At RUSU, we are committed to representing RMIT’s diverse student community. Our Clubs and Societies (C&S) Department helps students explore their social, professional, political, spiritual, and cultural identities by supporting a variety of campus clubs.
Starting a club is a rewarding but challenging experience. It offers a chance to develop skills, make lasting contributions to the RMIT community, and even have fun! Some of our clubs have been active for over 50 years.
While the process can seem complex, we’ve broken it down into clear steps. Please read the information below carefully.
If you have any questions or need advice, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly Clubs team at rusu.clubs@rmit.edu.au. We’re here to help!
Note for Relaunching Inactive Clubs: Please still complete the 2025 New RUSU Clubs Expression of Interest form, as it will ask whether you are starting a new club or rebooting a lapsed club and will then prompt you to provide further details for reviving the club.
Please be aware of the following:
To have your club up and running by the start of a semester, reach out to us before the middle of the previous semester. It’s essential to give your club enough time to establish itself for long-term success. This applies both to new clubs and re-launched ones, to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Important:
Starting a new club or reviving a lapsed one can take 8 to 12 weeks. Please read the steps below to understand the timeline in more detail. The Clubs & Societies department experiences busy periods, which is why we have specific intake periods for new clubs. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible, but please ensure you read the form carefully to understand the intake periods and the requirements for starting a new club:
Before starting a club, do some research to ensure your idea aligns with RMIT and RUSU guidelines. Check the following:
Club Requirements: To be considered, your club must:
For more details on RUSU’s regulations, visit RUSU Club Regulations.
Additional Considerations: RUSU may not support a club if:
If you’re unsure about your idea, reach out to us before moving on to Step 2.
If your club idea meets all the above requirements, submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. This will help us evaluate whether your club proposal is feasible.
What to Expect After Submitting Your EOI:
Feedback usually takes a few weeks and may result in one of the following outcomes:
Once your EOI is accepted, we’ll refer your club to RUSU Management for Provisional Affiliation approval. This grants you access to initial club resources and a timeline to complete the Full Affiliation process.
You will need to meet with a Clubs Officer to prepare your club’s constitution and finalise the next steps.
A Club constitution is a document that sets out the rules, structure, and purpose of a Club. It outlines how the Club operates, including membership requirements, leadership roles, decision-making processes, and other key guidelines to ensure smooth and sustainable management.
If you are rebooting a lapsed Club, a constitution will most likely already be in place and may only need refinement rather than adopting a new one. A Clubs Officer will assist with this step.
After provisional affiliation, you must complete the following steps to achieve Full Affiliation:
Important: Your IGM must be held during Semester 1 or 2, and may require a RUSU representative to attend.
Every year, your club must re-affiliate to remain active. The reaffiliation process is similar to the Full Affiliation process and includes:
Important Notes:
Email: rusu@rmit.edu.au
Call: +61 3 9925 1842
PO BOX 12387 Franklin Street, Melbourne, VIC 3006
RMIT University Student Union respectfully acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University.
© RMIT University Student Union Incorporated 2025