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The University will open a second Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) on Friday 29 August.   

The scheme will run alongside and complement formal change activities underway across the University, offering supported and voluntary pathways for continuing employees to exit the University, subject to eligibility criteria and assessment.  

The scheme is designed to continue to minimise the need for involuntary redundancies by providing flexible options to staff who may wish to explore new opportunities outside ANU; and to balance the University’s requirement to maintain operational sustainability. Participation is entirely voluntary, and applications will be considered based on operational requirements. The University has engaged in consultation with the NTEU in implementing this second round of the scheme.  

The arrangements for the VSS mirror those offered under the earlier 2025 scheme. An overview is now available on the Renew ANU website. Further details will be shared on Friday alongside application forms and information sessions will be held next week. 

Consultation on the Academic Portfolio Change Proposal closes at 12pm this Thursday, 28 August. The draft proposal, position descriptions and portfolio-specific FAQs remain accessible on the Renew ANU website. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) will be hosting a Town Hall on Friday 29 August, with details to be shared soon.

Consultation on the Campus Environment Change Proposal has been extended by one week and is now open until 12pm, Thursday 4 September.

Consultation for the Residential Experience Division Change Proposal closed last week. Feedback is now being reviewed and will help inform next steps.

The Implementation Plan for the Research and Innovation Portfolio was released last week. The Plan outlines final decisions and how community feedback has shaped the outcome. Implementation will roll out gradually over the coming weeks. 

All proposals, plans, recordings and FAQs are available on the Renew ANU website.

The Expenditure Taskforce, led by the Chief Operating Officer, was stood up in October 2024 to consider options for non-salary cost savings across ANU.

In 2025, the Taskforce continues its mission to capture $150 million in savings from our ongoing non-salary operating expenses. ‘Non-salary operating expenses’ refers to any area of expenditure not related to staff salaries.

As part of the 2025 Budget, we committed to delivering $58m in savings across R (recurrent funding) and Q (such as research or project funding) budgets. As at 31 July, we are on track to meet this target, with current spending lower than expected.

While this is encouraging progress, there is still more work ahead. We’ll continue refining our forecasts in the weeks to come, and it’s important we maintain this momentum to ensure lasting sustainability.

The Recruitment Approval Committee (RAC) was implemented to provide all-of-University oversight to hiring at ANU. Since its formation in May 2024, the RAC has met 33 times. A total of 2,082 roles have been submitted with 1,957 approved (94 per cent approval rating). 

Across 2025, a total of 887 roles have been submitted, with 836 approved (94.3 per cent approval rating). On average, the Committee reviews 58 requests per meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 3 September. Currently, 11 requests have been submitted to be reviewed at this meeting.

In August, the total leave provision increased by $1.4m, which is higher than the same period last year. 

A new is now available on the site. It brings together information, resources and links on wellbeing, mental health and workplace supports to help managers, staff and teams access the right assistance when needed.

Yesterday we saw the Senate vote on four motions for the production of documents by ANU – with the Senate voting against the motions. This is new territory for us and the sector more broadly and I want to be very clear that we have all watched the overreach of politicians into daily operations of American universities and the consequences have been far reaching. Here in Australia, there are many appropriate mechanisms to request information (including briefings from the ANU and questions at Senate Estimates or committee hearings) and we encourage all members of Parliament to engage with these mechanisms. We also welcome direct engagement from Senators, Members of Parliament and the ACT Legislative Assembly and have met with many of our federal and local representatives.

Read more: ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s update – open conversations 

ANU-led research that found Antarctica is experiencing abrupt and potentially irreversible changes to the continent’s ice, ocean and ecosystems has generated widespread national and international coverage, including , , , and the .

The researchers say the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is at severe risk of collapse. They say its collapse would raise sea levels by more than three metres and would have “catastrophic consequences for generations to come”. 

The work was led by Dr Nerilie Abram, a former Professor of Climate Science at ANU who is now the Chief Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).

“Rapid change has already been detected across Antarctica’s ice, oceans and ecosystems, and this is set to worsen with every fraction of a degree of global warming,” Dr Abram said.

is the national regulator of higher education in Australia, and is an independent agency established under the . TEQSA is responsible for protecting the interests of students and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education. ANU regularly engages with TEQSA on individual and sector-wide matters. On 19 August ANU submitted a Self-Assurance Report to TEQSA as the first step in a compliance assessment. The Report, including cover letter and original request from TEQSA are now published on the ANU website.

In an opinion piece for The Canberra Times, Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell reflects on the University’s journey to financial sustainability, the challenges of recent change, and the opportunities ahead as we approach our 80th anniversary.

 

Australia’s most iconic roadside shrines can tell us a lot about the joy of journeying, ANU research reveals. There’s a point on the road to Batemans Bay that every Canberran knows. 

 

The Vice-Chancellor’s small-group conversation sessions continue, creating space for open dialogue and shared perspectives. September sessions are now available for booking, with up to 20 staff members per session. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and connect in a safe and respectful environment. 

 

The University is considering its response to the allegations made about the actions of some senior officers and employees of ANU during testimony before the Senate hearing into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers on 12 August 2025.

A letter is provided to all ANU staff and students in relation to this matter.

Click to read. 

Monday 8 September – Saturday 20 September

What do you get when you put calligraphy, dance, song, music, art, craft, wellbeing, sport and games together? An explosion of eclectic culture; a potpourri of interactive experiences; a multicultural festival with a difference…

Presenting the 2025 edition of Immersia: Engaging with Asia and the Pacific, all set to come to the stage on campus from 8 to 20 September (with a special pre-festival treat the week prior).

