СÀ¶ÊÓƵ

The 2025 СÀ¶ÊÓƵSA General Election is your chance to represent students, advocate on key issues, and shape life at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ. Ticket registrations close tomorrow, Wednesday 10 September and candidate nominations close on Friday 12 September.

All СÀ¶ÊÓƵ students, undergraduate, postgraduate and HDR, are eligible to nominate and vote in the election.

From Monday 22 September, campaigning will get underway. There’ll be plenty of activity on campus, so take the chance to learn more about the candidates and their ideas. Students can also pick up an orange СÀ¶ÊÓƵSA lanyard from the СÀ¶ÊÓƵSA office – wearing the lanyard means you cannot be campaigned to. This important wellbeing measure ensures that, while elections are exciting, students who prefer not to engage directly have the space to do so.

Applications for 2026 СÀ¶ÊÓƵ accommodation are now open!

If you're currently living off-campus and want to experience campus life, now is the time to apply. СÀ¶ÊÓƵ offers more than just a place to stay. Become a part of a supportive and inclusive community with access to 24/7 assistance, wellbeing services, academic support, a full calendar of events and seize opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Apply by 31 December to receive a guaranteed offer at one of our residences.

Set4СÀ¶ÊÓƵ mentors play a key role in helping new students feel welcome and supported as they begin their СÀ¶ÊÓƵ journey. As a mentor, you’ll guide students socially and academically, connect them with services and help them find their place in our СÀ¶ÊÓƵ community. 

Being a mentor is more than volunteering. It’s a chance to build leadership, teamwork and communication skills, expand your network, and gain experience valued by future employers. Your contribution also counts towards СÀ¶ÊÓƵ+. 

Applications for the Semester 1, 2026 mentor team are now open and will close on Friday 31 October. Don’t miss the opportunity to make a real impact while developing your own skills. 

 

Yesterday, the СÀ¶ÊÓƵ and the Chancellor provided separate responses to the Senate Inquiry by way of a right of reply under Parliamentary Privilege.   

The СÀ¶ÊÓƵ right of reply was sent by the Provost as the most senior СÀ¶ÊÓƵ officer not the subject of adverse reflections arising from the Senate hearing.  

The СÀ¶ÊÓƵ took the decision that it was not appropriate to respond in full to the adverse reflections at this time, while reserving our rights to provide a more fulsome response in due course. In particular, the University wanted to ensure that staff and students were not unduly subjected to political and public scrutiny that may cause a risk to their health and safety or otherwise undermine their privacy.  

The University referred to other inquiries currently underway which it did not wish to jeopardise, compromise or undermine including:   

The next step is for the Committee to determine the status of our submissions – as public or private documents. If the documents are made public by the Senate, we will make them available to our community.  

We recognise that the level of scrutiny on our University could be challenging. Help is available via the Student Support webpage.

What does it mean to live in a truly multicultural world?

For the СÀ¶ÊÓƵ School of Culture, History & Language, the answer comes alive at Immersia – a two-week festival where cultures aren’t just studied, but lived, felt and shared.

In 2025, Immersia features more than 50 events across campus and Canberra, including a community-led Mongolian ger installation, Chai, Chat & Change with Australian Local Heroes, and screenings of Papua New Guinea’s first-ever feature film Tinpis Run. Hands-on workshops in Tibetan calligraphy, Japanese tea ceremonies, Buddhist philosophy and Lippan Indian clay art also invite participants to connect through creativity and tradition.

“Immersia is about changing how we view multiculturalism. It’s not about showcasing – it’s about living it, together,” Immersia organisers say.

Dr Thao Phan doesn’t claim to have a superhero origin story.  

“I’m not Steve Jobs,” she says. “I can’t pretend to have a neat or exceptional narrative that explains why and where I am today.” 

In a world where Big Tech innovations are heralded as inexorable and revolutionary, Phan wants to cut through the hype.  

“I don’t think there’s anything inevitable about where we are with technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). We need to train ourselves out of the habit of searching for larger-than-life stories of linear progress,” she says.  

In Tonga, yam or ufi is not just a tasty and nutritious vegetable, it also holds incredible cultural value. These starchy tubers are purchased for special occasions and even gifted to royalty.

Yams, and other root crops such as taro and cassava, form the basis of people’s diets in Tonga, and across the Pacific. Unlike rice and wheat, these staples don’t need to be imported, making them essential for the food security of the region.

Agriculture in the Pacific relies almost entirely on rainwater, and for centuries this rain has fallen seasonally. But these cycles are no longer so predictable.

Australia must reform its Migration Program to meet pressing labour shortages and sustain long-term economic growth, according to experts from СÀ¶ÊÓƵ.   

On 2 September the Australian Government announced key details of its . СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Professor Alan Gamlen said fundamental problems need to be addressed. 

“Temporary migrants, such as students, graduates, and working holiday makers, now drive most skilled workforce growth,” he said.  

Canberrans are being warned to prepare for a stronger grass pollen season in 2025, according to the Canberra Pollen Count and Forecast, run by СÀ¶ÊÓƵ (СÀ¶ÊÓƵ) and AirHealth.

Wetter soil, greener pastures, and forecasts of above-average spring rainfall are creating conditions that could drive grass growth and increase pollen levels across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). 

