wearemonash

[wearemonash]

Dayton welcomes you to #MonashOpenDay

We welcome Dayton to Monash University’s Open Day. Well, actually, Dayton welcomes you. You see, it’s been a year since Dayton first rocked up to Open Day - excited by the prospect of the year ahead. Since 2016, Dayton has enrolled at Monash and is officially a First Year student! Congratulations Dayton! 

So, welcome to #WeAreMonash and Wominjeka Monash and it’s time for us to get to know you beyond those awkward moves and starey smile!

I'm currently obsessed with: my timetable, navigating the campus and getting ready for #MonashOpenDay

Describe what I do in 3 words: Inspire. Support. Encourage.

What I love about Monash: it always feels like home.

My best day so far: the day I received my student card. 

My favourite space in Monash is: I love hanging with Dad outside the New Horizons building at Clayton campus, but anywhere that has great food and entertainment.

My hidden talent is: yet to be discovered.

A piece of advice I live by/LifeHack: Ancora Imparo (Yes, really!)

My nickname is: Rob Ot and Dayt (sometimes I’m referred to as that mascot with the weird smile)

My favourite bar snack is: Nuts and Bolts - recipe.

My playlist that I listen to when I'm sad/stressed/happy:  I should say heavy metal but I love any music that I can cheerlead to or that gives me vibes on the basketball court. 

What’s some advice based on your Open Day from last year (nice pic btw): To get lost on campus isn’t a directive it’s inevitable! So remember to ask, ask and ask, about everything! Everyone loves to help - they really do! 

One of the things about #MonashOpenDay that’s making me nervous: Well, I am usually the #1 Robot in town. This year my friends at Engineering decided to invite YuMi. Okay, so YuMi’s seriously smart but arguably lacks personality (not to mention a head, seriously!). Pfft selfies. 

My dream career: starring alongside Megan Fox in Transformers.

If I could dine anywhere in the world: it would have to be at the Robot Restaurant in Japan. Or Robot Sushi in Melbourne.

#Monash University #open day #dayton

[wearemonash]

Women in STEM

Professor Cordelia Selomulya

As one of the high profile speakers at this week’s Future Women Leaders Conference, Professor Cordelia Selomulya will share her experience as a research scientist and some of the challenges she has overcome to achieve success in her career. The Future Women Leaders Conference is a unique event specially designed to support women in engineering to progress their academic careers and is being held at Clayton campus.

A PhD in Chemical Engineering, Cordelia leads the Monash Advanced Particle Engineering Laboratory. Here, she conducts research with Departments of Immunology and Microbiology on nanoparticle vaccines. This includes the design and delivery of vaccines for ovarian cancer and malaria.

Cordelia has taken time out of her schedule to share some insights into her world of science, engineering and ... karaoke. 

Describe what I do in three words: research and teaching.

What I love about Monash: the great support in research, teaching, and student engagement, especially at the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Why I love what I do: the freedom (within reason) to pursue my research goals in a supportive environment.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Worrying won't add a single productive second in life.

My hidden talent is: karaoke.

I am currently listening to: anything playing on the radio / top 40.

The Future Women Leaders Conference is coming up, what does it aim to do? It aims to equip up-and-coming female engineering researchers with useful tools and strategies to develop their careers in academia. 

What advice would you give to students wanting a career in STEM? It is worth the hard yards and it is the next generation of graduates who will be the ones to tackle current and future challenges in energy supply, food security, water distribution, environmental issues and so much more. 

What are some of the challenges faced by women in Science? To recruit and help these bright women to develop their demanding careers in STEM, especially since the majority of family responsibilities still fall to women.

Cordelia is Director of the Graduate Research Industry Partnership (GRIP) for the Food and Dairy Industry and Director of the Australia-China Joint Research Centre (ACJRC) in Future Dairy Manufacturing.

As an ARC Future Fellow, Cordelia conducts research on the manufacturing of high-value particles for functional foods and pharmaceutical industries.

Cordelia's leads the Biotechnology and Food Engineering group, with an internationally recognised reputation in drying technology research. She has ongoing collaborations with a number of universities and private companies from across the globe, including the dairy industry. Her work with the industry has been highlighted in Chemical Processing, Monash Magazine, and internationally (Science Daily, ABC International).

#monashuniversity #stemm #science #research #wearemonash

[wearemonash]

A Voice from the Outer Sanctum

Dr Kate Seear

A Senior Lecturer at Monash Law School, Dr Kate Seear is an author, practising lawyer and footy-mad podcaster. As Academic Director at Springvale Monash Legal Service, Kate has penned several works exploring the intersection of law, gender, drugs and sport. Kate is also the number one ticket holder of Box Hill’s VFLW team, along with fellow podcasters Emma Race, Nicole Hayes, Alicia Sometimes, Lucy Race and Felicity Race. Their podcast ‘The Outer Sanctum’ has recently been picked up by ABC radio. Focusing on diverse and unconventional stories in the AFL, The Outer Sanctum made headlines last year by breaking the ‘Eddie McGuire and Caroline Wilson’ controversy.

“Each week, we examine the social, cultural and political aspects of sport, unpack the big issues of the day and share our passion for all that is beautiful and all that is absurd about this great game,” she said.

Why did you choose your career path?

I studied sociology and law at Monash and when I finished university, went straight into practising law. While I loved many aspects of it, I found something about it unsatisfying, and really wanted to combine my interest in critical thinking with law. I really enjoyed my studies at Monash and had always longed to do a PhD. Once I started, I knew that academia was for me. I love the opportunity it gives to engage with ideas and to think creatively about big social problems.

You’re the author of two books: Making Disease, Making Citizens: The politics of hepatitis C (with Associate Professor Suzanne Fraser) and The Making of a Modern Epidemic: Endometriosis, Gender and Politics. Are there any more projects on the horizon?

