Financial support secures student union's future

A management agreement between The University of Queensland and UQ’s student union has secured the future of the student support body.

UQ Secretary and Registrar Douglas Porter signed the three-year agreement with UQ Union President Julie-Ann Campbell on Thursday, May 10, providing an indexed grant starting at $975,000 this year.

The agreement seeks to help UQ Union ease the loss of funding due to voluntary student unionism, which came into effect in July 2006.

Mr Porter said voluntary student unionism had meant a loss of $7.5 million annual income at UQ, $5.5 million of which would have gone to the student union.

He said the university recognised the importance of the services UQ Union provided to students and would provide the grant to help it adjust to its new, lower income.

“It’s not a grant that comes anywhere near the income that they’ve got, it’s just under $1 million, but it does give them an opportunity to regroup and to continue to provide essential services to the students,” Mr Porter said.

Ms Campbell said UQ Union was fortunate to receive the grant, observing that many student bodies at other Australian universities had not been given similar support.

“Most of the G8 universities are providing support but there have been some student unions that have just been left behind,” she said.

“It’s an interim management agreement to allow us to get back on our feet but at these unis it’s a massive blow.”

The reduced level of funding means UQ Union will not be able to provide the same level of support it did previously.

Ms Campbell said the number of student union services would stay about the same, although the depth of service would be reduced, for example, shorter trading hours at the Red Room and refectories.

The current grant runs for three years and will be assessed in 2009 to see whether it should continue. A similar grant is being negotiated with UQ Sport.

“My expectation is that the university will be very sympathetic to considering renewing it,” Mr Porter said.

UQ Union facilities and services being preserved:
- Confidential advice, advocacy and support
- Legal services, including advice, simple wills and powers of attorney and minor disputes
- St Lucia Campus Safety Bus – union is jointly responsible with the University for day-to-day operating costs
- Welfare services, including crisis and personal support, help with Centrelink benefits and issues arising from tuition fees and scholarships
- Student representation on University Boards and Committees
- Some services at UQ Ipswich and Gatton
- Basic support for clubs and societies

Media: Douglas Porter (07 3365 1310), Julie-Ann Campbell (0407 463 247) or Tegan Taylor at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339).