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Empowering, Connecting, Creating Positive Change

Our friends at The Big Issue are in party mode for the organisation’s 20 year anniversary. So we thought it was time we shared the story of our relationship with The Big Issue Classroom, and the ways we work together with young people in the community.

What do we have in common?

Well, we both work with people from challenging life circumstances and we’re both all for creating positive change for people and the community. But it runs deeper than that – empowerment and connection are at the heart of both organisations’ work, as we discovered when we went to a Big Issue Classroom session at the Centre of Adult Education with a group of young people on City Camp from Warburton Primary School last week.

The Big Issue Classroom – guest speaker with Danya Sterling

The Big Issue Classroom experience

What’s it all about? The Big Issue Classroom educates young people about homelessness, disadvantage and the challenges facing society. The workshops include activities, talks and insights from a guest speaker, who shares their first-hand experience with these issues. The speakers’ stories help break down stereotypes and promote greater understanding among the student groups according to Danya Sterling, Manager of Education Enterprises at The Big Issue.

In the classroom, things like marginalisation, the importance of work and community were addressed along with exploring the stereotypes, preconceptions and misconceptions associated with homelessness.

A central exercise of the Big Issue Classroom was building a tower block from blocks labelled with essential elements required for a happy life – things like education, family, employment, home. In doing this, young people soon realised the importance of these elements and the detrimental effects of removing one of these blocks, metaphorically and literally.

Empowerment & Connectedness

These are two powerful words. And two powerful concepts that run through the core values of both Doxa and The Big Issue Classroom.

Connecting to the community and empowering individuals to facilitate change in their own lives are both hugely important. We see it at Doxa all the time across our programs portfolios of positive life experiences, education opportunities and employment pathways. Much of the focus of our work is empowering young people who are experiencing challenging life circumstances, supporting them and providing them with the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills to get them into meaningful employment.

As part of the Big Issue Classroom we also met Shane, who experienced a long period of homelessness after his father passed away ten years ago, sending him into a spiral of disillusionment, despair and isolation. By hearing his story first hand, the young people from Warburton Primary were able to connect with the ideas and link the concepts explored so far.

Danya elaborates on this, explaining that by sharing their own stories of making positive changes in their lives, the guest speakers show student groups what is possible. She adds that it’s important for young people to recognise the value of a support network and realise it’s OK to ask for help when they need it.

Creating positive change

Once again, this is a key concept for us at Doxa – our programs are aimed at inspiring and creating positive change first in individual’s life and then facilitating a cascading effect across the wider community.

We spoke to two young people from Warburton Primary School about their thoughts and how they would like to help address homelessness in their communities. As they found, by attending a Doxa City Camp and participating in the Big Issue Classroom experience, they gained a better perspective on social issues, community and wellbeing.

Jasmine from Warburton Primary School on a Doxa City Camp

Jasmine, aged 12:

I learned that almost half of homeless people are women and 1 in 5 are primary school age or younger. I feel that we should do a lot more to help. I feel sad whenever I pass homeless people as I wish they had a home. Everyone deserves that.

Dylan from Warburton Primary School on a Doxa City Camp

Dylan, aged 12:

I learned that there are 105,000 people homeless in Australia every night and just how important it is to stay happy. I wish the homeless weren’t in that position. I wish they had better lives. The Big Issue Classroom has given me a lot of perspective on homeless people. If I could help, I would give them money, food, water but most importantly a home.

The Big Issue are celebrating their 20 year anniversary this year! Find out more about that here.
And finally – huge thanks to Nicole and Danya at the Big Issue and staff and students at Warburton Primary School.

What’s NAIDOC Week all about?

Our office just returned from the flag raising ceremony that marks the beginning of NAIDOC week. My news feed is flooded with “Happy NAIDOC,” and cute photos about events. Maybe yours is too or you’ve noticed a few flags flying and you’re not sure what the deal is so I thought it would be useful to break it down.