Yes. I am currently working on an edited book collection (with colleagues Dr Claire Spivakovsky and Dr Adrian Carter), which looks at mental health, alcohol and other drug ‘addiction’, impairment and forced treatment. It will contain chapters from scholars from a wide range of disciplines, including law, criminology, ethics and public health. I’m also working on a sole-authored book looking at concepts of addiction and law: it draws on ideas from my two previous books, including feminist theory, science and technology studies theory and critical legal studies.

What did you love most about Monash as a student and what do you enjoy most now as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law?

As a student I loved encountering new ideas. I remember reading feminist theory and other critical social theory for the first time and suddenly feeling that a whole new world had been opened up to me. I’ve not lost that interest in ideas, especially critical thinking about big social problems. As a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law there are many things I love. I love being able to combine critical ideas with studying and practising law. I’ve also got a really unique job, in that I teach into our faculty’s clinical legal education program. I get to teach law students how to do the practical work of lawyering while helping some of our community’s most vulnerable and needy clients. I love being able to combine teaching and practising law in this way, and to have conversations with my students about the importance of social justice.

One of my proudest achievements to date is…

Winning an Australian Research Council DECRA fellowship to conduct research on alcohol and other drugs and the law. It’s a great honour to win such a prestigious fellowship and to have the opportunity to invest time in researching something in such depth. The fellowship has taken me to Canada and this year will take me across Australia, interviewing lawyers and judges. I’m talking to people about how they conceptualise ‘addiction’ and its relationship to some of the biggest issues facing our nation, such as family violence. I’m really interested in exploring how responsibility, agency and gender are understood in relation to alcohol and other drug use.

My background in sociology, gender and the law adds to The Outer Sanctum podcast by…

Giving me a bit of an unusual perspective on things. My background – and my research – is interdisciplinary, and combines ideas from feminism, legal ethics, critical social theory and more, so that tends to come out in our discussions on issues like racism, sexism, violence against women, the appropriate approach to sanctioning players and so on. It’s also been helpful when finding the right people to interview when issues arise, and when conducting interviews with our guests. I particularly enjoy speaking to people working across academia, policy, and regulation. I’ve also learnt a great deal through this work.  

I’m thrilled we’re partnering with the ABC because…

It gives us a national audience. We’ve interviewed a number of incredible people for our podcast, including academics. I love the idea that people from all over Australia might now get to hear voices and perspectives they hadn’t heard before.

What made you and your fellow podcasters start The Outer Sanctum?

We felt there was a gap in media commentary about AFL football. Most mainstream media is produced by men, and covers off on a narrow range of issues about the game. We felt that there was a need to move beyond talking about facts and stats, although these are interesting and important, and to get at some of the bigger social, cultural, political and legal aspects of footy. Plus, we love talking about footy, and thought it would be fun.

Why is it so important to have voices from the ‘outer’ talk about footy in the public sphere, rather than just the mainstream media?

There are a number of sports journalists who do great work and that I admire very much. That said, there’s a lack of diversity – such as women, Indigenous people, people from LGBTQI backgrounds, people living with disabilities. Issues that affect these communities – such as racism, sexism and homophobia – are often spoken about through sport, but those in the mainstream media don’t always consult with those affected. In my research, there’s a saying that people hold dearly: “Nothing about us without us”. We try to deliver on that motto by giving people outside of the mainstream media an opportunity to talk about the issues that impact them. And as we learnt through the Caroline Wilson/Eddie McGuire incident last year (a story that became front page news because of our podcast), mainstream media can sometimes overlook or dismiss important issues. 

The best thing about The Outer Sanctum podcast is…

The people I’ve had the opportunity to meet. These include the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins; violence against women campaigner Phil Cleary; and renowned sports journalist Caroline Wilson. We’ve also got a loyal and passionate fan base, and although we only engage with many of our listeners online, I’ve loved hearing their thoughts on all the big issues we encounter through sport.

The most exciting moment of the AFLW season this year was…

The opening game between Collingwood and Carlton. It was a lockout, with thousands of people unable to get into the ground. So many people had said that the competition would be a failure and that no-one would be interested in women’s footy. Seeing nearly 30,000 people turn up to that game – proving the naysayers wrong – was truly thrilling.

My prediction for this year’s AFL Grand Final (men’s):

I’m an extremely one eyed Hawthorn supporter and no matter how bad we’re going, I never ever tip against us. So Hawthorn. (They won’t win of course; I’m tipping Adelaide to do the AFLW/AFLM double).

My hidden talent is…

Impersonating Celine Dion.

I barrack for Hawthorn because…

My dad does. I managed to rope my younger sister in as well, giving us three family members who go for Hawthorn, and two who go for Richmond.

What are the ‘bizarre superstitions’ you pay attention to in the lead-up to Hawthorn’s finals campaigns?

There are so many, but my personal ones involve what I wear to the game, what I eat at the game, what condiments to use, and how to position my scarf.

I’m currently obsessed with…

Danish furniture and mid-century modernism, along with true crime, critical theory and academic podcasts. For students, I’d recommend “Always Already”, which is a critical theory podcast. I am currently listening to Russell Brand’s “Under the skin” series, which is fascinating, and like many other people, I adored “S-Town”. I’d recommend both those podcasts.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack:

Literally anything from the mouth of Albus Dumbledore. I love his idea that "Words are … our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it." 

My ideal world would be…

One in which community legal centres were properly funded and able to provide support to everyone who cannot afford a lawyer and needs one.

Twitter: @Kate_Seear

#podcast #profile #law #sociology #afl #football #feminism #sport #monash university

[wearemonash]

A PhD with a difference.

Imagine paddling your way through a PhD. Imagine that the open water of Bass Strait is your study environment and your pens, computers and books are a distant memory - in much the same way as the land mass you left behind yesterday.

Beau Miles is an outdoor education lecturer at Monash’s Peninsula campus and is in the closing phase of his PhD 'The Secret Life of the Sea Kayaker', based primarily around the filming and crossing of Bass Strait in a sea kayak. This latest adventure combines his passion for the outdoors, filmmaking and education. He’s also keen to promote the joys of life at sea and hopes that through his journeys that he can encourage future educators to look beyond the lecture theatre for a different kind of student (and life) experience.

