The Professionalism on Res academic will discuss many of the key aspects of maintaining a professional image as a leader in a residential college setting, including reputation, boundaries, perception, and conflict resolution. 

One of the hardest aspects of being a college leader is living where you work, and having to maintain a professional working relationship with a variety of different stakeholders, which inevitably can cause challenges for young leaders.

We will discuss how to navigate professionalism as a student leader, whilst still being able to be your authentic self at your home away from home, through highly interactive group discussions of difficult scenarios that college leaders may find themselves in over the course of their time in their position. We will also work to identify what professionalism means in different contexts, including with staff, with the student body, within your team, and in communication with other teams.

It is a familiar, yet important concept to Student Leaders that they must prioritise ‘self-care’ in order to avoid burnout. Whilst taking time for meditation, a walk outside, or spending time with loved ones is imperative to maintaining a positive mindset for all individuals, living in your workplace is something unique to the leaders of university residences. It can be difficult to set clear boundaries and separate responsibilities of a role from relaxation and ‘off’ time.

This academic aims to guide leaders to know the bounds of their roles, setting clear expectations for their year and finally, mechanisms to put procedures in place for taking leave when needed. Self Care in Leadership reaches outside the box for the familiar advice given to help delegates to set tangible goals for their coming year as a residential college leaders.

The Introduction to Leadership academic is an exploratory session that encourages critical analysis of delegate's leadership skills both as individuals, but also broadly within teams throughout their residences.

The workshop will initially encourage delegates to discuss the aspects of strong leadership, and critically examine their own leadership skills, whilst assisting the delegates in creating personal development plans.

The second part of the workshop will focus on the development of the leadership teams within each residence. The delegates will work within their own residences to discuss the strenghts of each leader, facilitating stronger team cohesion whilst simultaneously recognising the value of every team member, acknowledging that everyone brings something to the table.

This session facilitates an environment whereby delegates identify ways in which their personal leadership can be developed on individual and team-based levels, encouraging delegates to set goals for self-improvement throughout the week and in their time throughout college leadership.

Events are central to the residential experience, providing opportunities for students to build friendships, step outside their comfort zones, and create lasting memories. For some students, organising an event might be their first time taking on such responsibility.

Our Events Workshop academic will guide participants through the entire event planning process, from initial brainstorming, engagement, defining end goals, through to a detailed pre-, during, and post-event evaluation. Attendees will also learn essential skills like conducting thorough risk assessments, adhering to government policies and developing contingency plans and strategies to ensure the safety and success of their events. By the end of the session, delegates will leave with a practical "how-to guide" they can bring back to their College, ready to organise events with confidence.

This toolkit will bolster SLT resources for planning O Week and other residential events. This workshop aims to equip students with the tools, a know-how to plan and execute meaningful and safe events that enrich the residential community experience.

In our residences, student leaders, and specifically employed SLT, adopt a role of providing pastoral care to residents. Encompassing the emotional, social, and spiritual support of residents, the task of providing pastoral care can be broad and conflicting. Our RA Realities academic aims to provide student leaders with an understanding of pastoral care and their duty of care, as well as informing on tangible strategies to bolster the pastoral care of residents and student leaders. 

In providing pastoral care to residents, we emphasise that student leaders must consider their own wellbeing and emotional bandwidth before they embrace the needs of others. We aim to inform on the benefits of setting and maintaining professional and personal boundaries, and the importance of vertical escalation when reporting incidents involving pastoral care. We will arm student leaders with the knowledge required to identify signs of compassion fatigue and empathy burnout, and strategies to manage these experiences so SLT can still achieve within their roles. In providing pastoral care on res, we emphasise the cyclical nature of this care, and the many facets it encompasses. Our session will set up student leaders to return to their residences informed with manageable and realistic expectations for their role, prepared to provide a quality level of pastoral care to their residents. 

For many students, becoming an office bearer in a student club or student association, within their residence, will be their first experience in dealing with a range of regulations and legal responsibilities. We understand and acknowledge this can be an area where students lack confidence surrounding their responsibilities. That is why this academic is fundamental to our academic program, and so highly regarded amongst students. 

