Ping! Edition 23 - 11 September 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. Find the 'global communicators' article
Have your say about how your money is spent
R U OK? Day - start a conversation
Student mental health and wellbeing support
Student artist program

Increased security of student FAN accounts
Health and Community Services Joblink Summit
Student Council nominations open
Flinders Laneway refresh
Solar shelters coming to campus
Flinders Uni Cricket fires up for 2019-20
Mindfulness for Academic Success

Have your say about how your money is spent!

When determining how the Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF) should be spent, the University is interested in understanding your priorities. By completing the 2019 SSAF Survey, you will provide the University with information to help make informed decisions about the best possible allocation of the SSAF to support the needs of Flinders students. You will also go into the running to win one of twenty $50 cash cards. See the email sent from Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Professor Clare Pollock yesterday (Tuesday) for your unique link.

R U Ok? Day 12 September - start a conversation

R U Ok? Day is tomorrow, 12 September. If you’re on campus at Bedford Park or Sturt, drop in to one of the events in the Plaza, the Law and Commerce courtyard or at Sturt. Our Wellbeing Ambassadors will be there to have a chat. If you can’t make it to an event, there are some tips on the R U Ok? Day Website about how you can check in with friends, family or fellow students to ask R U Ok? A simple conversation could change a life.

Wellbeing Ambassador Georgie says just asking a simple question can have a positive impact.

"When someone asks it’s like someone cares” – Georgie.

Flinders offers students support to improve your mental wellbeing, year-round. Read more in the Mindfulness for Academic Success article in the student support section of this newsletter.

Student mental health and wellbeing support

Remember, Flinders also offers free and confidential counselling services to students. Appointments with both male and female counsellors are available on campus at Bedford Park or via phone, Skype and remote locations. For more information visit the counselling webpage. To make an appointment call (08) 8201 2118 during business hours. Students requiring crisis counselling support outside of business hours (including weekends and public holidays) can call the After Hours Crisis Support Line on 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103.

Calling all student artists and designers! With the help of three Flinders students, three artists will bring Sturt alive with bright colours and epic designs to our building walls. The selected students will be mentored by the artists and will also receive $3,000* for their time and efforts. Applications close next week. Read more.

Increased security of student FAN accounts – action required

Flinders takes the security of FAN accounts very seriously, for your own identity protection and for the protection of University information. To increase security, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is being introduced for all students. MFA uses a smartphone app (Okta Verify or Google Authenticator) to occasionally ask you to verify your login to Okta. As the login requires not only something you know (password) but also something you have (your mobile device) it makes it difficult for hackers to login to your account even if your credentials get stolen. You’re encouraged to enrol for MFA ASAP through the Enrol Multifactor icon on Okta. After November, MFA will become mandatory for all students, and you won’t be able to sign in to your account off campus without MFA enabled. For more information see the MFA webpage.

Global Communicators Program – small commitment, big reward

Want to start something new? Why not join the Global Communicators Program? It will give you the opportunity to learn about different cultures and connect with people from around the world in a relaxed, friendly environment. Enhancing your understanding of other cultures is a vital skill set in a global workforce, so this will look great on your CV - you’ll also get a certificate of participation and Horizon Award points. International and domestic students are invited to apply now to be either a participant or facilitator in the October pilot program. For more information visit the Oasis website.

You’ve found the winning article. Click here to enter the draw to win a free coffee.

Attend the Health and Community Services Joblink Summit

Boost your career prospects by attending the on-campus Health and Community Services Joblink Summit to explore opportunities available to students and graduates in the health and community service sector - one of South Australia’s highest growth employment sectors! Read more about the event and register here.

FUSA Student Council nominations open until 23 September

Nominations are open for 16 FUSA Student Council positions, to hold office from 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020. Do you want to be a student leader and represent Flinders University students? Would you like to make a meaningful contribution to University life? If you would like to use the next year to upskill, advocate for your peers and help give students the best experience whilst they study, then nominate for a FUSA Student Council position! For more information, position descriptions and financial honorariums see fusa.edu.au/elections

Flinders Laneway refresh

Over the coming weeks there’ll be continued works in the Flinders Laneway to refresh the area. This includes some new furniture, gardening and painting. There will be some noise and pedestrian diversions in place as work is conducted. Please follow all signage in place. Most works will be undertaken on weekends to minimise disruption. Please note, the Laneway will be closed for painting on two weekends from 3pm Friday 20 September, reopening Monday 23 September and again from 3pm Friday 27 September, reopening Monday 30 September.

Solar shelters are coming to campus

Four solar shelters are being installed on campus: north of car park 2, in car park 1 (two shelters) and on the path north of the footbridge. The shelters will be self-sufficient, using power produced by the solar panels to charge built in batteries for device charging and lighting. They will also provide seating and cover from the weather. There will be minor disruptions to the top level of car park 1 as the shelters are installed (installation of the shelters will not reduce car parking). It’s anticipated the works will start late September and finish in December. Keep an eye on our sustainability page in the coming weeks for updates.

