NUS NATIONAL CONFERENCE POLICY DOCUMENT 2013 National Union of Students Inc Authorised Jade Tyrrell, NUS President 2013 NUS POLICY VOLUME 2013 CONTENTS 1. ADMINISTRATION PAGES 1-43 2. UNIONISM PAGES 44-55 3. EDUCATION PAGES 56-88 4. WELFARE PAGES 89-115 5. WOMEN’S PAGES 116-151 6. QUEER PAGES 152-175 7. ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STUDENTS PAGES 176-186 8. DISABILITIES PAGES 187-201 9. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PAGES 202-208 10. ETHNO-CULTURAL STUDENTS PAGES 209-221 11. ENVIRONMENT PAGES 222-251 12. SMALL & REGIONAL PAGES 252-260 13. MISCELLENOUS PAGES 261-269 14. BY-LAWS CHANGES PAGES 270 CHAPTER 1 - ADMINISTRATION ADMIN 1.1: Reassessing what we are, what we do, why we do it and how it can be done Preamble: 1. The National Union of Students (NUS) is the peak representative body for undergraduate students in Australia. 2. NUS works to protect the rights of students across Australia, organises national campaigns on issues affecting students in a range of different areas, and makes sure that the student voice is heard by government, the media, and the public. 3. While in name and ethos the NUS can be seen as a union, the nature of those it represents necessitates that one of the major areas of union power – the ability to strike – is unavailable, in a practical sense if not theoretically. 4. As such it is necessary for the NUS to reconcile its union ethos and morality with the practical application of its work, and recognise that as an organisation its strength lies is the numbers, vibrancy and volume of voice held by students, and the utilisation of these factors in lobbying. 5. Once this has been recognised, a number of facets that are necessary for effective lobbying can be assessed and rectified if need be, allowing for better fulfillment of the NUS’s purpose. Platform: 1. The NUS commits to furthering the rights and interests of students, through the implementation of measures by which to strengthen and express the solidarity of students and their voices nation-wide. 2. The NUS commits to projecting the voice of students in the most effective manner possible, utilizing all forms of media and communication available. 3. The NUS recognises that its strength and foundation is in the form of the students, their independently run associations, unions and organisations, and that efficacy in promoting real change comes from a concerted voice of many as well as the dedicated actions of the few. ADMINISTRATION Actions: 1. The NUS make modifications to their website, including: a. the addition of a further tab in the “About Us” section, recognising the student run associations that support and contribute to the NUS, with links to the appropriate organisation for students at each university; b. adding an updated and comprehensive suite of metadata associations, for effective search results through search engines such as Google; c. developing further Facebook integration with the website, including but not limited to a live page feed with dedicated visual space on the website homepage; d. adding a “Resources and Links” tab, with relevant legislation regarding SSAF funding and its use, housing, discrimination, judis prudence and appeals, government assistance, and other issues students may face, set out at Commonwealth and State levels, as well as any publications of the NUS or contributing bodies that the NUS has permission to publish; e. an addition under the “Policy and Research” tab to include a permanent section outlining the NUS’s stance on issues facing students, formed from motions passed at the National Conference and reflexive to government policy of the time. 2. That the NUS utilises more effectively the student run organisations that are associated with it, through a. providing NUS promotional material to its affiliated organisations with NUS branding and details of the relevant state branch, with recommendations that these materials be a permanent fixture thus allowing for strengthening of the associations between the member organisations and the NUS and mirroring the actions taken by the NUS through the website changes as outlined in action 1 (a); b. where possible, ensuring information releases and updates of state branches are forwarded to all affiliated organisations in the relevant state, and c. information releases and updates of the national body are sent to all affiliated organisations, with requests for their publication and placement on campuses; d. continuing to encourage student demonstrations, ensuring as best possible that these demonstrations are inclusive of all organisations within the relevant area and that the NUS as a body is represented as well as the individual organisations; e. NUS press releases expressing solidarity with student run organisations fighting specific issues; f. the organisation and coordination of student run organisation involvement in new or existing national days of action at both national and state levels; 3. That the NUS instates or renews communication channels through a. greater utilisation of email systems, including creation of email contact lists ADMINISTRATION for all NUS delegates and student run organisation presidents, for the purpose of sending “Do Not Reply” notifications of events, policy changes and issues, and reports, for use at both national and state levels; b. implementation of requirements for all state officers to document and collect digital media for events attended, for the purposes of publication on the NUS Facebook page and through this publication on the website via the page feed outlined in action 1 (c) ; c. requirements for all NUS delegates of a particular state to have the opportunity to meet, facilitated by the state branch president, at least once per 12 months and no less than 3 weeks prior to a National Conference being held; d. the implementation of NUS State Conferences for each state branch to be held no less than two months after the conclusion of National Conference, where policy for each state branch can be considered by the delegates of those state branches; e. the formation of an information package for all delegates, to be sent either directly to them upon their election or to the organisation with which they are affiliated to then be passed on upon their taking of the position; f. ensuring that information that is available is provided to the appropriate persons or departments and/or published in the following instances: i. no later than 14 days after a public event; ii. no later than 72 hours after a major government policy change; iii. no later than 1 month after the due date of state and national officer reports or any other media that is necessary to publish; iv. no later than 2 months after an NUS National Conference or State Conference. Moved: Anthony Hooper (University of South Australia Student Association (USASA, formerly Unilife)) Seconded: Lia Lawrie (University of South Australia Student Association (USASA, formerly Unilife)) ADMIN 1.2: Presidents’ Summit 2013 Preamble 1. NUS traditionally hosts President’ Summit, an important annual event that provides campus presidents and state branch presidents with valuable opportunities to network with fellow presidents, skillshare, workshop campaigns and discuss key issues in the higher education sector for the year ahead. ADMINISTRATION 2. In a rapidly changing higher education environment and with the review of the demand-driven system by the Federal Government, it is vital for presidents to be adequately equipped with the skills and knowledge to respond to new developments and challenges in the sector, and to fully understand the context in which they are operating so they can deal with the major issues they will face. 3. The implementation of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) from 2012 has enabled many student organisations to expand the student services they offer. As a result, it is important to ensure the long-term duration of these services and that campus presidents are coping with increased infrastructure and human resources demands, particularly in light of Education Minister Christopher Pyne's ideological opposition to the SSAF. 4. It is also important for NUS, as a national union, to retain and develop strong relationships with and between campus affiliates, and to receive their feedback and input on campaigns and the work of National Office Bearers. 5. In the context of a new Federal Government and their Commission of Audit as well as the review of the demand-driven system being conducted by David Kemp and Andrew Norton, it is an opportune time for NUS and affiliates to use events like Presidents’ Summit to work together to understand how to best take advantage of 2014 to increase the pressure for no fee increases or fee deregulation in higher education and the retention and strengthening of the Student Services and Amenities Fee. Platform 1. NUS is committed to holding Presidents’ Summit in January 2014. 2. NUS believes that Presidents’ Summit should be designed to focus on adequately equipping campus and state branch presidents with the knowledge, skills and tools relevant to and necessary for them to perform their duties effectively for the benefit of their respective student organisation or campus. 3. NUS acknowledges that one of its key responsibilities is to provide training and support to the office-bearers of member organisations and state branch presidents. 4. NUS recognises the complexity involved in performing the duties of a campus or state branch president, and believes it is therefore important to address both the activism and HR/IR or management facets of these roles. 5. NUS acknowledges that it is important to ensure the longevity and self-sufficiency of student organisations through good management and the appropriate use of students’ money, particularly in the wake of the Student Services and Amenities Fee and and the uncertainty that comes with an election year.