Global health advocacy workshop

On 2 and 3 May, three senior students from Wesley’s Glen Waverley campus accepted a special invitation from Allesandro and Giuseppe Demaio (both former Wesley students) to participate in a global health advocacy workshop at Melbourne University. This special event was organised by the Demaio brothers and their organisation, NCDFree (Non-Communicable Disease Free), with the purpose of gathering bright young minds, across health, innovation, design, economics and public policy.

Over two days Sam, Rebekah and Jia from Wesley College, pictured above with Allesandro Demaio (on right), participated in a range of activities learning about and promoting various health related issues. The workshop featured inspiring presentations and panel discussions by industry leaders creating social change, and culminated in a creative pitch from the students, with their own ideas to advocate health issues.

Among the panel of industry experts were Professor Rob Moodie a member of the World Health Organization’s Expert Panel on Health Promotion, Nicks Watts who is Head of Projects at the University College London-Lancet Commission on Policy Responses to Climate Change, and Simon Griffiths who is a social entrepreneur and founder of not-for-profit ventures.

Jia, Rebekah and Sam thank the Demaio brothers for the opportunity to be involved in an exciting and inspirational event. They look forward to remaining in contact with NCDFree and becoming their own agents of social change in the future.