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Semester 1 Orientation for New Students in 2009

Monday 23 February - Saturday 28 February

Orientation is your opportunity to find out more about the School and your study program. You'll also receive an introduction to the School's online learning environment, information about the library and learn how to conduct literature searches.

Orientation includes:

Successful applicants to the School for Semester 1 2009, will need to do the following before semester commences on Monday 2 March:

  1. Nominate for, and attend, the Orientation Sessions including the Technical Training Sessions. REGISTER ME FOR ORIENTATION
    Registration is essential.
  2. Register for tutorials in PUBH5010 Epidemiology Methods and Uses and PUBH5018 Introductory Biostatistics if applicable
  3. Nominate yourself as a distance student if you fulfil the criteria. You can do this on the orientation registration form.

Technical Training Sessions

There are important core areas of knowledge that are essential to all our courses, and some practical issues related to studying with us, that all students in the School of Public Health (SPH) need to know. To tell you about them, we have organised a program of activities in the week before the start of Semester 1. This program will give you a flying start in your studies with us.

We strongly recommend that all new students attend one scheduled session of each of the four training sessions. Please note: Training is ONLY available during this week. It is unlikely these sessions will be repeated at a later stage in the Semester.

Photo Sessions

It is SPH policy to have a photo of each student available to lecturers and tutors, to help us get to know you. We will also be asking your permission to add your photo to a password-protected website, to allow other students to identify you. You can get your photo taken at the times shown in the orientation registration form in Room 308 Edward Ford Building. No need to book.

Summary of Sessions:

SPH IT Access Training– compulsory for all new students. This session will cover accessing and using the University and SPH computer networks, accessing the internet, printing, the University’s IT policy and getting help.

Introduction to online learning – compulsory for all new students. All SPH units of study have their own WebCT site – so you will need to know how to access the sites (logins and passwords) and navigate through them, access online resources, contribute to discussion boards, complete online quizzes and submit assessment tasks via WebCT.

Online learning sessions: advanced or beginner?
You should register for a Beginners session if you have never done any online study before, or have only done a little.
You should register for an Advanced session if you have done some online study before, for example one fully online or blended course, or if haven't studied online but have high level computer skills and learn new software easily.

Introduction to the Library – strongly recommended if you are not familiar with University’s library system, using the online catalogue, borrowing and renewing, document delivery and accessing reserve items.

Literature searching – strongly recommended if you have never used Medline or you are not familiar with the range of databases available and online search techniques – vital knowledge for any SPH student.

Distance Students

You are a distance student if you are doing all or most of your study online, and you live too far away to come to the University to collect your assignments, course notes etc. To nominate yourself as a distance student, go to the orientation registration form below.
Don't forget to enrol as a distant student in your electives!

On the registration form you will be able to indicate whether you will be attending the orientation day and technical sessions. If you are unable to do so, we will mail the training notes for the technical sessions to you.

REGISTER ME FOR ORIENTATION

Welcome for New Students

Our Welcome Session is intended to give you a chance to find out more about the School and its teaching and research, to meet some key staff members and other students and to find out about some of our key policies and procedures (for example the assessment policy) and the support we can offer you. It will also give you a chance to ask questions.

Welcome Session Program available here.

Once you have registered

When you complete the online forms, you will receive an email confirmation of your choices. Please call us at 9351 4366 if you do not receive this confirmation.

If you have any queries about the contents of this email or the orientation program generally, please contact us at Or tel: 9351 4366, fax: 9036 6247.

We look forward to meeting you and supporting you in your studies and we will do everything we can to make studying with us an enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Jo Lander, Director, Teaching and Learning
Learning Teaching Support Unit