10 ways to engage with the NUS Queer Department

Welcome back to uni for semester 2! If you’ve been looking for ways to engage with the NUS Queer Department and take part in national action on queer student issues, here’s a handy (but not exhaustive) list of some ways to do so:

Get connected

1. Like our Facebook page, follow on Twitter, and check out our WordPress blog for updates. If you’re a queer student representative or collective organiser you can also be added to our email list and Facebook group, just email us at queer@unistudent.com.au to be added.

2. Add your local queer student and queer ally events to the national queer student event calendar for free promo! Email the details to queer@unistudent.com.au

3. Find your local queer student representative or collective and chat with them about how they can also get more involved nationally. If your rep or collective isn’t on the list or needs updating email us at queer@unistudent.com.au

Take action

4. Submit a photo or video message for the Pride Not Prejudice campaign on why you’re proud to be a queer student or ally and/or why you challenge queerphobia and prejudice. Submit to queer@unistudent.com.au

5. Grab some posters and stickers to put up around your campus. We have posters and stickers for the Pride Not Prejudice campaign that we can post to you for free, and will soon distribute materials for an Intersex, Sex and/or Gender diverse student campaign for gender neutral bathroom around the country. Email queer@unistudent.com.au to have some posted to you.

6. Run an event on your campus. Examples include a stall to collect Pride Not Prejudice photo and video messages, a collective sticker or poster blitz, a visibility event in public or a speakout for queer student rights, an educational workshop (such as trialling our ‘Inclusive Queer Spaces’ workshops, email queer@unistudent.com.au for details of the trial), or a social/networking event, the possibilities are endless. Send your photos to queer@unistudent.com.au we would love to share what other queer students are doing around the country.

Have a say

7. Write a post for our blog on your experiences as a queer student and strike up a national conversation. Submit your ideas or pieces to queer@unistudent.com.au

8. Join the resource-writing working group to help write and design resources and info packs for queer students around the country. To join up email queer@unistudent.com.au

9. Register to take part in a feedback phone link-up to help design and provide feedback on our Semester 2 campaigns. Email queer@unistudent.com.au to express your interest in participating.

10. Let us know about what issues you’re facing at your campus and seek support by emailing us at queer@unistudent.com.au or calling us on 0434 848 064 (Hiba) and 0405 770 302 (Cat).

 
As you can see, there’re a wide range of ways for you to get involved in the queer student activism nationally. The NUS Queer Department’s strength, though, comes from our individual queer students, allies, collectives and clubs coming together to work on common goals so the department is what you make of it, please take part!