
Welcome to your Student Association
On July 1, 2022, we celebrated our second birthday at the University of Newcastle Student’s Association (UNSA). Throughout our first two years of operations, there have been many challenges and triumphs which have helped us transform into the vibrant students’ association you see today.
UNSA now provides a wide variety of opportunities for students to make the most of their time at uni, through student events, clubs & societies, student representation, and much more.
If you’re a new or continuing student at the University of Newcastle, we welcome & encourage you to get in contact with us (or even say hello in person at your nearest UNSA office) & discover how you can get involved within our clubs, events, workshops or student representation.
Jen Hanson
UNSA General Manager


UNSA is a SSAF-funded, not-for-profit organisation. We provide free & discounted student events, clubs, support services, workshops, advocacy, & much more.
2022:
What Do We Do?
Every day, at a university, state and federal level, meetings are held and decisions made that affect your student experience. UNSA is host to the University’s Student Representative Council (SRC), the peak representative body for students, whose members are either a part of these discussions or called upon to respond to them. They are your voice, speaking out on your behalf and raising relevant concerns.
If you become aware of any issues that adversely affect UON students, then, reach out to us.
On a more fun note, we run a ton of skill-based workshop, activities and social events for students. And not just at Callaghan; we run events at satellite campuses (such as NUspace and Ourimbah) and online!
Studying at university is not just about getting a degree. It’s about making social connections, learning new skills and exploring a new culture (If you’re new to Newcastle) and feeling like you’re part of a community.
A work/life balance is critical: never give up the things you enjoy doing, your hobbies and passions. Go to an art class. Go to a movie night. Try new things. Meet a variety of new people.
You’ll have a lot more fun, feel a lot more human and have all the right people-skills to impress any employer.
If you really want to embrace a sense of community while studying here, join a student club! (Or a dozen!) There are clubs for just about everything, from anime to scuba diving to Dungeons & Dragons; they’re an excellent way to make new friends, particularly those with whom you share a common interest.
UNSA provides support to numerous student clubs at UON. We provide funding for club activities, help with logistics (room bookings, governance, etc.) and promote club activities through our website, social media and mailing list.
If you’ve looked through our Clubs Directory and still can’t find the perfect club for you, why not start one? It’s a simple process, and we’ll walk you through it. We’ll even help you put a call out for other students who want to join! Check out our Clubs Resources page for more info.
State- and nation-wide advocacy is one thing, but what if you have an issue that’s far more personal? Food or housing insecurity, for example. Or stress, anxiety or depression. Conflict on campus, or at home. Or something you’ve received from the University, such as a letter of Show Cause, or an accusation of Academic Misconduct.
There are a wealth of student support services you can lean on at UON – from Counselling to Careers, Accessibility, Academic Learning Support, the Office of Student Advocacy, the UON Library, the Chaplaincy, UON Global and Graduate Research, to name just a few – and we are well acquainted with all of them. If we don’t have the answer to your question, or all the information you’re looking for, we can definitely help you connect with the people who do.
And we do even more! From free food on campus to equipment hire, discounted training courses, sporting/gym facilities and Opus Magazine, UNSA is a kraken with many tentacles.
State- and nation-wide advocacy is one thing, but what if you have an issue that’s far more personal? Food or housing insecurity, for example. Or stress, anxiety or depression. Conflict on campus, or at home. Or something you’ve received from the University, such as a letter of Show Cause, or an accusation of Academic Misconduct.
There are a wealth of student support services you can lean on at UON – from Counselling to Careers, Accessibility, Academic Learning Support, the Office of Student Advocacy, the UON Library, the Chaplaincy, UON Global and Graduate Research, to name just a few – and we are well acquainted with all of them. If we don’t have the answer to your question, or all the information you’re looking for, we can definitely help you connect with the people who do.
UNSA has offices at Newcastle & Central Coast campuses.
Our UNSA building at Callaghan is a great place to chill out, chat with friends over a game of UNO, or enjoy a free coffee while you study.
UNSA @ Callaghan:
- Free coffee machine
- Gaming consoles on the big screen
- Board games (chess, Monopoly, & many more)
- Free pool table
- Commercial kitchen space & microwaves
- Lounges & tables for small to medium groups
- Zoom integrated conference room available for bookings
- Toilets & secure lockers
- Student Grocery Hub
Callaghan Office
AE Building, University of Newcastle
University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Callaghan Hours
Mon-Thu | 9am - 5pm
Fri | 9am - 3pm
Weekend | Closed
Ourimbah Office
UNSA Office, 10 Chittaway Rd Ourimbah NSW 2258 Australia. (Southern side of Main Quad).
Ourimbah Hours
Mon-Fri | 9am - 1pm
Weekend | Closed