Position: Advocacy & Governance Assistant
Type: Casual (24 hours/week) | HEW 2.1 (Higher Education General Staff Award PAACT)
Location: Callaghan, NSW (with potential travel to other campuses)

Support student leaders. Strengthen governance. Make a difference.

UNSA is seeking a motivated and community-minded Advocacy & Governance Assistant to join our dynamic team. This role is perfect for someone passionate about student representation, leadership development, and good governance.

About the Role

As part of UNSA’s Advocacy & Governance team, you’ll play a key role in supporting the Student Representative Council (SRC), Board of Directors, and working groups. You’ll help coordinate meetings, maintain accurate records, and ensure student representatives are empowered, engaged, and supported in their leadership journey.

What You'll Do

Coordinate agendas, reports, and logistics for governance meetings;

Support student representatives with onboarding, training, and leadership development;

Maintain accurate governance records and ensure compliance with UNSA policies;

Facilitate communication between students, staff, and stakeholders;

Assist with events, consultations, and feedback initiatives; and

Track engagement and prepare reports using Microsoft 365 tools

What We’re Looking For

You’ll thrive in this role if you are:

Organised, proactive, and detail-oriented;

Passionate about student voice and leadership;

Skilled in Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Planner, Forms, Excel);

Comfortable working with diverse stakeholders; and

Demonstrated experienced in administrative or governance support roles (desirable)

Bonus Points For

Experience working in a university or student services environment;

Knowledge of governance and event management in a not-for-profit or student organisation context; and/or

Mental Health First Aid, Cultural Awareness, or Disability Awareness training

Other Requirements

Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in administration, business, events or related;

A valid NSW Driver’s Licence and access to a reliable vehicle (travel between campuses may be required);

National Police Check (desirable); and/or

First Aid Certificate (desirable).

Why Join UNSA?

Make a Difference: Support student leaders and help shape inclusive, student-led governance across the University of Newcastle.

Supportive Culture: Join a values-driven team that champions kindness, collaboration, and respect for diverse perspectives.

Grow Professionally: Build your skills in governance, leadership development, and stakeholder engagement while contributing to meaningful student initiatives.

Eligibility

A copy of the formal position description can be provided to interested applicants upon emailing the Hiring Manager (details below).

At UNSA, we foster a collaborative, inclusive, and impact-driven culture. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQIA+ community members, culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, women, and individuals aged over 50.

How to Apply

Ready to make a real impact? Submit your CV (maximum 2 pages) and a brief cover letter addressing the selection criteria (maximum 2 pages).

Applications close 2 weeks after initial advertisement however recruitment will be managed on a rolling basis so make sure to get your application in early! For more information or confidential enquiries, please contact the Hiring Manager, Madeline Swainson at [email protected].