Flinders Uni Cricket fires up for 2019-20

The Flinders University Cricket Club (F.U.C.C) aims to provide an environment that enables individuals to perform, teams to be successful, and an inclusive club culture to grow and prosper. Part of this is to engage with the University and its students, giving every student the opportunity to enjoy a game of cricket. The F.U.C.C. have three one-day sides, playing turf cricket, which cater for all abilities. Pre-season training is underway soon! Read the latest F.U.C.C. news on the student blog. You can also visit the Club Facebook page or visit the Club’s website for more information.

Mindfulness for Academic Success

Mindfulness is about being present and engaged in each moment of our lives. It is something you can learn, and research shows it can improve wellbeing and academic performance, and reduce evaluation anxiety. This innovative program consists of five 60-minute sessions over five weeks. During these sessions you will learn to use mindfulness to:

reduce stress and anxiety
improve focus
stop procrastinating
communicate more effectively
study more efficiently (and with more enjoyment).

Read more about Mindfulness for Academic Success.

Professional Development Workshop Program

Flinders Psychology Students Mental, Physical and Chronic Illness Network invites you to participate in interactive workshops that explore useful strategies for personal, academic and professional development, from those managing chronic conditions themselves. Each workshop will feature a special guest speaker and free afternoon tea. The first workshop held on 16 August was a success and feedback from students who attended, was that it was a beneficial session. You don’t need to have attended the previous workshop to attend – everyone is welcome.
Dates: Monday 23 September 12.30pm – 1.30pm and Monday 28 October 1pm – 2pm (attend one or both) | Location: Oasis building Bedford Park (map ref J7). Register to attend by emailing flinders.psychology.network@gmail.com

LANTITE workshops – get prepared

LANTITE (the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students) is an Australian Government test that teacher education students need to complete to graduate, and work in the teaching profession. The next LANTITE tests will be held from 8 to 17 November. The Flinders LANTITE Preparation Program is designed to help you prepare for the test, and includes workshops, resources and opportunities for individual support. Visit the student blog to register for one of the LANTITE preparation workshops scheduled during the upcoming mid-semester break.

Travel to Fiji during 2020 April semester break!

Help communities build ecotourism and conserve their natural resources.
Embark on a 14-day journey throughout Vita Levu, Fiji to look at insects, plants and ecosystem services. Students will participate in on-the-ground research training in Fiji, where they will help to build biodiversity resource packages that can be used to inform conservation strategies as well as increase the ecotourism experience of visitors to Fiji. This is a collaboration between Flinders University, UniSA, the South Australian Museum and the University of South Pacific. Read more.

Last chance to apply for scholarships worth up to $10,000

The Playford Trust have some scholarships available to give you financial support, along with hands on industry experience. See more information below. Applications close 17 September.

4 x $10,000 Nyrstar Playford Trust scholarships available to eligible chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering students
$7,000 SA Power Networks Playford Trust scholarship available to eligible final year electrical engineering students
3 x $9,000 AusIMM/Playford Trust Minerals Industry Scholarships available to eligible Geoscience, Mining Engineering and Chemical Engineering students.

A glimpse into student life at Flinders’ students at Renmark

Thursday 29 August was the very last class for the Riverland Bachelor of Nursing students. Most have now commenced an eight week clinical experience placement prior to completing their course, graduating and becoming Registered Nurses early in the new year! To mark this occasion and celebrate the success they have achieved over the past three years, a celebratory dinner was held at the Renmark Club. Read more.


	Work regulations in Australia It is essential you are aware of the work regulations in Australia, as they can be very different from those in your home country. In Australia the minimum wage is $18.93 per hour. You are also required to have Tax File Number (TFN) and submit annual tax returns. If you plan on working while in Australia, please make sure you read this blog post about work rights, regulations and tax.
	Finding work If you’re looking for work, a great place to start is the Flinders Career Hub. Other useful websites for job searching include CareerOne, Workskil and Jobsearch. We recommend you prepare a resume (also known as a CV) to give to potential employers. A one-page resume is appropriate for casual jobs. If you need help preparing a resume, see the resume resources on Career Hub or ask a question through the site. *Check your work rights at Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
	Monthly cuppa – Lantern Mooncake Festival Join the International Student Services (ISS) team at their monthly cuppa (afternoon tea) on Friday 13 September. ISS is working with Chinese Student & Scholar Association (CSSA) to celebrate the Lantern Mooncake Festival for a rich cultural experience of lanterns, chopsticks, paper cuttings, Chinese dance and traditional mooncakes on the day itself (13 September). It’s also popularly known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Date: Friday 13 September \| Time: 3.00pm – 4.30pm \| Location: Oasis (map ref J7)
	Academic Referencing workshop Need help with academic referencing? International Student Services and the Student Learning Centre (SLC) are running an Academic Referencing workshop to help you improve your referencing skills. Date: Friday 13 September \| Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm \| Location: North Theatre 1, Humanities Building (map ref H9) \| Register here.


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


Flinders Things Pub Crawl Welcome to the Upside Down....presented by FUSA! Friday 25 October. For more information see the Facebook event page.
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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.