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History of NAIDOC Week

Indigenous leader William Ferguson first organised a Day of Mourning on the 26^th of January 1938, the 150^th anniversary of the First Fleet landing.
In 1940, this day was moved the Sunday before every 26 January and became known as the National Aborigines Day.
This was up until 1955 when this day was moved to the first Sunday in July. This decision was to make this day about the celebration of Aboriginal culture rather than a protest.
In 1956 a coalition of churches, government bodies and Aboriginal people supported the formation of the National Aboriginal Day Observance Committee.
In the 1970’s it was decided by the Committee to make this a week long affair.
In 1991, this was changed to National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee to include Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week Today

There is something for everyone during NAIDOC week, from ritzy events like balls and exhibition openings, to things like family fun days and Elders brekkies, and marches to honour the protest roots of the week.

As an Aboriginal person I take it as an opportunity to catch up with mob I haven’t seen in a while and participate in as many activities as I can. I also take it as an opportunity to reflect on my family’s history, for example what activities did my great-grandmother participate in the 1940’s?

Mr and Miss NAIDOC 2016, NAIDOC Patron Robert Thorpe, Mayor Rober Doyle and Elders. Photo credit: Koorie Heritage Trust: https://www.facebook.com/koorieheritagetrust/

Mr and Miss NAIDOC 2016 (Jordan Kamara Edwards and Merinda Dryden), NAIDOC Patron Robert Thorpe, Mayor Robert Doyle and Elders.
Photo credit: Koorie Heritage Trust: https://www.facebook.com/koorieheritagetrust/

How can I get around it?

Ask your school, university, work or local council if they have any events on.
Check out naidoc.org.au and www.facebook.com/vicnaidoc | www.vicnaidoc.com for more information.
Acknowledging and celebration Aboriginal and Torres Strait doesn’t just have to happen this week and there are plenty of things you can do throughout the year!

Flag raising ceremony at Federation Square, Monday 4th July 2016 for NAIDOC Week 2016

Author: Nayuka Gorrie, Indigenous Programming & Partnerships Manager

Fix Stuff. Make Stuff. Create Stuff. This Is Science.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Well, there’s no denying it Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) is a hot topic for millennials, the world of education and career pathways in 2016. But, according to The Grattan Institute, by the time students reach Year 9, more than 1 in 3 lack the scientific and/or numerical literacy they need to thrive and for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the numbers are far bleaker. In addition to this, they report that the proportion of young Australians who study science or maths to Year 12 is in long-term decline.

What can we do about this? Well, getting young people excited and informed about science, inspiring them and opening their minds to the world of possibilities that a career in STEM offers is a good starting point.

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University Pathways Program visit CSIRO

We recently took a group of University Pathways Program participants to CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) HQ in Clayton to discover more about careers in STEM, 3D printing or “additive manufacturing” and generally get them enthused and inquisitive about all things scientific.

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Within CSIRO and the scientific world in general, the career possibilities are numerous, from research scientists, engineers, technicians through to communicators, educators and their very own legal team. Heaps of options right?

Top career tips – interested in a career in STEM?

[gdl_icon type=”icon-asterisk” color=”#0048BB” size=”10px”]Do things that give you options
[gdl_icon type=”icon-asterisk” color=”#0048BB” size=”10px”]Do what you enjoy
[gdl_icon type=”icon-asterisk” color=”#0048BB” size=”10px”]Do as many things for as long as you can

How do science & industry work together at CSIRO?

Something that was heavily emphasized during our trip to CSIRO was the relationship between science and industry. – it’s in their name after all, remember?

For those that think they’re not interested in science, the guys at CSIRO reminded us that it is at the essence of every process as we fix stuff, make stuff and create stuff. If we apply scientific knowledge to a purpose – or an industry – we can relate to then it becomes interesting.

Within the context of additive manufacturing (3D printing), industrial businesses visit the CSIRO lab to test out the $800,000 machines and see if they can harness the new technology for application within their industry. Through this process, the business works out if 3D printing is going to be beneficial for them and CSIRO scientists are exposed to new ideas and creative solutions, triggering new scientific development. It’s a win-win situation!

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Women in STEM

As well as a lack of young people opting for careers in STEM, there’s also a big gender issue across the sector. An Australian government report looking into the ‘Pathways Of STEM graduates in Australia’ found that across the whole STEM graduate workforce, less than 1/3 were females.

