Ping! Edition 13 - 12th June 2019

Dear Student

Ping! is your news from Flinders University in the one email, every week of semester. In this edition:

WIN 1 of 10 free coffees. Just find the soup article
Exams what you need to know
The best ways to set yourself up for exam success
Exam prep - getting all that material in your head
Free pizza at the Library during SWOTVAC
Free soup at Oasis on Wednesdays

Free winter coats for students in need
Reducing mental health stigma free event
Take a break from study and learn to knit
Event: Supporting Health & Wellbeing for Refugees
Studiosity - free study support online 24/7
and more!

Exams what you need to know

Semester 1 exams will be held from 22 June to 6 July. If you have exams, see below for important information, as well as evidence-based study tips and tricks to help you prepare.

Allocated seating at exams
If your exams are scheduled at the Alan Mitchell Sports Centre or at the Sturt Gymnasium, you will be allocated a seat number. Your seat number will be different for each examination. You will receive your seat number(s) by email this week, so keep an eye out for it.

Double check the exam venue
Please double check the venue of your exam. Some topic exams are split over two locations, meaning someone in the same class as you may be sitting the exam at a different location. Therefore, its important to double check, to save stress on exam day. Check by viewing your personalised exam timetable.

Exam preparation: evidence-based ways to set yourself up for success

If youre sitting exams this semester, the coming weeks will be busy studying in preparation. Here are six evidence-based study tips you can use to help you prepare for exam success.

Exam preparation: getting all that material in your head

So, youve got lecture notes, tutorial notes and assigned readings that you need to revise before exams. Dont worry, your brain has enough space for it all, as long as you feed it in appropriately. Here are some tips to do this effectively.

Reset and recharge in the Library during SWOTVAC

SWOTVAC begins next week! To help get you through exam study, the Flinders University Library is running reset and recharge sessions next week from 11am 7pm at the following locations: Central Library 18 June | Sturt Library 19 June | Medical Library 20 June.
FREE pizza lunch at 1pm | Free massage from 12-2pm | Prizes drawn at 4pm.

There will also be other free activities happening each day. This includes a hula hoop video challenge, giant games (Connect 4, Dominoes, Jenga, etc), puzzles and crosswords, a study hints and inspiration board, chill out zones, giveaways, and free fruit and snacks.

FREE winter coats

The team at the Oasis Community and Wellbeing Centre have been collecting pre-loved winter coats to donate to students who need them. If you need a warm coat to get you through the winter, visit the Community Market at Oasis (map ref J7) on Thursday 13 June from 12pm to 1.30pm. Get in early though as the free coats are only available until all hangers are empty! You can also buy cheap food items while at the community market.

FREE soup at Oasis on Wednesdays

Hungry? Forgot to bring your lunch? You cant study on an empty stomach! Whatever your reason, join fellow students at Oasis (map ref J7) for FREE soup every Wednesday from 12noon to 1pm, during term. Simple, healthy food cooked in the Oasis kitchen. All students welcome.

Congrats! You've found the winning article. For a chance to win a coffee voucher, click here.

Student Council survey - have your say about bus shelters

Do you catch a bus to Flinders? Or do you choose another way to get to uni? FUSA Student Council would like to know what you think about the Flinders University bus shelters. Fill out a short anonymous survey (8 questions) to help them understand what needs improving on our campuses. Take the survey.

Stop freezing and start planning your career (over free coffee)

Join the Flinders Careers and Employability Service team for Careers Over Coffee. The 10-minute drop-in sessions give you a chance to escape the cold and discuss career-related topics such as planning, professional development, working while you study and graduate employment. Visit Career Hub for details of upcoming sessions. The next session is tomorrow at Sturt Pantry and Caf (map ref V5) from 2pm 4pm and next Tuesday at the HASS reception area in the Humanities Building (map ref H8) from 3pm 4pm. Students unable to make it to campus can ask a question online through the Career Hub portal.

Take a study break and learn to knit

Want to take a break from study and learn a new skill? The team at Oasis Community and Wellbeing Centre will be running Learn to Knit sessions starting Thursday 13 June from 12pm 1.30pm at Oasis (map ref J7). The first challenge will be to knit yourself a beanie for the cold winter days! Classes suitable for beginners.

