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Monash entrepreneurs make a difference

3 September 2008

Monash entrepreneurs
Members of Monash SIFE teams from Melbourne and South Africa.

Monash students from Melbourne and South Africa have received strong recognition at a national competition for projects aimed at improving opportunities for disadvantaged people.

The students' projects were undertaken under the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program at Monash.

The first project of the Monash team from Melbourne involved nine students from the business and economics, law and arts faculties teaching a small business owner how to improve her soy candle business through stock control, product selection and marketing techniques.

The business owner now plans to teach out-of-work immigrant mothers how to make and sell soy candles. The Melbourne team's second project will involve helping disadvantaged young school students develop the business skills required to produce eco-friendly, commercially-viable projects.

The team presented their projects to a panel of business representatives at the national SIFE competition in Brisbane in July and achieved a creditable equal-fifth placing from a field of 20 universities. The team received silver medals, a plaque and $1500.

The five-person team from Monash South Africa (MSA) presented information on a range of education, sporting and other community projects being run by MSA students.

The team attended the competition as a demonstration entry as part of their preparation for their inaugural entry in the South African National SIFE Competition in 2009. The team received excellent feedback, with one judge saying, "other SIFE teams help change communities, you are changing a country."

The driving force behind the Monash's Melbourne team, arts and law student Mae Comber, was named the SIFE Most Outstanding Student Leader and won a trip to the SIFE World Cup being held in Singapore in October this year.

Academic director Professor Rob Willis won the Most Supportive Administrator Award. He received the award last night at a function attended by Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins, SIFE Australia Board members and representatives from some of Australia's leading corporations.

The Monash SIFE teams were mentored by student development manager Alison Richardson from the Faculty of Business and Economics, and work integrated learning project officer Cait Ryan from Employment and Career Development.

The next SIFE Australia competition is being held in Sydney in July 2009.

Students and staff interested in getting involved in SIFE or seeking further information should email sifemonash@hotmail.com or visit the SIFE Australia website.