Education Industry and Community
The programs that receive this Award must have demonstrated their ability to respond to community or industry needs and shape a response in a manner that is mutually beneficial to both Monash and the partnering organisation.
2025 'Give it a Nudge’: Intern-Led Health Promotion Campaigns
Ben Emery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS), Monash University
In collaboration with: Cancer Council Victoria, Monash University community, and metropolitan hospital preceptors
The ‘Give it a Nudge’ health promotion initiative empowers Monash University pharmacy interns to become proactive agents of public health by designing and delivering real-world, community-focused campaigns. Grounded in adult learning and experiential education principles, the program reimagines a core assessment task, health promotion, into a meaningful vehicle for social accountability and community engagement.
Since 2023, the program has expanded from hospital-based settings into university campuses and broader public spaces, supporting interns to lead activations on smoking cessation, mental wellbeing, sun safety, and bowel cancer screening. By partnering with Cancer Council Victoria, interns gained access to resources, mentorship, and campaign platforms that amplified their reach and professional confidence.
Over three years, interns have facilitated eight health activations, directly engaging hundreds of community members and generating significant positive outcomes. Participants and interns alike reported meaningful shifts in cultural responsiveness, communication, and advocacy skills.
These experiences catalyse growth beyond the curriculum, turning pharmacists-in-training into health champions. The model’s success has attracted continued support from Cancer Council Victoria, with future collaborations already underway for 2026 and beyond. ‘Give it a Nudge’ demonstrates how thoughtfully designed experiential learning can elevate student impact and community health, one meaningful contact at a time.
2024 Industry engagement and employability (Industry Education Program)
Laurence Orlando
The Employability Program at Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a flagship initiative designed to seamlessly connect students with industry, ensuring they graduate with the skills, confidence, and networks to excel. This program combines carefully curated placement opportunities, industry-driven curriculum units, and standout events like Employability Week and the annual Cosmetic Expo.
Employability Week offers students a transformative experience, featuring workshops on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and professional pitching. Students visit top-tier companies and engage in dynamic "speed-dating" interviews with industry representatives, gaining actionable feedback. Over 20 leading companies, including Ego Pharmaceuticals, DuluxGroup, and Aesop, participate annually, reflecting the program’s extensive industry connections.
The placement program stands out for its precision. Students’ preferences are matched with industry needs, with multiple interviews to ensure the perfect fit. These internships often lead directly to full-time employment, with over 120 students securing meaningful placements annually.
The curriculum is deeply integrated with real-world industry practices. Units like HPLC Method Development and Design of Experiments teach technical skills highly valued in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. A highlight is the Cosmetic Expo, where students showcase their product formulations and branding projects to over 50 industry leaders. This expo is not only an academic capstone but also a prime networking opportunity, with many students securing roles through the event.
Monash’s Employability Program exemplifies excellence in industry-aligned education, combining technical expertise, tailored opportunities, and sustained alumni engagement to deliver unparalleled career outcomes.
2024 Planetary Health Virtual Exchange (Community Education Program)
Catherine Forrester, Associate Professor Daniel Malone, Alastair Thomas, Professor Tina Brock (Melbourne University), Hayley Blackburn (University of Montana), Lindsay Benes (Montana State University), Beth Gillespie (University of Colorado), and Peter McDonough (University of Montana)
The Planetary Health Virtual Exchange is an innovative program allowing pharmacy, nursing, and medical students to learn collaboratively, internationally and across professions. Launched by a team from Monash University and partners at the University of Montana, Montana State University, and University of Colorado, this program connects students to address urgent climate and health challenges.
Participants engage in a series of interactive sessions that promote cultural awareness and global thinking. By working together online, students gain diverse perspectives on planetary health issues, developing critical competencies needed for future healthcare practice. The program encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary learning among students. So far, 57 students have participated in the full course, and additional student groups have joined in tailored mini-exchanges. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with students reporting significant learning from peers and increased confidence in tackling complex topics.
This co-curricular program allows Monash Pharmacy students to enhance their academic experience and professional development, and links them with further opportunities for leadership and engagement in related initiatives. By demonstrating the importance of working together across disciplines and borders to promote sustainable healthcare and preparing students to become informed leaders in planetary health, the program aims to make a lasting impact on both individual learners and the communities they serve.
2023 Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) Internship Program
Team: Michelle McIntosh, Tri-Hung Nguyen, Paul Wynne, Ruth Howell, Andrew McIntosh, Charlie Dong, William O’Malley, Shadab Haque, Ken Margo, Maiada Sadek, Yassmin Samak, Christine Tolotchkov, Sally Sim, Aaron Larson, Transon Nguyen, Igor Chekhtman, David Rudd, Rafeed Ferdous, Michael Whittaker, Megan Faith, Truong Dang, Irvine Setiawan, Matt Persons, Tiffany Reeves
The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) is a partnership between the Victorian State Government, Monash University and the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) and works closely with pharmaceutical and allied industries to provide advanced solutions in formulation development, characterisation, analytical chemistry and scale-up. Key to supporting local industry, the MMIC Internship Program aims to support the next generation of job-ready candidates, equipping participants with industry-relevant research and professional skills. The program provides an immersive experience where interns are integrated into the team and assigned a mentor, gaining hands-on experience working on industry-based projects. Interns also participate in professional development workshops and are exposed to industry-relevant practices, including record-keeping and quality management systems.
Since the commencement of the internship program in 2017, the MMIC has hosted over 65 students, with 90% of former interns at the graduate level working in the sector or undertaking postgraduate studies. In line with supporting local industry, over 89% of our graduate interns continue to work in Victoria. In drawing on intern feedback on the program, reoccurring themes have included opportunities to problem-solve on industry-relevant projects, building confidence in communication with co-workers, mentors and clients, establishing professional networks with fellow interns and researchers in the field and the ability to discern between academic and industry research careers simultaneously. With facilities at MIPS and the Monash Technology Precinct, the program leverages opportunities to work in close proximity with leading industry partners, institutes and centres, placing our interns at the centre of emerging innovation and technologies.