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SVA and JANZSSA Partner for Special Issue on Student Voice
Student Voice Australasia (SVA) is pleased to be partnering with the Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA) on a special 2027 edition: Student Voice in Action: Research, Practice, and Impact in Tertiary Education. The special issue invites contributions that explore how student voice is enacted, experienced, and sustained across tertiary education settings.
The edition will bring together research, practice-based insights, case studies, and reflections from practitioners, researchers, and students, with student-authored and co-authored submissions particularly encouraged.
Led by Guest Editors Megan Pozzi and Alison Jaquet, alongside Associate Editor Dr Kylie Austin and Voices From the Field Lead Belinda Brear, the editorial team will include practitioners, researchers, and student partners from across the sector.
This partnership reflects SVA's commitment to advancing understanding of student voice and showcasing its impact in practice.
Get involved: Submit a manuscript and learn more about joining the editorial team.
Learn more about the special issue:
https://janzssa.scholasticahq.com/post/4048-call-for-papers-janzssa-special-issue-student-voice-in-action-research-practice-and-impact-in-tertiary-education
July 2026 Newsletter
Dear SVA Network,
This month, we're delighted to announce a new collaboration between SVA and the Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA). Together, we are launching a special 2027 issue, Student Voice in Action: Research, Practice, and Impact in Tertiary Education. We encourage members of our SVA community to contribute by submitting a paper or expressing interest in joining the editorial team.
We're also excited to reveal our keynote speaker for the 2026 Student Summit, with Sam Jacob, CEO of Collarts, joining our growing lineup of sector leaders.
Read on for important updates including:
JANZSSA Student Voice Special Edition | Papers and Editorial Team Information
Student Summit Keynote Announcement | Sam Jacob CEO of Collarts
2026 Student Voice Awards | Final nominations extended and closing 31 July
SVA National Reward and Recognition Report | Now available
Collective Sessions | Featuring Transparent SSAF Governance at UoW and Student Partnership at Kangan Institute
Welcome Returning Members | Australian Catholic University
Partner Opportunities & New Events | Explore ways to stay informed
Warm regards,
Belinda Brear
SVA Coordinator
June 2026 Newsletter
Dear SVA Network,
This month is our final call for contributions to our Student Voice Symposium, Student Summit, and Award nominations- alongside a BIG keynote announcement! Having just returned from Sydney representing SVA at the HEDx Conference, it was wonderful to connect with so many outstanding student leaders and witness their meaningful contributions to important conversations.
In this issue you’ll find:
Student Voice Symposium | Keynote announcement + last chance to present
HEDx Conference and Student Experience Podcast | Reflections
Welcome New Members | TAFE NSW and The Gordon
2026 Student Voice Awards | Nominations closing in 2 weeks
Sponsor Acknowledgments | Helping support our members
Partner Opportunities & New Events | Explore ways to stay informed
Warm regards,
Belinda Brear
SVA Coordinator
Strengthening Student Voice at HEDx Conference
Reflections by Belinda Brear, Coordinator, Student Voice Australasia Coordinator
Student Voice Australasia (SVA) was proud to support and attend the 2026 HEDx Disruption Through Connection Conference at the University of Technology Sydney this week. Across two days, students, educators and leaders explored a shared challenge: how do we create University 2.0 and learning that is truly fit for the future?
This year, students were involved in every session in meaningful ways. The message we heard across two days from students was clear- student voice must be embedded into how institutions design, decide and lead.
Designing with Students
In the opening session, Chloe Ferreira (University of Technology Sydney Elected Student Council Members and SVA Steering Committee Member) set the tone:
Students are the drivers of their own education.
The following presentations reinforced the need to design for today’s learners, navigating rapid change, new technologies and increasing complexity. Professor KC Chua (Singapore Institute of Technology) was a highlight in pointing to examples to lifelong reskilling needing to be the new norm.
Power and Partnership
Dr Sasha Thackaberry‑Voinovich (Newstate University) challenged Australian institutions to reflect on whether students feel safe to question and shape their learning experiences. Creating this environment requires understanding the student journey first-hand (even test-driving) and intentionally reducing barriers to participation.
Elevating Student Voice
On Day 1 HEDx’s first ever student-led panel marked an important step towards authentic student leadership.
Day 2 discussions continued to ground these ideas in lived experience. Students spoke openly about the pressures they are facing, including cost of living, housing and financial stress as well as issues such as food and period poverty.
Neeve Ann Nagle (UTS Students’ Association President and National Union of Students NSW State Branch President) emphasised the importance of genuine engagement:
Leaving the door open for conversations is so important- tokenism is not OK and students know when the engagement is not genuine.
Gazzal Duggal (UniSQ nursing student and SVA Committee Member) reinforced that student voice must go further:
It should be embedded in the institutional DNA, while also cautioning against framing students as “customers” and instead valuing the
relationship between teachers and students.