Not cool, hey? But the next generation can do something to change that. And they will. Jasmine and Martina, two UPP participants, were both super keen to talk about their passions for science.

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Martina, age 15:

“I love science – especially biology, chemistry and psychology. There’s always something new to discover in science. It’s always progressing. It’s mind blowing that things you never even thought about can come true. I’m also a strong believer that whatever your age or gender you should give it a go!”

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Jasmine, age 15:

“I’ve always wanted to go into medicine and be a neurosurgeon. This is because when I was younger my stepdad got a brain tumour. I helped looked after him and was always asking the nurses and doctors questions, I went along to the meetings and learned a lot. It would be a great feeling to save a life – this has a huge impact not only on the patient but also their family.”

Yeah science!

We’re really stoked that our UPP students got so much out of this visit and were so interested in careers in STEM. A big thank you to CSIRO for hosting the UPP session and opening up all our eyes to the boundless possibilities of a career in STEM… hooray for science!

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Journey Program: A shared experience

This week is Refugee Week and we have been celebrating the young people from a refugee background who we support through our programs.

We recently ran a Journey Program with a fantastic group of newly arrived / migrant young people from the Western English Language School, many of whom are from a refugee background.

A sense of belonging

Imagine you are newly arrived to Australia. You’ve undergone displacement from your homeland, tremendous upheaval, possible bereavement and varying degrees of trauma in the process. You arrive in a new country, you don’t speak much English and you’ve got new social norms and a new environment to navigate. What would help you make you feel like you belong?

Summitting Mt Koorooya

Leadership. Teamwork. Connection.

Our Journey Program aims to foster these powerful skills in order to empower the participants and foster social cohesion and inclusion. This is achieved through:

Challenge: trekking, bouldering and physical challenges which test the limits of individuals and provide them with an opportunity to work as a team.
Community building: as participants have to carry their tents and belongings, set them up and cook their own meals.
Education: Journey Program participants learn about teamwork, history, local environment and Indigenous culture of the Koorooya National Park.

A shared experience

What’s more, Journey Program provides a powerful shared experience which brings young people together. It gives them a chance to shine where perhaps the academic setting would not. And it is something that they can take with them forever.

New skills. New ideas. New opportunities.

So what are we talking about here? Well, through participating in the Journey Program, young people come out with:

Social skills: initiative, responsibility, teamwork.
Personal skills: self esteem, social confidence, motivation.
Practical skills: bushcraft, cooking, navigating.

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Thoughts & reflections.

The feedback from the Western English Language School has been super positive. The participants are apparently still talking about it, weeks after the trip!

“We all loved the program and everyone would love to go again!”

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Our Thanks…

This program for newly arrived and refugee young people would not have been possible without the generosity of Gandel Philanthropy.
And of course all the awesome young people and teachers from the Western English Language School – Mr Zac, Mr Marko and Mr Sujeevan.

Goldrush Camp Experience

As part of our Malmsbury camp experience, a group of campers recently participated in a “Goldrush” experience in the Victorian Goldfields in order to learn more about the history of the local area.

First of all they caught an old fashioned steam train from Castlemaine to Maldon, both former gold mining towns.

In Maldon they explored Carmen’s tunnel which was lit by a series of candles. The tunnel is 570m long and took two years to be dug out! Despite this process the tunnel only produced $300 worth of gold (roughly $9,600 today).

Then they took part in their own gold rush bonanza which was a series of short games such as gold panning and mine filing.

Big thanks to John Ellis of the Chewton Domain Society who donated a replica of an old diggers’ flag from the 1851 Monster Meeting – a huge protest that took place in the local area many years ago.

Photo gallery below. Photos by Doxa volunteer JD (Jaydan Knowles)

My name is Taylah, and this is my story

When I was asked to write this post, I debated about what I would write for days, I struggled to string together a single sentence without deleting it.

I slowly realised that I am trying to write about myself in a way that would be appropriate and well received but I couldn’t do it, because life isn’t censored. So I decided to just write what I felt.

