SIFE Projects

SIFE Projects

If you want to get involved or to find out more about SIFE in Australia contact us:

E-mail : sife@sifeaustralia.org.au
Freecall : 1800 811 877 (Australia only)
Telephone : +61 8 8302 1259
Facsimile: +61 8 8302 1267

Students, Faculty and Alumni click here to join the SIFE network.

SIFE Australia Partners 2008

Page Location: Home > Get Involved > SIFE Projects

SIFE Projects

General

SIFE students work together, with the guidance of their mentor and assistance from their BAB, to:

  • devise,
  • develop,
  • deliver and
  • document

innovative community outreach projects that teach others skills for life based on their own study.

Students also discover ways to fund their projects, manage their teams, publicise their activities, network with business executives and have fun doing all of these things.  Each chapter prepares an annual report and an oral presentation with multimedia support to describe their projects and results achieved over a period of one year.  The presentations are judged by senior business executives to determine which chapter has delivered the most effective program.

Projects

The best projects are ones that meet specific needs in the community and give the participants skills that will help them to succeed in the global market economy.  Some typical projects are:

  • teaching simplified tertiary education skills, e.g., web page design, to primary school students
  • running an Australian Business Week program for high school students
  • running a Young Achievement Australia secondary school Business Skills program
  • tutoring and mentoring at-risk school students to encourage them not to drop out
  • providing service to community groups or small businesses through ‘100 hours’ programs

Funding

All SIFE activities are self-funded.  It is up to each chapter to raise the funds necessary to run their projects, to take additional members to competitions and to conduct social activities. The key is to research and develop projects that are needed in your community.  Activities that are truly valuable will attract funding through a user contribution, from government agencies, schools or businesses.

  • With your mentor’s assistance, find out if your institution gives funding to community projects.
  • Follow on from a ‘free’ project, such as writing a business plan for a small business, with a ‘fee for service’ continuing consultancy at a modest charge out rate.
  • Wash cars or organise a celebrity auction of donated humorous or practical goods and services.
  • Start a sustainable business like an on-campus franchise and reinvest the profits into projects.
  • Provide services for local small businesses such as distributing fliers, stuffing envelopes, etc.

Competition

Once a year you have the chance to showcase what you have done in front of a national audience and be judged by some of the most senior business and government leaders in Australia.  A small group of your chapter will be supported by SIFE Australia to attend but you should set your sights on having as large a group attend as possible.

  • You have the chance to celebrate your success among peers and compete for valuable prizes.
  • You can network with other students, academics and business people from across Australia.
  • You can attend a Careers Fair run by recruitment executives and discuss employment options.