SCU | Campus News - October 2020 Edition

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CAMPUS NEWS SYDNEY, MELBOURNE , PERTH CAMPUSES

Message from Sydney Campus Manager

| OCTOBER 2020

Important Dates

A s we near the end of session 2 spring is begin-

S2 Exam weeks 05/10/20 to 16/10/20

ning to make its mark. The days are longer and warmer, and blossoms are starting to appear.

End of Session Break 19/10/20 to 30/10/20

Its’ been a long and difficult winter with COVID-19, the lock downs and restrictions but we are learning to live with the ‘new normal’ and balance our health and safety with a slow, cautious return to social activities and work.

Grade Publication 30/10/20

Please remember that even though all your academic delivery continues online, all campus services and operations continue uninterrupted.

Sydney and Perth students can access the campus with prior arrangement by appointment through student services. At this stage the Melbourne campus is not accessible.

It’s important to remain engaged with your campus and fellow students so join us for our online activities.

Mental Health Month is celebrated each year in the month of October in NSW. This awareness month encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. This month also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help-seeking behaviours when needed, and this is especially important this year with the additional pressures from COVID-19 and our assessment and exam period during the first two weeks of October.

I would like to wish you the best of luck for the final assessment and hope that you are able to enjoy some leisure activities before we return for Session 3.

Remember to regularly check your SCU emails, Facebook and the SCU website for updates, and please do take a few minutes to complete two short surveys which will be sent to you. These are important for us to understand your circumstances, and for our planning, and to capture your feedback on your study experience.

We look forward to welcoming you together with our new students to Session 3 and look forward to a time when we are all back on campus. Till then, keep safe, be sensible and enjoy some sun and blue skies.

Orientation for New Students Mon, 26 October 2020 & Thu, 29 October 2020 Start of Session 3 2020 02/11/20 Last day to enroll 13/11/20 Last day to withdraw without penalties 15/11/20 Census date (S3)* 23/11/20

Upcoming events Dashain (Virtual Event) - Monday, 26 October - 4.30pm (Sydney time)

Public holidays Queen’s Birthday (WA) 28/09/20 Labour Day (NSW) 05/10/20 Friday before the AFL Grand Final (VIC) 23/10/20 Student Surveys

Kind regards, Debbie Aarons

Previous editions of our newsletter are on ISSUU site if you want to see what you might have missed!

<1> issuu.com/SCUSydney

scu.edu.au/coronavirus

Message from Sydney Student Welfare Counsellor

Even though we are not seeing each other Face to Face, I am thinking about you and wishing you every success in the upcoming exams. Please see my study tips below which may assist you prepare for exams and structure your study time. Best of luck!

Janet Henegan Student Welfare Counsellor

The Theme for Mental Health Month (October) is

R U OK? Day

”Tune In” Tuning In means being present, being aware of what’s happening within you, and in the world around you.

Tune In to your senses: what can you sense right now? What can you feel?

Tune In to your communities: what’s happening that you can be part of, or that you can help others be part of?

Tune In to stigma: how do attitudes and understandings of mental health and wellbeing impact people’s ability to live the lives they want?

Taking a moment to Tune In can help still and focus your mind. It can help you understand what’s going on for you and others. Tuning in can help you find a new perspective, and it can help you reflect and be present.

R U OK? is an Australian non-profit suicide prevention organisation, founded by advertiser Gavin Larkin in 2009. It revolves around the slogan "R U OK?" (are you okay?), and advocates for people to have conversations with others.

The organisation has a dedicated R U OK? Day, held annually on the second Thursday of September, which encourages Australians to connect with people who have emotional insecurity, to address social isolation and promote community cohesiveness.

In SCU Sydney, our supportive counsellor Janet held an online “R U OK?’’ session on 8th September and welcomed both students and staff across 3 campuses, including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It was a great event. We hope to see more students joining us in future events.

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What’s on in October House music at your house For the past few months, all over the world, people have been participating in home activity in unprecedented numbers. Stuck indoors during the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have entertained ourselves, family and friends by making music, playing games and telling stories.

