Postgraduate Student Rep

Hello everyone,

My term started with a meeting alongside the HDR student representatives setting the stage for collaboration and engagement. A key highlight of my term so far has been attending the USASA Board Retreat, where I had the chance to meet all of you. It was an incredible experience that allowed me to better understand my role, learn from my peers and build connections within the board.

One of the most exciting yet nerve-wracking moments for me was hosting my first Education Committee meeting. Despite my initial nerves, I believe it went very well. During the meeting, we discussed how to strategically increase the involvement of Academic Unit Board Representatives (AUBRs) and Academic Student Representatives (ASRs) in the committee’s work. The focus is to ensure that key academic concerns are effectively identified and escalated to the board through the Education Committee strengthening our advocacy efforts.

On February 24, I had the privilege of attending the International Welcome Reception. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet and engage with a diverse group of students, helping to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for our international community. I truly enjoyed having conversations with new students, sharing experiences and fostering meaningful connections.

Overall, this term has been off to a great start and I am excited for the journey ahead. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to create positive outcomes for students.

Summary of Activities

• January 13 – Attended the New Student Association Best Practice with Michael Connelly through Teams
• January 21 – HDR Student Representative Meeting with Dean of Research (Attended with Oliver)
• January 21 – One to one Meeting with Oliver
• January 29 – Attended the USASA Board Retreat Day 1
• January 30 – Attended the USASA Board Retreat Day 2
• January 30 – Attended the first USASA Board Meeting
• February 3 – Catch up with Bridget at City West Campus
• February 18 – Extra USASA Board Meeting Unification Proposal
• February 24 – Chaired the first Education Committee Meeting
• February 24 – Attended the International Student Welcome Reception

Hello everyone,

It’s been a busy and fulfilling few weeks continuing my role as the Postgraduate student representative. My focus has remained on fostering collaboration and ensuring student voices are effectively represented across committees and events.

A key highlight was chairing the second Education Committee meeting. For this meeting, I invited the Academic Unit Board Representatives (AUBRs) to join the conversation, and it was incredible to see the level of engagement and passion they brought. Several major academic concerns were raised during the session, including issues around lecturer feedback, communication gaps and student support. It was one of the most productive meetings we've had, and as a committee, we’re now working on turning those concerns into practical, student-focused solutions that can be escalated to the USASA Board. I felt proud to facilitate such a valuable space for open dialogue.

Outside of the committee, I’ve continued attending Finance Committee and Council meetings, contributing to broader university discussions that impact students. I’ve also remained engaged with USASA events on campus, including the Campus Fair, where I had the opportunity to connect with students and promote awareness of USASA’s services and representative roles.

Throughout this period, I’ve also been involved in mentoring and peer learning sessions that have helped me further develop my leadership and advocacy skills. These experiences continue to reinforce the importance of building strong relationships across student cohorts and university stakeholders.

As always, I’m excited about the work ahead and remain committed to creating positive, lasting outcomes for students.

Summary of Activities

• February 27 – Orientation volunteering at USASA at Mawson Lake campus
• February 27 – Attended Finance Committee Meeting with Haider, Sasha and Oliver
• March 4 – Attended USASA Board Meeting
• March 5 – EOI Form Generation and Attended ASR Training
• March 6 – One to One meeting with Chancellor
• March 11 – Attended Mentoring session with Michael
• March 11 – Attended UniSA Council Meeting
• March 13 – Attended Campus Fair at Mawson Lake campus
• March 20 – Attended Finance Committee Meeting
• March 24 – Chaired Education Committee Meeting

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well. I wanted to share an update on some of my recent activities both within the university and beyond. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in several important meetings and events that have not only supported my personal development but also allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the student community.

One of the key highlights was attending the Academic Board Meeting on March 28th, which was the first meeting for the year. This session laid the groundwork for the academic priorities that will guide us throughout 2025. It was a valuable opportunity to understand the strategic direction of the university.

Another significant experience was the mediation meeting with YouX on April 14th. This was a particularly challenging meeting, as despite extensive discussions and negotiations, we were unfortunately unable to reach a resolution at that time.

Outside of university commitments, I had the privilege of representing South Australia at a national level through my involvement in the Emerging Professional Committee of the Australian Computer Society (ACS). In this role, I’ve been contributing to the development of policies aimed at supporting emerging ICT professionals across Australia. Our focus is on fostering career development, enhancing digital literacy and creating opportunities for young professionals in the technology sector. It has been an exciting and fulfilling experience to participate in discussions that shape the future of our industry on a broader scale.

