Young Scientists of Australia
Melbourne ChapterTSSE ApplicationsHi everyone! It seems like only yesterday we said it last, but TSSE is back again! Yes, that's right, you can come back for more of TSSE, this time as a staffie! As all of those who staffed this year will be able to tell you, TSSE is definitely the most fun anyone can legally have in one week.
Hang on, what's TSSE?As you probably already know, The Siemens Science Experience (TSSE) is athree-day science school run by Universities around Australia, sponsored by Siemens. The school is for Year 9 students entering Year 10 in 2009 and is packed full of activities, experiments and presentations (and explosions?).
YSA's role in TSSE is to provide student group leaders (otherwise known as Staffies!) to act as mentors and guides for students of the school (who are affectionately termed Wiffens!). First-time staffies are never left on their own; they will be paired up with more experienced staffies. Our aim is to ensure the wiffens have a fun and safe time, and have fun ourselves in the process! Many wiffens have such a good time they end up joining YSA! (Just look at the exec — most of them were once sweet little Year 9 wiffens!) YSA also gets to run our own patented fun filled activities, including the renowned YSA Relay Quiz, and the much anticipated/feared Science Show!
When, where, how?The details for January 2009 TSSE are as follows: There are two schools run seperately, one at Monash and one at Melbourne. The week of TSSE starts on Saturday the 10th of January, with training weekend. To staff either of the schools, you must attend training. Staffie training is vitally important for both you and your wiffens. Besides, it's fun! Between training activities we have social activities (scav hunt, mini olympics, beach, swimming etc.) as a group. During training weekend, Monash and Melbourne Staffies all stay at a scout hall. We also hire a scout hall for the rest of the TSSE week, which is where most of our staffies stay for the week. The main reason for the hall is to provide a place for staffies to stay where the universities are easily accessible (especially our staffies from rural areas or non metropolitan Melbourne). There is a small cost for training weekend, around $15, and accommodation also costs around $30. For new staffies, check out the tshirt prices in Plasma, as you also need a YSA tshirt so we can distinguish you from wiffens!
In addition to the TSSE training, this year we will be following up with a day of leadership training, which is designed to be broader than TSSE training, and to give something back to our staffies, in exchange for volunteering their time to help at TSSE. There will then be Staffie Orientation Days for each of the University campuses, the day before each school starts. We will familiarise ourselves with the University campus and places where activities will be held, and do some odd jobs to get everything ready for the school the next day. We then have the actual TSSE, and the week ends on Friday the 16th of January. During the day, the school runs from about 9:00am to 3:30-4:00pm. A social event is held for the wiffens at Monash University on one night until 9:00pm (Melbourne staffies also attend this event).
In the past when applying to staff, applicants have chosen which school they will staff (i.e. either Monash or Melbourne). This year, to ensure we can provide the best level of experienced staffies at both schools, we are making this a preference system only- you can tell us the school you would rather staff, and we will endeavour to allocate you with your preferences in mind, but there is no guarantee about which school you will staff until you receive your Staffie acceptance packs early in December. However, if you have a particular reason for staffing one or the other, please state it in the application form and we'll take it into consideration.
By now you're all saying "Come on, get on with it. Tell me how I can be a staffie?!" Well, just fill out the form given below and email it to either of the people listed, or print it and send it in to the YSA Mailbox (PO Box 4456, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010).
All Staffie applications must be received by Friday November 28th. If your application is successful, you will receive an information pack early in December, with information such as which school you'll be staffing, where the scout hall is located, and costs of training weekend and accommodation.
If you or your parents have any questions or concerns about anything to do with TSSE, accomodation, or staffie training weekend, please do not hesitate to email or call our Prim Tyson at president@melbourne.ysa.org.au or 0403 024 884.
TSSE is always a blast, you will meet heaps of enthusiastic and bubbly people; and you have an opportunity to welcome in the next generation of YSA members! (TSSE is one of our best ways to get new members)
We know we'll see you all there! YSA Melbourne Executive
P.S. Have you staffed TSSE BEFORE?We are currently looking for volunteers to be our TSSE Administrators at each school. This role involves being responsible for handling the new membership forms and money and answering any questions our new members might have. You will also be responsible for ensuring that TSSE Plasma and articles are organised in plenty of time so that TSSE Plasma can be printed and handed out. If you are interested in this position please mark it on your application form.
P.P.S. ARE YOU OVER 18??All Staffies who are (or will turn) 18 during the dates of TSSE are legally required have a confirmed Working with Children Check. If you don't already have one, contact us for a form and details. The check is free, you will be sent home if you are over 18 during TSSE and do not have a WWCC.
P.P.P.S DO YOU WANT TO STAFF TSSE INTERSTATE???If you would like to Staff an interstate TSSE in Brisbane or Sydney, this year you can do it! It's an amazing opportunity to travel, meet interstate YSAers, and see how other chapters run their TSSE's Make sure you circle the appropriate place on your application form, and get it back to us ASAP (Friday 21st November at the latest). There is a limited number of places and a selection process, which focuses on how many TSSE's you've staffed, and other leadership experience.
Application Form |