The MGA invites you to join us at Be the Change Week. We aim to “walk the talk” by translating the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals into an exciting program for a better global future. Every little step matters in the journey to living sustainably. During a week of events and activities, we will demonstrate how we can all incorporate the 17 SDGs into everyday actions that are easy and fun. Take the challenge with us!
Program
We have teamed up with the Asylum Seeker Refugee Centre to deliver free meals to the front doors of 100 Monash graduate students.
If you need a free, ethical meal delivered to your doorstep, then register to go in the draw by:
9:00am, Friday, 30 September 2022
Nina Gbor of Eco Styles will share styling tips to help reduce your carbon footprint and textile waste, while looking and feeling amazing. Learn to take action towards a sustainable fashion future that is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Date: Tuesday, 4 October
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
As the founder of Eco Styles, Nina Gbor is an award-winning sustainability advocate, ethical fashion speaker, climate activist, writer and educator. From lived experience and education, Nina writes and speaks about the dynamics between the global South and global North, with focus on inequalities and justice in areas of fashion relating to socio-economics, politics and gender.
Teaching people to fix their own bicycles is Jonny Green’s idea of a good time! His passion is infectious and participants will learn about the joys of co-operative labour and consensus decision-making, as well as bicycles.
Date: Tuesday, 4 October
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Jonathan (Jonny) Green is an experienced community organiser who has founded and participated in a range of different cycling collectives in the US and Australia as a volunteer and board member. Some of these organisations include: Bicycle Kitchen/La Bici Cocinan, Bici Libre, and the Los Angeles Eco-Village in Los Angeles; The Bicycle Garden and Alfalfa House Community Food Co-op in Sydney. He is now part of the St Kilda Bike Kitchen in Melbourne. Jonny was trained as an attorney in New York City.
Experience the sharing economy and find some nice threads. Swapping is a clever and thrifty way to update your wardrobe, save some dollars, and help make the world a better place!
If you have a couple of good quality garments you once loved but are no longer your favourite, bring them along. Ideally, up to two items that are seasonally appropriate, clean, pressed and free from major faults. If you don’t have anything to donate, that’s okay too! BYO bag.
Hosted by the Sustainability at Monash group (SAM)
Date: Tuesday, 4 October
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Venue: Seminar Room 2, Graduate Student Hub on the Ground Floor of Building 89 – 21 Sports Walk, Clayton Campus
No booking required
As part of Be the Change Week 2022, the MGA is hosting a free lunch for all graduate students who identify as Indigenous. This includes all students who are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and First Nations people from around the world.
Join us for a great opportunity to network with other Indigenous students from different faculties and disciplines, all while enjoying a delicious lunch on the MGA. Look out for your friendly MGA Rep Belinda at the Racecourse Hotel Bistro in Caulfield.
Date: Wednesday, 5 October 2022
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Venue: Racecourse Hotel, 895 Dandenong Road, Malvern East
The Monash Young MedTech Innovators(MYMI) will discuss the environmental footprint of health care and how we can innovate in these pockets for the betterment of society.
They will outline potential innovative solutions for the more frequent direct effects of climate change (heat stress, fires, water inundations and storms) and the indirect effects (malnutrition from crop failures, and altered infectious disease patterns).
Date: Wednesday, 5 October
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
We are in a ‘Decade of Action’, a worldwide push to accelerate sustainable solutions and ensure we meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This interactive session led by Liz Bacchetti of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute will cover fundamental concepts in sustainability, introduce the SDGs and demonstrate how you can become an important part of the sustainable development puzzle.
Come along and learn how you can take action in your own lives and careers.
Date: Wednesday, 5 October
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Liz Bacchetti is a sustainability educator, project manager, and communicator. She works at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute to design and deliver immersive and transformative co-curricular programs that build leadership and support social innovation. Liz is passionate about helping people to understand, grapple with, and address the complex challenges facing our society.
The MGA Parents’ Catch-Up is a great opportunity to connect and network with other grads who understand the delicate balance of study and parenting. Have a much-needed break and enjoy coffee, tea or juice and some cake on the MGA. Children and partners are most welcomed to attend.
Look out for your friendly MGA rep Rose Huang, a PhD candidate and super mum who will host this session.
Date: Wednesday, 5 October
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Venue: Cafe Saporo, 20 Research Way, Clayton Campus
Cloth nappies for babies and young children are a great sustainable option and they are much easier to use than you think!
MGA’s resident Cloth Nappy Guru Jess will share her first-hand experience, backed by scientific research. She will introduce you to the world of cloth nappies and provide you all the information you need to feel confident about choosing and using them. She will cover topics like types of cloth nappies, absorbency of inserts, how to choose the right brand, how many you will need and how to use and wash them.
