ACUNSA | ACU Postgraduate Association

Australian Catholic University Postgraduate Students' Association

The ACU Postgraduate Students' Association was formed in 2009 to provide avenues of formal and informal support to ACU postgraduate students. In doing so, the ACU Postgraduate Students' Association also seeks to regularly run networking events, seminars, and professional development activities aimed toward enhancing the research and writing skills of postgraduate students.

The ACU National Postgraduate Students' Association currently has active branches at the state level in Melbourne, Brisbane and Strathfield. We are currently seeking convenors for the Ballarat, Canberra, and Sydney campuses.

Aims of the ACU Postgraduate Students' Association:

Create avenues of support and networking amongst current and past ACU postgraduate research students
Provide an educative focus by meeting the specific research needs of postgraduate students such as workshops and seminars
Invite guest speakers and past graduates to speak to / mentor current postgraduate students
Host videoconference meetings for postgraduate students
Work with the Australian Catholic University National Students Association (ACUNSA) in representing postgraduate student needs

Membership of the ACU National Postgraduate Association is free, and is open to all ACU National postgraduate students.

Please contact a convenor for more information.

Your 2010 Postgraduate Students' Association!

In 2010 Australian Catholic University enjoys a fully formed and funded Postgraduate Students' Association. Convened by the National President with representative "Chapters" on each campus the ACU PGA is up and running to serve you!

We provide:

Advocacy, friendship, support and fun for ACU PG Students both HDR and Coursework
Meaningful engagement opportunities for PG students
An atmosphere that caters to the unique experience of ACU Postgrads
Links between Postgrad students and their home campus student associations
Viable networking and professional development opportunities
Research training opportunities, including lectures, seminars, workshops, discussions and debates.
Links between postgraduate students and the administrators of Australian Catholic University
Links beteween students and staff and other entities and organisations of Australian Catholic University

The ACU PGA is a proud member of ACUNSA (Australian Catholic University National Students Association) and an equal partner and stakeholder in the ACU Mission of quality of life and high standards in education and engagement for all students postgraduate and undergraduate alike.

Your 2010 Postgraduate executive is convened by:

Brent Downes (PhD Candidate Brisbane): National President and Convenor
pga.national@acu.edu.au

Paula Ferrari (MEd[Res] Candidate Melbourne): Vice President (Research) and Melbourne Convenor
pga.melbourne@acu.edu.au

Tiffany Kelly (M.Teach Student Brisbane): Vice President (Coursework) and Brisbane Representative
pga.brisbane@acu.edu.au

Rick Quayle (MPhil Candidate Strathfield): Secretary and Strathfield Convenor
pga.strathfield@acu.edu.au

Ian Nisbet (MPhil Candidate Melbourne): Melbourne Representative

The 2010 Exec is proud to be serving ACU Postgrads. We are currently looking for more representatives as well as a Treasurer! If you are interested in PGA initatives contact pga.national@acu.edu.au

Files to download

Here you will find some important files to download to help you with research, preperation and everything Post Graduate!

Click here to download the Postgraduate Seminar by Kath Engebretson (PDF of a PowerPoint)

Click here to download the Presentation on Research Proposal by Kath Engebretson from 6/5/2010 (PDF)

Click here to download the Research Proposal from student: Fulvio Frijo (PDF of a Powerpoint)

NEWS

On the 6th of May VP(Research) and Melbourne convenor Paula Ferrari held the first "Social+" evening of 2010 on St Patricks Campus. A fantastic night was had with something like thirty PG students attending as well as a few staff members, supervisors and interested undergraduate students. The event was a huge success with campus dean Chris Sheargold opening the event as well as some incredible speakers. A follow up event has been planned for July. Stay Tuned.

President Brent Downes will be hosting a "Social+" evening in Brisbane in early June- the topic will be Methodology; discussions and debates about qualitative, quantitative and mixed method inquiry. Stay tuned for more details!

The PGA has been hard at work exploring opportunities for PG students across all campuses. Work is ongoing to create chapters on Canberra, Ballarat and North Sydney Campuses as well as expanding the National Exec. The ACU PGA has representation on the Citation and Grants Committee, University Research Committee, Research Training Standing Committee, ACU Library Committee and even a Parking Committee in Brisbane! President Brent Downes attended the Brisbane April 2010 graduation ceremony in an official capacity as Bible Bearer and representative of the Postgraduate Students Association.

The ACU PGA has been fostering links with the administrators of Australian Catholic University including the newly appointed Dean of Graduate Studies, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Students, Teaching and Learning all of whom are enthusiastic supporters of postgraduate students and are excited by the progress of the ACU PGA so far.

The ACU PGA now has an email database that covers all HDR and Courswork students across all campuses of ACU- watch your emails for updates!

NEW!!!!

ACUPGA held a forum discussion night on Brisbane campus in early June. This event was attended by some very enthusiastic HDR and coursework postgrads who shared in some academic discussion!

COMING SOON:

HDR Induction Workshops Convened by the Office of Research!

For more information on these or other PGA activities and initatives feel free to contact pga.national@acu.edu.au or call 0422071986

COMING SOON

Your ACUPGA in partnership with the Office of Research and Professor Julia Connell (Dean of Graduate Studies) is excited to announce a series of Induction Workshops for Higher Degree By Research Students at ACU.

The workshops will take place in Brisbane (27 July), Melbourne (11 August), Canberra (11 August) and North Sydney (4 August). All between 5.30 and 8.00 pm except for Canberra (9.00 – 11.00 am).A workshop will be organised in Ballarat in August also but the date has not yet been confirmed.

Why Attend? Because this workshop has been organised with you in mind to help you to:

1. Meet key ACU research staff
2. Network with other research students
3. Pick up ideas that will help your research
4. Make friends and ‘buddy’ with others who can help you on the research journey
5. Get to know the 7 Secrets of Research! - Every student attending will be given a copy of the book The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Research Students by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner
6. Hear about some new research initiatives that are being introduced at ACU that will enable you to have your say!
7. Meet the Post Graduate Student President, Brent Downes, who wants to help research students in terms of both academic and social events.