The Student Advisory Council (SAC) was formed in May 2018 to provide the University of Wollongong greater ability to hear and respond to the wider student voice.
Student representation
- Student Advisory Council (SAC)
- Wollongong Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA)
- Wollongong University Postgraduate Association (WUPA)
- Academic Senate student representatives
- Faculty representation
- Other non-faculty student representation
- UOW Pulse student representation
- University Education Committee (UEC)
Student Advisory Council (SAC)
About SAC
- Terms of reference
- SAC membership & positions
- SAC activities & engagement
- SAC meeting minutes
- Find your representative
The Student Advisory Council will:
- Advise, consult and make recommendations to the University on matters affecting the academic and social wellbeing of students, including:
- The effectiveness and comprehensiveness of student service delivery;
- Teaching and learning matters of concern to students;
- Policies and procedures affecting students;
- Campus life and activities; and
- The potential uses of SSAF funds that align with the student lifecycle and priority support categories as permitted under the legislation.
- Provide an occasion for student representatives to be proactive and engage with one another to formulate common and group-specific student issues for presentation to the University.
- Provide an occasion for University representatives to respond to issues raised by student representatives or issues requiring student consultation.
| Student Advisory Council Position | Duration of term | Description | Election details |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Council - Undergraduate and Postgraduate Representatives | 2 years | University Council is the governing authority of the University. Visit the for more informationn. | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2020 |
| Academic Senate - Undergraduate & Postgraduate Representatives | 1 year | The is a peak body for advising University Council. | Undergraduate Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2020. Postgraduate Student positions currently vacant. |
| WUPA President or standing nominee | 1 year | The student body elects WUPA representatives. For more information on | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2020. |
| WUSA President or standing nominee | 1 year | The student body elects WUSA representatives. For more information on | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2020. |
| Undergraduate Representatives from each of the four faculties | 2 years | Faculty Representatives participate in faculty governance and represent students while sitting on the SAC. | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2021. |
| Postgraduate Representatives from each of the four faculties | 2 years | Faculty Representatives participate in faculty governance and represent students while sitting on the SAC. | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2021. |
| International Representative from each of the four faculties | 2 years | International student representatives seek feedback from International students and represents issues of concern while sitting on the SAC. | Student positions currently filled until 31 December 2021. |
Other non-faculty student representation
| Position | Duration of term | Description | Election details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woolyungah Student Representative | 2 years | The Student Representative from the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC) seeks feedback from Indigenous students and represents issues of concern while sitting on the SAC. | Position currently filled |
| UOW Pulse - Student Director | 2 years | One student (over 18 years of age) may be elected to the board by students. | Position currently filled |
| UOW Clubs & Societies | 2 years |
Eligibility for the Student Representative position requires the student to be a current member of a registered UOW Pulse Club or Society. |
Applications closed |
| Regional and Metropolitan Campus Representatives | 2 years | Representatives seek feedback from students at the regional and metropolitan campuses and represents issues of concern while sitting on the SAC. | Position currently filled |
| University Residences | 1 year | The Student Residence Representative is elected from a group of student residence leaders and represents issues of concern while sitting on the SAC. | Position currently vacant - Elections conducted by the Student and Accommodation Services Division |
| Persons with Disabilities | 2 years | The Student Representative will be registered with Disability Services and have a disability or health condition or be caring for a person with a disability or medical condition. The representative will seek feedback and present issues while sitting on the SAC. |
Applications closed |
| Women's Representative | 2 years | The Student Representative must be, or identify as a female and will represent issues of concern while sitting on the SAC. |
Applications closed |
| Mature Age Representative | 2 years | The Student Representative must not have been a current Year 12 school leaver when applying for admission to UOW. The Mature Aged representatives seeks feedback and presents issues while sitting on the SAC. |
Position currently filled |
| LGBTIQ+ Representative | 2 years | The Student Representative must identify as a member of the LGBTIQ+ community. The LGBTIQ+ representative seeks feedback and presents issues while sitting on the SAC. |
Applications closed |
2019 Key Agenda items
The SAC discussed a large variety of topics in 2019 and the following is a brief description of key 2019 agenda points.
- Annual Presentation to the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Group (VCAG) 2018/19. The SAC Executive presented objectives of the SAC at VCAG and provided an update on the activities of the SAC for 2019.
