Off on the wrong foot

Management’s failure to adequately consult staff on the CLI/CFNS amalgamation is the latest example of poor staff consultation at CSIRO and may be in breach of the Enterprise Agreement. It’s a poor way to begin the process. Continue reading →

From door to door – We’ve got compensation covered

Your Staff Association believes that all CSIRO, AAO & NMI employees deserve a healthy and safe workplace. But when things go wrong with work – through accident, illness or injury – people should be looked after.

Did you know that you aren’t covered for the purposes of workers’ compensation during travel to and from the workplace, unless you are a Staff Association member? Continue reading →

GROSVENOR – Something to hide?

Management’s review into Property Services – conducted by Grosvenor Consulting – appears to have created more questions than it has answered. Despite repeated requests from the Staff Association, CSIRO management refuses to release the entire Grosvenor Report. This begs the obvious question: why all the secrecy? Continue reading →

2012 PRIME MINISTER’S PRIZES FOR SCIENCE

25 Jan 2012

Joint media release with the Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP

Senator Chris Evans – Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research

Read online.

Nominations have opened for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Australia’s most prestigious science awards.

The Prizes honour Australians who have made significant contributions to building a more prosperous and progressive society through scientific achievements and science education. Continue reading →

From the Myall Coast Nota Thursday 14th December 11.

Hawks Nest Waters a shark nursery

THIS comes after two attacks on people by white sharks at Jimmys beach over the last four years and regular shark sightings at Bennetts Beach.

Barry Bruce from CSIRO Marine Research has conducted extensive research on White Sharks in the area and believes the presence of these creatures is no reason to fear an attack.

“In general, the sharks appear to take little interest in surfers or swimmers in these areas,” Mr Bruce said.

Mr Bruce said that the coastal waters off Port Stephens are a seasonal nursery area for white sharks. Read the full article here.

Denise Hardesty (left) at Science Meets Parliament 2011

From abc.net.au 13th December 2011

Scientists comb beaches for rubbish clues

A team of scientists is combing Australia’s 35,000-kilometre coastline to measure marine debris and its impact on sea life.

The researchers are specifically studying the barcodes on items of rubbish in an attempt to trace the origin of products washing up on the shore.

The group is currently at Sydney’s Shelly Beach, a popular surf break known for its clean waves.

Denise Hardesty, a CSIRO researcher who heads the marine debris project, says scientists are using the Shelly Beach waterfront near Manly to get a snapshot of Sydney’s beachside pollution. Read the full article here.

Review of Regional Science leads to positive reccommendations

Your Staff Association has been campaigning to progress and resolve issues raised by members at regional sites. In late 2010, the Staff Association lobbied CEO Megan Clark to conduct a Review to support Regional Science. A Working Group was formed with four nominated Staff Association members. A report from the Working Group, with proposed reccommendations, was considered at Consultative Council on 28 November. A full copy of the report can be found here.

Read more:

Regional Science Review (bulletin)

Regional Sites Working Group Report (report)

Report from CSIRO Consultative Council 67

The Consultative Council is a biannual meeting between CSIRO Executive, including CEO Megan Clark, and Staff Association representatives. These meetings are an opportunity for the Executive to seek input on proposals and for members to have high-level input to organisational wide processes and strategic decisions. Continue reading →

 Media Release – 24th November 2011

Today Professor Michael Holland commenced his two-year term as President of the Science & Technology Australia.
 
In commencing his term Professor Holland said the role of science in the creation of wealth and well being needs to become more overt.
We must articulate to Australians very clearly the value science has for the nation”.  
 
“The three-way partnership between government, science and industry needs to be re-invigorated”.
 
Professor Holland paid tribute to the work of Dr Cathy Foley, who concluded her term today.
“Cathy has made an extraordinary contribution to STA and the science sector more broadly.  
“Cathy has shown great leadership at a time when the validity and integrity of science has unfortunately been placed under question.  
“I intend on pursuing this issue actively”.
 
Professor Holland is supported by a skilled Executive Committee:
 
·      Vice President                 Dr Ross Smith
·      Treasurer                          Professor Peter Adams
·      Secretary                          Mr Claude Gauchat
·      Head of Policy                  Associate Professor Rebecca Ritchie
·      Early Career Scientist      Dr Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
·      Ordinary Member            Dr Marc Duldig
 
Membership of Science & Technology Australia’s Board can be viewed at: www.sta.org.au
 
Professor Holland is currently the Deputy Head of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland. Professor Holland has worked with various Cooperative Research Centres and continues to work at the interface of research and industry. Professor Holland worked at CSIRO for 11 years and has spent 16 years in the United States working on the human and animal applications of stem cells. Professor Holland is a member of scientific societies in Australia and abroad and is the immediate past president of the Society for Reproductive Biology.

The 2010 – 2011 financial year Operating Report and Financial Report for the CSIRO Staff Association are now available for members to view. (click the highlighted links to view the documents) These documents can also be found on our “About the CSIRO Staff Association” page. They will shortly be forwarded to all members via email, along with an invitation to our Annual General Meeting, to be held on the 13th of December in Canberra, ACT. The invitation can be found here, and the agenda here.