Additionally, I participated in media training on March 31st, which helped me build stronger communication skills particularly in handling public and media interactions. This training has equipped me with the tools to better represent student interests in various forums.

Overall, this period has been both productive and rewarding. I’ve gained valuable insights and experiences that have strengthened my ability to serve as a representative, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to both student life and the wider professional community.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to what lies ahead in the coming months.

Summary of Activities

• March 28 – Academic Board Meeting
• March 31 – Attended the Media Training
• March 31 – Attended the Draft AUSA Constitution Discussion
• April 1 – USASA Board Meeting
• April 14 – Attended the Cultural Awareness Training
• April 14 – Attended the Mediation Meeting with YouX
• April 22 – USASA Board Meeting

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. I’m excited to share an update on what has been a truly fulfilling and impactful few weeks. From governance and committee representation to cultural leadership and professional development, I’ve had the opportunity to actively contribute to both student life and institutional progress in numerous ways.

On April 24, I attended the Finance Committee Meeting. This was followed by the Education Committee Meeting on April 28, which featured an informative presentation by Franco Parrella, exploring critical updates in the academic space.

One of the key highlights during this period was attending my first Student Misconduct Committee Meeting on May 1st, as well as a Formal Inquiry Meeting on April 28th. These were invaluable learning experiences that helped me understand the university’s formal processes in ensuring fairness, integrity and accountability in student matters.

In parallel with these work, I have been leading the revival of cultural representation on campus. After weeks of planning, I successfully reclaimed, reactivated and chaired the USASA Sri Lankan Club AGM on May 9. This was not just a meeting — it was a celebration of culture, identity and student initiative. I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to the USASA Board members who joined us and stood in solidarity to make this reactivation possible. The overwhelming support reaffirmed the importance of cultural inclusivity within the UniSA student community.

A particularly new and rewarding experience was being part of the interview panel and shortlisting process for the 7091 Careers Advisor (HEO 7) position. It was both exciting and humbling to engage in professional recruitment and I appreciate the chance to contribute to staff selection in a meaningful way.

Additionally, I was involved in a series of arbitration preparation and review meetings leading up to and including two formal arbitration discussions with Mr. John Irving and YouX between May 13–16. These meetings were very challenging.

I also joined a discussion on the future of Law examinations with representatives including Haemish Middleton (May 8), which opened the door to rethinking how assessments could be improved to better reflect student needs and changing educational landscapes.

Lastly, I was fortunate to participate in a mentoring session with Mr. Michael Abbott on May 6 as part of my council member role. This was a personally enriching session that provided guidance and reflection on how to lead with purpose and maintain impact over time.

Overall, this has been a highly productive and rewarding time. Each activity has contributed to my growth as a student leader and reinforced the importance of active participation in shaping a positive university experience for all students. I look forward to continuing this work in the months ahead.

Thank you for your continued support.

Summary of Activities

• April 24 – Attended the Finance Committee Meeting
• April 28 – Attended the Education Committee Meeting and Franco Parrella provided a presentation
• April 28 – Attended a Formal Inquiry Meeting
• April 29 – Attended the USASA AGM Meeting
• April 29 – Attended the USASA Board Meeting
• May 1 – Attended a Student Misconduct Committee Meeting
• May 6 – Attended the Student Mentoring Session with Mr. Michael Abbott
• May 6 – Attended the Council Meeting
• May 6 – Attended a Shortlisting Meeting for the 7091 Careers Advisor (HEO 7) Position as Interview Panel Member
• May 7 – Attended the Meeting for Reviewing Arbitration Documents
• May 8 – Attended a Meeting with Yesh and Husan to Discuss Law Examinations with Haemish Middleton
• May 9 – Chaired the USASA Sri Lankan Club AGM
• May 12 – Participated as an Interview Panel Member to Recruit for the 7091 Careers Advisor (HEO 7) Position
• May 13 – Attended the Arbitration Preparation Meeting
• May 14 – Attended the Arbitration Meeting with Mr. John Irving (with Heidi, Bridget, Oliver, Shefali and Yesh)
• May 16 – Attended the Arbitration Meeting with Mr. John and YouX