Offcourse

Issue 5 July & August 2007   |    Email Offcourse - Christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au.

Accentuating the Positive - Tal Ben Shahar

Tal Ben Shahar has the record for the most popular course at Harvard University .... Come and find out why .......

Tal Ben Shahar is an author and lecturer at Harvard University.  He currently teaches the largest course at Harvard on "Positive Psychology" and the third largest on "The Psychology of Leadership" -- with a total of over 1,400 students.  He is an inspirational lecturer and "walks the talk" - he believes we can all be happier, more successful, more motivated and have good self-esteem.

Come along and experience his lecture on "Accentuating the Positive" :

Feel happier

Experience a more meaningful life

Improve your relationships

Be more resilient

Monday 27 August at 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. in A.205 (Building A, Level 2)

 Open Day 2007 - A good day for Caulfield Campus

The campus was on display on Open Day, Sunday 5 August.  The weather was cool, but dry and the sun shone through intermittently throughout the day.  The timing of Open Day this year was 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. - staff and ambassadors were ready at 9.00 a.m. to greet and assist visitors, but it wasn't until nearer 10.00 a.m. that the crowds started to arrive, culminating in just over 6,600 visitors on the day.   Coloured balloons and flagpole signage certainly added colour to the day, along with the 30-odd student ambassadors decked out in their Monash blue attire. 

The Basement and Level 1 of Building H and the Service Centre in Building A were used as  General Information Areas as well as the Faculty of Art & Design.  By using both Building A and Building H this year, spaces in these areas were created which allowed prospective students and parents to sit-down and plan their day. 

It was terrific to see a number of activities on the Common Lawn.  Student representatives of MONSU Caulfield were busy, hosting the free bbq, giving away free fairy floss, providing free air-brush tattoos, all to the sounds of some very cool "lounge" style music.  Monash Sport also encouraged a number of sporting clubs to participate this year, providing demonstrations in karate and athletics.

(People enjoying the sunshine and lining up for the free bbq)

Jugularity were also welcomed back to Open Day, providing roving entertainment around the campus - at one stage increasing the number of performers in their band from four to five!!!

(Professor Rob Willis joins Jugularity)

Professor Rob Willis, Chair of the Open Day Committee said: "It was a great team effort by staff and students showcasing our campuses.  The pride of being part of the Monash community was clearly apparent in all involved."

(Professor Rob Willis and Staff from Equity & Diversity at Open Day)

Caulfield Campus Quilting Project - MonQuil

 Words provided by Adeline Christie ......

I have very precious memories of my Mother, Frances, teaching my two sisters and I how to sew when we were children.  She would put paper under the sewing machine needle and make us practise sewing straight lines before we were promoted to using dress material. Mum made all of our clothes, as well as her own, and any leftover dress material was snapped up to make dolls’ clothes. My Father, Sam, was very enthusiastic about our sewing abilities and encouraged us by making a doll’s house to decorate, little wardrobes for the dolls’ clothes and beautiful miniature furniture. 

As a keen sewer and craftsperson I have been collecting dress and furnishing fabrics for many years and thought it was time to do something creative with the material which would help the community in some way. 

My interest in community quilting initially came about from a trip to Normanville in South Australia.  I came across a church hall full of happy women sitting around a large frame, hand sewing a beautiful quilt for a local charity.   

The community quilting project idea surfaced again during my time as a respite foster carer.  The idea of making the foster children a quilt which would go with them wherever they were sent in life, or to wrap around them like a big hug, stayed in my mind.   

At the beginning of this year I had the opportunity to put the Community Quilting Project idea around the Caulfield Women’s Networking and Support Group.  Within days I had 9 volunteers from across the Caulfield Campus. 

It is truly wonderful how people and organisations are willing to assist in this project.  The Manager of the MECWA Opportunity Shop in Waverley Road, Malvern has donated large pieces of fabrics, “Spotlight” kindly donated two boxes of gorgeous brightly coloured materials and we have a wadding supplier in Moorabbin who can supply us with 50 metre rolls of wadding for a bargain price. 

Through the Caulfield campus newsletter “Offcourse” we now have volunteers from outside the university who have joined the project and are happily designing and sewing beautiful quilts. 

The MonQuil Group (as we are known) has made contact with Berry Street Victoria and the first donation of baby and toddler quilts was made on Wednesday 1 August.

(Left to Right: Linda Dembinski, Wendy Forbes, Carolyn Billings, Adeline Christie, Renee McLoughlin (Representative from Berry Street Victoria) and Guylene Antoine (not present Annabel O’Neill, Shirley Gorrie, Coral Sheard and Marion Bonnici))

Mental Health First Aid comes to Caulfield campus

Two Mental Health First Aid courses have been held at Caulfield campus during 2007.  Feedback from the participants at Caulfield has been very positive, with participants enjoying the interactive nature of the material presented.  Participants also reported feeling better equipped to support members of the Monash University and wider community with their mental health issues. 

The Mental Health First Aid Program was developed in 2001 at the centre for Mental Health Research at ANU. The program has been well evaluated and found to be effective in improving mental health literacy, reducing stigma and increasing helping behaviours. First Aid is the help given to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained. Mental Health First Aid is the initial help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is sought, and incorporates a 5 step action plan.

Helen Whiteside, Clinical Psychologist at the Counselling Service says “many staff want to help but worry about saying or doing the wrong thing”.  Mental Health First Aid trainees will learn the signs and symptoms of the common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders, and how to give effective help in crisis situations, including managing suicidal behaviours, panic attacks, and acute psychotic behaviour.

