SUPRA & VSU

SUPRA wins funds for ‘07 but future still uncertain

SUPRA has had a great win in its post-VSU funding negotiations, but the battle isn’t over just yet, writes SUPRA President Jenny Leong

On Monday 14 August we had a significant victory against VSU at Sydney Uni. The University Senate unanimously supported a joint proposal from SUPRA and the SRC (Students’ Representative Council – for undergraduates) for financial assistance as well as an agreement for additional assistance in the form of in-kind support.

This means that both representative student organisations at Sydney Uni are set to survive for 2007.

That said, the challenge is far from over. We must now build on this initial support by ensuring that we secure an ongoing funding arrangement into the future. We also need to tackle tough questions around membership and access.

Since the passing of the VSU legislation late last year the future of SUPRA has been under serious threat. Many postgrads have helped to make the case for the importance of our representative organisations and have joined our campaign. What we need now is for more people to get involved. Our best chance of securing long-term sustainability is by having the support, involvement and commitment of as many postgrads as we can.

When students got together last year to ensure the democracy of SUPRA, we saw how postgrads can demonstrate their willingness to defend the organisation that defends them. Now we need to transfer that determination to the current campaign. The majority of negotiations about the long-term survival of SUPRA will happen over the next few months. Now is the time to get active and to get engaged.

To read the rest of this article and find out what else has been happening at SUPRA check out the latest eXpress ALERT.

Sydney University to Fund SRC and SUPRA for 2007

MEDIA RELEASE: Tuesday August 15, 2006

Sydney University will fund its representative student organisations to the tune of $1.7m in 2007, when Voluntary Student Unionism comes into effect. The Students’ Representative Council will receive $1.1m to fund undergraduate services and activities, while Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association will receive $630,000. The agreement is only for 2007, but there is a commitment to a more ongoing arrangement.

SRC President Nick Wood said “Its great to know that Honi Soit, essential welfare services and activism will continue at Sydney University next year. We’ve been around since 1928, and now it looks like we’ll be around for many years to come.”

He continued “Students who want a complete student experience should come to Sydney University next year. While it would be nice to secure a more long term arrangement, this is an excellent start.”

SUPRA President Jenny Leong said “This is a great win for postgraduate students. The introduction of VSU was set to threaten specific representation for postgrads but with this agreement the imminent threat has now subsided.”

“Postgrads coming to Sydney Uni in 2007 will get representation, advice and advocacy to meet their specific needs” she concluded.

Media enquiries:
Nick Wood (SRC President): 0438 438 844 or (02) 9660 5222
Jenny Leong (SUPRA President): 0412 145 215 or (02) 9351 3715

There are six student organisations at Sydney University: The SRC, SUPRA, the University of Sydney Union, Sydney University Sport, the Cumberland Student Guild and the Students Association of the Sydney College of the Arts. The SRC and SUPRA are the representative organisations for all students at Sydney University and provide academic and welfare advice and advocacy.

Voluntary Student Unionism: Not our Choice

The greatest threat currently facing SUPRA - along with other representative student organisations - is that of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU). Following a decision made by the Federal Government in 2005 to abolish compulsory subscriptions to student representative bodies, SUPRA is considering how it can best continue to represent and support postgrads without a guarantee of funding.

SUPRA does not support VSU, and considers that its $80 annual subscription fee (2006 figure) is money well spent towards providing postgraduate students with advice, advocacy and support for their studies. We are determined that VSU will not stop this, and encourage all postgraduate students to support and participate in their representative organisation.

SUPRA is preparing a submission to the VSU Trainsitional Funding to encompass the equally important functions of representation, advice and advocacy that are provided by student organisations.

To read an article on the impact of VSU on SUPRA services, download this excerpt from eXpress.

To read the full legislation online: VSU Legislation.

University of Sydney Senate has formed a VSU Taskforce

SUPRA prepared and submitted the following issues paper to this Taskforce for consideration: SUPRA's VSU Issues Paper (May 2006).

If you have comments or feedback on this issues paper, you are interested in helping SUPRA develop strategies to transition to a system of voluntary membership, or you want to tell us what services your are worried will be lost under VSU please contact Jenny Leong, SUPRA President for details of the next post-VSU SUPRA meeting: president@supra.usyd.edu.au or 9351 3715.

Defending your Rights at Uni

On 12 April 2006, postgraduate students joined with international and undergraduate students and gathered on the Front Lawns of the University of Sydney to fight for:

Travel Concessions for International Students
Health Care Cards for Scholarship Holders
Increased Funding for Postgrad Coursework
A Fully-funded and Independent SUPRA

SUPRA President Jenny Leong addressed the rally. You can download and read her speech: Your Rights at Uni speech.

VSU Transitional Funding

The Federal Minister for Education and DEST have recently released a discussion paper on the Voluntary Student Unionism Transition Fund for Sporting and Recreational Facilities. $80million has been allocated over three years to offset the funding student bodies received from their membership prior to the introduction of VSU on 1 July 2006.

What about Representation, Advice and Advocacy???

SUPRA has prepared the following submission to the VSU Trainsitional Funding to encompass the equally important functions of representation, advice and advocacy that are provided by student organisations.

You can download and view the Discussion Paper and SUPRA's Submission.

To comment on this submission email Jenny Leong, SUPRA President: president@supra.usyd.edu.au.