Volunteering within a Faculty
If you have a particular interest or affinity with one of the Faculties at the University, there are many ways to contribute as a volunteer including helping with student transition or recruitment, giving a lecture or being a member of a faculty board or committee. The information below gives an idea of some of the volunteering opportunities in each Faculty.
Please take the time to read the University Volunteer Policy, which has been developed to ensure that volunteers are well supported and encouraged in their service to the University.
Architecture, Building & Planning
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| External professionals volunteer to mentor students, all disciplines - i.e. architects, landscape architects, property & construction, urban planners | Approx. 20 | Urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, property & construction professionals | Careers Resource Centre T: +61 3 8344 6686 |
|
| Industry professionals and alumni come to speak to students about careers in the built environment field. | Approx. 20 | As above | Careers Resource Centre T: +61 3 8344 6686 |
|
Open Day Alumni Panel |
Graduates and professionals speak to prospective students about their careers since graduation. | 4 | As above | Melanie Schoo |
Advisory Board members |
One Board for each program. One for each of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, property & construction. | Approx. 40 members (10 for each program) | As above | |
| Submit your profile for publications (the website, Atrium newsletter, marketing brochures, Open Day posters) | Faculty alumni | Melanie Schoo |
||
| Speakers from a variety of backgrounds deliver lectures throughout the year. | 4 per year | Professionals or academic specialists in the built environment. | Melanie Schoo |
Arts
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| KickstART Seminar program on career paths available to Arts graduates. | Guest lectures from graduates and career partners. | 6 | Faculty alumni | Careers Resource Centre T: +61 3 8344 6686 |
Economics & Commerce
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
Orientation |
Peer support, social contact, department tours and Faculty Welcome presentations. | 20 | Faculty alumni | |
Transition activities |
Presenting at workshops, social activities for transition out/careers. | 12 | As above | |
Open Day |
Value of BCom or Masters degree. | 10 | As above | |
School visits - local and international |
Give presentations, answer questions | 20 | As above | |
| Education exhibitions (international) | Give presentations, answer questions | 10 | As above | Marketing |
| Career Mentoring | Mentor interested students as part of the Career Mentoring Program. | 70 | Industry professionals | Graduate Careers Centre |
| Kickstart Your Career | Careers Resource Centre T: +61 3 8344 6686 |
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| Young Alumni events | Profiles, industry speakers, guest lecturers. | 5 | Faculty alumni | Alumni Advancement Officer |
| Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) | 12 | Faculty alumni | Advancement Director |
Education
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| Orientation and Open Day | Provide student advice, talk about their experiences to prospective students, act as mentors to new students. | 4 per day for 3 1/2 days. 2 assisted on each day of the actual orientation |
SALP (Student Ambassador Leadership Program) normally assist (current students) mainly from the Faculty of Education | |
Careers Expo |
Meet and greet exhibitors, guide participants to the venue and provide general assistance on the day. | Approx. 5 | As above | |
| Participate in the Board meetings | 14 members, meetings are held approx. 3 times per year | Student Welfare, Dept of Education, other Faculties within the University of Melbourne, Postgraduate students and undergraduate students | ||
Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) Steering Committee |
Attend Steering Committee meetings | 23 external members, meetings are held approx 2 times per year | Representatives from other Universities, various community associations, Education Unions, government bodies and principals of Government schools | |
| Assist in the production of the PostScript, Faculty's Education Postgraduate Journal. | Approx 4 members | Postgraduate students from the Faculty of Education, professional staff and selected academic staff |
Engineering
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| Alumni keep in touch by submitting profiles for various publications and the web. | n/a | Engineering Alumni | Jodie Hopstaken
|
|
| Career Mentoring | Industry professionals interested in mentoring students | Approx. 20 | Professional in Engineering, Computer Science or Geomatics | |
| Kickstart Your Career | Industry professionals to speak with undergraduate students about careers in Engineering | Approx. 20 | Engineering Professional | Michelle Delafontaine |
| Week-O (orientation) | Peer support, social contact, department tours and Faculty Welcome | Approx 15. | Current students (recruited through LIVE: Leadership Industry Volunteer Experience) | |
| Student transition support | Support the delivery of a program to assist new students with transitioning to University life | Approx 12. | Engineering alumni, Engineering professionals | |
| Open Day, school visits & education exhibitions (local & international) | Give career presentations to prospective students, answer questions | Varies | Engineering alumni | |
| Guest speakers at Engineering Course & Careers seminars for current students | Alumni give industry presentations to prospective students | Approx. 18 | Engineering Alumni (in particular more recent graduates) | |
| Focus Groups | Participate in focus groups | Approx. 20 | Engineering alumni, Engineering professionals | Marie Hill |
| Guests speakers at events such as Dean’s Lecture Series | Prominent alumni, industry professionals and academic specialists | 6-10 | Professionals or academic specialists | |
| Guest lecturers | Speak to students within a specific Engineering discipline | Varies | Engineering alumni, Engineering professionals | Chris Charman |
| Young Alumni Events | Industry speakers, guest lecturers | Approx. 6 | Engineering Alumni | Elise Everest |
| Melbourne Engineering Foundation Board (MUEF) | Honorary members | 6 | Engineering professionals and alumni | |
| Engineering Faculty Board | Honorary members | 15 | Melbourne School of Engineering Office |
School of Graduate Research
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| Research Higher Degrees Orientation | Welcome new RHD students. | Approx. 16 each in February and July | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
| Postgraduate Essentials 'Experts' | Participate in online chat and discussion on some aspect of beginning a PhD | 5 each in first and second semester | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
| Global Research Ethics and Integrity Online Program ‘Experts’ |
Participate in online chat and discussion as a guest moderator for an ethics case study | 4 each in first and second semester | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
| PhD Colloquia Presenters | Hour-long presentations to PhD candidates on issues related to research, research training and research careers | 12 each in first and second semester | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
| UpSkills Program | Guest session presenters e.g. career planning workshops | 2 opportunities each semester | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
| Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation for Research Students | Mentoring RHD students | 2 opportunities each semester | PhD Alumni | Manager – Academic Support |
Land & Food Resources
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| External professionals mentoring students | Approx. 7 | Industry professionals | Penny Warner |
|
| Industry placement | External professionals hosting students, undertaking Industry Placement subject | Approx 20. | Industry professionals | Dr Rebecca Ford T: +61 3 8344 9753 |
| Kickstart Your Career program | Providing professional advice on career outcomes | Approx 6. | Industry professionals who are alumni | Penny Warner T: +61 3 8344 7692 F: +61 3 9348 1237 |
Student Host Programme |
Host student visits to property or workplace, allow field work to be undertaken | Approx. 5 | Faculty alumni and other industry contacts | Contact LFR reception |
| Open Days | Talk to prospective students about experiences at the University | 4-5 | Faculty alumni | Erin Wilson T: +61 3 8344 0102 |
| Prospective Student Information Sessions | Talk to prospective students about experiences at the University | 4-5 | Faculty alumni | Erin Wilson T: +61 3 8344 0102 |
Office for Environmental Programs (OEP) Plane Tree fora |
Presenter at discussion fora | 1 | Alumni | Louise Wilson
|
OEP Postgraduate Information Evening |
Student reps | 4-5 | Alumni | |
Sustainability Policy and Management (core subject OEP) |
Presenters | 5 | Alumni |
Law
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
LLB guest lecture series |
Speak to LLB students on legal topics of interest for one hour | Approx. 24 per year | Various, depending on topic of discussion | Dr Jenny Beard |
Law School Careers Seminars |
Speakers present at lunch time Law School Careers Seminars, especially those who have worked in unusual roles, e.g. non-practising and/or have worked overseas | Approx. 5 per semester | Faculty alumni | Angela Edwards, Manager, Careers Office |
Melbourne JD information sessions |
Melbourne JD alumni to speak at information sessions for prospective Melbourne JD students | 4 to 6 per year | Melbourne JD alumni | Jacqueline Bánki
|
Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| Mentoring program for second year MBBS students | Links students with GPs or specialists from rural and urban areas. Mentors meet with the student around four times a year, resources are provided and the program is monitored and evaluated. | GPs or specialists from rural and urban areas | Contact Penny Warner, Careers and Employment T: 8344 7692
|
|
| Community members for selection interview panels for graduate entrants to Medicine | One interview session per year. | Community members | Catherine Wills School of Medicine T: 8344 7766
|
|
| Elective Placements Clinical, Professional & Global | 4 week supervision of final year student | 280 | Various in Health Care settings | Contact School of Physiotherapy T: 8344 4171
|
| Job Show | Employers and professional association reps display career opportunities for Physiotherapy students | 50 | Industry reps | |
| Postgraduate information evening | Student reps | 2 | Current postgraduate students | |
| Baby Day | Parents or carers bring in their infant/ baby for Physiotherapy students to observe | 15 | Parents or carers of babies 0-18 months | |
| Physiofest | New perspective on areas of physiotherapy and related health practices | 10 | Qualified physiotherapists or allied health professionals | |
| Research study | Patients in clinical assessments | 150+ | General public who meet study criteria |
Melbourne Business School
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
| Admissions | Representing MBS at local MBA fairs, interview potential candidates or respond to admitted students inquiries about your experience. | MBS alumni | MBS Alumni - Get Involved | |
| Careers | Hire graduating students or alumni of MBS, provide internships to current students or participate in career panels that highlight your industry expertise. | MBS alumni | MBS Alumni - Get Involved | |
| Student life | Become a mentor, participating as a guest speaker or panellist in the classroom or at other student functions, sponsor a student project in your company or advise student groups. | MBS alumni | MBS Alumni - Get Involved | |
| Join a regional chapter or become a class rep | Stay in touch with friends and classmates or become a class representative. | MBS alumni | MBS Alumni - Get Involved |
Music
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
Focus groups |
Participation in focus groups | 20 | Faculty alumni | Bob NortheyFaculty General Manager T: +61 3 8344 7383
|
| Tours of University for parents of international students | Performers | 4 | ||
| Faculty of Music Board | Honorary members | 5 |
Science
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
Open Day |
Answer questions about courses/subjects/student life; run BBQ; guiding; staff information booth; decorate department; photographer; staff and organise café; demonstrator | 30+ | Undergraduate and postgraduate students and alumni | Janelle Turner Manager, Prospective Students T: +61 ) 8344 6814
|
School visits |
Speak about courses, subjects, student life, careers etc. | 10 | 5 undergraduate students and 5 alumni | |
Representation on Faculty Committees |
Member of committee | 18 | Undergraduate and postgraduate students | Cecily Maxwell Development Officer T: +61 3 8344 6948 |
| Representation at academic misconduct hearings | Member of committee | 1-10 | Members of student society |
Veterinary Science
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
Event support |
Represent Veterinary Science at open days, school visits, international events, or help us plan an alumni event in your area or organise a reunion. | Faculty alumni | Andrea Jones |
|
Speakers / mentors |
Join us as a guest speaker in a classroom or participate as a presenter in your area of expertise at one of our conferences, workshops or seminars. | Faculty alumni who are practising vets | ||
| Join MUVS – our alumni association or become a class secretary | - Facilitate communication between MUVS and veterinary graduates. - Inform graduates of the activities of the Melbourne Veterinary School. - Keep in touch by submitting profiles for various publications (website, marketing brochures, alumni newsletter). - Become a class secretary acting as a conduit amongst our alumni. |
Faculty alumni | ||
| Practitioner in residence | Work with final year students covering various aspects of the transition into practice. | Faculty alumni | ||
| Media relations and research | Promote the Faculty through media relation efforts acting as an expert in your field of expertise. Participate in market research surveys that are undertaken to continuously improve the range of services we provide. | VS alumni |
Victorian College of the Arts
Program |
Volunteer role / description of work |
Number of volunteer opportunities |
Qualification |
Contact details |
Advisory Board |
Member of Advisory Board | 9 | Leaders in the arts profession and/or arts community; outstanding practising artists; leaders in the corporate and community sectors; appointee of University Council | Brian Long |
| Course Advisory Committees for each discipline | Member of Course Advisory Committees | Up to 7 external members for each committee | Leaders in the arts profession and/or arts community; outstanding practising artists | |
| Wilin Centre Advisory Board | Key Advisors to support the work of the Wilin Centre, advocate for the Centre and engage Indigenous community with the Centre | 3-4 external advisors: 1 senior elder, 2 local community based Indigenous artists and 1 international Indigenous artistic director | Indigenous artistic, cultural and community leaders | Michelle Evans T: +61 3 9685 9345 |
| Open Day Hosts | VCA Campus Guides share their knowledge and experiences of the VCA with potential students | 10 | Current students and VCA Alumni with knowledge of the VCA campus | Bo Skarbek T: +61 3 9685 9314 |
| Friends of the VCA | Members support VCA activities and assist student endeavour at formal and informal levels; organise fundraising events, deliver scholarships and provide assistance at performances and exhibitions. | 16 | Individuals from all walks of life | Download Friends of the VCA application form |
