November 24, 2021

Message to students - 24 November, 2021

Dear students, for most of you, holidays have just begun, and a summer spent by the beach, with family and friends, or travelling is all ahead of you! What a wonderful feeling – relish in this. You’ve absolutely earnt it.

Before we go any further, I wanted to share the following video message with you all, as a chance to directly express my views on the importance of vaccination and how it impacts our return to campus.

You’re invited – Campus Fest 2022!

As you may have seen, we’ll be welcoming you back in style next year! We’re putting on a 5 day ‘Campus Fest’ to celebrate your return, with a host of free entertainment activities and headline musical acts, including Montaigne, Touch Sensitive, and Ziggy Ramo. I am very excited about this event and the opportunity to showcase our vibrant and welcoming campus to both new and returning students. Running from 21-25 February, you will also be able to attend faculty lectures and orientation sessions, participate in games and activities and get acquainted with the many UOW clubs and societies available to join. It’s sure to be a memorable week of celebrations after your well-earned summer break!

It's official – international students will be returning to our campuses next year!

We are opening up! From 1 Dec 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders, including international students can arrive in Australia without a travel exemption. I am so excited for what this means for UOW students everywhere! We can’t wait to welcome our international students back - our campuses have not had the same energy and vibrancy without you!

Set the Bar – helping local bars, pubs and clubs recognize and respond to inappropriate behaviour

UOW’s Safe and Respectful Communities team have partnered with the Wollongong Local Liquor Accord as well as local licensed venues and events to deliver their Set The Bar course. The course is designed to empower staff from local bars, pubs and clubs, to identify and appropriately respond to events of sexual assault, harassment and inappropriate behaviour, with the aim to improve safety for all patrons. Delivered online, the Open Learning program is free for all staff of participating venues and has even been named a diamond winner in the LearnX awards for Best Learning and Development Project (Best Learning Campaign).

Antimicrobial Awareness Week – seminar with UOW experts

In other news, world Antimicrobial Awareness Week ends today, with an aim to spread awareness and stop resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant to medications that are used to kill them (such as antibiotics), making these life-saving drugs ineffective. Given we’ve got a few in-house experts in this area, the team are running a seminar today 5-6 pm, that will bring together UOW's experts and their industry and community partners who are working to intervene in the war against AMR and slow down the use of antibiotics.

Volunteers wanted to help train UOW medical students at Shoalhaven campus

Lastly, you can gain UOWx credit while contributing to the health and wellbeing of the Shoalhaven community by becoming a volunteer in the Graduate Medicine’s Simulated Patient Program. You will be helping current medical students practise their skills and hone their techniques in communication and examination. Based at the University of Wollongong’s Shoalhaven Campus in Nowra, volunteers can be of all ages and genders but must be relatively healthy, active and engaged. For further information, contact simulated-patients-shoalhaven@uow.edu.au.

Happy Wednesday, I hope your week ahead is full of fun and adventure!

Trish