Campus Issue 7

CAMPUS Issue 7, October 2019

CEO's welcome

Over the course of the academic year, the GAF team has travelled to six states, visiting 12 university campuses as far north as Townsville, to the south in Hobart, and westward to Perth. This Australia-wide road trip gave us the opportunity to meet our 84 commencing scholars and to reconnect with continuing scholars. More importantly, these events have allowed our GAF scholars to connect with each other and with our team.

Many of our scholars are engaged in travel of their own: whether it’s relocating to attend university, returning from overseas opportunities, preparing to jet-off on local and international internships, studying abroad or volunteering around the world.

Recently, one of our oldest partners, RMIT University, held its first GAF alumni event. I had the pleasure of meeting scholars and alumni from cohorts ranging from 2003 to 2019. A number of alumni were unable to attend because their careers have taken them to opportunities all over the globe. I was pleased to see a map showcasing the diversity of locations with pins placed in South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom,

University of Wollongong GAF Scholars at a scholar event in Wollongong, NSW.

Switzerland, Germany and more. The map illustrates just how far and wide the GAF alumni network now spans.

In this edition of Campus, we catch up with scholars and fellows to learn about their travels, how it has enhanced their studies, advanced their career development and helped them learn about themselves. We are also celebrating these travels through our yearly social media competition, #WheretheGAFareyou?, which I encourage you to enter.

As the end of the year approaches, we have begun to plan for 2020. We are excited to announce a new “Personal Leadership and Professional Skills” seminar for the GAF community, which will run at the beginning of 2020 in Melbourne. This seminar will also be made available online after the event for the benefit of all GAF scholars, fellows and alumni. Stay tuned for more information on this fantastic opportunity

As 2019 draws to a close, we wish you all the best with the end of the academic year and hope you have a happy and safe holiday season.

Craig Connelly CEO New

scholarship program

ACU NSW campuses join GAF

We’re excited to announce that a new scholarship program has commenced at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) North Sydney and Strathfield campuses.

A GAF scholarship program was first established with the ACU Ballarat campus in 2006. Both the ACU Ballarat and new NSW scholarship programs support talented regional and rural students to reach their educational goals and to relocate to undertake further studies. The NSW program will see five scholarships, valued at $22,500 over three years, awarded annually to students who have relocated to commence their study at ACU's Strathfield or North Sydney campuses.

In August, Mairead and Nina from the GAF team were pleased to meet the inaugural

cohort and welcome them into the GAF community Find out more about our partnership with ACU.

Social media competition

#WheretheGAFareyou?

Have you relocated to university, just returned home from travels or have an exciting trip on the horizon? Enter our competition to win a $200 CRUMPLER gift card, so that you can pick the perfect bag for your future trips. Enter by sharing a photo of yourself on your new university campus, on your travels, or volunteering and tell us your top travel tip.

Enter now

Calling all Melbourne-based GAF scholars and alumni!

Join the GAF Street Soccer team

Want to get active, network and support a great cause? Justice Connect’s Homeless Law is partnering with The Big Issue for a socially inclusive Street Soccer tournament. Skill isn’t a pre-requisite, only enthusiasm!

When: 12 – 3:30 pm, Wednesday 20 November

Where: North Melbourne Community Centre, Boundary Road, North Melbourne

Cost: FREE + Bonus t-shirt!

Find out more and sign up!

Scholar network event

Planting seeds at James Cook University

Naomi and Michael spoke to the GAF scholars about how a scholarship is much more than monetary support and emphasised the importance of seeking out new opportunities, connecting with the scholar and alumni network you become a part of when receiving a scholarship and giving back to your community. “Opportunities don’t just land in your lap” shared Michael, “You need to look for them and step out of your comfort zone”.

Spotlight on... GAF around the globe

In August, we met with James Cook University (JCU) scholars in Townsville, Queensland, to discuss how to leverage the benefits of a scholarship. Special guests at the event were Michael Gleadow, Chair of Seed Foundation, a provider of pathways into higher education, training and employment in the health sector for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, and his wife Dr Naomi Gleadow, Director of Connect ‘n’ Grow, who spoke of her experience receiving a scholarship, and the opportunities it afforded her

Griffith | Bachelor of Government and International Relations & Bachelor of Asian Studies

James Cook | Bachelor of Advanced Science

Georgia

An internship in Japan, attending the International Diplomacy Forum in Thailand and studying abroad at National Taiwan University are only a few of the amazing overseas opportunities keeping Griffith University scholar Georgia McDonald busy

We caught up with Georgia to find out about what she has been up to, her advice for scholars moving away from home and how overseas opportunities are paving the way for her career goals.

Read More

ISSI | Towards Zero Waste In Floral Design Aga

GAF Fellow Aga Jones’ passion for sustainable floristry has taken her to the USA to learn from industry leaders practising floral foam-free installation work and researching composting systems in metropolitan areas.

Aga’s Fellowship project ‘Towards Zero Waste In Floral Design’ highlights the darker side of the floral industry, including chemical treatments on flowers and nondegradable floral foam.

Samantha

Moving over 2,500 km from Esperance to Townsville to attend university didn’t faze Samantha, so it’s no wonder she’s made a bigger move to Copenhagen for a semester abroad.

‘My aspirations to move across the country, and now across the world, to study, initially seemed over-ambitious, however, having the GAF scholarship has made them a reality. The flexibility and financial security provided by the scholarship has enabled me to travel, to broaden my degree and network, and this is truly invaluable.’

Read more

Murdoch | Bachelor of Conservation & Wildlife Biology and Marine Science

Kayla

When she’s not busy studying Marine Science, Wildlife Conservation and Biology, Murdoch University scholar Kayla Rowe is taking up every opportunity to volunteer in her future career field.

We caught up with Kayla to find out about volunteering in Northern Thailand with Asian Elephants rescued from the tourism

industry and hear her advice to other scholars looking to volunteer overseas.

Read More

GAF on LinkedIn Link up with us!

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'I like the idea of planting seeds in the hope that they might grow into pretty big trees.'

- George Alexander, AM

Copyright © 2019 The Ian Potter Foundation, All rights reserved.

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