Inspiring workshops next week!

Engineers with Borders Australia is running a series of interactive, innovative and inspiring workshops and masterclasses in conjunction with Link Festival, which will bring together Australia’s leading and emerging social innovators to explore how design and technology can create change in our backyard and the world.

Dialects, Diets, Dresses, Dwellings and Dances & Songs – Discover how culture enables sustainable development

Part 1 9.00am – 12.00pm, Sunday 24th November, Engineers Australia Office, 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne
Part 2 8.30am – 4.30pm, Wednesday 27th November, Melbourne University, Parkville, Room TBC

Hosted by: Gaurav Shorey & Sourabh Phadke, two social innovators and architects from India, will enlighten and inspire you about how cultural behaviours, traditions and customs can impact and even drive sustainable development. To register and find out more: http://www.ewb.org.au/events/639/11500

Applied Capacity Building – Key Challenges and Lessons from the Field

Sunday 24th November at 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM, Engineers Australia Office, 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

To register and find out more: http://www.ewb.org.au/events/639/11498#events

An Introduction to WASH & WASH in Challenging Environments

Wednesday 27th November at 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Room TBC

To register and find out more: http://www.ewb.org.au/events/639/11499#events

Fundraiser screening “Ringbalin – Breaking the Drought”

Engineers Without Borders Australia invites you to their upcoming fund-raising event on December 9^th 2013, organized by EWB’s Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders Focus Group.

The session will include with screening a short documentary film called Ringbalin – Breaking the Drought. It is a 30min documentary film presenting a mind-changing Aboriginal perspective on Australia’s great Murray Darling Rivers.

EWB Ringbalin

WHERE: Bella Union, Level 1, Victorian Trades Hall – Corner of Victoria & Lygon Streets

WHEN: Monday, 9^th December 2013. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start

WHO: Director Ben Pederick on video + special guest!

HOW MUCH: AUD25 (Concession: AUD20). Your contribution will support both Engineer Without Borders AND the creation of the full version of Ringbalin – River Stories App!

Book your tickets now: http://www.bellaunion.com.au/ticketing/3973, or call (03) 9650 5699.

About this project

“In 2010 Australia was suffering the worst drought in recorded history. At the mouth of the River Murray in South Australia, Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle Moogy was watching his ancestral home die, so he united a group of different Aboriginal River Nations in a 2300-kilometre pilgrimage to dance the spirit back into the river and into themselves. Ringbalin – Breaking the Drought tells the story of their journey.” See the trailer at https://vimeo.com/68937641.

Through the magic of technology, Director Ben Pederick will introduce us from Cambodia, to the documentary and share his thoughts on the significance of this film launch in Australia. He will also talk to us about sister project Ringbalin – River Stories, an innovative geo-located app that invites you on a journey along the Rivers, with Elders from the oldest cultures on Earth acting as your guides.

Check out the fund-raising page indiegogo video/page, which provides many details about the App and its potential, but also shows how much money is needed to launch the full version of the App (so far only a prototype version was created). The end of the fund-raising for this great App is 20th November so let’s contribute now to make it happen. There are lots of prices for those who contribute too!

Two last things:

1) Be quick, get your ticket as it’s going to sell out fast and

2) Talk to your friends, circulate this link around!

Pollinate Energy Young Professionals Program – Apply Now!

Pollinate Energy is a social enterprise improving the lives of India’s urban poor by giving them access to products that make their lives better. We empower entrepreneurs to be a positive force for change, as they supply products including solar lights, mobile phone chargers, and fuel efficient cookstoves to urban poor communities.

Pollinate Energy also host groups of international teams on a Young Professionals Program, who contribute to the overall strategy and development of the Pollinate Energy business model.

The Young Professionals Program fosters future leaders in sustainable development, equipping them with the skills in leadership, problem-solving and critical analysis which are necessary to create positive change. The intensive 2-week program is delivered by the cofounder team who have extensive experience across sustainability, economics, government and private practise, not to mention their years spent in international development and as founders of Pollinate Energy.

The program participants in April 2014 will focus on assessing the social, economic and environmental impact over the past year of operations for Pollinate Energy. With a strong focus on program monitoring and evaluation, participants will experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage directly with our customers, and hear how this social enterprise approach to alleviate poverty is impacting lives.

