Bargaining meetings are scheduled for today, Thursday 24 September, and tomorrow, Friday 25 September.  

While discussions for the next Enterprise Agreement progress, we’ll also share examples of provisions introduced under the current Agreement and how they are working for staff. 

Did you know you can take time off for your wellbeing?  

Wellbeing leave was introduced in the ANU Enterprise Agreement 2023–2026.  Staff can take up to two days each calendar year from their personal leave balance to focus on their mental and physical wellbeing.  

Need a day to rest, get outside or do something that helps you recharge? That’s what this leave is for. You can apply through HORUS. Plan and discuss the leave with your supervisor in advance so your work area can prepare for your absence. You do not need to provide supporting evidence, and supervisors must not unreasonably refuse an application. 

During consultation for the next Enterprise Agreement, staff spoke positively about wellbeing leave and strongly supported retaining it. Leaders also valued the opportunity for staff to plan time away. We’ll take that feedback, and what we’ve learned from using the entitlement, into bargaining discussions. 

For bargaining information and updates, visit the ANU Enterprise Bargaining webpage. You can send questions or feedback to the ANU Bargaining Team at enterprise.bargaining@anu.edu.au.

What could Australia look like in 2066?  
 
ANU alumnus The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, this week launched the 2026 Intergenerational Report at ANU as part of our Australia and the World Annual Lecture series. The 2026 Report projects that in 40 years Aussies will enjoy higher living standards, earn more, retire with more super, and live longer, healthier lives.  

“Before his address, the Treasurer met with a group of our students, and the 40-year horizon this report contemplates is not some distant future for them. It's within their lifetime,” said ANU Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown. 

Dr Chalmers also joined the Democracy Sausage podcast to talk more about the report and Australia’s future. 

50 years ago today, on 24 September 1976, Llewellyn Hall officially opened.

To celebrate the anniversary, we sat down with composer and pianist Emeritus Professor Larry Sitsky to hear memories of his friend and collaborator Ernest “Ernie” Llewellyn.

From their first meeting in Canberra in 1966 to the friendship and creative partnership that followed, Larry reflects on the man behind the hall, and the vision that helped shape the space it became.

Australia’s world-leading research partnerships with the United States are delivering breakthroughs in health, technology, defence, space and environmental sustainability, according to Group of Eight (Go8) flagship publication, Allies in Excellence, launched at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.

ANU Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President Professor Joan Leach joined the Go8 delegation to the United States, speaking about the depth and impact of Australia-US research partnerships.

The payroll remediation program to address historic underpayments of casual staff is progressing.  

The review process for casual professional employees is complex due to the large volume of historical data involved and varying employment conditions across multiple Enterprise Agreements. For review purposes, casual professional employees have been grouped into several cohorts based on the complexity of individual employment arrangements. This approach enables the University to make payments to impacted employees as soon as practicable, rather than delaying all payments until the full review is completed. Affected staff will receive individual email communication from the University with further details. 

Remediation calculations for the first cohort of professional casual employees have been finalised, and payments will be made from late September 2026.  Affected staff in cohort one, which includes approximately 3,500 current and former employees, will receive an email from the University to their last known email address shortly, outlining the payment process. Calculations for additional cohorts are progressing, and further updates will be provided as the program continues. 

Payments to casual sessional academic (CSA) employees are also continuing. To date, the University has made payments totalling $1.23 million to 89 per cent of affected CSA employees, including all current CSA employees, with further payments being processed as former employees confirm their details. 

Our priority is communication and remediation for current and former staff. Updated information will be available on the dedicated program website at Wage remediation in the coming weeks. 

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has begun bargaining at ANU, with job security, workloads, salaries and university governance among its stated priorities. 

The NTEU represents academic and professional staff across continuing, continuing contingent funded, fixed-term and casual employment. 

What did ordinary Romans really think of their rulers? Imagine an emperor secretly dressing as a woman to perform on stage or finding himself in a love triangle with his friend’s wife.

ANU historian Professor Caillan Davenport explores the whispers surrounding Rome’s emperors, drawing on the juicy rumours and gossip shared by everyday Romans.

Applications are open for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), a pivotal executive role responsible for shaping the University’s education strategy and enhancing the student experience across the academic journey. The role reports to the Provost & Senior Vice-President.

Applications close Wednesday 21 October, 11.55pm AEDT.

Applications are open for the University’s General Counsel, responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the University Legal Office. The role will foster a culture of integrity, professional excellence and innovation, while ensuring legal issues are proactively identified and effectively managed.

Applications close Sunday 18 October, 11.55pm AEDT.

Want to build your bike maintenance skills and keep your ride running smoothly? Join us for a free bike maintenance workshop at Mojo Cycles. 

Workshops will be held at 12pm on Wednesday 30 September and Wednesday 7 October, covering bike maintenance basics including brakes, tyres, chains, and what to check before you ride. Spots are limited, so register today.

