Dear Supporters,

We hope this message finds you well. We are thrilled to share an update on our recent Qigong & Petition Awareness event, which took place on Monday, August 21st, in front of the RMIT Bundoora Campus library.

Our Chinese Medicine Students from all year levels had come together for a memorable day of unity, relaxation, and advocacy!

Here's a recap of the highlights:

Qigong Session Led by Belinda: Our Qigong instructor, Belinda, who is not only a dedicated Taichi teacher but also a first-year Bachelor of Chinese Medicine student, generously volunteered her time and expertise to lead a rejuvenating Qigong session. For those who are not familiar, Qigong is an ancient practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, aims to harmonise energy within the body, mind, and spirit, promoting health and well-being. It was truly a moment of serenity and self-care for our TCM students, the session not only rejuvenated our minds but also served as a valuable opportunity for us to relax and connect with fellow students amid the demands of our studies and clinical placements.

Petition Awareness Efforts: We didn't just gather to practice Qigong; we also seized the opportunity to raise awareness about our petition! Our passionate Chinese Medicine students distributed our new poster flyers designed by our talented TCM student, Dokato. These flyers served as a visual representation of our cause and helped spread the word to other students on campus. Dokato's dedication didn't stop at designing flyers; she also baked a cake for everyone! Her creativity and generosity had added a sweet touch to our day!

Community Building: Following the Qigong and Petition Awareness session, we all gathered in the cafeteria to update and discuss our game plan. It was heart-warming to see students from different year levels come together, setting aside their busy schedules to advocate for the preservation of the Chinese Medicine program. Although many of us were meeting in person for the first time, we instantly felt like a close-knit family. Instead of weakening our determination, the school's decision to discontinue the program has forged an even stronger bond among us!

Overwhelming Support: Over the past two weeks, we have overwhelmed by the support we've received from the TCM community, across states even nation. We are defending one of the last two dedicated, government-funded TCM degree programs in Australia, and your support means the world to us. We are immensely grateful to everyone who has signed the petition, shared the petition links to their friends/family and taken the time to write comments. Please know that we read every single comment, and they provide us with the strength to keep fighting for our program.

We are determined to keep the momentum going in our battle to save the Chinese Medicine program at RMIT. Your unwavering support has shown us that we are not alone in this endeavour, and together, we can make a difference.

Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to work tirelessly toward our shared goal. 

Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

CMSA (Chinese Medicine Student Association), RMIT