President

NUS National Conference

USASA delegates attended the NUS National Conference from December 9th to 13th. It was encouraging to see USASA representatives actively participating in the policy platform of the National Union — creating policies, debating, and voting on the direction of the NUS for the upcoming year.

New Student Association

The process of establishing the new student association is ongoing, with the Student Representation Working Group continuing to make progress in determining governance aspects outlined in the constitution.

New Board

It has been wonderful to connect with the new Board Representatives as they begin their terms and share their goals and ambitions for the year. We look forward to onboarding the new board during the retreat and continuing to shape the vision for the final year of USASA.

Summary of Activities

• 28 Nov – Mawson Lakes Club Space Tour
• 3 Dec – USASA History Almanac Meeting
• 3 Dec – Adelaide University Transitional Academic Board
• 4 Dec – NTEU UniSA Branch Committee
• 9–13 Dec – NUS National Conference
• 16 Dec – Education Committee
• 16 Dec – DEA Committee
• 16 Dec – Governance Committee
• 17 Dec – Meeting with Richard Irons
• 17 Dec – Student Representation Working Group
• 7 Jan – Catch-up with Whyalla Rep
• 13 Jan – Student Association Best Practice (Michael Connelly)
• 14 Jan – Student Representation Working Group
• 16 Jan – Catch-up with Mawson Lakes UG Rep
• 16 Jan – USASA Ball Planning Meeting
• 16 Jan – Catch-up with International Rep
• 16 Jan – Catch-up with City East UG Rep
• 16 Jan – Catch-up with Magill UG Rep
• 21 Jan – HDR Student Rep Meeting with Dean of Research
• 21 Jan – Catch-up with City West Rep
• 21 Jan – Catch-up with AUU President

Establishment of New Student Association

It was a productive month with the majority of key principles on the governance of the new student association for Adelaide University being agreed to. This marks a significant step forward, as the Board and the Student Representation Working Group now hope to shift focus onto establishing the operational aspects of the new student association. In particular, efforts are being directed at offering more structure and guidance for the new clubs model, ensuring students remain at the heart of this process.

Board Symposium & Launch of the Clubhouse

It was great to host the Board Symposium on February 12th in conjunction with the launch of the revamped Clubhouse. I was incredibly proud to officially open the space and return it to students. This has been a long-term project, advocated for by the USASA Board since 2022. It is especially rewarding to see it become a central hub for clubs at City West, just as we move into the merger phase.

O’Week

O’Week is shaping up to be an exciting time with a vibrant schedule across metro campuses. I’m looking forward to engaging directly with students at each site and will also be travelling to Whyalla in March to meet regional students and support campus activities.

Summary of Activities

• Jan 28 – Shortlisting University Interview Panel
• Jan 28 – Verse History Interview
• Jan 28 – Student Representative Working Group
• Feb 3 – Student Representative Working Group
• Feb 4 – Interview University Panel
• Feb 5 – Student Rep and Transitions Meeting
• Feb 5–6 – NUS President’s Summit
• Feb 11 – Student Presidents Meeting
• Feb 11 – Student Representative Working Group
• Feb 12 – USASA Stakeholder Symposium
• Feb 18 – Meeting with USLASA
• Feb 18 – Extra USASA Board Meeting
• Feb 19 – Catch-up with Richard Irons
• Feb 24 – USASA Pop-up City East
• Feb 24 – Education Committee Meeting
• Feb 24 – International Student Welcome

Campus Fair

I had a fantastic time attending the campus fairs at City West, Mawson Lakes, and Magill. Meeting with students and club leaders was a wonderful opportunity to hear about all the exciting projects our amazing clubs are working on this year. It also provided a platform to share updates on the progress of the new student association. My visit to Whyalla was equally valuable, where I heard firsthand the concerns of regional students regarding the future of Adelaide University.

New Student Association

The establishment of the new student association is progressing steadily, and we are approaching the final stages of defining its governance framework. We will soon transition into the operational phase, including setting up the legal entity. I’m looking forward to ensuring that this new organization delivers expanded and meaningful services for all students at Adelaide University.

Federal Budget

I was privileged to attend the Federal Budget and meet with multiple MPs and Senators. These discussions covered key advocacy points from the National Union of Students, such as lowering the age of independence for students, refining the definition of student-led organizations in the SSAF legislation, and reversing the Job-Ready Graduates package. These national conversations are crucial for better supporting university students across Australia.

