A vital part of GSA’s representation work is to ensure that graduate students have a direct say in how the University develops and behaves, by nominating graduate students to sit on University committees. Every major decision made at the University will be discussed on a committee at some point, which is why student representation is so important. 

GSA relies on our nominated committee members to keep us informed about discussions and decisions made by the University, so that we can continue to support and represent the interests of all graduate students. 

Please see the position description for further details. 

Position description Committee Representative

List of University Committees with a GSA Representative

School of Languages and Linguistics (SOLL) Research and Research Training Committee

Key purpose: Considers key matters within the School of Languages and Linguistics that affect graduate research students.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Niles Zhao and Valeria Morelli

Arts Graduate Studies Committee

Key purpose: Advises and communicates on graduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Arts, oversees related course changes and policies.

Meets: Approximately nine times a year
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Vacant

Arts Library Committee

Key purpose: Responsible for maintaining regular contact between the Faculty and the Library, providing a forum for exchange of views on library services and to make recommendations on matters referred to the Committee by library users.

Meets: Approximately four times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Tess Corbel

Arts Research Training Committee

Key purpose: Provides information and advice to the Faculty Board on policy matters relating to research training. Responsible for monitoring and developing strategies in relation to improving the quality of research training and supervision, support services for graduate research candidates, scholarships and grants schemes, and reviewing and considering proposals for course changes to research degrees.

Meets: Approximately nine times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current representative: Brandon Liew

FFAM Graduate Research Committee

Key purpose: Fosters collaborative understandings between staff and students about how to best support graduate research students to thrive during their studies and beyond. The meetings will provide adequate time for dialogue in order to identify emerging issues and feed information and ideas into the system.

Meets: Approximately eight times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Goran Duric

FFAM Student Support Committee

Key purpose: Works with the University system to ensure that barriers to student success are addressed. Focus on academic and professional staff working together to influence decision making at a structural level to create a positive impact on the student experience.

Meets: Approximately six times a year
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Ioannis Sidiropoulos

MDHS Academic Programs Committee

Key purpose: Responsible for monitoring all new and changes to courses and subjects in the Faculty, prior to their progression to the central Academic Programs Committee and Academic Board.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Rish Achalia and Jen Wong

MDHS Graduate Programs and Executive Education Committee

Key purpose: Oversight of medical education and all MMS courses (with the exception of the MD) including courses and programs offered through Melbourne Commercial (award and no- award). Responsible for overseeing curriculum development, assessment, evaluation of, and selection for the MMS’s graduate coursework programs (with the exception of the MD). Serves as the school level approval body for all subject and course changes and policy development applicable to these courses.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Yushy Zhao

MDHS Learning and Teaching Strategy

Key purpose: Provides oversight for the implementation and monitoring of the MDHS Learning and Teaching strategy, including advising the Faculty Executive Committee on the development of key initiatives providing a forum for schools and units to discuss ideas, and support inter-professional learning in the Faculty.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Jeff Reynolds

MDHS SPAG Committee

Key purpose: The MDHS Student Placement Advisory Group (SPAG) is responsible for discussing current challenges and best practices in student clinical and non-clinical placements across the Faculty. The SPAG is empowered to take collective action to enhance student placement programs in the Faculty and may refer matters to the MDHS Academic Programs Committee and/or MDHS Clinical Education Strategy and Risk Committee as needed. From time to time, either of these committees may request advice from the SPAG on matters related to industry-hosted student activity.

Meets: Approximately 4 times a year
Meeting length: Approximately one hour
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Jemin Suh and Rachael Noble

Science Graduate Academic Programs Committee

Key purpose: Advises and communicates on graduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Science, oversees related course changes and policies.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representatives: Olivia Chen

Science Graduate Research Committee

Key purpose: Sub-committee of the Science Graduate Academic Programs Committee that focuses on graduate research issues within the Faculty.

Meets: Twice a year
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Sagrika Chugh

Academic Board

Key purpose: Has responsibility for the supervision and development of all academic activities of the University, including the maintenance of high teaching and research standards. The GSA President sits on this committee.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours

Current student representative GSA President

Academic Programs Committee

Key purpose: Develops policy relating to all courses, including teaching and assessment, and oversees change and development of new courses.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Jasmine Sawant and Flora Gan

Committee of Graduate Research Associate Deans

Key purpose: Co-ordinates delivery of research training for the University and works with faculties and graduate schools to strengthen research training outcomes.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Georgia Caruana

Elected Representatives Group

Key purpose: Elected representatives of GSA and UMSU who meet regularly with senior University staff to discuss issues pertinent to students.

Current student representatives: GSA Board members

Location: Parkville

Higher Degree Research Committee

Key purpose: Advises on all matters affecting research higher degree courses (doctorates and masters), monitors current courses and advises on change.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Ioannis Sidiropoulos and one vacancy

Libraries and Scholarly Services Advisory Group

Key purpose: Supervises the quality of services, and advises on policy and resources for the University’s libraries. Advises on emerging opportunities and directions, the experiences of scholars accessing services, the development of information services, and digital and physical learning environments and resources as they relate to service provision to the University community.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Rashika Bahl

Respect Taskforce

Key purpose: Develops strategies to improve the culture, policies and practices of the University in relation to sexual assault and sexual harassment. Acts as liaison for groups within and external to the University community and advises on relevant strategies, events, programs and communications.

Meets: Four times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: GSA Women’s Office Bearer sits on this committee

Location: Parkville

Selection Procedures Committee

Key purpose: Advises and makes recommendations on the selection of students into courses, subjects or groups of subjects; ensures quality of selection process and advises on scholarships and prizes.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Kevin Mao and Aishwarya Girish

Sustainability Executive Committee

Key purpose: Leads implementation of the University’s Sustainability Plan and advises on sustainability-related matters.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: GSA Environment and Sustainability Office Bearer

Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee

Key purpose: Advises on quality assurance policy and processes for teaching and learning in all award courses and subjects.

Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two

Current student representatives: Haifei Yu and Jingyang Wang

Central Human Research Ethics Committee

Key purpose: Oversees all matters pertaining to ethics review of human research at the University.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Gio Fidelito

Mental Health Advisory Group

Key purpose: Provides a forum for representatives from the University Community to collaborate on mental health initiatives, to collectively build mental health capacity. Advises on current and emerging issues, trends and themes relating to mental health, and the raising of awareness of these matters across the University.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: GSA Health and Welfare Office Bearer

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

Key purpose: Facilitates cooperation in instigating, developing and implementing health and safety measures across the University. Formulates and reviews health and safety standards, rules and procedures.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Sean Oh

Research Ethics and Integrity Strategy Committee

Key purpose: Oversees and advises on ethics and integrity programs. Aligns strategic activities across the range of ethics and regulatory requirements for the University.

Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One

Current student representative: Alice Kim