Student Leadership Awards

This award recognises a current international Victoria University student who demonstrates outstanding leadership and dedication to engagement activities at Victoria University.

Additional eligibility criteria

Must be an international student studying on a Victorian VU campus.

Assessment criteria 1

Describe what you have done to benefit the VU and/or broader international student community and tell us what the impact was.

Assessment criteria 2

Tell us how your activities align with one or more of VU's values of diversity and multiculturalism, accessibility and belonging, and respect for others and the natural environment.

Assessment criteria 3

Reflect on the skills you have developed through these activities.  Choose one from each of the following three categories:

1. critical thinking / problem solving, creativity
2. communication, collaboration
3. persistence, adaptability, social and cultural awareness.

This award recognises outstanding leadership in academic, co-curricular, and/or extracurricular activities and involvements of a Victoria University Polytechnic student.

Additional eligibility criteria

Must be VU Polytechnic student.

Assessment criteria 1

Describe what you have done to benefit the VU and/or broader student community and tell us what the impact was.

Assessment criteria 2

Tell us how your activities align with one or more VU's values of diversity and multiculturalism, accessibility and belonging, and respect for others and the natural environment.

Assessment criteria 3

Reflect on the skills you have developed through these activities.  Choose one from each of the following three categories:

1. critical thinking / problem solving, creativity
2. communication, collaboration
3. persistence, adaptability, social and cultural awareness.

This award recognises students who have gone above and beyond in their leadership and engagement activities at Victoria University.

Assessment criteria 1

Describe what you have done to benefit the VU and/or broader community and tell us what the impact was.

Assessment criteria 2

Tell us how your activities align with one or more of VU's values of diversity and multiculturalism, accessibility and belonging, and respect for others and the natural environment.

Assessment criteria 3

Reflect on the skills you have developed through these activities (e.g. employability skills, such as communication).

The "VUSU-teer" of the Year Award recognises a current VUSU volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to VUSU events through regular volunteering in 2019. The recipient should also have demonstrated leadership qualities and overall personal and professional development.

This award comes with a $500 prize.

The Victoria University Student Union (VUSU) is the peak representative body for students at Victoria University (VU). The VUSU is an independent entity of democratically elected student representatives that work collaboratively with VU departments and in partnership with Student Services to create positive change, provide advocacy for students and to ensure the constant improvement of the student experience at VU.

The VUSU is represented on many committees, including the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) consultative committee. The VUSU is funded by the SSAF and operates for students, by students.

Additional eligibility criteria

Recipients of this award must:

• not be in the final year of study
• be a registered VUSU-teer or volunteer board member (e.g. College Society Executive Committee members) in 2019
• not be receiving an honoraria from VUSU (i.e. VUSU Executives or VUSU Board members who receive honoraria)
• have volunteered as a VUSU-teer at 3 or more VUSU events (e.g. VUSU Hangs, the VUSU Annual Ball, VUSU parties, forums, seminars, etc.)

Assessment Criteria 1

Describe the volunteering activities you have completed as a VUSU-teer in 2019 and how your contributions have benefited VUSU and the VU student community and tell us what the impact was.

Assessment Criteria 2

Provide evidence of participation in causes that champion social inclusion, cultural diversity, and equity. Reflect on the skills you have developed through these activities. Choose one from each of the following three categories:

• Critical thinking/problem solving and creativity
• Communication and collaboration
• Persistence, adaptability, social and cultural awareness

Assessment Criteria 3

Articulate how you would use this scholarship for your personal/professional development or to further your education.

Recipient obligations

Prize money must be spent on activities in accordance with the SSAF Representation Guidelines made under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 - Administration Guidelines 2012 - see section on spending revenue from the fee.

Within 12 months of receiving the VUSU-teer of the Year Award, the recipient is required to provide a report to The VUSU Board and the SSAF Consultative Committee showcasing their activities and impact of receiving the award.

The Victoria University Alumni community includes 240,000 graduates living and working in over 136 countries. If you are a graduate from VU, Victoria University Polytechnic or any of our predecessor institutions you automatically become a lifelong member of our alumni community.

Our alumni live the VU values of Opportunity and Success every day, and this award, proudly supported by the Alumni Relations team, has been designed to help the recipient receive the best chance of achieving their goals as they transition from student to employee.

This peak award includes a 12 month mentorship from an alumni leader in your industry and a Myer Voucher to kick start your professional wardrobe.

Eligibility criteria

• Must be a student at Victoria University completing or just completed their FINAL year of study in 2019
• Must have participated in at least one VU Leadership Activity (e.g. Lead2Change, Student Leadership Council, Clubs Executive, VU Academy, VU Hanger, Talent Connect etc.)

Selection criteria

1. Outline how you have made strong progress with your academic pursuits during your time at VU.
2. Describe how you have made clear and positive voluntary contributions to their community; which may be the student community and/or the broader community. Please differentiate as clearly as possible between voluntary and paid work.
3. Please give examples of how you operate in a way that encourages and supports inclusion, diversity, excellence and respect
4. Outline how you plan to interact with, and get the most from, your mentor experience if you are the recipient of the award.
5. Provide any further information to support your nomination which has not already been provided in the Award criteria responses. This may include, for example, any particular challenges you have overcome in your journey to success and any information not covered by the award criteria that may support the overall nomination

Optional additional information

• Provide supporting testimonials from lecturers, colleagues, community leaders or peers to demonstrate why you are deserving of this award.

Recipient obligations

To make the most of your 12 month mentorship, and to ensure you don’t waste either your mentor’s time or your own, recipients of this award need to ensure the following:

• Model professionalism in your mentor meetings by being prompt, prepared, and maintaining a professional attitude
• Respect your mentor’s confidence and trust
• Be professional in all interactions with your mentor
• Be appropriate in your requests (do not ask them for a job or internship
• Understand that being a recipient of this award is a privilege and work hard to make the most of this opportunity.