CQUniversity Australia Student Representative Council August – September Report

CONTENTS

Student Representative Council ........................................................................................................................ 2

Student Advocacy ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Student Clubs and Recreation ........................................................................................................................... 3

Student Participation in Sport ........................................................................................................................... 3

Australian University Games (AUG) 25 – 29 September 2017 ............................................................................... 4

Student Mentor & Leadership program ............................................................................................................. 5

PASS Program – Proposal In Development for 2018 ........................................................................................... 5

Student Leadership Conference 2017 #CQUniAspire ........................................................................................... 5

Thank you ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

Figure 1 CQUniversity Mens Touch Team at the Australian University Games, undefeated, September 2017

CQUniversity Australia Student Representative Council August – September Report

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

Student Representative Council Membership Updates

The following students have been successfully elected to the Student Representative Council:

Mr Timothy Minchin, Western Australia Region Representative

Ms Vicki Lowik, Research Higher Degrees Representative

Ms Sallyanne Caville, Wide Bay Burnett Higher Education Representative

Mr Mark Taranto, Rockhampton & Yeppoon Higher Education Representative

We also farewelled outgoing members:

Mr Luke Sondergeld, VET Representative, whose second term of office has come to an end. Luke was our

first and only VET Representative on the Student Representative Council and has been an active and

engaged member. Luke was a regional finalist in the recent 2017 Australian Leadership Excellence Awards

as nominated by the Student Representative Council office, is currently an active member on the

CQUniversity Student Participation and Retention Committee, and instigated discussions on academic peer

assistance at the 4 April 2017 Student Representative Council meeting, which has morphed into the Student

Representative Council office exploring the delivery of PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions).

Mr Abu Sayam, Research Higher Degrees Representative. Mr Sayam advised that his resignation from the

Student Representative Council was due to his research project deadline looming.

Ms Amy Plant, Western Australia Region Higher Education Representative. Ms Plant advised that her

resignation from the Student Representative Council was to allow her to focus on professional projects and

personal development.

Student Representative Council projects – August and September “You Said, We Did”

15 August 2017 Student Representative Council Meeting, where members voted on multiple proposed

amendments to update its Terms of Reference, including the inclusion of a new position to membership titled

Indigenous Representative. Members also discussed the delivery of CQUniversity’s Multi-Faith Service.

19 September 2017 Student Representative Council Meeting, where, amongst other agenda items,

members agreed to support and organise a multi-campus Salvation Army Christmas Appeal for 2017.

After nominating several students for the 2017 AIM Leadership Excellence Awards; regional finalists

associated with the Student Representative Council office included: Ms Erin Daley (Student Mentor), Mr

Jackson Hughes (CQUniversity’s overall Male Team Captain for Northern University Games), Mr Ben Brown

and Mr Luke Sondergeld (both Student Representative Council members). Mr Benjamin Brown was

ultimately successful, and deemed the Capricornia Regional Winner in the 2017 Australian Leadership

Excellence Awards.

Continued to offer Justice of the Peace services to staff and students at the Rockhampton Campuses

The Student Representative Council office team volunteered at the Rockhampton Graduation Ceremony on

24 August 2017, submitted an entry into the CQUni Creates Art Exhibition (celebrating the history and the

2017 development of the CQUniversity Mascot), attendance at the Student Experience and Governance

Division Conference 5 September 2017, supporting RUOK Day on 14 September 2017, presentations at

HEPP meetings and attendance at Rockhampton Campus Life Committee meetings.

STUDENT ADVOCACY

Student Advocacy services for Term 2 are ongoing and will be until well after the Certification of Grades date.

Term 2 statistics will be available in the next report. Student Advocacy cases this year have assisted students

facing challenges with the Same Sex Marriage Vote, and many cases to do with placement.

The Student Advocacy Officer travelled to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Campuses during Week 7 of Term

2, to provide pro-active support and build trust with students in anticipation of assessment results.

CQUniversity Australia Student Representative Council August – September Report

STUDENT CLUBS AND RECREATION

8 August, Engineering Undergraduate Society & CQU Physiotherapy Society held a free sausage sizzle

9 August, Engineering Undergraduate Society versus CQU Physiotherapy Society Dodgeball Match

13 September, Bundaberg Debating Society held guest speaker event in conjunction with Toastmasters

26 August, CC Samurai held a stall at the Rockhampton Multi-Cultural Festival, resulting in publicity

22 September, Central Highlands Ag Association (Emerald) attended Careers Forum

Agricultural Association purchased CQUniversity club polos & CQUni duffle bags using club funds.

World Congress of Chiropractic Students (Mackay) officially affiliated as a society in September

Figure 2 CC Samurai hosting a Multi-Cultural Festival Stall

Figure 3 Inter-Society Dodgeball

STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SPORT

Mr Jackson Hughes, Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science student and Male Team Captain of the

CQUniversity University Games teams for three years running, has been announced as a Commonwealth

Games Baton Bearer, after being put forward as a nominee by CQUniversity.

Ms Taryn Gollshewsky, CQUniversity Masters of Teaching student and 2017 Northern University Games Female

Team Captain, achieved a Bronze medal at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei. Gollshewsky will now focus

on the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in April 2018.

The CQUniversity Mascot, Birdy McBirdface, was booked for 9 events during August and September, with two

requests denied due to prior bookings. Events have included conferences, graduations, farewells and team

building days, as well as the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets event on the Rockhampton North Campus.

