Some of Our Parts

JobAccess Celebrates 17 Years of Service and Innovation this July!

Since 2006, JobAccess has been the first port of call on everything related to disability employment.

Over the years:

• JobAccess has assisted more than 440,000 people – including jobseekers with disability, employers and service providers – with expert advice, support and information.
• JobAccess has managed over 63,000 applications for funding workplace modifications. And each one has made a difference in supporting the employment and retention of people with disability in the workforce.
• The National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) has partnered with over 380 large organisations to build their disability confidence and competence.
• Since 2012, the CRRS and the Hotline have lodged more than 15,700 complaints or reports of abuse to improve outcomes for people with disability and service providers.

You don’t have to go it alone when getting support or supporting someone at work. JobAccess is here to help.

• To find out more about how JobAccess could help your organisation, visit their website, call them on 1800 464 800 or email them at: JobAccess@workfocus.com.

2023 Give Respect Art Competition Now Open!

We are excited to announce that the Give Respect Art Competition is open for submissions!

As an opportunity to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community, the competition challenges participants to create artwork that encourages reflection on these topics.

This year, we have revamped the creative challenge to align with the launch of Monash’s new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework.

We encourage Monash students and staff to submit an original piece of art that relates to this year’s theme: Art that evokes reflection about equity, diversity or inclusion.

• The competition is open until the end of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Week on Friday 8 September.

So, you have plenty of time to get into your creative flow and submit your artwork.

The winner will receive recognition for their contribution, as well as:

• $1000 for 1st place student
• $500 for 2nd place student
• and 2 x Gold Class movie vouchers for 1st place staff!

To learn more about the competition requirements and submission guidelines, please visit the Give Respect Art Competition website.

We encourage everyone to participate in this exciting initiative to promote respect and help contribute to thriving communities.

Go and See MUST’s Production of Shakespeare in Love!

 June 1 – 3 at The Alexander Theatre

“An absolute joy from beginning to end.” Daily Express

“Makes you feel grateful to be alive.” Independent

Click Here to Book!

This fine production will feature a dedicated Auslan-interpreted performance, ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

MUST is committed to promoting inclusivity and providing equitable access to the arts for all members of the community.

Their highly skilled Auslan interpreters will be present on Saturday the 3rd of June, for their matinee performance (1:30pm) of Shakespeare in Love.

Academy-Award Winning Drama

On screen, Shakespeare in Love won seven academy awards and stole our hearts.

Now, this tongue-in-cheek reimagining of William Shakespeare is also an enchanting, hilarious stage play, and a celebration of theatre itself.

Young Will has a bad case of writer’s block. The deadline for his new play is fast approaching and he’s in desperate need of inspiration.

He finds it in Viola, whose fiery passion for poetry and drama leaves her secretly longing to be an actor.

Under the veil of secrecy, Will and Viola’s passionate love affair becomes the basis of the very play he is writing – his masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet.

With opening night fast approaching, plots collide in a rollicking tale of romance, mistaken identity, petty scheming, dramatic irony, lusty innuendo, and tempestuous wordplay.

Shakespeare in Love is a stirring love story, and at its heart, a joyful, hilarious love letter to live theatre – with plenty of knowing winks to the present.

“I will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all.”

“Monash Uni Student Theatre (MUST) continues to support students and create astonishing and powerful work that consistently punches way above its weight and acts as an incubator for some of our most important emerging theatre artists.” Australian Arts Review, 2022

In partnership with MPAC, MUST returns to the Alexander Theatre where they have staged some of their most memorable productions, such as –

Spring Awakening:

“I was rendered speechless … pure ecstasy” ★★★★★ Theatrepeople

…and David Finnigan’s Kill Climate Deniers: “compelling and electric theatre that needs to be seen” Australian Arts Review

Click Here to Book!

Don’t Miss MUST’s Production of Shakespeare in Love!

• Based on the screenplay by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard
• Adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, Music by Paddy Cunneen
• Directed by Yvonne Virsik, Set Design by Nathan Burmeister
• Dates: 1 – 3 June 2023
• Thurs & Fri 7.30pm
• Sat 1.30pm – AUSLAN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE & 7.30pm

Click Here to Book!

• Tickets: $25 Conc. $35 Full
• Venue: The Alexander Theatre, 48 Exhibition Walk, Monash University, CLAYTON
• Run time: approx. 2 hrs, 30 mins, including interval
• Age Suitability: 13+
• Content Notes: Adult Themes, Low Grade Violence, Sexual Assault

Enquiries via MUST 9905 8173 msa-must@monash.edu | musttheatre

MEDIA CONTACT: Lucianne Watts (e) lwat0010@student.monash.edu (ph) 0481 435 429

*This production is proudly supported through collaboration with Monash University Performing Arts Centres and the Office of the Pro Vice Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement.

