2025 Student Voice Summit
& Student Voice Symposium Resource Hub

Interested in hosting SVA's events in 2026?

All materials are available to access by registered attendees of SVA’s 2025 Student Summit and/or Symposium.

For non-member attendees- these resources will be accessible until 30 January 2026.

After this time, the resources will be available to member institutions via our members portal.

Beyond the Seat | From voice to choice

This year’s theme challenged us to go further than giving students a seat at the table.
It’s about moving from simply listening to sharing real power. 

Voice is the first step - allowing students to be heard. Choice empowers students to co-create, lead, and enact change. When voice and choice come together, education becomes more inclusive, impactful, and truly student-centred.

Beyond the Seat invites us to rethink systems, relationships, and leadership, so students help shape not just the conversation, but the future. 

For full abstracts, please download our programs. Not all sessions were recorded.

Summit Program
Summit Program (accessible)
Symposium Program
Symposium Program (accessible)
Photos
Videos

Student Summit | Thursday 22 October, 2025

Summit Keynote: Power with Purpose: Elevating Student Voice through Independent Oversight

Summit PD Workshop: From Voice to Choice – Design Thinking in Action

Lightning Talks

Everyday Mindfulness for Inclusive Student Wellbeing

Session One
Session Two

Peer Learning at La Trobe: A model for the future

Session One
Session Two

Voices that Echo: Local to National Change through Disabled Ākonga Leadership

Session One
Session Two

We’re sorry for your loss: Human-centered approach to loss and bereavement support

Session One
Session Two

Roundtable Chats – World Café Style

Roundtable discussions led by our themes:

  1. Structures That Listen: Student Voice in University Governance

  2. Learning Together: Co-Creating Curriculum and Pedagogy

  3. Belonging and Culture: Building Inclusive Communities

  4. Leadership in Action: Building Confidence and Capability

These sessions were designed as world cafe workshops in person only- so were not recorded. Thank you to all who contributed!

*not recorded

Symposium | Friday 23 October, 2025

Symposium Keynote: The Caring University: Reimagining Duty of Care through Students as Partners

In Conversation: Learning from Complaints: Driving Sector-Wide Reform

Panel: From Voice to Choice: Structures that Listen

Insight Sessions

Belonging by Design: Co-Creating Orientation through Student Partnership
Insights from SVA’s National Student Voice Rewards and Recognition Survey
Student-Led Support in Governance – HISA’s Board of Management Project
Voices that Echo: Local to National Change through Disabled Ākonga Leadership
Coffee Conversations: genuine student-staff partnership in practice

Posters

Working Group

These events are co-designed and delivered by our valuable SVA Members. Thank you to the members of our working group for their contributions:

  • Sara Ardern, Practice Lead, Student Partnerships, Griffith University (co-chair)

  • Chelsea Finlayson, Griffith University

  • Bella Christensen, Honours student, University of the Sunshine Coast

  • Jamie Mumme, Student, Deakin University 

  • Kerri Laidlaw, Career Development Consultant, Careers and Employability, Griffith University 

  • Lisa Connolly, UniSQ SVA Student Assistant

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