University of Wollongong Community Connections University of Wollongong Special Supplement November 2010 Spotlight on Volunteers Celebrating Tim Gray Habitat for Humanity “After we built the house in Nepal we had a house Volunteers dedication ceremony. The whole village turned out - a truly awesome and amazing community event.” Community contributes to Sharyn MacKenzie UOW’s Success SCARF “I feel joy and By Kate McIlwain privilege at Hundreds of community volunteers contribute being able to to many important aspects of campus life at the make a positivee University of Wollongong each year. contribution to the resettlement of African refugee families They range from the volunteer “patients” who help in the Illawarra.” UOW medical students develop their diagnostic skills to people who serve on administrative boards and committees, bringing their outside skills and Sally experience to the University. Stevenson Other volunteers work with students on their Indigo resumes and job interviews to prepare them to enter Foundation the workforce through the Career Ahead mentoring program, while the University also enjoys a high level “Whenever of consultation with Indigenous elders. I see photos of the young These are just a few examples of the ways in which UOW Chancellor Ms Jillian Broadbent (centre) with Award recipients (left - right) Murray Reid, Hazara girls of volunteers contribute to UOW. So while the annual Susan Young, Estrella McKinnon and Mike Archer. Central Afghanistan in a classroom with books Chancellor’s Awards in October recognised the and teachers, I know what we are doing is efforts of four individual volunteers who received the worth every ounce of effort we put in.” 2010 awards, the emphasis was on celebrating and Chancellor’s Awards thanking the hundreds of volunteers who contribute to UOW in so many ways. recipients Sue Chancellor Jillian Broadbent hosted the Celebrating Maidman Volunteers event to recognise voluntary service Illawarra by community members and graduates of the Murray Reid is a founding director of the Susan Young is a bilateral cochlear recipient Cancer University. Awards were given in two categories – University Recreation and Aquatic Centre who started a Cochlear Implant Support Carers voluntary contribution to the University and voluntary (URAC). A Chartered Accountant, he has Group in the Illawarra in 2008. The network “The best contribution to the community. contributed expert fi nancial advice and time for has now grown into the Cochlear Implant countless meetings, awards nights and various Club and Advisory Association and Susan thing is when Murray Reid and Mike Archer received the two formal and informal discussions since 1998. continues to manage this branch and also someone University awards and Susan Young and Estrella contributes at a state level. comes out of the clinic and tells me they don’t McKinnon won awards for their contribution to the Mike Archer has been a member of a number have to see the doctor for 12 months – I feel community. of community committees that have helped Estrella McKinnon’s voluntary work in the as happy as they do.” broaden community representation and Illawarra community has spanned a 30-year Speaking at the ceremony Ms Broadbent said community input on new University proposals period, where she has worked as a Justice of community involvement was a key part of the and developments. The Public Affairs Manager the Peace available to the migrant community University’s strategic plan into the future. Paul Wand at BlueScope Steel has also participated in and as a consultant to various multicultural Woolyungah “For example, we’ve had 140 volunteer patients and working groups to address strategic issues, and women’s groups. She has helped Indigenous that component of volunteers from the community is including the development of the University’s promote justice and equity for the migrant Centre an important part of teaching those young doctors to Community Engagement Strategic Plans from community by advising on services, legal have experience in the medical profession,” 2008 though to 2013. rights and activities to generate income. “There is an she said. obvious gap in circumstances Ms Broadbent also said the University deeply valued between its partnerships in the community. Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton said strong “This is about honouring the link between our Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. “There were a large number of nominees for the community backing is one of UOW’s key strengths. city and our region and our volunteers. I feel I feel positive when I am able to work in awards and according to the panel they were of a “What a wonderful set of stories that you can multiply honoured to be Vice-Chancellor of a university addressing this disadvantage.” very high quality, so I want to congratulate all those by pretty much anyone in this room,” he said of the that has so many people who are making this who were nominated,” she said. winners’ citations read out at the ceremony. contribution.” Aunty Kate Davis South Coastt Women’s This is about honouring the Health and Welfare link between our city and our Aboriginal Corporation region and our volunteers. “I have strength and faith for myself and – Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton others. It’s not about what I do, it’s who I am.” UOW Community Connections Grant Projects GRANT RECIPIENT PROJECT PROJECT Professor Sandra Jones, An educational resource for peers of students with Autism Centre for Health Initiatives Spectrum Disorders Community Partners: This research project seeks to increase the awareness and Dapto High School, Wollongong understanding between secondary school students and their High School peers with autism spectrum disorders. It will also develop strategies for teachers and support workers to facilitate social interaction between these students. Professor Lori Lockyer, AIME – Connecting to Success Faculty of Education This project aims to ensure that transport arrangements for Community Partners: Indigenous students and mentors involved in the Australian AIME Wollongong, Careways Indigenous Mentoring Experience Wollongong project continue. Community, participating It will also develop a better model for the transport network that schools in the AIME will allow for reduced fi nancial load on partnering schools. Wollongong Project Dr Sue Duchesne, Faculty of Opening doors between families and schools Education, Bega Education This project seeks to open doors between families and schools SCARF volunteers Sarah Chisholm and Ingrid Errington with GreenCONNECT refugee participants Laurent Centre in Eden by identifying parental beliefs, aspirations and practices and Tee Bu. Community Partners: Eden of the local community about their involvement in children’s Public School, Eden Preschool, education in the various stages of school. Eden Childcare Centre, Eden The project will help develop a range of strategies to engage Marine High School, Eden families in their children’s education, leading to improved Community grants Land Council educational outcomes for students. Professor Will Price, Faculty Illawarra Science on Show – enriching community help refugees of Science understanding of science in the Illawarra region Community Partners: Illawarra This project will improve access to the research and teaching Science Teachers Association, resources of the University’s Faculty of Science. The project Wollongong Science Centre team will create a tailored collection of materials and education gain job skills resources. This project will increase the accessibility of resources like the Howard Worner Collection and the planned By Kate McIlwain Hobbit and Climate Change, Geode and Fossils exhibits. The University of Wollongong’s latest round of one of the successful applicants. Community Engagement Grants are designed to Dr Karen Walton and Improving the nutritional status of clients of Meals on Wheels Led by UOW Faculty of Science student Ingrid Associate Professor Karen services have far-reaching consequences – from helping Errington who volunteers at Strategic Community Charlton, School of Health Illawarra refugees gain key employment skills to Assistance to Refugee Families (SCARF), This project will provide information on the nutritional status of Sciences boosting nutrition in Meals on Wheels and reducing GreenCONNECT will help Illawarra refugees to gain homebound clients of Meals on Wheels services in the Illawarra the risk of cancer in people with disabilities. important job skills through an ongoing recycling and identify ways the service can be improved to better target Community Partners: Northern program at festivals like the Illawarra Folk Festival Illawarra Meals those older adults most at risk of malnutrition in the community. The Community Engagement Grants Scheme (CEGS) has provided over $50,000 in 2010 to fund and Viva La Gong. on Wheels It will also develop and evaluate the introduction of a ‘snack seven diverse projects – each a partnership between Started by SCARF earlier this year, it aims to pack’ program and nutritional screening resources pack. University staff or students and community partners provide refugees who have been removed from with a clear community benefi t. the labour market with a bridge back to work by Dr Elias Kyriazis, Dr Alan Reducing the incidence of cancer in people with mild improving employability. Pomering and Heather intellectual disabilities by providing information and resources “This is a fantastic example of the University being
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