Action against VSU is more widely publicised and has more possibilities – because this side is opposing the changes. However if you support VSU there is no reason why you cannot use these suggested actions to show your support for the proposed changes.
Submitted
10/11/2005
By
Christina
Views
11157
Comments
3
Updated
3/05/2006
What’s involved?
*Be involved with your university union – join your union and attend their meetings, find out about their campaign, contribute to the union newsletter/magazine and meet like-minded people.
*Get active at your university campus to inform other students - put up posters, hand out flyers, speak at the beginning of lectures, set up a discussion group/information sessions, speak to your friends about issues that concern you/unsure about, etc.
*Participate in a rally/protest - e.g. national day of action August 10th. Stage your own non-violent protest.
*Write a letter/email – explain how the changes affect you - are you a student, a graduate, a parent, a concerned citizen? Say why you agree/disagree with the proposed changes and what you think should occur. If you are in/from a rural electorate you may want to emphasise how the changes will affect rural students. Send it to:
#Your local paper, letters to the editor, an online forum.
#Your local federal member. This is the politician who represents in the House of Representatives. All you need to find your local federal member is either the name of your electorate or your postcode:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm.
#The education ministers - Brendan Nelson Minister for Education, Science & Training at http://www.dest.gov.au/ministers/nelson/contact.html, and Jenny Macklin Shadow Minister, Training, Science & Research http://www.jennymacklin.com.au/contact.asp.
#Prime Minister John Howard at http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm.
*Visit your local federal member. Talk about your concerns - the fact that you are willing to give up time for a face-to-face encounter really impresses politicians.
*Petition - sign petitions/start your own petition.
*Discussion groups - start your own discussion group at uni/school or try to find a discussion group to join (union meetings, student representative meetings). You could start a discussion group which has a focus on education issues that are affecting Australian youth – maybe through your school or university.
*Attend a meeting - of your local political party or any other relevant organisation such as you unions, local community meetings.
*Write a play/make a piece of artwork - to show your feelings on VSU and display/exhibit it in a public space – maybe providing an interpretation of your artwork.
*Speak to your friends and family about your feelings on VSU.
*Organisations for Action*
_The National Union of Students (NUS)_
http://www.unistudent.com.au/
NUS is the Peak Student Organisation Body of Australia. They have a page for anti-VSU campaign including petitions, posters and rallies. Check out http://www.unistudent.com/campaigns/vsuanti/index.html for more information.
Visit your university union in person/check out their website – will have info on current campaigns. Check out
http://www.unistudent.com.au/links/; it has a link to all student unions but the page is pretty average – the links often don’t work or take you to the uni homepage rather than the union’s site.
I want to do this!
