 21/3/05 Harmony Day Welcome to International Academics Educators and Students Melbourne Victoria Australia
Date: 21 March 2005 Also known as the
1) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2) Harmony Day
3) Part of Cultural Diversity Week 17 - 23 March 2005
4) Part of Second Victorian International Education Week 14 - 20 March 2005
Event name: Harmony Day Welcome to International Academics Educators and Students
Venue: Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room,
Level 1,
Sidney Myer Asia Centre,
The University of Melbourne
corner Swanston Street and Monash Road,
Parkville Victoria
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Guests: 45
Cost: Free
Sponsors and supporters: Newcomers Network City of Melbourne University of Melbourne
Australian Government Living in Harmony Initiative
Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition
Australian Federation of University Women - Victoria Inc
Views on Event Registration Page: n/a
Event Description: Special Welcome to Academics, Educators and Students who have moved
to or are visiting Melbourne
Melbourne is well known as a 'Knowledge City' and this event is
designed to officially welcome academics, educators and students that
have moved to or are visiting Melbourne.
It was a great opportunity to meet people who have worked all over the
world, many of them specialists in their respective fields.
The official 'Welcome to Melbourne' Certificates were presented to the
nominated people by:
. The
Hon Peter McGauran MP, Australian Minister for Citizenship and
Multicultural Affairs
. State
Opposition Spokesperson on Multicultural and Aboriginal Affairs, Murray
Thompson MLA
. Councillor
Catherine Ng, Chair of the Planning and Environment Committee of the
City of Melbourne
Whilst this event was initially designed for academics, educators
and students, Newcomers Network would like to see this initiative used
around the world. We chose this group to start with, because after
our friends and families, one of the most inspirational group of people
that shape our lives are our educators and academics. I am sure
that you can fondly remember individual teachers that you have had
throughout your life - and if you think of three people outside of your
family and friends that have been most influential in shaping your
direction in life, at least one of them will be an
educator/teacher. Newcomers Network would specifically like to
thank Lorraine Spiers from the University of South Australia for
supervising the initial research project that started the development of
Newcomers Network.
Our evening started with mixing and mingling (whilst the government
representatives signed the Welcome Certificates), then Sue Ellson,
Founder of Newcomers Network introduced the evening and the reasons for
this initiative. She also provided basic details about Newcomers
Network.
She then introduced each of the government
representatives before they made their own individual
presentations. The representatives then joined together at the
front of the room and as each Certificate Recipient was briefly
introduced (see the details below), they came to the front of the room
and received their Certificate, on A4 manuscript paper in a plastic
pouch from the Minister and they also shook hands with the other two
representatives.
Officials and Welcome Certificate Recipients
At the end, all Welcome Certificate recipients were called up to have
a photo together. Melba Marginson then provided closing comments,
thanking everyone for joining us and then all guests were invited to
complete an evaluation. Once these were collected, everyone
continued to mix and mingle until 8pm. There was a wonderful
friendly and happy atmosphere throughout the entire event.
For all of our official events, we send an email confirmation when we
receive a nomination and a guest booking, a reminder email before the
event with all of the current information and a 'thanks for coming'
email after the event. Anyone who wishes to make contact with
someone else at the event can send us an email and then we forward it
on.
We will happily provide further details to encourage individual groups
or communities to coordinate local welcome ceremonies. It is best
if there is no official requirement for people to be nominated.
Event Designed for: 1) Academics, educators and students and their guests that have moved
to Melbourne from interstate or overseas
2) Academics, educators and students and their guests that are visiting
Melbourne
3) Newcomers to Melbourne and their friends
4) General public and community leaders wanting to welcome people to
Melbourne
Photos:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Event notes, summary and follow up email:
Welcome Certificates Presented to
Mr Michiel Baas
Is a PhD candidate from the University of Amsterdam in the
Netherlands and is a Research Fellow with the Monash Asia Institute. His
current research is on Indian students in Australia and he has been in
Melbourne for approximately six weeks and he will be in Australia for
around six months.
Dr Adam Barsky
Is a Lecturer for the Department of Management, Faculty of Economics
and Commerce at the University of Melbourne. He gained his PhD from
Tulane University in New Orleans. He has been in Melbourne for six
months.
Dr Dominic Chan
Originally from Hong Kong, Dr Chan has living and working in
Australia off and on since 1977. He has a Masters Degree from Deakin
University, and a PhD in Science Education from Curtin University
completed in distance mode while living in Adelaide, South Australia. He
was also an academic at the University of South Australia for 12 years
and for the past five years, was employed as an Associate Professor at
the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He arrived in Melbourne three
months ago and is teaching at the Australian Catholic University.
Ms Elena Catalina Constantinescu
Is a post graduate student at the University of Melbourne.
Ms Jennifer Davies
Is a Lecturer in Strategic Management for the Department of
Management, Faculty of Economics and Commerce at the University of
Melbourne and she has recently moved to Melbourne from Queensland.
