City East Undergraduate Student Rep

Over the past month, I contributed to the USASA Board activities outside of my time overseas (10–19 January). I attended the USASA Board Retreat, where I participated in information sessions on the roles and responsibilities of Board members and got to know other representatives. During the January Board meeting, I was nominated for the Finance Committee and Academic Board, expanding my involvement in student governance.

Due to my flight back to Adelaide, I was unable to attend the Board Meeting on 18 February 2025. I submitted a leave request in advance, which was approved by the Board.

At City East Orientation, I promoted USASA while also fulfilling my responsibilities as a UniMentor, ensuring new students were aware of available support services. Additionally, I have attended the International Student Welcome Reception as a USASA Board member, introducing USASA to new international students.

Summary of Activities

• January 29–30 — Attended USASA Board Retreat to participate in information sessions on Board responsibilities and network with other representatives.
• January 30 — Attended January Board Meeting and nominated for the Finance Committee and Academic Board.
• February 18 — Took a leave of absence from the Board Meeting due to return flight to Adelaide (approved in advance).
• February 24 — Attended City East Orientation and International Student Welcome Reception.

Over the past month, I have actively contributed to the USASA Board by engaging in various activities aimed at enhancing student representation and governance. My participation has primarily focused on student outreach, financial oversight, and academic integrity processes.

I attended both City East and City West Orientations, where I promoted USASA and its services. As a UniMentor, I also provided guidance to new students, ensuring they were informed about available support services and how to navigate their university experience effectively.

In my governance role, I attended the first Finance Committee meeting of 2025, where I was appointed as the Secretary of the Committee. During the meeting, we received an update on the investment portfolio, discussing projections for the coming year and potential impacts of market volatility. The committee also reviewed financial reports, including January’s financials, and examined budget adjustments related to unexpected income sources and event expenditures. Discussions also covered the necessity of refining financial reporting practices, particularly concerning retail and non-retail income breakdowns, as well as oversight on long service leave liabilities.

Furthermore, I participated in my first Academic Integrity Formal Inquiry, where I, alongside other attending members, reviewed the case of a student flagged for an academic integrity violation. After careful deliberation, considering all available evidence from the prior interview and associated documents, we reached a fair and appropriate outcome that aligned with university policies and the principles of academic integrity.

However, since March 3, I have not been as active in USASA activities due to my full-time weekday placement commitments, which have limited my availability. This will be ongoing throughout my placement period until June; thus, aside from main meetings such as Board and committee meetings, I won’t be able to be as active.

Summary of Activities

• February 25 – Attended City West Orientation
• February 26 – Attended City East Orientation
• February 27 – Attended first Finance Committee meeting and was appointed Secretary
• February 28 – Attended first Academic Integrity Formal Inquiry
• March 20 – Attended second Finance Committee meeting

Over the past month, I was not able to actively contribute to the USASA Board due to being on placements. With the aim to finish placements one week early, I have successfully negotiated with my supervisor and the placement unit to work during the term break. Thus, aside from mandatory responsibilities, I was not able to be as active during this period.

However, some of the activities that I was able to perform were as follows:

I had the opportunity to attend Cultural Awareness Training, a full-day session that provided a meaningful opportunity to engage with underrepresented perspectives, contributing to a more inclusive and respectful learning environment. A special thank you to Tjimari Sanderson-Milera from Bookabee Australia for not only sharing their cultural knowledge but also offering profound insights into the complexities of the topic, including the historical context and lived experiences that continue to shape Aboriginal communities today.

On the same day after the training, I participated in the mediation meeting with YouX. After prolonged discussions and negotiation, we were unfortunately unable to come to a decision on disagreement points.

Lastly, I attended an In-Camera Board Meeting where we discussed the previous mediation session with YouX, our plans for the future on this matter, as well as some outstanding items in the constitution.