I am a lecturer of Outdoor Education here at Monash. I am an unretired adventurer who loves teaching about adventure (within Outdoor Ed) and busting out of the office every so often to be/go somewhere else. There is a great strength in bottling up and sharing ideas as a lecturer and letting it flow into an embodied, physical pursuit off campus. I’m currently obsessed with: Married at first sight. Fascinating, for about 15 minutes, then the over production kills it for me. I think the farmer/truck driver couple should move to a neutral location to save their relationship. Describe what I do in three words: Do. Eat. Do. What I love about Monash: I bought a Monash t-shirt when I first started as an undergrad (1999) and cut the sleeves off when I started paddling (to avoid chafe). I still wear it today. It speaks volumes of the fact that I’ve been loyal to the brand, idea and community of Monash for my entire adult life. ‘It’, has shaped me. My favourite space @ Monash: 'The Shed’, in a secret location, not unlike the Bat Cave, that houses the Monash fleet of canoes, surfboards and kayaks. It has racks of camping stoves and snorkel kits, buckets of tent pegs and mouldy lost ‘n’ found. The place is full of potential- where we can go in the world, and what marvellous things we can do! My hidden talent is: Eating bananas. (18 in one sitting whilst on a tall ship once. I went yellow.) A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Try and get places under your own steam. Squeeze the day for physical worth and your mind will love you for it. My office at Peninsula is like no other office because: It has a picture of my future wife Helen hanging on the wall. If someone else has a picture of Helen it would be weird. And, I get to watch the South Westerly roll in over the Bay.

What I love about my job at Monash is: Engaging with students (friends) who are happy and have a genuine adventurous spirit (that is outdoor ed). I asked a bunch of students to climb a tree once to 'not think’. One chap fell asleep. The strangeness seemed to refresh people. My favourite outdoor experience is: This is super hard to answer? Like asking a writer what their favourite word is? Ummm…mighty fond of more fishing. To survive in the outdoors, the three things you need are: A Snickers, a hat, and a spare hat. The biggest misconception people have about Outdoor Education is: That you have to 'smell’. You actually do, but everyone does, so it cancels you out, and you smell normal. Even if you are a couch potato or not the adventurous sort, you can still enjoy the outdoors by: Knowing that snakes bite people who love the outdoors as much as those that don’t. The hardest thing I’ve ever done to challenge myself is: To get going on day 10 of 14 where I ran from Canberra to Melbourne (Walhalla), over the mountains. My leg was buggered, and my mind was rattled. To relax, I: Watch other people watch TV: Gogglebox. My next big challenge is: Having kids with potentially red hair and keeping a hat on their head.

Beau Miles will launch his film series Friday 10 March at Peninsula’s George Jenkins Theatre. 

Beau’s journeys and his PhD film series is being released in coming weeks at http://beaumilesfilm.com/   

#monash university peninsulacampus kayakingadventures kayaklife wearemonash outdooreducation education

[wearemonash]

Paula Gerber

Monash Law School Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Dr Paula Gerber has been a lawyer for over 25 years, moving from private practice to academia in 2000. Professor Gerber is an internationally renowned legal scholar with expertise in two distinct areas of research; international human rights law and construction law. 

I’m currently obsessed with: The rights of siblings. The separation of Baby Gammy from his sister Pipah got me thinking about the extent to which children have a right to a relationship with their siblings. We hear a lot about children having a right to a relationship with parents, but their connection with their siblings seems to have been largely neglected as a human rights issue. Describe what I do in three words: Advocate 4 human rights (assuming the number doesn't count as a word!) What I love about Monash: The fantastic people I get to 'work' with. The amazing colleagues I get to collaborate with, and the important issues we get to teach, research and write about, means that most of the time it doesn't feel like work. My favorite space @ Monash: I sound like a nerd - but my office! It is great for thinking and writing and thus a very productive space for me. Plus, I always have my office door open, so a lot of my colleagues pop in and have a chat on their way to the kitchen to get their coffee. My hidden talent is: If I tell you, it won't be hidden any longer! A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Don't be afraid to take risks. Some of the greatest things that have happened in my life, were only possible because I threw caution to the wind, e.g. moving to California with no job lined up, but optimistic that things would work out ok, and they did. I spent a fabulous 5 years there working as an attorney. I was drawn to the human rights aspect of the law because: My father fled Nazi Germany and came to Australia as a refugee in 1939. Many of his family weren't so lucky, and perished in the concentration camps. So knowledge of persecution and human rights violations is something I grew up with. On top of that, as a member of the LGBTIQ community, I also have firsthand experience of discrimination. So fighting for equality and justice, while professionally rewarding, is also a very personal issue for me. In my experience some people find it hard to accept LGBTIQ+ rights as human rights because: It tends to come down to one of two things - culture or religion. Both of which, I believe, can largely be addressed through education and constructive dialogue. It is not helpful to call every person opposed to LGBTIQ rights, homophobic. We need to engage in respectful conversations, even if we are not always treated with respect by those who refuse to accept that we are all equal, regardless of our sexual orientation, gender identity of intersex status. When Australia achieves marriage equality, will that be the end of the fight for LGBTIQ rights here? I wish! Alas there will still be much to be done, not only in Australia but also in our region. There are still 20 countries in the Asia Pacific region where it is a crime to be gay. So their fight for equal rights, equality and respect is going to be continuing for some time to come. The Midsumma Pride March celebrates Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ community. Monash University’s involvement in this is significant because: Monash University was founded on the principles of social justice and human rights, and has always advocated for diversity and inclusion. Our participation in Pride March reflects this and sends a strong message that at Monash, LGBTIQ students, staff and the broader community can expect to be welcomed, valued and respected. It complements the other wonderful initiatives we have to support our LGBTIQ community, including the Ally Network and the great annual events we hold around International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). One of my proudest achievements to date is: On the personal side, definitely my 3 children - a daughter aged 10 and twin boys who just turned 8. Although it is a cliche, they do complete me. On the professional side, I am proud of the fact that my research and advocacy played a small part in Victoria becoming the first jurisdiction in Australia to expunge convictions for homosexual 'offences' form the days when it was a crime to engage in consensual same-sex sexual conduct. I was filled with pride when I sat in Parliament to witness the passing of legislation to expunge these convictions, and then again when Premier Daniel Andrews apologised to the LGBTI community for the fact that these odious laws had ever been part of Victoria's legal history. To relax, I... take my dogs for walks. I have 2 working dogs -  a border collie and a kelpie - so they need lots of exercising! My ideal world would be...one where there is universal enjoyment of human rights. Where all people are respected and treated with dignity regardless of their race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity etc... My next big challenge is: Achieving my ideal world - see answer above!

