Social inclusion is the winner
Professor Ed Byrne with Mr Craig Rowe, Monash South Africa Community Engagement, a Social Inclusion Award winner.
The extraordinary efforts of the Monash staff who enhance the University's commitment to social justice have been recognised at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Social Inclusion Awards.
Held on 29 March, and hosted by Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor David Copolov, the awards recognised the efforts of staff and students who contribute significantly to the University’s commitment to human rights.
Musician and performer Peter Rotumah provided an engaging Acknowledgment of Country before Vice-Chancellor Professorial Fellow, The Honorable Dr Kay Patterson provided the keynote presentation.
Dr Patterson reflected on her 20-year association with the University and noted how social inclusion had evolved over time.
"Monash has set itself very ambitious goals for social inclusion and it provides a challenge for the whole University community,” Dr Patterson said.
“Academics and non-academic staff alike, everybody has a challenge that they have to meet. We should never be complacent.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ed Byrne, congratulated all nominees, and presented awards to:
Dr Scott Firsing, Monash South Africa International Studies
Dr Firsing founded Young People in International Affairs in July 2011, envisioning a non-government organisation that would give Africans an opportunity to expand their knowledge of international affairs as well as find employment, share academic work and participate in events.
Kim Davies, Faculty of Education
Ms Davies is a leader on social disadvantage and works in partnership with The Smith Family and the local Gippsland education community. Ms Davies developed a social inclusion curriculum that was embedded as a core unit, Spaces of Difference, in the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) and the Bachelor of Education (Primary).
Mandy Lau, Faculty of Art Design & Architecture
Ms Lau completed her Master of Design in 2011 and for her industrial design project created a Braille learning aid for blind or visually impaired children. Working in collaboration with Vision Australia, Braille teachers, physiotherapists and childhood educators, the ‘Reach and Match’ aid was developed.
The Nursing and Midwifery team, Gippsland campus
Comprising of Robyn Adams, Mark Browning, Cheryl Hutchinson, Elisabeth Jacob, Ainsley James, Karen Missen, Walter Noppert, Elaine Smart, Associate Professor Pamela Wood and Annette Woodhouse, the team developed a satellite teaching model to enable rural students to access university studies. In collaboration with the East Gippsland Institute of TAFE and the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School the team addressed issues of equity and support for students from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Dr Gerry Rayner and Dr Juliey Beckman, School of Biological Sciences
Drs Rayner and Beckman developed an academic mentorship program, initially funded by an Access Monash grant, for commencing science students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program includes weekly student-mentor meetings and group meetings. Due to its success, the School of Biological Sciences will continue to fund the program.
Vlad Prpich, Cassianne Martin and Jonathan Brown, Monash Residential Services
Mr Prpich, Ms Martin and Mr Brown coordinated the building of the new Halls of Residence to address the shortage of rental housing and rapidly rising rents to benefit students from low socio-economic backgrounds. The buildings have a five star green rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. The Halls have been named after two Indigenous women; Mrs Geraldine Briggs AO and Mrs Merle Jackomos OAM as a sign of respect for and acknowledgment of the valuable contribution made by Indigenous people in their communities and to the University.
Dr Catherine Flynn, Dr Kerry Brydon and Dr Robyn Mason, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Drs Flynn, Brydon and Mason responded to a request from the Go8 Vice-Chancellors to offer support and educational assistance to the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). The team provided supervisor training and input to improve information management systems, developed linkages between the PNG Association of Social Workers and the Australian Association of Social Workers and negotiated pathways for UPNG students to move from their honours degrees into PhDs.
Craig Rowe and Bronwyn du Rand, Monash South Africa Community Engagement
Mr Rowe and Ms du Rand facilitate and advocate for a wide range of educational, health and social inclusion programs for low socio-economic and Indigenous students and communities within and beyond Monash South Africa. Their program is supported by over 900 student and academic volunteers who developed the Digital Doorway project in Zandspruit, resource and manage the Saturday School for children and established the Krishna Khetia Library.
For more information and photos please visit the Vice-Chancellor’s Social Inclusion Awards 2012 website.