Melbourne Medical School Partners with The Smith Family to Inspire Students

On Wednesday 7 May, the Melbourne Medical School (MMS) professional staff management team travelled to Mount Clear College in Ballarat to support 120 Year 11 and 12 students in the exploration of future career pathways.

The visit formed part of a new MMS volunteering initiative in partnership with The Smith Family, a national not-for-profit charity dedicated to helping young Australians succeed through education. The day was co-facilitated by The Smith Family and Mount Clear College, who worked together to create a welcoming environment for students.

Rather than formal presentations, the MMS team were stationed at themed tables:

• ‘The Frontier Thinkers’ [Research]
• ‘Navigating Numbers’ [Finance]
• ‘The Word Weavers [Communications]
• ‘Space Movers and Shakers’ [Facilities and Infrastructure]
• ‘Leadership League’ [General Management]

The MMS team readily shared their stories and answered student questions. In small rotating groups, students learnt about the many different directions a career can take.

To spark curiosity and keep the conversations flowing, each table was equipped with a custom-designed deck of cards featuring prompts such as ‘What was your first job?’ And ‘What’s something you’ve learnt outside of work that’s helped in your career?’. These small questions led to big reflections, encouraging students to think about their own interests, values and careers they might want to pursue, as well as the education which might get them there.

Pictured (L-R): Leadership League Table Participants - Cathy Mason, School Manager; Steven Mitchell, Department Manager, General Practice and Primary Care; and Lina Pepe, Deputy School Manager and Department Manager, Psychiatry.

The experience was a rewarding opportunity for the MMS management team to step outside of their day-to-day roles and connect meaningfully with young people in the community, and encourage the next generation.

“The program ran smoothly, especially for a pilot. The briefing and information provided beforehand was excellent and meeting in table groups ahead of time made my role on the day feel clear and well-supported. It was a valuable reminder of the impact we can have when we step outside of our usual roles and take the time to share our experiences with young people” said Steven Mitchell, Department Manager of General Practice and Primary Care.

MMS extends its sincere thanks to The Smith Family and Mount Clear College for the opportunity to be part of such a valuable and inspiring day and looks forward to a continued partnership.

Discussions are underway with The Smith Family for a second initiative with a different focus in Semester 2, 2025. It is also hoped that the opportunity to visit students at The Smith Family affiliated schools will become more broadly available to other staff in the MMS from 2026.