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ANU has confirmed parking permit arrangements for 2026, with all permit rates remaining unchanged from 2025 except for selected student permits.

For student residents, a single parking station rate will continue to apply across all halls of residence. From 1 January, the daily resident parking rate decreased from $7.19 to $4.90, improving affordability and addressing longstanding equity issues between residents.

The release of this year’s Australia Day Honours List brings national recognition for several extraordinary members of the ANU community, including two emeritus professors.

Each year, the list celebrates Australians who have made outstanding contributions to our nation. This year, the list recognises 949 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.

Ongoing shifts in the global water cycle amplified floods, droughts and heat extremes in 2025, according to a new report involving an international team of researchers, led by ANU.

The 2025 Global Water Monitor Report demonstrates continued warming is altering how water moves, is stored and is exchanged between the atmosphere, land and oceans, with significant consequences for societies and ecosystems.

ANU continues to excel as a world leader in research and teaching, seeing a rise in rankings across four subjects for 2026, according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject.

The 2026 rankings demonstrate how ANU has improved its reputation as one of the world’s best universities in the Social Sciences (35th globally) and the Physical Sciences (60th globally).

Among Group of Eight (Go8) universities, ANU continues to rank first in both of these subjects for 2026.

The University farewells our inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality), Professor Royston Gustavson, who retires on 30 January.

Since joining ANU in 2003, Royston has made an outstanding contribution to academic governance, quality assurance and educational equity at ANU and nationally. A passionate educator and advocate for underrepresented students, he has led major institutional reforms and advanced equitable access to education. Upon retirement, Royston will be awarded the title of Emeritus Professor and will be based within POLIS@ANU in the Research School of Social Sciences.

We wish Royston all the very best in his retirement and thank him for his ongoing commitment and dedication to ANU.

A reminder that the following reviews are open:

Staff can share their views through a short survey to help shape how future changes are planned and delivered across the University. The survey closes on Wednesday 11 February.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ High Commission in Samoa has congratulated Samoa’s ³§²¹±ôÄå Dr George Carter from ANU on his appointment to the UN panel for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. The Index is a new tool to measure a country’s structural vulnerability and lack of resilience beyond its income.

Late last year, SharePoint was updated to improve information management, strengthen security and support more consistent content handling across the University.

Key changes included:

Where a legitimate need exists, owners can request broader access, following a review of content suitability.

SharePoint site and group owners should view the page for further guidance.

For IT assistance, visit the  page or call 02 6125 4321.

If you’re preparing a course for semester 1, support is available to help you get set up in Canvas.

If you’re new to Canvas, you are encouraged to attend a  for hands-on help with building or updating your course. You can also use the , explore the , or contact the .

The January 2026 Health and Wellbeing Newsletter brings together practical tips and timely reminders to support staff wellbeing.

This edition highlights Mental Health First Aid training, workstation health and ergonomics, pedestrian safety and smoke-free campus information, natural disaster support, including bushfires, leave options, healthy recipes and Employee Assistance Program resources.

If you have any suggestions or feedback for future publications, email injurymanagement@anu.edu.au.

From 2026, the University’s flagship Leadership in Practice program will trial two changes based on feedback received over the past year.

Workshops will now be spaced fortnightly, giving you time to reflect, apply learning and bring your energy to each session.

Cohort dates are published in advance, allowing you to self-enrol in the intake that works best for you. Planning ahead means you can commit with confidence and make the most of the experience.

ANU is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe environment where everyone in our community is empowered to participate fully.

The  has been launched and actions are now underway – and 2026 is all about turning big goals into everyday action.

There are plenty of ways to be part of the change. Smart choices like how you travel to campus or sort your rubbish and recycling can make a big difference to our environmental footprint. 

Easy ways to get involved:

The Sustainability website brings together practical guides and tools to help you get started in ways that fit your routine.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Associate Professor Mathew Davies as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality), following a competitive internal recruitment process.

Mathew is currently Associate Dean of Education in the College of Asia and the Pacific bringing a strong record of academic leadership, governance and curriculum reform. Since 2022, he has led the ANU Curriculum Framework and the CAP Education Priorities project, overseeing program streamlining, course design standardisation, and the introduction of the University’s first online asynchronous Master’s award. He has also led significant compliance and quality assurance reforms across the College.

Mathew will commence in the role in early February. We look forward to the leadership and continued contributions he will bring in this position.

Following a competitive internal recruitment process, the University is delighted to announce the appointment of Brooke Disney as Interim Vice-President (Advancement). Since joining ANU in 2021, Brooke has served in key leadership roles, most recently as Director, Philanthropy, where she played a central role in transforming the University’s philanthropic function.

The University looks forward to the continued growth and impact of Advancement under Brooke’s leadership and extends our deepest thanks to Alex Furman for his dedicated and transformative leadership as Vice-President (Advancement). We wish Alex every success in his next chapter.

Following a competitive recruitment process, the University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Martine Mariotti as Director, Research School of Economics. Martine, who first joined the University in 2008, brings an exceptional record of academic leadership as an internationally recognised scholar in economic history and development economics, with publications in leading journals, service on editorial boards and long‑standing contributions to the Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand.

