University of South Australia Students Association

UniLife is the peak student representative body in the UniSA. Spread across its four metropolitan campuses is the Centre for Regional Engagement, encompassing Whyalla and Mount Gambier campuses.

History

From 1 January 1991 the University of South Australia became a reality as a result of a merger between the Institute of Technology and significant elements of the South Australian College of Advanced Education. This merger necessitated the formation of a single student association that represented the needs of the then six campuses of the newly formed university. The New University Merger Discussion Group was the beginning of the UniSA Students Association. The inaugural year of the UniSA Students Association was 1994, with the Confederated Student Union, a combination of the South Australian Institute of Technology Union and the Council of South Australian College Student Organisations managing the intervening years.

tructure

The Students’ Association is a democratic organisation run by students that is responsive to student needs. The overarching policies of the Association are set by the Students’ Association Council, which comprises students elected by and from the student population. The composition of Council and its powers and responsibilities are set out in the Students’ Association’s Constitution.

The Association provides opportunities for students to become involved in the decision-making process at the central level and their local campus level through branch committees. The Association has established a number of standing committees that deal with specific areas of student concern. These standing committees include the Education Standing Committee, the Equity and Welfare Standing Committee, and the Services Standing Committee. There are also a number of departments and standing committees that have been established to facilitate student input from designated groups of students. These standing committees provide specific representation for women, postgraduates, international students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and queer students.

taff

As a large organisation spread across five campuses, the Association employs over 100 permanent, temporary, and casual staff, supporting over 80 student representatives. Representation and service delivery provided by the Association is coordinated by the central office and assisted by a range of purpose-specific departments and branch offices on each campus.

tudent Services

The Association is recognised by the University as the preferred provider of student amenities. The University collects the Student Amenities Fee (SAF) on the Association’s behalf. The Association also receives income from its commercial operations including shops, bars, cafés and cafeterias. As a non-profit organisation all income received is returned to the student members via the provision of services that encompass the full gamut of student needs.