Co-curricular (Volunteer) Programs

The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences run a number of co-curricular programs. The aim of these not for credit programs is to provide students with voluntary workplace experience over and above the requirements of their course.  Students will receive recognition for completing these programs in their Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) when they graduate.

Available Programs


Additional information can be found at the end of this webpage, following the list of programs.

ProgramDetails
Collaborative Online International Learning: Crossing Borders in Health Professions Education (2026)

Program Title (AHEGS):
Collaborative Online International Learning: Crossing Borders in Health Professions Education

Unit Set Code: CC-ACT1018

Program Description (AHEGS):
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences students enrolled in this program participate in an online curriculum alongside peers representing diverse health professions, cultures and nations, in a global classroom environment. Students collaborate within small, interprofessional, and intercultural teams to deepen their understanding of global healthcare challenges and explore innovative solutions.

Program Information:

This year, students will collaborate with peers from Monash University Malaysia and the University of Padua, Italy.

Through a series of four 2-hour online sessions delivered via Zoom, students work in small, diverse teams to explore global healthcare challenges and co-design innovative, patient-centred solutions. The program fosters a safe and engaging space for students to share cultural perspectives, develop mutual understanding, and participate in structured intercultural and interprofessional activities.

A key feature of the program is the use of adaptive AI simulation, which helps deepen students’ cultural competence and reflective practice.

This collaborative program prepares future healthcare professionals to lead and deliver inclusive, culturally responsive care across global and diverse settings.

Location: Online
Duration: 4 (2 hours) sessions spread over 3-4 weeks, totalling 8 hours
Dates: Thursday, 8th October, Tuesday 13th October, Thursday 15th October, Tuesday 20th October.
Session Times: 6-8pm (Melbourne time) 
Selection criteria: Selected students need to have completed 48 credit points at the time of application (undergraduate), a minimum WAM 60%, exemplary track-record.  Further selection criteria may apply.
Application process: EOI form for COIL: 
https://monash.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7ZF64WLkpb5f2wm
Contact: coil.fmnhs@monash.edu
Application Deadline: Monday, 31st August 2026
Degree/Disciplines eligible to apply: 
Eligible students within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Australia, and Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.

At the conclusion of the program, you must submit a 500 word reflection on your experience within 2 weeks of completing the program.

Please note that students who complete their Monash course prior to the conclusion of the COIL program will not be able to have their participation reflected on their academic transcript. However, they will be awarded a COIL certificate upon successful completion of all program requirements.

Indo-Pacific  Collaborative Health Immersion Program: Vietnam (2025)Program Title (AHEGS): Indo-Pacific Collaborative Health Immersion Program: Vietnam

Unit Set Code: CC-ACT1003

Program Description (AHEGS):

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences students enrolled in this program design and participate in voluntary workplace experience that broadens personal and professional perspectives on social issues in the context of health services. Student participation develops skills that enhance employability: communication, teamwork, leadership, appreciation of cultural diversity and problem solving. They will also gain an understanding of the workplace culture and multidisciplinary team environments. Enrolled students have participated in diverse activities including health service delivery in remote Australia, working with local NGOs, and delivering health services overseas.

Program Information:

This program involves a two-week interprofessional health study tour program for students to visit and learn about healthcare in the Indo-Pacific region.  The initiative is supported by New Colombo Plan funding for eligible students. Students will spend time engaging with local culture, history and healthcare organisations, gaining invaluable regional health context, intercultural and collaborative experience to broaden understanding for future healthcare practice and deepen personal and professional development.

Location: Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Duration: 2 weeks
Dates: Summer A, 7/12/2025 - 19/12/2025
Selection criteria: Selected students need to have completed 48 credit points at the time of application (undergraduate), a minimum WAM 60%, exemplary professionalism track-record.  Further selection criteria may apply.
Application process: Apply via Monash Abroad Portal
Application Deadline: 8 August 2025
Funding Available: Monash Abroad Travel Grant 

Degree/Disciplines eligible to apply: 

  • Occupational Therapy (Year 3)
  • Physiotherapy (Year 3)
  • Paramedicine (Year 2)
  • Medicine (Year 3)
  • Nursing & Midwifery (Year 2)
  • Public Health & Health Sciences (Enrolled in PBH3008)
  • Nutrition Sciences (Year 3)
  • Radiography & Medical Imaging (Year 2)
  • and Radiation Sciences (Year 2).

