Wednesday 6 April 2016

Monash Sport Welcomes New Students To Campus


Entering university for the first time can be daunting for many new students.

The idea of leaving your friends from high school in another suburb, state or country can feel very intimidating, especially at the thought of not knowing what will happen next. Monash Sport recognises the opportunity to assist new students in their transition to university through fun engagement activities. Ultimately upholding the objective of encouraging students to be involved in campus life, participate in fun activities and meet news students to facilitate the building of long lasting friendships.

As well as being one of a student's first touch points at enrolment sessions in 2016, Monash Sport opened its facilities to a number of faculties who held induction sessions for their new students. Over 5,000 new students walked through Monash Sport's facilities across Caulfield, Clayton and Peninsula campuses, to participate in interactive activities and game, enjoy lunch in the great outdoor spaces available and meet new students to facilitate the building of long lasting friendships.

The Faculties of IT, Science, Arts and Business & Economics brought their first year students to Monash Sport during O-Week, with the Science Faculty recording the highest number of students at 1,000.

Not only were Monash's sporting facilities used to encourage students to engage with one another and meet other students, the sessions also assisted students in learning about their campus, and where they could go to workout, have a swim, or play a game with their new friends at Monash University.

Additionally, Monash Sport provided newly enrolling students with 1 month's free access to membership services from when they enrolled, to assist in creating healthy habits and introduce new students to campus life, prior to classes starting.

Wednesday 2 December 2015

9 Reasons To Walk Today

The majority of us spend a large part of our day at work, leading largely sedentary lifestyles. One of the simplest and most effective ways to get some additional exercise in is to walk. Recent evidence suggesting that regular brisk walks could be as good for us, or possibly better than jogging.

Although 30 minutes of walking daily is the recommended ideal, you don't need to fit it in all at once.  If you find yourself struggling to set aside 30 minutes a day, you can split the walk into 3 ten minute stints, or a couple of 15-minute journeys.

Here are nine reasons to start walking today:

1. Walking Helps Manage Weight

Walking may seem leisurely but research has shown that it can be effective in reducing and controlling weight especially when combined with a healthy diet. Researchers at the University of Quebec found that women who walked more weighed less and had a smaller percentage of body fat.

2. Strengthens Bones and Joints

Walking is easier on your joints than high-impact activities such as running or aerobics but it is still a form of weight bearing. Weight bearing exercises have long been known to strengthen bones reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis as well as osteoarthritis. Walking just 30 minutes a day a few times a week is enough to increase bone density ~2% compared to non-exercisers.

3. It Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease

Walking can improve circulation, ward of heart disease, strengthen the heart, reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. In fact researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that walking was as good as running when it came to your heart health. 

4. It's Good for your Brain

Walking has extensive cognitive benefits, improving memory, academic performance cognitive control and boosting creativity. It also improves circulation and cerebral blood flood which may help slow mental decline as you age. Studies from the University of Pittsburg have shown that seniors who walk at least 6 miles (9.6km) a week have reduced brain shrinkage. The 2014 World Alzheimer's Report also listed regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat the onset and advancement of the disease.

5. Decrease Your Cancer Risk

Walking may reduce your risk of developing some cancers. Women who walk at least seven hours a week are 14% less likely to develop breast cancer according to research while men treated for prostrate cancer who walk briskly at least three hours a week reduce their chances of recurrence.

6. Prevent or Control Diabetes

Walking can help lower your blood sugar levels, helping to control and prevent diabetes. Several studies have found that as little as fifteen minutes of walking after a meal will improve digestion and even out blood sugar levels. Additionally, even small amounts of weight loss can reduce risk factors, and delay or prevent the onset of the disease. 

7. It Can Make You Happier

A study performed by California State University found that the more steps people took throughout the day, the better their moods were due to the production of endorphins. It has also been cited as a way to reduce stress levels.

8. Walking Leads to Longer Life

A number of different researchers have found that walking can increase your longevity. The Honolulu heart study found walking just 2 miles (3.2km) a day can cut the risk of death in half, while another study found that those who partake in regular exercise in their fifties and sixties are 3.5% less likely to to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. If they already have underlying health conditions that figure increases to 4.5%.

9. It Can Reduce Your Risk of Stroke

Researchers have found that women who walk at a brisk pace for exercise have a much lower chance of having a stroke than those who didn't after a large long term study. The study theorised that the reduced risk of stroke was due to walking's ability to decrease blood pressure, which is a strong risk factor for stroke.

Following the completion of the 10,000 steps challenge, Monash Sport will be implementing a weekly walking group for all staff members at the Caulfield and Clayton campuses.

Clayton
Date: Every Tuesday from the December 1, 2015
Time: 1:00 - 1:45pm (approx.)
Where: Meet at the Lemon Scented Lawn

Caulfield
Date: Every Wednesday starting December 2, 2015
Time: 12 - 12:45pm (approx.)
Where: Meet at the Sound Shell

Thursday 19 November 2015

Walk Your Way to Better Health

Despite being a fairly underrated form of exercise, walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. It's low impact, doesn't require equipment or any particular athletic skill, it's cost effective and can be done at any time of day or night by the majority of people regardless of your fitness level.

Walking is particularly good for those who are worried about the risks associated with some of the more vigorous forms of exercise.

Research has shown that just 150 minutes of brisk walking a week can add 3.4 years to your lifespan as well as offering a range of health benefits by increasing cardiovascular fitness, bone strength, decreasing excess body fat, and increasing musculature and endurance levels.

Regular exercise, even a low impact exercise such as walking can also lead to better performance at work. Researchers have found clear relationships between walking and overall mood and energy levels. The more walking you do throughout the day, the greater your overall mood and energy. Exercise can also increase cognitive function, making it easier to solve tough problems.

