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Wellbeing events and news
Monash Sport news and offers
TeamMONASH™ events
Discounts for staff
Healthy living tips and news

Wellbeing events & news

Monash 10,000 Steps Challenge, registrations open from Monday 7th September!

Get ready to walk for the soul as you begin pounding the pavement for the 2009 10,000 Steps Challenge.

All staff and students are invited to participate in the 5 week challenge. Commencing on Wednesday, 7th October participants will walk a virtual walk from the Prato campus, Italy to the London campus, finishing on Friday 13^th November.

Participants will not only measure the number of steps they take each day using pedometers, but also experience the many benefits that physical activity has on mental health. Teams of up to 8 people, consisting of Monash staff, family, friends and students will each aim to clock up at least 10,000 steps each day.

Together we can improve our mental and physical health as we walk for the soul. And of course there are great events happening at each campus and prizes for teams and individuals to win!

Let's beat the 2008 record number of 2000 Monash participants!

Registrations open from Monday 7th September so start forming your team and be ready to register from Monday. For more information visit the 10,000 Steps Challenge webpage. Registrations close Wedneday 23rd September.

Helping staff and students to get Health Smart

Health Smart is a new Monash program to encourage staff and students to make a healthy and sustainable choice when purchasing food from outlets on campus and ordering catering.

Wellbeing at Monash has worked together with the Office of Environmental Sustainability and many Monash food outlets to ensure the program is practical and sustainable.

From September you will begin to see food items and catering menus being marked with either a Health Smart or Earth Smart logo. More information about the program visit the Health Smart webpage

29th de Castella Run - help raise money for women's health

Now in its 29th year, the de Castella Run will be held on Sunday 27th September on Melbourne's most scenic and challenging inner city course around the Kew Boulevard.

The 2009 de Castella Run is proud to partner with The Alfred Hospital and Monash University's Women's Mental Health Research to raise funds for research into women's mental health research.

Once again, you can choose from 15km or 10km Run or a 5km run or walk. Enter a Team for Great Prizes! Get your friends or colleagues together and form a team for a chance to win great prizes! Open teams are available in the 10K, while school teams are available in the 5K. For more info visit the webpage here

Get Up & Go - a walking buddy program @ Caulfield

Get Up and Go is a new initiative that has been developed by Health Wellbeing and Development and Monash Sport aimed at pairing volunteers together who would like to get out and go for a walk.

When: Program commences Wednesday 16 September and runs for 5 weeks
Who can participate? Caulfield students and staff (this pilot program may be extended to other campuses in the future)
Cost: Free
Interested? Register your interest here

Would you like to improve your health and help the environment at the same time?

As part of Sustainable Transport Month starting 22nd September, the Office of Environmental Sustainability in partnership with Monash Sport and Wellbeing at Monash are offering up to 10 students or staff the opportunity to take part in an innovative Active Transport study.

The study, which will run over 12 weeks, aims to promote active transport to and from your place of work or study as part of an overall health and fitness improvement program. For further information visit the webpage here

New staff Welcome to Monash Wellbeing pack

All new staff to Monash now receive a Wellbeing at Monash welcome pack. The pack includes a free 1 week Monash Sport Fitness Centre pass, Wellbeing at Monash drink bottle, Wellbeing events and discountsWalking maps at your campus, Sustainable transport options at Monash and Equity and Diversity Centre information. If you commenced at Monash after 15th July 2009 and did not receive information about the pack in your HR Welcome Pack please contact Wellbeing at Monash here

School holiday idea for the kids

Monash University School Holiday Program - making kids' holidays fun.

Your child will love the fun, exciting activities at MUSHP, and you can relax - knowing that they are in the safe, experienced hands of a service offering exceptional quality care to the university and local community. MUSHP activities include swimming, indoor and outdoor sport, water polo, adventure days, cinema, science, cooking, drama and music, art and craft.

Enrolments close Monday 7th September. For more information visit www.hub.monash.edu.au/family

Monash Science Centre - school holiday program

Science is always around us, just ready to explore! Whether you are a future engineer, biologist, chemist or simply mad on science and having fun, let your kids join in the fun these school holidays at the Monash Science Centre. For info about the program visit http://www.sciencecentre.monash.edu.au/shp/index.html

Your chance to win and monthly competition winners

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Monash Sport news and offers

Junior Water Polo Holiday Program

Throughout the September School Holidays Monash Sport will be running a water polo program for juniors at the Doug Ellis Swimming Pool.

Dates: Tuesday 22 Sep-Thursday 24 Sep, Tuesday 29 Sep-Thursday 1 Oct
Times: 10am-11am for Under 10yrs and 11am-12pm for 11yrs and older
For further information: please call 9905 4115.

Starta Sports

The Starta Sports is a Monash Peninsula based program that introduces children aged 2-6 years old to a variety of different skills. The structured and age appropriate programs offer a safe and fun environment that helps improve coordination and ball skills whilst offering a head start into socialisation through sport.

