Students get inspired with the Council of International Students Australia Leadership Program!

Photo: Annie Xu

On the third and fourth of August, we, as a group of Griffith MATES along with other Student Linx members, attended a Student Leadership Training Program organized by the Council of International Students Australia (CISA), Australia’s peak body of international students studying in Australia.

By Kirstin Cuthbert, Sandra Boiteux and Yi shin Chua

Our presenters, Kerryn and Dominik are both students and even with their study load, they still found the time to be on the committee and make a huge difference in Australia. The fact that they were of similar age to us and had already achieved so much for international students made us feel very inspired and keen to listen to what they had to say! Throughout the training, we learnt many key lessons about the services available to students, laws regarding those services and how to act as advocates for students on a broad range of topics.

Lord Mayor’s Friendship Ceremony Comes to Griffith

By Marlene Kastner, studying a Bachelor of International Business, Griffith University

For the first time ever, the Lord Mayor’s popular Friendship Ceremony came to Griffith University’s Nathan campus and proved to be an absolute success!

With a warm welcome for international students living in Brisbane, I felt a particular emphasis on our ‘friendship’ with the local student community.

The stage was set in the Campus Heart surrounded by information stalls pulsating with students searching for their bonafide Friendship certificates signed by the Lord Mayor himself! Featured stalls including Griffith’s Careers Service and Volunteering Queensland among others, which really highlighted the opportunities available to international students when studying in Brisbane.

Anna’s time at Griffith

As Griffith MATE Anna Ejdestig prepares to leave Australia and return to her home in Sweden, she shares some thoughts of her time at Griffith.

By Anna Ejdestig, from Sweden – studying a Bachelor of Aviation, Nathan Campus.

My three and a half years in Australia have been the worst and the best experience of my life. With both challenges in studies as well as in life. Where friends have become family and supported in the down times, cheered me on, and celebrated every victory.

Anna Ejdestig (right) at the Student Linx Global Networking Function.

Ever since my first semester at Griffith I have been a part of the Social Sport soccer team, and continued to play and been involved since, leading to 2 2nd places and one 3rd in the competition. I have friends that I made that very first semester I played, still keeping in touch today even though a few have moved away. My final semester I also had the opportunity to try something new, and something I would say is very ‘Australian’, as I had never heard about it before I came to Australia, netball. My amazing Student Linx team came third even though none of us had ever played the sport before, only because we were constant in attending every week. After a few lost games and the rest forfeited due to teams without enough players, we ended up in the finals. Getting the team spirit up and developing the skills of the game, even just to score a few points, was enough if we did our best.

The last few semesters I’ve also been involved with the Griffith MATES. I really enjoyed being a part of a new students’ first steps into a new world of Griffith and university life – helping people that face the same challenges and issues I had to face as a new student. 

Brisbane Welcomes International Students Recap

by Daria Dolgova, Bachelor of Journalism – Nathan campus

Brisbane welcomed international students on the 3rd of March, 2012 in King George Square in Brisbane City.

Griffith University was one of 65 exhibitors present on the day. Other exhibitors included Translink, Brisbane City Council Library and the Queensland Police.

Current students Yashan Thilakaratne and Jose Martinez were presenting Griffith University on the day.

Meet the Team

by Jacquelin Robson, Bachelor of Journalism – Gold Coast campus

Welcome back to a new year at Griffith University! Its time to shake the cobwebs off your text books and get stuck into another year, but not without a few fun breaks hosted by Student Linx.

With a fantastic new team and some fresh ideas this year you will see some different and exciting takes on our traditional events. So let’s meet the team!

Sondre from the Gold Coast, will help host the Launch Party along with team members, Alesia, and Amy. Sondre says his ideal job would be an event coordinator for private and business customers, creating something that leaves an impression.