New Clubs

September 2nd, 2010 | By activities co-ordinator

Several new clubs have started up at UWS this semester. Starting a club and getting funding from the student union is easier than ever due to the new start-up kit and funding policies. For more info contact activities@thebuzz.net.au.

Clubs that meet regularly on campus include Geek Group, Strengthening Cambodian Communities, Writers’ Group, Degree, JAUWS, Epicurean Society, (Penrith), Tamil Society, Taiwanese Students’ Association , Mahjong Society, WSD – UWS Dance Society, ParraNOIA – Anime, I Heart UWS, (Parramatta), Dance Society (Hawkesbury), the Goonion (Bankstown), Engage, RHUUWS & Anime-Manga (Campbelltown) and UWS Afghans, Christian Bible Ministries, Muslim Students’ Association, LabRats, Chess Club, Golden Key, Queer Collective, Vietnamese Students’ Association (more than one campus). Lots more on our clubs page and more starting up every week!!

The Chocolate Society are based at Hawkesbury but have members from all campuses who meet up at various chocolate destinations.

Being involved in a club, society or collective is a great way to make friends, gain valuable experience to help in your career and to feel part of the UWS community.

Improving access to UWS

September 2nd, 2010 | By President

The Hive is interested in starting a discussion about ways UWS can support Students from low socio-economic backgrounds get better access to university education.

We are collecting ideas, strategies and proposals of ways the university can use current and possible resources to support this group of students.

We welcome suggestions, and comments via out vUWS discussion group. The Hive vUWS page should be towards the bottom of your My vUWS course list.

A summary of this discussion will be presented to the university at a liaison-meeting in early October

Regards,

Jonothan Burrow
Student Rights Advocate
advocate@thehive-studentunion.org.au

Youth Allowance

September 2nd, 2010 | By President

Dear Students

Youth Allowance is very important to students at UWS. It helps us to understand the value of money, how to save, and allocating funds to essential needs.

There have been recent changes that have affected the higher ‘independent’ Youth Allowance rate which were implemented on the 1st July 2010. With the old system, a student was classified as independent if they:

• Work at least 15 hours a week for 12 months

Under the new system, a student would be classified as independent if they:

• Work at least 30 hours a week for 18 months

The government believes that introducing these changes will clearly identify students who “genuinely in need of assistance.” Ultimately, it will be much harder for students who decide to take a gap year to qualify for youth allowance as the time period has changed from 12 months to 18 months.

The Hive Student Union believes that these changes are ludicrous. How can the government demand students to work 30 hours whilst studying at university? This would be a serious imposition on students to work to their potential and achieve at uni.

The real question here is whether the government implemented these changes in their best interest to help students who genuinely need help, or a method to bring the budget to surplus.

Regards,

Steven Nguyen
Vice President (Academic)

Geek Week

September 1st, 2010 | By webmaster

Click here for the full program

Click here for the full program

Is Child Care Important to you?

August 28th, 2010 | By President

Dear Students,

Acknowledging that child care is important to many of our staff and
students, the University is conducting a review of child care services
across UWS campuses and the availability around our campuses.

As part of this review, the University is exploring the possibility of
developing a child care centre at our Parramatta campus as part of our
budget plans for 2011.

In order to learn more about the needs of our staff and students based
at Parramatta campus, the University is conducting an online survey.
Your feedback and input is very important and we ask you take a moment
to complete this five minute survey.

Please click on the link below to access the survey.

http://uwssurvey.uws.edu.au/lfserver/Childcare_survey

The survey closes 9 September, 2010. If you have any further feedback
you would like to provide, please email Project Manager Linda Williams
directly after completing the survey – linda.williams@uws.edu.au

Rhonda Hawkins
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Strategy and Services)

Engage

August 26th, 2010 | By activities co-ordinator

The new group Engage were very busy at Campbelltown Services Market Day today, engaging with students & promoting their design a campus mascot competition ($100 up for grabs for the winner!!).
Check out their hilarious flyer or join them on facebook.

Here is what founder, Luke Lau (Campbelltown Campus Chair), says about Engage:

“Think student life doesn’t exist at Campbelltown Campus? Well, we think that’s true. We are Engage, a group of students at Campbelltown who want to see a vibrant and exciting student life on campus, including bigger and better events, clubs and societies! The potential at Campbelltown is huge, and we should take advantage of it by making university the awesome place we always thought it’d be!
Email us on Engage.UWS@gmail.com, or search for us on Facebook – ‘Engage UWS’ to learn more about how you can be part of the movement that will revolutionise student life at Campbelltown!”

Circus performers at Hawkesbury

August 25th, 2010 | By activities co-ordinator

On Monday students at Hawkesbury campus were treated to a free BBQ and free roaming circus performers. Contact activities@thebuzz.net.au if you have ideas for activities at your campus.

Election

August 20th, 2010 | By General Manager

Dear Students

With the election on our doorstep, young voters will be in a position to decide the fate of many key marginal seats this election. As such, here are a few points to consider.

If Tony Abbot and the Coalition get into government funding will be drastically cut from the tertiary education sector. In particular, funding for low socio economic students, many of whom attend UWS.

Labor inherited a severely neglected education system; Australia was the only OECD country to actually reduce funding for higher education facilities while our overseas competitors fiercely invested in their universities.

Labor has invested $4.1 billion dollars into tertiary education and research infrastructure through the Education Investment Fund, plus an additional $500million through the Better Universities Renewal Fund.

On the 21^st when you make your decision please remember, it’s your education, your future and your vote. Make it count for a better UWS.

Regards,

Tharun Kuppanda
President The Hive Student Union

UWS Dance Jam Goes Off!!!!

August 18th, 2010 | By activities co-ordinator

@the Hub today at Parramatta, check out this dancer, one of many UWS students who got the huge crowd cheering. Free dance classes to start soon, courtesy of the Hive (and UWS Connect who provided the venue & sound system!!!)

New Dance Societies at UWS

August 17th, 2010 | By activities co-ordinator

New Dance Societies have started at Parramatta and Hawkesbury campuses. A venue for rehearsals is yet to be found for Hawkesbury but please email Pamela  16799817@student.uws.edu.au if you are interested in getting involved at Hawkesbury, you don’t have to be a dancer, it is also a social group. The Dance Society at Parramatta had a stall today outside the Library and are having their first jam tomorrow at 12.30pm in the Hub/Rec Hall – all welcome!!!! Contact Niloy aim4perfexon@gmail.com. Check em out. Special guest: King Kurry

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