- Lead the push for increasing the recording of lectures via the ECHO360 project. The SAC were part of a working party for the recording of more live lectures via ECHO360 at UOW. The working group presented guiding principles of lecture recording to the Academic Senate and as a result a policy and procedures are being developed.
- Participated in the consultation of informal learning projects 2019/2020. The SAC provided feedback to Facilities Management Services regarding student infrastructure projects across campus. The SAC identified that the campus required more covered learning places and that student feedback has an impact on project funding and approval of these spaces.
- Consulted on the Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) 2019/2020 Action Plan. The SAC provided feedback on the SARC video campaign that highlights the services provided by UOW Security across campus. Part of the Action Plan was to engage with the SAC and student leaders about creating student led programs to encourage the conversation around Safe and Respectful Communities.
- Reviewed and commented on the SARC Review of 'Consent Matters'. The University currently offers the SARC Consent Matters module which is optional for students to complete. The University sought feedback from SAC as per the SARC Action Plan whether UOW should make this module compulsory.
- Reviewed and commented on the UOW 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.The University sought feedback and comment from the SAC on the draft UOW 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. SAC were able to ask questions and provided valuable feedback regarding the strategic direction of UOW with the focus on Goal 1 of the strategic plan: Empowering students for their future.
- Consultation of the Student Service @UOW strategy. The University sought feedback from the SAC regarding current UOW student service environment, the intended roadmap strategy and its impact on students.
- National Student Voice Summit. As a part of the ongoing collaboration of the Students as Partners working group, SAC representatives attend the summit. The objectives of the summit was to further develop an understanding of a partnership approach to student engagement and to explore how students can be effective partners in decision making and governance at UOW.
2018 Key Agenda items
The SAC discussed a large variety of topics in 2018 and the following is a brief description of key 2018 agenda points.
- Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC). Representatives have received SARC first responder training and have provided feedback and recommendations on the UOW SARC action plan. The SAC continues to support the efforts of the University in this initiative.
- 100th Armistice Day Commemorations. The SAC acknowledged the sacrifice made by so many others in World War One and unreservedly supported a representative initiative to send SAC members to take part in commemorations at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and locally in Wollongong. A UOW media release was also created in support of the event.
- Digital Literacies. Representatives have worked with UOW Library to provide user feedback and support on the “Manage, Use, Create” program which is a series of self-paced Moodle modules and resources designed to improve the proficiency of student’s digital capability.
- Student Services Amenities Fees (SSAF) Working Group. The SAC SSAF Working Group reviewed the student SSAF survey results and project submissions for SSAF monies, this is integral in student consultation process for SSAF. The SAC provided recommendations on all SSAF funded projects for 2019 to meet SSAF legislated requirements.
- Students as Partners (SaP) Working Group. A SaP Working Group has formed to develop a Student Partnership Agreement with the University. Working group participants have had the ability to create the wording, direction and scope of the agreement which will impact all aspects of student involvement within UOW.
Other areas of feedback and discussion have been UOW Wifi capability, accommodation services fees, Unilife membership prices, UOW support services and representative engagement.
