policies designed to have real impact.
practical solutions, deliverable results and tangible change.
no false promises.
More support for clubs
LIFT will allocate an additional $35,000 to UWA clubs to increase the grant funding available to them. This will be funded through existing Guild resources and will not require additional funding from students.
But better support for clubs isn’t just about money. LIFT will also prioritise better communication and collaboration with clubs across UWA, making it easier for clubs to work with the Guild and access the support they need. We believe a strong club culture is an important part of the university experience, and we want to help create a more active and connected student community at UWA.
new fridges in UWA libraries
LIFT will purchase and install fridges in busy UWA libraries and other suitable student spaces, giving students somewhere to safely store food and drinks that need to be kept cold.
This is a simple improvement to student amenities, but it can also make a real difference during the current cost-of-living pressures. If students can bring meals from home and keep them refrigerated on campus, they have less reason to spend money buying food at university.
The fridges would be a one-off purchase, with ongoing use maintained through a simple honour system. Cleaning would be incorporated into the regular cleaning of these student spaces.
better student amenities
LIFT wants to make sure the basic amenities students rely on every day actually work.
We will push for cleaner food courts and working microwaves across campus, including increasing cleaning resources in the Refectory. The Refectory is an important space where students can sit down, eat, study and catch up with friends, and keeping it clean should be a basic priority.
Student services are also of little use if they don’t work. While broken microwaves are not a widespread problem, there are currently some that have been out of service for months. LIFT will pay attention to these smaller issues and push to have them fixed, rather than allowing them to be ignored.
skills courses
LIFT will introduce micro-courses that students can use to build their resumes to aid their ability to find a part-time university job.
Initially, courses would include basic skills such as an introduction to bartending and coffee-making, as well as subsidised programs by accredited providers such as mental health and first aid training.
As an education institution, you should be able to learn skills on campus outside of your direct area of study.
student flea markets
LIFT will facilitate student flea markets each semester on Oak Lawn.
The Guild will provide the tables, chairs and other basic facilities, while students can claim a table to sell whatever they have to offer. This could include old clothes, books, trinkets and other second-hand items, as well as handmade products from students involved in art, pottery, knitting, crocheting, crafts and more.
Students will be able to barter with one another and keep the profits. This will create an easy way for students to make some extra money, find affordable second-hand goods and showcase their own artworks.
free tax return advice
LIFT will provide free tax return advice and education around tax time each year.
These sessions will be aimed particularly at students working part-time, casually or full-time alongside their studies. They will cover the basics of completing a tax return, what students may be able to claim, and practical tips for making sure they are getting the most out of their return.
Tax can be confusing, especially when you are working for the first time. We want students to have access to straightforward advice without having to pay for it.
raising lecture standards
LIFT wants to raise the standard of lecture delivery at UWA in two key areas.
First, English proficiency. This is not about excluding international lecturers or expecting every lecturer to speak perfect English. It is about ensuring that students can clearly understand the person teaching them. If students are struggling to understand a lecturer because of communication issues, that is an educational problem that should be addressed.
Second, lecture delivery. LIFT will advocate for an introductory lecturing course or training program that helps lecturers learn how to effectively deliver a lecture, rather than simply reading from a PowerPoint presentation.
Lecturers are experts in their fields, but being an expert does not automatically make someone an effective teacher. We want to see UWA put greater emphasis on the quality of teaching and the experience students receive in the classroom.
student parking permits
LIFT recognises that it is not realistic to promise that the Guild can simply create more parking spaces or solve parking by making it cheaper. The underlying problem is that there is not enough accessible parking around campus.
Regardless of the election outcome, LIFT will petition the City of Nedlands local government to consider student parking permits on the strreets to the West of campus. Currently, students are running the gauntlet in free but short-term street parking and often getting fined. A student permit system would contribute to revenue for the Nedlands Council and provide students additional parking options at uni.
Sign our petition today!
Recognising Australia Day
LIFT will restore the Guild’s recognition of Australia Day.
As an Australian university, the UWA Guild should recognise our national day which celebrates the contribution made by all who have called this great country home.