Melbourne Plus

Develop your skills and networks, and be recognised with digital credentials.
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About Melbourne Plus

Melbourne Plus is the University’s co-curricular recognition program that helps you find opportunities to build your skills and grants you recognition with verified digital credentials.

Participating in Melbourne Plus opportunities strengthens your employability and builds your life skills. Plus you get to explore your interests and meet like-minded people.

The Melbourne Plus logo

How it works

To participate in Melbourne Plus and develop your capabilities, follow the five steps below:

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1. Discover

Find eligible activities in the Melbourne Plus Catalogue. Each activity is matched to a digital credential.

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2. Participate

Then you just do it! While you are doing it, think about the skills you are building.

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3. Reflect

When you’ve successfully completed the activity, reflect on what you’ve learned. This is your key to Melbourne Plus recognition!

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4. Achieve

Congratulations – you've joined in, built your skills and completed your reflection. You've earned your Melbourne Plus digital credential!

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5. Share

Don’t keep success all to yourself! Show off your digital credential on your socials and your resume.

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6. Repeat

Repeat the process and earn all five credentials: People leadership, Community engagement, Innovation, Global citizenship, and Sustainability advocacy.

Video: Learn more about Melbourne Plus digital credentials

Melbourne Plus capabilities

Melbourne Plus acknowledges five distinct capabilities with digital credentials. You can receive up to five credentials – one for each capability.

Submit a non-catalogue activity

Are you a student who has completed a non-catalogue activity? Submit the details to Melbourne Plus and if it is successful, you can submit your reflection to get recognised.

Students: Submit your non-catalogue activity

Are you a staff member who has a non-credit activity for students? You can submit it to Melbourne Plus and we will contact you about recognition.

Staff: Submit your activity

Frequently asked questions

  • It all depends on the activity! Melbourne Plus spans a broad range of activities that start and finish at different times of the year. Explore availability of activities by browsing the Catalogue.

  • The activity organiser will ensure you are invited to your Melbourne Plus LMS Community. If you haven’t received your invitation within two weeks of completing your activity, you can submit an enquiry via the Melbourne Plus enquiry form.

  • There are five credentials to earn, one for each capability, and you can participate in as many activities as you like. Each credential is designed to recognise the broad and complementary skills you develop through each activity.

  • Both! You can be recognised for paid or unpaid activities, across Australia or internationally.

  • Yes, absolutely! If you believe you have developed one of the four Melbourne Plus capabilities in a student club role, you can tell Melbourne Plus about it via the "Submit your own activity" link above. If it is successful, you can submit your reflection to get recognised.

  • You may be able to! If you believe you have developed one of the four Melbourne Plus capabilities in an activity outside the University, you can tell Melbourne Plus about it via the "Submit your own activity" link above. If it is successful, you can submit your reflection to get recognised.

  • You may be able to! Ask the staff member who organised the activity to find out more about Melbourne Plus on this website.

Get in touch

If you have a question about Melbourne Plus not covered here, please contact us below.

Submit an enquiry

People Leadership

As a People Leader, you will be able to lead and build relationships with others, motivate them to do their best and make sure they feel supported.

Activities that can help you develop your People Leadership capability may involve:

  • Developing your interpersonal and group facilitation skills as a mentor or ambassador
  • Motivating and supporting others through leadership positions in project teams or student clubs
  • Learning and practising new skills related to project management
  • Working collaboratively with students and staff to build consensus, establish initiatives and help others to grow.

“One of the most significant aspects of my leadership development has been the cultivation of effective communication and collaboration skills. My experience with GHYC has taught me the power of teamwork and the importance of building strong relationships to achieve common goals.”

— Je Min Suh, Global Health Youth Connect (GHYC)

Search the activity catalogue for People Leadership

Community Engagement

As a Community Engager you will be able to connect with and support others to have a positive impact and improve services or circumstances.Four young people engage in an outdoor discussion.

