Date: Monday 30 June 2025
Time: 9:00am – 10:30am AEST
Venue: Cairns Pullman International
Cost: Please see Registration page

Empowering student voices during higher education reform

Join us for an engaging session on the evolving landscape of student partnership in Australia in light of recent reforms to the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and other shifts in higher education. This session will explore how these changes are reshaping the role of student-led organisations, student partnership and engagement across campuses.

Discussion will include benefits and challenges of these reforms for student communities and higher education institutions, how reforms are shaping services, and insights into how student partnership practices may be shifting but remain essential to building collaborative and reciprocal relationships to benefit all students. We will consider an international perspective around student engagement from the UK to identify practice along a spectrum of consumer-driven to partnership approaches and student representation to individual engagement (Lowe and Bols, 2020).

The session offers an opportunity to network with peers, share experiences, and gain valuable insights into the transformative power of student partnerships to create a more inclusive, supportive, and dynamic educational environment.

Co-convenors

Dr Alison Jaquet
Director (Support for Learning)
University of Southern Queensland

Dr Alison Jaquet is Director, Support for Learning, at the University of Southern Queensland and has over 20 years of tertiary sector experience across academic and professional roles. She is a champion of student partnership and has experience in student engagement, widening participation, and staff development.

Megan Pozzi
Director (Student Enquiry and Advising)
University of Southern Queensland

Megan is the Director, Student Enquiry and Advising, at the University of Southern Queensland. A former high school Drama and English teacher, she has 15 years’ experience working across the secondary and tertiary education sector. She is an award winning speaker, educator and researcher focussed on creating engaging, accessible and equitable learning experiences with and for students.

Kate Walsh
Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships
Flinders University

Kate Walsh is the Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships at Flinders University. She has extensive experience in student engagement nationally, including as the inaugural Project Manager for Student Voice Australia. Her focus is on harnessing the power of student partnership and representation to transform higher education and the student experience.