The University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is one of two student-controlled organisations for undergraduates at Sydney Uni. The SRC is the student organisation that represents all undergraduate students at all University of Sydney campuses.

The first question you might ask if all this is a bit new is: “So what’s the difference between the SRC and the Union (the other student organisation at Sydney Uni)?” Well, the main difference is their roles in how they serve students. The Union provides entertainment and commercial services and most of the cultural activities which happen on campus (such as the Clubs and Societies program) whereas the SRC represents undergraduate students and advocates on their behalf to the University, all levels of government and to the wider community as well as offering various welfare services and casework.

Your SRC and the University

The SRC is your voice within the University. Decisions that the University administration make are nearly always going to have an impact on students, the SRC is there to keep the University accountable to students and to make sure our opinions are heard.

Representatives from the SRC sit on most of the boards and committees within the University bureaucracy. The SRC also has regular meetings with the Vice Chancellor and the University Senate (the highest decision making body of the University).

Your SRC: fighting for students’ rights

As Students we don’t exist purely on university campuses, we live in a society which we share with everyone else and issues, which effect students, and which we care about are not just limited to education issues. The SRC is your fighting voice in the community. The SRC campaigns on issues which are important to students.

The SRC also provides advocacy on an individual basis, providing a number of services to students to help them through their time at university.

These free and confidential services are:

• Legal representation
• Housing and Welfare advice
• Advice on issues of harassment and discrimination
• Academic appeals and “show cause” advice
• Help with Austudy and Centrelink
• Emergency interest free loans of up to $50 and consultation for financial assistance.

The SRC puts out a number of helpful publications each year as well as the weekly student newspaper “Honi Soit”. The SRC also runs a second-hand bookshop where as well as buying the cheapest textbooks on campus; you can sell your old, no longer used textbooks.

Your SRC: Your Democracy

Every year the SRC holds elections in order to elect a President, 31 councillors, a team of Honi Soit editors and 7 delegates to the National Union of Students’. The council meets once a month and is the main decision making body for the SRC. Any student is welcome to attend and observe a council meeting. The SRC also has an executive, elected by the council which acts as the day-to-day decision making body of the SRC.

Your National Union

The SRC, as your representative student org on campus, is a member of the National Union of Students (NUS). NUS coordinates campaigns on a national level and ensures that our voices are heard right across the country. NUS has been of major importance to the student movement as long as it has existed. It has been instrumental in the fight against HECS increases and Voluntary Student Unionism and has been a major part of many other community campaigns.

Your SRC: Your involvement

The SRC is not something that is just provided for students, it is provided by students. We make the SRC what it is. To get involved and to make a difference, come along to one of the collective meets held weekly, run in elections, contribute to Honi Soit or simply drop by the SRC offices and have a chat about whatever you like.

This year should be seen as one of the biggest opportunities the student movement has had in a long time. We have a new government and now is the time for change. We need to be able to stand strong and demand a better future. We need to make sure that our voice is heard. Make sure you get involved this year in the campaign for a fairer education system.

The Council

The SRC has 31 councillors, all of whom are undergraduate students. These
councillors are democratically elected by the undergraduate student body at
elections each year. These councillors form the decision making body of the
SRC, voting at regular meetings on proposals put to the council. Any student
may attend and observe a council meeting.

The Executive

The SRC has an executive which is elected by the council. The executive
deals mostly with week to week decisions. There are 8 members of the
executive, and it meets each week. The members are the president, vice
president, and general secretary, along with four regular executive
positions.

Collectives and their officers

There are heaps of collectives run out of the SRC, which are the grassroots hub of activism. These collectives are the Education Action Group (EAG), the Anti-Racism Collective (ARC), the Global Solidarity Collective (including Students Against War), the Environment Collective and the autonomous Women’s and Queer collectives.

The collectives have open membership, meaning anyone can join (except for women’s and queer where only women and those identifying as queer can join, respectively). The collectives work on a grassroots approach, giving students power and resources to fight for the issues that they think are important, allowing each member to speak and vote on issues and contribute their time towards the cause that they are interested.

The operations of each of these collectives are broad and varied; collectives fight for fairer education, an end to discrimination both at university and abroad, the environment and for human rights. The collectives run most of the campaigns that you see on the ground at university; when there is a protest about the state of our education system, it is being run by the education collective.

The council also has officers which are elected to convene the various collectives which are supported by the SRC. The officers are Education, Women’s, Environment, Global Solidarity, Queer, Indigenous, Ethnic Affairs and Welfare. These officers ensure that the collectives meet, and act as a liaison with the council to pass on funding requests and inform the council of collective activities.

Committees

Committees are elected by the council. They deal with specific areas, such as the standing legal committee, finance committee and the grievance committee.

National Union of Students (NUS)

The SRC is part of NUS. NUS coordinates national level campaigns which affect more than one campus, fighting for the rights of students. The NUS delegates from each campus are democratically elected from each university at the same time as the SRC elections.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Aboriginal Affairs
email:aboriginal.affairs@src.usyd.edu.au

Activities
email:activities.pr@src.usyd.edu.au

Education
email:education.officers@src.usyd.edu.au

Environment
email:environment.off@src.usyd.edu.au

Ethnic Affairs
email:ethnic.affairs@src.usyd.edu.au

Women's
email:womens.officers@src.usyd.edu.au

Overseas Students
email:overseas.students@src.usyd.edu.au

International Solidarity
email:international.solidarity@src.usyd.edu.au

Sexuality
email: sexuality.officers@src.usyd.edu.au

Inter Campus Liaison
email:intercampus.liaison@src.usyd.edu.au

Welfare (includes Disability, Housing, Sexual Harassment,
College Liaison)
email: welfare.officers@src.usyd.edu.au

If you would like even more information about the SRC you can download our Constitution and Regulations. You will need Acrobat Reader to open this document. If you do not have Acrobat, download it now.