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Your Input Sought for New Griffith Disability Access and Inclusion Plan


If you are a current Griffith University student living with disability, Griffith University would like to hear from you. Griffith is currently developing a new Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP).  We are committed to setting and meeting high standards for institutional disability inclusion and providing an excellent student experience for all students across the full range of services. Along with the broader DAIP consultations, the University has commissioned an external review (Sept/Oct 2021) to focus on learning and teaching service provision for students with disability. This review will seek to better understand the experience and needs of students with disability in relation to learning and teaching and will inform the University’s action planning.  Specifically, it will:   

  1. assess the current state of play regarding disability inclusion at Griffith (within Institutional policy and legislative frameworks)   
  2. provide a ‘sense check’ to assess whether Griffith is currently meeting the expectations of students with disability   
  3. identify gaps, duplication or inconsistencies in service provision, and   
  4. make recommendations on actions which would inform the new Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.   

The review panel invites you to provide a written (or audio/other) response with a view to identifying opportunities and issues as well as high value actions Griffith could take to positively impact students with disability in relation to learning and teaching.  Submissions can be provided confidentially via the linked survey form by 8 October 2021 or via email to dvce@griffith.edu.au.  Areas on which you may like to make comment include (but are not limited to): 

  • accessibility of services 
  • strengths in service provision 
  • levels of satisfaction / resolution of issues 
  • communications about services / changes 
  • special considerations / exam provisions 
  • fieldwork / work integrated learning / placements 
  • ICT and digital platforms 
  • Library services  
  • awareness, attitudes and inclusive classroom and online practices 
  • clinical and/or laboratory-based learning and teaching  
  • campus specific issues 
  • levels of consultation with students with disability and with staff (academic and professional) supporting students with disability. 

All submissions will be treated confidentially and data deidentified in all reports. Please note that information you provide will be used solely for the purpose of this Review and the names of individual respondents will not be identified in the final review report. Your submission will only be viewed by the Review Panel; however, submissions may be subject to disclosure under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) and Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld)

GUPSA Pay It Forward Care Hampers

SPREAD THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

It’s the holiday season and time to make your friends smile. 2020 has been challenging for all, especially for those Post Grads who are carers. GUPSA with your support wants to make December 2020 special. If you know someone who is juggling their student responsibilities along with caring for a loved one, refer them here and we can deliver a nourishing care package to them.

Spread the joy! Pay it Forward! Appreciate your mate! Be someone’s Santa!

Nominate Here

* Nominations close by COB December 8th.

** Open to the first 120 students as the budget is limited. You will be informed if your nomination is successful by 9 December 2020.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: GUPSA BOARD, NEW CONSTITUTION, AND 2020 ELECTIONS

Thank you to all the postgraduate students who attended the GUPSA Special General Meeting (SGM) on 12 March 2020. 

The SGM Minutes are available HERE 

At the SGM, two motions were passed by majority vote:

  1. That the proposed new constitution for GUPSA be adopted; and
  2. That the term of GUPSA board members voted in at the 2020 elections be extended until 31 October 2021, to align with the new electoral cycle and board term that will take effect in 2021.

Both SGM motions were subject to approval by University Council of the proposed new constitution for GUPSA.

On 1 June 2020, University Council approved GUPSA’s new constitution. It is available HERE.

When University Council approved the new GUPSA Constitution, it came into effect on 1 June 2020. Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication and lack of clarity around when the new GUPSA Board structure changes would come into effect.

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Empowering Learners: A Student Partnership Creating Spaces for Learning

Griffith is launching Empowering Learners,  a new initiative  promoting student mental health and well being through a Students as Partners approach. It is designed to prioritise the student voice and empower learners, and will provide a great opportunity to develop  leadership and other transferable skills thus making students more employable. A key goal of the project is to help students build their own networks as they become engaged in the design and delivery of curriculum.

The project will promote student mental wellbeing through the  design of effective learning environments that support student agency and empowerment, both within and external to the curriculum. By  exploring the  holistic experience of students, it will work out  how to best partner with students to support their sense of belonging, autonomy, competence and purpose. That support is geared to develop student confidence in learning within and beyond Griffith. For students, getting involved with Empowering Learners gives you the opportunity to enhance your learning experience and strengthen your leadership skills on the job, while also influencing the way Griffith University supports all learners.

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GUPSA Special General Meeting 12 March 2020

Griffith University Postgraduate Students Association is holding a Special General Meeting.

Thursday 12 March
Starting 4pm
Function Room, Unibar, N71, Nathan Campus, Griffith University

All currently enrolled postgraduate students at Logan, Mt Gravatt, Nathan, Southbank campuses are eligible to attend and vote

The purpose of the meeting is to vote on a number of proposals for constitutional change. All the proposals will be sent out closer to the meeting. In the meantime, you can find a copy of the current constitution here.

Proxy forms are available, if you can’t attend the AGM but still want a vote, and are available by emailing gupsa@griffith.edu.au. Under the constitution, a person eligible to vote at the meeting cannot hold more than five proxies. Proxies can be submitted at the meeting or prior at the GUPSA office, Student Associations and Clubs (N28) Nathan.

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GUPSA and CAPA 2020

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has conducted its annual elections, with a talented and diverse new team elected to lead the organisation in 2020.

We are pleased to announce that Romana Rea Begicevic will take on the Presidency of CAPA from January 1st 2020. Romana-Rea is a PhD student at Curtin University, researching pancreatic cancer. She is an experienced postgraduate representative, having served as the president of the Postgraduate Student Committee at Curtin and as CAPA Women’s Officer in 2019.

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