Welcome back to 2025

Dear colleagues,  

I hope you have had some time with friends, family and those who are important to you. The end of year period is always a good opportunity to recharge away from campus. Although ANU appears "shutdown", the reality is there are lots of staff who quietly continue to work over this period so much of our community can take a break. For those who have been working, thank you!

From teams working to ensure students have offers and can enrol smoothly (and then travel here to make a new home), to keeping our campus safe and clean, or ensuring animals are fed, experiments are monitored, and our systems are maintained – we are grateful for the work you do. And a thank you to our academic staff who continue to prepare courses or share their expertise in the media. Every day over this break there have been stories which showcase the knowledge and research of this community, and the breadth is truly extraordinary.

On behalf of the University Leadership Group, I also want to acknowledge and thank the staff who were involved in updating the emergency bushfire protocols in case of a campus-wide evacuation. Thankfully, we haven't needed to initiate these plans, but it was crucial work undertaken last year to ensure if something happened, our campus is well prepared. Thank you to everyone involved and to those who remained on call during the shutdown.

As we commence the New Year, I also want to acknowledge our colleagues in newly formed Colleges and this transition period. It will take a little time and patience, and not everything will run smoothly initially. Please provide any feedback to your Director, Dean or General Manager and we will address it, and if there are things you can help with, please do reach out.

Finally, I know 2024 was a challenging year for everyone at ANU. 2025 will also require a great deal from each of us but I also know that all of us share in a commitment to being an extraordinary place. And as we face into the realities of the higher education sector in the second quarter of the 21st century, we will have opportunities to help shape and decide this together.

On Campus returns as our primary communication channel from Tuesday 21 January. This edition will have more details on Graduations, O-Week and the start of Semester 1, along with some key updates from campus.

Good thoughts to where this may find you, and a Happy New Year to all,

Genevieve

*As published via all-staff email on 2 January 2025.