Staff and students come together with Council to shape Swinburne’s governance

Swinburne staff and students have come together with members of University Council and university leaders for the first of a series of collaborative governance forums, sharing their experiences and ideas to help shape the future of Swinburne.

Held on 21 October, the forums provided an opportunity for staff and students to discuss what is working, what needs to improve and how their experiences can better inform university decisions.

The forums follow significant reforms approved by Swinburne Council in August and October to strengthen staff and student participation in university governance.

These include the creation of an additional elected staff position and an additional elected student position on Council, with elections scheduled for March 2027.

Council has also committed to establishing ongoing staff and student forums that provide an independent channel for feedback, with annual reporting to Council and, where appropriate, Academic Senate. Other reforms include establishing a First Nations Advisory Body and introducing externally validated annual workforce reporting.

The reforms reflect ongoing collaboration between Council, university leadership, staff and student representatives, including the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and Swinburne Student Association.

The Collaborative Governance Working Group, which was established in June this year and is jointly chaired by Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Ridings and Chair of Academic Senate Professor Amanda Scardamaglia, has played a central role in developing the reforms and supporting their implementation.

At the student forum, participants shared their experiences of campus facilities, student accommodation, on-campus activities and opportunities for engagement.

Staff discussed opportunities to improve university processes, strengthen collaboration across organisational boundaries, and promote greater harmonisation between vocational and higher education.

Both forums highlighted the importance of ensuring that feedback reaches those responsible for decisions and contributes to ongoing improvements across the university.

Swinburne Student Association CEO Josh Gilligan welcomed the opportunity for students to engage directly with Council and university leaders.

“Students experience the university through the places where they learn, the services they use and the support they receive. These forums give students an opportunity to explain directly to Council and university leaders what is working and what needs to improve.

“The important thing is that those conversations continue and that students can see how their feedback is influencing decisions.”

NTEU Swinburne Branch President Michael Leach welcomed the opportunity for continued collaboration.

“These forums are an important opportunity for staff to engage directly with Council and university leaders, share their experiences and contribute to the future of Swinburne.

“It’s encouraging to see this commitment to collaborative governance, and I look forward to continuing to work together to achieve positive outcomes for our staff and the wider university community.”

As the continuing arrangements are established, the forums will provide an additional source of staff and student perspectives to inform Council’s oversight and decision-making.

Chancellor John Pollaers OAM said the forums build on Council’s existing engagement with the Swinburne community.

“Our engagement with staff and students, including through campus visits and conversations, has helped inform Council’s decisions and priorities. Our recent focus on investment in Health Science facilities is one example.

“These forums strengthen that engagement by establishing an independent and continuing channel for staff and students to share their experiences, with regular reporting to Council.

“Over time, this will help us better understand what is improving, where challenges remain and whether our decisions are making a meaningful difference.”