Oxfam internships
Monash has partnered with Oxfam Australia to create new opportunities in everything from staff exchanges to procurement policies, to voluntary and pro-bono work opportunities for students.
One of the agreement's first initiatives was to provide seven students, including two from Monash South Africa, with a five-week internship working in Oxfam's human rights and HIV/AIDS campaigns in South Africa.
Jessica Malin from the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law was placed at Lawyers for Human Rights, an organisation that provides free legal advice and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa.
"To hear people's stories and see the hope they have to improve their lives had such an incredible impact on me it has encouraged me to explore human rights law as a career path."
The formal partnership with Oxfam is part of a strategy for Monash to work more closely with key Australian and international non-government organisations that are striving to improve life chances for disadvantaged groups and individuals.
As a part of the Monash Passport the University hopes to develop more intern partnerships with other not-for-profit organisations to make for a richer and more rewarding learning experience for students.
Monash students gain career enhancing skills of leadership, negotiation, communication and teamwork, while making a direct, tangible difference to the quality of life of others.
A second round of Oxfam student internships will see 12 Monash students undertake volunteer work in South Africa in January and February 2010.
