UWA Mediation Clinic
UWA Law School

The UWA Mediation Clinic at the UWA Law School will provide a world-class mediation service and research hub for staff, students and members of the community. As volunteers, students assist in the Clinic’s running and administration; participate as mediation advocates working with pro-bono lawyers and barristers, and UWA accredited mediators; or as research assistants.

In 2017, the Student Guild carried out a survey of parenting students. Feedback indicated that students struggled to find spaces to parent and study on campus. The Alumni Fund grant will help create a Parenting Study Room in Reid Library to address this need. The dedicated space will include breastfeeding facilities, pram-parking, children’s area, collaborative parent study zones and basic kitchenette facilities.

This grant enables ‘capstone’ learning experiences, as students use the Clinic to conduct research in real life dispute resolution with real clients who have legal and non-legal disputes, and work with senior members of the profession and the University. As the first of its kind in Australia, the Clinic will also support cutting-edge, evidence-based research in collaboration with international researchers at the University College London.

The UWA PhD Student Resilience Pilot Project
School of Psychological Science

There are currently 2,000 PhD students at UWA with 450 new enrolments each year. While the postgraduate experience offers rich opportunities for educational and personal growth, it inevitably exposes students to stressful challenges.

Grant funding will help pilot an online program designed to help PhD students to face adversity, cope with stress and build their resilience. This will assist students in getting the most out of their PhD and ultimately help prepare them for successful careers.

This project will lay the foundation for an ongoing program, in partnership between the UWA School of Psychological Science, Graduate Research School, the Postgraduate Student Association and the Office of Student Life.

Foundational Year of Women in EMS UWA
Women in Engineering and Mathematical Sciences UWA (WiEMS UWA)

The Alumni Fund Grant will help support the newly founded WiEMS UWA student club and allow them to run events aimed at creating a community that empowers women studying subjects in the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Studies.

The club will organise their first Volleyball Networking event that will connect women in EMS with inspiring industry leaders whilst also encouraging a fun and socially inclusive culture. WiEMS UWA will run many varied events throughout the year including LinkedIn workshops and Women in Start-up events.

The Women in EMS UWA club will engage students with people in industry, encourage networking, support an inclusive culture in EMS and help offer support to women throughout their studies.

Bringing the DNA molecule to life through Augmented Reality
School of Molecular Sciences

Using state of the art Augmented Reality (AR) technology, students will create AR simulations that will bring to life the DNA Molecule for students and visitors to UWA’s Bayliss Building.

AR simulations will provide first year Chemistry and Human Biology students the opportunity to create AR simulations of DNA each year. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams to design, develop and test the AR simulations under the mentorship of academics from different schools at UWA.

The project will enhance student learning, giving them a unique understanding of the biological molecule, and bring science to life for everyone who visits the iconic Bayliss building.

Swim for Refugees
Students for Refugees, Student Club

UWA student club Students For Refugees, in partnership with the School of Sport Science, UniSwim, and Guild Volunteering, provides free swimming lessons for refugees ranging from children to adults. It allows UWA students to volunteer and engage with refugees on a personal basis - to form relationships and engage with people from a range of backgrounds, to challenge stereotypes and assumptions, as well as helping those who have arrived adjust to life in new homeland.

The Alumni Fund grant has allowed the program to become more accessible to a wider range of participants and increase volunteering opportunities for UWA students. Overall, this program will add to students’ sense of community and empower the local community, whereby strong multicultural ties are formed with the wider community.

Multicultural Week: Spring Feast
Multicultural Week student group

Multicultural Week (MCW) celebrates and promotes multiculturalism, an important part of UWA as a culturally diverse campus. Year-round, the MCW students work tirelessly to promote inclusion and diversity through numerous student and community events. This includes the annual UWA Spring Feast, bringing together friends and family to celebrate and embrace multiculturalism.

In 2018, Spring Feast engaged more than 5,000 staff, students, graduates and community members, with exciting performances and over 45 stalls of delicious food from all backgrounds. Thanks to the Alumni Fund grant, MCW look forward to leading the UWA festivities for another year, celebrating UWA’s multicultural community.

An Online Health and Well-being Program for Students
School of Population and Global Health

The transition to university is a stressful time for students, especially for those without direct access to support. This program will develop, pilot and evaluate an innovative online health and well-being program for commencing students at UWA.

This project directly addresses the challenges students face when they start university, such as: how to overcome stress, managing time, maintaining physical activity and nutrition, finding extra support on campus, and how to make the most of their time at university.

The program will be piloted with students commencing in Semester 1 2019, helping them to overcome unique transitional challenges and improving students’ overall health.