Are you the next agent for social change?

Applications close December 13th, for more information and to apply click here.

“The Pollinate Energy Young Professionals Program is a ‘must do’ for anyone even remotely curious about changing the world for the better. I learnt more about India, poverty, social business and myself during the 2 week program than I have in the last 2 years!”

– Holly Hyder, YPP 2013, Pollinate Energy Ambassador

International WaterCentre Masters Scholarships

MIWM

Every year, the International WaterCentre (IWC) awards scholarships to a small number of excellent candidates who are accepted into the Master of Integrated Water Management (MIWM). These scholarships are awarded to applicants who clearly demonstrate potential to become water leaders of the future.

Scholarships open to Australian and international students
Value: full-tuition (AU$46,200)
Apply online by 1 October (domestic students)
Program starts in February 2014 at The University of Queensland

The Master of Integrated Water Management (also available as Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate) is designed to fast-track career development and equip students with transdisciplinary skills in integrated water management. Using problem-based and experiential learning, students create and implement integrated solutions to real-world water and climate change challenges.

The program is delivered at The University of Queensland and taught by leading industry experts and lecturers from IWC’s four member universities. The program can be completed in 18 months full-time or 3 years part-time/distance. Three specialisation streams are available including ‘International development’, ‘Urban water’, and ‘Water, land and people’.

Apply online: www.watercentre.org/scholarships

More information:

Contact: Email admin@watercentre.org | Phone +61 7 3014 0200

About the International WaterCentre (IWC)

The International WaterCentre (IWC) is a joint venture of four leading Australian universities (The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Monash University and The University of Western Australia). IWC provides education, training, applied research and knowledge services to promote a whole-of-water-cycle approach and develop capacity in integrated water resource management around the world. www.watercentre.org

Development Unconference

Your voice, your passions, and the ability to vote with your feet!

MDC August 2012 Forum, Australian Volunteers International Do you want to be part of the most interactive conversation on development happening in Melbourne? Do you want to hear from and be heard from in a dynamic maelstrom of like-minded and motivated thinkers?

The Melbourne Development Unconference is your opportunity to learn from your peers about the experiences that interest you and to share your experiences with them in an open format that encourages engagement.

Melbourne Development Circle and Friends of AVI are hosting Melbourne’s first ever Development Unconference on Saturday 5 October in Fitzroy. We’re bringing together community and international development professionals, students, the social enterprise community and the “development-curious” for a one-day, participant-driven event where attendees determine all topics and sessions.

How does it work?

Attendees will arrive at 9.30 and begin the day with an opportunity to network over a tea or coffee. Those interested in presenting or sharing their work will add their session to the schedule. Attendees will then select the session that interests them or start a break-out discussion group of their own. Throughout the day, participants will take part in more than 25 different sessions that will include: workshops, presentations, round-table discussions, how-tos, and more.

This event is designed to empower our amazing community and facilitate skill-sharing and collaboration around ideas in community and international development.

What now?

Buy a ticket! (Your ticket includes lunch, coffee, tea and snacks). Complimentary drinks will be served at the venue from 4pm-5pm to wind up the day.
Do you have a discussion topic or workshop you’d like to organise? A how-to or project case study you’d like to share? If yes, then please nominate that you wish to be a speaker on the day when you register.
Details and registration here: https://devunconf-2013.eventbrite.com.au/

Get the conversation started! Leave a comment below or share your ideas with our networks.

Connect with us On Twitter: @TheDevCircle – #devunconf or On Facebook

Start the conversation here:

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

RedR Australia info sessions

RedR Australia is a not-for-profit humanitarian agency, ready to supply skilled professionals to where they are needed most in times of crisis. We also train aid workers, equipping them with the skills needed to be effective in the field.

We’re holding our annual evening information sessions in September for anyone keen to gain an insight into how we work, what happens on our training courses and how to join our Register of skilled professionals.

Our people will share what you can expect from a RedR Australia field assignment and what it’s like supporting an international humanitarian relief effort. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have.

Standby Register members are ideally professionals with at least five years’ experience in their field including 12 months in an international context, preferably in an emergency response setting. Our people are ‘field ready’ and can be on the ground within days of a disaster.

We recruit from a wide range of skillsets including public health, information and communications technology, logistics, public information/media liaison, engineering and water and sanitation.

