Getting Started at the School of Physics
Welcome to the School of Physics. We hope that you will find the School an inspiring place to work and that you will enjoy your time here.
This page provides the basic start-up information for new staff, honours, and postgraduate students arriving at the School. Once you have computer access organised, for other information please go to the Physics website http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/. In particular there is a page on Information for New Staff and Students under the Local Information tab.
New staff should also plan to attend a university Orientation Seminar (see http://sydney.edu.au/learningsolutions/orientation/seminar.shtml).
Entering the building
Contact your supervisor to confirm your first day date and start time, directions on where to go, transport or parking arrangements for work area and any documents you need to bring for the first day (also see Paperwork). The Physics building and University of Sydney turn up on internet maps, and the site 131500.info provides information on bus and train routes. There are also campus maps listing the buildings.
The School of Physics building is open between approximately 7:15 am and 5:15 pm Monday to Friday. If you require access outside these hours please see the Main Office to request out of hours access. New staff and students should first obtain a Staff or Student Card: Take photo ID and your Offer of Employment letter to the office on the Ground Floor of the Margaret Telfer Building, Arundel Street. The Physics building access can then be encoded onto the card's magnetic strip. Please see the Main Office (Room 216A, ground floor) for details.
Once you arrive, identify your work area, emergency exits, evacuation plan, location of first aid box and first aid officers (there are posters around the building). Ensure any additional local OH&S requirements are identified and assessed. The Physics building has facilities for your use including bathrooms, a tearoom, printers, faxes and photocopiers etc. Preferably have someone from your workgroup show you to the nearest facility as required.
Paperwork
For new members of staff, on arrival please see the Human Resources Officer in the Main Office and hand them all HR forms including
- a signed copy of your letter of offer
- bank details form
- tax file declaration form
- personal details form
- UniSuper form
and any other forms you received from the University with your contract. Please also bring with you your passport or birth certificate as ID as well as proof of your qualifications stated in your application. This paperwork will be forwarded to HR so they can be entered on the payroll system.
You will also be given a School Personnel form to complete so that your contact details can be added to the School personnel database. Emergency contact details are kept strictly confidential. A photo of you is also uploaded to the website. There are staff photography days periodically, with notification sent by email. In the interim you may wish to supply a standard portrait digital photo to the Main Office.
The HR Officer can tell you when your first salary payment will be made. Salary is paid fortnightly, on a Thursday, directly into your specified bank account (or accounts). Once you are paid you will be provided with an employee number (SID).
If you have any other questions concerning the administrative aspects of employment please do not hesitate to contact Sang Huynh (extn. 14315) for regular and conferred title appointments, or Chindy Praseuthsouk (extn. 65370) for casual appointments.
New students should fill in any enrolment papers required by the Faculty of Science, and have organised supervisor and coursework paperwork as appropriate. Please see your course Coordinator, the contact for whom is listed on the following page: http://www.sydney.edu.au/science/physics/contact/people.shtml.
Keys, Office and Computer Setup
Your supervisor will organise an office space for you - please contact the supervisor to confirm before arrival. The supervisor should also organise how to obtain a key for the office - all are issued from the Main Office. Stationery is available from the Physics storeroom (Room 111). The key is available from the Main Office.
To connect your laptop to the Physics LAN take it to the IT office on the first floor up in room 331. If it is Windows please ensure it has up to date antivirus and security updates.
Your supervisor can arrange a desktop computer for you, and a physics computer account so that you can use it (and most other Physics computers). This may happen on the first day, because you need to choose a password in person with the network manager, Sebastian Juraszek (Ext.17688). Also ask IT support about obtaining a UniKey ID: This is another computer account, but for University-wide services like online payroll. This account is organised through the Information and Communication Technology service (ICT). You can call them directly on Ext. 16000 to organise a login.
Please see the Physics website for further help, particularly the Information for New Staff and Students pages. Additionally, the Main Office and the Student Support Office can help with almost all queries.
Feedback or suggestions for further information to include in this and other pages are most welcome. Please email the Physics webmaster using the address given at the base of all the School of Physics web pages.
Welcome to the School of Physics community.