The theme for this year’s reconciliation week is Our history, Our story, Our future. For those of you who do not know what reconciliation week is, allow me to explain. Reconciliation week is the one week during the entire year that Indigenous Australians are celebrated; it marks the day of the 1967 referendum, Sorry day, and Mabo day.

My name is Taylah Jones and I am a proud Palawa woman, and this is my story. I was born and raised on Yorta Yorta country, and my mob Palawa, is from Tasmania. I am one of three siblings, so no, I don’t have a huge family. I have worked since I was 16, so no, I am not on Centrelink benefits, and neither are any of my family members. Yes, I am attending University, and no, I didn’t get where I am because I can tick a box. Yes, I am pale, and yes, you may think I don’t ‘look it’, and yes, I am sure I am Aboriginal.

For those of you who think these questions are stupid, ignorant, and rude, you would be right. And yes, I do actually get asked these questions, and yes, it does happen on a regular basis. Is it annoying yes, is it degrading yes, is it infuriating, yes.

When I left home to go to university I thought this would be the end of the questions. I was so wrong. Upon arriving at university on my first day, I was introduced as one of the Indigenous students before my name was used.

We are not our stereotypes, no one is. I have always been proud to say that I am Aboriginal, and I have never met someone who is ashamed of being Aboriginal.

We are all connected, not just by family… and not by some tragic event. We are connected through our culture.

As I write this, I am surrounded by some of the most caring and inspirational people I have ever met, and yes they are all Indigenous. Something people always say to me is that they don’t understand how Indigenous people always act like they know each other, when they have never met before.

Well, the answer is simple. We are all connected, not just by family (although many of us are related), and not by some tragic event. We are connected through our culture. There is a reason why the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are the oldest living cultures in the world, it is because we are survivors, and we care about one another in a way that you could never understand until you are a part of such a bond. No matter where you go, and no matter what happens, you will always be surrounded by family.

This is our history, told through our stories, and we have a long future ahead of us.

Five reasons we should all give volunteering a crack

Hey, hello, what’s up? My name is Nayuka and I have a confession, I am a volunteering addict.

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I have loved volunteering for as long as I can remember. I got my first taste when I was 9. My Mum volunteered at our local nursing home and I would go along and play bingo, instead of getting money though, we would get chocolates (that might not sound like much but if you are pushing 70 and have diabetes, chocolate is a huge deal.)

I’m 25 and although the kind of volunteering I do now is very different, I still get the same kick out of it. Just in case you needed an excuse to give back a little, I’ve got five for ya!

It makes you feel good

Yes, we should all be altruistic saints and do it for the love of humanity but there’s something in it for you. I’m not talking warm and fuzzies (although there definitely is that) but legit science tells us it is good for our health. This article by our mates at Pro Bono piqued my interest.

You meet other legends

I made one of my best friends while I was volunteering. Because we met volunteering, we already knew we had at least important thing in common. Since then we’ve run workshops together, shared victories and commiserations, sat on panels together and a whole bunch of other random things that you normally don’t get to do with your best mate.

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Shout out to my bff Millie Telford. Here’s us looking super cute before speaking at a panel together.

Skillz

I did a volunteer internship in my first year at uni. I was bright, fresh and full of first year enthusiasm. Through this internship I picked up really valuable campaigning skills that I have been able to apply to my professional life such as personal narrative and communication.

Opportunities

I get to work with young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people for a living. As a young Aboriginal woman myself, this is a dream gig for me. I got my foot in the door through volunteering.

After spending a few years on the volunteer youth scene, I was approached by someone and was asked if I would volunteer at a camp with 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. After falling in love with the feeling of seeing young people transform in front of me, I hounded the organisation until they gave me the job, Since then, I have sat on a board, attended UN climate change negotiations and a whole bunch of other rad stuff all because of volunteering.

It makes the world better

According to Volunteering Australia, in 2010 volunteers contributed $25.4 billion to the Australian economy. This is huge but I’m more interested in the other contributions volunteers make.

Volunteers fight fires, brighten up kids days at hospitals, campaign for positive change, challenge systems, re-vegetate degraded land, create publications, teach and so much more. They literally make the world go round and here at Doxa, we are thankful for the important work volunteers do everyday!

