Dear Staff,
It’s been wonderful to see our campuses come alive again this week with the return of students for the start of Semester 1 classes.
After two years of restrictions and periods of lockdown, it is really uplifting to see our students back on campus eager to enjoy the rich campus experiences on offer and full of expectation for their chosen programs of study. Kev Carmody House, our new student accommodation, has welcomed its first cohort of students and our Colleges are, once again, offering vibrant and supportive environments for our students. Of course, as more cases of COVID appear in the wider community, our Colleges and Residences have also been working hard to ensure that all the necessary plans are in place as we make the adjustment to living with COVID.
As we begin the academic year in earnest, I’d like to pay tribute this week to the inspiring academics working across UQ who contribute so much to the quality and impact of our teaching programs.
I would especially like to call out the five UQ academics who have been recognised with a ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning’ in the latest Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT). The 2021 winners were announced this week. Congratulations to Dr Cle-Anne Gabriel, Associate Professor Ian MacKenzie, Dr Michael Thai, Dr Roma Forbes and Dr Sara Herke.
Congratulations also to Dr Keane Wheeler, who was recently awarded an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award by the Australian Academy of Science. Dr Wheeler is one of only five promising researchers from across Australian universities who received this prestigious award.
In other exciting news, a new restaurant, Patina at Alumni Court, opened at our St Lucia campus on Monday. Located in a stunning position adjacent to the Great Court, the restaurant incorporates the heritage-listed former Radon Laboratory. I’m sure Patina will become a favourite venue for both staff and students in the years to come.
Weather conditions
With the weather conditions likely to worsen throughout the day, I would encourage staff to stay informed about the weather and make the necessary decision about when to travel home.
We are currently in the process of notifying all staff and students at Gatton, who do not reside there, to vacate the campus by 12noon today. The Campus will be closed after this time, and staff and students should not travel to the campus.
Staff or students working or studying in Brisbane, who need to return to Gatton, should do so immediately.
The last intercampus bus service from Gatton to St Lucia and St Lucia to Gatton will leave at 12noon from both locations.
I would encourage you to check you have the UQ SafeZone app installed and registered to receive notifications. Please remember, you should never drive, swim or wade in flood waters and in the case of an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
Health restrictions remain in place, but easing next week
As you may have seen in the news earlier this week, the Premier has announced that a number of Queensland’s health restrictions will start to ease from next Friday 4 March, at 6pm.
However, until then, we really need everyone to maintain compliance with our existing COVID-safe community advice and the guidelines for returning to UQ campuses and sites. This includes wearing masks in indoor areas where you can’t physically distance, practising healthy hygiene, and staying home if you’re feeling at all unwell.
It is now a requirement that everyone who attends a UQ campus or site must be vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption.
For anyone who is seeking further information about the virus and the vaccines, I’d encourage you to watch the ‘Know the Facts’ video series on the UQ website, featuring Dr Kirsty Short and Associate Professor Paul Griffin. It’s a great source of quick, accurate information prepared by two experts in infectious diseases and virology.
As we go into the weekend, I know that your thoughts, like mine, will be with our students and staff who have family, friends and loved ones who are being impacted by the current situation in the Ukraine.
With best wishes,
Debbie
