Invited Council Members:
Each council member will consist of each elected leader form both undergraduate and postgraduate student organisations.
ANUSA - ANU
PARSA - ANU
UMSU - UniMelb
GSA - UniMelb
USU - USYD
SUPRA - USYD
ARC@UNSW - UNSW
MSU - Monash
MGA - Monash
UQU - UQ
UQAPS - UQ
AUU - UniAdelaide
UWA Student Guild - UWA
national council of student leaders
As a university situated only three kilometers (3km) away from Parliament House, ANU is in a prime position to set itself up as the nation's leading voice for Students.
While the National Union of Students (NUS) provides a collective voice for affiliated universities around Australia, Many criticize the union as heavily entrenched in partisan factions and is often the hot-topic of debate for university affiliation within the ANU.
While not aiming to replace the NUS, Forward is proposing an establishment of inter-university relations with other Go8 student unions and associations, in the form of a national council of student leaders. As Australia's National University, We believe it's time to assert ourselves as the nation's leader in student advocacy. We believe this organization can co-exist alongside the National Union of Students (NUS) as an amplifier of student voices on the national stage?
How will a National Council Function?
The National Council will function fairly similarly to the Global Group of 7. As an inter-university organization, The National Council will convene every year through a summit where all Go8 student presidents will meet and discuss a 'national consensus' of what the council identifies as pressing issues that need to be addressed by both university Chancellors and the Federal Senate's standing committee on Education and Employment.
The National Council Is designed to give Go8 Universities a stronger, more powerful voice on the National stage. A voice that will set the direction of student activism within Australia's most prominent universities, With ANU as the lead voice.
Will this National Council Undermine the NUS?
Short answer, No.
While the National Council is purposed for the positioning of a national direction for student advocacy via directly elected members of the council from each G08 University, the NUS will continue to be a champion for student activism as a representative body. The National Council is primarily an executive body who will comprise of directly elected members while the NUS will maintain their autonomy through delegates from all affiliated universities.