Contacts: For more information on the program and specific requirements, please reach out to the contacts listed below:

At the conclusion of your volunteering program you must:

  1. Provide a “Confirmation of completion” statement signed by the supervisor at the volunteering agency, stating that the required hours of the volunteering activity has been completed.
  2. Submit a 500 word report of the experience to your course coordinator within 2 weeks of completing the volunteering activity
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Student Ambassador Program

Title (AHEGS): Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Student Ambassador Program

Unit Set Code:  CC-ACT1021

Description (AHEGS):

Student Ambassadors are representatives of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.  The selection process for this program is competitive. Ambassadors engage in a range of activities including; marketing and recruitment, peer support, student representation and teaching support. By participating in the program, students develop effective organisation and time management skills and undertake professional development in the areas of communication, leadership, teamwork and problem solving.

Program Information: 
Students enrolled in an MNHS coursework degree who undertake a minimum of 24 hours volunteer work across their degree for the Faculty and/or School in one or more of the four items listed below:

1.    Marketing & Recruitment
2.    Peer Support
3.    Student Representative
4.    Teaching Support

Degree/Disciplines: All MNHS disciplines
Location: Various
Duration: 24 hours across degree
Selection criteria:
Students who have completed 24 credit points of study in a coursework degree with a minimum WAM of 60% are eligible to apply for volunteer programs.

School Volunteering Opportunities: Your School/Department will advise you if they have volunteering opportunities available.  These usually include Open Day, Orientation, Change of Preference, Peer Mentoring and representation on committees.

Faculty Student Academic Progress Committee Representative: Students are nominated by the relevant student association or their school to be a representative.  Students are contacted directly via email.

Faculty MNHS Student Ambassador Program: (run by Faculty Marketing & Recruitment)
This opportunity is open to all current MNHS students and typically includes major events such as Open Day.
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/study/student-ambassadors (closed for 2026)

Faculty MNHS Social Media Ambassador Program (run by Faculty Marketing & Recruitment)
Faculty Ambassadors have the option to opt in as a Social Media Ambassador, which is an additional opportunity alongside their role as a Faculty MNHS Student Ambassador.

Recognition:
Students who complete a minimum of 24 hours of approved Faculty/School volunteering activities throughout their degree will receive recognition on their AHEGS statement when they graduate.

Students are requested to keep a record of the volunteering activities they have completed, including dates, hours completed and a contact for verification purposes.  This information needs to be provided to your School prior to course completion so that they may add it to your record.
Mentor - Monash Health Sciences Peer Mentoring Program

Program Title (AHEGS): Mentor - Monash Health Sciences Peer Mentoring Program

Unit Set Code: CC-ACT1019

Program Description (AHEGS):

The Monash Peer Mentoring Program is a voluntary program for health science students that enables Mentors to gain important employability skills including strong interpersonal and communication skills, leadership, organisation, problem solving, and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Program Information:

This program involves health science student peer mentors assisting with teaching and mentoring student cohorts from earlier year levels of the relevant course. Mentors gain an experience of working in academic and clinical learning environments, which contributes to preparing them for future professional roles. Students enrolled into this co-curricular unit engage in diverse activities, including facilitating practical sessions and providing academic support. This hands-on experience not only benefits the mentees but also
enriches the student mentors' understanding of teaching methodologies and peer collaboration. Through this program, student mentors develop a comprehensive appreciation of the relevant health science profession, the role of educator and contribute to a supportive learning community. The volunteer mentors contribute a minimum of 30 hours.

