M
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Celebrating
diversity
Each year, Monash College
welcomes students from
more than 100 countries to
its two Melbourne campuses.
These students arrive in Australia ready
to receive a world-class education while
preparing for future success at Monash
University and beyond.
Their backgrounds may differ but these
students all have two things in common:
a desire to learn and a truly global outlook.
Enter any Monash College classroom
and you will see students from all over
the world working and learning together.
These students are defining the edge
that will set them apart when they enter
the workforce.
They understand that an ability to learn
from and work within different cultures
will continue to play an important role in
future workplaces.
Students are also encouraged to learn
more about each other. The College hosts
a calendar of diversity events designed to
allow students to celebrate events that are
important to them, but also to share these
events with the wider College community.
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“As a Monash College student, you get to
know so many people from other countries
you didn’t even know existed,” says
Gursimran Singh Cheema, a Monash
University Foundation Year Student from India.
“You come to learn so much about different
parts of the world – either through your
friends or people you meet.”
In 2015, students have participated in
multiple activities designed to celebrate
diversity and to get everyone involved.
This world view has formed an essential part of
the Monash College approach to teaching and
learning for more than 20 years.
“The students really love our calendar of
events,” says student support coordinator
Utako Eldridge.
From the moment students arrive they are
encouraged to learn more about Australian
culture. They enjoy social programs that
include traditional Australian activities.
They practise their English with locals and
they make friends with Australian students.
“It’s a chance to showcase and celebrate
different cultures, but also to have fun and
make connections. The staff also really enjoy
the activities – it’s great seeing what’s so great
about multicultural Melbourne being reflected
here at Monash College on a daily basis.”
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A selection of some of the
events celebrated in 2015
APR
Easter
FEB
The social side to Easter was celebrated
when our student leaders put on bunny
ears to deliver chocolate Easter eggs to
students and teachers.
Lunar New Year
This popular event featured Chinese
dragons dancing at Clayton Campus.
Aussie BBQ
As part of our orientation activities, new
students enjoy a traditional Aussie BBQ –
the first of many! You haven’t experienced
the real Australia until you have attended
a traditional Australian BBQ – complete
with sausage in bread. Summer is a great
time at both of our campuses.
MAR
Australian Indigenous culture
Students learned about Australian
Indigenous culture first-hand at a
special cultural day at Clayton.
Harmony Day
Harmony Day provides a great way to
learn about the cultures of others.
MAY
Spirit donations
Monash College students came together
in May to create spirit donations for Nepal
earthquake victims. They made paper cranes
to raise money for the important relief effort.
JUL
Eid Festival
AUG
Africa celebration,
Federation Square
Our Foundation Year music students
had the opportunity to sing with
students from all around Victoria in
the Boite Schools Chorus. The group
promotes understanding of cultural
music from around the world, and
this year featured songs from Senegal
and South Africa.
SEP
R U OK? Day
Each year, Monash College students
come together to celebrate R U OK? Day.
This is a national event where students
are encouraged to check in on their
friends and families and ask – R U OK?
Students participated in henna painting
to celebrate Eid Festival at the Melbourne
City campus.
DEC
Japanese Summer Festival
Wishes were hung on trees for the Japanese
star festival (Tanabata) at our Japanese
Summer Festival. English language and
Foundation Year students also wore
traditional Japanese outfits to celebrate.
Christmas
Students come together and participate
in a ‘Kris Kringle’, where a student is
randomly assigned a person to whom
they anonymously give a gift.