[Supra-distance] SUPRA eGrad - 9 April 2010

Fri Apr 9 14:50:55 EST 2010

SUPRA EVENTS & INFO

1. Win a $50 Co-op book voucher!

2. New SUPRA Disability Officer

3. Next Council Meeting

4. Nominations for SUPRA Council

5. The Green paper

6. Disability Action Plan under review?

7. SUPRA Trivia Night!

8. SUPRA Sports

9. Help Support SUPRA

OTHER EVENTS & INFO

10. International Doctoral Students with Dependents in NSW Public  
Schools

11. Postgraduate Fellow of Senate

12. F: A Festival, A Conference, A Future

13. Changes to Youth Allowance

SUPRA EVENTS AND INFO

1. Win a $50 Co-Op book voucher - entries close in 2 weeks!

Win one of three $50 Co-Op book vouchers by filling out SUPRA's  
Communication Survey.  We'd really appreciate you taking the time to  
give us feedback on what you think about how we communicate with our  
constituents, so we can assess the value of the things we do, and  
improve.

SUPRA is strengthened by your involvement and feedback, so please be  
honest. We are specifically seeking input on how we may improve our  
existing publications and events; how we promote these; and the  
representation work that we do. This survey is, of course, completely  
anonymous - we're not asking for any personal details; we won't be  
selling this information to anyone; and it won't be used to turn you  
into a better consumer. At the end of the survey, you'll find details  
to go into the draw to win one of three $50 Co-Op book vouchers - very  
handy at this time of year!

To fill in the survey go to: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22ACWGLPCV9

2. *NEW* Disability Officer – disability at supra.usyd.edu.au

Good day everyone! My name is Kathryn Stachyra and I have the honour  
of being SUPRA’s first disability officer. I will be posting on the  
new disability network on SUPRA’s website very soon which will explain  
more about me, thoughts on the title of ‘disability officer’ and what  
I hope to achieve during the next couple of months. Please email me  
with ideas, questions, concerns, or even to say hello and that you  
would like to be kept informed! I look forward to contributing  
whatever I am able to in this short time! Take care, Kathryn Stachyra.

3. SUPRA Council Meeting

The next Council Meeting is on April 15 at 5pm in the SUPRA offices.   
We will be mostly discussing proposed constitutional changes and the  
green paper submission.  If you are interested in attending, please  
mark your attendance with our Secretary, John Nowakowski, at secretary at supra.usyd.edu.au

4. Nominations for SUPRA Council

Nominations are now open for SUPRA General Councillors. We have some  
vacancies on the SUPRA Council between now and June 30 - which is a  
great way of getting a start before the elections. Come and be a part  
of the Council and help make a difference.

We also have a vacancies for an Activities Co-Convenor, and Director  
of Student Publications. If you are interested in these roles, you can  
apply by becoming a General Councillor. For more information, please  
contact our Secretary, John Nowakowski, at  
secretary at supra.usyd.edu.au.  The nomination form can be sent on  
request. Nominations close 5pm, Tuesday 13th April.

5. The Green Paper

The University's Green Paper submission date is drawing closer, and  
SUPRA is actively encouraging all Postgraduates to submit their  
responses.  To help you in writing your submission, SUPRA SAAO, Adrian  
Cardinali, has prepared a briefing paper and we have summary both of  
which are available for download here: http://www.supra.usyd.edu.au/event-article.php?id=30

SUPRA, the SRC and the USU have organised a forum for students with Dr  
Michael Spence (Vice Chancellor) to discuss the Green Paper. 1pm,  
Wednesday 14th April, Manning Bar. Come along and ask the VC  
everything you want to know about the Green Paper. Don't forget to  
have your submissions in to the website by 19th April!

6. Disability Action Plan under review? – send us your thoughts!

The university is due to review the current Disability Action Plan.  
Whilst there has been no action on this front so far, SUPRA is keen to  
put in a submission for the review based on student feedback.  Below  
is a link to the Plan under review, and another link that relates to  
disability and education legislation and policies.

