Exchange students driving positive change at BSL

Every year, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) gets a welcome burst of energy from an unexpected place: Worcester, Massachusetts.

Through the Melbourne Project Center, students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) travel across the world to work alongside our teams, bringing fresh ideas, curiosity, and a genuine desire to make a difference.

What started as a partnership has grown into a meaningful exchange of knowledge, values, and community spirit.
   

A partnership built on shared purpose

BSL’s long-standing relationship with WPI has been shaped by the dedication of Professor Stephen McCauley, Professor Lorraine Higgins, and their colleagues, who guide students through their international learning experience. The collaboration is also strengthened by Jonathan Chee from Banksia Gardens Community Services - another trusted BSL partner - who helps connect community needs with student expertise.

Within BSL, staff like Courtney Green from the Youth and Adult Transitions team, along with Joe Howie and Libby Carr, play a huge role in supporting students. Their mentorship ensures each student arrives prepared, confident, and ready to contribute.

Matching skills to real-world impact

WPI students are carefully matched to projects that align with their interests and strengths. This thoughtful approach has been key to the success of the partnership. Students gain hands-on experience tackling real issues, while BSL benefits from their creativity, technical skills, and fresh perspectives.

This year, students Ian, Maria, Thea, and Nicole have joined the BSL futures team to support projects such as youth transitions group facilitation, digital media support, and developing online engagement strategies for sector capacity building. Their enthusiasm and professionalism have already made a strong impression.

A legacy of projects that make a difference

Over the years, WPI students have contributed to a wide range of initiatives across BSL, including:

• Combating youth unemployment: developing an Australian work readiness tool
• Developing a training kitchen and social enterprise initiative
• A youth platform for work transition
• Platform for youth voices
• A business plan to tackle poverty: the Thrive Hub

Each project leaves something lasting behind - new tools, new insights, or new ways of thinking that continue to shape our work long after the students return home.

More than a project: a two-way exchange

This partnership shows what’s possible when academic institutions and community organisations come together with a shared commitment to social justice. BSL brings deep knowledge of local needs, while WPI students bring technical expertise and innovative thinking. Together, they create solutions that are practical, thoughtful, and grounded in community experience.

And the impact doesn’t stop in Melbourne. Students and faculty take home the values they encounter at BSL - including our advantaged thinking approach - helping spread these ideas across borders and into future careers.

Looking ahead

BSL is proud of this cross-continental collaboration and excited for what’s ahead. If the past is anything to go by, future WPI students will continue to bring the same creativity, dedication, and heart that have made this partnership so special.