Dates and Registration

Registration and course administration is managed by Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. There is a course being held at the Clayton campus in late September and it is hoped that courses will be held at Caulfield during 2008. 

For registration in the September course please go to OHSE website. 

For further information, please contact Helen Whiteside at Health, Wellbeing & Development tel:  9903 2500 Helen.Whiteside@adm.monash.edu.au

(Participants in the Mental Health First Aid Course - August 2007)

Lads and Dads - Men @ Work

Men @ Work is a highly innovative program designed for men in the workplace.  It provides a fresh approach to examining the key challenges men experience today:  negotiating work and personal/family lives, achieving a high level of health and well-being, having satisfying close relationships, being an effective father and mentor. 

The program is:

·         evidence based

·         highly interactive and enjoyable in its delivery mode

·         conducted by two highly skilled facilitators

Run in to Monash, Fly out to Singapore

Purchase a Monash Sport membership before the end of September for your chance to win a trip for two to Singapore and participate in the TeamMonash Community Fitness Event valued at over $5,000.   Anyone who becomes a member during this period will also receive a free month's membership.  If you are Monash Community Card holder you will have twice the chance to win.  Conditions apply, so contact the Fitness Centre for further details or jump on the Monash Sport website.

Mid-Week Social Night Activities

Mio Ihashi, Coordinator of the Student Outreach Program has held some terrific events for Mid-week Social Night, including Christmas in July, Eating Well and Meditation, film night, etc., and has also coordinated the International Students Connections Program.   Here are some photos from these events:

(Students and members of St. Johns Anglican Church sing Christmas Carols)

(Getting into the festive spirit by cracking bonbons and wearing hats)

(Volunteer staff and students come together at the Welcome Morning Tea for the Connections Program)

Monash Campus Walks - OHSE

Take a Step in the Right Direction

Monash staff are urged to take a step in the right direction and join Occupational Health Safety & Environment (OHSE) and Monash Sport in the annual campus walks.  These walks are part of the OHSE Health Promotion Program, which encourages staff to lead a healthy life style. 

This year all participants have the chance to win a pair of adidas sports shoes, donated by adidas.

There will also be other exciting prizes. 

Do join us. You should end up feeling fitter and you may be fortunate enough to win a prize.  Details are as follows: 

Caulfield Campus (in conjunction with Monash Sport Caulfield)

Friday 31 August, 1.05 pm, outside the main entrance of S Block. Sir John Monash Drive

Each walk will be approximately 2.5 kms, will take about 30 minutes and will be followed by a free fruit snack and drink for all participants (you can also bring your own lunch and we will keep it for you while you walk). 

Each participant will also have the chance to enter the draw for the sports shoes. This draw will take place after the Clayton walk on the Friday 7 September, so participants from all campuses will have the opportunity to win the major prize. There will also be spot prizes at each walk. 

Everyone will also receive some valuable health information and news about exciting future events.

If you have not exercised recently or have a serious medical condition you should first check with your doctor before joining us for the walk.  

What do I bring?     Hat, drink, and comfortable shoes. Wear sunscreen

What if it rains?       We will still walk so wear a raincoat!

To register for the event, please email Jaswin.Bal@adm.monash.edu.au

Wellbeing at Monash Top End 10,000 Steps Walktober Challenge 2007

On Friday, 21 September, the Vice Chancellor and a mystery guest will officially launch the Wellbeing at Monash Top End 10,000 Steps Walktober Challenge 2007 at the Peninsula Campus.  Professor Ron Webber, Dean of Information Technology will host the Caulfield Campus healthy breakfast in the Clayfield Room, with a video-link into the Peninsula campus for the official launch by the Vice-Chancellor.

The launch will also serve as an introduction for all Victorian staff, to the University’s new Wellbeing at Monash Online website – a comprehensive health resource centre of specialist information areas, interactive tools, and information regarding wellbeing activities and events at Monash. 

Details of the breakfast are as follows:

Clayfield Room - 7.45 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.

$10.00 per person.

Bookings via email to christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au and payment to Christel Kent in Building A, Room A1.16 by close of business 19 September.

Door prizes and other activities to be held during the morning.

Look out for campus wide emails in coming weeks. 

Change of Name - Offcourse

Thank you to the people who responded in relation to whether or not Offcourse should have a name change.  The majority of people who replied indicated they liked the name of the publication so, for the time being we will retain the name Offcourse.

Campus Book Club

Coral Sheard of Health, Wellbeing and Development has started a Book Club on campus.  Books have been selected for the remainder of the year, but if you are interested in joining or finding out a little bit more information, please contact Coral on ext 31177. I

Christmas Market on Campus

We are considering holding a Christmas Market on campus towards the end of the year.  If you, or if you know of anyone who may like to have a "stall" at the market could you please make contact Adeline Christie on ext 32019.   

Witnessing of Documents

If you need documents witnessed, please contact Christel Kent who will provide you with names of other staff who can assist.

If you are qualified to witness documents and you are happy to be added to the list of those who can assist, please contact Christel Kent by telephone ext. 31000 or via email: christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au

Caulfield Profiles

As this is a double issue of Offcourse for the months of July and August, Caulfield Profiles will be held over until the September edition of Offcourse.  

If you would like to be "profiled" in an upcoming edition of Offcourse, please email me at christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au.