Monash Passport: Enhance video text version

Description: Monash University logo

Caption: Adam Shoemaker. Deputy Vice Chancellor Education

Adam Shoemaker: One of the fantastic elements of the Monash Passport is that it really gets people outside four walls, outside the campus and giving back to the community. In fact there are so many opportunities for doing so. Our students are known for being some of the most engaged in all of Australia.

Description/logo: Monash Passport Investigate Theme

Description: Charlotte Baines in office

Narration: A passion for youth affairs and finding solutions to community problems has led Monash graduate Charlotte Baines to put into practice the Enhance theme of the Monash Passport.

Caption: Charlotte Baines

Charlotte Baines: I've always wanted to do the things that I'm passionate about and to follow the things that I'm called to do and I think that life is really short and you don't really know what's around the corner so I'd rather do the things that I love to do as opposed to doing things that I'm only half hearted about.

Description: Charlotte chairing Monash City Council meeting

Narration: Charlotte graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law, is now doing a PhD in Sociology and on top of that she is deputy mayor of the Monash City Council.

Charlotte Baines: I guess in terms of moving forward we can put all of our ideas onto the website. Is that where we're at? Our ideas about fair trade and third world poverty.

Description: Charlotte holding a tutorial at Monash University

Narration: From chairing the Fair Trade Committee to holding a tutorial, engaging younger students to think and analyse and challenge concepts is both stimulating and rewarding.

Charlotte Baines: So how many people think health care should be privatised?

Charlotte Baines: The personal satisfaction I get is the way in which people like to engage and they fell more engaged with the material. I like it when people...suddenly there's this click in their mind and they understand how things are connecting in society and I think when more people are understanding the connections at play they can really navigate and negotiate their way around society at a better level, at a higher level.

Description: Charlotte holding tutorial

Narration: The deep desire to affect social change has come from many influences, most importantly the Uniting Church and Monash University.

Charlotte Baines: I think the university has played a significant role in my thinking and developing my thinking. It's really extended it. It's challenged me to look at things from a variety of angles and not just one. It's really opened my mind to debate, to be open to various sides, to know how to create reasoned argument, and to also to believe in the notion of collecting strong evidence to support your case.

Description: Charlotte chairing council meeting

Narration: All this experience has given Charlotte an insight into the many and varied dynamics of leadership.

Charlotte Baines: I really like being a leader but I also like very much being a team player so it's not just about me but also about the team. I like to be in positions where I challenge myself, where I can use it as a vehicle to influence and make change but at the same time I want to grow with other people. I want to build ideas, develop ideas and then as a team implement those.

Description/logo: Monash Passport Investigate Theme

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