News Archive

You get more than just a modern residential suite when you move into University Hall.

Service learning and volunteering opportunities are as numerous and accessible as the different cultures represented among the students who live there.

The Hall's Residential Life team is committed to community outreach in every form, on campus, in Perth, across Australia and overseas.

Residential Life co-ordinator Annaleis Martin said the Hall's volunteer programs provided enriching opportunities that enhanced the University experience.

Thanks to funding through a UWA Diversity Initiatives Fund Grant, she initiated an Aboriginal Cultural Project which recently saw a team of eight international students spend two weeks in Geraldton, volunteering their services to a range of Aboriginal organisations, and learning about Aboriginal culture, language and history.

During the trip, they were trained in Aboriginal cultural awareness and radio technique, through Health Communications Resources and Radio MAMA; an Aboriginal-run radio station for the Mid-West.

The group visited schools, planted trees, helped sandbag part of the Chapman River as part of a school group's restoration project, learned about Aboriginal health and art, and took a huge supporting role in the preparation and running of cultural celebrations for the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation and other NAIDOC Week events.

"Our students were so eager and willing to help with absolutely anything that was given to them" Annaleis said.

"We sewed bunting, made badges, weeded the garden and tilled the soil.  It took a serious team effort to wrap more than 1,000 potatoes in foil, ready to be baked in the fire.  Tents were erected, concrete poured, signs made- all with big smiles on their faces.

"More than 1,000 people came from all over Geraldton and surrounding areas to celebrate the 15 ^th year of Bundiyarra. Our group were machines on the barbecues all day, then braved the rain to pack away tents, chairs tables and clean up rubbish. It was a massive day.  The students learned so much and their efforts really made a difference. This was such a worthwhile and meaningful project"

Annaleis said she looked forward to building on the relationship with the Aboriginal community in Geraldton in years to come. She thanked partners Health Communications Resources, Bundiyarra, Radio MAMA, City of Greater Geraldton, Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Services, the School of Indigenous Studies and the Combined Universities Centre for Regional Health.

Meanwhile, another group from the Hall went in the opposite direction, to Busselton and Margaret River, for the second year of a student-led initiative in reafforestation.

Student leader Brianna Bourke joined nine other students in beach clean ups, tree planting, and mulching and weeding in Busselton's community garden.

They planted 3,000 trees (in the rain) along the Margaret River, working with local farmers to restore river areas for native flora and fauna.

Then it was potting sedges and reeds for the Geographe community Landcare nursery.

"Despite the rain, the cold and the mud, the students voted it an experience of a lifetime," Brianna said.