Monash Uni Student Theatre is a department of the Monash Student Association.

• Bookings via msa.monash.edu/MUST
• Facebook event linked here
• MPAC direct link for bookings

Monash Sensory Science Exhibition on Autoimmunity – Friday June 30 2023

We Invite Members of the Blind, Low Vision and Diverse Needs Communities to the Monash Sensory Science Exhibition

Discover the science of autoimmunity from leading scientists through accessible multisensory, multi-modal artworks and exhibits, including displays by the Monash Assistive Technologies and Society.

From handcrafted immune cells made of clay, food, paper, fabrics to technologies and interactive displays exploring autoimmune processes, you will learn about the ways in which the body mistakenly attacks its own organs and tissues, resulting in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and celiac disease.

Prepare for an enhanced experience with interactive multi-sensory science books and captivating autoimmunity data sonification, where data is turned into a musical language.

This event is free and open to all, and they have now opened the Eventbrite registration for the exhibition on Friday June 30th.

Event Details

There will be a special keynote presentation by Professor Nicole La Gruta from Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, where she will delve into Autoimmunity, as well as the opportunity to participate in interactive breakout sessions designed to further explore specific autoimmune diseases.

• Information about the Sensory Science event and the booking link are available at https://rossjohnlab.com/monash-sensory-science/

Getting There

There are many ways to get to Monash University, including using public transport.

If you are planning to drive, please purchase a prepaid parking voucher for reserved parking on the day (S2 Underground car park, 20 Ancora Imparo Way).

A $12 parking fee will apply.

• Purchase your parking ticket here.
• View map.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

• When: Friday 30 June 2023
• Time: 8.45pm to 2.00pm
• Where: G54 Learning and Teaching Building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800.
• Enquires: MonashSensoryScience@monash.edu
• To find out more about Monash Sensory Science Exhibition, visit our website.

Register Today

• Please ensure that you register by Sunday June 25 2023 to secure your spot.

Wings for Life World Run Event

Monash Sport is hosting a global run event on Sunday 7th May 2023 – the Wings for Life World Run Event.

The Wings for Life World Run is a truly unique and global race for both runners and wheelchair participants.

Instead of a finish line, competitors race side by side to keep ahead of the Virtual Catcher Car.

Now in its ninth year, on May 7, 2023 Wings for Life World Run participants in Australia can also run together in Melbourne.

• Meet up with your friends, download the Wings for Life World Run App and join all the other people running until the Virtual Catcher Car catches you, of course!
• The race starts at exactly 2023-05-07 21:00:00.
• The Virtual Catcher Car takes off 30 minutes after the start at 14 km/h and steadily increases its speed until the last athletes have been caught.
• 100% of all donations and the entry fees go directly into spinal cord research projects.

See the website for further event details.

The event supports spinal cord research and 100% of entry fees go to spinal cord research.

This is a global event that commences at the same time across the world and the event details are listed below:

• Date: Sunday 7 May
• Start time: 9.00pm
• Location: Monash Sport Tan Track, 42 Scenic blvd, Monash University Clayton Campus
• Expected event finish time: Runners will complete the race at various times, the latest is expected to be approximately 1.00am * The finish time of the event is dependent on how long it takes for the virtual “catcher car” to overtake the last participant.

There will be the following event elements for participants and spectators to enjoy:

• DJ & MC near Monash Sport main building.
• Food Truck (coffee & toasties)
• Sponsor stalls (e.g. Red Bull)

International Student Careers Summit Kicks Off Next Week!

This program is designed to help international students make their mark in the employment market.

From Monday 3 April to Thursday 6 April Career Connect will bring together a series of workshops and online keynotes to maximise our students’ competitive employability and prepare them for the transition into the workforce.

• The full program can be found here.

Students can register via UniHub here: monash.edu/careers-summit.

Inclusive Bookshelves Championed at Vision Australia’s Children’s Book Launch

Vison Australia has launched the first book in a series championing underrepresented role models with blindness and low vision has been launched at the Melbourne Museum last week.

Surfing in the Dark, a fully integrated braille and illustrated children’s book, chronicles the story of Matt Formston, a pro blind surfer who ignored naysayers to tackles waves bigger than a five-storey building.

“The world has told me and my family you can’t, you shouldn’t, because you have a disability it’s not an option for you,” Matt said.

“But my life experience has been that I can.”

The highlight of the day designed to start a bigger conversation about diversity and inclusion in the books we read was when 11-year-old Ethan Bradley got to interview his role model Matt Formston.