The University looks forward to continued momentum and global impact under Martine’s leadership.

Staff are invited to attend the State of the University Address with the Chancellor and Interim Vice-Chancellor.

The address sets the scene for our future ambitions in connection to the strategy and reflects on our recent challenges and achievements.

Join Senior Lecturer Ian Le as he explores how mathematicians think about extraordinarily large numbers.

The lecture examines how questions of scale reveal the limits of mathematical understanding.

For nearly three decades, the ANU Meet the Author series has captivated ANU and wider Canberra community and returns in 2026. Explore the upcoming events below or visit the Meet the Author website for the full program.

Meet the Author – Michelle Grattan, John Halligan and John Hawkins

Tuesday 3 February, 6–7pm

Meet the Author – Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Tuesday 24 February, 6–7pm

How did you come to be at ANU? 

I commenced working at ANU in July 2025, following 25 years in the public sector across governance, finance, policy and corporate roles. More recently, my work focused on capability building and research to support the delivery of high-quality public services. When I became aware of the opportunity to join ANU as Chief Risk Officer, it felt like a good fit. As an ANU alum, I’m excited to bring my public and private sector experience to the University to support the development of a positive risk culture and strong organisational capability.

What are you most passionate about in your work? 

Helping others to be more successful in their aspirations and goals. In risk we use a lot of structured processes and assessment templates. However, it is through a culture that fosters open conversations, shared understanding of context and assumptions, and a commitment to support one another that we can really benefit from risk management practices. Having worked in disaster management and international relations over the past seven years, I’m also excited to learn from our experts through the research and education the ANU delivers.

What is your favourite spot on campus and why? 

I have fond memories of South Oval from my time as a member of the ANU soccer fraternity. Many a cold winter night was spent training there, building a strong and supportive team culture, and forming friendships that last to this day.

Know someone with a great story to tell? Email the On Campus team at on.campus@anu.edu.au.

Need help with ANU teaching room tech? Visit the Teaching Space Technology resource collection for quick guidance on resident PCs, laptop connections, wireless presenting, etc.

Clear step-by-step tips help you set up fast, troubleshoot common issues and teach confidently in any equipped space.

ANU continues to engage with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) following the self-reported underpayments to some former and current ANU casual staff due to systems issues. ANU met most recently with the FWO on 10 December 2025. 

The University can confirm that all affected active casual sessional academic (CSA) staff, and over half of the affected former staff, have now received remediation payments. ANU continues attempts to contact remaining former CSA staff to have their payments finalised as soon as possible.

The next scheduled meeting for ANU and the FWO is on 5 February 2026. ANU also continues to work closely with experts in support of the University’s Payroll Remediation program.

ANU treats its legal obligations to its current and former staff seriously. ANU will continue to work conscientiously to ensure impacted staff are appropriately remediated, and to support the FWO in their investigation.

Since introducing monthly leave reminders, we have been tracking balances in On Campus to encourage regular breaks and reduce leave liability.

In December 2025, the annual leave balance was down $1,512,243 from November 2025 and down from the same period in the previous year by $4,465,462.

Planning leave around public holidays can help stretch your time off and support work-life balance. Under the , you can request to swap a public holiday for another day, giving you more flexibility.

Mental Health First Aid training delivered by the Australian Red Cross is now open for registration and will be offered on campus to ANU staff throughout 2026.

Standard courses commence from Tuesday 17 March, with refresher courses available from Tuesday 3 March.

Book your place using the . After completing the training, upload your certificate to HORUS using the .

Training can also be arranged for work groups on request. For enquiries, email injurymanagement@anu.edu.au or visit the webpage.

NECTAR, the Network for Early-Career Teachers, Academics and Researchers is looking for mentors with diverse experiences to support early career researchers (ECRs) as they navigate challenges such as balancing teaching loads and building research impact.

Staff who are passionate about helping others succeed are encouraged to get involved. Enrolment takes just 10 minutes and your profile will help us match you with mentees.

Enrolment closes Sunday 15 February.

ANU is launching a new Procurement Program to simplify purchasing, improve compliance and enhance the experience for staff and suppliers. The first phase will focus on design, engagement and vendor selection.

Governance and advisory groups, including user and technical reference groups, will help shape practical, fit for purpose solutions. Managers have been asked to nominate staff representatives for these groups. Ideal candidates will have active involvement in purchasing, invoicing, contracts, or supplier engagement on a day-to-day basis.

Staff can get involved by contacting their General Manager, School Director or Service Division Director, or by emailing e2eprocurement@anu.edu.au.

Our first photo for 2026 comes from Zoe Bowman, Program Manager, Office of the Interim Vice-Chancellor, who captured this very serious little possum on campus.

“I love working in a place where you can encounter beautiful creatures like this,” said Zoe.

Got a photo to share? and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.

Have an article or event you’d like featured in On Campus? We welcome submissions from across the ANU community that interest our broad and diverse community.

Content must be submitted at least seven business days before publication, using the online submission form. For example, to be included in the Tuesday 10 February edition, submissions close on Monday 2 February.

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 – (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the media hotline during business hours or email media@anu.edu.au 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.

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.