Term 4 begins from Monday 12 October and runs for 9 weeks. For further information please call 9904 4496.

Give, Get, Win!

Throughout September Monash Sport, in conjunction with the Oaktree Foundation, will be running a special membership offer that aims to help those less fortunate, and reward those who give generously.

For those who take up a membership* in September and give a gold coin donation will get one month free, a cooler bag and be put in the draw to win a range of great prizes including a 42 inch Samsung HD plasma TV, Malvern Star 'Octane AL' mountain bike, and Carlton FC guernsey signed by Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola.

There are many other benefits of becoming a member at Monash Sport. For further information, please visit: www.sport.monash.edu/fitness/give-get-win.html
*Conditions apply. New members only.

Fathers Day Promo

This Father's Day Dad's can train for free at Monash Sport. Customers/Members can bring their Dad in for free to try our pool (clayton only), gym or group fitness classes. Standard conditions of entry apply and anyone else accompanying Dad's must pay normal entry fees.

Basketball Camp

This September Monash University's High Performance Sport Centre will be hosting a High Performance Basketball Camp for Elite Juniors. The camp is designed to give children aged 14-17 years the chance to work with WNBL Dandenong Rangers coach Dale Walters, and improve their skills and technique.

Players will also have the chance to continue to hone their skills after completion of the camp, with players receiving training and development programs. Places are limited and applications close Friday 18 September. For further information visit http://www.sport.monash.edu.au/news/hpjbc.html

Fit Camp

Fit Camp offers users the chance to reduce body fat, increase fitness, muscle tone and strength in a fun and social environment.

These six weeks courses are run out of three Monash campuses (Caulfield, Clayton, Peninsula) and are run by qualified personal trainers who will help guide, motivate and monitor each participant's process. Sessions go for 1 hour, twice per week. The program runs for six weeks (12 sessions).

Next camp starting at Caulfield on 22 Sept. For further information, please visit http://sport.monash.edu/fitness/fit-camp.html

Trips and Tours

Through Trips and Tours you can experience the amazing attractions of Australia, together with lots of fun people and quality tour leaders. Travelling in comfort on our great buses and with our informative guides, you can get up close and personal with unique australian wildlife and habitat. Wether you want to be friends with a koala, watch the penguins come ashore or experience the truly unique Australian scenery, Trips and Tours can take you there.

Upcoming Trips and Tours:
Sydney Tour, 10 - 14 Sept
Great Ocean Road, 5 Sept
Yarra Valley tour, 19 Sept
Wilson's Promontory, 26 Sept
Phillip Island Penguin Parade, 3 Oct

For all the trips, itineraries and full details, check out the Trips and Tours website!

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TeamMONASH™ events

Melbourne Marathon registrations now open!

This year marks the fifth year TeamMONASH^TM will compete in the annual Melbourne Marathon, which helps raise funds and awareness for the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre.

TeamMONASH^TMaims to send five hundred competitors to the event, which will be held on Sunday 11 October following an impressive showing at last year's event.

Participants can compete in a variety of distances ranging from the 5km walk to the full 42.2km marathon, which will be run through Melbourne coming to an end at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The event offers competitors the opportunity to get out and enjoy the fun TeamMONASH^TM atmosphere while also helping to raise money for the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre through the fundraising challenge.

Entries for the Melbourne Marathon close on 23 September. More information can be found at www.sport.monash.edu/events

Around the Bay in a Day registrations now open!

Last year TeamMONASH^TM won the award for being the largest community team, with 430 riders and highest Education fund raiser. This year we are back aiming for 500 participants to defend our titles! Come and join us!

Rides distances cater for people of all fitness and skill levels, with shorter distances suitable for those of you that don't normally ride. With a little training and the fantastic TeamMONASH^TM support you too can be part of this great day.

Of course Around the Bay in a Day is not just about riding; the event aims to raise awareness and funding for the Smith Family - Learning for Life program, assisting approximately 680,000 disadvantaged kids living in Australia stay in the education system. Even if you don't ride show your support for the cause by sponsoring the team or an individual TeamMONASH^TM rider

If you have participated previously you may consider stepping up to a longer distance or perhaps think about a shorter ride and enjoying the atmosphere of TeamMONASH^TM on the day. Alternatively consider giving something back and join us as a TeamMONASH^TM volunteer to support the event. For further information and to register please visit www.sport.monash.edu/events

One thing is for sure this will be another great TeamMONASH^TM event.

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Discounts for staff

Wellbeing at Monash has sourced great discounts including;

- HBA health insurance
- Subway
- Dymocks
- Rebel Sport
- Ashcombe Maze
- Holidays – flights and accommodation
- Dell computers
- Acclaim Wardrobes
- Magazine subscriptions
- Lite n Easy
- Virgin Blue Lounge & Qantas Club
- Physiotherapy
- Hot Air Ballooning

Rebel Sport - 5% discount card

Wellbeing @ Monash has secured a 5% discount for Monash staff at Rebel Sport upon presentation of the Rebel Sport MVP discount card.

