
Celebrating the Jubilee Year for Pilgrims of Hope
News 19 MarchA message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers.
27 April 2016
Share
When ACU students embark on community engagement programs in places like Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Timor-Leste they can undergo life-changing experiences but at the same time can take on the trauma of the people they work with in communities who experience extreme poverty.
This is one component of a special resource kit which ACU has developed that helps staff deliver transformational learning while supporting the wellbeing of the students before, during and after their international experience.
The Three-by-Three Student Learning Model: International Community Engagement Resource Kit prepares students before they take off on their trip and outlines methods of debriefing, reflecting and counselling during and after their international community engagement experience.
Through these exercises students can gain increased capacities to understand the world through the eyes of people they are working with as well as a genuine understanding of the principles of social justice. It can help develop a new way of thinking and acting that can stay with them for the rest of their lives.
The resource kit has become extremely important this year in light of the high number of ACU students who are taking up international community engagement. In 2016, the number will be double that of the previous year.
The Three-by-Three Student Learning Model was developed by staff in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Institute of Advancing Community Engagement (IACE). The model is based on extensive research into the literature and highlights three broad phases of transformational learning during international community engagement.
The first phase involves an experience that triggers disequilibrium as sights, sounds and situations challenge the person’s view of the world.
The second phase involves students critically assessing their frames of reference and what they thought they knew about the community, which have been challenged by their experiences. This phase can lead to new perspectives and learning.
The third and final phase is when real change occurs and students begin to think and act in a manner that reflects their new perspectives. This can have long-term effects in which the students will continue to develop as socially-minded individuals where community engagement becomes a way of life and supporting the dignity of each person becomes the core of their personal lives and future professional practice.
International community engagement and clinical placements may require students to deal with serious issues such as poverty, political instability, and poor health conditions which can challenge students emotionally and philosophically.
Vicarious trauma can disrupt a student’s overall view of the world and the people around them. The condition can accumulate over time through interactions with community members, and can be as debilitating as the primary trauma experienced by the people the students are working with.
That’s why it is important for ACU to look out for the wellbeing of students who visit developing countries, and support them before, during and after the project.
The resource kit contains structured activities and associated resources that support ACU staff in facilitating the learning and well-being of students involved with international community engagement. Each activity in the before, during, and after stages of the resource includes a clear rationale, facilitator instructions on how to run the activity, and information on how each activity supports the Three-by-Three model. It is envisioned that the Three-by-Three model will support ACU in developing students who have an understanding of social justice and the importance of serving the common good.
Click here to view the 3X3 International Student Community Engagement Resource.
Note: The Three-by-Three Resource was developed by Matthew Pink, Stephen Guinea, Katie Bunch, Youssef Taouk, Karen Nightingale, Karen Flowers, and Jenny Murphy
A message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers.
Want to experience all the excitement and atmosphere of the Jubilee Year in Rome? Register for the 2025 Staff Pilgrimage.
CEI and HELTA are pleased to invite you to join your Campus Community of Learning Advancement (CCoLA). CCoLA is a professional learning community focused on collaborative workplace learning.
Same day access to most newspapers from Australia and overseas. This comprehensive collection of full-text newspapers (text and image versions) encompasses more than 7,000 global news sources from 200...
ACU Co-Lab, in partnership with StartSomeGood, is launching its comprehensive Social Enterprise Series 2025, an eight-week program designed to equip aspiring changemakers with essential skills for est...
Staff are invited to request an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in ACU Online Term 1 (202516) and Professional Term 2...
A message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Professor Tania Broadley: I would like to thank everyone across ACU who has welcomed me so warmly over the past few months.
Will you be leading or participating in an ACU recruitment process this year? Enrol in our new mandatory training module today to better understand ACU’s hiring practices.
The Higher Education Learning and Teaching Academy is hosting an online showcase featuring the most popular papers from our 2024 Showcase of Teaching and Learning event. Join us on Wednesday 26 March ...
In honour of Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17 - 23 March) the Access and Disability Service is proud to announce the launch of low sensory retreats across our campuses.
ACU will pilot disabling the Turnitin Artificial Intelligence (AI) Indicator tool. Read about the decision and how to provide sufficient evidence in cases of suspected academic misconduct.
The Library's AI Hub provides resources to build your confidence in using AI in an effective, ethical and responsible way.
A message from the Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Woods: As I approach my fourth month at ACU, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the warm welcome I’ve received.
Harmony Week (17 - 23 March) is an annual celebration that recognises Australia’s diversity and brings together people from all different backgrounds.
All staff need to be aware of the University's responsibilities under the Educational Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the accompanying National Code.
Congratulations to Associate Professor Jessica Russ-Smith who has been honoured with the 2024 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning – the Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Educa...
Beginning Thursday, 6 March these 15-minute power sessions will get you thinking about a range of contemporary topics and tools in higher education.
Join the Work-Integrated Learning Australia (WILA) conversation to explore how financial literacy impacts wellbeing and participation in unpaid WIL. Discover how placement design and delivery can maxi...
We offer a range of support programs and activities to ensure all students can make the most of their time at ACU. The student referral guide to support services outlines all our available student ser...
Changes to the process for casual staff to apply for conversion to ongoing employment took effect on Wednesday 26 February 2025, as a result of legislative changes.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.