2010 Conference overview

Monday 27 September

The conference kicked off with an informal reception at the Medina Habour Bar, sponsored by Programmed Maintenance Services. University Colleges Australia President Fiona Crowe, Head of St Catherine’s College welcomed delegates to Sydney and to the 2010 Conference.

Tuesday 28 September

The official part of the conference kicked off with a welcome from the Conference Convener Jane Williamson, Principal of The Women’s College within the University of Sydney. Fiona Crowe then introduced key note speaker Professor Ian Hickie, Executive Director of the Brain and Mind Institute at the University of Sydney.

Professor Hickie spoke about the mental health and behavioural issues facing us, as a society, today and the importance of maximising our mental capital. He focused on the enormous capability of collegiate environments to assist in students achieving their full mental and cognitive potential. In his opinion, this capability comes from the enriched environments offered by colleges that promote diversity and thereby maximise the chance that as individuals, students will reach their full potential.

The impact of alcohol on the development of the brain and the social environments that prevent depression and alcohol abuse were also discussed.

After a delicious morning tea, Marie Leech the Principal of Sancta Sophia College introduced Associate Professor Toni Schofield to discuss the Australian Research Council (“ARC”) Linkage Project on the topic of the Alcohol Use and Harm Minimisation Among Australian University Students for which University Colleges Australia is a sponsoring partner.

Assoc Prof Schofield outlined the overriding aim of the project as the analysis of the process of alcohol use and abuse in order to identify the opportunities available for harm minimisation.

The delegation then broke off into smaller groups for the following sessions:

-          Managing conflict in colleges - Dr Iyla Davies; Principal of Women’s College, University of Queensland.

-          A holistic approach to academic achievement, pastoral care and community development at Whitley College - Margie Welsford; Warden of Whitley College, University of Melbourne.

-          What's in the Mix for Advancement/Development? - Alicia Watson; Director of What’s On Consulting Pty Ltd.

-          Learning From Ones Mistakes – Recovering a Lost Art -Lewis Rushbrook; Principal & CEO, Dunmore Lang College Affiliated with Macquarie University

 For the afternoon session, Christie Breakspear, Managing Director of Christie Breakspear and Associates Pty Ltd, a consultancy which specialises in discrimination and harassment law, workplace mediation, conflict resolution, diversity management, training and policy development, facilitated a discussion by members concerning the future of University Colleges Australia. Largely the focus of the session was on a paper written by Hon. Secretary Damian Powell. Damian spoke to the paper which led off discussion from the floor.

The three main topics discussed were:

-          The purpose/aim of University Colleges Australia: What do members want from the Association?

-          Resources – How will the above be funded? and

-          The Name – What should the Association be called?

The discussion was very positive with all contributing members seemingly agreeing that a change must be made in order for the Association to remain relevant, maintain a membership base and to serve its members in the environment in which those members currently operate.

We were then addressed by Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney. Dr Spence started by voicing his support for colleges and the collegiate experience and then proposed two questions to members:

-          What initiatives have colleges been working on in terms of non-residential programs that allow for the wider student body to engage in a more collegiate style student experience?

-          What are universities doing to support these programs?

After a lengthy and passionate discussion with Dr Spence, members attended the Starnet/StarRez Habour Dinner Cruise and spent the evening cruising the Darling Habour.