Our current priority recruitment profiles include:

information management, ideally with GIS skills
protection and child protection
emergency response
education in emergencies
nutrition

Click here to book your place. Please contact communications@redr.org.au with any queries.

The nitty gritty:
Melbourne – Monday 16 September
Sydney – Monday 23 September

Venue details and other information will be provided via email. Like birthdays and tax returns our info sessions only happen once a year, and space is limited so get in quick to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there! Visit www.redr.org.au for more information on who we are and what we do.

Join the Movement to End Poverty

In the year 2000, Australia committed to helping achieve the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to halve poverty by 2015. With just a few years to go until the deadline, urgent action is required if nations are to fulfil their promise to achieve the MDGs.

The Movement to End Poverty is a joint action of the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge coalitions for all Australians who believe we can end extreme poverty. Australia can help Make Poverty History by giving it’s fair share of aid – just 70 cents in every $100 of Australian’s national income by 2020. As a step towards achieving this, we ask our government to keep it’s promise to increase aid to 50 cents in every $100 dollars of national income by 2016.

Together with our coalition partners, Make Poverty History is collecting signatures to show the federal government that contributing a fair amount to sustainable human development is the right thing to do and something that many Australians support. Join the thousands of Australians taking action on global poverty by signing the Movement to End Poverty petition

http://movementtoendpoverty.org.au/

Have you joined Friends of AVI yet?

Become a Friend of AVI! Connect. Live. Learn.

To showcase their inspirational work, Australian Volunteers International is delighted to be launching its new Friends of AVI program! This new AVI initiative will connect friends, networks and communities who are interested in living in a world actively promoting global citizenship; and creating a learning environment that contributes to discussions on global issues, sustainable development and international volunteering.

The Friends of AVI program will host a range of events and networking opportunities in every state of Australia, providing an avenue for Friends to engage with the activities of AVI and our many associated partners and networks.

By signing up to become a Friend of AVI you can hear about AVI volunteers’ life-changing work, the impact volunteering can have on sustainable development outcomes for local communities and how, as an Australian, you can create awareness about global issues through public dialogue and debate.

Membership is free and all Friends of AVI will receive:

Invitations to forums relating to international development and the volunteer sector
Invitations to information sessions, talks and other events hosted by AVI
Regular communications including: subscription to AVI’s monthly e-news AVI Plus,
AV bi-annual magazine and regular Friends of AVI news updates
Discounts to selected travel stores and travel publications, including: Intrepid Travel, New Internationalist and Lonely Planet.
Opportunity to participate in AVI awareness campaigns/networking events.
An invitation to AVI’s Annual General Meeting

Support the work of AVI and become a Friend of AVI today!

We are now also on Facebook!

For further information on Australian Volunteers International please visit: www.australianvolunteers.com

Dialogues Murray Darling Basin study tour

Applications Open Now!! Send your Expression of Interest by June 28th

Engineers Without Borders’ Dialogues Murray Darling Basin study tour provides participants with an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture, history and reality first-hand from Traditional Owners, and apply this to their personal and professional lives through actions towards Reconciliation.

Participants will develop a deep understanding about the relationship between engineering and Aboriginal culture, and explore the ways engineers can work alongside community to achieve positive outcomes.

The tour runs for 2 weeks in October from Brisbane to Melbourne. Find out more: http://www.ewb.org.au/announcements/55/11258#sthash.Ay3ksY8U.dpuf

Email Alanta with an Expression of Interest by June 28th.

Latest blogs from WhyDev.org

To better understand development, stop reading development blogs – In order to escape the bubble of developmentcentrism, Brendan argues that we must stop reading development blogs and read more widely. A good reading list should not look like the Guardian’s Global Development ‘Key first-year reads’, but more like an entrancing Amazon Wish List.

Stop reinventing the wheel, you tool! – How big should a per diem be so that it covers costs without bribing participants? What’s the best way to write a focus group guide? How can you write survey questions that people will answer honestly? A new initiative is your one-stop-shop to help you in your day-to-day work in development.

The key to reducing poverty is… fewer armchair experts – It seems everyone knows the best way to reduce poverty and make development better. Why are there so many armchair experts on development and how can those of us in the sector advance conversations with those outside of it? Weh Yeoh gives his expert opinion.