Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) represents the rights and interests of Flinders University students. As an independent body, FUSA is governed by an elected Student Council which directs the priorities of FUSA each year with the support of dedicated staff. We provide a welcoming and lively student experience that focuses on campus culture, giving support to students in need, and facilitating opportunities for students to be a part of the wider University community.
Purpose:
• Promote and advance the rights, interests and welfare of students.
• Represent students within and outside the University.
• Coordinate and support activities for students, including support for affiliated clubs.
• Provide the means for effective communication between students, FUSA and the University.
• Oversee the delivery of our student services, which are funded from the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Services:
• Student representation, including in central University bodies and across Colleges.
• Academic advocacy, financial counselling and welfare services.
• Administration of student clubs.
• Events and activities on campus and online.
• Student led media and communication, including the student magazine, Empire Times.
FUSA Staff 2024
Manager, Flinders University
Student Association
Ben Smith
Administration Assistants
Sally Duckworth
Joanna Newbery
Ishana Somers
Heidi Monkman
Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships
Kate Walsh
Student Representation
Support Coordinator
Fletcher O’Leary
Student Representation Support Officer
Liwen Seto
Senior Coordinator Programming and Communications
Caleb Osborne
Media and Communications Coordinator
Steph Walker
Media Officer
Chloe Phillips
Media Assistant
Lavita Dodd
Chelsea Hammer
Programs and Events Officer
Alexandra Mibus
Angela Vlachos
Student Liaison and Activation Officer, City Campus
Jessie Lumb
Program Coordinator, Clubs and Student Communities
David Hopkins
Clubs Assistant
Catherine Frances
Financial Counsellor
Stacy White
Student Advocacy Officer
Ally Drew
Ryan Colsey
Christine Bennetts Gibson
Amy Butler
Financials
FUSA Budget and Spending 2024
The majority of funding FUSA receives is from the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The only exceptions are Student Council Honorariums which are funded by the University, and a small amount of income from events such as the FUSA Uni Ball which goes to offset the costs of the event. The SSAF is a compulsory fee charged by the University which supports non-academic services and amenities for Flinders students. Student consultation takes place when considering how the income will be used to provide or enhance these services and amenities.
Every year, we submit a funding proposal to the SSAF Budget Advisory Committee which provides a recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor regarding how the SSAF income should be allocated across the University.
The funding proposal is prepared in consultation with Student Council and FUSA staff. Student Council then approve the final funding request and budget.
SSAF funds are required to be spent for students in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and unspent funds for the year are returned to the University’s SSAF holding account to also be disbursed for students.
FUSA Budget and Spending 2024
Administration and Service Desk
$405,290
Salaries, operational costs, and support for initiatives that enhance student experience.
Student Representation and Development
$344,879
Development Grants, support for student academic representation and voice across all colleges and support for the functions of Student Council.
Orientation (Semester 1 and 2)
$195,000
A wide range of student focussed events and activities to create a vibrant atmosphere and welcoming experience across Flinders Campuses.
Student Advocacy and Welfare
$516,453
Independent and confidential academic advocacy, financial counselling, emergency financial assistance and welfare support to students.
Events and Campaigns
$687,088
FUSA and Student Council events, promotion and marketing, including website and social media presence, production of Empire Times, Student Diary, and student focussed campaigns such as Be A Better Human.
Empire Times
$62,000
The student magazine, with three elected student editors.
Student Clubs and Associations
$327,887
Funding for non-sporting student clubs and societies, including social and international clubs.
Student Council $74,000
Funds for individual Office bearers to pursue projects relevant to the platforms they are elected on, and for their professional development.
Notes:
The most significant variations from the budget for 2024 were the following:
• Additional funds to activations for the new Flinders City Campus.
• Additional spending on Emergency Financial Assistance for students experiencing cost of living distress.
• Additional funds to renovation of tired spaces managed by FUSA including the reception waiting room.
• An increase in Development Grants
These variations were largely funded by savings in other projects.
Ben Smith Manager Student Engagement
Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF) funding 2024
Student Representation
Student representation is at the heart of how students shape their experience at Flinders University. The FUSA Student Representation team, - Kate Walsh (Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships), Fletcher O’Leary (Student Representation Support Coordinator), and supported by Liwen Seto (Student Representation Support Officer), leads a wide range of initiatives that embed student voice and foster meaningful partnerships between students and staff. Together, we work to grow a strong culture of student leadership, engagement, and advocacy across all areas of the University.
2024 was another busy and rewarding year for the team. Here are a few highlights from our year:
Student Academic Representation
The Student Representation team at FUSA proudly manages the Student Academic Representation (SAR) program, which plays a vital role in amplifying the student voice at Flinders University. In 2024, the program continued to grow in both reach and impact.
FUSA administered the registration, training, and ongoing support for 241 new Course and Topic Representatives (joining 167 existing Course and Topic reps), ensuring they were well-equipped to represent their peers and contribute meaningfully to the academic experience. In additions, 63 student members participating on University and College Committees receives tailored inductions and ongoing support throughout the year.
The strong engagement in 2024 reflects the value of the SAR program as a key avenue for partnership between students and staff in shaping learning and teaching at Flinders.
Figure 1. Student academic representatives supported by the Student Representation Team in 2024
Elections
FUSA held our annual elections in October 2024, following the opening of nominations in September. This year saw strong interest from students, with 79 nominations submitted (74 candidates after withdrawals), and every position aside from the First Nations Student Officer was contested.
A key highlight of the election season was the Presidential Debate which drew strong participation and engagement. Moderated by A/Prof Rob Mainwaring alongside student leaders from the Social Debating Society and the Politics and International Relations Association, the debate offered students the chance to hear directly from presidential candidates on issues that matter to them.
For the first time, physical polling booths were set up across all metropolitan campuses throughout the voting period. Engagement at the new City Campus polling place exceeded expectations, with students turning out in high numbers.
The FUSA Media team played an important role in driving awareness, delivering a creative social media campaign that blended key voting information with pop culture references (featuring nods to Moo Deng and Chappell Roan) to connect with students in a fun and relatable way.
Overall, student engagement around elections was strong, with voter turnout steady at 7.1%.
Full election Results can be found on page 16.
Academic Advocacy and Financial Counselling
Overview
The Advocacy and Welfare team provides independent, free, and confidential advocacy services to all enrolled students at Flinders University who are experiencing academic, administrative, financial, or welfare difficulties. The team is a service provided by FUSA.
Staffing
In 2024, the team included Acting Team Leader/Advocate Christine Bennetts Gibson, Advocates Ally Drew, Amy Butler and Ryan Colsey, and Financial Counsellor Stacy White.
Case Management
In 2024, we saw a significant increase in individual case numbers for academic advocacy and financial counselling, with 1,136 cases, up 25% from 916 in 2023. Each case can present multiple issues, and in 2024, we supported 984 students with 1,313 issues across 3,098 episodes of service. Our team continued to provide services in-person, via phone, or Microsoft Teams according to student preference.
As per the previous year, we continued to see a rise in the amount of academic integrity cases related to Artificial Intelligence. Many of these cases highlighted the ongoing uncertainty for students around acceptable AI use in the learning environment. We also advocated for several groups of students facing widespread changes to their degree programs, many of whom were deeply concerned about the potential disadvantages these changes could bring.
Casework Examples
• Numerous students reported concerns with a topic – advocates facilitated a listening session with a senior academic lead in the College, allowing these students to express their concerns and negotiate solutions.
• A resolution was achieved in favour of the student of a longstanding complex academic integrity case. This was escalated by advocates due to concerns with procedures in investigating and inconsistencies in outcomes for students involved.
• Support of an offshore International student with highly complex issues (denial of his degree, health issues preventing his return to Australia, inconsistent information from the College re rationale for final grade).
An Advocate assisted the student throughout the lengthy review and appeal process resulting in a positive outcome (student was awarded his degree).
Policy Reviews
The Advocacy and Welfare team undertook significant work last year in relation to the review of key University policies and associated procedures (Assessment Policy, Student Progress Policy and Course Simplification Policy). This work involved targeted consultation with student representatives, benchmarking of relevant policies at other Universities, research and analysis of essential themes, and the provision of recommendations to the review teams. Our work on these submissions highlighted the broader
responsibility of student advocatesbeyond individual casework into areas where we are able to meaningfully improve the student experience.
Academic Advocacy
Of the 778 academic issues, the most common were:
Academic Integrity (197 cases)
Review of Grade (155 cases)
Remission of Fees (92 cases)
Financial Issues
Of the 613 financial issues, the most common were:
Emergency Financial Assistance (278 cases)
Financial Support Grant (80 cases)
Financial Counselling (73 cases)
Grants and Emergency Financial Assistance
Financial Support Grants: The total amount of funding available for grants in 2024 was $36,500. The maximum grant amount approved was $500, provided to 73 successful applicants.
Emergency Financial Assistance: Our EFA program provided 513 allocations of EFA to 278 students in financial hardship, to the total value of $49,775. Support offered ranged from $15 Metrocards to providing hardship bundles of up to $210 (comprising of Grocery Voucher, Petrol Voucher and Foodbank parcel). The majority of students received a $75 grocery voucher, however, the level of support offered varied based on assessment of the extent of each individual’s hardship.
Partnerships and Additional Support
In 2024, we continued our partnership with Anglicare SA, who administered our Emergency Financial Assistance program during the University Christmas Closure period. We also partnered with the Australian Tax Office, with volunteers on campus to assist eligible students in submitting their tax returns. In addition to this we also had a representative from Flinders Living available at FUSA on a weekly basis.
Case Data 2024
Cases
Cases By Study Level (N=984)
Clubs & Student Communities
FUSA’s Clubs and Student Communities program remained strong in 2024 thanks to our passionate volunteer community. More than 400 executive and hundreds of general committee members volunteer their time every year toward engaging the Flinders student community. They make an enormous contribution to campus culture, creating much of the colour, vibrancy and energy associated with Flinders. These volunteers contribute to the planning and execution of a wide variety of student-driven events including balls, competitions, academic presentations and workshops, cultural and spiritual activities, excursions, sport and recreational activities, performances, awareness campaigns, environmental and charitable projects, and much more.
Of particular note, this year the Flinders University Speleological Society (FUSSI) celebrated its 50th anniversary, an incredible milestone for one of Flinders University’s longest running clubs. Since 1974, FUSSI has been exploring some of Australia’s most incredible caves, from the limestone tunnels of Naracoorte to the wild depths of the Flinders Ranges. FUSSI has built a tight knit community of adventurers who support and learn from one another. Over the decades, members have passed down skills, stories, and a love for the underground world. It’s a great reminder that while students come and go, the memories and connections made through clubs can last well beyond university.
Clubs Events
Since 1st January 2024 affiliated clubs have registered 998 events and activities with FUSA. These range from balls, pub crawls and theatre performances, to academic workshops, study sessions, quiz nights, and dinners. This figure is a demonstration of growth from the previous 12-month period. Moreover, it represents the most
active clubs have been at Flinders since 2020 when the program was heavily hit by the impacts of the Covid pandemic and surpasses the previous peak in activity from 2018. This year, clubs were the most active they have been at Flinders since the founding of FUSA and the current iteration of the clubs program in 2014.
Semester 1 & 2 Orientation
Clubs actively participated in the University’s Orientation activities this year. Orientation represents an excellent opportunity for clubs to directly engage with large numbers of commencing students where they can recruit new members, promote their events, and contribute to the festivities.
Semester 1 O’Week activations were held across Monday 19, Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 February. Seventy-four clubs attended FUSA’s O’Week stall days at the Bedford Park Campus. Fifty-six of these were FUSA affiliated clubs, 13 were affiliated with Flinders Sport & Fitness, and 5 were groups operating on campus working towards affiliation. Additionally, 6 clubs attended the FUSA activation at Tonsley campus and 8 attended the activation held at Sturt campus.
Semester 2 Orientation stall days were held on Wednesday 17 July at Tonsley Campus, Thursday 18 July at City Campus, Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 July at Bedford Park, and Thursday 1 August at Sturt Campus. Across FUSA and Sport & Fitness, 52 clubs attended the Bedford Park activations, 19 attended at Tonsley, 17 attended at City Campus, and 12 attended at Sturt.
Funding & Finances
Throughout 2024, affiliated clubs have been approved for $131,417.62 worth of grants. This represents just under 85% of the total Clubs & Student Communities budget, with much of the remaining funds used for equipment purchases, software, and event costs, such as the program’s awards evening. A full breakdown of these grants can be found in the below table.
Social Media
Over the course of 2024, our Instagram page (@fusaclubs) continued to grow and engage students online. The Instagram page provides a single location dedicated to the promotion of clubs and their activities and allows us to shine a light on the vibrant and active clubs’ community on campus. You can find a snapshot of how we performed throughout the year on page 24.
Number of Registered Club Events & Activities
2025 Goals
• Continued growth of the Orientation program, including expansion of nonBedford based activations.
• Focus on fostering a vibrant campus culture and community at City Campus through events, activations and student partnerships.
• Further support provided to nonBedford Park campuses, including support for our rural and remote sites.
• Continue to grow engagement with underrepresented student cohorts. Celebrating diversity helps promote education and awareness, helps students to feel included in the Flinders community, and has a positive impact on student wellbeing.
• Continue to build student partnerships and collaborations across Flinders with a focus on a ‘Students as Partners’ approach to support student led ideas.
Media
FUSA’s media and communications play a vital role in amplifying student voices and delivering information that resonates with our student community. Their efforts enrich campus culture but also foster a sense of belonging among students.
The Media Team supports FUSA by providing media assistance and spearheading various initiatives, projects and campaigns for the Student Council, Empire Times editors, student clubs, staff, and other stakeholders. Media work spans across graphic design, strategic communication and marketing, promotional materials, web, and project development.
In 2024 FUSA fostered an ethos of ensuring student voice was more integrated in all our communication channels. There was a strong focus on social media growth utilising more images and video of our current student community. This has resonated with students, particularly via our Instagram page which continues to grow as a key means of communication.
Orientation Program
The media team plays a key role in Orientation and is responsible for the overall branding of the program across a variety of mediums, both digital and physical. FUSA manages all aspects of the brand rollout including posters, banners, social media tiles, signage, wayfinding, and more. FUSA also creates the Student Diary, which is distributed for free during the Orientation program, with 10,000 diaries handed out across Orientation.
Social Media
In 2024, social media channels experienced notable developments in audience growth and engagement dynamics. Overall, there was a 13.2% growth in our total social media audience compared to the previous year.
Instagram saw an increase in our follower base, with a 24% rise in followers, significantly higher than in 2023. There were 620 posts, up by 70 posts from the previous year. Despite the increased content frequency, engagement rates declined by 7%, a trend reflecting broader social media patterns. Engagement with Instagram reels proved particularly effective, with these posts achieving an average engagement rate of 7.3%. On Facebook, followers increased by 6.5%, showing steady growth. There were 250 posts, more than the previous year, but faced a 15% reduction in engagement.
Additionally, FUSA’s Google Business Profile continues to be a valuable tool for direct interactions. It received 245 calls, 1,792 direction/map-based clicks, and 302 website clicks, a total of 11,918 profile views on Google and 3,815 searches.
The insights from 2024 suggest that despite the expanding audience base, it is important to refine our content strategy to adapt to the shifts in engagement patterns and platform changes. It will be essential to focus on content types and posting schedules that better align with our audience’s preferences to enhance engagement moving forward.
2024 Highlights
• Finalised changes to the ‘Be a Better Human’ campaign which aims to educate students about consent and respectful relationships, and reporting and support options. Updates to the campaign included a range of new posters, digital screens, social media assets and a new website, babh.edu.au.
• FUSA took over the management and creation of the Student Planner. The planner was redesigned with a colourful new look and format ready for a 2025 roll-out.
• Successfully negotiated a FUSA newsletter to go out to all Flinders students starting in 2025.
• Significantly improved the look and feel of our social media profiles with a large focus on photography and videos, rather than graphics and static images.
2025 Goals
• Rollout of the newly revised Be a Better Human (BABH) campaign to all students, and wider Flinders community.
• Launch the FUSA newsletter, an important channel for students to hear directly from their student association and student council, and to provide a voice of differentiation from standard University communications.
• Enhance social media through datadriven strategies to grow engagement on existing posts and use analytics to fine-tune the timing and frequency of posts to maximize reach and interaction.
• Continue to build the profile of Empire Times and continue to foster a sense of community within the magazine. Implement an editor development program that includes structured training, support, and enhanced resources to empower editors with the skills, tools, and support needed to produce high-quality content and drive the magazine’s growth.
• Implement marketing automation tools and technology efficiencies to streamline campaign management, from email marketing to social media posts and audience analytics.