Doxa Cadet represents refugees for Australia

Doxa Cadet and RMIT student Arif Hazara has been selected as a part of the Australian delegation at the UNHCR negotiations with NGOs in Geneva this June. He will represent Australia in a forum that discusses rights and issues around refugees in the global landscape today.

A passionate youth advocate for asylum seeker and refugee rights, Arif regularly volunteers with local community groups, speaking at conferences and dedicating his time to advocacy alongside his university studies at RMIT and full time work as Assistant Accountant at Dennis Family Homes.

His story of greatness is inspirational. Find out more by watching the video below.

Local media spotlight

Greater Dandenong Leader (left) and Dandenong Journal (right) have both interviewed Arif and written the articles below. Click to enlarge and read:

Dandenong Leader article ‘Representing refugees’

Arif article – making the most of chance to achieve

NYW 2016: Shelley Fenech’s advice for juggling university life

Advice and guidance for juggling university life from Shelley Fenech

The third in our National Youth Week 2016 blog series, where young people in our programs provide an insight into some of their amazing experiences.

Before you decide whether to read on – I must tell you that what I am about to say may save your sanity.

University can be as busy or laidback as you want. But for when times get tough there’s some things you can do to help reduce your stress levels.

About Me

My name is Shelley Fenech, and I’m a third year university student. If you’re about to start university, or even if you already have, then the mistakes I have made along my academic journey will not be in vain because I can briefly share with you my story.

I have always liked being a busy person. However in 2015, for my second year of university, life became beyond hectic. To make things simple, here’s a list of what I was doing:

Full time university
Volunteering at the SES (where I took on an admin role as well as being an ordinary member)
8 weeks of work experience ay my sponsor company through my cadetship with Doxa
Working at my casual job

I even successfully applied for an internship which meant on my mid-year holiday I was working 7 days a week. Madness! I had no time for myself, and this eventually led me into a dark period of depression. I no longer enjoyed the things I used to, and hardly cared about anything I did anymore.

Becoming too busy can be detrimental to your health.

It was a really tough time for me, and it’s taken a lot of work to get me back to where I am now. That’s enough sadness for one piece! So, to ensure that you don’t endure what I did I’ve created a guide to keep your life well-balanced and happy. If you adopt even one or two things into your weekly rhythm it will do wonders.

Listen to the Home Slow Podcast

Brooke McAlary created and hosts the show, which is an amazing listen. She teaches you how to declutter and slow down your life. Listening to these episodes gave me the strength to take leave from my SES unit while I’m at uni.

Practice Mindfulness and/or Meditation

I cannot stress how important this is. Being self-aware is incredibly beneficial to your health, both mentally AND physically! Practicing mindfulness actually physically reshapes your brain for the better. There are loads of other benefits that I can’t fit here, so check out headspace.com/science. There are many apps that you can find to practice mindfulness, but I use the Smiling Mind.

Take up a hobby!

This could be anything like the trendy new adult colouring in books, or something as simple as knitting. Find something that you can do that takes your mind off your worries. The great thing about a lot of hobbies is you can do it while watching lectures! I like to take photos of sunsets and edit them – which led me to accidentally capture this awesome lightening photo!

Captured in my town whilst on a jog

Read ‘How To Stay Sane’ by Philippa Perry

She’s an amazing psychoanalyst who has taught me to question my motives. Am I doing something to impress others or because it makes me happy? An amazing read that’s pretty short.

Go on a holiday!

I don’t think there’ll be many complaints here! Holidays are a great way to reboot.

Become physically healthy

Look, I know, exercise. It’s not for everyone. I have purposely not titled this recommendation as ‘Exercise’ because you don’t have to break a huge sweat to help your body feel better. Try yoga, or going for walks with friends or family. Foam rolling is also an amazing way to increase your flexibility and recover from exercise. And if you do it for long enough it feels like a great massage! You can pick up a foam roller for a cheap price at stores like Kmart or Big W.

Don’t cut off from family & friends

I don’t mean to say that you’ll cut off the people you love on purpose. It’s just something that can happen when you’re busy. Make sure to schedule in some time for the people who care about you. Phone call, quick coffee or skype call – whatever you can manage!

