Some of Our Parts

Social Anxiety Group Program – Semester 2, 2024

Do you experience significant fear or anxiety about social situations?

• Do you worry about being judged or showing signs of anxiety in social
  situations?
• Do you avoid social situations?

If so, you may benefit from participating in our Social Anxiety Group
Program.

The program is an exciting opportunity for Monash students to learn ways to address their social anxiety and fully engage in life.

The program involves:

• Eight 2-hour weekly group sessions (free of charge) at Clayton campus on Wednesdays during Semester 2 at 11am-1pm or 2-4pm, facilitated by
  Dr Sophia Gozzi, Clinical Psychologist
• Written education materials and tasks between group sessions
• For further information or to submit an expression of interest, please complete an Expression of Interest form.

Invent Student Internship (ISI) – Apply Now!

ISI is a partnership between Monash Young MedTech Innovators (MYMI), Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME) and Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre.

The program is a project-based internship that connects current MIME-funded research projects to high performing undergraduate students from across Monash University who are interested in co-developing a defined technological solution.

Students will have an opportunity to learn and apply the Stanford Biodesign process, including commercialisation, intellectual property, regulatory, and reimbursement strategies. Students will also be able to upskill on technical skills required for their defined research project.

The purpose of ISI is to connect student innovators to projects that exist in the research and development stage and engage them to assist in further R&D, as well as assisting in developing a commercialisation strategy for the project.

Scholarship recipients will be awarded $4,000* and will be required for 8 hours per week working in an assigned laboratory and attendance at approximately 15 upskilling workshops.

The internship runs between Friday 12 July and Monday 18 November.

*internships will be paid as casual salaries and incur standard income tax.

Applications Now Open

• Applications close Saturday 1 June, 5pm.

Get Skilled in Accessibility with New Courses

With more than 4.4 million Australians living identifying as having a disability, simple accessibility errors could be preventing thousands of people from interacting with your business.

It’s time for that to change!

By popular demand, Vision Australia is launching a new series of on-demand courses to make creating inclusive digital experiences easier than ever.

Real inclusion needs understanding, not a checklist.

For over 20 years, Vision Australia has been providing comprehensive, expert-led accessibility training to professionals worldwide.

Digital Access Training is an inexpensive alternative to in-person training.

Catering to all types of learning styles and skillsets, complete certified courses at your own pace, anywhere in the world. It’s fun, informative and fast with most courses completable in under an hour.

Together, we can make the web work for everyone.

Learn More About On-Demand Accessibility Courses Here

Vacant Supported Independent Living (SIL) Houses Available Across Victoria

Alpha Community Care is a leading NDIS and Disability support provider.

They are excited to inform you about several of their Supported Independent Living (SIL) houses across Victoria that currently have vacancies. These homes may be an excellent fit for NDIS participants seeking comfortable and supportive living environments.

Currently Available SIL Houses

Cheltenham Haven, Cheltenham, VIC 3192

• 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
• Situated on a spacious 550SQM land
• Ideal for individuals seeking a cozy and well-located home

Delahay House, Delahay, VIC

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Ample car space for 3 cars and a large backyard on a 764SQM land
• Perfect for those who enjoy outdoor activities and need extra space

Aintree Double Story House, Aintree, VIC

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Brand new, double-story house with an upstairs and downstairs living area
• Features a master bedroom with a balcony, ample car space for 2 cars, and a big backyard
• Ideal for participants looking for modern, spacious living

Coburg Double Story Penthouse, Coburg, VIC 3058

• 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
• Recently renovated with luxurious finishes
• Includes a unique master bathroom with a TV in the bath for relaxation
• Does not have accessible outdoor space but offers high-end indoor amenities

All Alpha Community Care SIL houses are designed to provide a supportive, safe, and comfortable living environment for NDIS participants.

They are dedicated to ensuring residents receive the highest quality of care and support tailored to their individual needs.

• If this applies to you or someone you know, please feel free to contact them on 1300 380 692 or via email at admin@alphacommunitycare.com.au to schedule a visit or for any further information.

Mindful May Events hosted by Counselling and Psychological Services Caulfield

The Counselling and Psychological Services team at Caulfield Campus is running a series of drop-in mindfulness sessions over the next 3 weeks as part of Mindful May.

Mindfulness of eating/Mindfulness of thoughts

• Date: Tuesday 14 May
• Time: 12pm- 1pm
• Venue: K105 Caulfield
• Description: This session will involve 2 mindful exercises to cultivate present moment awareness of our eating, and our thoughts.
• No registration required.

Mindfulness of the senses

• Date: Tuesday 21 May
• Time: 11am- 11:45am
• Venue: K105 Caulfield
• Description: In this session we will explore using our five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell to gently guide our awareness and attention to the present moment.
• No registration required.

Lunchtime mindful movement (online chair yoga)

• Date: Tuesday 28 May
• Time: 1-1:45pm
• Description: This chair yoga session combines yoga-based movements, breath practices, meditation, self-massage and psychoeducation. It aims to increase body awareness, reduce stress and enhance wellbeing.
• Registration required via link.

SMRC Open Day at Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre

Southern Migrant and Resource Centre (SMRC) is happy to invite you to their Open Day at Dingley Village Neighbourhood House to showcase their services they offer to people born overseas and their carers.

SMRC staff will be available for those who need information and assistance in accessing services and aged care systems.

A variety of sessions will be available throughout the day such as:

• Tai Chi
• Dance class
• Horticultural information session
• Potting class and more!
• Refreshments available

Where: 31B Marcus Rd, Dingley Village.

When: Friday 24 May 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information visit:

• Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre
• or call SMRC on 9767 1900 or
• E: smrc@smrc.org.au
• www.smrc.org.au

What is Social Boost?

