7 January 2020
UC Bruce Campus will be open from 7am on Wednesday 8 January. The weather has eased, the campus has been cleaned, and air circulated so staff and students can return to the university.
Building 27 (teaching labs for Health and Sci-Tech) remains closed until the air quality in the building can be improved. Buildings 4 and 29 and the ovals will reopen, but will be monitored in line with the ACT Health Guidelines about physical activity when air quality is poor.
We will be running air conditioning, but closely monitor smoke in the air and close outside air dampeners accordingly throughout the day, which will impact the efficiency of air conditioning. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure our community’s health and safety is the priority.
The Medical and Counselling centre on campus is open on Building 1, Level B or call (02) 6201 2351. For anyone who has been directly impacted and requires assistance, please connect with UC student welfare, if and when you are able, so that we can provide support. Students are encouraged to contact our Student Welfare Team – available during business hours (AEDT) on (02) 6206 8841 or at welfare@canberra.edu.au if in need of assistance. Our team will seek to provide support and can direct student to other appropriate services where needed.
For after-hours support or during weekends and public holidays, all UC students can contact the UC Crisis Line on 1300 271 790 or by texting 0488 884 227.
Other specific support is also available, dependent upon location. A full list of support services can be found at the Where to Get Help page on the UC website. The website provides a list of services for students studying with us at various partner locations, including Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney and overseas.
Be prepared and keep yourself abreast of the latest updates provided by the appropriate emergency services channels. This includes Emergency Services ACT, the NSW Rural Fire Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the Country Fire Authority and the ‘Fires Near Me NSW’ / ‘Fires Near me Australia’ Apps. Up to date traffic advice and road closure information can be found at www.livetraffic.com.au.
With the unpredictable weather conditions, it is important to remain on alert for any potential fires and road closures that may impact your safety and respond accordingly. Further updates can be found at http://esa.act.gov.au and www.livetraffic.com.
The ACT Health Directorate has provided health advice—including where to access P2 masks—here. The advice is applicable to and helpful for anyone currently experiencing issues with air quality in and around their region. We encourage you to follow the advice.
The UC campus is not under any direct fire threat, and all precautions are being taken to ensure our UC community is protected from smoke haze
