2nd

Down Under Camp 2015

Project Report

Website: www.duc.masca.org.au

E-mail: info@duc.masca.org.au

Facebook: Down Under Camp

Twitter: @MASCA_National

Hashtag: #DUC2015

Contents
1. 2ND DOWN UNDER CAMP 2015....................................................................03
2. APPENDIX A: SPONSORS..................................................................09
APPENDIX B: MEDIA LINKS11
APPENDIX C: SUMMARY OF MASCA...........................................................12

Malaysian Students Council of Australia

1. 2nd Down Under Camp 2015

Date: 9 11th January 2015
Venue: University of Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Campus
Participants: 200 new students and 80 committee & volunteers

The 2nd Under Camp (DUC) 2015 was held successfully at the University of Kuala
Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Campus from the 9th to 11th January 2015. Following the
success of the 1st DUC 2014 last year, the 2nd DUC 2015 continues with its main aim
which is to prepare new students for their future studies in Australia. This pre-
departure camp also enables future students to network with former and current
student representatives from each states in Australia. This year, the 2nd DUC 2015
managed to attract 200 new participants as well as 80 committees and volunteers.

Figure 1 2nd Down Under Camp 2015 committee, volunteer & participant

The camp began on the 9th January 2015, with an early registration session for the
participants followed by an ice breaking session between the committee, volunteers and
participants.

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

Figure 2 Early registration for interstate participants

Figure 3 Ice Breaking session

On the second day of the 2ndDUC 2015, the pre-departure camp began with a general
pre-departure briefing by DUC committee and presentations by DUC sponsors such as
CAN Australia, MyHousing, Ambank and StudyMelbourne.

Figure 4 Representative from CAN Australia during their presentatio

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

The camp was then officiated by Puan Raihanah Haji Khudri, the Director of Education
Malaysia on the same day. In her speech, she congratulated the new students and
provided them with valuables advices. She encouraged them to make full use of their
time in Australia as they are the mini ambassadors of Malaysia.

Figure 5PuanRaihanah officiating the 2ndDown Under Camp 2015

The camp continued with Project X, a sharing session during the 2nd DUC 2015 which
encouraged interaction between the current and new students. In this session, the
participants were divided into their respective states and they had a chance to inquire
about state-related issues and the challenges that they will face in their respective
states. Project X was then followed by Explorace Australia. Explorace Australia is an
explorace-like game where the participants got to learn and test their practical
knowledge and living skills in Australia.

Figure 6 Participants during Project X session

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Figure 7 Participants in one of the checkpoints

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

After dinner, there were two separate sessions executed simultaneously. For the Muslim
participants, they had an opportunity to engage with Ustaz Hasrizal, a prominent
Islamic scholar during the Fiqh Luar Negara session. During the session, students were
given the opportunity to ask questions in regards to the potential challenges they may
face as Muslims living in Australia. The other session that was also organised at the
same time for the non-Muslims is called Football to Footy. The speakers for this session
were the Alumnus of MASCA, Chong Khin Yew& Brian. This session talks about the
Malaysian to Australian culture transition.

Figure 8 Ustaz Hasrizal during the Fiqh Luar Negara session

Figure 9 Khin Yew and Brian during the Football to Footy session

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

The final day of the 2nd DUC 2015 kicked off with Aiming for Southern Stars, a panel
discussion session aiming to provide insights for the participants in regards to the main
issues that they will face as students in Australia such as time management, goal setting,
financial planning and career awareness. The session was moderated by Iffah Mohd
Hazim, former Hitz FM personality. She was joined by respective panelists, Jeya Sheila
from myHarapan, Ken Ming Loh from Teach For Malaysia, Maithili Vasudevan from
TalentCorp and Chong Khin Yew, a fellow MASCA Alumni.

Figure 10 From left: Maithili, Jeya Sheila, Iffah, Khin Yew and Ken

The 2nd DUC 2015 wrapped up with the flagship event of DUC which is the DUC Open
Day. The Open Day aims to provide a platform for the participants and volunteers to
engage informally. The event also encourages charity work as there was a donation
drive available for the flood victims in the East Coast. The Malaysian Students
Organisations (MSOs) from Australia also attended and opened up booths during the
DUC Open Day to show support.
In a nutshell, the 2nd DUC 2015 managed to achieve its objectives; to cater the welfare
needs of future students (through briefings, interactive discussions and activities), to
introduce various MSOs from different universities to the new students and finally to
establish and further strengthen the relationship between future students and the
current students as well as the current and previous MASCA council members. It is our
hope that this initiative will be continued in the future for the betterment of our future
students.

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

Figure 11 One of the performances during DUC Open Day

Figure 12 Booths opened by Mercy Malaysia and Teach for Malaysia

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

2. Appendix A: Sponsors
GOLD SPONSORS

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

SILVER SPONSORS

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Malaysian Students Council of Australia

3. Appendix B: Media Links

1. Mainstream Media:
a) Malaysia Hari Ini:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk9M6vdMbos
b) The Star:
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Education/2015/01/18/LearningDown-Under/
2. Social Media:
a) Facebook Page (Down Under Camp):
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-UnderCamp/695797300512557
b) Twitter (MASCA Account):
https://twitter.com/MASCA_National
3. Website:
a) Down Under Camp:
http://www.duc.masca.org.au/

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4. Appendix C: Summary of MASCA

Malaysian Students Council of Australia

Peak student representative council for Malaysian students in Australia.
Australia has the largest Malaysian student community overseas with over
20,000 students.
MASCA is a multiracial, multicultural, non-political and non-profit organisation
run by students for students.
Our mission is to represent and serve the interest and welfare of the Malaysian
student community in Australia.
Founded in April 2001 in Sydney, Australia.
Officially recognised by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education through the
Education Department of the Consulate of Malaysia in Australia known as
Education Malaysia Australia (EMA).

MASCA is more than a student representative council. MASCA is driven by a team of
highly enthusiastic and motivated students. We aspire to build a strong and united
Malaysian community in Australia while forging close relations with the Australian
community.

MASCA is established across 6 States and 1 Territory (except Northern Territory).
MASCA is for all rakyat (people) Malaysia in Australia regardless of their backgrounds,
students and non-students alike. Our state chapters are very active in organising
successful events every year to promote Malaysian values and cultures to Australian
and international community (e.g. Malaysian Summit of Australia (MASA), Citra
Malaysia in Brisbane, etc.).

Mission
For MASCA, as one, to bring meaning to the experience of Malaysian students in
Australia.

Vision
To facilitate the interaction and unification of various Malaysian student bodies
and their members in Australia.
To develop and equip the future leaders of Malaysia with the necessary skills.
To promote the spirit of Malaysia amongst the Malaysian student community and
the wider Australian community.

Slogan
Charting the way for Malaysians down under!
For more information on MASCA, please visit our website: www.masca.org.au
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