Follow Paula -  Web: https://paulagerber.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrPaulaGerber The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/profiles/paula-gerber-4812

Learn more about LGBTIQ at Monash

#WeAreMonash #HumanRights #Equality #Law #Midsumma #LGBTIQ

[wearemonash]

Jack Gerrard 

Cairns native, swimwear ambassador and Monash MBBS (Hons) student Jack Gerrard recently faced off against the best of the best at the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships.

I’m currently obsessed with: Nutribullet fruit juices.

Describe what I do in three words: (Eat,) Swim, Study, Sleep

What I love about Monash: The facilities and the staff. At the Monash Medical School we are fortunate to have access to international cutting edge technology such as 3-D Anatomy Printing, and digital learning programs that make textbook learning so much easier. I am really grateful to work with all the staff at Monash, who are always friendly, thoughtful, understanding and genuinely caring. People work tirelessly to help me achieve my goals of balancing a busy training and study schedule.

My hidden talent is: Gardening

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Never give up

My favorite place to eat is: At home. Specifically sitting down, I can’t walk and eat at the same time haha

The best part of my silver medal wins at this year’s FINA Swimming World Cup was: Getting to make friends with so many world-class athletes from around the world. The atmosphere on the World Cup Circuit is more relaxed than other International events so it’s a great opportunity to really enjoy racing at a high level.

Being the only Monash representative at the upcoming World Championships, I hope to: swim personal best times in all my races. My ultimate goal is to learn as much as I can on my first Australian Team to then use the experience to better myself in 2017 and build into the Commonwealth Games in 2018

To keep a balance between my studies and sporting endeavours, I: I find that my training and studying complement each other well because they are both different and challenging in their own way. Usually if I have spare time I try to just rest and spend time with family, however, I also enjoy working with Funky Trunks Swimwear, trying on their latest race suits and modelling swimwear as its always fun and takes my mind away from training and study.

My involvement with the Monash Elite Student Performer Scheme has enabled me to: progress through my medical course whilst also improving myself in the pool. I know for a fact that without the help of the Medical faculty and TeamMONASH, I could not achieve half of what I have in my swimming. I am very lucky to have the support from a great network of dedicated staff

Being a swimwear model and ambassador is a tough gig because: I get to work with fun people, wear comfy Funky Trunks gear, do lots of swimming, meet up and coming athletes who are inspired to be better, spend hours out in the sun because photo shoots usually need good weather, and so on. It’s really tough.

Follow Jack - Instagram: @jackhgerrard/ and featured on @funkytrunks

#WeAreMonash #JackGerrard #FunkyTrunks #TEAMMonash #Swimmer

[wearemonash]

Councillor Jami Klisaris, Mayor of Stonnington City Council

At 24, Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) graduate student Jami is the youngest ever elected Mayor for the City of Stonnington. She has a vision for the Council - to advocate against domestic violence, promote women's sports and fight against inappropriate development.  

I’m currently obsessed with: Decorating my new house.

Describe what I do in three words: Lead, listen, care

What I love about Monash: I love the learning environment at Monash, I’ve always had amazing lecturers who have contributed to my love of learning.

My hidden talent is: I’ve been playing the piano since I was 4.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Always be open minded.

My interest in governance and advocacy began when: I was 16 and I had started to realise that government was a male-dominated field, and I felt it was so important that more women and young people get involved!

My role models are: Definitely my dad. He has been involved with local government for 16 years and has always pushed me to help the community.

To relax, I….Watch TV! My current favourite show is Mad Men.

My advice for any student who wants to follow a similar path is...Just go for it! If you don’t put yourself out there, you’ll always wonder ‘what if’.

During my mayoral term, I hope to… Advocate and bring awareness to domestic violence.

Why I took up a Juris Doctor (Law).... I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from the age of 14. I liked the sound of the JD because it’s only 3 years long and the Chambers are in the City!

Next on the cards for me after completing my JD (Law): Work as a lawyer, but I don’t know what I’d like to specialise in yet!

Follow Stonnington City Council: 

Twitter: @StonningtonNews

Facebook: @StonningtonCityCouncil

#WeAreMonash #law #publicservice #local government

[wearemonash]

Dr Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Senior Lecturer in Criminology

Family violence - it’s not on. With three women killed by their intimate partners each fortnight in Australia, Dr Kate FItz-Gibbon is passionate about building the evidence base to help inform and reform legal responses to violence against women and children, and to improve their access to justice and justice outcomes. As a member of the 'Gender and Family Violence: New Frameworks in Prevention' research program in the Faculty of Arts, Dr Fitz-Gibbon has recently shared the program’s latest findings at the University’s White Ribbon Day event. 

I’m currently obsessed with: True crime podcasts.

Describe what I do in three words: Research, Inform, Advocate

What I love about Monash: The inspirational and motivating examples of female leadership all around me.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: The harder you work the luckier you get.

My interest in criminology was sparked when: I was an undergraduate student at Monash completing a Bachelor of Arts.

If I wasn’t a criminology researcher, I would be pursuing a career as a… Good question this feels like exactly what I should be doing with my life but as a child I wanted to be an actress so I'll go with that.

The most rewarding aspect of my career in criminology is ... Being able to inform and participate in reform of responses to violence against women.

The biggest misconception about domestic violence is… That it is someone else's problem. It is everyone's problem and we will need everyone to contribute if we are to successfully reduce and prevent family violence.

