Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
Join the SHAC to shape the direction of student health and wellbeing at UNSW
Help us improve student health and wellbeing at UNSW
The UNSW Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is a team of visible and passionate advocates who represent the health and wellbeing needs of UNSW students. They plan and action change to improve the health and wellbeing of every student.
What is the Student Health Advisory Committee?
The SHAC is part of UNSW's Health Promotion Unit. It collaborates with a range of health and wellbeing services across campus, providing strategic input and undertaking projects and initiatives.
The committee facilitates important two-way communication between students and staff, helping us all work together to raise and solve the health and wellbeing concerns of students.
The SHAC Chair is supported by a team of dedicated SHAC Student Ambassadors who represent our diverse student community. Additional committee members include representatives from UNSW student support services and student representatives, including:
UNSW Student Support Services:
- Health Promotion Unit
- Health Service
- Psychology and Wellness
- Equitable Learning Services
- Accommodation (Residential Wellbeing Officer)
- Student Support Advisors
- Division of Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement.
UNSW Student Representatives:
- Arc Clubs Officer
- Arc Wellness
- Inter Resident Council President (IRC)
- PGC President/representative
- SRC President/representative
- SRC Welfare Officer
- UNSW Health and Wellbeing Ambassador.
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This project aims to centralise information about UNSW Health and Wellbeing supports and improve student awareness and accessibility. Key aims:
- Increase awareness of the UNSW Health and Wellbeing services
- Improve students' understanding of how services can be accessed
- Identify and collate websites and resources
- Create a UNSW Health and Wellbeing Central Zone
- Streamline the decision-making process for students.
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The survey aims to create a stronger understanding of student perspectives towards the UNSW Health and Wellbeing Services to drive targeted change and improve service delivery. Key aims:
- Understand student attitudes towards health and wellbeing services
- Assess student knowledge of health and wellbeing services
- Assess perceived accessibility to health and wellbeing services
- Identify barriers to accessing support.
🏆 Past successes
The SHAC has contributed to a number of projects and initiatives that have delivered positive health and wellbeing outcomes for UNSW students, including:
- The 2022 UNSW Student Health and Wellbeing Survey, which led to improved LGBTQIA+ awareness and training within UNSW Student Support Services and the development of the Health and Wellbeing Information Centralisation project.
- Collaborating with the Postgraduate Council (PGC) on the PGC Parents Guide.
- Contributing a student voice to the UNSW Academic Success Monitor project.
- Collaborating with the UNSW Health Service and Student Support Advisors to co-create service satisfaction surveys.
- Directly engaging over 220 students and staff in conversations about improving campus wellbeing at the 2024 UNSW World Mental Health Day and Sustainable Development Goals Showcase events.
Applications are currently closed and will re-open in Term 1 2026.
SHAC Student Ambassadors are required to:
- Represent the health and wellbeing needs of UNSW students to ensure the diverse voices of our community are heard
- Attend regular SHAC meetings and contribute constructively to discussions
- Provide basic administrative support during SHAC meetings
- Communicate professionally with committee members, HPU staff and other stakeholders
- Provide practical support and contribute to ongoing SHAC initiatives by completing assigned tasks on time to meet project targets
- Provide constructive feedback on health and wellbeing initiatives
- Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the University and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact the health and safety of yourself or others.
The SHAC Student Ambassador role is accredited by UNSW Advantage and volunteer contribution of more than 20 hours is recorded on AHEGS statements upon graduation.
We aim to ensure the members of SHAC represent the diverse community of UNSW. Students who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, are international (studying both on and off-shore), are members of the LGBTQIA+ community and/or are living with a disability are encouraged to apply. While diversity and inclusion is of importance, it will not be the deciding factor within the application process.
See also
Get in touch with the SHAC
Have an idea about how we can improve your wellbeing at UNSW? Want to collaborate with SHAC or get feedback from a team of diverse and passionate student advocates?
We'd love to hear from you!