NEW SUMMER PROGRAM – WANJU BOODJAH

MurdochUniversity offers a short program (five weeks) worth six transferable Murdoch credits to students interested in undertaking studies during their summer break. The course named Wanju Boodjah or 'Welcome to Country' runs from mid June to mid July and is a unique Nyungar cultural program exploring areas such as spirituality, mythology, cosmology, language, storytelling and many other important perspectives. The program is taught by Murdoch's renowned Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre academic staff.

The program incorporates three field trips along with theoretical study in an effort to:

• Introduce students to a range of knowledge about Nyungar and their place within past and contemporary Australia
• Understand the relationship between social and cultural theory and practice
• Understand how Aborigines, in this case the Nyungar people, have influenced/continue to influence Australian culture
• Enable students to understand Nyungar worldviews

Unrivalled Student Support at Murdoch University

Murdoch University provides excellent student services for International students. The welfare of International students are of utmost importance to Murdoch University. To ensure that Murdoch students are the most satisfied in the country a number of services are provided.

Among these services for international students are an intensive Orientation program, International Student Liaison Officers who are on call 24 hours a days 7 days a week, social functions, accommodation assistance and access to English language skills and support.

Murdoch University also provides many services for all students, including a Worship Centre for all religious denominations, catering facilities that attend to special dietary needs, a University Health Service, a Child Care Centre, computing facilities, sport and recreation facilities, banking and an extensive library.

The University places a high priority on ensuring that International students have access to appropriate accommodation. Quality On Campus housing is available in Murdoch University’s Student Village. An Off Campus Housing Officer is also available to help students find accommodation on the basis of full board, house sharing or flat rental.

These unrivalled student support services provided at Murdoch is just one reason why Murdoch University, is the only university in Australia to receive a five star graduate satisfaction rating for 10 out of 11 years from the Good Universities Guide.

‘Little Man’ finds big success on the film circuit

Jeff Asselin, Multimedia Designer/Programmer from tlcMedia in the Teaching and Learning Centre, has had success on the film circuit this year. His Screenwest funded short film "Little Man", (www.littleman.tk) was recently selected by the New York Independent Film and Video Festival to be showcased in April.

To date the film has been showcased at the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, Spain, Jackson Hole Film Festival, USA, Revelation Perth International Film Festival, SHORTS Film Festival Adelaide.

This follows his recent success at home, winning the WA GOLD ACS (Australian Cinematography Society) award for 2004 and most recently scoring four nominations for his two films in this year’s WA Screen Awards.

Jeff’s film “Little Man” went on to win the Best Actor Award at the competition.

Jeff is currently producing a second Screenwest funded short called ‘My Shout’ with fellow director and Murdoch Graduate Julian Argus.