My most significant achievement has been … My first sole-authored book being cited in a judgement by the High Court of Australia.

I support the White Ribbon Campaign because… It engages men from all corners of the community who may not otherwise take an active role in standing up and speaking out on violence against women. Family violence has been declared a national emergency in Australia and the White Ribbon Campaign, along with others throughout the year, provides an opportunity to energise and engage with campaigns to prevent, better respond to and reassert the unacceptability of family violence.

Follow Dr Fitz-Gibbon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kate_FitzGibbon

Follow Monash Gender and Family Violence

Website: http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/gender-and-family-violence/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonashFV

#WeAreMonash #familyviolence #criminology #whiteribbon

[wearemonash]

Masad Alfayadh

Final Year Monash Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Student Masad is so passionate about helping others she volunteers both within and outside of the Monash community and has co-founded a student-focused not-for-profit Happy Brain Education.

I’m currently obsessed with: Learning Spanish and Dari Persian. I love both, and I couldn’t choose which one to commit to… so, I’m learning both at the same time. I am using ‘Pimsleur’, which is an amazing program but switching between languages is really confusing!

Describe what I do in three words: Plan my life (to the dot. Again. And again. And again. My little sister lives her life ‘as it comes’…. I have no idea how she can do that).  

What I love about Monash: so many things! My top 3 would be:

The staff. It’s so inspiring to see that amazing, accomplished academics are so accessible and still care about quality teaching & students. Thank you Dr Claire Harrison, Prof Michelle Leech, Prof Steve MacFarlane, Prof Jim Buttery, Dr Peter Gowdie and everyone at the Faculty of MNHS! It’s really nice to see that despite how big Monash is, it still exists for the students.

How unpretentious we are

How easily we’re able to transcend course-barriers and interact with people from different courses

My favorite space @ Monash: 4th level of the law library. So quiet!  

My hidden talent is: My best friend, Amani, and my husband, Ali. We are 10 times as efficient, effective and happy when we’re together, so I guess we are all each others’ support networks and hidden talents. Amani is the eternal history-major pessimist who is forever angry at colonialism and institutionalised systemic violence; Ali is the annoying logical engineer who sees the world through excel sheets and probabilities; and I am the productive optimist who is adamant that we can save the world.

A piece of advice I live by/ Lifehack: So many people want to do good in the world and want to help but they’re just waiting to be given a chance.

My journey from childhood in Iraq to where I am today was possible because: Whoa….I have no idea how to answer that question succinctly. The war and Saddam and the time during the sanctions were all traumatic and there are definitely lots of things in my childhood that I haven’t quite processed yet. 

Family really helped. Being able to sit down and verbalise what happened and know that it’s not okay, but that we’re strong enough to transcend it, is really empowering. School helped too: I was able to forget about my world and immerse myself in other worlds and see other people’s struggles and points of view.

Iraq was also really beautiful, though. I am where I am today because of it. The people are so resilient and strong. One of my most powerful memories is of the first day of the American invasion, which occurred a few hours after we had breakfast. I remember how we were sitting around as a family and everyone was telling stories and drinking tea whilst billions of dollars’ worth of war machinery was entering the country from all angles and from the sky. We were scared, but we knew that we had no control over whether we were going to live or die, so we just sat around and enjoyed our family time.

Being a student can be quite stressful, and I manage this by: (Okay, just taking some time to return to the present)… study groups. Study groups are such an efficient way to learn med! Thanks Ben, Ken, Kateryna, LMH team, Julia, Tess, Shannon & Caitlin for your amazing study groups over the last 5 years.  

My interest in studying medicine was sparked when: I was born?  My mum was a dentist and my dad a surgeon, and they both worked in a rural clinic, in a village/ town where they were the only medical professionals. They worked ALL THE TIME. We (them & their three daughters) lived on the second floor of their clinic and patients came at all hours of the day & night with emergencies. My parents were so busy that I probably interacted more with the patients as a child than with my parents. It was really fun, though: the patients played with us and brought their animals to the clinic sometimes, so we got to play with them too. We were also allowed to draw on the clinic walls and floor, so we never ran out of things to entertain ourselves with. That was my first exposure to healthcare, and I always saw it as a sacred profession. I was so proud of how mum and dad would help people and how their skills made such a large difference to other people’s quality of life.

Being involved in the  National HealthFusion Team Challenge and winning the awards for second place and Audience Choice was great because: I got to meet some of the most intelligent and inspiring people from other courses at Monash and got to learn so much about how to work in an allied health team. All the teams in the competition were really good and we enjoyed working with and learning from all of them!

My proudest achievement so far is: Happy Brain Education! Amani and I launched it in January this year and we already have nearly 200 students, 3 branches and 18 amazing team members! HBE provides mentoring, tutoring and support for young people across Melbourne. Everything is free except the tutoring, which is $10/ hour. All the profits that we make from the tutoring then go towards funding projects that we and our students are passionate about. Currently, we are fundraising for a CD4 machine, which will help monitor the treatment and progress of HIV patients in rural Uganda. You can help us with fundraising & find out more about the project here. 

Next on the agenda for me is: volunteering with a medical organisation at a refugee camp in the Middle East over the holidays. I know that I’ll learn so much from the experience and can’t express just how honoured I feel to be part of it.

There are always more books to buy for the kids and more medical equipment and medications to buy. So, if you want to be involved with this project and to find out how you can lend support, feel free to email me on [email protected].

Follow Masad - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masadalfayadh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/masad_alfayadh Happy Brain Education Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happybraineducation/ Happy Brain Education Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happybraineducation/

#WeAreMonash #HealthFusion #MonashPride #HappyBrain

[wearemonash]

Jess Holsman - Study with Jess

Jess, who completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science at Monash, offers up detailed and creative ways of studying to more than 200,000 subscribers on her educational YouTube channel Study With Jess. She is also the author of The High School Survival Guide and founder of the educational stationery line seed.ED Educationery.

