Offcourse

Issue 3 April 2007   |    Email Offcourse - Christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au.

Textbooks Ordering for Semester 2

Textbooks required for Semester 2?  Please submit your textbook list with the Monash University Bookshop - Caulfield by Tuesday 15 May.  Orders can be submitted at the following website:  http://www.bookshop.monash.edu.au/academics/MonashTextlist.html

 If you do not require any textbooks, please submit the list stating that there are no texts required. 

If you require assistance please contact Steven Heath on 9571 3277.

10,000 Steps - Happy Feet Challenge

Happy Feet!  Happy Feet!  Happy Feet!

The leading team is still the Fiery Footnotes, who have already completed the anticipated walk to Scott Base. They are however, now heading inland towards the South Pole and shortly will cross the Nimrod Glacier - please watch out for crevasses on the glacier, Fiery Footnotes! Twinkle Toes - Social Walkers have also reached Scott Base and are heading for Nimrod. Meanwhile in third place, Cold Sores are just ahead of Colonel Bogey, having reached Dumont d'Urville.

Mindfulness Meditation

Weekly sessions for quietening the mind.

Mindfulness Meditation has no religious affiliation, but is based on traditional meditation practices.  Research shows that the practice of mindfulness meditation reduces anxiety and depression and improves health and wellbeing.

Presented by Renee Gedge, Clinical Psychologist - Health, Wellbeing & Development on Tuesdays from 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m. in the Caulfield Campus Spiritual Centre - Building B, Level 1.  No need to register, just go along.

Mental Health First Aid comes to Caulfield

Courses to boost the level of support for people in mental health distress will run at Caulfield campus over the next few months.  Helen Whiteside, Clinical Psychologist at the Counselling Service has co-facilitated these courses at Clayton and Gippsland, and is excited to now be running the course on her home campus.

The Mental Health First Aid Program was developed in 2001 at the Centre for Mental Health Research at ANU. The program has been well evaluated and found to be effective in improving mental health literacy, reducing stigma and increasing helping behaviours. First Aid is the help given to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained. Mental Health First Aid is the initial help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is sought, and incorporates a 5 step action plan.

Helen says “many staff want to help but worry about saying or doing the wrong thing”.  Mental Health First Aid trainees will learn the signs and symptoms of the common mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders, and how to give effective help in crisis situations, including managing suicidal behaviours, panic attacks, and acute psychotic behaviour.

Dates and Registration

Registration and course administration is managed by Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. The courses at Caulfield campus are scheduled as follows: 

• Thurs 17 & Fri 18 May
• Thurs 9 & Fri 10 August. 

For registration please go to OHS&E Course Registration 

For further information, please contact Helen Whiteside at

Health, Wellbeing & Development tel:  9903 2500 Helen.Whiteside@adm.monash.edu.au 

Women's Networking Group

f you enjoy meeting other staff on campus over lunch, why not join the Caulfield Women's Networking & Support Group?  The group meets monthly on Mondays and always has interesting speakers.  If you would like to join or have further queries, please contact Helen Dunne on ext. 31595 or via email: helen.dunne@adm.monash.edu.au

Global Corporate Challenge 2007

the get ACCTIVE Group is still seeking four people to be a part of the Caulfield Campus GCC 2007 team.

The Global Corporate Challenge is a virtual walking event - each team consisting of 7 people.  The 2007 event commences on 24th May and concludes on the 25th of September.  (The event has been reduced from a five month to four month event).

The entry fee for the Global Corporate Challenge is $90.00 per person (plus GST).  Each participant receives a Global Corporate Challenge pedometer, drink bottle, sports pack and a percentage of each entry fee is directed towards funding Heart Research.  The get ACCTIVE group is trying to secure some sponsorship for the event, but it may also be worthwhile approaching your Head of Department and/or Dean to see if they would consider a financial contribution towards your entry fee.

If you think you would like to be a member of the team and are prepared to make this four month commitment to walking, please email Christel Kent via email:  christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au

Witnessing of Documents

Rod Simpson is currently away from the University.   If you need documents witnessed, please contact Christel Kent who will provide you with names of other staff who can assist.

If you are qualified to witness documents and you are happy to be added to the list of those who can assist, please contact Christel Kent by telephone ext. 31000 or via email: christel.kent@adm.monash.edu.au

Caulfield Profiles

This month Mio Ihashi tells us a little about her roles here at Caulfield ..... 

I understand you have many roles here at Caulfield.  Could you please tell us a little about each of these positions?  How long have you been with Monash?  Where were you before coming to Monash? 

I started working on a casual basis with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science working for the Introduction to Medical Studies Program in 2004 after finishing my Masters in Psychology. Since then I've been working at Monash in various roles.

My current position at Caulfield is Coordinator of the Student Outreach Program which includes the Mid Week Social Night and International Student Connections Program. The Mid Week Social Night is a weekly social event for all Caulfield students. We’ve had Movie night, Sports night, Latin Dance night, Board Games night and a Photography workshop so far and a Self Defence class, Japanese night and Chocolate night are planned for the rest of Semester 1. It is a great opportunity for students to meet other students and staff members and also enjoy free food and activities.

The International Student Connections Program aims to help International students with smooth transition to studying and staying in Australia by connecting them with staff members. We finished interviewing and training staff members and students. They have been introduced to each other and are going to start meeting weekly for 11 weeks.

I also work as a counsellor at Clayton campus half of the week.

(Mio - holding the clipboard and some of her Mid-week Social Night Volunteers)

(Latin Dance Night)

Please tell us your country of birth and how long have you lived in Australia?

I was born in Japan and came to Monash to study in 2002 so I have lived in Australia for 5 years. I have met wonderful people over the years, which is one of the reasons I decided to stay in Australia after my study and that is why I enjoy my role as Coordinator so I can give something back to them by making lives of international students a bit easier and more enjoyable.

Do you have family here in Australia?

No, all my family is in Japan. I miss them terribly as the last time I went home was Christmas/New Year 2 years ago so I'm planning to go home this year to visit.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

Last year I started taking Latin dance lessons and fell in love with it. I haven't been able to attend classes this year because I started new positions but would love to go back.

Do you have a favourite quote you would like to share? 

"Ichigo-ichie" which means "treasure every encounter, for it will never recur".

Have you done much travelling?  If so, where was your favourite destination?

I have travelled in the United States and Canada before coming to Australia but since then it's been back and forth between Australia and Japan. I'm thinking about stopping over somewhere in Asia next time I go home to Japan. I'd also love to travel in Europe.

If you would like to be "profiled" in an upcoming edition of Offcourse, please email me at christel.Kent@adm.monash.edu.au.