Tomorrow, Tuesday 15 April, is the last chance to take advantage of UQ’s free flu vaccination program. Limited appointments are still available for UQ staff, UQ affiliate staff and students at our St Lucia, Gatton, Herston, Dutton Park campuses, and our UQ Brisbane City, Indooroopilly, and Long Pocket locations. Book an appointment online to protect yourself this flu season.
In preparation for Stage 1 of the Union Complex redevelopment, UQ Union services in Building 21C will move to new locations within the Union Complex during mid-semester break and will reopen on Monday 28 April. The UQ Senate will consider Stage 1 – to refurbish Building 21C for UQU administration, Student Advocacy and Support, and the REDROOM – in late April 2025.
To account for upcoming public holidays, the deadline to submit stories for UQ Update will temporarily change. Please submit stories for the Tuesday 22 April newsletter by 4pm on Wednesday 16 April, and stories for the Monday 28 April newsletter by 4pm on Wednesday 23 April. The deadline for all other editions remains 5pm on the Thursday before your preferred publication date.
Last year, UQ launched its new Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to expand and develop initiatives that bring us closer to making reconciliation a lived reality. Staff are now invited to join a workshop designed to help you navigate and implement the new UQ Stretch RAP 2025–2027. Online workshops will be held on Wednesday 16 April and Monday 12 May.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) keynote address that was rescheduled due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be held on Monday 28 April. Hear from healthcare professional and award-winning diversity and inclusion advocate Sara Shams, as well as a panel of 3 UQ experts as they discuss the 2025 United Nations IWD theme, ‘March Forward’, and how we can turn promises into progress. Register to attend in person at St Lucia or online.
Join UQ Alumni and the Institute of Modern Languages for a 5-week language short course for beginners. Courses in Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, French and Korean will start in mid-May at The Atrium, UQ Brisbane City, and will cost $295 for 5 classes. Whether you want to travel the world, learn to speak a language, follow new interests or maintain your language skills, this course gives you the opportunity to learn in a practical and supportive learning environment in the city.
The prestigious Green Gown Awards Australasia are now open for submissions. This year, the awards are celebrating 16 years of sustainability excellence in the tertiary education sector. Nominate your project by Thursday 29 May to help showcase UQ’s commitment to creating change for a brighter future, on campus and beyond. For more details and to submit your entry, visit the Green Gown Awards Australasia website.
To celebrate UQ’s 10-year anniversary as a premier partner of Netball Queensland and the Queensland Firebirds, staff, students and alumni can access a 10% discount on game tickets and membership packages. Purchase your tickets or membership package using one of UQ's discount codes before Saturday 31 May to take advantage of this deal. Find out more about the partnership and access the discount codes on UQ's Partners and Community website.
There’s still time to apply for the Study for Staff program for Semester 2, 2025. This program offers staff a significant fee subsidy on a select range of UQ graduate certificates to help support your growth and career development. Applications close Thursday 24 April for the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and Friday 23 May for all other programs.
The UQ Alumni Book Fair is back in 2025. From Friday 2 to Monday 5 May, browse books, magazines, records and other pre-loved goodies, with prices as low as $1. Hundreds of works will also go under the hammer at the Rare Book Auction, including a first-edition copy of The Handmaid's Tale, signed by Margaret Atwood. On Saturday 3 May, come along to a full day of activities featuring free talks, tours and kid-friendly pop-ups.
The UQ Professionals Network (UQPN) Mentor Me program is now accepting applications for mentors and mentees. This structured mentoring experience pairs professional staff participants to foster professional growth, skill development, and connections beyond their organisational unit. This opportunity is open to UQPN members – if you are not a member, you can join at any time for a tax-deductible annual fee of $35. Applications close Thursday 17 April.
Submissions are invited for the review of the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, which will be conducted by the Academic Board from Monday 28 to Thursday 31 July. The terms of reference for the review are available on the Academic Board website. Submissions should be sent to the Review Coordinator at uqreviews@uq.edu.au by Monday 23 June.
Nominations for the UQ Research Culture Awards open Tuesday 6 May. The awards celebrate outstanding staff contributions to UQ’s research environment across disciplines and career stages. They aim to inspire a shared commitment to a sustainable research ecosystem that empowers individuals and teams to reach their full potential. Nominate yourself or a colleague in one of the categories before Friday 30 May.
The Open Course Scheme offers staff the opportunity to observe the great teaching happening in their colleagues' classrooms at UQ. Observing others teaching gives teachers fresh insights, inspiration and the opportunity to reflect on their own practice. You can book in to visit one of a wide range of courses to discover innovative teaching techniques, draw inspiration for your own practices, and connect with colleagues.
