Monash Oxfam in South Africa Student Placement Program

Applications for the 2013 Program have now closed.

About Oxfam Australia

Oxfam Australia's vision is of a fair world in which people control their own lives, their basic rights are achieved and the environment is sustained. Oxfam works towards increasing the number of people who have a sustainable livelihood, equal rights and status, and safety from conflict and disaster.

About the program

Monash University and Oxfam Australia have come together to provide student volunteer placement opportunities. Students will work for local community-based organisations in South Africa. The 2013 program runs from 7 January to 14 February 2013.
For all participating students, Monash will cover accommodation and transport in South Africa associated with the Program.  Monash will also ensure that all participating students have appropriate travel and medical insurance.
Where appropriate, Monash will also provide limited financial support to offset the cost of return flights to Johannesburg from the participating students’ home campus in Australia or Malaysia.  See the Information Briefing for more detail. 
Ten volunteer placements are planned for 2013:

  • Two law students to be selected through the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
  • Up to three students to be selected from Monash South Africa
  • Up to five students to be selected from our Australian and Sunway campuses

For more information, including the program schedule, view the information briefing (pdf, 225 kb).

Your experience

You will gain a deeper understanding of the issues relating to community development.
You will build invaluable skills and knowledge for ongoing study and your future career.
You will find the work immensely rewarding; the changing environment will build maturity and strength.

Eligibility

To take part in the program, you must meet these requirements:

  • You are a currently enrolled Monash undergraduate student. 
  • At the time of application, you have successfully completed at least 48 credit points of your bachelor degree at Monash.
  • You have at least one unit of your bachelor degree to complete in 2013.
  • You can demonstrate a strong interest in community engagement.
  • If you are a Monash South Africa student, you must have participated in the Student Volunteer Program in 2012.

For the 2013 program, Oxfam has requested students with the following discipline backgrounds:

  • social and community welfare
  • sociology
  • community development
  • education
  • public health
  • health promotion
  • marketing
  • human resource management
  • information and communication technology (ICT) and social media
  • media and communications

What we are looking for

Information brief (pdf, 225 kb)
Students will be placed at an appropriate partner organisation to be determined by the organisations’ needs and the students’ skills.
In your application, you will need to:

  • Explain your interest in undertaking a volunteer placement with Oxfam in South Africa
  • Demonstrate your background in one of the academic disciplines required by Oxfam
  • Demonstrate an interest in community engagement
  • Explain the strengths you would bring to the program.  Two of the key qualities you will need to demonstrate are flexibility and resilience.

See the Information briefing for more detail.

Passports, visas and insurance

Students who are not South African citizens must have a current passport (with at least 30 days validity after planned return date) and all required vaccinations (at your expense). Australian citizens do not require a visa to travel to South Africa for this program.
Non-Australian citizens must obtain a visa to travel to South Africa, if one is required.
Monash will work with Oxfam Australia to ensure that all participating students have adequate travel and medical insurance for the duration of the Summer Placement Program.

About the partner organisations

The focus of Oxfam Australia’s work in South Africa is on supporting some of the country's most vulnerable people and responding to the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS.  Through its Joint Oxfam HIV and AIDS Program, Oxfam Australia works with around 40 partner community organisations.  These organisations are working to ensure people have enough food for an active and healthy life, promoting gender equality and providing care and support, and addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.  
For information on the partner organisations, view the information briefing (pdf, 225 kb).

How to apply

The deadline for applications is 5.00 pm on Wednesday 22 August, 2012.  Late applications cannot be considered.

Monash South Africa students

Australian and Sunway campus students

Law students

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law manages placements that require a background in law. Visit the Faculty of Law website for more details.