Social Boost is free service for any Caulfield student who is struggling to find friends or to engage with the social life of the campus.

Students who join the program are given assistance through specially trained facilitators to find co-curricular activities at Caulfield that suit them according to their interests and preferences. For example, some students may prefer small group activities, as well as advice on how to make friends.

• Social Boost is not peer mentoring
• Social Boost is not a case management service
• If you are struggling with your mental health, accommodation, visa issues there are relevant services to assist you

Who Is Social Boost For?

Social Boost is for students at Caulfield campus who want to be more involved in the social life of the campus.

Facilitators working in Social Boost have experience helping students find activities that suit their preferences as well as giving advice on how to make friends, especially with people from different cultures.

How Do You Register for Social Boost?

• Students can email english.connect@monash.edu to register.

The program is free and there are no consequences if students want to drop it at any time.

Who Should You Contact if You Have Questions About Social Boost?

• English Connect: english.connect@monash.edu

Harvard Aspire Leadership Program

The Aspire Institute Leaders program from Harvard is a free, online leadership program offered globally to ‘First in Families’ undergraduate students. They have a target of reaching 1 million First in Families undergraduate students aged 18-29, with a particular focus on students from low-income backgrounds.

The program is comprised of three modules:

Module 1

FOUR WEEKS (3-5 HOURS/WEEK)

• Personal and Professional Development
• Strengths-based leadership skills assessment.
• Professional development resources co-created with Harvard Business School for creating a LinkedIn profile, crafting your resume, tips for interviewing, and how to network.
• Live interactions among a global cohort of peers.

Module 2

FOUR WEEKS (3-5 HOURS/WEEK)

• Immersive Learning
• Masterclasses led by world-class educators from universities around the world.
• Asynchronous and synchronous learning with a global cohort of peers and mentors.

Module 3

SIX WEEKS (3-5 HOURS/WEEK)

Aspire Horizons Course

Six session leadership development course designed and delivered by Harvard University faculty:

• Week One: Understanding Yourself as a Leader
• Week Two: Importance of Understanding Context and Building Trust
• Week Three: Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
• Week Four: Voices of Leaders
• Week Five: Addressing Community Challenges
• Week Six: Being in Action in Your Communities Worldwide

Eligibility

• 18-29 years old
• from a low-income background
• first-generation college student or recent graduate but not enrolled in a graduate program
• intermediate level English

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST (Boston, USA)

Cohort 3 Program Dates: Aug. – Nov., 2024

• More information: www.aspireleaders.org/program/aspire-leaders/.

Work Integrated Learning Focus Group – Survey Participants Wanted!

Monash researchers are aiming to improve the participation rates of tertiary students in work integrated learning (WIL) (also referred to as internships, placements, industry experience/immersion or work experience).

This research focuses on enhancing work integrated learning to better cater to students with disabilities.

We want to hear from you whether you have participated in WIL or not. The aim is to get a better understanding of your needs to undertake an internship as tertiary student.

While we are specifically interested in hearing from students who identify as neurodiverse, we are interested to hear from any student who has a disability (diagnosed or undiagnosed).

You do not have to be registered with your university’s disability support services to participate in this study.

Participation in this study is anonymous and will not affect your access to DSS services.

Complete Our Survey

You can complete a quick 20-minute survey and share what would help you to participate in WIL or what has / hasn’t worked for you during an internship placement. Your responses are anonymous, and we really appreciate your honest feedback.

• The survey is voluntary.
• All participants will be entered into a draw for a $50 gift card for their time completing the survey.
• If you are interested in participating, please complete the following survey: Access the survey here.

Focus Groups and Interviews

In mid to late April, we are running 45-minute focus groups or interviews.

• All participants will be entered into a draw for a $50 gift card for their time
• Light refreshments will also be provided for participants attending in person.
• If you’re interested in participating, please register your interest: Sign up for a focus group here.

If you feel this research topic is important, please consider sending the survey link or focus group invitation to others who you believe may be interested.

• This project has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee, project ID: 41230 Human-centred design to improve work-integrated learning for students with a disability.
• If you have further questions, please contact Dr Rosemarie Herbert (Chief Investigator) via email: rosemarie.herbert@monash.edu

The Unbreakable Spirit of Kai Sakakibara

*From a news.com.au article by Amy Marnie

Kai Sakakibara’s life took a dramatic turn in February 2020. Four years on, he finds new hope in para-rowing, aiming for the 2028 Paralympics.

“No one wants to get a traumatic brain injury,” Kai Sakakibara says. “That’s not how it works. But when it happens, it can change your life completely.”

In February 2020, the then 23-year-old BMX champion suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a World Cup race in Bathurst, a crash that halted his Olympic aspirations but also changed his life forever.

“My parents didn’t even know if I would wake up or not,” Sakakibara says. Fortunately, he did.

Today, Sakakibara lives with the permanent effects of TBI, facing challenges like fatigue, motor skills and difficulty following complex conversations.

Sakakibara’s dad, Martin, says he tackles his brain injury with the same mindset he honed as a professional athlete.

“He focuses on progressing one step at a time, concentrating on aspects within his control, and striving to make every day a bit better than the one before,” he says.

It’s estimated that around 200,000 Australians suffer a TBI every year, with mild TBI or concussion making up about 170,000 of these cases.

TBI doesn’t affect discriminate and can happen to anyone. The most common causes of concussion are falls, car accidents, interpersonal violence, workplace accidents and sports.

Today, Sakakibara has shifted his focus to a different Olympic dream.

While he can’t race bikes, he discovered a passion for para-rowing at Paralympics Australia’s ‘Come and Try Day’ and aims to compete at the Paralympics in 2028.

• You can read the full article here