A year in the life of a Monash Indigenous Graduate Program member
Olivia Bonanno was among the intake of Monash University’s inaugural Indigenous Graduate Program that launched in 2023. With an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and a little work experience with Bupa under her belt, she decided she wanted to build her skills further, and applied for the Program.
“It was a bit daunting when I was accepted,” she admits “because my life was still very much in my hometown Geelong, and Monash felt like a long way away.” But once you get to know Olivia, you realise that she’s not one to shy away from challenges.
The staff program aims to build the capacity of the next generation of Indigenous leadership at the university through fortnightly professional development workshops, leadership opportunities, and mentorship. Highlights of the program include a two-week international trip with peers featuring an intercultural competencies course, a cultural exchange project presented to the Prato staff and an on Country experience in Victoria.
Offered the choice of three different placements, Olivia chose the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine due it’s alignment with her previous study, and a unique project-based opportunity – working on the 2024 World Health Summit Regional Meeting.
“My time here has been split. Some of the time I spent supporting the School’s large public health short course portfolio, which has given me some fantastic experience in events management, project coordination and educational administration. But the majority of my time has been spent working on the Regional Meeting, which has been nothing short of amazing.
“The Meeting is being held in the global South for the first time, and it’s an incredible chance for us to bring the world’s attention onto the health issues that impact Asia-Pacific the most. As a proud Wergaia and Wemba Wemba woman, I’m particularly excited by the focus on First People’s health, which will explore how to build health equity for First People, not just here in Australia, but across our entire region. We’re currently failing our Indigenous people on health, so this is an exciting opportunity, but also a great responsibility for the Meeting’s delegates, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of it.”
The Meeting in Naarm/Melbourne in April 2024 will explore health in the context of climate change, geopolitics, and thriving communities.
Olivia has been working hard, coordinating Committee meetings, liaising with high-profile global health Speakers, and helping to manage third-party suppliers engaged in the event. As the program has coalesced and her experience and confidence has grown, so too have her responsibilities.
“When I think about where I was a year ago, there’s been so much personal growth. Not just in core knowledge and abilities, but in soft skills. A big thing I’ve gotten better at is acknowledging when I don’t understand something, and asking for help. That really scared me, I enjoy responsibility and control. I had to get over that fast in this role, and I think I’ve really settled into it now, and made my peace with that.”
Video: Monash Indigenous Graduate Program
Click here for more news from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine