The RMIT University Student Union (RUSU), is the peak representative body for students enrolled at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). The Student Union is independent of the university and operates under the direction of annually elected student representatives. According to the constitution, all students are automatic members of the Student Union but may choose to become a financial member.[1]
The Student Union offers a range of services, including student rights advocacy, campus activities and events, funding student media including RMITV & Catalyst as well as hosting Women's, and Queer student lounges. RUSU is also responsible for funding and supporting over 100 clubs & societies that are either Academic, Cultural, Political, Social or Spiritual based. RMIT Student Life, which is run by the university (not the Student Union) funds and manages all Arts and Sports clubs. RUSU has offices at the three major Melbourne campuses and sites of RMIT University. RUSU is an affiliated body to the National Union of Students.
History
John Storey Junior helped found the Student Representative Council in 1944, acted as its first President, and lobbied for the establishment of a central library. His studies were cut short when he was diagnosed with leukemia and died in 1947, aged just 22. His recognition of service to the RMIT community lives on with one RMIT's most striking buildings – Storey Hall – in tribute to John Storey Junior and his father Sir John.[2] Over the years since its founding, the student union has continued to grow and expand into more areas to become an integral part of the student experience on campus.
In 2006, with the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation, the Student Union underwent a major reorganisation. Most of the staff were made redundant, the organisation's three separate campus councils were merged, and several services such as the second-hand bookshop were abandoned. While the organisation suffered a drastic funding cut (from $3.9 million AUD to $1.3 million AUD) as a result of VSU, it managed to survive the cutbacks and continue providing services, advocacy and representation to students.
In 2010, the RMIT University Student Union adopted the acronym and rebranding of RUSU. The student union had become formally incorporated in 2021, leading it to achieve a non-for-profit status.
Current structure
As of 2024, the Student Union Council has 28 voting members, who are elected by RMIT students at annual held elections. Each Melbourne campus of RMIT (Brunswick, Bundoora and City) has a campus coordinator and a general campus representative as part of the 28 voting member structure.
Councillors are typically elected in the second week of September and hold November to October terms. Ex-officio (non-voting) members may be appointed to the Student Union Council at its discretion. All members of the Student Union Council must be financial members of the Student Union.
The Student Union Council meets regularly, and it is also responsible for electing the President and Communications Officer, as outlined in the Student Union Constitution. A smaller group of student office bearers, known as the Secretariat, meets more regularly to discuss day-to-day operational, staffing, and other urgent matters.
In addition to having student representatives as board directors of the organisation, the Student Union employs professional staff to help deliver key programs and services, and assist in governance. All staff members are supervised by an elected student representative as determined by the Secretariat.[3]
Leadership
Presidents of the RMIT University Student Union
No.
Portrait
Name
Term
Election year
General Secretary
53
Peter Barker
1 November 1996 – 31 October 1997
1996
Andrea Maksimovic
54
Andrea Maksimovic
1 November 1997 – 31 October 1998
1997
Mandi Scott
55
Mandi Scott
1 November 1998 – 31 October 1999
1998
Lizzie Minchin
56
Jess Latimer
1 November 1999 – 31 October 2000
1999
Kristin Godby
57
Jonathan Wilkinson
1 November 2000 – 31 October 2001
2000
Danny Bouvong
58
Emily Anderson
1 November 2001 – 31 October 2002
2001
Ty Capach
59
Emily Anderson
1 November 2002 – 31 October 2003
2002
Kittisak Muckaprom
60
Dinesh Rajalingum
1 November 2003 – 31 October 2004
2003
Duc Hieu Le
61
Sridaran Vijayajumar
1 November 2004 – 31 October 2005
2004
Duc Hieu Le
62
Dan Thomas
1 November 2005 – 31 October 2006
2005
Taylor Wright
63
Patrick O'Keeffe
1 November 2006 – 31 October 2007
2006
Priyanka Erasmus
64
Robert Harding
1 November 2007 – 31 October 2008
2007
Priyanka Erasmus
65
Jessica Hall
1 November 2008 – 31 October 2009
2008
Natasha Ferroff
66
Emma Henderson
1 November 2009 – 31 October 2010
2009
Thomas Ayers
67
David Swan
1 November 2010 – 31 October 2011
2010
Hovig Melkonian
68
Hovig Melkonian
1 November 2011 – 31 October 2012
2011
Jian Zhong
69
James Michelmore
1 November 2012 – 31 October 2013
2012
Gabriel Brady
70
James Michelmore
1 November 2013 – 31 October 2014
2013
Ariel Zohar
71
Himasha Fonseka
1 November 2014 – 31 October 2015
2014
Ariel Zohar
72
Ariel Zohar
1 November 2015 – 31 October 2016
2015
Abena Dove
73
Abena Dove
1 November 2016 – 31 October 2017
2016
Emily Hansen
74
Abena Dove
1 November 2017 – 31 October 2018
2017
Ella Gvildys
75
Ella Gvildys
1 November 2018 – 31 October 2019
2018
Aditya Sharma
76
Daniel Hoogstra
1 November 2019 – 31 October 2020
2019
Beatrice Co
77
Akshay Jose
1 November 2020 – 31 October 2021
2020
Jarred Armitage
78
Adam Steiner
1 November 2021 – 31 October 2022
2021
Sheldon Gait
79
Beth Shegog
1 November 2022 – 31 October 2023
2022
Mark Morante
80
Ella Byrne
1 November 2023 – 31 October 2024
2023
Dhweep Shah
81
Finbar Bray
1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025
2024
Dulan Ariyathilaka
82
Samuel Coombs
Assuming office 1 November 2025
2025
Bunny Wadhwa
Student Union Council
RMIT University Student Union – 82nd Student Union Council (elected 2025)
Position
Name
General Secretary
Bunny Wadhwa
Education Officer
Shaina Khanna
Welfare Officer
Saiansh Sharma
International Officer
Feifei Wu
Postgraduate Officer
Ishi Ahmed
Women’s Officer
Angela Fenech
Queer Officer
Baylin Thompson
Queer Officer
Maya Szyszko
Indigenous Officer
Zarah Yakubu
Indigenous Officer
Lachlan Wills
Disabilities & Carers Officer
Manaal Soomro
Activities Officer
Mandeep Sharma
Sustainability Officer
Bushra Yamin
Clubs and Societies Officer
Vishwa Aadith
Vocational Education Officer
Daiyan Mustansir
Brunswick Coordinator
Snigdha Garg
Bundoora Coordinator
Mathy Sivakumar
City Coordinator
Ace Tran
Brunswick Representative
Amira Sommariva
Bundoora East Representative
Zoe Avotins
Bundoora West Representative
Felipe Chaparro
City Representative
Nasih Moopan
1st-elected General Representative
Samuel Coombs
2nd-elected General Representative
Gemma Seymour
3rd-elected General Representative
Amarli Winter
4th-elected General Representative
Holly Medlyn
5th-elected General Representative
Prem Maniyar
1st Alternate General Representative
Mei Ting Su
2nd Alternate General Representative
Darcy Moloughney
Student media
The RMIT Student Union funds the student-run magazine Catalyst & student television on-campus production studios RMITV. It continues to have strong ties with SYN radio station located within RMIT, however there is no formal or funding relationship between the separate organisations.
Catalyst Magazine was first published in 1944, the same year the Student Union was established. It is one of two official student magazines and news sources on RMIT campus.
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