A massive thank you and congratulations to everyone who volunteered with us for MYSci 2026. What an amazing week! Thank you to Monash University for having us. See you all in 2027 for another fantastic program!
-The YSA Committee
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YSA Melbourne is proud to announce that we're partnering up with Monash University for a three-day science program in April!
If you are going to be 18 or over in 2026, you're welcome to apply to staff this program! Our staffies will be spending each day at the program with a partner, and their jobs will be to watch over a group of students aged 17-18. Together, they'll be taking the students to and helping run a bunch of activities, designed to get the students interested and engaged with science in a way they haven't been before! Training will be on the 7th of April, with the program running from the 8th to the 10th of April.
Staff will be invited to participate in a residential program alongside MySci, so it doesn't matter how close you live to Monash Clayton, as you'll only be a short bus ride away from the campus! The residential program will also include training for the actual program, so it doesn't matter if you haven't done anything like this before - you will be supported as much as possible! The training program will include:
- This is a residential program for staff running from the 7th of April to the 10th of April 2024. We will be staying in a scout hall for the duration, and travelling to and from Monash each day. If you are unable to stay for the entire duration, that's ok; we can arrange something! Just let us know.
- The actual program is from the 8th to the 10th of April 2026
- Held at Monash University, Clayton
- Day program (students travel home each night)
- Staffies must be 18 or over
- There will be no cost to apply, other than YSA membership!
How Can I Help?
For most people, you'll probably be looking for the position of Staffie, which is the general volunteer. However, we also have a leadership team, made up of the Kahuna (the main organiser) and the Gophers, who are their helpers!
In order to be able to be a Kahuna (coordinator), or Gopher (assistant coordinator), it is highly preferred that you are able to attend the entire program, including training sessions to be held before the program.
Staffies
Staffies are YSA volunteers who help to make the program the super fun experience it is for students, while keeping everybody safe and excited. You’ll have a partner and will receive training. As a staffie, it’ll be your job to:
• Run games and lead conversations with students
• Lead students around campus, take them to workshops and lectures, while ensuring that they are getting involved as much as they can
• Work in a team with your staffie partner, other staffies, and the leadership team to make sure the program runs smoothly
• Keep track of students to make sure nobody gets lost or gets involved in anything unsafe
• Be a representative of science and encourage students to chat, make friends, and experience science for themselves.
• For Monash MYSci, we're asking for staffies to be over 18 to apply, as the students will be a slightly older age group.
If you are personally unable to staff any of these programs, please encourage your friends to enrol and apply instead!
Leadership Roles
The Kahuna Role
- liaising with our partner organisations and the YSA committee (including attending meetings)
- planning logistics, including organising, transport, etc
- planning YSA's involvement, including activities, training, staff selection, etc
- coordinating and running the program on the ground
Candidates should be familiar with YSA's programs and activities, and must be over 18 at the time of the program. Typically, a Kahuna should have staffed several outreach programs and already have experience in organising YSA events in some capacity (eg: Gopher of a previous TSE, outreach or Mysci program).
The Gopher Role
- assisting in the coordination, planning and running of the program
- supporting the Kahuna during the program
- taking care of students and staffies (volunteers) during the program
- liaising between Staffies and the Kahuna
Applications
If you'd like to apply for a role, send us an email at outreach@melbourne.ysa.org.au
