About Membership

Postgraduate Students

Flinders Postgraduate Students' Society

Flinders Postgraduate Students’ Society (PGSS) was established in July 2006. It exists to provide distinct representation at Flinders University for postgraduate students. The PGSS represents all graduates enrolled at Flinders University. This includes Honours, Graduate entry students, research and coursework students, who are automatically members of the PGSS.

The Flinders Postgraduate Students' Society constitution defines postgraduate as: ‘any person currently enrolled in a degree at Flinders University for which a Bachelor Degree is a prerequisite, or is otherwise defined by the University as a postgraduate student by the University at any time during the calendar year’.

The PGSS is as much a student society advocating for student rights/issues as it is a society that looks after the interests of casual and permanent staff members who are undertaking post graduate studies here at Flinders.

The following students come under our broad definition of post graduate students:

Honours students
Graduate entry students
Masters students, both research and course work
PhD by thesis and by coursework students
Doctoral degrees or higher degrees other than a PhD

This student cohort includes national and international students at all Flinders University facilities/campuses.

As of January 2009 there were approximately 4800 Post Graduate students attending Flinders University.

Who we are

We are a small group of dedicated professionals. Most of us are married and have children. Most of us tutor and lecture here at Flinders, or hold professional positions outside of the university. Some of us are academic authors. Some of us are undertaking multiple studies. Our average age is 40. One past President of the PGSS Katie Osborne and two current Vice Presidents Amanda Muller and Wendy Abigail are all included in the higher degree perspective pamphlet for Flinders University.

Current Postgraduate Students' Society Office-Bearers

President / Postgraduate Student Officer on Council: Joseph Provenzano

Vice President Higher Degrees: Wendy Abigail

Vice President General activities and Treasurer: Leeann Leyson

Secretary: Genevieve Brideson

Vice President International: Ali Eunus

Vice President Women's Officer: Carly Moores

Vice President Graduate Entry and VP Disabilities: Kate Adams

Faculty Representatives:

Health Science - Wendy Abigail
ETHL - Leeann Leyson, Kate Adams
Social Sciences - Gordan Graetz, Joseph Provenzano

Our Aims

To re-establish a proactive society that is modelled on examples of excellence such as the Post Graduate Student Association of Melbourne.
To work toward an autonomous and independent society to current Flinders University arrangements.
To facilitate the representation of postgraduate students within Flinders University by advocate and represent post graduate student needs.
To monitor issues that affect postgraduates at Flinders, to communicate these to Flinders University and Flinders One, and to conduct campaigns and awareness-raising activities about such issues.
To provide an opportunity for social contact between postgraduates at Flinders.
To work closely and cooperatively with the University i facilitating best practices regarding learning outcomes for our members. This may include modifications to courses, supervision etc.
To promote the establishment of a Graduate School.

What we do

Advocacy, Welfare and Support

Flinders One Student Assist provides welfare, counselling and advocacy support for postgraduate students enrolled at Flinders University. Flinders One Employment also assists many postgraduate students find casual and part time work whilst studying.

We assist postgraduate students with academic problems, grievance procedures and processes.

We also provide advice and assistance to postgraduate students on all matters concerning their academic progress, performance and assessment.

How does the PGSS fit into student representation at Flinders?

The PGSS is governed by an Executive Committee. This committee is a subcommittee of the Flinders One Student Council.

The President of the PGSS is elected by PGSS members at the AGM, and fulfils the role of the Postgraduate Student Officer on the Student Council. Thus, the President is the link between the PGSS Executive Committee and the Student Council.

Many University committees require postgraduate student representatives to sit on them. The PGSS can nominate postgraduate students to be committee representatives to the student council. The student council can then recommend their appointment.

The PGSS Executive Committee includes postgraduates that have been nominated by the PGSS to sit on various university committees. In this way, the PGSS executive can monitor ongoing issues that occur on university committees, and how such issues may affect postgraduate students.

How do I get involved?

The PGSS has regular meetings, in their office. Office entrance is located opposite the lake which is the last office on the left hand side under the plaza.

Please contact the current President of the PGSS:

Joseph Provenzano