policy & reform
campusreview.com.au
A voice for postgrads
Mick Fox, told Campus Review. With its new
campaign, CAPA hopes to ease that anxiety.
We spoke with Fox to find out more.
CR: Could you tell us about the background
to the Raise Our Voice campaign?
‘Pride chats’ and affordable
student housing among
new postgrad initiatives.
Mick Fox interviewed by Loren Smith
W
hat exactly is a ‘pride chat’? With
the launch of its new campaign,
the Council of Australian
Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) hopes all
interested university parties will be able to
answer that question.
Raise Our Voice aims to spread
awareness of issues facing postgraduate
students, and initiatives that address them.
Pride chats are one such initiative. They
involve bringing together students and
queer support workers to brainstorm
and implement initiatives that address
LGBTIQA+ equality.
Across-the-board concession fares,
affordable housing, disability services,
respectful postgraduate supervision,
and equitable student leadership are also
on CAPA’s campaign agenda.
“You worry that you aren’t making a
difference when you’re trying to be an
advocate,” CAPA’s vice-president (equity),
MF: The idea behind the campaign is to
shine a light on those who are doing great
work in the field of equity, and to give
people the tools to pursue their own equity
initiatives, which is why we’ve also launched
the equity handbook.
What are the main equity issues that pertain
to postgraduate students?
I was lucky enough to attend Queer
Collaborations recently at the University
of Queensland, and one of the things that
was brought up was that postgraduate
students do not have the same visible
representation that undergrad students do.
They feel – due to their schedules and even
the nature of the study – cut off from the
community they were used to having as
undergraduates.
Sometimes some of the issues that may
come up during postgraduate study aren’t
necessarily represented. Which is where
CAPA comes in, to shine a light on this and
say, “We are here for you,” and to highlight
the issues that matter to postgraduate
students in particular.
What are some of the initiatives that the
campaign is working on?
There are a few different ones. There is a
lot going on in the area of the concession
campaigns, which are happening in both
NSW and Victoria. This affects things like
public transport. We’re trying to make sure
that concessions – student fares – are
enacted across the board.
But also, queer officer Dylan Styles is
working on raising awareness for pride
chats, which are basically to bring together
queer workers and support workers, to try
to build and fund initiatives. That’s across
Victoria at the moment. We are looking into
a few other campaigns as well.
Also, one of the great initiatives
happening in Canberra is the student
housing initiative, which is being
championed by ANU. They’re looking
into student housing affordability. This is
one of the areas that was mentioned by
postgraduate students as well. Access to
housing in major cities is becoming an
increasing problem.
How have people affected by these
campaigns reacted to them?
It’s been positive on both fronts. I think
universities are generally looking to
work with students, and I do believe that
students have reacted positively to the
campaign itself.
I think people are excited to know that
they’re being heard as well.
What future projects does the campaign
intend to roll out?
We’re looking to partner with a variety of
different groups across the country. What
we’re trying to do right now is shine a light
on the projects that CAPA is working on as
well. Throughout the following months, our
office bearers will also share their stories on
the things they’re working on. ■
13