Meet Spencer: Clayton Events Officer

Spencer has been with the MGA since she was a graduate student herself. Read about her journey from casual volunteering to working with us full-time!

If you've attended an MGA event in the last three years, chances are you've crossed paths with Spencer Ray. What you may not know about Spencer is that she started out with us just like any other graduate student looking to make friends.

Part I: Spencer the grad student

"I was enrolled in a Master of Environment and Sustainability when I attended an MGA orientation session", she recalls. "So I signed up for the volunteer program because it seemed like a good way to connect with other students".

Only a couple months later, Spencer scored a part-time job with us as an events assistant - a perfect fit for her as a grad student looking for work to balance with her studies while staying involved in a community of like-minded people.

"I've never seen anything like the MGA", she says. "When I did my undergrad in Canada, we never had anything like programs and support services we offer to students". 

Towards the end of her degree, she even came across an issue with her studies and utilised the MGA advocacy service to resolve it.

"It was great because I was already familiar with the advocacy process and what it could offer me", Spencer explains. "And then it was just so easy because my advocate was also my coworker". 

Working with the MGA while completing her degree also gave Spencer experience in event organisation and in-depth knowledge about MGA's activities and programs. This experience would prove to be invaluable for the next chapter of her life. 

Part II: Spencer the graduate

As luck would have it, not long after Spencer graduated from her degree, the MGA was on the lookout for a new full-time staff member to fill the role of Clayton Events Officer and Volunteer Program Coordinator. Who better than Spencer to fill these shoes?

Basically, this means that Spencer is the brains and the brawn behind every event that happens on the Clayton campus - things like free lunches, pop-up grocers, recreational activities and social catch-ups, as well as Orientation. And when she's not running these events, she's overseeing our volunteer program, of which roughly 600 grad students participate in. Honestly, we don't know how she does it! 

But one thing is for certain: Spencer does it all with a smile on her face and she's always happy to answer any of your questions.

When we asked Spencer what she loves most about MGA events, this is what she had to say:

"Well, my favourite event has always been the pop-up grocer. I tell my volunteers this every time it's on: it's the best opportunity for students to give back to each other. Especially towards the end of a semester when students might be feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It's such an incredible service to your community, just to be able to give someone else a bag of groceries and know that they have what they need to get through their exams and assessments". 

Of course, she knows that none of this would be possible without those amazing volunteers. Since Spencer started out as a volunteer herself, we asked her what she would tell other grad students about volunteering with the MGA:

"The most common piece of feedback we receive is that it's the best way to meet people. If you're new to Australia, or even just a new grad student at Monash, you will find such a strong sense of community and the opportunity to make friends with students from a diverse range of backgrounds. You can also gain so much professional and leadership experience through the volunteer program. It can be a gateway to future opportunities. Oh - and free merch!"

Well, Spencer is living proof of where volunteering with the MGA can lead you. And she's always eager to hear your feedback. 

What are you waiting for? Get in touch with Spencer to help her help YOU!