| Predecessor: | Student Association of Flinders University (SAFU) |
| Formation: | 1 January 2013 |
| Type: | Student union |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Janageeth Logeswaran |
| Leader Title2: | General Secretary |
| Leader Name2: | Nathaniel Winter |
| Leader Title3: | Education Officer |
| Leader Name3: | Benjamin Grillett |
| Main Organ: | Student Council |
| Flinders University Student Association | |
| Abbreviation: | FUSA |
| Location Country: |  |
| Location: | Flinders University |
| Subsidiaries: | Empire Times (Student Publication) |
| Affiliation: | National Union of Students (Australia) |
| Footnotes: | [1] |
The Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) is a student union at Flinders University, South Australia. It provides free welfare services, academic advocacy, grants for clubs and societies, and funding for the student newspaper, Empire Times. It also organises an O'Week each semester, as well as various social events throughout the year.
FUSA does not have a structurally separate student representative body, and is overseen directly be an elected Student Council whose members are responsible for providing political representation to students.
Between 1966 and 2006 the Student Association of Flinders University (SAFU) provided student representation on campus. When the Howard government introduced voluntary student unionism in 2005 the organisation lost the vast majority of its funding and soon collapsed.[2]
FlindersONE, a commercial company owned by the university, took over most of the services formerly provided by SAFU and a Student Representative Council (SRC) was created as a subcommittee of the FlindersONE board.
After the Gillard government introduced the Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF) in 2011 representatives of the SRC began negotiations with university to create an independent student organisation. A funding agreement was reached with the university, and on 23 April 2012 the SRC voted to endorse the constitution of the Flinders University Student Association.[3] Student representatives completed their terms and the first FUSA Student Council began on 1 January 2013.
Notable former members of student council included Kate Ellis, and Amanda Rishworth.
In 2023 student elections, FIRE-UP had a landslide victory.[4]
| FUSA Student Council | |
| Legislature: | 12th Student Council |
| Body: | Student Council |
| Foundation: | |
| Preceded By: | 11th Student Council (2023) |
| Affiliations: | National Union of Students (Australia) |
| Leader1: | Janageeth Longeswaran |
| Leader2: | Nathaniel Winter |
| Leader3: | Ben Grillett |
| Leader1 Type: | Student President |
| Party1: | FIRE-UP |
| Election1: | 1 December 2023 |
| Leader2 Type: | General Secretary |
| Party2: | FIRE-UP |
| Election2: | 1 October 2023 |
| Leader3 Type: | Education Officer |
| Party3: | FIRE-UP |
| Election3: | 1 December 2023 |
| Political Groups1: | Government
|
| Seats: | 20 |
| First Election1: | 2012 |
| Last Election1: | October, 2023 |
| Next Election1: | October, 2024 |
| Meeting Place: | Alere Cafe, Bedford Park Campus |
| Meeting Place2: | University Council Room, Registry building, Bedford Park Campus |
| Website: | FUSA Student Council |
| Rules: | FUSA Constitution & Regulations |
FUSA has called for better public transport to the university from the Government of South Australia, citing the high number of students driving to campus and the low number of car parks provided by the university.[5]
In 2015 FUSA and the National Tertiary Education Union organised an extended campaign against the Abbott government's plans to create a $4 million policy center at the university run by climate denier Bjorn Lomborg. The organisers claimed that the proposal was done with no consultation with staff and students, and threatened the academic reputation of the university.[6] In 2015 plans for the centre were dropped by the Turnbull government.[7]