Date: Monday 1 July 2024
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm AEST
Venue: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

About the Network

Peer programs bring a wealth of benefits to the higher education setting, from improving a sense of belonging and wellbeing to academic support, they bring not only great outcomes to the students who participate, but also to the students who lead them. As an incredibly diverse space spanning everything from more fomalised programs such as PASS to bespoke offerings for one faculty or discipline, peer programs provide support for huge numbers of students across different areas of the student lifecycle and are a flexible, adaptable way of encouraging engagement.

This network is open to practitioners with a wealth of experience to those who are new to the area, from those for whom peer programs is their entire job, to those who have it as a section of their work. Exploring topics such as training, recruitment, evaluation, reporting and engagement strategies post-Covid, the network is a great place to share ideas, get advice and find a community dedicated to fostering strong peer connections at all levels.

What the 2024 Session will Cover

As peer programs frequently have a different structure to other areas of the university, some of the challenges and opportunities relating to team organising and delivery can be unique. This session will focus on these unique aspects of peer programs relating to managing large teams of student casuals or volunteers, working across campuses and delivery formats, providing guidance and support to people new to professional roles, and many others. It will provide an opportunity to share good practice, provide professional development for those working in the area, and an opportunity to network and then keep in contact beyond the conference.

Convenors

Dr Rosalind McFarlane
Monash University

Dr Rosalind McFarlane is the manager of English Connect, a peer program delivering conversational language, cross-cultural communication classes and events to help people settle into Melbourne at Monash University. In 2018 English Connect won the PIE (Professionals in International Education) Award for Student Support. Ros has experience delivering large-scale peer programs in Australia, as well as delivering peer programs in China and also providing pastoral and emergency support for students living on campus.

Kathryn French
University of Tasmania

I am the PASS Program Coordinator at the University of Tasmania and have a special interest in the science of learning and the unique educational experiences of neurodivergent individuals. I obtained my PhD in physiology and pharmacology from the University of Queensland back in 2002 and continued working in research there until 2010. Following my time at the University of Queensland, I moved to Charles Sturt University, initially involved in both teaching and research. Later I took on a student support role, overseeing the Student Outreach Team. This team was comprised of peer leaders and used data-driven interventions to assist at-risk students. In 2018, I joined the University of Tasmania as the PASS Program Coordinator. In addition to this role, I have also provided Learning Advisor consultations and created a staff Community of Practice for neurominority staff members at the University of Tasmania.

Jules Page
Murdoch University

Jules Page is the Peer Learning & Support Coordinator at Murdoch University, supervising the PASS program and the Peer Academic Coach Program. This program employs high-achieving students to run a drop-in service to help students develop academic skills. The Peer Academic Coach program was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in Learning in 2021. The PASS program won a Commendation for Excellence in Enhancing Student Learning in 2022. After recently graduating as a Registered Nurse from Murdoch University, Jules is passionate about helping students get the most out of their university experience. Jules also Chairs the Western Australian Peer Partner Network.