I’m currently obsessed with: Social media! It’s hard to peel myself away from my phone and laptop, with so much of my work being grounded in technology!

Describe what I do in three words: YouTuber, entrepreneur, author.

My hidden talent is: I used to be a hip hop dancer so I like to think that I can still bust a move!

I am currently listening to: Troye Sivan and Jason Mraz :).

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Make each day count by programming your phone to greet you each morning with a reminder of what you want to achieve in life!

When it comes to study, the most important thing to remember is: Your skills are not fixed at birth. They are dynamic. Do your best and know that with determination, dedication and perseverance, you can, and will, see improvements!

One of the best lessons I learned while studying my Monash degree was: Organisation is key if you want to succeed in your studies! Make sure to use a planner, set reminders and create a well-oiled filing machine to help you stay on top of your work.

The idea for my Study with Jess Youtube Channel came about when: I noticed there weren’t any personable YouTube channels that were solely dedicated to helping students study effectively and that also provided them with ongoing support.

The highlight of having a successful Youtube channel has been: Getting to work on exciting new projects, including writing my very own study skills book, The High School Survival Guide!

The hardest thing about being a young female entrepreneur is: Learning to set boundaries so I don’t burn out. I’ve learned that living a well-balanced life is key!

The most rewarding thing about leadership is: Being able to create positive changes and see the carry on effect of my actions on others.

Next on the agenda for Study with Jess is: Hopefully to see my educational stationery line, seed.ED Educationery, in stores in the not so distant future!

Follow Jess -  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/studywithjess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studywithjess/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/studywithjess

#WeAreMonash #StudyWithJess #Study #femaleentrepreneur #entrepreneur

[wearemonash]

Rheece Campbell 

It’s been a busy couple of months for Rheece, who travelled to Brisbane with Monash to compete in the HealthFusion Challenge,  and completed her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy with honours at Peninsula Campus this week. Later this month she travels to Vietnam to volunteer in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

I’m currently obsessed with: Lilly my German Shepherd dog and Christmas. I wish it could be Christmas all year round because I love having an excuse to buy people gifts and get together.

Describe what I do in three words: give to others (this one was hard!!!).

What I love about Monash Peninsula campus: It’s small so you get to know everyone in your course. It’s great to have such a close graduating class.

My favorite space @ Monash: Is the library. I have spent so many days getting distracted by great people and great conversations in there.

My hidden talent is: I am actually a pretty good snowboarder. I have skied and snowboarded since I was about 4.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: There is so much more to life than money. I try to do and see as much as I can, because you can’t take your money with you when you die.

It is important to give back to the community because: Helping others makes everyone feel good especially yourself. Plus, you get to meet some very interesting and inspiring people along the way.

Shaving my head for the AAAF was: Easy!  Once I set my mind to it I wasn’t backing out. Having no hair also meant I could sleep in an extra 15 minutes every day and it was much cooler and more convenient in summer.

Through my volunteer work in Vietnam I hope to:  Learn more about Vietnamese culture, make some great friends and some new memories. Also I hope I can get some kind of tan, since I’ll be there for a whole month.

My interest in studying Occupational Therapy was sparked when: I actually didn’t know what it was when I started but I always wanted to work in health care. I found a passion for occupational therapy after assisting to facilitate a playgroup for children with developmental delays.

Our Monash team took out the People’s Choice Award at National HealthFusion Team Challenge for it’s: Good looks :). Joking, we worked really well as a team that resulted in some great presentations.

I intend to use my Monash education to: Make a difference in the world and one day travel, and to work with smaller less developed countries.

#WeAreMonash #AAAF #PeninsulaCampus #HealthFusion #monashpride

[wearemonash]

Lewis Fry

Lewis crossed the ditch from Auckland, New Zealand to complete his medical degree at Monash this year. He is interested in helping patients with blindness-causing diseases and has presented his work with the Centre for Eye Research Australia investigating the role of recovery of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. 

As a tutor, keen cricketer and lover of the outdoors, he is happiest with a pack on his back and camera in his hand. As one of three New Zealand 2017 Rhodes Scholars, Lewis plans to do a DPhil in Clinical Neuroscience at Oxford University, leading to a career as a clinician-scientist.

I’m currently obsessed with: Alain de Botton

Describe what I do in three words: Doctor (almost!), scientist, teacher

My favorite space @ Monash: Out on the cricket ovals bowling on a sunny day

My hidden talent is: Righting capsized Lasers (a type of sailing dinghy)

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Everyone loves thank you cards. Send them

Why it’s better to give than to receive: Because it’s so much easier to receive! You have to make the conscious effort to give, but it truly does make the world go around. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by such generous people, especially my family. Leadership is all about service. I love the thought that everyone is a leader, they just have to give whatever they have to offer. Scientifically I also think giving is shown to make you happier!

My interest in studying medicine was sparked when: Meeting patients aged six following my father on Saturday morning ward rounds to the hospital

Being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship will help me fulfill... my long-term goal of become a leading doctor & scientist that can lead teams of talented individuals from medicine, science, engineering, business, ethics and government. Oxford is a worldwide hub, an amazing institution where I will have the opportunity to develop my thinking, technical skills, lifelong friendships and international collaborations

The most beautiful place that I’ve tramped through is…. A toss up between Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile and the Routeburn Track, Otago NZ

If time and money were infinite I would like to….Develop a universal healthcare system for the world – equitable, interconnected and free!

A good technique that I use to always ensure a good photo is …Be surrounded by good friends

Follow Lewis - Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lewfry

#wearemonash #RhodesScholarship #medicine #scientist #doctor

[wearemonash]

Dr Rowan Brookes

Monash University science leader Dr Rowan Brookes’ innovative and entrepreneurial approach to teaching science has earned her a 2016 Telstra Business Women’s award.

I’m currently obsessed with: Long distance running. After the unexpected death of one of my students, James Taylor, I wanted to do something in honour of his life. He was a young man with boundless energy for adventure, so I completed my lifetime goal of running a half marathon in his memory. Running has taught me that I’m capable of more than I could ever imagine. I’ve now completed my first marathon and will soon do my first ultra-marathon (50km). It’s also a fabulous way to balance out all the academic stuff.

