place subject is timetabled to be offered, and
• Anticipated enrolment numbers.

The campus is  able to accommodate up to 20 Peninsula subjects in the MLO program this semester, so if you are interested in being involved or require any further information, contact campus manager Jill McLachlan on extn 44339 as soon as possible.

Profile on Winnie Stewart

Winnie Stewart has lost count of how many children she has cared for during her time in child care services.

The director of Monash Peninsula Child Care Inc has been involved in the care and education of young children for over 30 years, starting her career in Glasgow. Today she is responsible for 40 young charges at any one time, and has the children of 60 staff, students and community families enrolled at the centre.

With seven years at the Peninsula campus and the previous four at Clayton, Winnie is aware of the unique needs of students utilising child care.

"Because of the long semester breaks students only need to utilise child care for 13 week blocks and they very rarely need full-time child care," she explained. "They also have to deal regularly with time table changes and juggling care around clinical and practicum placements. We are also especially aware of students' needs around exam time."

While students have priority for places at the centre, Winnie says that the community users help it remain viable during semester and holiday breaks.

It became increasingly difficult for the centre five years ago with government cuts to child care, but times have much improved with about 34 student/staff children and 30 community children currently attending the centre.

While no two days are ever the same, Winnie finds the role challenging and rewarding. "You become very attached to the families and often you get three or four children from the one family attending the centre over a period of years," she said. "It is very fulfilling to see these young children grow and develop to meet the challenge of their school years.

"And it's not just the children you develop relationships with. I've also got some great friendships with their families." Winnie says it is very important to win the trust of parents in those early weeks of care, as it is often the parents who find it harder to adjust.

The centre is independently run (although supported by MONSU and the university) by a committee of management which consists of representatives from the university as well as parents. Since the introduction of accreditation to child care services the centre has consistently achieved the highest standard of excellence endorsed by the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Winnie's day-to-day role includes overseeing the early childhood program, supervising and supporting the centre's 15 staff, coordinating parents accounts, income and expenditure, enrolments and bookings, and overseeing early childhood and TAFE students on placements.

Despite her largely management role, Winnie values her time with the children at the centre and makes sure she spends some hands-on time with them every day. The centre is open from 7.30 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, and offers specialised programs for 0-2 year olds, 2-3 year olds and a government funded kindergarten program for 3-5 year olds.

Education news

Grade one and two children at Woodland Primary School in Langwarrin had a day of wood activity recently.

Altogether 190 children took part in Bob Greaves' popular Children Working With Wood. Bob said the response to the activity from both the children and their teachers was wonderful.

Bob said that many of the staff at the school were Peninsula graduates ranging from the most recent graduates to the principal who was a student of the Frankston Teacher's College in 1968.

Children taking part in the Children Working with Wood activity get the opportunity be creative using a hammer and nails.

The Faculty of Education at Peninsula campus also said farewell to lecturer Dr Ian Walker last week. Dr Walker, who has been teaching at Peninsula for almost 25 years, will be taking up a new position in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

MONSU fitness centre mid-year dinner

The MONSU Fitness Centre is holding a mid-year dinner on Friday 3 August at the Seahorse Tavern.

The dinner is $18 per person and all proceeds raised on the night will be donated to this year's Frankston Relay for Life effort.

Individual tickets, or tables of six, eight, 10 and 12  are available. The cost covers dinner, dessert, a complimentary drink on arrival and live entertainment. Drink specials will be available at the bar for the night and a range of competitions and prizes will be up for grabs.

To book your table, contact Paul Mitchell in the Fitness Centre on 9770 1495.

Charges for university pool vehicles

Facilities and Service Division has recently undertaken to introduce standard charges across all campuses for the use of university pool vehicles.

Until now, very different rates had been charged at the various campuses.

The new charge out rate is $35 per day or $20 per half day, along with mileage rate of:

• 24 cents/Mk for sedans;
• 27 cents/Mk for light trucks or vans; and
• 32 cents/Mk for four wheel drives.

The area hiring the vehicle is responsible for any tollway charges incurred as well as any fringe benefit charges that might apply.

For further information, contact campus manager, Jill McLachlan on extn 44339.

Notice board 

Staff Club AGM

The Staff Club Annual General Meeting will be held this Thursday 28 June in C1.02 from 1 PM to 2 PM. Lunch will be provided to all members. Vacancies exist for anyone interested in participating on the committee.

FINANCIAL PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES

Do you want to make the most of the money you have? Are you in need of assistance to develop wealth creation strategies for your financial well-being?

All Monash staff are welcome to see a financial planner from Bridges Personal Investment Services at the Education Credit Union Monash Service Centre, Campus Centre, Clayton or at any Bridges branch.

Your first appointment is a free, no-obligation consultation. Bridges deal with all aspects of financial planning from superannuation issues to estate planning. To take advantage of this service provided by Education Credit Union, please call 9854 4680.

Education Credit Union also provides an array of low cost banking facilities. If you want extensive account access from ANYWHERE in Australia or overseas at little or no cost.

For further information, contact the Monash Service Centre on extn 54130or email: monash@edcredit.com.au or visit www.edcredit.com.au

Authorised by the Office of the Campus Director - Peninsula 

Contributions can be emailed to julie.ryan@adm.monash.edu.au by 5 PM Thursdays.