2020 meetings
- 15 October
- 17 September meeting minutes (pdf)
- 18 August meeting minutes (pdf)
- 21 July meeting minutes (pdf)
- 19 May meeting minutes (pdf)
- 23 April meeting minutes (pdf)
- 16 March meeting minutes (pdf)
2019 meetings
- 17 October meeting minutes (pdf)
- 17 September meeting minutes (pdf)
- 13 August meeting minutes (pdf)
- 16 May meeting minutes (pdf)
- 18 April meeting minutes (pdf)
- 12 March meeting minutes (pdf)
2018 meetings
University Council Representatives
| Name | Student Representative position |
|---|---|
| Mia Watson | Undergraduate Representative |
Academic Senate Representatives
| Name | Student Representative position |
|---|---|
| Olivia Poate | Undergraduate Representative |
| Jackson Cocks | Undergraduate Representative |
| Damien Beckett | Undergraduate Representative |
| Theo Totsis | Undergraduate Representative |
| Vacant | Postgraduate Representative |
| Vacant | Postgraduate Representative |
Student Associations Representatives
| Name | Student Representative position |
|---|---|
| Alexander Hall | WUSA Representative |
| Lingzhi Kang (interim) | WUSA Representative |
Faculty Representatives
| Name | UOW faculty | Student Representative position |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Streamer | Faculty of Business and Law | Undergraduate Representative |
| Vacant | Faculty of Business and Law | International Representative |
| Theo Totsis | Faculty of Business and Law | Undergraduate Representative |
| Samuel Harrison | Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences | Undergraduate Representative |
| Vacant | Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences | Postgraduate Representative |
| Vacant | Faculty of Engineering & Information Sciences | International Representative |
| Bryce Humphries | Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health | Undergraduate Represenative |
| Catherine Stephen | Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health | Postgraduate Representative |
| Sandeep Satapathy | Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health | International Representative |
| Hannah Dews | Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities | Undergraduate Representative |
| Thi Minh Anh Nguyen | Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities | Postgraduate Representative |
| Mahime Watanabe | Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities | International Representative |
| Natasha Popcevski | Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities | Postgraduate Representative |
Campus Representatives
| Name | Campus | Student Representative position |
|---|---|---|
| Safiye Caferoglu | Sydney Business School (Sydney CBD) | Student Representative |
| Daniel Bakrdanikoski | Southern Sydney (Loftus) | Student Representative |
| Bethany Ireland | South Western Sydney (Liverpool) | Student Representative |
| Vacant | Southern Highlands (Moss Vale) | Student Representative |
| Emily Nield | Shoalhaven | Student Representative |
| Samantha Minney | Batemans Bay | Student Representative |
| Margaret Hansen | Bega | Student Representative |
| Vacant | Innovation Campus | Student Representative |
University Wide Representatives
| Name | Student Representative position |
|---|---|
| Val Sun | Women's Representative |
| Lucas Catt-Peers | LGBTIQ+ Representative |
| Keval Patel | UOW Pulse Representative |
| Vacant | Student Residences Representative |
| Ranjith Raj | Persons with Disabilities Representative |
| Kate Sharp | Mature Age Student Representative |
| Thomeissa Mason | Woolyungah Indigenous Centre |
| Vacant | Clubs and Societies Representatives |
| Skylar Alucia | Clubs and Societies Representatives |
Non-faculty Representation Positions - Student Advisory Council (SAC)
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are open for the following Non-Faculty Representative positions on the SAC:
| Position | Eligibility criteria | Closing date |
|---|---|---|
| Women's representative | Must identify as female to nominate for the position. | Applications closed |
| Persons with Disabilities representative | Must have a disability or be caring for a person with a disability and registered with Disability Services. | Applications closed |
| 2 x UOW Clubs & Societies representative | Must be current member of a registered UOW Pulse Club or Society. | Applications closed |
| LGBTIQ+ representative | Must identify as a member of the LGBTIQ+ community | Applications closed |
Eligibility
Those students, who are successful in the position, will hold the position for a period of one (1) year from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 provided they meet the eligibility criteria to hold a position as student representative on SAC and meet eligibility criteria outlined above for the positions.
SAC eligibility - Students must be currently enrolled at UOW, in a on-shore degree program. Students enrolled in a coursework degree program, are expected to be enrolled in and maintain a three quarter full-time study load per session for the duration of their term. Students in a research program, are expected to maintain a full-time status (as described by the respective enrolment requirements for the duration of their term.
Minimum attendance – In order to maintain membership in the SAC, student representatives must meet minimum attendance requirements by attending at least five (5) out of (8) normal meetings of the SAC annually, attend an Induction session to the SAC and participate in at least one leadership training session.
Key responsibilities
It is an exciting opportunity for successful student representatives to advise, consult and make recommendations to the University on matters affecting the academic and social wellbeing of students. It is an occasion for student representatives to be:
proactive and engage with one another to formulate common and group-specific student issues for presentation to the University; and
respond to issues raised by student representatives or issues requiring student consultation
Selection process
A panel that includes a senior staff member of the Student and Accommodation Services Division, current SAC Executive member and current SAC member (where possible the outgoing elected member in the position) will interview selected applicants to determine eligibility and suitability of candidates.
How to submit an EOI
Get in touch
To contact one of your representatives or to ask a question, call the Student Representation Coordinator on 0427 418 401 or 4221 5672 and via email uow-sac@uow.edu.au. In your email, please include your preferred contact details, the course you are completing and the representative area you would like to have contact you.
Alternatively, if you have feedback about UOW, please visit Feedback at UOW to lodge your enquiry.