With mental health occurring at a concerning level in university student populations in Western societies, the Social Impact Projects aim is to bring together students, advocates, industry experts and staff to develop innovative and effective solutions to address mental health and wellbeing.
The Social Impact Project aim is to address a need to facilitate students and industry experts to engage in a discussion to develop awareness of the complex issue of mental health and wellbeing and generate innovative and effective solutions to address this issue.
Our focus will be on building awareness and understanding of key complex social problems. Within this focus we will strive to understand whether and where progressive change is occurring; what is working and why, and how we might have a meaningful impact on this issue together.
Facilitated by the Social Impact Project, industry partners and key staff will work collaboratively with students to co-design solutions through a series of sprints. Solutions are aimed at addressing key issues identified by students and co-designed with key partners.
Take a look at our 2024 Mental Health and Wellbeing Project below and the innovative solutions our students co-designed with industry partners.
This initiative is proudly supported by the following industry partners.
The mental health and wellbeing project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Prior to the online sprints, students will participate in an online induction workshop. This workshop aims to provide a framework and practice to help set the foundations for a successful, safe and inclusive experience. The workshop will provide an opportunity for students to gain skills, knowledge and self-awareness in working collaboratively and looking after their own wellbeing throughout the project. During this workshop students will work to co-create a culture that is safe, welcoming, collaborative and supportive. Students will also be supported to become familiar with the online technology we will be using throughout the online project.
Students will participate in an industry induction session and will hear from a variety of professionals and organisations working in the mental health and wellbeing space, including Government departments, support staff and self-advocates. The industry induction session is an interactive panel discussion and Q&A session that will give students specialist insight into mental health and wellbeing. Students will also have an opportunity to enter meaningful dialogue around the complexities and challenges of addressing mental health and wellbeing with a diversity of people. This session will encourage deep reflection and dialogue and will contribute to enhanced understanding of mental health and wellbeing.
Students will gain a deeper understanding of the principles of co-design and will explore collaborative ways of working with complexity and diversity. Students will be introduced to a diversity of participatory practices and processes that will help support them in their exploration and understanding of the issue.
Using virtual technology, students will be introduced to several methods and tools to design innovative approaches to address mental health and wellbeing. During this period of design, students will collaborate with and seek input from peers, experienced voices and industry professionals to refine their ideas, test assumptions and respond to the needs of the community they are working with.
Students will finalise their project ideas and develop an implementation strategy which will include clear actions and strategies for how the project will be implemented, monitored, and measured for impact. Industry professionals and experienced voices will be invited to offer feedback on the final project design.
During this period students will be working with the community to implement their project. Students are encouraged to regularly reflect and seek feedback on how their project is tracking, and make any adjustments as required.
Basically, everyone believes that it is important to take care of their physical health.
