10 August 2009
Monash University has launched its second round of Oxfam Australia student internships, which will see Monash students undertake structured volunteer work in Oxfam's human rights and HIV/AIDS campaigns in South Africa as part of their studies.
Monash partnered with leading international aid agency Oxfam Australia last year to create new collaboration opportunities in everything from staff exchanges, procurement policies, and voluntary and pro-bono work opportunities for students. The formal partnership with Oxfam is the first major step in a strategy for the University to work more closely with key Australian and international non-government organisations.
The first group of seven Oxfam interns completed their program in January this year, spending five weeks working in various Oxfam programs in South Africa. Students are being encouraged to apply to the next round, which takes place in January next year.
Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the relationship with Oxfam provided the University with the opportunity to take student learning out of the classroom and value-add to their educational experience.
"Through these internships students can gain career enhancing skills of leadership, negotiation, communication and teamwork, while making a direct, tangible difference to the quality of life of others," Professor Shoemaker said.
Meanwhile, the first ever Oxfam retail outlet on any Australian university campus opened today at the Clayton campus. As part of the partnership between Monash and Oxfam Australia, the Oxfam "shop within a shop" is located in The Monash Shop in the Clayton campus centre.
Oxfam's retail outlets deal on a fair trade basis with 85 fair trade organisations around the world, who support thousands of producers including Indigenous Australians. Products include fair trade tea and coffee, jewellery and clothing.
Professor Shoemaker said the Oxfam Shop was a visible symbol of the University's wide-ranging relationship with Oxfam Australia.
"Monash University is proud to partner with Oxfam in this way, providing staff and students with a small but tangible way of impacting on communities around the world. I hope this signals the beginning of what will be much larger efforts for the Monash community to engage with the world," Professor Shoemaker said."
Oxfam director of trading Nadine Silverberg said she was delighted to help launch Oxfam's first university outlet at Monash.
"The shop builds on the close relationship between Monash and Oxfam and will provide staff and students with another practical and positive way to make a real difference to lives through the purchase of fair trade tea and coffee, chocolate, exotic gifts and much more," Ms Silverberg said.
Media contact: Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications, +61 3 9903 4843 or +61 448 574 148.
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