Ethnomusicology and Musicology are core discipline areas that teach students wide ranging skills to think critically and deeply about the nature and sustainability of music, music industries, and music cultures from across the globe. The University's decision has been made without disciplinary consultation and is, we understand, grounded in inaccurate enrolment data. Ethnomusicology and musicology courses are viable. Abolishing them would not only be likely of no positive economic benefit, it would significantly diminish the School of Music's capacity to offer its students a comprehensive academic foundation, as well as diminish the academic standing of the University as a whole.

In the VCs financial update forum on the 16th of September on the university's financial position Brian Schmidt was asked Why ANU is cutting nearly as many staff as UNSW when ANU has a smaller workforce and is in a better financial situation. In response, Schmidt said that this is to "reshape ANU in response" to the pandemic and not just to purely cut numbers. Vice-Chancellors always tell us that job losses are necessary though it is always jobs and wages that are the first to be cut, without looking for other means to maintain staff such as borrowing against their assets. The ANU has the financial capital to cover the pandemic-related losses, but they are making the choice not to do this as it will increase financial risk. Students should have a say over what their education looks like. We reject the way that universities are run like businesses, and we think that education should not be for profit. The ANU should not cut staff numbers and erode working conditions to maintain a budget surplus. Education should be for all, not just for the rich.

We need to show that their action is not okay, that their continual prioritisation of reputation is not okay, sign our petition to show your support! Support Resources: Centre Against Sexual Assault House http://www.casahouse.com.au/ Phone 24 Hour hotline: 03 9635 3610 1800 Respect: https://www.1800respect.org.au/ Phone: 1800 737 732, Interpreter: 13 14 50 UMSU Sexual Harm and Response Coordinator; Dr. Patrick Tidmarsh: [email protected] Unimelb Safer Communities: https://safercommunity.unimelb.edu.au/ Phone: 9035 8675 Additionally, UMSU has made up the following webpage which has some similar resources but is catered for students facing relationship violence during the lockdown: https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/support/covid-resources/positive-relationships-and-safety-at-home/

MAJOR CUTS PLANNED: Macquarie University's Vice Chancellor and Executive are drawing up plans to restructure the University. The result will be major cuts to course offerings, cuts to casual staff and a large number of redundancies. We are deeply concerned that such major job losses in the middle of a global recession will not only cause significant hardship, but also compromise Macquarie University's ability to provide quality education for students and world-class research for the Australian community. WORST STUDENT-STAFF RATIOS ALREADY: Macquarie University is already one of the most poorly staffed universities in the world: Macquarie's staff to student ratio is the worst in Australia, and ninth worst (of 1,400) in the entire world [1]. WE ARE WORTH PROTECTING: Despite these workloads, Macquarie is remarkable: in recent weeks we just broke through the top 200 on Times Higher Education rankings [2]. WHY NOT SHOW US THE EVIDENCE? While the university declares a financial emergency, they have also refused independent scrutiny of the university's financial position. DON'T RUSH WHEN SO MUCH COULD CHANGE: Moving into 2021, so much could change. Now is not the time to make major, hasty cuts. Slow down! Open the books! Don't put our great institution at risk! [1] The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/stats_student_staff_ratio/sort_order/desc/cols/stats [2] Macquarie gains highest ever world ranking, 23 Sept 2020. https://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/2020/09/03/macquarie-gains-highest-ever-world-ranking/

In the music industry there is very little hope that any form of normal operations will be possible for a long time and even teaching a musical instrument especially a woodwind instrument will only be possible on line, which is not satisfactory for advanced students. Soloists, Ensembles, Chamber Music Groups and Orchestras will have no way to provide any work for the many outstanding freelance instrumentalists probably for years rather than months even after a vaccine has been rolled out especially the impossibility of overseas touring which many artists rely on.