Activities that can help you develop your Community Engagement capability may involve:

  • Ensuring the student/community voice is heard in key program developments
  • Collaborating with others to develop and deliver workshops within a community
  • Engaging with communities to hear their voice, identify their needs, and co-design possible solutions with them
  • Developing effective communication skills to articulate idea and foster relationships for impactful change

"Engagement with new students helped me improve my confidence and ability to speak in a large group setting. I believe I created a warm and welcoming atmosphere and students were able to voice their opinions and we had meaningful chats."

— CC Qu, UMSU Host

Search the activity catalogue for Community Engagement

Innovation

As an Innovator you will be able to create new or unique solutions, recognise new patterns and make the most of opportunities.Two people collaborate, one writing on a wall with colorful notes.

Activities that can help you develop your Innovation capability may involve:

  1. Developing confidence in creative thinking; perhaps by approaching personal challenges in a creative or unique way
  2. Practising, refining and delivering a pitch
  3. Honing your problem-solving abilities, and gaining real-world problem-solving experience with industry partners
  4. Meeting inspiring experts, mentors, and networking with like-minded entrepreneurs-to-be

"I learnt the significance of approaching challenges with an innovative mindset and being open to exploring different ideas and resources. This program challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and take on new responsibilities. I improved my research and analytical skills and built a strong foundation for future projects."

— Carmen Xin Yi Koh, Global Victoria Intellect Program (GVIP)

Search the activity catalogue for Innovation

Sustainability Advocacy

As a Sustainability Advocate you will be able to support initiatives that further the UN Sustainability Development Goals around environment, social and educational issues and empower others to make a difference.Two people talk at a table with a laptop and plants.

Activities that can help you develop your Sustainability Advocacy capability may involve:

  • Contributing to local sustainability initiatives that have immediate impact
  • Learning more about environmental management and behaviour change techniques
  • Gaining skills in promotion, education and engagement
  • Advocating for social and educational change by contributing to initiatives that seek to improve quality of life

"This opportunity helped me build a vision of how to create change that is holistic and aligns with environmental but also social and cultural needs. This experience has been significant in shifting my perspective on change making."

— Finnian Gregg-Rowan, Wattle Fellowship

Search the activity catalogue for Sustainability Advocacy

Global Citizenship

As a Global Citizen, you will be able to adapt your thinking to your global environment, understand the value of cultural difference and demonstrate the capacity to work across cultural and social contexts.Four people work together at a table with a globe.

Activities that can help you develop your Global Citizenship capability may involve:

  • Travelling overseas for work experience or a global learning program and engaging in activities upon return
  • Undertaking a non-credit intercultural experience program online, locally, in a remote or regional area
  • Participating actively in a mentoring program, networking opportunity or student club that connects you to others with diverse professional, cultural and personal backgrounds
  • Developing a second language or supporting others to develop a second language

"Being a global citizen isn’t about where you’re from. It’s about being curious, being open and being willing to learn from people who are different from you."

— Chi Tang, Global Exchange student

Search the activity catalogue for Global Citizenship

Melbourne Plus Award

Melbourne Plus Award recipients demonstrate sustained excellence and commitment to community across all five capabilities while making meaningful impacts in each area. They build skills in Sustainability Advocacy, People Leadership, Community Engagement, Innovation, and Global Citizenship – then complete a final activity that puts these capabilities into practice to achieve the Award. Showcase your achievements and commitment to personal and professional growth to your network and potential employers. PLUS, attend the official Melbourne Plus Awards ceremony with other high achieving students.

Game plan to achieving the Melbourne Plus Award:

  • Get the set: Sustainability Advocacy, People Leadership, Community Engagement, Innovation, and Global Citizenship.
  • Choose your final challenge: Complete a final activity in which you put your five new capabilities into practice and share how Melbourne Plus transformed your skills and university experience across all five areas.
  • Receive your credential: Reflect on your final activity and receive your Melbourne Plus Award as a digital credential and certificate.
  • Share your win on LinkedIn: Let your network know you've unlocked this achievement and tag #MelbournePlusAward.
  • Attend the awards ceremony: The victory lap. Collect your award and celebrate with your fellow Melbourne Plus Award recipients!