President’s Report

The anticipation for O-Week 2022 was at an all-time high. After kicking off the year with torrential rain and flooding alongside a difficult few years of COVID limitations and the absence of international students, the Gold Coast campus was ready to welcome students with a spectacular celebration.

The Student Guild hosted a record number of events throughout O-Week, ranging from online information sessions to socials and specialised buddy finder events, as well as unique and innovative experiences. The Guild’s O-Week program placed a strong emphasis on supporting students to connect with one another. This included various speed friending events (Mates in Minutes) as well as a Mature Age Student Morning Tea focused on connecting mature age students with one another.

Sarah McDonald President

The Guild’s 2022 O-Week also offered a low sensory space to make the event more accessible and to cater to students who may prefer a low sensory experience. The room was located away from the music and the hustle and bustle of the festival grounds, giving students a place to unwind if they were feeling overstimulated. In addition, there was a limited sensory time allotted to attend the festival, with no music or loud activities.

Throughout the craziness of O-week our amazing volunteers racked up 677 hours to help provide a memorable experience for all 9,602 students that attended various events across the week. Beyond O-Week, 2022 saw a massive change in direction when it came to one of most renowned events. After years of feedback regarding our annual Race Day event and the evolving values within our student community, the decision to introduce a new event was made. The launch of BIG AMP went off with a bang, a dedicated week to showcase various Arts, Music, and Performances, with the week wrapping up with an all-in music festival at the Broadwater Parklands.

Another major project for the Guild was a collaborative team effort to refine our purpose and vision statements to ensure all services and events are aligned with why we exist, and where we want the organisation (and students!) to be in the future. You can view our newly adopted purpose and vision statements on the inside cover of this report.

The Guild continued to strengthen its relationship with Griffith University through regular meetings with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), allowing the Guild the opportunity to share and discuss current student issues. It was through this avenue that accessibility to the Library was upgraded to 24/7 with a focus on enhancing student safety.

I would like to thank every student who has given their time to volunteer, manage a club, participate in a survey, and contribute to student life over the past year. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to cultivating student life at Griffith University Gold Coast.

I would like to thank outgoing Student Guild Vice-President, Max Dumbrell, fellow Board Members, and student representatives of the Sport and Cultural Committee for their constant passion for being the voice of students and enhancing student life.

I would also like to thank all Student Guild staff. Without them all events, activities, and initiatives would not be possible. We thank you for your constant support and guidance, and your passion and enthusiasm