National Union of Students of Australia

The National Union of Students is the peak representational body for Australian university students. Most, but not all, students' union bodies in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS. It represents some 700,000 university students.

Structure

NUS National structure is formalised into office bearers, committees, and departments.

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National office bearers

The NUS national office bearers are:

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• National President
• National General Secretary/Deputy President
• National Education Officer
• National Welfare and Small and/or Regional Campuses Officer
• National Women's Officer
• National Queer Officers (two positions)
• National Environment Officer

The first five of these positions are full-time. The Environment and Queer Officer positions are both part-time. All of these positions, with the exception of International Students Convenor, are elected annually at NUS National Conference, with terms commencing in January.

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The National Women's Officer must live and identify as a woman, as must one of the National Queer Officers.

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The position of International Students' Convenor is occupied by the National Convenor of the National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia. This is not technically a national office-bearing position, although it does largely function that way in practice. The International Students Convenors are elected in July and commence their term in October.

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National committees

The national committees of NUS are:

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• National Executive
• National Education Committee
• National International Students Committee
• National Welfare Committee
• National Women's Committee
• National Queer Committee
• National Postgraduate Committee

The Education, International Students, Welfare, Women's and Queer Committee direct their respective office-bearers. National Executive directs the President and National General Secretary, as well as having a supervisory role over all office bearers and staff generally. The National Postgraduate Committee can request action of any office bearer as required.

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National Executive consists of the national office-bearers, the International Students' convenor, the presidents of each of the state branches, and twelve general executive members. Of these, only the general executive members and the state presidents have votes. The national president acts as chair and has a casting vote in the event of ties. The National Executive meets face to face three times a year and is responsible for administering the union, subject to decisions of National Conference, and authorising the national budget.

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The Education Committee comprises the National Education Officer, the state Education Officers, the other members of National Executive (all non-voting), and seven general (voting) members. The National Education Officer chairs the committee.

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The International Students Committee comprises the National International Students Convenor, and the state International Student Officers (voting). The National International Students Convenor chairs the committee.

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The Welfare Committee comprises the National Welfare Officer, the state Welfare Officers, the other members of National Executive (all non-voting), and five general (voting) members. The National Welfare Officer chairs the committee.

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The Women's Committee comprises the National Women's Officer, the state Women's Officers, the women members of National Executive (all non-voting), and eight general (voting) women members. The National Women's Officer chairs the committee.

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The National Queer Committee comprises the two National Queer Officers, the state queer representatives, the queer-identifying members of National Executive, and six general (voting) members, who must be queer-identifying and four of whom must be women. The National Queer Officers act as chair of the Committee.

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The National Postgraduate Committee has membership comprising of the National President (casting vote), four general (voting) postgraduate members, and the other members of National Executive (non-voting). The National President chairs the committee.

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The National Environment Officer is directed by the Student Environment Network, rather than formally by a committee.

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International students are represented within NUS by the National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia, which administers the International Student Department (ISD) of the NUS.

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The organisation?s national headquarters are in Melbourne, Victoria.

Related Topics:
Melbourne - Victoria

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