And while you’re keeping active this September, there’s still time to join Get Active ANU. Every walk, ride or run this month counts towards your chance to win a weekly prize.

Congratulations to this week’s Get Active ANU winners: Phoebe Z, Aryanie Amellina, Ajay Tambay and Ross Tugade! 

A reminder that Safe Work Month is coming up this October, and teams have the opportunity to apply for a $100 grant to support a health and wellbeing activity with colleagues.

From a group walk or healthy morning tea to a safety hazard hunt or mindfulness session, the grant is designed to support activities that promote physical, mental and social wellbeing in the workplace.

Applications close Wednesday 30 September, and funding is limited, so please start planning your activity and submit your application as soon as possible to secure a grant for your team.

ANU staff are invited to take part in a three-month pilot of Kaboose Neuro Nuggets, an on-demand learning platform designed to build practical neuroinclusive skills in the workplace. 

The platform offers more than 400 short resources on topics including communication, feedback, workload management, wellbeing and workplace, with each taking five minutes or less. 

The pilot runs from October to December and places are limited. Expressions of interest close Friday 2 October. 

Champions of Change Coalition CEO Julie Bisinella joined the Professional Staff Leadership Forum on Friday 18 September to discuss building equality and inclusion into the development and use of AI. 

The Coalition’s Inclusive AI prompt is designed to help challenge gender stereotypes and encourage more inclusive outputs when using AI at work. 

Take the Inclusive AI pledge and learn more about the initiative. For information about ANU membership of the Champions of Change Coalition, contact staffdiversity@anu.edu.au. 

Three new work health and safety (WHS) eLearning modules are now available. Watch the promotional video for a quick introduction, and head to Pulse to complete your training.

These modules replace existing WHS training and include updated content reflecting legislative changes and recommendations from the Nixon review.

All staff and HDR students are expected to complete the relevant training by the end of 2026.

Questions? Speak with your supervisor or manager, or contact whs@anu.edu.au.

ANU researchers are looking for people aged 18 to 40 to take part in a study exploring how people judge the credibility of emails.

The study takes approximately 60 minutes and will be conducted at the Psychology Building (Building 39). Participants will receive $20 for their time.

To participate, contact Iqra.Syed@anu.edu.au.

Tuesday 6 October, 9.30am–3.30pm 

Join an interactive cultural awareness training session for all staff, led by Anaiwan man Dave Widders. Explore Aboriginal history and culture, and gain practical insights to strengthen communication, workplace behaviours and collaboration. 

Dr Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva, a lecturer at the National Security College, authored an opinion piece in The Diplomat marking 35 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The article examined how power relations across Eurasia have evolved since 1991 and considered the ongoing geopolitical influence of post-Soviet states on the international order.

Professor Warwick McKibbin from the Crawford School of Public Policy spoke with the Sydney Morning Herald about the prospect of deeper economic integration between Australia and Europe, assessing the potential economic benefits of closer engagement with the European Union.

Associate Professor Elise Klein from the School of Global Studies discussed the Federal Government's progress toward ending mandatory income management with ABC News, focusing on the policy's effects on communities and the complexities involved in reforming the system.

During the week, ANU experts also contributed analysis on Russia's war in Ukraine and shifting sentiment across Europe, Australia's migration debate, developments in Indonesian politics and economic stability, and the growing challenges artificial intelligence poses for copyright law and regulation. 

Saturday 17 October, 5–10pm

Celebrate 80 years of ANU at After Hours, a student-driven outdoor concert bringing our community together. Presented in partnership with ANUSA, it features Genesis Owusu, Rum Jungle, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Chloe Parché, and ANU Big Night Out winner Lamb Legz. Limited early bird tickets currently on sale.

Friday 2 October, 9.30am–8pm 

Discover the ANU School of Music’s Keyboard Collection with a day of concerts, tours, talks, workshops and masterclasses. Hear performances on historic instruments, explore the collection and meet musicians, researchers and instrument makers. 

Friday 2 October, 10am–1pm 

Explore how gameful learning can make teaching more engaging and motivating. This practical workshop will introduce game-inspired approaches and provide ideas for incorporating them into learning and teaching at ANU. 

Wednesday 7 October, 5.30–7pm 

Hosted by the Centre for International and Public Law, this seminar addresses these issues with an historical perspective on the negotiation of the Rome Statue and the US role in that process, and the current US legal and political campaign against the ICC and its implications for Australia 

Thursday 8 October, 9am–4.30pm 

Join risk professionals and subject matter experts for a full day of insights and practical perspectives on emerging risks. Hear from leading experts on climate change, AI, integrity, national security, organisational transformation and supply chains, with practical insights for building organisational resilience.

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249   

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialling from an internal phone), then call ANU Security.   

Media hotline 24/7 - (02) 6125 7979   

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our Experts Guide.

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 Employee Assistance Program.

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to this guide developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.