Volunteer Spotlight
Lucas Raniolo
Master of Speech Pathology (2024)
Member, University of Melbourne Speech Pathology Alumni Association
"Being part of the alumni feels like a continuation of all the best parts of university: friendship, support, celebration, and learning. It has been a privilege to remain connected with this community, given that we all shared such a formative chapter. As our careers progress, it is heartwarming to know that we have a central place to return to. UMSPA helps keep those connections alive and reminds us that, despite different paths, we are all part of the same community."
Chloe Span
Master of Social Work (2023)
Member, University of Melbourne Social Work Alumni Association
"For me, being part of the alumni community means leading, mentoring, and creating opportunities for others. It involves supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge and experience, and helping people feel connected and valued. It also provides a strong sense of belonging. By fostering inclusive and supportive relationships, we strengthen not only our own professional practice but also the broader social work community."
Thi An Nguyen
Master of Women's Health (2004)
President, Vietnam North Alumni Network
"As President of the Vietnam North Alumni Network, I have the opportunity to help strengthen connections among alumni, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote collaboration across different fields. At the same time, being part of this community allows me to continue learning from others and be inspired by their achievements, ideas, and experiences. I am proud to contribute to a community that continues to create positive impacts long after graduation and maintains strong links with the University of Melbourne."
Dr Jodie Dobson
Bachelor of Dental Science (1995)
Career Mentor
"I first volunteered to be part of the mentoring program at unimelb because my dad has been such a wonderful mentor to me in my profession, and I wanted to share that passion with other young soon to be dentists. But after being in the program for a year, I soon realised what an amazing experience it is to be part of a mentoring pair, and I drew so much more from it than I ever expected to. It was natural for me to want to stay involved in the program for over 10 years now. I’m still learning from the experience."
Dr Gitika Sanghvi
Bachelor of Dental Science (2006)
Reunion Organiser
"As a proud University of Melbourne graduate, the faculty shaped not only my clinical foundations but my approach to professional life more broadly. Being part of the alumni community is a way of honouring that, and of contributing to a legacy that will support future graduates just as we were supported. My involvement — from the Melbourne Dental Student Society in my student years, to the ADA Victorian branch, to organising reunions today — has always been driven by a genuine love for this community. At this stage of my career, it also offers perspective: a chance to reflect on the profession’s evolution and to stay connected to its human side, which can be easy to lose in the day-to-day."
Dr Safinah Hambali
Bachelor of Dental Science (2012), Doctor of Dental Surgery (2016)
Reunion Organiser
"Being part of my alumni community gives me opportunities to stay connected and make new connections with past, current and future students. Networking is an important part of all professions as these connections can help you grow and be better in your own specific industry. Growing up, we always look for a sense of belonging as part of developing our identity and being a member of the alumni community becomes part of that identity you establish for yourself. Staying connected to your alumni community helps you remind yourself of where it all started and your humble beginnings. It helps you appreciate your career journey and the effort and sacrifices you have put in to get to where you are today."
Dr Sakshi Singh
Bachelor of Biomedicine (2011), Doctor of Medicine (2015), Master of Psychiatry (2023)
Career Mentor
"Medicine is built on relationships and shared learning. Some of my closest friendships and most meaningful professional relationships began during my time at the University of Melbourne. Volunteering as a mentor has been an opportunity to pay that forward: to share my experiences, support students as they navigate moments of uncertainty, and give back to a community that has given me so much. Staying connected with the faculty allows me to contribute to the next generation of clinicians while also continuing to learn from students and colleagues whose perspectives challenge and inspire me. "
Ada Castle
Master of Public Health (2019)
Career Mentor and Guest Speaker
"I was fortunate to be a mentee in one of the first Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences mentoring cohorts in 2019. I found this experience extremely helpful; connecting with an experienced mentor really helped me prepare for an exciting career in public health. I decided to give back to the program as soon as I was eligible, mentoring upcoming public health students since 2022, and speaking occasionally at Faculty and Student Association. Volunteering as a mentor strengthens my practice as a public health practitioner. I really enjoy being part of something bigger than myself and my role at work, instead staying connecting to others working in the sector across a range of roles, perspectives and careers."
Janet Farrow OAM
Bachelor of Social Work (1988)
Chair, University of Melbourne Social Work Alumni Association
"Volunteering on the University of Melbourne Social Work Alumni Association Committee has been a means of offering some of the skills and knowledge I have gained over the past decades of practice back to the profession and the University who trained and nurtured me in so many ways. It has enabled me to stay in touch with valued colleagues, former students and gain new associations with other members of the profession and beyond. It’s a privilege to be part of the university community."
Alecka Garrett
Bachelor of Biomedicine (2020), Master of Speech Pathology (2022)
President, University of Melbourne Speech Pathology Alumni Association
"The Speech Pathology Alumni are dedicated to continuing curiosity-first practice. Networking nights [hosted by the Alumni Association] support connection and deepen our understanding of speech pathology as a field with many components. Through our own connections as speech pathologists, we can best support those who need their own voice supported. I want to ensure that the next generation of speech pathology researchers and clinicians connect with that sentiment."
Xiawei (Phoebe) Ling
Bachelor of Biomedicine (Hons) (2012)
Guest Speaker
"I initially began volunteering to share my experiences in the digital health sector, in particular the transition from research to consulting. However, what inspires me to stay involved is how rewarding the experience has become on a personal level. Having participated in these events for a few years now, I have had the absolute pleasure to witness the growth of the students I have connected with."
Dr Yuen Yie Joanne Yuen Yie Ngeow
MBBS (Hons), BMedSci (2000)
Reunion Organiser
"Staying connected with my alumni cohort feels less like obligation and more like a natural extension of shared purpose. We began with common aspirations, yet our paths have since diversified, making reunions both intellectually enriching and personally grounding. They offer a rare chance to reflect on how our journeys have unfolded across disciplines, geographies, and stages of life. Being part of this community now represents continuity and perspective. It reminds me that while careers evolve, shared values and formative experiences remain constant anchors. I have stayed closely connected with both my MBBS cohort and also recently with the Melbourne University Chinese Theatre Group where I was very active. "