Hello to everyone,

My name is Joshua, I am your President of the University of Melbourne Student Union Inc (UMSU). I’m a third-year Juris Doctor student and, just like you, I’m stressed about exams. However, as a means of procrastination, I wanted to take the time to provide a brief overview of some of the current advocacy objectives and campaigns that we are working on at UMSU.

Special consideration changes

A few years ago, a change to special consideration was passed, but has only been implemented late 2024/early 2025. This change means that if a student is granted special consideration but has sat the original exam, they will now be unable to see their original grade and must decide whether to go through with their special examination based upon a guess of how they scored in the initial exam. This is an unacceptable change that will have significant and far reaching impact on students, especially those with ongoing medical conditions or external situations that impact their ability to perform at examinations. Your union is fighting against this change and having it reversed or amended is a primary objective for the remainder of my term.

Protest restrictions

On the first day of Semester one 2025, a new protest restriction was imposed without any consultation or notice to UMSU or NTEU. This goes beyond the current conflict: our student body opposed the Vietnam War, we fought against the White Australia Policy, we have been active in campaigning for Indigenous rights, queer rights, gender equality  and countless other social reforms - we have a long history of exercising our right to peaceful assembly to advocate for change, and this is now under threat.

We have consistently advocated for the protest on 26th of March 2025 to be treated as a warning as opposed to having the university impose sanctions. We continue to work for this rule to be repealed and for a consultation process that ensures we find a balance between ensuring that all members of our community feel safe, whilst protecting the right to peaceful protest that is an indispensable part of tertiary education. Trust me when I say that I have some plans in the works - watch this space.

Establishment of the Campus Canteen

As most of you will be aware by now, we were successful in advocating for the establishment of a canteen that serves $5 meals at the University of Melbourne Parkville campus with a Southbank canteen set to open within weeks. This follows a large amount of advocacy from UMSU and UMSU International representatives, including the publishing of A Campus in Crisis, a report documenting the impact of the cost of living crisis at the University of Melbourne.

However, there is more work to be done. I am still fighting to expand the scope of the canteen, to bring not-for-profit food providers onto campus and to ensure that students don’t need to sit through a lecture hungry as they can’t afford a meal on campus.

Supporting our PhD students

UMSU is the union for all students, be they research, Coursework, undergraduate, graduate, domestic or international. In 2024, I have focused on ensuring that we are representing and supporting our PhD constituents. For example, I have now had two meetings with the Dean of FEIT to discuss the transition to flexi-desks and away from permanent allocated desks to question the change, discuss how it will be approached and the impact it will have on students.

Further, we continue to advocate for an increase to the PhD stipend as, given the disproportionate number of students accessing Union Mart that are living on the stipend, we recognise that this is a significant issue for the community. Union Mart continues to provide a range of baby products to support our students that have dependents, typically graduate students. Further, earlier in 2024, I was successful in having two UMSU delegates placed upon the Higher Degrees by Research Committee to ensure that the student voice is heard at all levels of the university.

International student caps

With the Labor government returned with an overwhelming majority, the imposition of caps on the number of international students allowed into Australia appears a near certainty. However, essentially all elected representatives are united in opposing these xenophobic policies aimed at attacking members of our community. Myself and UMSU International are working on collaborating with other student unions across the country to develop joint advocacy.

Moving forward

I think I’ll end it here, but there is a lot more I would like to be able to write on. We are currently negotiating for the next three years of funding for UMSU. Our union has a long and vibrant history that must be protected to ensure we can continue to represent and support our members.

I know that this is a difficult time in the world at the moment. I know it is growing increasingly difficult to balance working a job to put food on the table against completing your studies. But, myself, alongside all of your other elected representatives, are here to support you. If any student ever needs help, drop by my office in Building 168 - I’m here to help.

Thanks,
Joshua