Program overview
The Student Ambassador Leadership Program (SALP) is an extra-curricular program which runs over three semesters. SALP consists of two main components which provide opportunities to balance active involvement with training and development.
Training: Seminars, workshops, leadership weekends & symposium
Contributing: Action-Learning Group Project, University Service & Community Engagement
Community Engagement Deadlines - FAQs
2009 Semester 2 seminar timetable (66 KB | PDF file)
Training
Student Ambassadors attend the following training activities in 2009:
Welcome Day – Saturday, 4 April
This is the first introductory event for all new Ambassadors. You will meet staff, current Ambassadors and your Action Learning Group (ALG) and will participate in a range of activities throughout the day. The ALG consists of six new Ambassadors and is facilitated by a former SALPer.
14 weekly lunchtime seminars – Semesters 1 and 2
Topics include identifying goals and motivations, leadership styles as well as guest lectures from high-profile citizens. Most (except ALG meetings) are held twice a week: Tuesday lunchtime (1-2pm) and repeated Wednesday lunchtime. Ambassadors attend one stream.
Project Management workshop - Semester 1
This is an interactive and practical workshop that you will attend with your Action Learning Group in order to help you plan and organise the project you will be working on over the next year.
2 Leadership Weekends - May & September
SALP weekends develop teamwork and leadership skills in a supportive environment through fun team building activities. You will attend an ovenight camp in May and an all-day high-ropes event in September.
SALP Symposium – Tuesday, September 22
An on-campus conference attended by various university staff and community organisations, where all Ambassadors will be required to deliver a multi-media presentation on the development of their Action Learning Group projects and attend a professional skills workshop.
"The camp was absolutely fantastic! We came together as a group and some of the people I met, both staff and SALPers, have remained friends and colleagues two years later." Dave Crowden, Student Ambassador
top of pageContributing
20 hours of University Service
Volunteering in approved University activities/events or developing an ALG project for the University of Melbourne, such as:
- Mentoring new students
- Conducting campus tours for visiting international delegations
- Working with university staff on various events and programs
- Devloping an environmental project aiming to reduce waste on campus
"I volunteered with the Education faculty. In the beginning I thought I will just do the hours I need to do and I'm out of here! However, as time went by I found myself really connecting with students and enjoyed the tutoring." Jordan Isac, Student Ambassador
40 hours of Community Engagement work
Volunteering with a non-profit organisation or developing an ALG project aimed at addressing the needs of a community group, such as:
- Tutoring migrants
- Helping in soup vans
- Supervising camps for young people with disabilities
- Designing a life-skills program for young people at risk of homelessness
"Volunteering with Conservation Volunteers Australia was more than I anticipated. I learnt by asking lots of questions and for help when I needed it. Meeting people from all walks of life was a highlight!" Ahmed Almamari, Student Ambassador
Action-Learning Group Project
At the commencement of the Program, students are allocation an Action-Learning Group (ALG). The ALG connects a more experienced Ambassador (the ALG Facilitator) with a group of new SALPers, who must organise and undertake a university or community project. Ambassadors are required to attend regular ALG meetings throughout the year (part of the 14 seminars) to coordinate the project and evaluate the group's progress.
Ambassadors can count hours spent on the project towards their 20-hour University Service or 40-hour Community Engagement component.
Community Engagement Deadlines - FAQs
As the semester winds-up, most of you will be getting ready for the exam period. However, there is the SALP June 5 deadline which is also just around the corner, so it will be important for you to have prepared for this before your exams.
While procedures for nominating ALG projects and organisations are outlined in the SALP Handbook, this list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers should further assist you through the process.
All forms referred to (in italics) can be downloaded from the SALP database, and if you have any questions, let us know ASAP.
Click the "Expand : Minimise" links to expand or minimise all answers.
- According to the Handbook, community proposals are due on June 5. What does this mean?
-
This means you must have negotiated your Community Engagement work with an organisation AND notified SALP by nominating the project on the SALP database this date.
- What if I’m doing an ALG project as my Community Engagement?
You still need to nominate this on the database (ALG Community project – SALP). Your ALG must also submit their community proposal by this date.
- What if my ALG is doing a Uni project?
Your ALG will still need to submit their project proposal by the June 5. This means that each ALG member will be doing their community engagement separately. If this is the case, refer to Question1.
- What happens to our ALG project proposal once we submit to SALP?
SALP will provide comments/suggestions/questions and return to the group by the end of June. You should consider using the feedback suggested in your subsequent planning for your project.
- I’ve been trying to nominate a community organisation on the database but I can’t see the 'Nominate' link.
-
This means that while the project is approved by SALP, the insurance information needs to be updated in order for you to volunteer with them. You must download the Community Organisation OHS form and ask the organisation to complete it. Once you return the completed form to SALP, the organisation's details will be updated on the database and then you can nominate! This must be done by June 5.
- I’m not starting my volunteer work until later in the year, do I still need to nominate by this date?
-
Yes.
- I’ve already organised my volunteer work with an organisation not on the SALP database. How do I nominate this?
-
If you’re interested in an organisation not listed on the database, you first need approval from SALP. Email Rita the organisation’s details and describe the type of volunteer work you intend to do. If it’s approved, you must download the Community Organisation OHS form and ask the organisation to complete it. Once you return the completed form to SALP, the organisation's details will be updated on the database and then you can nominate!
- I’ve nominated on the database but I haven’t heard from the organisation’s contact about getting started.
-
By clicking a project's 'Nominate' link you are notifying the SALP Coordinator of your project choice, NOT the actual project supervisor. You will still need to contact the project supervisor if you want to get involved. You should have already done this before June 5.
- I’ve contacted an organisation I'm interested in but they haven’t got back to me.
It’s a good idea to research a few organisations in case the one you have your heart set on doesn’t contact you. You will need to persevere - leave a couple of phone messages and emails. Check their website for information about their volunteer recruitment procedures - they may have specific times when they recruit and don't respond to volunteering enquiries outside of those times. If you have no response after contacting them numerous times, look for another organisation to volunteer with.
- I don’t think I’m going to be able to make the deadline. What should I do?
-
Contact Rita ASAP!
- How should I record the hours I do for my community engagement?
If you are doing an ALG project you must keep a track of the tasks/time you individually contribute, via the ALG Log Book (this is also the case for Uni projects). This must be submitted with your Community Engagement completion report at the conclusion of your project.
- What if I’m doing my hours with an organisation on my own?
Some Ambassadors keep an informal log of the hours they complete each time they volunteer and show this to the project supervisor to assist them when they sign off the 40 hours on their Community Engagement completion report.
- I volunteer every weekend/fortnight. Do I ask my supervisor to sign a completion form every time I go in?
-
No. Just keep track of your hours and once you’ve completed a minimum of 40 hours, ask your project supervisor to your Community Engagement completion report.
- The organisation I'm volunteering with provides induction/training. Does this count as part of my service hours?
No. You start clocking your hours once you commence (after SALP approval) your actual volunteer work with the project/organisation. This applies to both University Service and Community Engagement.
- What's the difference between the Community Engagement completion report and the ALG project report?
The Community Engagagement completion report must be completed by each Ambassador. It can be downloaded from the database. It is a personal reflection on your community engagement experience (whether you volunteered on a group project or on your own). The ALG project report is a report on the actual outcomes of your group's project. Only one per ALG is required. Check the SALP Handbook for details on what to include.
- When do I have to have my 40 hours of Community Engagement completed by?
- Your 40 hours and all reports are due April 30 2010.