Summary of Activities

• 4 March – Mount Gambier Student Rep Vacancy Chat
• 4 March – Shortlisting University Interview Panel
• 4 March – Catch-up with Rainbow Club President
• 4 March – USASA Board Meeting
• 6 March – Student Representation Working Group
• 6 March – Mount Gambier Marketing Chat
• 11 March – UniSA Council Meeting
• 11 March – Clubs Grant Assessment Meeting
• 11 March – Student Representation Working Group
• 11 March – DEA Committee Meeting
• 12 March – City West Campus Fair
• 13 March – Mawson Lakes Campus Fair
• 16 March – StudyAdelaide Holi Festival
• 18 March – Magill Campus Fair
• 19 March – UniVibe Whyalla
• 20 March – Finance Committee
• 24 March – Education Committee

Mount Gambier Visit & Student Engagement

It was fantastic to visit Mount Gambier and engage directly with students, discussing the range of services USASA offers and highlighting the significance of a strong student association. During the pop-up event, we shared pizza with attendees while generating interest in establishing a Mount Gambier student representative position. The enthusiasm from students was encouraging and demonstrated a desire for more representation and support on regional campuses.

New Student Association Progress

Progress continues steadily on establishing the new student association. Work is focused on refining the final components of the constitution, with the aim to present a draft for approval to the Adelaide University Transitional Council soon. It’s been rewarding to play a role in this foundational process, ensuring student voices remain central in the structure and values of the new entity.

Summary of Activities

• 1 April – Governance Committee
• 1 April – USASA Board Meeting
• 2 April – UniSA Multicultural Festival
• 4 April – Catch Up with Student Ombud
• 4 April – CASO Catch Up
• 8 April – Mount Gambier Trip
• 8 April – Student Representation Working Group
• 13 April – Bangladeshi Student Society AGM
• 13 April – Preparation for Mediation with USASA Reps
• 14 April – Cultural Awareness Training
• 14 April – Mediation with YouX
• 15 April – Student Representation Working Group
• 16 April – Student Appeals Committee
• 16 April – UniSA Chancellor’s Graduation Celebration
• 17 April – Catch Up with Brendan
• 22 April – Special USASA Board Meeting

Summary of Activities

• 28 April – Student Representative Working Group
• 28 April – Catch Up with Brendan Hughes
• 29 April – USASA Board Meeting / AGM
• 1 May – UniSA Governance and Nominations Committee
• 5 May – Board Members Discussion on Arbitration Documents
• 6 May – UniSA Council Meeting
• 6 May – Student Representative Working Group
• 7 May – AEOC Meeting
• 7 May – Board Review of Arbitration Documents
• 8 May – Meeting with NUS Office Berrier
• 8 May – AU Academic Board
• 9 May – USASA Sri Lankan Club AGM
• 12 May – SRC Discussion
• 12 May – University Discussion with Arbitrator
• 13 May – Catch Up with Rainbow Club President
• 13 May – Preparation for Arbitration with USASA Reps
• 14 May – Preparation for Arbitration with USASA Reps
• 14 May – USASA Meeting with Arbitrator
• 15 May – Catch Up with Student Ombudsman
• 15 May – Mount Gambier Student Rep Discussion
• 16 May – Group Arbitration Meeting

Over the past few months, a wide range of representative, governance, and student engagement activities have taken place. Key governance work included attending USASA Board meetings (27 May, 12 June) and participating in the University Student Appeals Committee (28 May), the Student and Wellbeing Committee (4 June), and the Adelaide University Transitional Academic Board (19 June). Constitutional updates and student representation structures were a strong focus, with several meetings dedicated to the USASA Constitution update, the draft Adelaide University Student Association (AUSA) Constitution, and the Student Representation Working Group across multiple dates.

In addition to formal governance, there was significant student engagement and advocacy activity. This included support and presence at student-led cultural events such as the Mehfil e Pakistan Pop-up stall (10–11 June) and the Afghani Student Society ASM (10 June). Student-focused events and panels like the SAIBT Welcome Day and USASA Pop-ups also provided opportunities for direct student interaction. Meetings with stakeholders such as NUS officers and MP Louise Miller-Frost addressed key advocacy topics, including the increase in international student visa application fees. These activities collectively reflect a strong commitment to student representation, consultation, and structural preparation for the upcoming university merger.

Summary of Activities

• 27 May – USASA Board Meeting
• 28 May – University Student Appeals Committee
• 3 June – Constitution Update & Catch-up
• 4 June – University Student & Wellbeing Committee Meeting
• 4 June – Meeting with NUS Officers
• 6 June – Student Representation Working Group
• 10 & 11 June – Mehfil e Pakistan Pop-up Stall
• 10 June – Afghani Student Society – ASM
• 10 June – Catch-up about the Draft AUSA Constitution
• 11 June – Student Representative Lead and Student Transitions AU Meeting (UniSA)
• 12 June – SAIBT Welcome Day – Discussion Panel
• 12 June – USASA Special Board Meeting
• 17 June – Preparation for Meeting with Louise Miller-Frost
• 17 June – Student Representation Working Group
• 18 June – Meeting with Louise Miller-Frost re: International Student Visa Application Fee
• 18 June – Mawson Lakes USASA Pop-up Board Rep Involvement
• 19 June – Catch Up Times with Student Ombud
• 19 June – Adelaide University Transitional Academic Board
• 20 June – Oliver/Richard Catch-up