Reducing mental health stigma free event

Of every 30 students, seven will be dealing with a mental health issue yet only two will reach out for support. This leaves five students suffering in silence. Why? Stigma. Mental health organisation Batyr are running a session next Tuesday aimed at removing the stigma around mental health and empowering students to reach out for help when they need it. Free afternoon tea will be provided. Tuesday 18 June | 1.30pm 2.30pm | Oasis Community and Wellbeing Centre (map ref. J7) | To register to attend visit the Oasis website.

Event: Settling Well Supporting Health and Wellbeing for Refugees

Join Associate Professor Anna Ziersch in an important discussion on the social determinants of health and wellbeing for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds and how to promote positive resettlement outcomes and good health for new arrivals in Australia. Tuesday 18 June | 5.30pm 7.30pm | Flinders University, Victoria Square | Register here.

Studiosity free study and academic writing support 24/7

Studiosity provides study and writing support, online 24/7. You can upload up to two assignment drafts to Studiosity per week, receiving constructive feedback in less than 24 hours. This includes comments, suggestions and encouragement for how you can improve your work.You can also use the Studiosity live chat for personal help in real-time. Subject specialists are available from 2.30pm until 11.30pm, Sunday to Friday, to help with your study questions. (Use up to two live chats per week).

Access Studiosity via Okta or through the Studiosity topic in FLO.

Drop-in appointments with counsellors & disability advisors

Would you like to chat to a counsellor or disability advisor over a free coffee? Please feel free to drop into the reception area of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in the Humanities Building (behind security) for a 20-minute drop in appointment between 9am and 4pm on the following dates: 13 June, 20 June, 27 June, 4 July, 18 July, 1 August, 15 August or 29 August.


	Do you have exams coming up? Most eligible international students should have received their Non-English-Speaking Background (NESB) card earlier this year. The NESB card entitles international students to an additional 10 minutes for every hour of their examination, if they meet the following three criteria: born outside Australia, speak a language other than English at home and came to Australia less than 10 years ago. If you believe you are eligible and have not received your NESB card, please contact Flinders Connect ASAP before your exams to organise one. *Not all topics have exams. If you do have an exam, you would have received an email with your personalised exam timetable. For more information visit the exams webpage.
	Tips to communicate successfully in Australia Studying and living in a new country requires personal, social and cultural adjustments. Your diverse cultural background might be different from the typical Australian culture. Here are some guidelines and insights into some common Australian communication practices.
	Making social and cultural adjustments To make the most out of your time in Australia, we recommend maintaining a willingness to adjust and adapt to your Australian environment. For tips on how to start conversations and make friends with Australians, as well as information about making appointments and queuing up (which is also part of the Australian culture), visit the blog.
	Post study visa options seminar recording now available online In late May, a post study visa options seminar was held. At the seminar, Business SAs Migration Team provided information about post-study visa options available to international students. They also spoke about how to prepare for life after university. A recording of this seminar is now available on the ISS FLO page.


Student Evaluation of Teaching surveys now open Complete the ten-minute Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) survey, and you could win one of ten $50 gift cards while helping to improve your learning experience at Flinders University. Provide valuable feedback on your topics and teachers at by visiting set.flinders.edu.au or click Student Evaluation of Teaching in your FLO Topic Links. Read more about the SET surveys.
We want your feedback! If you have feedback about the Ping! all student newsletter, we'd love to hear it. Email your feedback through to: student.experience@flinders.edu.au


Free drumming workshops on Tuesdays Want to relieve stress and have fun at the same time? Join a free drumming workshop with renowned local percussionist Ryszard Pusz. Drumming workshops are held every Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm in the Pendopo at Bedford Park (map ref. G6). Read more.
Do you have an article for Ping? Students are invited to submit articles for Ping! if they meet the criteria outlined in the Ping! guidelines. Visit the Ping! page on the current students website to view the Ping! guidelines, FAQs and to submit an article.

The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. Flinders University makes every effort to ensure the information is up to date and correct, but makes no representations or provides no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information contained in this newsletter. Flinders University does not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided.