uws engagement contact us: [email protected]: 9685 [email protected]
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Our Mission/Vision:
UWS Engagement Strategic Objectives:
1. Market UWS Engagement rationale through various activities.
2. Initiate student engagement programs.
3. Forge stronger links with all levels of government.
4. Active involvement with community networks to promote student and academic participation locally.
5. Maintain and develop stronger relationships with Colleges and Schools.
Four Themes of Engagement at UWS:
Social Capacity, Cultural Vitality,
Environmental Responsibility, Economic Vitality.
The typical Sustainability model consisting of three pillars; social, environmental and economic has been adjusted to better represent the needs of Greater Western Sydney to include Cultural Vitality.
“..cultural framework, operating in parallel with social, environmental and economic frameworks, is essential for the achievement of a sustainable and healthy society.” Jon Hawkes, Victorian Cultural Development Network.
ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR
Beatriz Cardona
CULTURAL
VITALITY
Cultural Vitality Goals:
1. Integrate and focus UWS engagement with the community from a cultural perspective that is responsive to issues such as multiculturalism, ethnic and faith diversity, performance, creativity, well being, cultural expression, and language.
2. Assist UWS to maintain recognition and high community profile, facilitate partnerships, enhance community relations and identify opportunities for local joint activities and projects.
3. Provide opportunities for students and young people to get involved in cultural activities in their local communities. 4. Link with local Councils and local community organisations in Penrith, Liverpool, Fairfield, Holroyd and Blue Mountains to build strategic relationships and support the development of local cultural projects
Harmony Day
Coordinating drumming workshop for local Culturally and Linguistically Diverse residents in the Blue Mountains.
‘The Migrant Story: Through Their Eyes’
Primary school students interviewed residents and prepared stories. UWS students created a documentary of migrants
stories.
F.R.E.S.H
Food Recreation Environmental Sustainability Heritage trail
The project will map sites of significance and contextualise their importance linking to the Farm Gate Trail and the Hawkesbury Harvest websites. The Parramatta City Council project is currently mapping historically significant sites to GPS software and mobile phone technology to provide hand held guided tours and historic content. There has also been an interesting application of this technology for the Sydney Sculpture Walk.
The FRESH Projects seeks to gather information on five themes, Food, Recreation, Environment, Sustainability, Heritage, in view of their application as a software guide for local and international visitors to Western Sydney. It will develop a typology for interpretation similar to the Australian National Botanic Garden’s Typology for Interpretative Art.
UWS student at work in the community!
Andres Rios filming for the Migrant Story project
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR
Lisa Kollaras
Environmental Responsibility Goals:
1. Develop relationships between UWS and the community on topical and emerging issues such as food security, biodiversity, climate change, water conservation and energy conservation.
2. Assist UWS and partners to maintain recognition and high community profile to enhance community relations which lead to future opportunities for local joint activities and projects.
3. Provide opportunities for students, community groups, and organisations to work together on local environmental actions. 4. Link with local Councils and local community organisations in Hawkesbury, Baulkham Hills, Auburn, Canterbury and Blacktown LGAs to build strategic relationships and support the development of local environmental projects
EARTH HOUR
Supporting volunteer students to participate in Earth Hour activities.
Supporting academics to undertake behaviour research as official RESEARCH PARTNER for Earth Hour 2010.
Community Forums
Coordinate two annual community forums on topical
environmental issues.
Student and Community Action
Enhance joint local community and UWS student
led activities.
SOCIAL
CAPACITY
ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR
Yvonne Gatt
Social Capacity Goals:
1. Develop and maintain close links with the community on social issues relating to education & health awareness, youth development, indigenous support, social justice and equity.
2. Assist UWS in maintaining a prominent community profile to compliment and enhance community relations which focus on regional social issues facing Greater Western Sydney.
3. Provide opportunities for academics, students and young people to get involved in social capacity building activities on a local, regional, and international level. 4. Link with local Councils and local community organisations in Campbelltown, Bankstown, Camden, Wollondilly to build strategic relationships and support the development of local social issues.
Midnight Basketball
Midnight Basketball is a national social inclusion programme to help youth identify and embrace positive opportunities by part-taking in life-skills workshops and tournament basketball games.
The first Campbelltown Midnight Basketball program was initiated and administered by Campbelltown City Council in February 2009, with the support of UWS.
The 3rd program is currently underway and it is intended to run twice a year, in every 1st and 4th quarter.
Tulane University, USA
Students from Tulane University, New Orleans, will be visiting UWS for the second time in June 2010.
UWS has collaborated with Tulane University in developing a service learning alliance.
As part of their studies, students from Tulane University participate in community engagement activities in an Australian setting. Leading up to the visit, and during their time in Sydney, Tulane students are partnered with a UWS student for support and mentoring.
Japanese Delegation Visit to UWS
In February this year Campbelltown City Council received an honorary visit from delegates of Koshigaya City, which is the sister city to Campbelltown.
As part of their visit the Japanese delegation were invited on a tour of the UWS Medical School and were addressed by a Japanese international student studying at UWS, who spoke to them about her experiences in Australia and at UWS.
Community Services Expo – SydWest Multicultural Services
In late 2009 UWS supported the Community Services Expo, organised by SydWest MS.
UWS provided a student to fill the role of Expo Coordinator, which proved to be a valuable engagement opportunity for both the community partner and the student.
Future Initiatives
• Forging stronger links with both internal and external stakeholders through consultation and participation on various Committees/Steering Groups.
• Collaboration with the UWS Medical School on a range of engagement projects.
• Assisting Wollondilly Shire Council in developing a branding strategy.
Contact us:
Kevin Moloney, Manager UWS Engagement.
Ph: 9685 9051, e: [email protected]
Dr Beatriz Cardona, Engagement Facilitator – Cultural Vitality
Ph: 9685 9084, e: [email protected]
Lisa Kollaras, Engagement Facilitator – Environmental Responsibility
Ph: 9685 9117, e: [email protected]
Yvonne Gatt, Engagement Facilitator – Social Capacity
Ph: 9685 9119, e: [email protected]