Collect your discount card between 10am and 3pm from Wellbeing at Monash, room S703, Menzies Building, Clayton campus or email monash.wellbeing@adm.monash.edu.au with Rebel card in the subject line AND your internal mail postal address.

Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens - 15% discount

Take the kids during the school holidays to visit Australia 's oldest and most famous traditional Hedge Maze. With more than 4000 year round flowering lavender bushes planted in avender labyrinth & display gardens. 25 acres of internationally acclaimed garden settings with over 10 garden displays with individual themes that change with every season of the year.

Special offer: Present your Monash staff ID card to obtain a 15% discount off cardholder admission prices.

www.ashcombemaze.com.au 15 Shoreham Road, Shoreham, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria 3916. Phone 5989 8387.

20% discount at Subway

Monash staff can now get 20% discount off subs and catering from the following Subway outlets, upon presentation of your staff id card (offer valid to 30/03/10):

Pinewood- 425 Blackburn Rd, Mt Waverley
Oakleigh- 1385 Dandenong Rd, Oakleigh
Brandon Park - Cnr Springvale Rd & Ferntree Gully Rd
Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre - Cnr Jacksons Rd & Police Rd
Springvale - 25 Springvale Road

Subway Moe, Trafalgar and Warragul - discount coming soon! Stay tuned for more details about these locations

Acclaim Wardrobes - free quote and movie tickets

Tired of not enough wardrobe space or the kids leaving clothes on the floor? Acclaim Wardrobes is an Australian owned company with 19 years experience in wardrobe, kitchen installation and design.

Mention you are a Monash staff member for a free quote & 2 free movie tickets with every order. Phone Rob: 9768 3448 / 0407 680 087 or email your request to acclaimwardrobes@netspace.net.au or visit www.acclaimwardrobes.com.au

Ready to book a holiday for September school holidays?

If you're looking at going on a holiday, Global Destination Management offers Monash staff a variety of discounts off services for personal use including:

- 5% off GDM holiday package rates
- Access to the online booking system
- 15% off travel insurance
- The best competitive fare of the day

Current holiday specials include Fiji, Canada, Bali, Hawaii, Phuket, LA, Bangkok and Europe. View detailed information here

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Healthy living info and news

Sleep study: Type 2 Diabetes ? Tired? Snore? Not on Insulin?

You may be eligible for this study. Find out whether you have sleep apnoea. For information call Carolyn Harris, Box Hill Diabetes Research Group ph: 8892 3602 or email carolynharris@med.monash.edu.au

Food for thought - Delicious Tortillas

Here is a delicious Chinese Chicken Tortilla receipe from Monash Sport Healthy Eating And Training (HEAT) Program consultant Trent Crockett:

Ingredients:
8 mushrooms - Cut into thin strips stem off
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 beaten eggs 1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup shredded bok choy
3 green onions, sliced 8 6-inch flour tortillas
250g skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized strips
220g can (1/3 cup) sliced bamboo shoots, drained and cut into strips

Directions:
-Place chicken strips into wok and cook until starts to turn golden brown.
-Clean Wok.
-Pre heat wok over medium heat, add eggs and tilt wok so that eggs form a thin sheet over surface, cook without stirring until set.
-Slide egg sheet ontocutting board and cut into small strips and set aside.
-Sauce - In a bowl stir together soy sauce, cornstarch and 1/3 cup water.
-Add sauce to wok, cook and stir until bubbly, add bok choy, bamboo shoots, green onions, mushrooms and egg strips, cover and cook for 1 minute.
Spoon chicken mixture with some sauce into each tortilla, roll and serve

Approximate time
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 10 minutes

Nutritional information per serving
27g protein, 29g carbohydrates,
10g Fat, 192 mg cholesterol, 349mg
sodium and 515mg potassium

A study of muscle and brain activity during walking

Human walking is a complex activity that involves the coordination of different body parts and integration of different signals by the brain. Brain control mechanisms of walking in healthy humans as well as those with gait disorders are not clearly defined.

This study will use a novel approach to investigate how initiation of walking is organised and planned by the brain in healthy humans and those suffering from walking impairments.

All testing will take place during a single session at the Kingston Centre Gait Laboratory, Cheltenham.

Participants will wear a cap used to record brain signals while they initiate walking. An electrode will also be placed on the leg to record muscle signals showing the start of movement.

The testing will take approximately two hours.

Date: Monday 29 June to Friday 28 September, 2009
Venue: Kingston Centre Gait Lab (Cheltenham)

If you are interested in taking part in this study and want further information contact Nic Blackah 9265 1370 or email nicholas.blackah@southernhealth.org.au