Dr Victoria Hanna
Is a Lecturer in Project Management, Technology Management and
Operations Management for the Department of Management, Faculty of
Economics and Commerce at the University of Melbourne. She has studied
at the Loughborough University and University of Sheffield in the United
Kingdom and has also worked in New Zealand. She has been living in
Melbourne for six months.
Dr Anne-Wil Harzing
Is an Associate Professor in International Management for the
Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Commerce at the
University of Melbourne and has taught at the University of Bradford in
the United Kingdom and the Universities of Heerlen, Tilburg and
Maastricht in the Netherlands. She has lived in Melbourne for four
years.
Dr Louise Hitchcock
Is a Lecturer for the Centre for Classics and Archaeology at the
University of Melbourne. She has taught at the University of California
Los Angeles, the California State University at Dominguez Hills and Long
Beach and her PhD is from UCLA and she was a visiting student at the
University of Cambridge. She has been living in Melbourne for one year.
Ms Friederika Kaider
Is an Australian citizen (Austrian born) who has lived in Chicago USA
for the past 14 years and returned to Australia six months ago. Whilst
in Chicago, she taught part-time at Northwestern University, Loyola
University and the Illinois Institute of Technology for 10 years.
Mr Thomas Kobinah
Is a Lecturer in Marketing at the School of Business and Informatics,
Australian Catholic University. He is completing a PhD in Marketing
through the University of Western Australia. Originally from Ghana, he
has been living in Melbourne for eight months.
Cirila Limpangog
Is a first year PhD student at the University of Melbourne.
Originally from the Philippines, Cirila has worked for non-profit
organizations for over 12 years. Her tentative dissertation title is
"Gendering Corruption: Metaphors of Asian Women Migrant Workers in
Melbourne, Australia." This is her third week in Melbourne.
Dr Sugumar Mariappanadar
Is a Senior Lecturer in HRM/Management at the School of Business and
Informatics, Australian Catholic University. He has a PhD in Applied
Psychology (Specialisation in Organisational Behaviour) from the
University of Madras, Chennai, India. He has been living in Melbourne
for three years.
Dr Heiko Rudolph
Is a Lecturer in Software and Networks for the School of Electrical
and Computer Engineering at RMIT University. He has a PhD from the
University of Melbourne and he returned to Melbourne two years ago after
several years overseas in Japan, Laos and Thailand.
Dr Gocha Tsetskhladze
Is a Lecturer in Archaeology for the Centre for Classics and
Archaeology at the University of Melbourne. He has two doctorates from
Moscow and Oxford and was teaching at the University of London for 11
years before moving to Melbourne 11 months ago.
Ms Letty Tumbaga
Is a Filipino postgraduate student at Monash University.
Dr Changyi Yang
Is a Research Fellow at the Microanalytical Research Centre in the
School of Physics at the University of Melbourne and has lived in
Melbourne for four years.
Guest List
Guests who
registered to attend included:
Ms Miho Andresen
Manoj Antony
Mr Michiel Baas - PhD Candidate University of Amsterdam Research Fellow
with Monash Asia Institute
Ms Liz Barrow - Management and Leadership Chisholm Institute
Dr Adam Barsky - Lecturer, Department of Management University of
Melbourne
Anup Batra
Ms Wanda Bennett - Management and Leadership Chisholm Institute
Mr Adrian Bertolini - ruMAD Coordinator Education Foundation
Ms Lella Cariddi - Festival Director Festival of Poetry in Translation
Ms Elena Catalina Constantinescu - Post Graduate Student University of
Melbourne
Dr Dominic Chan - Lecturer Australian Catholic University
Mr Dean Cole
Ms Jennifer Davies - Lecturer in Strategic Management University of
Melbourne
Ms Stefanie Dobbert
Mr Mark Drew - Manager Customer and International Relations City of
Melbourne
Ms Sue Ellson - Founder Newcomers Network
Ms Jacqui Fang - Assistant, Information Centre MU Student Union Ltd
Dr Victoria Hanna - Lecturer University of Melbourne
Dr Anne-Wil Harzing - Associate Professor in International Management
University of Melbourne
Mr Les Hetherington - Director Living in Harmony Australian Government
Initiative
Dr Louise Hitchcock - Lecturer, Centre for Classics and Archaeology
University of Melbourne
Chiam Jim
Ms Friederika Kaider - Lecturer Australian Catholic University
Ms Sharmini Kannan
Professor Joyce Kirk - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) RMIT University
Mr Thomas Kobinah - Lecturer Australian Catholic University
Ms Marion Lau OAM JP - Director Management Consultants and
Technology Services/RDNS Board
Ms Leanda Lee PhD - Candidate Department of Management Monash University
Ms Cirila Limpangog - PhD Student University of Melbourne
Ms Ailis Logan - Director Tribus Lingua
Ms Melba Marginson - Chair Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's
Coalition
Dr Sugumar Mariappanadar - Senior Lecturer Australian Catholic
University
Hon Peter McGauran MP - Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural
Affairs Australian Government
Mr Rick Meng - Marketing Officer, International Student Programs
Chisholm Institute
Ms Clare Molnar