10 TIPS FOR STUDYING FOR EXAMS 1.

Set a realistic study plan in your calendar. If you can’t meet the demands of an unrealistic plan, you might feel defeated and give up.

2.

Break down the tasks into smaller areas. Give yourself breaks between study periods.

3.

Make sure you set enough time to study, start now and build up as exams get closer.

4.

Make sure your study area is comfortable and you are not close to distractions. Make sure you switch off social media and games to avoid distractions. Some students like to study with background music, which is okay. If it is difficult to study at home, come onto campus or go to the library nearby.

5.

If possible, arrange some time with a classmate to talk about your studies and explain difficult concepts to each other to ensure that you understand the material.

6.

Don’t feel shy about asking a teacher or learning advisor to explain anything you don’t fully understand before the exams.

7.

Practice old exam papers so that you are used to the format and time conditions.

8.

Use maps, flowcharts or diagrams to help you remember information.

9.

Eat nutritious food and ensure you drink lots of water while studying.

Ensure you also get enough sleep.

10. Contact your campus welfare counsellor if you need personal support for dealing with exam stress or any other issue.

For more details: sydneylivingmuseums. com.au/house-music-your -house

Kuraree – The Heart of Perth

The Perth Town Hall is an important site in Perth’s history. In 1867, construction of the Perth Town Hall began and the building officially opened on 1 June 1870. On 1 June 2020 the building will celebrate its 150th anniversary. The City of Perth will celebrate this anniversary with an online exhibition featuring a range of interesting, informative and surprising stories.

There will be something for everyone to celebrate and engage with Perth’s most iconic heritage building. You can experience this online exhibition from 3pm on 1 June until 30 December

For more details: kuraree.heritageperth

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S2 2020 Student Survey Reminder (Pre-enrolment survey & End session survey) As you have probably noticed, we have been sending you surveys regarding your campus experience, study experience, enrolment reminders, and so on.

Please keep an eye on your SCU emails and spare some time to have those surveys completed.

If you haven't yet completed the student survey, you still have the chance to give your comments. This is a great way to let SCU know how we can improve your SCU experience.

Message from the Student Services Team Even though your classes are all online at the moment that does not mean that Student Services are not around to help you out. We are still available via phone or email Monday to Friday.

Feel free to get into contact with us about anything to do with uni or even if you are just wanting to have a chat. We are always happy to chat with you, especially on Friday afternoons when we have the Q&A sessions for you.

Susie Vavasour International Student Support For those of you who are not sure what Student Services does, we are the Team Leader team that helps with student enquires, issues supporting documents, assists with CoE extensions, Leave of absence requests, issues payment plans, applies the CDS Scholarship as well as a long list of other administrative jobs but most importantly we are the friendly faces you see when you first arrive and leave campus (currently the friendly voices on the phone).

We are all missing seeing all your friendly faces on campus and look forward to when we can all be back together. In the meantime please stay safe and look after yourselves. <4>

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM SPREADING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) To help slow the spread of COVID-19, practice good hygiene and social distancing and follow the rules for testing and isolation.

1. Good hygiene Good hygiene includes washing your hands regularly, covering your cough and keeping your workspace clean.

2. Physical distancing Remember to keep social distancing in public, at home, at work, and in schools.

Keep 1.5m apart.

3. Public gatherings Understand the limits that apply to essential gatherings and non-essential gatherings.

4. Masks Wearing a mask can help protect you and those around you especially when physical distancing is not possible. Mask wearing in public spaces and on public transport is recommended.

5. Isolation Remember to isolate when waiting for COVID test results and/or if you test positive and/or you are feeling unwell and waiting to be tested.

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Message from Dr Jeffrey Zerbst Sydney Academic manager

Ethical behavior will lead to success in your studies The Australian federal government has passed legislation making it illegal for anyone, or any organisation, to enter into a contract with students to write their assessments for them. This means that if you enter into an arrangement for someone to do your work for you – like a ‘cheat site’ on the Internet, or a local essay writer in your community – you will now be dealing with someone engaged in criminal conduct.