Keep track

You can do this through a diary or some kind of time management app. However, rather than just scheduling in work, assignments and other mundane things here’s a couple of things to also keep track of. To decrease negative self talk, write a positive thing about yourself for every negative thought you have. At the end of some days, write down something that happened that day. It can be interesting and fun to look back at the small things you forgot happened.
Those are just some of the things that can help you to maintain a lifestyle that isn’t detrimental to your health. I wish you the best of luck in everything that you do, and hope that you will undertake some of the recommendations that have helped me!

Go forth and be happy,
Shelley.

NYW 2016: Olivia Walker’s Top 10 Tips For Exchange

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Olivia Walker gives her top tips for an overseas exchange

The second in our National Youth Week 2016 blog series, where young people in our programs provide an insight into some of their amazing experiences.

The prospect of heading to a foreign country to undertake university studies is pretty daunting. Although the term visa may have you shying away from the idea, heading overseas on exchange is both a great way to build up your interpersonal skills and allow you to experience culture thus making you a more-well rounded person. Think exchange is something you might be interested in? Here are my top 10 tips to consider:

1. Destination

The biggest and most challenging thing people have trouble with is deciding where they want to go. Therefore, my number one tip is to thoroughly research the places you would like to travel to. In light of recent events, some areas are deemed unsafe to travel and having an understanding of these places is crucial. Also, think about what degree you are studying and what you plan on doing in the future. There may be certain destinations that seem on par with the future you. However, I always recommend choosing destinations that appeal to you as well as your career. Then hop on the Google machine and explore, if you can picture yourself there, then that’s the go.

2. Cultural Awareness

I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing before going! Firstly, it is super important to check if there are any vaccinations that are required entering that country. This brings me to my next point, ensure you have a good understanding of the medical system and health insurance policy as well as knowing the emergency contact number for your host country. Dialing 000 will do you no good in Costa Rica. Secondly, brush up on basic laws so that you don’t go around committing offences because, lets face it, being fined for chewing gum in Singapore is probably not the best way to start off a trip. In terms of cultural norms, doing your research and perhaps investing in a Lonely Planet travel guide for your host country will be the best way to go about. It is also important to consider behavior when overseas as certain hand gestures may be misinterpreted and could be offensive. Weather is another factor to consider. Down under we can get a variety do seasons in one day, but this tends to be a Melbourne special and therefore you should be thoroughly aware of what season you will be entering into and pack accordingly. If you are heading during winter it may be necessary for you to purchase snow boots, thermal gear, gloves, scarves and feather down goods to keep you warm. In warmer weather, comfortable clothing and plenty of sunscreen take precedent.

3. Language

Some people think that not speaking the language of the country you are entering is the be all and the end all. Wrong! Reading this blog means you are already gifted with the English language and pretty much anywhere in the world you will find the locals will have an English counter part. English is the worlds most spoken language and so getting around won’t be a big issue because after all. However, it may be handy to take up a language class before you jet set, that way you will feel more comfortable communicating and you will be able to add the talent of speaking another language, even if very minimal, onto the resume. Added bonus! For those of you who can only speak the native mother tongue there are many international universities that offer English courses. You will have the benefit of submerging yourself into another culture, without the struggles of leaning how to read, write and speak in another language. Sometimes your host university will have a language course you can take during o-week so that you understand the basics. For those that can speak another language why not boost your skills further and test your abilities by taking up a semester in that country. You will become even more fluent and more culturally diverse.

4. Safety

It may seem a bit controversial but when a lovely old lady at an international airport asks you to carry her bags think twice. When travelling anywhere it doesn’t harm to take extra precautions. Little things like where to hide money and securing a passport are just small considerations that can eliminate fraud and spending unnecessary money. Investing in things like Pacsafe gear with RFID technology that protects your cards and passports will set your mind at ease. There are also secure sock pouches where money can be stashed on your person to prevent theft. Also, taking out proper insurance for the duration or your stay is important. Make sure you take a thorough look at the policy and ask questions when you meet your flight agent. Lost luggage is very common so ensuing you are covered in an event where your luggage is lost is crucial. Another optional addition, just to be extra safe, is to carry an emergency contact card around with. This will be super important if injury was to occur to you. It is also important to keep a copy of the contact number and address of the closest embassy, this way if you encounter any problems along the way you can ring them immediately. This will be both comforting and super useful in times of need.