Many agreed on the limitations of current governance models, noting that relying on a small number of student representatives’ places significant pressure on individuals and cannot alone capture the diversity of student experience.
What’s next?
For SVA, our connection with HEDx reflects a shared commitment to ensuring student voice is recognised as a driver of meaningful change.
UQ student and podcast co-host Ben Roden-Cohen closed the conference with a call for action- for students to design the next HEDx Conference agenda! We’re looking forward to seeing students continue to engage in meaningful conversations that matter- and at the HEDx Student Experience Podcast we will continue to explore these topics.
You can hear for yourself all the HEDx conference sessions which will be released over the coming weeks. We will share these insights with our network as they become available on LinkedIn, helping to translate these discussions into practical action across the sector.
Professor the Honourable Bill Shorten Announced as Keynote Speaker for the 2026 Student Voice Symposium
Student Voice Australasia (SVA) is delighted to announce that Professor the Honourable Bill Shorten, Vice‑Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra (UC), will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Student Voice Symposium.
Professor Shorten is a nationally recognised leader whose career spans higher education, government, and social policy in Australia. As Vice‑Chancellor and President of UC, he is focused on strengthening student experience, equity, and institutional impact across a rapidly evolving sector.
His keynote will engage directly with the 2026 Symposium theme, Trust, Safety and Participation in Times of Change. The address will explore how institutions can create the conditions for meaningful student voice - where students feel safe, trusted, and empowered to participate in shaping decisions that affect their education and student experience. It will also consider how systems, policies, and institutional cultures can better support authentic student voice at scale.
The Student Voice Symposium is Australasia’s leading event dedicated to student voice, bringing together practitioners, leaders, and students to share practice, research, and innovation. The 2026 Symposium will explore how student voice is enabled - examining the conditions that allow students to speak up, feel heard, and actively shape the future of education.
Register now to be part of the 2026 Student Voice Symposium:
https://studentvoiceaustralasia.com/2026-annual-events
For updates, follow Student Voice Australasia on LinkedIn or subscribe to our website here.
May 2026 Newsletter
Dear SVA Network,
After a month filled with network sessions, collectives and committee meetings, it has been a pleasure to connect with many of you who share a common purpose: strengthening inclusive student voice practice.
If you are considering nominating for the Student Voice Awards or applying to present at the Symposium, this is a timely reminder that we are now around five weeks from the closing date. It is a good opportunity to begin refining and strengthening your submissions.
In this issue you’ll find:
SVA Student Partner | Applications now open until 1 June
Students with Disability Leadership Collective | Accessibility in Action Award Winners
2026 Student Voice Awards | Nominations Now Open
Student Voice Symposium | Apply to present
Upcoming Events and Recordings | Co-Curricular Recognition Collective next week
Partner Opportunities & Events | Explore ways to stay informed
Warm regards,
Belinda Brear
SVA Coordinator
Apply to be SVA’s next Student Partner
Student Voice Australasia Student Partner
Are you passionate about student voice, representation, and creating meaningful change in higher education? Join Student Voice Australasia (SVA) in a casual position as a Student Partner, where you’ll contribute to strengthening student engagement across an international network. Working closely with the SVA Coordinator, you’ll support the delivery of initiatives that embed authentic and inclusive student voice in decision-making.
About Student Voice Australasia
Student Voice Australasia (SVA) is an international network of students and staff working together to embed authentic and inclusive student voice in higher education decision-making. SVA is currently hosted by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). Learn more here: https://studentvoiceaustralasia.com/
Who you are
You are an organised and proactive student who enjoys working collaboratively and contributing to impactful student voice initiatives. You take pride in clear communication, a passion for supporting others, and delivering high-quality work. You will thrive in this role if you are adaptable, detail-oriented, and motivated to enhance student engagement and representation in higher education.
What you'll do
You’ll provide administrative and operational support to Student Voice Australasia activities, assisting with the coordination of engagement initiatives and communication across the network. You will also:
Assist with the coordination and delivery of student engagement activities and events (such as the SVA Student Network and the SVA Student Summit) including preparation, implementation, and follow-up
Support communication and promotional activities, including drafting content and maintaining communication channels
Use digital tools and platforms to engage student audiences effectively
Assist in maintaining relationships with student representatives and stakeholders across the SVA network
Provide administrative support including preparing materials, maintaining records, and contributing to reporting
Apply established processes and procedures, using judgement to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
Work collaboratively within a team, contributing to a professional and positive work environment
What will help you succeed
To thrive in this role, you will be a currently enrolled student at a tertiary institution within Australia at time of application, have completed at least one year of study, and remain enrolled as a student for the duration of 2026, as well as:
Demonstrated organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to support projects or events and manage competing priorities
Effective communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear written materials and engage stakeholders across various channels
Experience using digital tools (e.g. communication platforms, spreadsheets, or design tools)
Understanding of, or experience in, student voice and representation within higher education. Engagement with and understand of SVA, its members and its purpose will be highly regarded but not essential.