Dr Jeffrey Zerbst Academic Manager

We know that when you are under time pressure, and the work is onerous and demanding, it is tempting to pay someone to do the assessment for you. Think very carefully before you follow this path. In terms of your visa, and your future employment prospects, it is not wise to engage in a criminal enterprise. If academic misconduct was a serious matter before, it is a doubly serious matter now.

Apart from the (now) criminal component of contract cheating, you must not cheat in assessments for two important reasons: (1) practical considerations, and (2) ethics.

Practically, if you receive a degree and cannot really understand or do the work you were given in your courses, you will not be of use in the Australian workplace. Your lack of knowledge or skill will quickly be spotted, and you will have to face the embarrassment of being asked to leave your job. You will also not get a letter of recommendation for the next one.

More importantly still, there is the question of ethics. The student who lives by an ethical code is someone who has self-pride, nothing to feel guilty about, and can rely on their own ability and judgment in society and the workplace. There is no better feeling than to know that you earned your degree, you are not a ‘fake’ in your chosen career, and that you can proudly enter the workplace with the right ethical mindset to succeed in Australia, or elsewhere.

Remember that Australia is one of the most tightly regulated countries on earth. Your company will expect you to operate within the law at all times. More than that, it will expect you to uphold the well-entrenched principles of ‘mateship’ and ‘the fair go’ in your working and social lives. You are expected to respect and care about others, and the company you work for, and never let anyone down with dishonest or deceptive conduct.

Southern Cross University provides you with the chance to learn ethical conduct, including in the academic sphere. Please follow the rules of proper scholarship, and do not end up on the list of students who have cheated during the session. Rather, be on the list of those students whom tutors respect and admire as honest, upright scholars with impeccable reputations.

At the start of next session, pledge to yourself that you will conduct all your work in ethical fashion, and put in the proper amount of effort needed to pass. Your reward will be more than a certificate at the end of your studies, but the certain knowledge that you belong among the ranks of graduates. Further, you will belong to the group of those with a terrific work future ahead of them in Australia, or back in your home country, as a young expert and a budding workplace leader. <6>

Dashin

Career Edge News Congratulations to our students who have completed the first of our Student Experiences!

Twenty six students representing the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth campuses completed a week of working in groups on an In-company real live project. We now have 4 students who have been placed in accounting and software development internships.

We have another 3 students who are waiting for an outcome from their internship interview. We would like to congratulate these 7 students and wish them luck!

Keep an eye out for the next round of Career Edge sessions, and be sure to join! There will be an information session online during session 3, and the next round of Career Edge will start up during session 1 2021.

Remember, you can also email your campus Career Counsellor for further information.  

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Sydney: yunyu.zhou@scu.edu.au Melbourne: peta.lee-tobin@scu.edu.au Perth: roslyn.teo@scu.edu.au

Updates on the Career Edge Program We are pleased to advise you that 4 of our students have successfully secured an internship! We wish them well as they enter their new workplaces, and have full confidence in their ability to make a real difference in their new work environments.

In addition, a great number of Career Edge Program participants have gone through the interview process and are now waiting for their outcomes. We wish them good luck with their interviews and are looking forward to hearing positive news from them.

Dashain is a festival originating in Nepal. In parts of India, it is called Dashera.

Dashain is celebrated by the Hindus and Kirats of Nepal and the ethnic Nepali speaking Indian Gorkhas of Darjeeling hills, Sikkim, Assam and other NorthEastern states of India and among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar.

It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people, along with their diaspora throughout the globe. It is the most anticipated festival in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, and North Indian hills. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.

ONLINE DASHAIN CELEBRATION Date: Monday 26th October Time: 4.30PM Zoom link: scuonline.zoom.us/ j/99155512873

For new starters and continuing students who have yet to enroll for this program, remember, the Career Edge Program is your journey to enhance your employability, strengthen your resume and provide you with opportunities of real world business experiences and, ultimately, an opportunity at internship.

For more information regarding the Career Edge Program, please email the career counsellor: sydstudentsupport@scu.edu.au / melbstudentsupport@scu.edu.au / perthstudentsupport@scu.edu.au <7>

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