Embedding student voice in a university wide wellbeing framework
2.30-3.00pm
Melinda Green & Rachael Tuck, Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University, the largest regional university in Australia, faces unique challenges and opportunities in delivering equitable, inclusive, and responsive student wellbeing support. The Student Wellbeing Framework 2024–2027 reflects a whole-of-university commitment to fostering a thriving student community, grounded in the principles of yindyamarra winhanganha, the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in. Central to this mission is the inclusion of student voice as a driver of meaningful change. This presentation explores how Charles Sturt has embedded student perspectives into its wellbeing strategy through the development of a comprehensive framework and the implementation of the inaugural Your Student Voice Survey. The aim is to demonstrate how student feedback informs policy, service design, and engagement initiatives across diverse learning modes and locations. Methods/Approach The framework was co-designed with students and structured around four key pillars: mental health and wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, respectful relationships, and safe environments. The Your Student Voice Survey was implemented in 2024 to collect feedback from students, measuring satisfaction, ease of access, and preferences across support services, communication channels, and wellbeing initiatives. Survey results revealed strong student preference for self-service and online access, a desire for more inclusive and accessible support services, and gaps in awareness of key wellbeing resources. These insights have directly informed enhancements to service delivery, communication strategies, and the development of targeted wellbeing initiatives. The framework’s implementation plan, featuring annual action plans, student-led initiatives, and continuous evaluation, operationalises these insights, ensuring they are translated into concrete, measurable actions. Together, the data and the framework create a dynamic, responsive approach to student wellbeing that evolves with student needs.