It is the duty of the office bearers to ensure their student club is complying with the law, and maintaining the integrity of their student club process. Throughout this academic, delegates will be given the chance to familiarise themselves with the general duties of an office bearer, as well as the legislation and regulations that govern these processes. We will navigate and unpack the specific requirements and duties of each office bearer and how each individual role interacts with others. It will also provide information on how to undertake these tasks effectively and efficiently to ensure the operations of the student clubs abide by the law.

Given the recent changes to the clubs’ tax obligations for incorporated student clubs, we have consulted with relevant stakeholders to ensure we can provide accurate information and resources to delegates.

One of the many benefits of living on campus is the sense of community gained. This experience is heightened by extending interactions beyond the walls of your residence, and creating connections with neighbouring colleges. Inter-college relationships can be the highlight of one’s college experience, and this academic looks to encourage students to foster healthy connections across residences. 

With the opportunity to analyse and reflect on the current nature of inter-college relations in their state, this academic will equip leaders with the knowledge needed to take their community to the next level. Acknowledging the variety of cross-residential relationships across the nation, this academic will provide the opportunity for delegates to work closely with others from neighbouring colleges. By forming genuine connections, students can reflect on any unhealthy conflict and strained relations, and work toward tangible outcomes in their region.

Positive inter-college relationships make everybody’s experience living on campus a safer, more enjoyable, and more worthwhile experience. This academic looks to ensure that all delegates walk away with a plan to action as they return to their respective colleges.

Strategic planning and effective changeover are arguably the two most crucial aspects of maintaining a thriving and well-equipped residents’ committee. Strategic planning provides a clear framework for a leadership team's goals, metrics to achieve those goals, and tangible action items to be carried out to achieve the broader vision or mission of the leadership team.

Effective changeover is vital to ensure that new leaders are well-prepared and informed coming into their term in leadership. It is the responsibility of any good resident’s committee to leave their committee in a better position than when they assumed it. The continuity provided through effective changeovers are vital for sustained success and maintenance of college traditions.

Strategic planning and structured changeover foster a culture of accountability and collaboration. They encourage continual growth and development. This academic is designed to provide leaders with the necessary tools and direction to either create, or establish their own strategic plan and ensure that they are carrying out best practice to provide an effective changeover for future leaders.

The "What to Do When You F**k Up" academic will delve into the crucial aspects of handling mistakes effectively as a leader in a residential college setting, including different types of mistakes, how to deal with them effectively, and how to avoid them.

One of the hardest aspects of being a college leader is managing the inevitable mistakes that occur in such a dynamic environment. This session will explore how to navigate these challenging situations with confidence and resilience. We will discuss strategies for acknowledging and owning mistakes, learning and adapting from errors, communicating proactively, and seeking support. Potential scenarios will be provided to illustrate how to respond to various situations that might arise during your leadership tenure. We'll also focus on minimising the chances of making mistakes and managing controllable errors. The session will address handling team members who might get upset and understanding the scale of your mistake, whether short-term or long-term.

You'll gain practical ways to overcome mistakes and reassurance that making errors is part of being a leader. We'll discuss how to build and maintain trust and how to avoid catastrophising. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their own experiences with mistakes, fostering a supportive and learning-focused environment.

Our Drugs & Alcohol on Res academic addresses the role that drugs and alcohol have in our residence's culture. This session aims to inform student leaders about drug & alcohol use on campus, equipping SLT with information valuable for when they find themselves in settings where alcohol and other drugs are involved, helping them to navigate scenarios involving an interplay of student drug culture, addiction, and the law.

Additionally, we are striving to teach delegates the importance of removing stigma in situations where addiction is involved, and we will discuss how zero tolerance policies can create more harm than good, encouraging delegates to advocate for harm minimisation policies at their residences. Delegates will learn about the impact they can have within their role when it comes to alcohol & drug culture on res.

We will be discussing how to approach difficult, and potentially life-threatening situations that could arise in their term as a leader. Education provides delegates with the power to safely navigate situations involving drugs & alcohol without stigma.

Residential colleges and students within colleges play a pivotal role in fostering international inclusion by creating vibrant, diverse communities that celebrate cultural exchange and understanding. By embracing, understanding, and investing in students from various countries and backgrounds, residential colleges cultivate a myriad of perspectives, enriching the learning experience for all.

