UTS Students' Association

The University of Technology, Sydney, Students' Association is the representative body for students at the University of Technology, Sydney. It is based at the Broadway campus of UTS. It commissions the student magazine Vertigo. The Association has departments which have previously worked collaboratively with the University to achieve practical outcomes for students, as well as ensuring that the University is held to account over its handling of student issues. Historically, this has resulted in numerous successful campaigns which have won rights for students in the University.

Students from various political backgrounds and ideologies have contested control of the organisation. Prior to 2006, it was predominantly controlled by left political groupings until control shifted for several years to a coalition of Labor left and Labor right.

Collectives

Postgrad

The Postgraduate department was inactive for many years, until it was relaunched as the Postgraduate Representative Union on 19/9/2014. PRU currently has its own Council of seven, and is working on a variety of issues of relevance to postgraduates at UTS, which can be read about at www.utspru.org. PRU does not have its own space.

Wom*n's

The Wom*n's department creates a space and community for female identifying persons. This includes a Wom*n's Space at two of the Campuses: Broadway and Kuring-gai.

Indigenous

The Indigenous Collective is a group exclusively for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The Collective meets weekly and works alongside, but independent of, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning. Founded in 2012 by Alison Whittaker, they do not have a space but run campaigns surrounding Indigenous issues and have been an active political and pastoral component of the Students' Association since their inception.

Queer

The Queer department runs campaigns for LGBTIQ students on campus and maintains a Queer Space at two of the Campuses - Broadway and Kuring-Gai. Campaigns include anti homophobia campaigns, student safety campaigns and collaborating with Community Action Against Homophobia on actions around equal marriage, queer refugees and police brutality and works with the Out2Party club on social events.

Environmental

Affiliated to the Australian Student Environment Network, the environmental Collective is focused on green activism and campaigns like 'Flick my Switch' and 'Fossil Free University' as well as environmental campaigns off campus.

DAGs (Disability Action Group)

Opened to students who suffer physical, mental and/or emotional disability, and debatably, open to carers of people with disabilities. The group operates without a space, but co operates with many internal UTS sectors to ensure students with disabilities receive adequate support. The group also campaigns around larger abilities awareness projects.

Welfare

The welfare collective is opened to all students, but has is the past been asked to be the main organising body for students from low socio-economic backgrounds. The collective aims to help students by providing food, how2life workshops, which were very successful in 2013. These workshops have covered topics like cooking 101, renting how to, and fair wage/your rights.

Past presidents

External links