Describe what I do in three words: Create. Innovate. Grow.

What I love about Monash: Monash University stands for excellence, boldness and inclusion. These values create a vibrant and thriving culture on campus. I think these values are the reason we are so successful at developing such amazing students and academics.

My hidden talent is: My close friends would call me a domestic goddess. As a young girl I was taught all the traditional handicrafts, so when I have free time, I enjoy creating beautiful things through sewing, knitting and baking. My homemaker skills challenge people’s assumptions about women in science, which makes me really relish that I have these talents.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Look for the opportunity to learn in everything that you do. You don’t have to be in a formal education setting to grow your understanding of the world around you, or the limitless potential that you have within you. Try to learning by cultivating openness through observing, discussing, and then reflecting on what it means to you.

My nickname is: Rosie

I am currently listening to: I’m a life-long learner, so I’m totally hooked on podcasts. My current favourite is ‘How I built this’ because it chronicles the journey of people who started with nothing except an idea and have managed to grow their ideas into successful businesses.

My interest in science was sparked when: My interest in science has always been with me. Science is the perfect discipline for the curious, the rule breakers and the knowledge seekers.

More girls should get involved in STEM because: There are an incredible diversity of careers available for girls with an education in STEM and wide recognition that skills in STEM will be in high demand in the future. Traditionally many STEM disciplines have not provided an environment for women to thrive. However, now most STEM organisations are well aware of the importance of a gender inclusive workplace and are actively creating ways to support women and ensure they have brilliant careers.

The highlight of Winning the Telstra Business Women’s award for Public Sector and Academia for me was: When I stood on the stage to accept the Telstra Business Women’s Award it was life affirming to be recognised for doing something that brings me so much joy and for work that I can see changing the lives of my students every day. After working in a male dominated area for years, it’s also amazing to meet so many talented women in leadership through the alumni.

The Global Challenges degree is a great opportunity for students because: The academics in Global Challenges believe in the potential of all of our students. The curriculum of the course provides the opportunities for our students to explore their passions, connect with leaders in industry and work on projects that are meaningful to them. It’s also a one of a kind degree in Australia - Monash University is the only place you can complete a science undergraduate degree whilst learning about leadership, entrepreneurship and science diplomacy.

If I had an endless supply of funding, I would make positive change in the world by: I’d start by working to achieve gender equality.

Follow Dr. Brookes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRowanBrookes

Follow Global Science Challenges on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonashGC

#WeAreMonash #STEM #WomenInStem #TelstraBusinessWomensAwards

[wearemonash]

Sarah Leung

Monash Alumna and young entrepreneur, Sarah Leung is the founder and dietitian at Healthy Energy. This year Sarah was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, in the Victorian Young Business Women's Award category.

I’m currently obsessed with: Collecting beautiful plates, cutlery, cookware and other props for food styling and photography.

Describe what I do in three words: Change the world.

What I love about Monash: I love how windy it is on any given day!!! I love the Matheson Library, that’s where I spent most of my uni times. 

My hidden talent is: I am very good at playing Othello :)

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Don’t wake up to be average, wake up to be awesome.

My favourite place to eat is: A picnic in a park.

My breakfast usually consists of: A coffee, smoothie or avocado and eggs on toast.

It’s exam time, the perfect quick, healthy meal for students would be: Plenty of water to keep hydrated. Wholegrain and chicken/mixed bean salad, vegetables frittatas, quick vegetable and tofu stir-fries are great meal options. Bircher muesli, smoothies and mushroom omelettes are great for breakfast. Nut mix, natural yoghurt and fresh fruits are great for snacks in between study breaks.

My journey as a health professional and entrepreneur began when: I graduated from Monash in 2009 and started my business six months later. I started my career as a consultant dietitian at an aquatic centre and quickly built up nine consulting locations within three years. We moved from having consultants in medical centres to opening our very own wellness centre in Glen Waverley in 2014. We expanded our service offerings to other areas such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, yoga and massage.

One of the most challenging instances I have come up against in my work has been: Managing staff. Hiring a great team for a company is not an easy job and it has been my biggest learning curve. It is challenging because the values between staff and the company have to be aligned and by having a team that works towards the same goals allows us to take the company to the next level.

I would encourage more young women to become entrepreneurs because: We are young and only young once! We need to be the leaders to advocate gender equality and the only way to do it is to lead by example. If more women become entrepreneurs it will make it happen quicker.

I believe every woman has the ability to follow their dreams and having it all (a career and family) and we shouldn’t shy away. No better time than now! Female entrepreneurs should take the opportunity to create their own reality.  

The one thing you can start today to improve your health and well-being is: Don’t outsource your cooking to restaurants and ready-to-eat meals. Learn basic cooking skills and start paying more attention to what you eat and prepare your own food with nourishing fresh ingredients. Skip the diets, just eat healthy!

Follow Sarah - Instagram: @capturingyumminess @healthyenergy_wellness Web: www.capturingyumminess.com  www.healthyenergy.net.au

Sarah's Quinoa Oats (Click for recipe)

#WeAreMonash #TelstraBusinessWomensAwards #Health #Alumni #entrepreneur #WomenInBusiness

[wearemonash]

Kate Gillespie-jones

Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute PhD student Kate Gillespie-jones, aka The Hyphen, was recently selected to play for Carlton in the first ever NAB AFL Women’s League draft.

I’m currently obsessed with: pull ups and cheesecake

Describe what I do in three words: Eat train Eat

What I love about Monash: The coffee shops-caffeine is the most important ingredient to a PhD

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Exercise because zombies will eat the slow ones first

My hidden talent is: Mad pipetting skills

My nickname is: The Hyphen

I am currently listening to: last song on my playlist was The Cure - Boys Don’t Cry

I play football because: I love how physically and mentally challenging the game is. It's a great outlet, when I play football I don’t think about study or anything else. I enjoy playing team sports because you are able to experience the highs and lows with your team mates.

