Wikipedia

UTS Students' Association

The University of Technology, Sydney, Students' Association is the representative body for students at the University of Technology, Sydney.[1] It is based on level 3 of building 1 at UTS. It publishes the student magazine Vertigo.[2] The association has departments which have previously worked collaboratively with the university to achieve practical outcomes for students, as well as ensuring that the university is held to account over its handling of student issues. Historically, this has resulted in numerous successful campaigns which have won rights for students in the university.

The University of Technology Sydney Students' Association (UTSSA)
MottoOur Voice. Our Way. Our SA.
InstitutionThe University of Technology Sydney
LocationLevel 3, UTS Tower Building 1, Broadway NSW 2007
Members46,328
AffiliationsNational Union of Students (NUS)
Websiteutsstudentsassociation.org.au

Executive

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The executive of the UTSSA are responsible for the day to day operation of the Association, and are elected by the students annually.[3]

2024-25 Executive

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The current executive members elected for 2024-25 are:[4]

Position Name Party Alliance Took office Term ends
President Mia Campbell Student Unity Fire Up! December 2024 December 2025
General Secretary Adam Levett National Labor Students Fire Up! December 2024 December 2025
Assistant General Secretary Januka Suraweera Student Unity Fire Up! December 2024 December 2025
Education Officer Samiha Emran National Labor Students Fire Up! December 2024 December 2025
Welfare Officer Neeve Nagle Student Unity Fire Up! December 2024 December 2025

Student Representative Council

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UTS Student Representative Council
56th Council
 
Type
Type
History
Founded1966; 58 years ago (1966)[5]
Leadership
Mia Campbell, Labor Unity
since December 2023
Adam Levett, National Labor Students
since December 2023
Structure
Seats25
  • 14 General Councillors
  • 5 Executive
  • 4 Directly Elected Office Bearers
  • 2 University Board [6]
 
Political groups
Fire Up! (24)
  •   Labor Unity (15)
  •   National Labor Students (9)

Students First (1)

Length of term
1 year
Elections
Single Transferable Vote
Last election
October 2023 [7][8]
Next election
October 2024
Website
UTSSA Student Representative Council
Constitution
Constitution of the UTS Students Association
Rules
Bylaws of the UTS Students Association

The Student Representative Council is the representative body of students at UTS. It was founded in 1966 under the NSW Institute of Technology.[9]

Role

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The role of the SRC is to represent the students at the University of Technology Sydney Meetings are held monthly, and are open to all students.[10] They are usually held on-campus and are promoted on social media pages. Important matters relating to student activism, concerns, budgets and the function of the association are raised at meetings. Motions are raised and voted upon by councillors, and are passed by a simple majority. However, a two-thirds requirement must be met to pass amendments to the constitution.[3] Office bearers for the Queer, Enviro, Disabilities and Ethno-Cultural collectives are elected annually by the SRC at the "repselect" meeting. To be eligible, a candidate must be a General Councillor. Office bearers are elected by a majority by SRC members.[10]

The UTSSA Student Council is democratically elected, with elections in the spring semester of each year.[11]

Factions

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Like most bodies representing students in Australia, the SRC is divided into factions. The factions work together in groups, in 2022 these are based on their election tickets: "Fire Up!" and "Left Action" (Labor Right, Labor Left), "Revive" (Independents, Socialist Alternative) and "Accountability" (Australian Democrats).[12][13]

Student Unity

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Student Unity, the centre-left of Labor. The group is affiliated with national Labor Right and the Australian Labor Party. They are the largest faction in 2023 and have held the Presidency three times in the last four years. Student Unity's principles centre on unionism, service provision and comprehensive advocacy.

National Labor Students (Labor Left)

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National Labor Students, the unofficial student wing of Labor Left, its pillars are Feminism, Socialism, Unionism, and Democracy.[14] The faction has a strong record on LGBTQIA+ rights and environmental action on campus. The faction contested the 2021 election under the "Fire Up!" ticket.[12] Labor Left has 5 members on council.

Composition

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The current Student Representative Council as elected for 2023-24:[12]

Name Party Alliance
Mia Campbell Labor Unity Fire Up!
Adam Levett NLS Fire Up!
Bridie O’Kelly Labor Unity Fire Up!
Alisa Hamilton NLS Fire Up!
Aylin Cihan Labor Unity Fire Up!
Jermaine Petterson Heard Labor Unity Fire Up!
Laura Currie NLS Fire Up!
Mariam Yassine Labor Unity Fire Up!
Raghav Motani Labor Unity Fire Up!
Daewah Thein NLS Fire Up!
Joseph Naffah Labor Unity Fire Up!
Adrian Lozancic Australian Democrats Students First
Matthew Murray NLS Fire Up!
Dirk Hoare Labor Unity Fire Up!
Samiha Emran NLS Fire Up!
Salma Elmubasher Unity Fire Up!
Bilvika Abburi Labor Unity Fire Up!
Januka Suraweera Labor Unity Fire Up!
Sina Afsharmehr NLS Fire Up!
Thomas Richardson Labor Unity Fire Up!
Hasim Rahman NLS Fire Up!
Neeve Nagle Labor Unity Fire Up!
Jeremy Higgins NLS Fire Up!
Peter Blair Munford Labor Unity Fire Up!
Kurt Cheng Labor Unity Fire Up!

