General Manager’s Report

While the early stages of 2022 saw continued campus impacts through recurring COVID restrictions and extreme weather events, the Guild was pleased to settle into a degree of familiarity in O-Week and beyond.

The Guild ran a record number of O-Week events in Trimester 1 and across each trimester, with overall student attendance at more than 12,000. This set the stage for strong engagement across the remainder of the year, of which you can read about in the following service portfolio reports.

Within Student Services, we continued to build on the service portfolios and frameworks established in 2020/21, following extensive consultation with Gold Coast campus students about their student life needs. This included the enhancement and expansion of existing services such as advocacy, club funding and support, and social and cultural events, while shaping and refining newly established service portfolios and their services. A highlight of these newer aspects included a range of diversity and inclusion events, with the Guild hosting its first ever Respect Week.

Jessica Brown General Manager

The Student Guild was grateful to partner with Griffith University on a key research project to help inform the Guild’s work in this space, which focused on understanding the needs of diverse student groups to support their sense of belonging and connection to campus. This partnership and other successes detailed throughout the Guild’s 2022 Annual Report demonstrate the collaborative and enduring relationship the Guild shares with Griffith University, underpinned by our shared commitment to providing the best possible student experience at Griffith.

Of course, the student voice is an integral part of the Guild’s operations. As we move into 2023, we remain eager to live our ‘Students First’ value through continual service and facility improvements to respond to changing student needs.

Within the organisation, the Guild team contributed to and participated in a range of business development projects designed to enhance and support our culture. In 2022, we collectively reviewed the Guild’s purpose and vision, workplace environment, leadership, and decision-making frameworks, and developed organisational values and behaviours. We also commenced work on our communications manifesto, significant policy and procedure development, and other aspects due for completion mid-2023.

I am grateful to all Guild team members for their sustained commitment to enhancing the student experience and ensuring we are the primary contributor to a vibrant Gold Coast campus. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Guild Board, who are talented, passionate, and dedicated to supporting their peers. I am grateful to hear their experiences first-hand and to work alongside them in making student life at Griffith awesome. I extend this same gratitude and acknowledgement to the Board’s sub-committee members, GCAP Board, and Guild volunteers including club executives.

Despite the challenges we have faced within the sector, campus, and our organisation over the past few years, we approach 2023 with optimism and with an unwavering commitment to deliver on our vision, to create a thriving community where all Griffith Gold Coast students feel supported and empowered for their future.

Jessica Brown General Manager