Walking can also help regulate your blood sugar levels, preventing the dips in energy after meals leading to three thirty-itis which can leave you feeling sluggish and struggling to concentrate.

Following the completion of the 10,000 steps challenge, Monash Sport will be implementing a weekly walking group for Monash University staff members at the Caulfield and Clayton campuses.

This program will be launched at the 10,000 steps celebration held at Monash Sport. Registrations for the event can be found here.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Mystery Shopper Success

As a part of an ongoing commitment to providing high quality service, between April and June, Monash University engaged independent customer service consulting agency CSBA to assess the service levels throughout the University, by mystery shopping a number of University departments, including Monash Sport.

Acting as "Mystery Shoppers", CSBA assessors made 226 general enquiry calls to multiple departments throughout the University. A total 70 of these calls were made to Monash Sport across the Caulfield, Clayton and Peninsula campuses, including the aquatics, health and fitness and venues service desks.

Monash University scored well above the GO8 University sector average in their overall telephone service scores, both in "getting through" and the quality of the services delivered.

Monash Sport received the Universities top Service Delivery score of 95% and in particular were highly accoladed for offering consistent greetings to customers, the warmth, attentiveness and interest of the staff, staff skill in resolving customer enquiries as well as their sound communication skills.

Customer service levels are a continuing focus of Monash Sport, last year approximately 60 staff members undertook a comprehensive customer service training program in a range of online and in person service enhancement workshops. We are proud to see that our service level reflects the emphasis and effort Monash Sport place on customer service. 

Staff are presently about to embark on another series of training modules in communicating effectively with customers from various backgrounds and cultures to create positive experiences for students who may experience language and cultural barriers.

Twilight on the Green

Held on Monday 12 of October, Twilight on the Green was the official launch by the President and Vice Chancellor Margaret Gardner AO, of the recently developed Caulfield Green and Sound Shell.

After many months of construction and development, this architecturally designed part of the campus has been brought alive with colour and activity.
Around 1000 students, alumni and staff came together to attend the event, despite the chilly evening, which offered a range of spring festivities as well as live music. 

Participants got to challenge themselves in sporting competitions, enjoy some tasty treats from an assortment of food and drink stalls and trucks, get a new look from our face painters all whilst being entertained by musicians and roving performers.
Live music was on offer from Kilter, E^ST, Tara Dowler and Monash's own Papa G and the Starcats as well as tunes from DJ Mona Gene. 

The event was a success with students and staff excited about the newly developed space and the potential future events and activities to be held at Caulfield Campus.




Water Wise Program creates a Splash!

At the beginning of the year the Water Wise program was launched as a fully funded learn to swim program available to all current Monash University students.


The initiative was designed to increase the Water Safety and swimming ability of Monash students. Last year alone 266 people drowned within Australia. The age group most at risk was 25-34 year olds. Monash recognised that whilst many students may have been brought up learning how to swim, some may have come from remote areas without access to swimming facilities or programs.


The water wise program is designed to teach any current student who would like to participate, how to swim at a beginner level. We believe that by increasing the number of students who know how to swim, we can help reduce the incidence of drowning.

Fully funded by the Student Services and Amenities Fee, since it’s launch date in January more than 1500 students have signed up to this valuable program, with numbers growing every week.

Over $9000 raised at MS 24 Hour Mega Swim

Team Minky raised over $3,800 and swam 87 kms


The 24 Hour Mega Swim, Stride and Spin was held over the weekend at Monash Sport, with over $9,000 raised for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis.

From 10am on Saturday morning to the following Sunday, five teams contributed to raising money for Multiple Sclerosis Australia. There were many tired faces when 10am Sunday arrived, as many participants elected to sleep at the pool over night. However all 52 participants were proud of their achievements while raising money for an excellent cause.

The money raised will go towards financially helping people unable to achieve their goals and dreams due to Multiple Sclerosis, in what MS Australia call Go for Gold scholarships.

Spokesperson for MS Australia Shara Gillahan was thrilled with the efforts shown from all the teams.

"So for the 2015 Monash 24 Hour Mega Swim, Spin and Cycle, you guys have been able to raise over $8,700 and still counting. That's an amazing effort and will help so many recipients of Go for Gold scholarships," she said.   

"The MS 24 Hour Mega Swim is to help raise funds to support people with MS to achieve their dream by granting them Go for Gold scholarships. Which is a financial scholarship to help them achieve their dreams, whether it be in education or employment, anything like that. Just to make it a little bit easier for them to achieve their dreams."

Shara herself was diagnosed with MS five years ago, and after being supported by MS Australia she has joined the organisation to give something back.

"I was diagnosed with MS in 2010, and I was fortunate enough to be a recipient of a Go for Gold scholarship in 2012. And through that it allowed me to achieve my dream of traveling over to Ireland and UK and the US to learn millinery from some of the world's best milliners," she said.

Click here for the highlights video featuring Go Pro footage.

The Mega Spin and Mega Stride were two new additions to the Mega Swim event this year, to give flexibility for those wanting to contribute out of the pool. The Mega Stride consisted of walking or running on a treadmill, while the Mega Spin gave participants the task of riding on a spin bike for 24 hours.

Mega Swim team Team Minky took out the overall winning team award, raising $3,840 and swimming 87.6km. Sally Fyfield won the award for highest fundraising for an individual, raising $1,485.

Georgia Abott took out the youth award and Mega Spin team the Knight Riders won the award for best dressed team.

Monash Sport has held five Mega Swim events over the years, with over $100,000 being raised in total.

Donations for the Monash 24 Hour Mega Swim, Mega Spin and Mega Stride will close a month after the event finishes. Follow this link to donate.

Mega Spin team 'Knight Riders' won the best dressed team award.