From Tuesday 14 April, Software Centre – used to self-install software on UQ Windows computers – will be replaced with Company Portal. You will be able to download new software through Company Portal and use it to manage any software that you have previously installed on your device. After Tuesday 14 April, you will be able to open Company Portal by searching for it in the Windows ‘Start’ menu.
UQ staff can now use the MyHub app to set up new workplaces – like teams – within Microsoft Teams, without having to submit an IT request. As this update is rolled out today, MyHub will either appear in the sidebar of your Microsoft Teams or be listed when you click the 3 dots icon to access the 'View more apps' menu. You can find information about using MyHub to create teams on UQ’s MyHub webpage, including how to set up teams and create Microsoft 365 groups.
The Mental Health, Ageing and Cancer Clinic encourages physical activity and helps participants incorporate exercise into their long-term treatment plans. This free clinic is suitable for anyone aged 18 and over who has previously had cancer or currently has a mental health condition. Students from the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences are looking for willing participants for this 6-week clinic, which starts on Monday 7 April.
The next intake of the Teaching Foundations RPL module begins on Monday 19 May. This module allows staff to enhance their teaching expertise. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn the Teaching Foundations Certificate and Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. You may also be eligible for credit towards the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching Practice. Applications close on Wednesday 30 April.
From Tuesday 1 April, UQ’s travel allowance rates will increase. If you have already submitted a travel allowance claim for a trip that begins on or after Tuesday 1 April, or for a trip that overlaps the effective date, the Payment Services team will contact you to discuss your claim. If you have any questions, you can review the UQ Travel webpage or email the Finance and Business Services Tax team.
A call for abstracts to present at the upcoming UQ–Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) Symposium is now open. Academics and PhD students from UQ or IITD, as well as external industry partners, are invited to submit abstracts. Abstracts align with the symposium theme ‘Innovating Together: Australia-India Research Partnerships for a Sustainable Future’. The symposium will be hosted at UQ on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 July. Submit an abstract by Sunday 27 April.
Applications are now open for the QUEX Professional Services Staff Fellowship program. This program is an initiative of the QUEX Institute, a partnership between UQ and the University of Exeter. The program has been established to provide professional development opportunities and to share best practices and experiences between professional services colleagues at UQ and Exeter. Apply before Friday 2 May.
Do you have stuffed toys at home that are no longer being used? The dogs in the care of UQ VETS would love to inherit them. The UQ VETS Pets for Life adoption program is now taking donations of old soft toys that are clean and dog-safe – with no batteries, Styrofoam, beans or wires. You can donate them at the Clinical Studies Centre at Gatton at any time. You can also drop off your donations on Floor 2 of Building 99 (Glasshouse Rd near Walcott St) at St Lucia.
Pop-Up by Patina is now operating on the ground floor of the Queensland Bioscience Precinct (building 80) at St Lucia, where Genies Cafe used to be. Open from 7am to 1pm weekdays, this new cafe serves locally roasted coffee beans by Bellissimo. They also offer a breakfast and lunch takeaway menu, designed by Patina's Executive Chef, with wraps and toasted sandwiches.
Appointments are now available at the Musculoskeletal and Sports Injury physiotherapy clinic. Services are delivered by final-year physiotherapy students who are supervised by qualified and highly experienced physiotherapists. A 15% discount is available to UQ staff, students and their immediate families, and referrals are not necessary. Contact their team online or by calling 3365 2232.
From 6am on Monday 24 February, there will be no parking permitted along Walcott Street between Sir Fred Schonell Drive and Hood Street while Energex converts the overhead service lines to underground cabling and installs new street lighting. Works could take up to 4 weeks to complete. Any vehicles left in the restricted area during this time will be towed so that works can proceed. Signs will be posted to indicate where parking is prohibited.
All staff have access to a range of training courses. This week, we are highlighting the ‘Understanding and Managing Psychosocial Risk for Supervisors and Managers’ course. It covers topics such as identifying and addressing psychosocial hazards and leadership practices that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace. Supervisors and managers can take this course at any time on Workday.
In 2025, the Integrated Pathology Learning Centre (IPLC) is commemorating 100 years of its collection. All UQ staff are invited to visit the museum to explore its unique specimens displayed alongside student-designed exhibitions and historical objects from the Marks-Hirschfeld Museum of Medical History. The museum is open by appointment. To book, fill out the form on the IPLC's website.