Figure 4 Taryn Gollshewsky wins Bronze at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei. Photo credit: www.uniroos.com.au

CQUniversity Australia Student Representative Council August – September Report

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY GAMES (AUG) 25 – 29 SEPTEMBER 2017

Australian University Sport celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. 43 CQUniversity students were among the

8000 students from 42 universities, who competed in 33 different sports across 30 venues for the Australian

University Games. Many of the sports required qualification from the Northern University Games, so we expect

to see numbers increase year-on-year as our sport presence continues to develop.

CQUniversity was represented in three team sports (Futsal, Football and Touch Football), along with individual

sports Athletics, Rowing, Taekwondo and Judo. CQUniversity students travelled from Tasmania, Sydney,

Melbourne, Rockhampton, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay.

Results

The CQUniversity Mens Touch Team were undefeated the entire competition, taking the Gold. This is

particularly pleasing as our Mens Touch Team have achieved Silver medals in 2015 and 2016.

Mr Bobur Abdujalilov achieved Bronze in Taekwondo, the first time CQUniversity has had representation in

this sport at this level. A Melbourne Campus student, we acknowledge the help of CQUniversity Melbourne

Campus who assisted with funding Bobor and one other Melbourne Campus student to participate.

Mr Abdul Kamara took out a Green and Gold Medal, awarded to those who are deemed to be best on field.

CQUniversity football (soccer) athlete Mr Lenny Jenkins won a sponsor prize of $5,000 off his HECS debt

for winning a Frisbee competition. Ultimate Frisbee is a competitive sport at the AUG’s, so we are proud that

our Footballer took home the prize above all other competitors.

CQUniversity mascot Birdy McBirdface took out the 2017 Mascot Challenge against 10 other mascots, with

the unexpected support of the general public chanting “Birdy” alongside students. Many families were

staying in the area for the school holidays and Birdy was popular for photos with young families.

CQUniversity finished overall inside the top 20 universities (19/42) which is a great result considering

athletes travel from many different locations and only meet before the games begin.

Figure 5 Football supporting Bronze Taekwondo Medalist

Figure 6 Mr Lenny Jenkins wins $5000 Frisbee Competition

Figure 7 Mr Abdul Kamara (Green and Gold Medal recipient)

after winning the 2017 Overall Mascot Challenge

Figure 8 CQUniversity sideline team presence

CQUniversity Australia Student Representative Council August – September Report

STUDENT MENTOR & LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Supported the Student Mentor and Leadership Program, developing leaders among the Student Mentors and

supporting student Mentees with transition to university support.

Hosted a “Colour Mania” Mentor event in Mackay on 5 August 2017

Supported “Science Rocks” school program in Bundaberg 18 August 2017.

Mentors have been recruited into the PSEIRS (Peer Support) student support program, as a key conduit

between new students and support staff/ academics within CQUniversity.

14 new Mentor interviews booked for November in preparation for 2018 Mentoring.

In discussions with Indigenous Support staff to expand the number of Indigenous students as Mentors

(currently only one)

Continued developmental support of a digital media student project to promote the Student Mentor

Program and celebrate the program’s 21st birthday.

PASS PROGRAM – PROPOSAL IN DEVELOPMENT FOR 2018

At the Student Representative Council meeting on 4 April 2017 discussions occurred on the TAFE Peer

Assistance Program and action was agreed to further develop the proposal.

After consultation with the university-wide community and support especially from the School of Health, Medical

and Applied Sciences (HMAS), it was decided that the PASS program was the preferred option and meets the

requirements of an academic assistance program. The Student Representative Council fully supports this

proposal.

The Coordinator, Student Representative Council, and Student Mentor Program Officer, have training at

University of Wollongong in November 2017 with a view to deliver and centrally manage this program in 2018.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2017 #CQUNIASPIRE

Scheduled for Tuesday 31 October to Thursday 2 November at CQUniversity Mackay, the #CQUniAspire

Conference returns to engage tomorrow’s leaders with themes relevant to CQUniversity’s values. Overarching

themes include CQUni values, Human-Centred Design and Change-Making (including both innovation and

entrepreneurship). Since the last report:

We are pleased to announce a successful application for external sponsorship of $5000 towards the

flagship activity on the first day of the conference. Dalrymple Bay Coal and CQUniversity are jointly

funding the activity, which is a project of the Rotary Australia World Community Service.

We have extended an invitation to the Australian College of Kuwait to send one student representative.

One of the confirmed internal facilitators, Ms Karena Menzie, was involved in the Impact Social

Entrepreneurship weekend at Bundaberg Campus 25-27th August 2017.

Five students are expected to receive completion certificates for the CQU Certificate of Engaged

Leadership. These students are the first to complete the program which was developed in 2016.

THANK YOU

The Student Representative Council is appreciative of the continued support of the University Executive, and

would like to acknowledge the departure of Ms Jenny Roberts, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student

Experience and Governance). Ms Roberts was integral to the establishment of the Student Representative

Council and was a champion in its ongoing success during its formative years, mentoring many of Student

Representative Council members. The Student Representative Council welcomes Ms Jo Perry, Director, Vice-

Chancellor and President’s Division and University Secretary as our new champion and acknowledges Ms

Perry’s past attendance and interest in our activities.