News Archive

Good morning. On Tuesday we commemorate ANZAC Day, a poignant day in the nation’s calendar.

The history of Australia’s involvement in conflict continues to be uncovered and some of our advanced undergraduate Archaeology students are playing a part in this.

This week they are surveying and excavating at a site in Bibra Lake linked to World War Two. They are searching for artefacts from an Australian Women’s Army Service camp with the aim of providing new insights into the role women and Indigenous Australians played in war.

Last week, I was pleased to meet Education Minister Simon Birmingham while I was in India and in particular discuss our future strategy and current funding agreement for post graduate Commonwealth Supported Places. Our agreement expires in September and it was good to have the opportunity to begin working towards securing funding certainty.

Finally, you will have seen the Prime Minister announced sweeping changes to the 457 visa system yesterday, an immigration scheme used to bring skilled workers into the country on a temporary basis. I am working closely with the Group of 8 and the Prime Minister's office to better understand the details of the proposed changes and what they mean for the University, particularly as we seek embark on a new global academic recruitment campaign.