Ping! Edition 19 - 14th August 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 coffee vouchers. Just find the food and retail survey article
Drop In Support Lounge
Open Days – this Friday and Saturday
Speak like a leader, lead in speaking!
Get ready for a study abroad experience in 2020
4 x free Uni Ball 2019 double passes up for grabs for you and a mate

FUSA Development Grants
Financial Hardship Grants close this Friday
Need help with your tax return?
Master Your Money: Financial Fitness Workshops
Complete the SES for a chance to WIN
and more!

Drop in to talk about free support

At Flinders, we want you to be successful and to feel supported in your studies. That’s why we provide a wide range of free academic, wellbeing, financial and career-related support services to help you. To learn more, come to one of the Drop In Support Lounge events next week. Stop by, grab a free snack (doughnuts!) and chat with staff about how the support available can benefit you.

Tuesday 20 August 10.30am-1pm at The Flinders Pantry and Café, Sturt
Wednesday 21 August and Thursday 22 August 10.30am-1pm in the Student Hub

If you can’t make it in person, you can request information about support available here.

Open Days – this Friday and Saturday

Students are reminded that this Friday 16 August and Saturday 17 August, the Flinders University Open Days are being held at the Bedford Park campus (from 9.30am to 3.30pm each day). If you’ll be on campus these days, be mindful there will be extra people around and car parks may fill up early. For more information visit flinders.edu.au/opendays

Speak like a leader, lead in speaking!

Wish you could power through your presentations? Want to become a seminar stand-out? Talk more at tutorials? The students and staff at the Flinders University Toastmasters Club can help! The club will: give you lots of chances to speak (prepared or unprepared, as you wish), encourage you and give you constructive feedback. Visit any of their meetings for free, watch and listen, join in and see how much fun it is to learn. They meet twice a month (second and fourth Thursday) at 4.20pm at Oasis Bedford Park (map ref J7). If you would like more info email Chris Simmons.

Get ready for a study abroad experience in 2020

Attend an information session during Semester 2 to find out how you can study overseas next year. Choose from an exchange semester or a short-term study experience - all while earning academic credit. Register here to attend one of the information sessions.

4 x free Uni Ball double passes for you and a friend up for grabs

Want to win yourself one of four FREE double pass tickets to the FUSA 2019 Uni Ball? Themed ‘Starry Night’, the ball will be kicking off on Friday 20 September at Hotel Richmond. To enter, check out the Facebook event page, go to FUSA’s latest post and tag a friend. To qualify, make sure you and your friend are Flinders’ students and that you click ‘Interested’ on the event. Competition ends 21 August.

FUSA Development Grants – applications close this Friday

So you want to do something amazing during your time as a student? Perhaps you want to attend a leadership event or take part in that incredible workshop you stumbled across? FUSA may be able to help. FUSA Development Grants are awarded twice a year, for amounts up to $800. The amount you apply for can’t exceed 85% of the budgeted costs, but a Grant will certainly help you on your way. Visit fusa.edu.au/developmentgrants for more. Applications close Friday 16 August.



Financial Hardship Grants closing this Friday 16 August This grant scheme is available for students in their second year and during Semester 2 only. The value of individual grants awarded will be $500. For more information and to fill out the online application form head to fusa.edu.au/grants
Need help lodging your tax return? Have you heard that FUSA, in conjunction with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) are offering free help with your tax return? If you earn less than $60k per year and don't have an ABN, their tax help volunteers can help. They're fully trained and supported by the ATO. Take the stress out of tax by contacting FUSA on 8201 2371 to book an appointment.
Master Your Money: Financial Fitness Workshops Mastering your money isn’t always common ‘cents’! That's why FUSA is teaching you how to flex the financial way. Held throughout August, ‘Master Your Money’ is a two-part series of workshops dedicated to navigating your finances as a uni student. You’ll also get a free on-campus meal voucher for each workshop you attend. Learn more about the topics covered on the FUSA website. For workshop dates and times see the FUSA Facebook event.

	University Survival and Success Seminar The College of Education, Psychology and Social Work is holding a Uni Survival and Success Seminar next week. All students are welcome to attend, although the event content will be particularly relevant to you if you are a new student, if you’re returning to study after a long break, an international student who would like help settling into academic life at Flinders, or if you’re just feeling a little lost and need to get back on track. Date: Thursday 22 August \| Time: 9am -11am \| Location: Education Room 2.08 (map ref E5 in the Education Building) \| Register by emailing Julie Rayner. Read more about this event.

	Travel to France in January 2020 and earn Academic credit The Embassy of France in partnership with Flinders University is offering a unique opportunity for up to eight College of Science and Engineering students to experience cutting-edge educational content, industry visits, group project work, French culture and language instruction at Wasaa Academy Summer School. The program will allow students to explore the latest trends in information technologies, including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, optical and satellite communications - all while earning academic credit (equivalent to a 4.5 unit topic). Read more.
Playford Trust Scholarships – applications close 17 September The Playford Trust have some Engineering and Minerals scholarships available to give you financial support, along with hands on industry experience. Read more below.
	4 x $10,000 scholarships: chemical, mechanical & electrical engineering With the generous support of Nyrstar, the Playford Trust is offering up to four scholarships in 2020 to students entering their third-year of chemical, mechanical or electrical engineering. Valued at $10,000 per year for two years, the scholarships involve paid eight week work placements at Nyrstar’s Port Pirie Smelter over the summer holidays. Recipients will also get the opportunity to work on technical projects to solve real problems and apply university knowledge in an industrial setting. Visit the Nyrstar Playford Trust scholarship webpage for more information.
	$7,000 scholarship available - final year electrical engineering students The Playford Trust in partnership with SA Power Networks is offering a $7,000 scholarship for an undergraduate student in their final year of an electrical engineering degree studying in the field of power engineering or asset management. The scholarship also offers summer vacation work experience. Visit the SA Power Networks Playford Trust scholarship webpage for info.
	3 x $9,000 Geoscience, Mining Engineering & Chemical Engineering Thanks to AusIMM/Playford Trust Minerals Industry Scholarships, three scholarships valued at $9,000 each are available to students entering: Honours year in Geoscience \| Fourth year in Mining Engineering \| Fourth year in Chemical Engineering (Minerals Processing). Visit the webpage for more information.

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: 15 August or 29 August.


	Are you eligible for an extra 10 minutes per hour in your exams? The Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) card allows you an extra 10 minutes per hour in exams. The card is sent to you automatically if you meet the NESB card criteria. Make sure that you have updated the following details in the Student System (access via Okta) to be eligible - Your current address (including an emergency contact) - The year you first entered Australia (must be less than 10 years ago) - The language you speak at home - Your country of birth.


Have your say about food and retail on campus We know food and retail are an important part of the Flinders campus experience and we’re continually improving these services. Have your say to help guide the selection of food and retail vendors on campus! Every completed survey goes into the draw to win one of four $25 Café Alere vouchers. Take the survey here. You've found the winning article. Click here for a chance to win a free coffee.
Complete the SES for a chance to WIN $1,000 gift card Flinders is participating in the national 2019 Student Experience Survey (SES) this month. You’re encouraged to participate as your feedback is very important and will contribute directly to the quality of teaching and learning for current and future students. Students randomly selected to participate in the survey will receive an email invitation with a link to the confidential SES survey. By participating you can win a $1,000 gift card.
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


Food trucks on campus This week it's Tiki Taco and Beyond India at Sturt and Squid Inc and Tiki Taco at Anchor Court (Bedford Park). For food truck dates and locations visit flinders.edu.au/food
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.