Degree/Disciplines: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) - M3002

Location: Peninsula campus
Duration: 30 hours (minimum)
Dates: Semester 1 each year
Selection criteria:  Students who will be in their 4th year of the Physiotherapy degree during the program with a minimum WAM of 60% are eligible to apply.

Application process: The Physiotherapy Department will send out an email to the relevant cohort.
Application Deadline: 31 January

Completion Requirement: Students must submit a 500 word reflective piece in addition to the 30 hours of volunteer mentoring.

Contact for students:  spahc.physiotherapy.placements@monash.edu

Reflections in health professions education

Program Title (AHEGS): Reflections in health professions education

Unit Set Code: CC-ACT1020

Program Description (AHEGS):

Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences students enrolled in this program will collaborate with educators and fellow students to co-create an online learning resource focused on engaging in reflective practice and writing reflections. Student participation in this program deepens their understanding of reflective practice, which is critical in health professions education and enhances students’ employability, teamwork and communication skills. They can also make a meaningful contribution to the learning experience of future students in health professions education courses.

Program Information:

Students will collaborate with educators and fellow students to co-create an online learning resource focused on engaging in reflective practice and writing reflections. Participation in this project involves attending three Zoom meetings (90 minutes each) with an educator and a few fellow students and discussing the content of the resource via email (30 minutes). In these Zoom sessions, students and educators will work together to brainstorm ideas, write the content and types of tasks in a shared Google Docs, and review the materials collaboratively. Zoom meetings will be between Monday 30 March 2026 to Friday 26 June 2026 on dates and times that are convenient for all team members.

After completion of the project, the learning resource will be made available in several programs across Monash University and students' names will be listed as a contributor to the project.

6-18 students and 6 staff

Degree/Disciplines: Must be enrolled in a course offered by one of the following disciplines/courses offered at the undergraduate or postgraduate level:

Public Health, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work, Nutrition & Dietetics, Clinical Psychology, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Therapy

Location: online
Duration: 5 hours.  Three Zoom meetings (90 minutes each), and email discussion (30 minutes).  Zoom meetings will be held from Monday 30 March 2026 to Friday 26 June 2026, and will be scheduled at times that suit both students and educators.

Meeting dates: To be determined by educators and students

Selection criteria:
Students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate course in one of the listed disciplines offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences are invited to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

Student contributors will be selected by the project team with the aim of forming a diverse group that reflects a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, including both living and lived experiences within our student community at Monash University.

Application process: Complete the EOI

Application Deadline: Friday 20 March 2026

Voluntary workplace activities that support community health (2025)

Program Title (AHEGS): Voluntary workplace activities that support community health

Unit Set Code: CC-ACT1003

Program Description (AHEGS):

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences students enrolled in this program design and participate in voluntary workplace experience that broadens personal and professional perspectives on social issues in the context of health services. Student participation develops skills that enhance employability: communication, teamwork, leadership, appreciation of cultural diversity and problem solving. They will also gain an understanding of the workplace culture and multidisciplinary team environments. Enrolled students have participated in diverse activities including health service delivery in remote Australia, working with local NGOs, and delivering health services overseas.

Program Information:
Students attend a voluntary placement at a community venue for approximately 30 hours.  More information will be emailed to students once they become available.

Degree/Disciplines eligible to apply: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (M3002), Doctor of Physiotherapy (M6032), spahc.physiotherapy.placements@monash.edu

At the conclusion of your volunteering program you must:

  1. Provide a “Confirmation of completion” statement signed by the supervisor at the volunteering agency, stating that the required hours of the volunteering activity has been completed.
  2. Submit a 500 word report of the experience to your course coordinator within 2 weeks of completing the volunteering activity

Additional Information

At least a month before commencement of the program students must:

What happens next?

Once you have completed the requirements of the program, it will be recorded against your course.  The title and description of the program will be included on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) when you graduate.

Further Information

Check your Moodle site for information or contact your School/Department: www.ask.monash

Previous Co-Curricular Programs

Staff information

Process information can be found here: Co-Curricular Business Process.