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5. Budget

Ok so we understand that heading to Milan on exchange is a bit of a fairy tail unless we have some support. Financial support that is! If you are anything like me having one scoop of gelati whilst in the middle of Rome isn’t quite going to cut it and so budgeting is very important. Depending on whether you undertake the exchange program through your university or not, the university may allocate certain amount of funds to go towards your trip. Where this isn’t the case and for extras like accommodation and basic living it’s important to start saving immediately. No one can be exactly certain on how much you would need but generally speaking allow up to 200 AUD a week. So for a basic semester exchange that works out to be at least $2,400. But don’t stress, by putting away $150 a week for 6 months you will be able to save over $3,500. Not bad after all!

6. Destination

Now, to live on the more lavish side of things always be on the look out for scholarships! Most university’s will have scholarships specifically for exchange but also look into any other scholarships that may apply. Broaden the network a bit and have a look at the local government and commonwealth government websites too. As Australia is very multicultural and like to promote international affairs, you may be able to receive special funding for your destination. The world is your oyster and with a scholarship under your belt, all the oysters will be yours.

7. Paperwork

Heading on exchange is very exciting and will provide you with the ultimate trip of a lifetime but this all comes with lots and lots of preparation. Most exchanges are semester durations and depending on which country you end up in this can be as long as 6 months. This means you will need to apply for a visa in order to stay over there. Visa applications can be made via the consulate or embassy of that country. Alternatively, you can head online to the country’s government website and lodge the application online with all the required documents and then send it straight to the countries representatives in Australia. Visas can be a little costly and take a fair bit of work so make sure to get started on this early. Passport applications can also take a few months and it is important to consider this when applying. There are also applications that will need to be made to the host university which will take time. Always start as soon as you possibly can to minimise the risk of planning a trip without having the physical passport.

8. Technicalities

It goes without saying that exchange will be a little slice of heaven and during your time away you will need to establish a home away from home. This includes pretty much everything you use in Australia being reformed in your new home country. Things including phone plans, bank accounts, internet and housing all need to be arranged. Most phone carriers here will charge large fees for roaming whilst overseas and thus it is must more cost effective to open up a new plan with an overseas supplier. We are all going to need some dollar whilst overseas and taking into consideration the exchange rate and withdrawal fees it might be worthwhile looking at opening up a bank account with a bank in your host country. Generally you will be able to find a branch in Melbourne where you discuss opening up an account prior to leaving. Accommodation can sometimes be arranged by the host university however in instances where it is not, look at university dormitories and student villages near by. Locking in a spot is a lot of back and forth communication and starting on this early is paramount.

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9. Seeing the world

While it may seem like you are living the high life whilst overseas in the back of your mind you have to remind yourselves that this is still a semester at university. That means there are still lectures, tutorials, assignments and exams to be completed. So while it would seem ideal to travel every movement you are on exchange practically speaking this may not always work. I would consider planning a trip before (or after) your semester begins. This will allow you to have the best fun away, gain a bit of cultural insight and grasp an idea as to what it is like living in your host country. Plan some time to get to known the area you will be living in and the university too. Once you have had your culture injection you will then be able to start uni all refreshed and ready to go. Bear in mind that there are semester breaks and long weekends so when you are ahead with your homework (or lets face it, just up to date) that you can jump on a bus and become a tourist!

10. Life on your own

This both the exciting part and the nerve racking part. Planning exchange is an independent task and rarely people head on exchange with their friends. But this doesn’t particularity mean you will be sitting alone in your dormitory on Saturday nights, in fact it probably means the opposite! There are great clubs and international communities to get involved in. You will meet so many new people and chances are, there will be others in the exact same situation as you. If you travel before hand you may even make friends that you can meet with during your time overseas. Not to mention with Facebook and Skye you will be able to stay connected to everyone who remains down under. You can make new friends and still keep in touch with your old friends, so its really a win win situation.