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CharlesDarwinUniversity//FlindersUniversity//GriffithUniversity//JamesCookUniversity//LaTrobeUniversity//MurdochUniversity

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InnovationCaseStudyYoungProfessionalsProgram

JeanWootton,AssociateLecturer,SchoolofBusinessandGovernance

CONTEXTTheyoungprofessionalsisanextracurricularactivityavailabletoanyoneaged18to35,regardlessoftheir discipline. It is open to students, business people and those interested in business. Theprogram’ssmall committeeofvolunteersareallwithin thisagegroupandcomefromallwalksoflife.

RATIONALEMurdoch University recognises the need for students to gain practice at networkingwith peopleotherthanacademicsandotherstudents.Itisessentialthatthisexperienceisinterdisciplinary,andstudents fromanydiscipline tobeable to listen to thestories first-handof successfulpeopleasameansofmotivatingthem.

DESCRIPTIONThelocalchamberwasapproachedandtheideaoftheyoungprofessionalsprogramwaspitchedtothe committee and also to the University to confirm their support. Bothwere in agreement, theUniversity is supplying thepremisesandalso supplied the first year funding for the refreshments.ThelocalChamberofCommercesuppliedtheinfrastructuretobeabletoreachchambermembersandthelocalcommunity.Thegroupwasinitiallyformedfor18to30-year-oldsbuthassincerealisedthat 18 to 35 was more appropriate. The first event was organised by Jean Wotton. Chambermembersandtheirstaff,universitystudentsandstaffandthelocalcommunitywhowereintheagerangewere invited. From this first event (three speakers) a committee of interested personswasformed. Initially the committee selected the speakers, the typeof events theywere interested inandorganisedtheseunderthedirectionofAssociateProfessorJeanWootton.Regardless,fromdayonetheofficialhost/MCofeveryeventhasbeenoneofthecommitteemembers.

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CharlesDarwinUniversity//FlindersUniversity//GriffithUniversity//JamesCookUniversity//LaTrobeUniversity//MurdochUniversity

2

The first event a student, now alumnuswas the host. They have now developed into a properlyformedcommitteethatsitsundertheRockinghamKwinanaChamberofCommerce(RKCC).Theyruntheirownbankaccount,havedesignedalogo,haveraisedfundsthroughthelocalCouncilandtheUniversitystillsupportsthegroupthroughprovisionofbothameetingspaceandaneventspace

Over a period of three years the group have organised 4 speaking events per year and the oddworkshop on matters that they found interesting, for example Starting Your Own Business,PresentingYourselfonSocialMedia,PublicSpeaking.Thespeakingeventshavebeendiversewithpeoplefromacademia,industry,thearts,defenceandpolitics

AsMurdochUniversityhasthreedifferentcampusesitwasconsideredasuitableextensiontostartat the other two campuses. Murdoch’s local chamber of commerce was approached and haveestablished the same setup using the same principles. The first event organised by AssociateProfessorandacoupleofuniversitystaffmembersandastudentwhowerewithintheagegroup.Thisgrouphasnowheldtwospeakingeventsandtwohasacorecommitteemadeupofstudents,staff,andalocalyoungbusinesspeople.

After being approached by the local chamber at Murdoch University’s third campus, a similarprogram and a start-up centre are being established at the third campus. Having also beenapproached by local schools and councils the potential for establishing at all three campusessomethingofasimilarnaturefor12to18-year-oldsisbeingexplored.

IMPACTData comes from observation and conversation, as well as media coverage. Many students andyoung business people have spoken of how useful the speaking events have been and how theyhavegained inspiration,arealisationthat it ispossibleforthemtoachieve,anunderstandingthatthingsdonotgotherightwayallofthetime,thatthesepeoplewhoareintoppositionsstartedoutnodifferenttothemandofpossiblecareerdirections.Thatanythingisachievablewithhardwork.

Thehostofthefirstevent,astudentatthetime,feltithadimprovedtheiropportunitiesonenteringtheworkforce,theyhaddevelopedconfidencetodealwithpeopleatveryhighlevelsandlearnthowtowork in a team of people from very varied backgrounds. Another of the committeemembersadvisedhowsimplyonespeakerhadledthemtoobtainapersonalmentor,despitebeingtoldtodothisatuniversityitrequiredaspeakeratYP’swhoisalreadyinindustryforittosinkin.Confidenceandabilitytonetworkatalllevelshasbeenamajorrecurringtheme.

AdditionalInformation

Thefollowingvideowasmadebyalocalyoungfilmmakerforthegrouputilisingfootagehetookoftheveryfirstevent.

Tags:Mentoring,CommunityEngagement,Leadership,IndustryEngagement,

CareerDevelopmentLearning,StudentSupport,Murdoch