Ethan has vision loss himself and stole the show by asking some tough questions to the fearless surfer, who said it was the best interview he had all year.

The book is the first of three to be released this year from Vision Australia’s ground breaking Big Visions book series.

A series written and published with the ambition to highlight positive role models and inspire inclusivity and acceptance in all Australians.

Disruptive Comedy: Breaking Barriers with Laughter

Join a panel of comedians, hosted by Adam Hills, as they explore the realities of working in comedy as people with disability.

To coincide with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on 5 April, the Wheeler Centre (in the city), is hosting a panel of comedians who will discuss matters relating to disability.

This event is in-person and also live-streamed.

It is described as a panel that explores the realities of working in comedy as people with disability.

Together the panel “will share their personal and professional experiences, delve into the barriers that exist in the comedy industry, and discuss how laughter can be used as a tool for empowerment and education.”

• For more information check out the website.

Join Us for an Information-Packed in-person Careers Session

Are you ready to take the first step towards an exciting career?

Grab yourself a free donut and join us for an hour-long, information-packed in-person session that will change your career trajectory!

• As an added ‘sweetener’, there will be free donuts for everyone who attends this in-person event!

We’re thrilled to present GradWISE and Australian Network on Disability [AND] – two career-support powerhouses that are committed to empowering students and graduates living with disabilities to achieve their full potential.

• When: Tuesday March 28, 2023 – 3pm -4pm
• Where: Room G20 – Career Connect Training Room (Opposite Artichoke & Whitebait and near the Cinema), 21 Chancellors Walk, Downstairs in the Campus Centre, Monash University Clayton Campus

Register here

This is your chance to learn about GradWISE’s ground-breaking program, which provides tailored support to help you succeed in graduate and entry-level employment.

GradWISE understands that the journey to finding your dream job can be challenging, especially if you’re living with a disability or chronic health condition. That’s why they’re with you every step of the way, helping you to build resilience and navigate the application process with confidence.

The Australian Network on Disability [AND] offer the PACE Mentoring Program and Stepping Into Program that offers paid Internships. Find out more and how to apply!

And if that’s not enough, you’ll also get to hear from a recent Monash University Alumni who benefited from GradWISE, sharing their incredible journey to securing employment aligned to the area of student and aspiration!

• This session is open to all Monash students who have a disability, mental health, or chronic health condition.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to kick-start your career and unleash your full potential.

Join us for an exciting and informative session- we’re looking forward to meeting you!

• Click here to REGISTER NOW!

MGA Competition for Graduate Students with a Disability

Ability Fest is Australia’s first all-accessible music festival with some great acts on their line-up this year.

• Enter now to win x2 General Admission tickets to Ability Fest for you and a friend!

Ability Fest is all about the music, but has the added bonus of being one of the most inclusive events in the country.

Everyone can enjoy the universal love of live music!

Find out more about Ability Fest here.

This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, 25 March, 2023 from 12.00pm at Birrarung Marr in the Melbourne CBD.

It will host some of the biggest names in Australian music including Hilltop Hoods, Sampa the Great, Meg Mac and YO! MAFIA.

Accessibility features include:

• elevated platforms
• pathways
• dedicated sensory areas
• quiet zones
• companion ticketing
• ramps
• friendly volunteers
• Auslan interpreters
• accessible toilets and more.

We think this awesome festival needs one more person… and maybe it’s you!

But we’re not just going to send you alone.

We have TWO General Admission tickets to Ability Fest for you and your mate!

• Competition opens: Wednesday, 8 March 2023 @ 12:00pm
• Competition closes: Friday, 17 March 2023 @ 12:00pm
• Winners will be selected by an online random name picker and notified via email by Monday, 20 March 2023.
• They will also be announced via MGA social media.

ENTER HERE!

To be in the running for this amazing prize, all you have to do is:

1. Be over 18 years of age.
2. Be enrolled in a graduate degree at Monash University Australia (Grad dip, Grad Cert, Masters or PhD). We will require confirmation of enrolment in a graduate degree.
3. Identify as student with a disability or a chronic illness.
4. Submit your entry before 12:00pm on Friday, 17 March 2023 using one of the methods listed below:

• Complete the online Google form and send here.
• Pre-record yourself answering the following questions and email your video to mga@monash.edu.
• Your name / Student ID / Degree / Faculty / Do you identify as living with a disability or chronic illness? / Are you registered with the Monash Disability Support Services (DSS)?
• Arrange a time for a phone or video call application by emailing mga@monash.edu with ‘Ability Fest’ in the subject heading.
• To read the Terms and Conditions click here.