EXCHANGE | JULY 15

The Editorial
Team
Editor-in-Chief
Shahman Prushuathamun
[Off Campus Vice President
(OCVP)]
ocvp@monash.edu
Creative Director & Design
Co-ordinator
Melanie Zimora
[Student Engagement
Support Officer (SESO)]

melanie.zimora@monash.edu

Staff Writer
Benjamin Dahl
Freelance Writer
Tanya Bird
Photographers
Ben York
Emily Henwood
Contributors
Luke Icely & Claire Morrissey
[Student Leadership
Program Officer, Student
Connect]

FEATURES

REGULARS

CONGRATULATIONS
04 Well done on
completing semester one.

NOTE FROM PRES & OCVP

03 A note from the MUGSU
President and Off-Campus VP

THE ART OF STUDYING

WITH CHILDREN
06-09 Feature Article by
Tanya Bird

UPCOMING EVENTS
10 July August Events

MUGSU SNOW TRIP

11 Dont miss it!
SEMESTER BREAK IDEAS
14-15 Fifteen great ideas to
fill in your semester break.

NEWS

FED UNI LEADERSHIP

13 One small thing
Conference
DOCTORS & NURSES
UNI NIGHT
12 A must attend event

Linh Tran
[Womyn's Director, MUGSU]

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

17 Item in the next issue of
Exchange

EXTRA

NEED HELP?
05 Contact our Student
Rights Officers
OPT IN SURVEY
16 For OC students
CONTACT MUGSU
19 MUGSU contact
details for services
WOMYNS COLLECTIVE
18 Support equality,
promote awareness

Acknowledgements
-----------------

Exchange is a publication of Monash

University Gippsland Student Union

(MUGSU). All articles in this newsletter
are provided in good faith. Exchange is
intended
to
be
an
informative
newsletter for students enrolled at
Monash
University
&
Federation
University Gippsland campus, through
Off Campus/Distance education.

Copyright 2015 MUGSU Inc. All

rights reserved.

Get the latest

MUGSU news
MUGSU: https://www.facebook.com/mugsu
Off Campus:
https://www.facebook.com/OffCampusGippsland

Bookmark us

A joint note from the MUGSU President and Off-Campus VP

Hi Everyone!
If youre reading this, congratulations! Youve survived another exam period! Just a reminder
that if you require any assistance with any issues you may have encountered during the exam
period, please contact us through the communication channels outlined in this newsletter.
Following on from the results of the off-campus surveys completed so far, we have managed
to consolidate the first batch of issues that were raised and brought it to the attention of
senior Monash University staff and the issues have been highlighted to the relevant individuals
to tackle them. Overall, the most common issues that were brought up were regarding a lack
of lecture recordings, lack of information for Off-campus/Distance education students in the
unit guides, lack of responses from lecturers both via email and Moodle forums as well as a
lack of learning resources for OC/DE students. As we are in a very unique situation (transition
from Monash to Fed Uni), both universities will need to discuss these issues and come to a
consensus on how best to resolve these issues. We are optimistic that there will be a positive
outcome from our discussions with the universities and will update the student body in due
course.
Another round of student issues will be consolidated soon and raised to the appropriate
persons, for resolve. We hope that all students will raise and highlight the issues they are
experiencing as off campus students, via the survey. If you have not completed the survey
(found on page 16 of this newsletter), we would STRONGLY encourage you to do so.
We hope you have a relaxing break before Semester 2 begins and wish you all the best for
your results and the coming semester!
Until next time,
Craig Wilson & Shahman Prushuathamun
2015 MUGSU President & Off-Campus Vice President

-3-

The Art of
Studying with
Children
By Tanya Bird

I have three boys aged five and under. People often ask me how I have the
time and energy to study while keeping the asylum operational (ok, I added
that last bit). The truth is I dont. I snatch time when the opportunities
arise and I maintain a high sugar diet which enables me to function in short
bursts. I believe that we are all capable of finding time for things that are
important to us. It is not always easy, but it can be done. I knew when I
stepped away from my job, to raise a small army of boys, that it was the
perfect opportunity for me to implement a career change. I knew I needed
a wider skill set, and I knew the only way I could manage it was from home.
I will admit that when my pre-study self pictured my future-study self, I had
images of the children playing happily by feet while I flipped the pages of
my latest text book. I imagined lazy evenings tapping away on my laptop,
while hubby watched TV at my side and the little ones slept. Now I realise
that my pre-study self was deluded. Firstly, children dont sleep. Well not at
convenient times anyway. They also dont play happily when your attention
is diverted elsewhere. They will literally tear pages from your textbook and
press buttons on your laptop that you did not know existed, until you
refocus on them. But dont be completely scared off (some fear is healthy)
by these realisations. If you have young children but want your degree, it is
achievable with some thoughtful planning and clever tactics. Here are my
top ten tips for studying at home with little people.
-6-