Re-employing, recognising, and providing Deakin casuals ongoing access to University systems is essential for ensuring that Deakin is strongly positioned in 2021 and beyond, to educate the new influx of domestic students, carry out research, and build community connections in a post-Covid environment. Before Covid, around 6000 sessional academics, casual professional, casual research and fixed term staff were employed by Deakin, carrying out the bulk of teaching, student support and research assistance. Following Covid, the jobs of approximately 2500 insecure workers were cut. The mass job losses sustained by Deakin casualised staff haven’t, however, been mentioned in the University’s official figures of job cuts, and the way in which the employment of casuals and sessional staff was terminated at the Faculty-level, as part of Deakin’s response to Covid-19, has for the most part been demeaning and disrespectful. In some Faculties, casual professional staff were informed in a proforma email by their line manager that they had been laid off, while in other Faculties casualised staff members only found out they had lost their job when they received an email from E-solutions advising that their email account would be closed down in seven days. This brutal treatment of Deakin casualised staff is incredibly short-sighted because casuals will play an important part in supporting the University’s vital role of rebuilding Australian society and the economy post-Covid-19. Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin himself has acknowledged the important role of Deakin casuals in a letter to staff on 18 June: “Deakin recognises the important contribution of our sessional academic staff … I am sure that when student demand increases, Faculties will be keen to re-employ those sessional staff who have previously been employed by Deakin and know the way our systems and processes operate.” Professor Martin indicated on 28 April that the University can give preference to any non-ongoing staff who were cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, when engaging staff for these roles in the future, in a meeting with NTEU Deakin Branch representatives. Please join with us by signing this petition calling on Professor Martin to take the ‘Deakin Casuals Pledge’ to ensure casuals are re-employed, casual staff’s contributions are recognised, and casuals are provided ongoing access to Deakin systems!

The Petition of citizens and residents in the City of Kingston draws to the attention of the Kingston City Council that: 1. The Parkdale community between Como Pde East and Nepean Hwy do not have a local playground and our young families must travel via car to go to the nearest playground. 2. That the land adjoining Parkdale Library would be suitable, due to its proximity to local families, the library, train station and local shopping strips. 3. We acknowledge that the City of Kingston already owns the land next to the Library and currently has no plans for this space to benefit our local community.

Please join us by signing this petition to remind federal MPs that our voices matter and our votes count. According to ABS statistics, as of December 2019 Australia’s total population was 25,522,169 people – as of July 2020, 5,854,105 were in receipt of a social security payment (2,556,017 age pensioners; 1,614,412 unemployed; 1,048,453 disabled people and carers; 335,455 parents; 299,768 students and trainees). As of 2020 the base rates of all social security payments are below the poverty line, leading to personal hardship, deprivation and homelessness, as well as having a negative impact upon the economy. Australia is a party to seven core international human rights treaties, including article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),9 yet is failing to ensure its citizens have the means to access essential health care, housing and food. To find out more information about what the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union is all about or to become a member visit auwu.org.au

Cleaners have never been more important to society. We are on the front line of the battle against COVID 19. However cleaners are not being treated with respect during the pandemic. Large numbers of cleaners have lost their jobs under lockdown restrictions. Even worse, many cleaners who have lost work cannot access Jobkeeper or Jobseeker. The cleaning industry has largely been built on the backs of migrant workers, but Jobkeeper and Jobseeker are only available to Australian citizens. Cleaners should not be going hungry at a time like this. Let's take care of cleaners so that cleaners can take care of society.

The Blood Brothers building on the corner of Bedford and Warrandyte Roads is a local landmark. It was built in 1914 and is significant as an example of Edwardian corner shop architecture. Maroondah council wants to knock it down to build a multistorey carpark. Commuters want more carparking, but a significant heritage building should not be bulldozed to provide it. Council should be building this on current carpark sites at Ringwood Station.

It’s very hard to survive Only aged care workers are targeted There is no new case in South Australia and even in aged care This restriction is only for cares don’t understand the reason why only Carers Mask being mandatory for all personal care workers including the nursing staff so why still the care workers can’t work at multiple site

We want to live in a country where everyone has the care they need, when and where they need it, and where care work is valued. 28,000 people have died in the past 2 years while waiting for home care packages. Over 100,000 people are STILL waiting for care. The interim report from the Royal Commission labelled the home care system unfair, discriminatory, and cruel. And home care workers struggle daily - their wages are low, they aren't given enough time to provide care, and they're being pressured onto zero-hour contracts while making themselves available around the clock. As care workers, recipients of care, friends and family, we want better than this!