The friendships forged from a two-week study tour to Malaysia last year prompted a QUT student to rally lecturers, colleagues, family and friends to send flood relief supplies to classrooms in affected areas.
Thousands of Malaysians were forced to leave their flooded homes in mid-December after the country's east coast suffered its worst flooding in decades, with many in dire need for blankets, clean water, food items and children unable to attend school.
QUT fourth-year Faculty of Education Early Childhood student Michelle Ward began the flood appeal after reading social media reports of the devastation.
She had visited Malaysia in September last year as part of a study tour funded under the Australian government's Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program (STMP).
Malaysia's Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Ilmu Khas (IPGKIK) in Kuala Lumpur have collaborated on cultural exchanges to raise awareness of Australian and Malaysian culture.
"It was a journey of discovery and for every step we took we were met with kindness, respect and generosity.
"Since returning to Australia, many of us have remained in regular contact with our new Malaysian friends," Ms Ward said.
Ms Ward struck up a strong friendship with Nur Ain Syafiqah, the leader of the Malaysian pre-service teachers who served as "buddies" for the QUT students.
"Ain came from one of the flooded states and schools in her area lost everything," she said.
Ms Ward arranged for 60 backpacks and 17.5kg of stationary to be air-freighted to Ms Syafiqah so it could be distributed to children in Kuala Krai, Kelantan.
"I knew there would be many family, friends, QUT colleagues who would be happy to support the appeal, it was an opportunity to give something back to the community," she said.
"I made sure to remove all the packaging as I was mindful of not sending unnecessary waste to people already dealing with a massive amount to clean and of course to fit in more stationery!
"It is a small but very genuine gesture and we hope that the donations have made a difference to some of the children who lost so much."
The next study tour is scheduled for September/October this year with a new group of pre-service teachers.
QUT Associate Professor Deborah Henderson said she was dismayed by the scale of the mid-December flooding in the eastern coastal areas in Malaysia.
She said the recent flooding in Queensland heightened awareness and empathy for others in a similar plight.
"It also got me thinking about the quite unexpected outcomes of the collaboration between our two institutions and the significance of people-to-people links in the region," she said.
"It reconfirms the very powerful forms of authentic intercultural learning that can occur through study tours."
She said the relationship also led to many IPGKIK students to pursue a bachelor's degree program for two years in Australia.
QUT Media contacts:
- Debra Nowland, QUT media officer (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 07 3138 1150 or media@qut.edu.au
- Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, after hours: 0407 585 901
