From the VC's desk
November 2023
Welcome to my November blog. Hear about the latest news at La Trobe.
October 2023
Welcome to my October blog. Thank you to all staff who showed their support for our new Indigenous Strategy by attending a launch event at one of our campuses, and to celebrate the start of Indigenous Week at La Trobe. I’m sure it helped that it was a magnificently sunny spring day.
September 2023
Welcome to my September blog. Unusually mild spring weather meant that we enjoyed sunny Open Days across all our campuses for what has proved to be one of our most successful Open Day seasons ever.
August 2023
Welcome to my August blog. On 19 July, the Minister for Education, Jason Clare, launched the interim report of the Australian Universities Accord review panel. This 144-page document contains five recommendations for immediate action, and about 70 ideas for development of long-term higher education policy.
July 2023
Welcome to my July blog. June and July are always our coldest months, and this year has been no exception. Some colleagues have been lucky enough to spend a week or two in the warmer climes of Far North Queensland or Europe. For those (like me) who have stayed closer to home, I hope you have been able to have some time off to manage the challenges of juggling work and school holidays.
June 2023
Welcome to this special edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s monthly blog.I am Acting Vice-Chancellor this week while Professor Dewar is in the United Kingdom visiting our partner Sheffield Hallam University to announce our new joint Global Security and Society Institute.
May 2023
Welcome to my May blog. After some glorious days of autumn sunshine, it feels as though we are now already in the depths of winter with some of the lowest May temperatures on record. The footy is there as a consolation, of course, especially if you’re a Collingwood, Melbourne, or St Kilda fan. Personally, I’m following the slow but sure demise of my beloved Southampton FC (aka the Saints) in the English Premier League, who now seem certain of relegation to the Division below. I’m trying not to read too much into the fact that their tenure in the EPL will almost precisely match my time at La Trobe. We’ve both had a good run with plenty of ups and downs.
April 2023
Welcome to the April edition of From the VC’s Desk. I am Acting VC this week while John is in South Asia to meet with University partners and attend events. I’d now like to take the opportunity to share some of the recent achievements and activities from our research and industry engagement portfolio.
March 2023
Welcome to my March blog. As the Chancellor announced last Monday, I’ll be concluding my term as La Trobe’s VC early next year. Warmest thanks to those of you who have sent or posted messages following the announcement – it means a great deal to me. It’s been an incredible privilege to lead La Trobe over the last 11 years, but there’s a lot more I want to achieve over the next 10 months.
February 2023
Welcome to my first blog for the year. I hope you had a great break over summer and enjoyed the chance to spend time with friends and family, read a good book, or indulge in your favourite pastime.
December 2022
Welcome to my final blog for the year, in which it has become customary to reflect on our collective achievements during the year. 2022 was the year in which we consolidated our comeback from the pandemic. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how far we have come in addressing the challenges thrown at us, and I am amazed and very proud of how the whole University community has pulled together to produce some extraordinary results, many of which are detailed below.
November 2022
Welcome to my November blog. As if bushfires, COVID and the occasional earthquake weren’t enough, many members of our community have been dealing with the consequences of the recent flooding in central and northern Victoria, especially at our Shepparton campus.I was in Shepparton last Friday and was touched to hear staff talk about the way in which the Shepparton community has pulled together to support those most in need. Everyone I spoke to has been affected in some way or knows someone who has been. One staff member I chatted with lost a canola crop, while everyone was volunteering or helping their neighbours with supplies of food and medicine.