“This year’s grass pollen season has the potential to be much stronger than 2024,” СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Professor Simon Haberle said. 

Monday 15 September, 5.30–6.30pm 

Few Australians witnessed the Allied invasion of France in June 1944. Among them was war correspondent Chester Wilmot, who landed in a glider within hours of the D-Day assault. His book The Struggle for Europe (1952) became a bestseller and remains an influential account. Yet archival evidence shows Wilmot knowingly retained inaccuracies in his description of D-Day, despite being alerted to them at the time.

In this seminar, Professor Andrew Stewart will explore the implications of that decision and how it has shaped historical memory of the Normandy campaign.

Tuesday 16 September, 4–5.30pm

In this seminar Zhou Qi discusses the first Trump administration and its sharp departure in US policy toward China. Policymakers began labelling China and Russia as ‘revisionist competitors’, framing strategic competition with China as a primary concern for US national security.

Tuesday 16 September, 5pm – Friday 19 September, 7pm

This year marks 25 years since the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). While progress has been made, barriers to women’s political participation and gendered drivers of conflict remain. This student-led symposium features keynote speakers Helen Dalley Fisher, Afeeya Akhand and Tyagi and Asha Clementi, as well as student presentations exploring power, resistance, and emerging challenges along with opportunities to connect, and help advance, WPS goals.

Wednesday 17 September, 3–4pm

Turn your food scraps into garden gold! Join Kitchen Garden's Worm farming basics 101 to learn how to set up, maintain and troubleshoot your own worm farm. Explore a live demo, pick up practical tips and enjoy tasty snacks while connecting with fellow students. All are welcome!

Register here: Worm farming basics 101

Wednesday 17 September, 5.30–7.30pm

Celebrate the Winner of the 2025 СÀ¶ÊÓƵ School of Art & Design Drawing Prize at the exhibition's opening reception. The Drawing Prize showcases and celebrates the breadth and depth of drawing practice within the СÀ¶ÊÓƵ School of Art & Design.

The Prize is an annual event open to all current students enrolled in one or more courses in Semester 2 at the СÀ¶ÊÓƵ School of Art & Design with a cash prize of $1,500. The exhibition continues until Friday 24 October.

Thursday 18 September, 4–5.30pm

This talk examines the rise of Maoist environmentalism in the People’s Republic of China during the later years of the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), set against the global awakening to environmental issues in the 1960s and 1970s.

Saturday 20 September, 12pm – Sunday 21 September, 3pm

This year’s theme is Building with Low-Code and No-Code Tools, making it easier than ever to turn your ideas into real prototypes. Form a team of three to four and work around the clock to create something amazing, then pitch it to a panel of founders, academics and industry leaders for your chance to win a share of the $2,000 cash prize pool. Registrations close 18 September.

Monday 22 September, 8–9.30am

Join in celebrating World Car Free Day. Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or take public transport to get to campus. By making this small change together, we help reduce emissions, ease traffic congestion and create a healthier, more sustainable СÀ¶ÊÓƵ. СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Green will be going around campus to hand out free snacks to sustainable commuters.

Monday 22 September, 6–8.30pm

Join distinguished guest lecturer Ambeth Ocampo as he revisits the curious case of Jose E. Marco, showing how forgeries, myths and historical imagination acquire renewed significance in today’s age of fake news and disinformation.

The Student Disciplinary Framework Review (SDFR) Phase 1 consultation period is now complete. Feedback is under review and draft recommendations are being established. The Phase 2 consultation period is planned to commence in mid-October and will consist of the draft recommendations report opening for feedback. The recommendations report will then be finalised and made available at the end of 2025.

In June, midway through Phase 1 consultation, an Interim Consultation Report was presented to the Project Board, capturing some key learnings that could be actioned before the draft recommendations report is released.

Read more: Student Disciplinary Framework Review (SDFR) update

Come along to a Sustainable Commuting Fair and discover how easy and rewarding sustainable commuting can be.

Explore active travel and public transport options at one of three Fairs to learn practical tips and understand how sustainable commuting benefits both you and the campus community. Drop by Kambri, chat with us and find new ways to make your everyday journeys healthier, cheaper and greener. Supported by Pedal Power, Transport Canberra, Mojo Cycles and SEE Change.

Dates and Times:

Location: Kambri precinct

Can’t make it? Explore the for tips on sustainable transport to СÀ¶ÊÓƵ.

With most classes running for 50 minutes, you can expect your class to start five minutes past the hour and finish at five minutes to the hour. For example, a 9am class will start at 9.05am and finish at 9.55am. The five minutes on each side helps everyone move between rooms and supports Echo360 lecture recordings.

ITS will be upgrading campus internet hardware, requiring two outages of around 15 minutes each during a maintenance window from 9pm–12am, Tuesday 16 September. This will affect all СÀ¶ÊÓƵ internet services across the Acton campus and at our remote locations such as Mount Stromlo and Sidings Springs Observatories. Please plan accordingly. 

СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Security – (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Security.  

Media hotline 24/7 – (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our .  

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, СÀ¶ÊÓƵ encourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options. 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call СÀ¶ÊÓƵ Security at (02) 6125 2249