My favourite football memory is: I haven’t won a premiership yet so for me the closest thing to that feeling was beating Diamond Creek this season. They are a powerhouse team and it was a huge achievement for our team to beat them after being promoted to the women’s VFL league this season. Being drafted was pretty awesome also.

To keep my strength and fitness for footy I: I love running and going to the gym so I don’t have trouble keeping up my strength and fitness. I do a combination of gym and running sessions each week.  

Selection in the first-ever Women’s AFL draft feels like: It feels surreal, I think this is the general feeling among all the girl who were drafted. It’s very exciting for women to have the opportunity to play football at the elite level.

Physiology and Football go hand in hand because: Physiology is the study of how the body works so it can be used to understand muscle and exercise and can potentially be used to optimise football performance. As well as the obvious connection between muscle and exercise physiology and football links can also be drawn from my area of research which is neuroscience. My research is involved with understanding the changes in the brain following diffuse traumatic brain injury. This type of brain injury is commonly observed in sporting field blows.

Once my PhD is complete the next step is: Become a full time footballer. Actually I’m not sure yet I haven’t decided whether I would like to pursue a career in research or look into other options such as industry or teaching. 

Follow Kate - Intagram: Instagram.com/kate.gj5

#WeaAreMonash #AFL #Football #Sport #Science #STEM

[wearemonash]

Professor Craig Hassed and Dr Richard Chambers

Associate Professor Craig Hassed and Dr Richard Chambers are the brains behind our successful ‘Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance’ online course, along with a host of other mindfulness programs and resources available to students and staff through Campus Community Division.

We’re currently obsessed with: CH: Giving up obsessions through mindfulness practices. RC: Finding simple, practical and relevant ways to get mindfulness into education. We are embedding it in the core curriculum for Monash students. We currently have 16 units with some embedded mindfulness content. Our vision is to see all Monash students learning mindfulness as a foundational skill, early on in their studies, to enhance their wellbeing and resilience, boost their performance and improve their relationships.

What we do in three words: Sitting doing nothing.

What we love about Monash: CH: Opportunities and great people. RC: Monash is such an innovative university. The openness to new learning approaches and in particular to mindful learning is unparalleled. As far as we know, no other university in the world has a university-wide approach to mindfulness. This openness and sense of innovation lets us experiment and discover the most effective ways of delivering mindfulness to students and staff.

Our hidden talents are: RC: I am a licensed marriage celebrant in Japan. I did 40 weddings back in 2001 when I was living there. I think I still have my licence somewhere. CH: Living without a mobile device.

Pieces of advice we live by: CH: Try to learn something from every experience, especially the uncomfortable ones. That is a kind of alchemy that turns lead (unpleasant experiences) into gold (insight). RC: Learn how to be your own best friend.

We’re currently watching/listening to: RC: Banks’ new album The Altar. And trying to get into Bon Iver’s new one though it’s taking time. CH: The ethereal music of Arianna Savall

Our favourite ways to unwind are: RC: Dancing like nobody’s watching. CH: Meditating for 30 minutes and then practicing mindfulness with my wife over a glass of very good Heathcote shiraz.

Mindfulness in a nutshell is: CH: Coming to your senses. RC: Being fully present and engaged in each moment of life (while encased inside the shell of a nut).

A little known fact about about Mindfulness is: RC: That it is about much more than meditating - it is a whole approach to living life more fully, increasing productivity, having better relationships, feeling happier and basically just being more alive. CH: It slows down the ageing process even to the level of the DNA.

Our work on the Future Learn Mindfulness course has: CH: Provided mindfulness instruction to over 160,000 people in the last year. RC: Been super fun. It’s been great learning to deliver mindfulness in an online format, to people all around the world. It was recently voted “number 8 online course of all time”, which is just awesome. And it is a great resource for Monash students and staff who can’t make it to our face-to-face sessions.

One of the best ways to cope around end of semester/exams time is: CH: Engage attention fully with study when studying, with your leisure time when away from your studies, and with your pillow at night when going to sleep. RC: To prioritise and focus on one thing at a time. To meditate for at least 5 minutes a day. And to keep up basic self-care routines such as exercise, good sleep and diet and seeing friends.

Acknowledging Mental Health during Mental Health week is important as: RC: It tends to get a bit neglected the rest of the time. Good mental health is fundamental to a happy, productive life and so we need to talk about it more! CH: We’re all a work in progress and we’re all in this together.

Follow - Facebook: Dr Richard Chambers Twitter: drrchambers Web: www.drrichardchambers.com Instagram: drrichardchambers

Useful links: Mental Health Week activities Mindfulness programs Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance 

#mindfulness #futurelearn #mentalhealth #mentalhealthweek #stress #study

[wearemonash]

Alex Rowe 

MBBS student Alex Rowe became the fastest man in Australia over 800m in 2014, after he ran 1 minute 44.4 seconds, to equal the 46 year record of Olympic champion Ralph Doubell. After overcoming an injury last December, and narrowly missing Olympic selection this year, Alex returns to represent Monash at the UniGames in Perth, 25 - 30 September.

I’m currently obsessed with: learning the guitar.

Describe what I do in three words: train, study and sleep.

Proudest sporting achievement to date: Equalling the National 800m record (1:44.40).

What I love about Monash: The support that it gives to students to achieve their academic and sporting goals.

My favourite space @ Monash: The health and fitness centre.

My nickname is: Rowey.

My hidden talent is: None – that is why I’m learning the guitar.

A piece of advice I live by/Lifehack: Control the variables that you can and don’t worry about the rest.

My favourite place to eat is: Any good Indian restaurant.

My playlist when I’m training is: A mix – anything from the Foo Fighters to Missy Higgins.

Follow Alex - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexrowe92/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexanderrowe_

Check out Alex in action at the Athletics Australia Canberra Track Classic - AIS Athletic Track, Canberra ACT, 7th Feb, 2015.

#WeAreMonash #MonashPride #UniGames #AusUniGames #Athletics #Run