The Australian Studies Bulletin is published by the Australian Education Office and is distributed to individuals in North America and Australia who have an interest in Australian Studies. If you have any questions or want more information about the items in this publication, please contact Lisa Murphy at [email protected].
In this issue:
The Australian Education Office has received funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to promote Australian Studies in North America. The funding provides half of the cost of hiring an Australian Studies Officer as well as project funds to conduct the North American Speaker Series, support Australian Studies organizations in North America (including the Australian Studies Association of North America and the American Association of Australian Literary Studies), develop a program to support Australian Studies in senior secondary schools throughout North America, and identify Australian Studies courses taught in North America.
The AEO has already hired the Australian Studies Officer, Ms. Lisa Murphy. Lisa has a BA from the University of Alabama's New College and an MA in International Affairs from The George Washington University. She interned with the Embassy of Australia in 1993 and studied in Australia as a high school exchange student.
The North American Speaker Series is an Australian Embassy funded program administered by the Australian Education Office through its newly appointed Australian Studies Officer. The program has been designed to support visits to North America by Australian academics to encourage interchange and collaborative with North American academic institutions. Funding is available for Australian speakers to travel to the US and Canada and to speak at four to five different institutions throughout North America. Chosen speakers must be established in their field, with a substantial record of relevant professional activity and achievement. The Australian Embassy funds cover both international and domestic air travel costs, while the host universities cover the on-ground costs during a speaker's visit. The list of speakers and their dates of availability will be advertised once the speakers have been selected and have accepted an invitation to tour North America. Individuals who would like to nominate or host an Australian academic should:
For more information regarding the North American Speaker Series, please contact Lisa Murphy .
Rollins College in Florida offers an undergraduate minor in Australian Studies and the Center for Australian & New Zealand Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC offers an undergraduate Certificate in Australian and New Zealand Studies.
The Edward A. Clark Center for Australian Studies at the University of Texas, Austin and the Australia-New Zealand Studies Center at the Pennsylvania State University offer courses on Australian subjects or courses with a strong Australian component.
If you know of any other academic institutions in North America that offer Australian Studies courses, minors or certificates please let Lisa Murphy know.
There are three organizations in North America for those with an academic interest in Australia. Each organization has a particular focus and all are open for membership:
In March 1997 a major effort was started to consolidate the various Australian Studies web sites. There now exist an "Australian Studies Network" which offers a single "point of entry" to the internet for all academics involved with Australian Studies. From the "homepage" of this Network, located at "http://www.austudies.org", the visitor is directed to a number of contacts and information of value. The site will tell you which Australian academics are visiting North America and help you contact them. It also contains immediate announcements of importance. This Network not only provides "links" to existing web sites, but maintains and acts as the host for many of the major sites. Any Australian Studies program may have their own web site created, maintained and served over the Network. The goal is for every off-shore academic in the field to have their own web site freely available to all of us. If you or your program desire a web site, this is the chance. It is a non-profit project supported by the Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC and the Australian Education Office. There is no charge for its services.
Mark the Australian Studies Network as a "bookmark" and visit often. For further information visit the site and/or email to [email protected].