Remember that rule, sleep when baby sleeps? Wrong. Study when baby
sleeps, as it may be your only window of opportunity. You can always
involuntarily fall asleep on the floor later when you are meant to be
entertaining your (immobile once they are moving, youre screwed)
baby. Dinner prep, cleaning, talking with your mother on the phone, can
all be done while baby is awake. Use your baby carrier for grizzly,
unsettled periods, and smash through some jobs. Of course this will not
work if you have older children also. When baby sleeps you will be
building Lego, mediating toy custody battles, and painfully watching as
freshly made play dough colours are mixed into a familiar shade of
brown.

When you cook, cook double the amount and freeze half for another
day. Food preparation is a massive leech of time and energy, and it can
be overwhelming when the children expect to be fed every day, at
regular intervals. I always try and keep meals in the freezer that I can
pull out on those days when the thought of cooking a meal from scratch
makes me ache all over. It also reduces the amount of dirty dishes in the
evenings so that you can squeeze a few more study moments out of
your days.

Assign TV appropriate chores to your partner. By this I mean any chore

that can be done while watching television. I do not expect my
husband to spend his evenings scrubbing bathrooms and mopping
floors, but if he is watching TV, his hands are capable of folding
washing and ironing clothes. Once clothes are dry, I helpfully place
them in a giant, mountain-like pile, in the middle of the lounge room
so that he trips on them when trying to get to his chair. This helps him
to remember. And if there are films that need to be watched for a unit,
do this on a Saturday night, so that your partner is forced to watch
also. We like to order Indian food and drink beer. It is a cheat way of
ticking off date night and study in one easy swoop. Just dont forget to
gently remind your spouse about the folding once they have finished
their food.

-7-

Delete Facebook off your phone and iPad for the semester period. This
may seem extreme, but those rare moments in the day that you have to
check in with the outside world can really add up. Instead, load your Unit
readers onto your devices so that every time you open your phone, your
reading pops up and triggers a guilt response. It is amazing how much
you can actually get through with this one tactic. And this brings me to
my next point.

If you are a breastfeeding mum, anchored to a chair, imagining all of the

things you could be doing if you had use of your arms, dont despair. This
is the perfect opportunity for some sneaky phone action. Dont go too big
with the device if you want to read from it. You need something that you
can hold one handed, with easy thumb swiping capabilities, and that
wont attract the attention of older children who will suddenly decide that
they must play Angry bird Transformers on that specific device. If you have
the luxury of listening to recorded lectures from a larger device such as a
laptop, then ensure it is placed on the head side of baby, because it will
get kicked off its perch.

Get older kids to help you with food preparation and selective chores. It
is a great way to spend time with the kids while ticking off some jobs.
Its all in the sell. Give them tasks that seem fun. Washing windows
sounds boring until you offer up spray bottles filled with water. Just be
clear about which windows they are allowed to spray so that you dont
end up washing each window five times. Also, accept that you will all
require a complete change of clothes at the end. Pick jobs that will
wear them out and reward them with some quiet TV time while baby
sleeps. This is a study opportunity.

If you can afford it, get a cleaner to come weekly or fortnightly depending
on your circumstances. Dont feel guilty for spending this money because
you will still be required to do an excessive amount of cleaning in between
their visits. You will still sweep the floors and pressure hose the highchair
after each meal. You will still do forty loads of dishes each day and wipe
benches until your fingers bleed. But what it does offer is a guaranteed,
thorough clean of the house on a regular basis. This can be a lifesaver on
weeks when assessments are due or if you have unexpected guests that
should know better. You also get to enjoy that clean house feeling for the
eleven minutes before the children take to it with sticky hands and leaky
Christmas stamps that they miraculously find for such occasions.

-8-

Begin assessments immediately. Kids have a talent for getting sick

the week that assessments are due. Essay due tomorrow? Cue the
explosive gastro symptoms which last all night and ease just as the
other children are rising in the morning, filled with the energy of a
brand new day. Email your lecturer at the beginning of the semester
and ask if there is anything further you need to know for the essay
other than what is outlined in the unit guide. You dont want to
waste time on an incorrect approach. Decide on your essay question
in week one, and then take note of anything relevant in the assigned
readings each week. This frees up time later on for your additional
research.

Use Moodle to ask seemingly embarrassing questions. Lecturers often

suggest that if you are struggling to understand a particular concept, or
if a reading is particularly challenging, that you re-read it. I applaud you
for completing it once. Few parents have the luxury of a second read.
But if you have the time, by all means, read it as many times as you
need. However if you are time poor, seek answers that will enable you
to keep moving forward.

10

And finally, do not fall behind. There are no catch up

opportunities with young children. Dont naively think that you
will have more time next week, because that might just be the
week you are up all night with sick children, then suddenly you
are two weeks behind. Speaking from experience, the more
behind you fall the less motivated you become.

I hope these tips are helpful and encourage those with young children to recognise
their own, unique study opportunities. And I hope those without children are not
put off ever having them. Good luck in Semester 2!

Tanya Bird is a Professional Communications student and mum to three young boys. She is
currently working on her first novel and aspires to be a freelance writer between school bells.
If you enjoyed Tanyas article as much as we (The editorial team) did, do not hesitate to drop
her an email and let her know! Tanya Bird - tanyabird11@gmail.com

-9-

UPCOMING EVENTS @ MUGSU

29 July

12 August

Doctors & Nurses

Uni night

Uni night

- 10 -

- 13 -

SEMESTER BREAK IDEAS

1

GET YOURSELF
ORGANISED

As a form of procrastination, students

tend to organise their rooms when
they need to study or do their
assignment. Organise
yourself now so that
youre less likely to do
so when term starts.

Take advantage of winter and join

in the MUGSU Snow trip. For more
details email union@monash.edu

HIT THE GYM

It is common practice for students to stuff

themselves with junk food during exams and
justify their actions by telling themselves (and
anyone else who asks), that they have no
time to make a proper meal and the stress of
exams is getting to them (Need comfort
food). The result? Weight gain. So hit the
gym or go for a run Which ever floats your
boat.

READ A BOOK

Grab a book and read it

for pure enjoyment, not
for study!

SNOW TRIP

MOVIES

Treat yourself to an outing

to the movies and catch
the latest flick!

SLEEP

Catch up on some
much needed sleep!!

MASTER CHEF

Practice some quick and

easy meals to help out
with lunch and dinner.

TRY GROWING A PLANT

Try your hand at growing a plant
indoors. its too cold at the moment
outdoors, but watch your indoor
plant thrive from your attention
and care.

10

BUILD

Use your talents to make

or build something that
you can sell and turn
into cash. Whether it be
painting, woodwork,
restoration or craft, the
options are endless and
the money will come in
handy.

15

STAR GAZE

On a clear night, look up into

the sky and star gaze. Try
finding the Southern Cross,
the saucepan and other
famous constellations of the
night sky.

BOOK A HOLIDAY

Book a holiday now for the end of Semester 2.

It will give you something to look forward to at
the end of your 2015 studies. A reward for all
your hard work!

12

13

CHILLAX

Grab a pillow
and blanket,
turn on the TV, lay on
the couch and do
absolutely
nothing!
You read correctly!
Nothing! You deserve
it!

11

FRIENDS

Organise a catch up with

friends. Whether its with a
close friend or reconnecting
with one you havent seen
for a while,
try going for a
cuppa, dinner
or drinks at a
bar!

CHARITY
Join a cause or
charity. Contact
your local shire
to find out
some local
charities that my
need your help
and support.

EXPLORE
Go on a day trip to some place you have never been
before. You would be surprised how much beauty,
knowledge and wonder is on your doorstep. Explore
your surroundings.

14

Calling All Gippsland Off campus/Distance

Education Students!!
[Applicable to all students doing 1 or more units off campus and enrolled at the
Gippsland campus only] Both Monash and Fed Uni students

Dear Off Campus/Distance Education students,

The MUGSU Off Campus Vice President (OCVP)
would like to hear from you on issues that you are facing
as an off campus/Distance education student, as well as
to get feedback on other matters related to your university
experience. Kindly complete the survey form in the link
provided below:
http://goo.gl/forms/eoCOemo4sl
Please direct any queries you may have regarding
this survey or any difficulties you have accessing the link
provided, to the OCVP via email: ocvp@monash.edu.
Thank you in advance for participating in this survey.
Thank you
Warmest regards,
Shahman Prushuathamun
Off Campus Vice President | MUGSU

While waiting, why not like

the Off Campus Facebook
Page to get the latest Off
Campus News!

MUGSU: https://www.facebook.com/mugsu
Off Campus: https://www.facebook.com/OffCampusGippsland

- 17 -