Support for New Academics

Learning Design and Teaching Innovation

The Learning Design and Teaching Innovation unit supports the University of Newcastle's course enhancement initiatives, providing advice on the most appropriate pedagogical approaches for learning in different contexts, along with the production of high-quality learning resources to support blended and online learning.

The Learning Design and Teaching Innovation team are specialists in the application of transformative educational technologies, and are a source of knowledge for learning spaces and their capabilities.

Learning Design and Teaching Innovation staff work closely with academic colleagues to transform curriculum and can also provide tailored professional development opportunities.

Virtual Learning Environment

The University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a collection of technologies used to provide online learning spaces, deliver online content and activities and facilitate online communication and collaboration to support teaching and learning at the University.

The Learning Technologies Support team provide 'just in time' help for academics for the teaching and learning technologies available in the Virtual Learning Environment.

These include Canvas, Panopto, and Turnitin. Support is provided via phone, email or individual/small group consultations. Customised workshops can also be conducted to meet the specific requirements for your course, school or discipline.

Staff can contact Learning Technologies Support via:  LTS@newcastle.edu.au
or call (02) 4055 8999.

Learning Media

Our Learning Media team is available to assist with the production of a range of media content in support of your course learning outcomes. Custom media production includes field recordings, interviews, demonstrations, simulations, lightboard recordings, drone footage, 360 degree video, 3D and 2D animation, infographics and graphic design. If you have an idea, or would like to discuss what might be possible, book a consultation here.

the Educator Network

The Educator Network (tEN) aims to promote collaboration, innovation and excellence. Membership of tEN is open to all educators, being any staff involved in the education experience at our University, including academic and professional staff.  Recordings of our recent Showcase events and Learning (Educator) Lunchboxes are available for viewing.

To encourage collaboration the Educator Network has created a Yammer group to assist with sharing good practice, supporting ideas and creativity and networking.

Student Central

Student Central is a contemporary business unit within the Academic Division, supporting and enabling the student journey to enrich the educational experience of students. For academic staff, Student Central is a point of contact for information and referral to the relevant services to assist your students.

With a holistic approach to the student experience, we connect students to the support and services they need through a streamlined approach to administrative processes and a comprehensive range of student engagement and support initiatives.

Our comprehensive knowledgebase, AskUON is a first port of call for students and staff supporting students, with a range of questions and answers about uni life and averages around 1 million views each year!

The Wollotuka Institute

The Wollotuka Institute, located in the Birabahn Building provides guidance and support for Indigenous students studying at the University of Newcastle. We offer a welcoming cultural space, with a diverse staff and student community that celebrates equity and inclusion.

Our Student Advancement Team provides proactive advice and support regarding programs, courses, and University support services. ​ We are the key support in activities relating to individual student success and provide students with opportunities to network and assist in achieving their academic goals. Other services include academic support, financial support, scholarships, social events and culturally centred counselling support. We pride ourselves in having our door open, and we are always here to support even if you would just like to come in for a yarn.

Contact us via email:  Wollotuka@newcastle.edu.au
Callaghan (02) 4921 6863​    |    Ourimbah (02) 4349 4500 ​   |   New Space (02) 4921 6863

Copyright

Copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects a variety of literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works, as well as “subject matter other than works”. The University operates under a statutory licence that allows staff to copy from certain media and communicate this material for the purposes of teaching and assessment.

Before using any third-party material in your course, please check our copyright support page.

Our Copyright and Scholarly Publishing staff are available to provide training and assistance for all course staff, including appropriate use of resources in your classes, teaching materials and Canvas, as well as using copyright materials with genAI tools. In-course sessions or support materials can also be organised for your students to assist with video, media, or other assignments.

Contact Copyright and Scholarly Publishing staff via: newcastle.edu.au/copyright-request | (02) 492 16456

Library - Academic Services team

The Library’s Academic Services team supports your research and teaching practice. Research and Teaching Liaison Librarians are assigned to each School and can provide you with discipline specific advice and services.

Research Liaison Librarians offer specialist research services and resources, including advice on undertaking literature searches, systematic reviews, referencing, citation analysis, promotion of your research, managing your research data, and choosing the right publisher.

Teaching Liaison Librarians provide curriculum advice and support for pathways, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. They can work with you on the creation of programs and resources to develop students’ digital capabilities and information skills; and advise on course reading materials and collection development for emerging courses.

Library - Academic Learning Support

Our Learning Advisors, in the Academic Learning Support team, are here to help de-mystify University learning and teaching so that students perform the best they can academically. Learning advisors are here to help with Study Skills, Writing Skills and Maths & Stats skills for enabling, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students. These services are free to all University of Newcastle students.

Learning Advisors can also develop tailored resources to support your teaching including Canvas modules and videos as well as provide in course support through tailored workshops covering study and assignment skills.  To learn more about the way we can enhance your students’ experience in your course email us at learningsupport@newcastle.edu.au.

Careers

The Careers Service (Employability and Enterprise Team) offers a range of online and face to face services to support students with Career Development and Job Seeking.  The team also support academic staff with the delivery of employability material within curriculum, provide advice on governance and policy in relation to career-ready placements (including conducting the quarterly Community of Practice gathering) and manage a database of local, national and global industry contacts that actively recruit students and graduates from the University of Newcastle.

We have staff located at Callaghan, NuSpace, Ourimbah and Sydney, to learn more about our services or request support, please contact careers@newcastle.edu.au or call (02)49215588.

Personal Support for Students

Students can access a range of free support, such as confidential Counselling, bulk billing Health Service, financial assistance, Student Advocacy, Chaplaincy, an After Hours Support phoneline, and a range of online resources.

If students are unsure where to begin, they can speak with a Wellbeing Advisor, who can help them connect to the most appropriate support. Teaching staff can also refer students directly to certain support services via the webpage for each service.

AccessAbility

AccessAbility provides practical support, advocacy and advice to students with a temporary or permanent disability or health condition, including mental health conditions and neurodivergence. Support is also available for students who are carers of individuals with a disability or a health condition.

Students who are registered with AccessAbility will receive a Reasonable Adjustment Plan(RAP) outlining the adjustments and supports they require to equitably engage in their program and courses. Academic staff play an important role in reviewing and implementing the adjustments outlined in a student’s RAP. Reasonable Adjustment Plans are visible to course coordinators via ServiceNow. Staff can follow a step‑by‑step guide to access them here.

AccessAbility encourages staff to seek support and guidance on meeting the needs of students with a disability and implementing reasonable adjustments

Employee Assistance Program

University Employees can access free, confidential, short-term, solution focused counselling.

Student Feedback

Feedback from our students on programs, courses and teaching helps us constantly improve the quality of the university experience. Student feedback enables us to make positive changes to our teaching practices and ensures we deliver programs that meet all students' expectations.