Disability Action Plan: http://www.usyd.edu.au/eeo/docs/DAP2006-10.pdf

Legislation and Policy that relates to disability and education: http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/disability/policy.shtml

SUPRA is inviting all postgrads to respond to the Disability Action  
Plan with your thoughts, questions, complaints, ideas and so on!  Some  
points to think about are: the need for an external review; the lack  
of inclusion of disabilities that are not physical in nature (such as  
mental health); the impact of multiple disabilities on students'  
education in relation to special considerations. Email your responses  
to disability at supra.usyd.edu.au

7. SUPRA Trivia Night!  Mark the date!

Do you like Trivia? Are you the sort of person who knows their pavlova  
from a Pavlovian response? Can you name all 5 European Capitals with  
only 4 letters? Then Trivia is for you! SUPRA is putting on a gala  
trivia night on APRIL 28.  Mark the date in your calendar, more  
details next week!  Contact Sid for more information at activities at supra.usyd.edu.au

8. SUPRA Sports

Are you looking to keep fit, have a social afternoon, and get involved  
with activities that keep your heart racing? SUPRA Sport is back for  
2010 and we want you to join us. No matter what your level of fitness  
or desired involvement, come along!

SOCIAL (means not competitive) BASKETBALL

When: Tuesdays 3 - 5pm,

Where: Camperdown Park Basketball Courts,

Directions: If you are walking from Parramatta Road to Mallet Street,  
turn left, walk up the street a bit, then it's on your right. It's  
just behind the bowling club and the tennis courts. There is a quicker  
way from the Sydney University Village side of campus. You can go down  
Carillion Ave and then down Mallet St.

SOCIAL (means not competitive) SOCCER. If you would like to play  
social soccer with some fellow postgraduate students (around 22 so  
far), then join us on Fridays from 5 - 7 pm.

For more information contact Chihong by email at SUPRACHOI at gmail.com

9. Help Support SUPRA

Each year, SUPRA helps thousands of students with their studies by  
providing resources such as the Advice and Advocacy Officers; a free  
legal service; access to computers; subsidised printing, photocopying,  
and faxing; major publications such as the Thesis Guide and  
Postgraduate Survival Guide; as well as social activities for all  
postgrads. Through the hard work of SUPRA and our national body, the  
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), the APA and  
UPA rates were increased for 2010 by 10%.

You can help us continue to help you for as little as $20 per year. Go  
to http://www.supra.usyd.edu.au/support.html and make a donation today  
via Paypal.

OTHER EVENTS AND INFO

10. International Doctoral Students with Dependents in NSW Public  
Schools

The NSW Government has advised the University, that international  
doctoral students with dependents in NSW public schools no longer have  
to pay school fees of several thousands of dollars per year. Where  
students have already paid the fees for 2010, those payments will be  
refunded to them. International students on Ausaid scholarships,  
Australian Defense Force Scholarships, or Scholarships funded by the  
University, will continue to have their NSW public school fees waived  
for their dependents. Unfortunately other postgraduate international  
students with dependents in public schools continue to be liable for  
fees.

11. Postgraduate Fellow of Senate

Due to the resignation of Sam Greenland, a new Postgraduate Fellow of  
Senate is currently being sought. Voting is currently open at https://senate-elections.usyd.edu.au/vote/ 
  to ALL Postgraduate students. Mr Nick Irving has provided SUPRA with  
comment on why he feels he is capable for the position, and SUPRA  
endorses his candidature.  Information about both candidates can be  
accessed at http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate/Election_PGcandidates.shtml.  
SUPRA thoroughly recommends all Postgraduates vote, in a process  
taking no more than a few moments.

12. F: A Festival, A Conference, A Future

What is feminism today? Why is it still relevant? Where is it going?  
What are the issues? Parental leave? Fertility control? Pay Equity?  
Raunch Culture?We are a diverse collective of women who have come  
together, to enliven and ignite the Sydney feminist movement. We  
invite you to join us for two days of lively debate, workshops and  
discussion about where we're from, where we're at and where we're going.

Check out the blog - a space for productive and creative discussion  
about issues, news, debates and recent developments relevant to  
feminism and women: http://feministconference.blogspot.com/

13. Changes to Youth Allowance

DEEWR have updated their website with information about changes to  
Youth Allowance and the introduction of the "Start Up Scholarship" and  
"Relocation Scholarship". The new scholarships will be administered  
through Centrelink and will be implemented from 1 April 2010. The age  
of independence is also lowered from 1 April 2010 from 25 years to 24  
years and from 1 July 2010 the Parental Income Test threshold will be  
raised. Other changes will be come in progressively over the next  
couple of years. The following link has more information and a  
"Student Assistance Estimator" to help students work out what they may  
be eligible for:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Programs/YouthAllowance/Pages/default.aspx

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