Some of Our Parts

Call for Research Participants and Summer Research Opportunities

Seeking Neuro-divergent Monash Students for a Study on Losing Personal Items

This research project aims to better understand the lived experiences of Neuro-divergent Monash University students who regularly lose their personal items so as to build and improve technologies to help reduce personal item loss.

What is Involved

We are seeking Monash University students aged 18 and above who identify or have been diagnosed as neuro-divergent and tend to lose things regularly to have a discussion with us for about 45 to 60 minutes about:

• Personal items that you tend to lose on a regular basis
• Where you tend to lose these items
• Walk us through memories of losing these items and finding them
• Join us in exploring potential technologies that might be able to help with reducing the loss of these personal items

Our goal for this exploratory discussion is to help build better cost-effective solutions to reduce personal item loss with your valuable input.

We are also very happy to discuss how the discussion can be tailored to your unique context, so please let us know!

• Participants will be compensated with a 30-dollar grocery voucher for their time.

Criteria for Participation

• Aged 18 and over
• Students from Monash University
• Identify as/ Diagnosed as Neuro-divergent
• Lose personal items on a regular basis

Contact Information

• For more information and how to participate in this study, please contact benjamin.phua@monash.edu.

Summer Researcher Opportunity

Summer researcher opportunity with Monash Inclusive Technologies Lab at the Faculty of IT (Deadline: Friday, 26 August 2022, 5pm).

• Start date: 21 November 2022 (negotiable) for Eight Weeks
• Scholarship value: $4,000 ($500 x 8 weeks)

We are seeking students to be co-researchers and co-designers of technologies to help neuro-divergent individuals who tend to lose things to not lose things.

We know it can be annoying to lose our keys, wallets and phones but these issues can be a lot more annoying if you are neuro-divergent (if you know you know!) and by reducing the cognitive load needed to manage these tasks we can then use that energy for more useful, interesting, life-giving activities.

The work will entail:

• Performing research and literature review
• Designing, and developing prototypes and
• Potentially being involved in focus group studies (with neuro-divergent individuals who tend to lose things regularly) regarding those prototypes
• Students will also be involved in reflective and reflexive exercises about the above activities.

Ideally you will be studying:

• Design, IT or engineering and have taken FIT3146 – Maker lab
• Happy to consider students from a wide range of backgrounds!

We welcome and encourage students who are disabled and/ or diagnosed/ self-identify as neuro-divergent and also have a propensity for losing things to apply as you are experts-by-personal experience and are thus extremely well suited to co-design and co-develop these solutions.

We also encourage students who are carers of people with disabilities who tend to lose things to apply for similar reasons.

• For more details, please kindly get in touch with: benjamin.phua@monash.edu

To apply:

• Please go to the application page via this link
• For more information about this project please click here!

Developing Adaptive Graphics (SVG) for Disabled Users

Monash Researchers are looking for people who are colour blind, have low vision, have a motor impairment or dyslexia to use a new indoor floor plan navigation tool.

The aim of the study is to understand the user experience in exploring adaptive floor plans that gets adapted to fit users’ particular vision or reading difficulties.

If you participate in the study, questions will be asked to understand your prior experience with floor plans.

You will be introduced to the adaptive floor plan via a website and will be asked to explore 2 floor plans.

You’ll be asked to perform some general way finding tasks and will obtain your feedback on overall user experience.

• The user studies will take 30‐45 minutes.

Due to COVID‐19 pandemic, this study will be done through the Zoom video conferencing platform.

If you contact us, you will be sent the Explanatory Statement and the Consent Form in an email to provide you all the details about the project and your involvement.

If you are comfortable  with  your  participation,  please reply  to  our  email  by  stating  that  you  consent  to participate in this research project, and return the filled Consent form either electronically or by mail.

For more information, and to request to participate in this research, please contact:

• Dr. Anuradha Madugalla, Faculty of Information
• Email: anu.madugalla@monash.edu

Study Stress Survey Reminder

This is a reminder for students that have already accessed the Qualtrics survey about study stress, perceived support and support seeking intentions using the following link: https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MqM78ZMKUmBBsi , but have left the survey incomplete.

Examples of Incomplete Responses

• Survey responses that have only indicated gender and disability category, but have not provided responses on the study stress scale or support scales.
• Forgetting to complete an entire set of questions on either the study stress or support scales
• Missing some of the questions on either the study stress or support scales.
• If you have forgotten to complete the survey, we ask that you re-access the above link to either complete your previous survey attempt or complete a new attempt if the survey link has not saved your progress.

Please remember that your decision to re-access the survey is completely voluntary. Therefore, it is not necessary that you go back and complete the survey if you do not wish to.

• If you know that you have completed all questions on the survey already, please do not access the survey link again. 

If you are a DSS student reading this and have not yet accessed the above link at all, you are welcome to access the Qualtrics survey link to complete the survey questions if you wish to participate.

Thank you for your participation.

MSA Volunteering: 60 + Volunteer Programs & Activities to Choose From!

Volunteer opportunities can assist you with professional and personal development while having fun, meeting new people and having some time away from your studies.

• For more information & to start volunteering today, visit MSA Volunteering today!

Free Art Classes, Drawing Sessions & Workshops

From sketching, painting, and jewellery making, to photoshop classes, we will have one that suits your passion. Graffiti Workshops are also available this semester.

• Register Here

MSA Chats

Do you have questions, but don’t know who to ask?

Hosted by trained MSA Student Volunteers, MSA Chats provides students with the opportunity to meet new people and to talk in a safe environment.

Ask questions directly, or let us know anonymously.

MSA Chats is here to connect new and returning students and help them find their feet at University.

• Register Here

Free Language Classes

Learn a language for free with us!

