Growing up in Hungary, later moving to the United Kingdom, and now studying abroad at Monash University has taught me that global mobility is not only about opportunity, but also responsibility. In Australia, sustainability became something far more connected to culture, people, and the relationship humans have with the land they live on.
One of the most valuable parts of my exchange experience has been learning about Indigenous Australian perspectives and understanding how colonisation affected both communities and ecosystems. I began to understand that sustainability is not only about protecting nature, but also about protecting the cultural knowledge that teaches people how to live alongside it responsibly.
This understanding deepened during an Indigenous Innovation workshop organised by Monash Generator called ImpactHack. Throughout the event, student teams solved real-world issues under time pressure. My Team developed a prototype application focused on environmental awareness through Indigenous storytelling and Elder-led education. The idea behind the project was to encourage younger generations to understand how Indigenous communities cared for the environment before colonisation, while also promoting respect towards Elders and traditional knowledge. Participating in this workshop changed the way I think about innovation, particularly regarding SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Outside of university, I also started making more conscious choices in my daily life. Instead of relying on cars, I mainly use Melbourne’s public transport system and walk whenever possible because I want to minimise unnecessary emissions during my placement. I also adapted to Australia’s selective waste collection system and actively encourage my peers to recycle and think more critically about consumption and waste.
My exchange experience also encouraged me to support local wildlife conservation initiatives. I visited and donated to places such as Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island Nature Parks, where animals live within protected natural environments rather than traditional zoo settings.
Beyond environmental sustainability, I became increasingly interested in cultural sustainability as well. After attending a Hungarian Folk Festival in Melbourne, I connected with a nonprofit cultural organisation and offered my support to help expand community engagement and preserve traditions for future generations. I also hope to support the organisation with community-focused long-term sustainable strategies, inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This experience showed me that sustainability is not only about protecting the environment, but also about protecting identities, languages, and cultural heritage within global communities.
Studying abroad transformed the way I understand travel. I no longer see mobility simply as moving between countries, but as a responsibility to respect, protect, and improve the communities and environments around me. By actively sharing these experiences through online reflections and discussions, I hope to encourage other international students, both in Melbourne and at my home university, to make more conscious and sustainable travel choices.
Useful Resources:
Fono Hungarian Dance Club: https://www.facebook.com/ExploreLifewithIzzy/posts/pfbid02x4dSJMn4uU4ywsQV4LSzodGBxeUYEd4otghqcy7ioFBRj3iVCiGtTKbarABaySZLl
Monash Generator (ImpactHack): https://www.monash.edu/entrepreneurship/home
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park: https://moonlitsanctuary.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoqiutwHh1qbAZudXDB9lQY48CDwRmKZBd8FRU08LiyMpv093UHT
My LinkedIn reflection on Indigenous Innovation and sustainability at Monash University: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iza-iza_last-thursday-i-had-the-opportunity-to-participate-activity-7441318857836965888-snHk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADOiQFQBNmRkmYxqCJD_xDv3DgHGptu69As
Phillip Island Nature Parks: https://www.penguins.org.au/
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
