RUSU has successfully advocated for a clearer policy explaining that inherent requirements are about supporting students, not excluding them. This has been backed by RMIT’s Chief Operating Officer and a formal public Commitment Statement from RMIT. This makes it clear that program staff need to explore equitable adjustments that allow students to fully participate in RMIT programs. You can find RMIT’s new Statement of Commitment here.
Exam times can be stressful without the added burden of understanding changes to exam rules. RUSU has put together a series of posters and social media posts to help students navigate some of the biggest exam rules. Want to know what to do when you feel sick during an exam? Or what to do with your phone? RUSU has your back with info posters up at exam venues now.
RUSU has been working with RMIT to explore more mentoring options for students. We’ve been contributing our ideas for better study supports and peer social networks to help you get the most out of your time at RMIT.
RUSU has worked with RMIT to refresh Building 204 to create an open and comfortable student space. Somewhere to play games, have lunch, meet friends or just relax between class. With the new RUSU Games Pod arriving soon, student will also be able to play Xbox and PS3 games.
In response to consultation with the RMIT Islamic Students Society, and other RMIT staff and students, RUSU has given feedback to RMIT about the requirement for a new City campus prayer facility, and has been campaigning hard to make this vision a reality.
More microwaves. More seating. More games. More style! RUSU has been working with RMIT on improved facilities in Building 56 and 57 including classroom upgrades, escalators and the upgraded Cafe.
The Queer Lounges have been refreshed, refurbished and upgraded at Brunswick and Bundoora. Come in and visit us soon.
The RUSU Women’s Lounges have been refreshed, refurbished and upgraded at Carlton, Brunswick and Bundoora campuses. Come in and visit us soon.
In semester 1, RUSU worked with RMIT to ensure all libraries stayed open until 8pm on weekends during swot vac until the end of exams. RUSU will continue to advocate for more extended hours study spaces across all campuses during semester 2 and beyond.
In response to wait times and overcrowding in PC labs, RUSU has advocated for access to more computers during exam and assessment time. An additional 50 PCs will be available for RMIT student use at the computer lab in building 8, level 7.
A 2018/2019 Win - RUSU continues to manage and gain improvements to the Bundoora East Building 254 Student Lounge/Games Room. A new RUSU Games Pod (with X box and Play station) has just been delivered!
This year RUSU has campaigned for more E Games on campus. The RUSU Game Pods have been produced and are being rolled out on campus on the City Campus (in the e games room Building 12 level 4), Bundoora West (Building 204), Bundoora East (Building 254), Carlton (Building 57, level 4) and another roaming Games Pod that will 'pop up' in other locations such as Building 80 and at Brunswick.
RUSU has worked with the Bundoora Islamic Society and students from the female prayer space to get upgrades to the existing male and female prayer spaces at Bundoora West, including an audio link to the female prayer space for Friday prayers. RUSU also continues to champion the need for a new and larger prayer space to be built at Bundoora for 2020.
RUSU ran another successful library lock-in event this year. Over 400 students attended to take advantage of the free massages, tea, coffee and healthy food, chill out zone and a comfortable place to study in a focused environment during swot vac.
RUSU and RMIT Library have been working together to address the issues some students had in 2018 with accessing the SAI Global standards during assessment time. Good news! RMIT Library has doubled the number of SAI Global licences for 2019. Still having difficulty downloading the standards? Talk to your friendly librarian.
RUSU has been making connections with RMIT’s Areas of Focus to help advocate for improved work placement experiences for RMIT students.
RUSU has been working with RMIT to identify opportunities to provide support for international students, including with regard to fee payment processes and ensuring students have a clear understanding of their rights and obligations in terms of student fees.
Greater access to safe and secure storage. RUSU has been working with RMIT to increase the number of lockers for students. RMIT Property Services has delivered over 450 new lockers across the campuses in 2019.
The next time you’re feeling unwell or looking for a good doctor, help is close by. A new medical centre dedicated to RMIT is opening at the City campus!
Medical Hub @ RMIT is an inclusive service for RMIT students opening in August 2019. This accessible service offers direct billing for international students for GP (doctor) consultations, and bulk billing for students with a current Medicare card.
Doctors at Medical Hub @ RMIT have special interests in women’s health, men’s health, mental health, sexual health, travel medicine and LGBTI+ health. Multilingual doctors are available and confidentiality is maintained at all times.
RUSU President Ella Gvildys has provided a student voice on the Medical Centre @ RMIT stakeholder meetings.
RUSU and RMIT Student Life are creating a banner – in collaboration with hundreds of students and staff – that will symbolise strength and support for women*.
RUSU President Ella Gvildys and Vice-Chancellor Martin Bean are championing this project together, which aims to promote respect at RMIT in a highly visible way.
This ties into the recent RMIT and RUSU collaboration ‘Be the Change’ and RUSU's 'Be a Better Human' campaign focused on bringing about a culture of respect within our community
Taking part in this project is designed to give a platform specifically to have conversations about the important issues of women’s safety and wellbeing while creating an art piece to reclaim space for women* on campus.
*Female identifying and non-binary inclusive.
RUSU are opening Little Libraries across the RMIT campuses to enable staff and students to donate and borrow books. Books will be accessible to everyone on campus, and we will encourage Little Library users to return the books once read, as well as donate unwanted books to the service.
Alongside the Little Libraries, RUSU is opening Food Bank cupboards across campus, to give students in need a chance to access free food on campus. This initiative follows the success of our Compass Cupboard food banks, and will remain open during selected hours for students to visit and take what they need.
RUSU representatives are passionate about creating a safe campus environment for everyone. RUSU President, Ella Gvildys, General Secretary, Aditya Sharma, and Women's Officer, Ma Beatrice Co, all featured in RMIT's university-wide 'Be The Change' campaign, that seeks to reduce sexual harm in the RMIT community, allowing all members of the RMIT community to feel supported, safe, secure and respected.
Be The Change encourages harm reduction measures, including bystander action, reduction in everyday sexism, involvement of peer groups, education and support.
RUSU and RMIT co-hosted the Have Your Say Summit featuring Martin Bean CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT. This was a chance for emerging student leaders to come together, discuss ideas for innovative change, build networks and hear from senior leadership. The summit generated a number of great ideas that will be submitted to RMIT for consideration as part of ongoing student-driven initiatives at RMIT.
Organising a student led Multicultural festival on campus was a RUSU Priority for 2019. In week 4 we celebrated the vast diversity of the RMIT student body with a multicultural festival on Bowen Street, including student clubs, cultural performances, music and free food.
The campaign is called Be a Better Human, because we don’t just want it to be about what we shouldn’t do; we want it to be about self-improvement for everyone. And when we say ‘everyone’, we really do mean everyone. We’re encouraging everyone who is part of our campus community to take a moment and consider how we can ‘better’ our behaviour.
The 2019 RUSU Student Life Awards recognises student contributions to student life outside the classroom, and highlights the outstanding commitment to participation in university life. Whether it’s through services to volunteering, clubs, student mentorship, advocacy, sustainability champions, dedicated leadership and enthusiasm for student life on campus.