Overall, while I could not be as active in my USASA Board member duties, I have been very active in attending workshops related to the department I have been assigned to, as well as starting training in the Special Chemistry department after finishing my role in the Biochemistry department where I was able to operate the Biochemistry line unsupervised by week 5 of my placement. In addition to this, I also received results for my Honours project and will be starting analysis and writing of the scientific report in the following weeks.

Summary of Activities

• April 14 – Cultural Awareness Training
• April 14 – Mediation with YouX
• April 22 – USASA Board Meeting

This report covers the past two months, as I was unable to submit a report during the previous reporting cycle due to full-time placement commitments. On June 6, I successfully completed my placement and have since been offered employment by the laboratory where I have trained. Despite a demanding schedule, I remained actively involved in USASA-related responsibilities, meetings, events, and personal development opportunities wherever possible.

During this period, I attended the April Finance Committee meeting on April 24 and the USASA Board meeting on April 29. On May 20, I attended the USASA Grant meeting in my capacity as Treasurer of the Health and Wellbeing Society to present our proposal for a terrarium workshop. The aim of the event is to promote mental wellbeing and provide a creative outlet for students during stressful academic periods. I’m pleased to report that our application was successful, and we received a positive grant outcome on June 13. I also attended the May Finance Committee meeting on May 22 and the USASA Board meeting on May 27. Most recently, I participated in a formal inquiry on June 17.

In terms of student engagement and representation, I participated in the UniSA Class of 2025 Yearbook photoshoot on May 20, celebrating the student cohort spirit. I also joined students at the UniSA G’Day Mates ice skating event on June 11 at the Ice Arena, interacting with new and returning students through casual and fun interaction. On June 14, I attended the cabaret show Sugar, an opportunity provided by USASA as one of their giveaways on their Instagram page.

I continued my self-development through several workshops aimed at personal and professional growth. On May 22, I took part in the “Tell Me About Yourself” workshop, focusing on improving self-introduction and communication confidence. On June 4, I joined the “Essence of Effective Communication” workshop, which enhanced my understanding of impactful listening and expression. I also completed a two-day intensive self-development program on June 16 and 17, which helped refine my leadership style, resilience, and team collaboration skills.

In addition, I, together with Magill Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student Representatives, have contributed to the creation of the Study Wellbeing Pack—a student support initiative aimed at promoting both academic productivity and mental wellbeing during the exam period. The pack is planned to include sticky notes, tea, a study strategies card, a study break reminder card, etc. To build a stronger sense of peer support, we plan to invite student reps to submit a short message or piece of advice, which will be compiled into a small booklet included in each pack. We plan to distribute these to over 300 students and are currently working through final preparations.

Alongside my USASA involvement, I completed a comprehensive placement across both the Biochemistry and Special Chemistry departments. I was able to operate the Biochemistry line unsupervised by week five and transitioned to Special Chemistry, where I began further technical training. I have also completed the written report for my Honours project and am currently preparing for the upcoming presentation.

Although this reporting period was particularly busy due to placement and academic responsibilities, I maintained steady involvement with USASA and remained committed to student advocacy and project contributions. I now look forward to being more available and continuing my work on initiatives that benefit the student community.

Summary of Activities

• April 24 – Attendance at April Finance Committee meeting
• April 29 – Attendance at USASA Board meeting
• May 20 – UniSA Class of 2025 Yearbook photoshoot participation
• May 20 – Attendance at USASA Grant meeting
• May 22 – Self-development workshop “Tell Me About Yourself” participation
• May 22 – Attendance at May Finance Committee meeting
• May 27 – Attendance at USASA Board meeting
• June 4 – Self-development workshop “Essence of Effective Communication” participation
• June 6 – Placement completion and employment offer by the laboratory
• June 11 – Participation in UniSA G’Day Mates ice skating activity at Ice Arena
• June 14 – Attendance of the cabaret show Sugar (USASA giveaway)
• June 16 – Self-development workshop intensive – Day 1 participation
• June 17 – Self-development workshop intensive – Day 2 participation
• June 17 – Participation in formal inquiry