NAAUC HRC Newsletter - Issue 1 (May 2019)

NAAUC HRC Newsletter

Greetings from all the NAAUC team!

Firstly, congratulations on a successful O-Week/ Welcome Week and for all your efforts to make sure your students have settled in well. I have heard many exciting stories of successful orientations filled with new and improved programs that have been well received by students. It is exciting to see so much progress being made by staff and students alike.

We have also been busy working on a number of projects!

01 Contributions to Freedom of Speech Review At the end of the last year, Education Minister, Hon Dan Tehan announced an independent review into freedom of speech on university campuses. As part of this review, NAAUC was approached by Former Chief Justice French to make submissions.

In our submission we noted that we are yet to encounter a freedom of speech issue that has been reported by guests, students, or HRC, nor have we heard of any issues at a university residence. However, the recommendation was made that the enquiry consider the free speech of religious affiliated residences, particularly regarding discussions of sex, sexuality, and gender.

Thankfully, the findings of the review, found no evidence of a ‘free speech crisis’ on campus. However, it was found that the diversity of existing policies did give rise to unnecessary risks to freedom of speech, something the review was intending to rectify by the adoption of the Model Code for the Protection of Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in Australian Higher Education Providers.

ISSUE

01

24 APRIL 2019

Greetings from all the NAAUC team continued

02 Student Representation In the last six months the association has sought to play a more active and public role in representing students living on campus, and we were pleased to work with students at the University of Tasmania on two occasions. First, we supported the petition for more beds at UTAS to accomodate students at the start of the year. We also expressed our concern about the attempted dissolution of the student clubs at Christ College and St John Fisher College. We are pleased to say that both issues were resolved. Special congratulations and thanks should be given to Sharifa Syed (UTAS Student President) and Rufus Black (Vice-Chancellor). Both worked especially hard to see the students interests were properly met.

03 Creation of the NAAUC Advisory Board We are pleased to announce the creation of the NAAUC Alumni Advisory Board!

Each year our team each works incredibly hard to provide the highest quality services, seminars, summits, and Conference for your students. However, as NAAUC is a student-led association, our team has a fairly high turnover rate. It is our hope that the new board will provide increased continuity, oversee NAAUC’s long term vision, and contribute to our professional development, so that we can continue to provide for your students in the best way possible.

Overall, I am incredibly pleased with the efforts of the association in recent months and NAAUC’s involvement with students around Australia. I am particularly excited about our upcoming State Summits around the country, and our National Conference in December!

UPCOMING State Summits (July-August) Our State Representatives have been working hard in preparation for our State Summits. This year our State Summit program will include an exclusive seminar; ‘leadership without a title’. Our aim is to make every student attending, recognise it is not the title that allows them to make a difference but rather their ideas, initiative, and energy.

If you’d like to see your students be more involved, creative, and motivated, the NAAUC State Summit program is ideal for developing these key leadership skills.

Dates and locations for our State Summits will be announced in the coming weeks

National Conference (1-7th December) This year our National Conference will be held at International House, Melbourne!

With the National Conference being held at the end of the year, it is particularly geared towards preparing your new leaders for their roles in 2020!

By attending our national conference students will: Be updated on contemporary challenges within the sector and their developing solutions Participate in our wide range of academic programs which cater to every student leader’s needs, be it pastoral care, risk management, leadership skills, diversity, legal obligations and so much more Engage with professionals in the industry Have your leaders actively participate in events which help mitigate excessive drinking that they can then apply back at your residence with great results Opportunities to make meaningful relationships with other leaders from around the country to share ideas and foster intercollegiate relationships, both locally and nationally This will place your leaders in the best position to have a successful O-Week and a years worth of well managed events and committees!

Upcoming continued

Heads and Residential Coordinators (Staff) CONFERENCE (1-4th December)

Running concurrently with our National Conference, our HRC Conference brings together Heads of Residences to discuss contemporary challenges and to take part in our National Conference.

The Conference will include: Guest Lectures Academic seminars Formal dinner Round table discussions The chance to see your students learning and preparing for their year ahead!

Early bird tickets open for both National Conference and HRC Conference on the 20th of May. Don’t miss out!

Contacts Website: www.naauc.edu.au Jonty Boshier President president@naauc.edu.au M: 0499 778 085 Ticket sales and enquiries; Mitch Cook Treasurer treasurer@naauc.edu.au M: 0438 890 540