Ability to apply procedures, guidelines, and established practices to deliver work outcomes
Initiative, professionalism, and the ability to maintain confidentiality
A commitment to complying with organisational policies and procedures, including Health and Safety
Alignment with values of Respect, Integrity, and Excellence
Building on its strengths as Australia’s leading regional university, UniSQ partners closely with its communities to drive innovation and create opportunity through education and research. Guided by our values of respect, integrity, and excellence, UniSQ’s Strategic Plan 2026–2030 sets a clear ambition: to be Australia’s most transformative university by embracing our regional identity, fostering inclusive learning and research environments, and delivering globally relevant outcomes with strong local impact.
The University offers a range of different ways of working and connecting across our physical and virtual spaces to meet the needs of our students, partners and community. We value diversity and strive to foster an inclusive environment that is underpinned by our values and champions, embraces and respects differences.
We support and encourage applications from all diversity groups. With an increasingly diverse workforce, we understand that careers may be placed on hold or limited throughout many life circumstances. Find out more about UniSQ at www.unisq.edu.au.
Role Information
Eligibility: To be considered for this position, you will need to have the right to work in Australia and be a currently enrolled student at a tertiary institution within Australia. You need to have completed at least a year study and remain enrolled for the duration of 2026.
Location: Remote
Term: Casual, commencing June 2026 Hours will vary based on operational requirements and are estimated to be approximately 6–12 hours per week.
Salary: Casual Appointment- HEW Level 4.1 ($52.10 per hour plus super)
Closes: Monday, 25 May 2026 at 11:30 pm (AEST)
At UniSQ we are united by our core values of Respect, Integrity and Excellence, which guide our daily actions and decision-making. UniSQ is a child safe organisation.
Position Description- Download Here
How to apply
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
You will be asked to:
Provide your contact details and where you are currently studying
Respond to four brief questions:
Why are you interested in the position at SVA?
Why do you think you are the best candidate for this position?
Describe a time when you assisted with the coordination of an event, project, or activity.
Describe your experience using systems or software to support your work.
Email a current resume.
At UniSQ we are united by our core values of Respect, Integrity and Excellence, which guide our daily actions and decision-making. UniSQ is a child safe organisation.
As part of the University of Southern Queensland's commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and rewarding work environment and in compliance with our legal obligations, we require candidates to declare whether they have been investigated for an allegation of Gender Based Violence, or determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes Gender Based Violence, during the course of their previous employment or in any legal process.
This information helps us meet our legal obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence, and will be considered when determining a candidate's suitability for employment, so that we can keep our University community safe.
For any specific questions related to this role, please contact Belinda Brear SVA Coordinator via sva@unisq.edu.au
April 2026 Newsletter
Dear SVA Network,
A bold claim—but this could be our biggest newsletter of the year. There are so many opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations and share best practice across the sector, so I hope you can read to the very end.
I'm pleased to warmly welcome two new institutional members: returning member Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and new member TAFE NSW.
In this issue you’ll find:
2026 Student Voice Awards Now Open
Student Voice Symposium Theme Announcement + Call for presenters
Launching our newest Collective- SSAF Student Consultation
Upcoming SVA Events- Practitioner Network, VET and Co-Curricular Recognition + more
Partner Opportunities & Events – Explore ways to stay informed
Warm regards,
Belinda Brear
SVA Coordinator
2026 Student Voice Awards Now Open
Celebrate the people and practices strengthening student voice across Australasia.
There are four award categories, designed to recognise students, staff, institutions and projects that are committed to enhancing student voice. The process is designed to be simple and inclusive. No lengthy reports required- just a clear story of what was achieved and why it matters.
Nominations are now open, closing 1 July
March 2026 Newsletter
Dear SVA Network,
A warm welcome and thank you to the newest members of our SVA Steering and Operational Committees, who joined their first meetings over the past month. With students and staff working side by side, our committees reflect our members’ needs and embody shared leadership focused on strengthening student voice. It’s wonderful to see representation from so many institutions and from all states.
In this issue you’ll find:
Learn more about our 2026 Steering and Operational Committee Members
Upcoming SVA Collective Sessions- Co-Curricular Recognition (new) and SDLC
HEDx Student Experience Podcast first episode now live
Save the date or join the working group for the 2026 Student Summit and Symposium at the University of Canberra, with thanks to Explorance as our Platinum sponsors
Network Session recordings now available for members who couldn't attend
Warm regards,
Belinda Brear
SVA Coordinator