April 15, 2024

Message to students - 15 April 2024

Dear Students, the season has changed. The leaves are turning yellow around our beautiful campuses, and the days are getting shorter and colder.

As Trimester 1 concludes and we start the short Autumn mid-session break, I hope you can spend this time getting some rest. For those of you preparing for your exams, I wish you the best of luck.

Take care of your wellbeing

April is usually a busy time at UOW. While juggling your studies and daily routines, please remember to take care of your physical and mental health. Whether it’s getting enough sleep, staying active or reaching out for support when needed, we want you to thrive academically and personally.

Your safety is our priority

In light of the incident from last month that has raised concerns about safety on our campuses, I have an important video message for you. Please take a moment to view it.  

You may also want to check this AskUOW article detailing all the resources available to you at UOW.

Remember, your safety matters to us, and we’re always here for you.

Smishing danger

Cyber security is everyone’s business, both at home and on campus. It starts with protecting your work and personal information and requires everyone to be vigilant and accountable. 

There’s one particularly sneaky cyber threat that we’d like you to watch out for – it’s called smishing.

Smishing is like phishing, except that it comes in the form of an SMS text message on your mobile/iPad or laptop, trying to trick you into thinking it’s from an entity you may know — like your bank or a parcel delivery company. These messages often contain a fake link to a form or website that asks you to log in or provide personal information. The link may also download malware such as viruses, ransomware, spyware, or adware onto your device.

How to not get smished?

Follow these simple tips to make sure you stay on top of scammers!

• Ignore and delete texts from unknown numbers,
• Don’t tap on any links or reply,
• Never call the number that the message came from – if in doubt, verify with the organisation by calling them directly from the number found on their website.

Remember, legitimate businesses will never ask you to click on links or enter your password, PIN, or other personally identifiable information through text messages.

Indigenous Nationals 2024 – call for volunteers

I’m proud to announce that this year, our University will host the 28th Indigenous Nationals at our Wollongong campus. Coming up at the end of June, the event will be a time for joy and celebration of the rich sporting culture of Indigenous Australia. Sport is a wonderful vehicle for bringing people together, strengthening spirit, creating community and fostering healing.

The organising team are on the lookout for volunteers to help out when the event is on. If you would like to support this great event, please register your interest.

Graduations are upon us

Tomorrow, UOW Autumn graduation begin. This is my favourite time of the year, and I’m honoured to share it with our wonderful students. If you’re one of the graduating cohort, I hope you’re getting ready for your big day. This year’s graduation ceremonies will be momentous, bringing together ancient Indigenous practices and European graduation traditions. They will mark the end of your academic journey and the beginning of your next adventure. I recorded this message with some tips for you!

Once again, I wish you all a restful and rejuvenating break, and I look forward to seeing you back on campus soon.

My best,

Trish