This academic session will educate student leaders and help them better understand International students in their communities, and improve cross-cultural communication and integration within their residential settings. Throughout this academic students will critically evaluate their college culture, student leaders, the events they run and the support offered to international students.. This critical evaluation will help student leaders to better cater to their college demographic while fostering inclusion.

Overall, this academic aims to remind students that international inclusion in residential colleges is not just a goal, but a commitment, as creating environments where every student feels valued and empowered to contribute ensures that diversity is not only embraced but celebrated.

For most residences, the dining hall plays a significant role in students' college experiences. It is often the first space students meet one another during O-Week, provides a central space for various meetings and student club events and of course, is a place where most students eat and spend many hours of their day. However, dining halls can be a high-risk environment for disordered eating and poor body image. Student leaders have the power to set the tone and culture throughout their residence, and in the dining hall is no different.

During this academic, we will unpack how the unique environment of a college dining hall influences eating habits and body image, and the factors that can create these high-risk environments. The delegates will be given a chance to explore their own dining hall's culture and traditions, and evaluate how this can impact not only risk factors for disordered eating and poor body image but the wider culture of their college.

You can't support others if you don't feel supported yourself. Mental wellbeing and a positive mindset are crucial elements of residential life, encouraging proactive efforts to minimise the need for reactive responses to mental health crises. This session explores the multiple dimensions of mental wellness in Australian residences and the potential mental health risks that students may encounter.

In addition to students, the session focuses on leadership in university residences, emphasising the role of student leaders in escalating mental health crises and recognising situations that can undermine their mental health. The seminar provides an opportunity to articulate tangible outcomes in response to various scenarios that student leaders may face.

Additionally, the session examines the PERMA Plus model, which outlines the elements of a positive and healthy mental state: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment, Sleep, Exercise, and Nutrition. Research has shown significant positive associations between each of the PERMA components and life satisfaction. Proactively working on these components increases psychological resilience in times of hardship..

This is an out-of-the-box activity that engages student leaders to think about mental health beyond the prescriptive PowerPoint. The discussion delves into how team dynamics can significantly influence the mental health of a student leadership team, focusing on aspects such as team cohesion, motivation, respectful relationships, and conflict management.

An important issue that faces Australia presently is reconciliation with Indigenous Australians. NAAUC understands the importance of this topic, and how vital it is for college communities to consider reconciliation. This academic is made with the intention to showcase Indigenous Culture in residences, and the valuable lessons we can learn from the experiences of others. We discuss what a college community can do to contribute towards reconciliation in Australia.

Throughout this academic, delegates will better understand how they can support Indigenous people and their communities. Connecting this with reconciliation, delegates will expand their understanding of the struggles faced by many Indigenous students in college and university environments, and learn new ways to support them in their residential communities.

Residential communities create a space in which residents may explore, express, and celebrate their unique identity; gender acting as a foundational pillar of this experience. Our Gender Workshop academic pivots away from a didactic structure and instead, aims to create a ‘holding circle’ within which student leaders can reflect upon the shape that gender takes in their college culture.

From event management to leadership structures, delegates will explore the ways in which they may foster a culture incorporating positive masculinity and femininity, and gender diversity.

This session will provide a forum for student leaders to discuss how gender norms have impacted their residential experiences, and together we will brainstorm tangible actions that we can take to improve gender culture on res. They will leave this session armed with practical strategies to improve gender safety, educate their community, and, most saliently, celebrate gender expression and diversity within their college space.

This academic looks to arm leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills to address the sex culture at their residence, and to influence change in their communities. By forming an understanding of the current sex culture at their college, with specific focus on disclosure practices, the LGBTQIA+ community, consent, and sex education, delegates should leave this academic feeling empowered through their knowledge, and ready to set a positive example in their community.

This session also provides a space for delegates to discuss these issues within the context of the current climate around sex culture in Australia, and we conclude with the provision of useful resources for situations of this nature.

This academic content will be pertinent to first responders and those handling disclosures of sexual assault and sexual harrassment, as well as other leaders within residential communities, who have the opportunity to foster positive and non-discriminatory sex culture.