Announcements and emails

Index of announcements and emails about the University's response to the earthquake and tsunami.

Email to staff from Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis, 25 January 2005

Dear colleagues and students

The implementation of the various elements of University's assistance package for tsunami-affected areas, announced on 11 January 2005, is moving ahead well.

We have allocated the University's A$250,000 cash donation as follows:

• Red Cross A$100,000
• UNICEF A$50,000
• Oxfam A$50,000
• CARE Australia A$50,000

Early in February, the University's Planning and Budget Committee will be considering a proposal to set up another fund of A$250,000 to be used over three years, for example, to support tsunami relief projects by enabling expert staff to travel to affected areas. Already, there are University staff with useful specific expertise on the ground in these countries but in the longer term we expect further requests for such assistance.

We will also be providing A$50,000 to Thailand's Population Community Development Association (PDA) to provide school lunches, develop school lunch farms, books for children in tsunami-affected villages in southern Thailand. The University already works with PDA, headed by alumni Dr Mechai Viravaidya, in school lunch and scholarship programs in northern Thailand.

Staff can now donate to major aid agencies through salary packaging of regular donations. A Salary Packaging - Tsunami Appeal form can be found at: http://www.hr.unimelb.edu.au/forms/

The taskforce convened by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter McPhee, met last week and is considering how the University might best contribute to the longer-term rebuilding phase in the affected countries. It is bringing together expert and interested parties from across the University and from Melbourne University Private which is experienced in delivering aid-sponsored programs in the region, members of the Melbourne University Overseas Students Services (MUOSS) and other undergraduate and postgraduate student representatives. The taskforce is also acting as a point for coordination of staff and students organised events to support the tsunami appeal.

We are asking partner institutions in the region how we could work with them to provide expert assistance and advice has been sought from key alumni in the affected countries.

A multi-faith service for all students and staff is being put in place for Wednesday 9 March 2005 from 1.00-2.00 pm on the South Lawn.

We have identified up to 60 current students who, according to their permanent home addresses, live in the vicinity of tsunami-affected areas. We know from a number of these students that they are safe but some have lost family homes. Our International Student Support staff are endeavouring to make personal contact with each of these students and, where appropriate, to handle requests for financial assistance.

The University is also monitoring the impact on staff and on other University of Melbourne students, who perhaps may have been holidaying or working in the area.

Regular updates on the University's response, the work of the task force, and events in support of the tsunami appeal will be posted on the University's tsunami website which may be accessed through the University home page <http://www.unimelb.edu.au>.

Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice-Chancellor
25 January 2005