Cr Catherine Ng - Councillor and Chair of the Planning and Environment
Committee City of Melbourne
Ms Thu Nguyen-Hoan - Assistant Secretary Multicultural Affairs Branch
Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Mr Brian O'Neill - Computer Repairs, Upgrades and Training From Los
Angeles California
Ms Namiko Ranasinghe - Policy and Legislation, Minerals and Petroleum
Department of Primary Industries
Ms Helena Ribas Ferreira - Committee Member Victorian Immigrant and
Refugee Women's Coalition
Dr Heiko Rudolph - Lecturer in Software and Networks School of
Electrical and Computer Engineering RMIT University
Dr Stan Sahhar - Dentist Absolutely Fabulous Smile
Mr Laurence Salmon - Shell
Ms Brioni Scouler - Director Tribus Lingua
Mr Murray Thompson - Opposition Spokesperson Multicultural and
Indigenous Affairs Parliament of Victoria
Dr Gocha Tsetskhladze - Lecturer in Archaeology, Centre for Classics and
Archaeology University of Melbourne
Ms Letty Tumbaga - Post Graduate Student Monash University
Mr Peter Vardos - First Assistant Secretary, Citizenship and
Multicultural Affairs Division Department of Immigration, Multicultural
and Indigenous Affairs
Mr Gary White - Community Liaison Officer Immigration Department
Mr John Williams - State Director - Victoria Department of Immigration,
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Ms Christi Wise - Audiologist From Austin, Texas
Dr Changyi Yang - Research Fellow, Microanalytical Research Centre
University of Melbourne
Evaluation Results
21 of the attending guests completed an evaluation.
The first question asked 'Why did you decide to come today?'
1.1 Receive a Welcome Certificate - 8 / 38%
1.2 Complete Official Duties - 2 / 10%
1.3 Wanted to welcome others - 8 / 38%
1.4 Network - 11 / 52%
1.5 Other - meet other migrants, meet people, extend network, see my
wife get certificate
The second question asked 'Did you enjoy the function overall?'
20 people (95%) said Yes. One person did not record an answer.The third question asked 'What has been the best part so far?'The informal connections
Grant Certificate
Nice Welcome Speeches, especially after one year
Meeting new people x2
Meeting people x2
Getting inspired
Informal exchange of academics
Talking to others and seeing people make connections
Meeting other academics
Know others and networks
Mingling mixing
Networking with others in the group
Learning network exists
Enthusiasm of speakers, warmth and conviviality
Meeting with others
Networking
Lovely to see recognition of diversity
Meeting people of diverse backgrounds to share ideas
The fourth question asked 'Do you believe that this type of Welcome
Ceremony should be:'
4.1 Education Sector Annual Event - 14 / 67%
4.2 With Local Citizenship Ceremonies - 4 / 19%
4.3 Local Event for all newcomers - 9 / 43%
4.4 Other - a combination of practitioners and communities
The fifth question asked 'Who should organize/fund this activity?'
If it is part of Harmony Day, Canberra of course
Local Government x2
City/University x2
Universities x2
Various Universities
Philanthrophy/Government
Seems fine as it is
City of Melbourne
Combination of NGOs and local government
Government
Government/Academia
Government/NGO
None, travelled Australiawide
The final question asked 'Any other thoughts or suggestions?'
Database to keep contact
Many thanks
Make it on TV
Not really
Dinner? Cultural displays/performances, Thank you
I am sure it will build into something quite dynamic
Well done and good effort
V regular events make it to be
I am a bit disappointed by the lack of interest, I expected more people
to turn up. Please try to contact our new VC Glyn Davies - he
might be more open than previous VCs
Should be one in each university or all Melbourne Unis - all country
unis - good for people of similar interests to network
Thank you
More cheery venue, some wine
Nil
A register of those who attended would be wise
Nomination Form details
Academic Educator or Student Details
Title
First Name
Last Name
University/ies taught in overseas
University/ies studied in overseas
Which countries worked in
How many years been living in Australia
Special research interests
Daytime phone number in Melbourne
Contact email address
Further details (memo)
Can they attend on 21/3/05 Yes No
Nominator Details
Title
First Name
Last Name
Daytime phone number in Melbourne
Contact email address
Further details (memo)
Can you attend on 21/3/05 Yes No
Other guest details (memo)
Certificate Details
This is to certify that
______________________________
was officially
Welcomed to Melbourne
at the
Inaugural Ceremony
for
Academics, Educators and Students
on
Harmony Day 21st March 2005
by
______________________ ______________________
______________________
Hon Peter McGauran MP
Murray Thompson
MLA Cr Catherine Ng
Minister for Citizenship
State Opposition Spokesperson on Chair of the Planning and
and Multicultural Affairs
Multicultural and Aboriginal Affairs Environment Committee of the
Australian Government Victorian Parliament City of Melbourne
Sponsored by:
(Sponsor Details)
An initiative of Newcomers Network
Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI
Founder and Director Newcomers Network
http://www.newcomersnetwork.com
Last update: 13th July 2009
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