Attendees will go into the draw to win a cloth nappy trial pack or a reusable wipes pack to help start their sustainable parenting journey.
Date: Wednesday, 5 October
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Venue: MGA Clayton Office, Level 1, Campus Centre
Join us for a free movie screening of ‘The Cove’, the 2009 Oscar winner for best documentary. The film follows a team of activists on a mission to expose the killing of dolphins in a small coastal town in Japan. It’s as riveting as any thriller, and beautifully shot.
The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Actions for Dolphins, who will outline their plans to stop the slaughter and sale of dolphins from Taiji, Japan and let you know how you can help!
Pizza will be served during the event. BYO plate and mug.
Date: Wednesday, 5 October
Time: 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Seminar Room 2, Graduate Student Hub on the Ground Floor of Building 89 – 21 Sports Walk, Clayton Campus
Every little step matters in the journey to living sustainably. This festival will demonstrate how we can all take everyday actions that are easy and fun.
What’s happening?
- Free vegan BBQ
- Free coffee (Please BYO mug)
- A fresh fruit and veg market by Farmers Pick
- Information and sustainable product stalls
- Watch a plastic recycling demo by Precious Plastics
- A chance to adopt a native plant
- Lots of games and opportunities to win prizes to kick start your sustainable journey
Date: Thursday, 6 October
Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Lemon Scented Lawn, Clayton Campus
No bookings required
Jump on your bike and get the wind flowing through your hair – the MGA is going on a lunchtime ride! We’ll be taking the Djerring trail, which is a 16 km return trip from Caulfield to Oakleigh on a mostly flat and straight terrain.
- Any bike is suitable.
- Helmets are a must.
- Do check your bike prior and pump your tyres to recommended pressures.
- Please bring your water bottle and a jacket just in case.
We will meet in front of Monash Connect at 12.30pm.
Date: Thursday, 6 October
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Venue: Meet out the front of Monash Connect
Join us for a free movie screening of ‘The Cove’, the 2009 Oscar winner for best documentary. The film follows a team of activists on a mission to expose the killing of dolphins in a small coastal town in Japan. It’s as riveting as any thriller, and beautifully shot.
The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Actions for Dolphins, who will outline their plans to stop the slaughter and sale of dolphins from Taiji, Japan and let you know how you can help!
Pizza will be served during the event. BYO plate and mug.
Date: Thursday, 6 October
Time: 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Building N, Level 3, Room 323, Caulfield Campus
We are offering three lucky graduate students a chance to “walk the talk”.
Calculate your carbon footprint and then go in the draw to offset it for the year!
Click here to calculate your carbon footprint. When the competition opens, follow the instructions at the link to enter.
Prize: 3 x Carbon Credits up to 10 tonnes purchased from Carbon Neutral (valued at $319 as of Friday, 2 September 2022) that will support the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor project.
Start date: Monday, 26 September 2022 at 10.00am AEST
End date: Friday, 14 October 2022 at 4.00pm AEST
Grants and Recycling Challenges
The MGA is offering all our graduate student groups and clubs an opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $200 as part of Be the Change Week.
The only criterion is to host an event for graduate students before the end of October that is aligned with one of the UN SDGs. For example, you could host a mindfulness or gardening workshop or run a lunchtime walk with coffee and cake. Get creative and apply!
Closing date: Friday, 23 September 2022
Please submit your event proposal and budget to mga-gradgroups@monash.edu
Here at the MGA, we understand that life can deal unexpected challenges sometimes. Our Welfare Assistance Program includes nine grants which cover a range of common scenarios in which the essential needs of everyday living and studying for struggling graduate students can be alleviated.
Our one-off grants are available to all graduate students enrolled at a Monash University Australian campus. Unlike a loan, our grants do not need to be repaid. Applicants will have to demonstrate that they are experiencing financial hardship and meet additional eligibility criteria outlined by the MGA.
These grants are open all year round.
Click here to find out more and apply.
Be the Change Week is a great time to declutter! Not sure what to do with your old mobile phones, CDs/DVDs or electrical plugs that have been sitting in the drawer of your desk for years? Drop items like these off at our E-Waste Recycling Stations located at the MGA offices on Caulfield and Clayton campus.
By reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, we can make a real difference to the environment.
Days: Monday to Friday
Caulfield Campus: MGA Office, Level 2 Building C
Clayton Campus: MGA Office, Level 1, Campus Centre
Your kids have grown up and there is a stack of unwanted children’s books filling your bookcases and cupboards. Declutter your house and drop the books off at the MGA office on Caulfield and Clayton Campus. We will donate them to 123Read2Me, an organisation that provides free quality children’s books to kids in low socioeconomic communities.
Days: Monday to Friday
Caulfield Campus: MGA Office, Level 2 Building C
Clayton Campus: MGA Office, Level 1, Campus Centre