There are 12 languages to choose from!

Classes run from Semester 2 Week 2-10.

Beginners, intermediate and advanced classes are available.

Languages include:

• Auslan
• Arabic,
• Cantonese
• French
• German
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Mandarin
• Spanish
• and Vietnamese

Register Now -Limited class numbers apply!

MSA Tax Help

Is it your first time completing a tax return?

Need a bit of help and don’t know where to start?

Our ATO-trained Tax Helpers can help you complete your tax return.

Appointments are available from the 25th of July to the 31st of October.

• Make an online appointment today

MSA Walking Group

MSA Volunteering is providing a unique service where student volunteers host weekly walking groups throughout each semester.

All walking groups run during daylight and follow the same walking route each week.

• Register Here

MSA Wellness Challenge

The MSA Wellness Challenge is a 14-day exercise that cultivates healthy and positive lifestyle behaviours, such as working out, eating healthy, and taking time for your mental health.

Each participant will select 1 Daily challenge, and one Major challenge, to complete within the 2 weeks.

• Register for the MSA Wellness Challenge Here

Here is the Qualtrics Survey Link:
https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MqM78ZMKUmBBsi

Also re-attached is the flyer.

THANK YOU for your participation!

Disability Leadership Program – Apply Now

Australian Network on Disability and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) are partnering again to further the inclusion of people with disability on boards.

This new initiative will see 85 scholarships awarded to leaders with disability.

The scholarships, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, will support leaders with disability by providing an opportunity to uplift their governance knowledge.

Scholarship recipients will undertake the Company Directors Course or the Foundations of Directorship course at AICD. Courses are likely to start at the end of November 2022 and run into the next calendar year.

In addition to the course, scholarship holders will receive a complimentary one-year:

• AICD membership
• Directorship Opportunities subscription, Australia’s foremost listing platform which provides the widest choices for directorship positions

To help maximise board career opportunities, the program will also work with existing directors to build disability confidence through Leader-to-Leader Conversations facilitated by Australian Network on Disability.

To apply for the Disability Leadership Scholarship visit The Australian Scholarship Foundation (ASF) website; the facilitating partner for the application process.

• Applications are open now until 27 July 2022.

Vision Australia 2023 Bursary Applications Now Open

Each year, Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision.

The bursaries provide adaptive technology to help students fully participate and succeed in their chosen studies.

Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and improve their student life.

• For more information and details on how to apply, please visit: www.visionaustralia.org/bursary
• Applications close strictly on 30 September 2022

If you have any queries or would like to speak with our bursary co-ordinator, please feel free to make direct contact:

• Joy King – Bursary Co-ordinator
• Joy.king@visionaustralia.org
• Ph:  03 8378 1220

PACE Mentoring: Announcing Participating Organisations!

AND welcomes Amazon, Jewish Care Australia, and Geoscience to participate in PACE for the first time.

Mentors from the following organisations will be participating in PACE Spring 2022:

• Amazon
• ANZ Bank
• ASIC
• Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• Australian Public Service Commission
• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
• George Weston Foods (Mauri)
• Geoscience Australia
• IBM
• Jewish Care Australia
• Medibank
• Optus
• VIC Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

This Spring, we welcome Amazon, Jewish Care Australia and Geoscience Australia to participate in PACE Mentoring Program for the very first time!

More organisations will be announced next week. Stay tuned!

You’re invited – free information session next Thursday

Join AND at the free online information session next Thursday for an overview of the program.

You are invited to dial in if you are a student or jobseeker with disability, a parent or carer of someone with disability, or disability employment service providers and other people who work with people with a disability, mental health condition or chronic illness.

• Thursday 23rd June, 3:30pm – 4:30pm (click here to register)
  *all in Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne time (AEST)

Contact our team on 1300 36 36 45 or applications@and.org.au if you require accessibility adjustments.

• Register for the information session on 23 June 

Locations

This round, mentors are participating in: Adelaide, Bendigo, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. There will also be virtual mentoring options for regional students and jobseekers.

Eligibility

Anyone 18 years or over with any type of disability, mental health condition or chronic illness is eligible for the PACE Mentoring Program.

How do I apply?

Submit an online application form here by midnight 3 July 2022 (Sunday).

Applied for a previous round of PACE Mentoring?

There is no limitation on how many times you can apply or participate in the program if you still meet the criteria, and we can copy your previous application over if you reach out to us.

• Find out more about the PACE Mentoring Program on our website here.

Study Stress and Support Seeking – Have Your Say!

• Click here to view the original blog post.

Here is the Qualtrics Survey Link:
https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MqM78ZMKUmBBsi

Also re-attached is the flyer.

Stage 2 Reforms of the Transport Standards

– Have Your Say at a Public Consultation Event

Registrations for upcoming public consultations events for Stage 2 Reforms of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 are now open.

People with disability, their families and carers, advocacy groups, the transport industry and government are invited to provide feedback on the proposed Stage 2 Reform options through upcoming public consultation events held from 17 June to mid-July 2022.

There are several opportunities to get involved, including in webinars, online community workshops and online written discussion boards.

• Further information about the events including registration details can be viewed on the Stage 2 Reforms – Public Consultations webpage.

You can also respond to the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) and share your experiences any time until 9 August:

• in writing, or via video or audio recording by email to DisabilityTransport@infrastructure.gov.au
• by telephone (free call) to 1800 621 372
• through an online survey

An updated stakeholder pack, including a newsletter about the consultation events, key messages and summary documents has been developed to inform and promote the package of reforms.

We encourage you to use these documents wherever possible.

The stakeholder pack is available at this web address.

• Find out more, including other ways to get involved, at www.infrastructure.gov.au/TransportAccessibility or by phoning (free call) to 1800 621 372.