[15]

Collectives

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Women's

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The Women's department creates a space and community for non-male identifying members of the UTS community and is affiliated with NOWSA. There is an Autonomous Space in Building 3. In 2016 they worked with the NUS Women's Officer to host the NOWSA conference for that year.[16]

Welfare

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The welfare collective is opened to all students but has in the past been asked to be the main organising body for students from low socio-economic backgrounds. The collective aims to help students by providing food and how2life workshops. These workshops have covered topics like cooking 101, renting how-to, and fair wage/your rights.[17]

Education

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The Education Collective, also known as the Education Action Group, is open to all students and is focused on campaigning around issues that affect all students on campus. This includes fighting against fee hikes and cuts to staff and for a better trimester system, more library hours, in addition to other campaigns led by the National Union of Students.[18]

Indigenous

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The Indigenous Collective is composed of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The Collective meets regularly and works alongside Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research. Founded in 2012, they run campaigns surrounding Indigenous issues and have been an active political and pastoral component of the Students' Association since their inception. Camille Smith is Indigenous Officer for 2022.[19]

Queer

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The Queer department runs campaigns for LGBTIQ students on campus and maintains a Queer Space on campus. Campaigns include anti-homophobia campaigns, student safety campaigns, Pride Week, Anti Queer Youth Homelessness campaign, Gender Neutral Bathrooms campaign and works with the Out2Party club on social events. The Queer department also works closely with the UTS Equity Department.[20]

Enviro

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Affiliated to the Australian Student Environment Network, the Enviro Collective is focused on green activism and campaigns like 'Flick my Switch' and 'Fossil Free University' as well as environmental campaigns off-campus.[21]

Disability

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The Disabilities Collective is for UTS students who identify as having a disability and/or medical condition. The group operates without a space but cooperates with many internal UTS sectors to ensure students with disabilities receive adequate support. The group also campaigns around larger abilities awareness projects.[22]

Ethno-Cultural

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The Ethnocultural Collective is composed of students from across many ethnic backgrounds, races, religions and beliefs with the aim to promote harmony and peace through fostering the diversity at UTS. The collective works to ensure representation and supportive frameworks for students experiencing or at risk of prejudice and opposes all forms of discrimination against migrants, minorities, and people of faith.[23]

International

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The International Collective is for International Students at UTS who seek networking opportunities and space to protest on issues which affect them. Campaigns include the right to access student travel concessions and fairer fee structures.[24]

Postgraduate

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The UTS Postgraduate Committee is a group of students who aim to make a positive contribution to the educational experience of Postgraduate students. There a range of initiative the Postgraduate Collective advocate, including fairer fee structures.[25]

Notable people

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  • Tanya Pilbersek was Women's Officer during her time at university.[26]
  • Matt Kean was a member of the Student Representative Council and served as SRC Executive Member for the Haymarket Campus during his time at university.

References

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  1. ^ "Students' Association". 29 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Home". UTS Vertigo.
  3. ^ a b "UTSSA Constitution" (PDF). UTS Students Association.
  4. ^ "2023 UTSSA Elections – Declaration of Results" (PDF). 2023.
  5. ^ "Celebrating over 50 years of advocacy". UTS Students Association. UTSSA.
  6. ^ "Constitution of the UTS Students Association" (PDF). UTS Students Association. UTS Students Association.
  7. ^ "Election Notice" (PDF). UTS Students Association. UTS Students Association.
  8. ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). UTS Students Association. UTS Students Association.
  9. ^ "Celebrating over 50 years of advocacy and action". UTS Students' Association. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Speaking up for every student". UTS Students' Association. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Our student reps are here to make uni life better. Want to get involved?". UTS Students' Association. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Student Election Final Results". UTS Students' Association.
  13. ^ "'Unprecedented, undemocratic': UTSSA ousts Education Officer". Honi Soit. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Volume 6: Autonomy by UTS Vertigo". issuu.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 UTSSA Elections Declaration of Results" (PDF). UTSSA. UTS Students Association.
  16. ^ "Women's Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  17. ^ "Welfare Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  18. ^ "Education Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  19. ^ "Indigenous Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  20. ^ "Queer Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  21. ^ "Enviro Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  22. ^ "Disabilities Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  23. ^ "Ethnocultural Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  24. ^ "International Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  25. ^ "Postgraduate Collective". UTS Students' Association.
  26. ^ "Plibersek speaks out about uni rape threat". ABC News. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
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