Everyone across ANU and the ACT is welcome—the festival is fun, free and full of experiences that engage with the cultures of Asia and the Pacific.

The ANU School of Culture, History & Language within the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, look forward to hosting you this September. So come along and dive right into some culturally enriching and fun experiences!

Wednesday 27 August, 10–11am 

This face-to-face session, provides new Occupational Strain Liaison Officers (OSLOs) with practical training and information regarding workstation assessment and set up. 

This training is for staff who have completed the OSLO Pulse module and who now require the follow-up practical component. It can be completed by new OSLOs or experienced OSLOs looking to complete a “refresher”. 

 

Tuesday 2 September, 6-7pm 

Join acclaimed journalist-turned-novelist Michael Brissenden as he discusses his gripping new thriller, Dust, with bestselling crime writer Chris Hammer. Set in a drought-ravaged outback town, Dust is a dark, compelling story of corruption, betrayal, and survival at the edge of society. With a vote of thanks by Canberra author Karen Viggers, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of crime fiction and conversation.

Register here: Meet the author - Michael Brissenden

 

Wednesday 3 September, 9am – 4.45pm

Join Australia’s preeminent conference on Japan, bringing together leading experts to explore the critical developments shaping Japan’s future – from economic trends and the energy transition, to politics and foreign policy in an era of global uncertainty. 

 

 

Monday 8 September, 9am – Thursday 11 September, 7pm 

This conference celebrates the life and achievements of Emeritus Professor Rodney James Baxter 1940-2025. It will highlight Professor Baxter's extraordinary career and pioneering contributions to exactly solved models in statistical mechanics, which continue to inspire profound developments in key areas of mathematics and physics. 

 

Following a competitive recruitment process, the University is pleased to announce Associate Professor Merryn McKinnon has been appointed interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) for the next 12 months. Merryn brings extensive experience from her role as Associate Dean Education in the College of Science and Medicine and her contributions across curricula, Academic Board and various ongoing University projects. Merryn’s focus will be on advancing learning and teaching, applying data to guide improvement and strengthening work underway to position ANU at the forefront of AI in education. Merryn joins the Academic Portfolio on 1 September. Please join us in welcoming Merryn.

isn’t just a tick box, it’s essential. It equips you to handle key responsibilities, protects the wellbeing of students and colleagues and helps safeguard the University community. By completing your , you’re playing a vital role in creating a safe, respectful and compliant environment for everyone. 

We’re hunting dripping taps, running toilets and other sneaky leaks across ANU for World Water Week, which runs from 25-29 August. Every report can save thousands of litres, cut costs and reduce the carbon footprint of water treatment and pumping. 

Take the Spot and Report a Water Leak challenge via the One Small Step x ANU platform to earn points toward the 2025 ANU Green Awards. Awards run until 31 October 2025, so there’s plenty of time to make every drop count. 

The ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, together with Girls Run the World (an initiative connecting women with diplomacy), has launched the first edition of Voices of the Future. 

This publication, written by participants in the Women in Strategic Policy program, highlights the importance of building public understanding and support for AUKUS — the security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

It offers practical recommendations for how young Australians can be more engaged in national security conversations – not just as future leaders, but as active contributors today. 

 

Two major international conferences are coming to Canberra in October. 

Canberra will host the Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII 2025) from 8–11 October and the ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (ICMI 2025) from 13–17 October. 

These conferences will bring together global leaders in computing, AI, human–computer interaction, affective computing, design, engineering and the humanities. 

Early bird discounts are now available and group bundles can be arranged for teams interested in attending keynotes, workshops, the main conference, or a combination of both. 

For more information, email josh.andres@anu.edu.au 

Information Technology Services (ITS) is reviewing the ANU Service Desk portal and would value your . 

Your input will help identify what’s working, where the pain points are and how we can streamline processes to make the portal more user-friendly. 

Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey by Tuesday 2 September. 

Find more information on the .

Leadership in Practice goes beyond traditional leadership training. Informed by the latest neuroscience and neuroleadership, this practical, high-impact program helps you: 

This is leadership from the inside out. 

 

The ANU Disability Research Network invites proposals for our second Disability Research Showcase, to be held on Monday 27 October, themed Disability Research in Conversation: Celebrating creativity, community and impact. 

Open to all ANU staff, students and affiliates working on disability (broadly defined). Formats include short talks, workshops, panels/roundtables and creative works. The Showcase spotlights highlights the diverse, creative and impactful work taking place across our University. 

Submit an abstract of up to 250 words by COB Sunday 8 September 2025.  

 

It is Scam Awareness Week from 25 to 29 August, a time to learn what to do when a scam crosses your path. 

Watch real stories and short animations that expose common scam tricks, then explore simple steps to stay scam-smart and protect yourself and our community. 

Wi-Fi speed refers to how quickly your internet connection can upload and download data. Download speeds affect streaming and browsing, while upload speeds matter for video calls and file sharing. Think of it as the speed limit on a digital highway, determining how quickly your data travels.   

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi is essential for our University community to collaborate and connect seamlessly.  

Curious about your Wi-Fi speed?  

If your Wi-Fi speed is consistency slow, view our top tips to enhance your experience.   

 

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU 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. The University has a range of information and services that can be accessed by Managers and staff.  A comprehensive guide is available at University support services.

Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek counselling support through the .

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to developed by the  team.