UQ’s incident and hazard reporting system, UQSafe, has been updated to improve usability. UQSafe allows you to report hazards and incidents online via the UQ website. As part of the update, the website now has a refreshed look to make reporting easier. You also have the option to report incidents quickly and easily via the new UQSafe RiskWare Mobile app. Download the RiskWare Mobile app from the App Store and follow our online setup instructions.
This year, UQ will begin transitioning Learn.UQ from the current version, Blackboard Original, to the new Blackboard Ultra. Most courses will make this transition in Semester 2 of 2025 and Semester 1 of 2026. To preview Ultra, enrol in the Ultra Example site as a student or request a preview site with instructor access by emailing help@elearning.uq.edu.au.
From Monday 3 February, some parking rates at UQ’s St Lucia, Dutton Park and Herston campuses and Toowong office increased for staff, students and visitors. These benchmarked changes are part of ongoing initiatives to encourage the use of alternative sustainable transport and free up parking for staff and students who need to drive to campus. Parking revenue is reinvested into campus infrastructure, including active transport facilities.
On Tuesday 28 January, Brisbane Metro services commenced on the M2 route (formerly Route 66) from Stop A at UQ Lakes station to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Routes 139 and 169 depart from Stop D. M2 services won’t stop at Dutton Park Place so please use alternative routes for this station. Signage and support staff will be at UQ Lakes to assist passengers.
UQ is transitioning from desk phones to Microsoft Teams Phone, beginning at the St Lucia campus. While staff can already use Microsoft Teams to make internal phone calls, Teams Phone allows you to receive and make calls to external numbers (including international calls). This transition supports hybrid working by allowing staff to make or receive calls from anywhere. Find out more on the transition, how to access support, and how to register for upcoming information sessions on the project website.
Recent rain and humidity have increased the risk of mould in UQ buildings. Properties and Facilitis has taken preventative measures to address this. You can support this effort by tidying and wiping down your workstation and ensuring all your office windows are closed before you head off on the holiday break. Read more about preventing and reporting mould on UQ’s 'Mould in indoor spaces' webpage.
UQ now has approved suppliers for catering. If you are planning an event with catering, you can now select from one of 4 approved suppliers in the Brisbane metro area. These suppliers were selected to ensure quality, reliability, and value for event hosts. Learn about our preferred suppliers in the catering section of the UQ Where to buy guide on the UQ procurement page.
UQ’s superannuation provider, UniSuper, has launched a new virtual care platform, 360Health. UniSuper members and their spouse, children, parents and parents-in-law can access medical care, such as nutrition advice, mental health assistance, and general practice care through the platform at no additional cost.
UQ has been named the nation’s best university for the second year in a row in the 2024 Best Universities Ranking by the Australian Financial Review (AFR). The AFR rankings evaluate university performance holistically based on 4 pillars: teaching, research, career impact and equity. These rankings are the first in Australia to consider traditional notions of excellence, such as research and career impact, alongside student satisfaction and equity.
Staff on the St Lucia campus can now visit Sun Stadium, a new public artwork in the form of a sundial, near the UQ Lakes bus stop. Created from sustainable materials, the artwork was brought to life through a collaboration between artist and choreographer Amrita Hepi, poet Jazz Money, and Dialogue Office's Christopher Bassi, along with Five Mile Radius and Sibling Architecture.
The UQ Centre (Building 27A) has transitioned back to its original purpose as an indoor multi-sport facility, as part of the University’s Sport and Recreation Precinct and will be managed by UQ Sport. A limited number of non-sporting events will continue to use the Centre. The lecture theatre within the Centre is not affected by this change and the booking process remains the same.
Did you know that UQ has an Email and Bulk Messaging Procedure? This procedure outlines UQ’s rules around sending bulk emails to staff, students and other UQ email holders. Any bulk messages to our community must comply with this procedure. If you send bulk emails to UQ email holders, please remember to take some time to familiarise yourself with the procedure.
The REDROOM has temporarily closed for essential works to safely remove asbestos in preparation for stage one of the Union Complex redevelopment in late 2025. Other facilities in the area remain open. Works are expected to take about 4 months to complete, site conditions permitting. Visit the road and building works page for more information.
UQ teaching staff can learn strategies to support linguistically diverse students with a 90-minute online training course. It covers topics like linguistic diversity at UQ and refining instruction, assessment and feedback with linguistic diversity in mind. You can complete this training at any time through Workday.
Volunteer for a UQ research study
Get involved in UQ research by volunteering for a wide range of studies. Your participation may be vital to solving medical mysteries or answering important research questions.