Previous award winners

FedUni Nursing Society (F.U.N.S)

This award recognises a student run group that has been consistently well run, active and inclusive over an extended period. This group displays strong leadership, which has positively impacted both the university and their members.

F.U.N.S has established a following of over 1,300 members. The group has an aim to provide support, mentorship, and a safe space for nurses to connect and build relationships. They have achieved this goal in 2021 by providing peer support sessions, Facebook live events, and chat posts based on education, assessments, mindfulness, and mental health. A new initiative for this group in 2021 was a newsletter, delivered monthly with educational articles, recipes, assessment due dates, podcast recommendations and movies. It has been a difficult past few years for the healthcare industry in particular, yet F.U.N.S has continued to be an exceptional student group.

Congratulations to the FedUni Nursing Society on being awarded Student Group of the Year.

BARS

This award recognises a student group who has not only done great things in their short tenure but have laid the foundations to be a successful and sustainable group for years to come.

BARS has focused on providing and supporting a more diverse residential experience at Federation University. From running large-scale events to trips to even study spaces, diversifying what is considered the residence culture.

They have been an excellent support to their peers during orientation and lockdowns and have made a huge contribution to the residential experience in Ballarat, with some highlights being their Res Ball and Grampians trip.

Congratulations to BARS who have been awarded the Most Promising Student Group.

Student Auction - Greenroom

This award is for an event or activity that was inclusive to all targeted students and provided much needed social interaction during some challenging times. This student-ran initiative gave students the opportunity to come together and have fun.

Despite limited capacity and restrictions, Greenroom was able to run their extremely successful Student Auction this year.

Greenroom's Student Auction broke their group's fundraising record, raising over $2,300 in a single night. The night included members auctioning off their talents from personalised art, homemade jewellery, and acting/singing services. All funds raised went into the final years’ students ‘Encore’ celebration – a final year send off. Ultimately, this event achieved the group’s objective to provide members with a student-led experience that is not traditionally offered through standard university funding.

Congratulations to the Greenroom Student Group on the Best Student Event Award!

Nicole Frain

The Academic Student Athlete Award recognises combined athletic and academic excellence of the University’s top Elite Athletes. Awarded to an Elite Athlete Program member who achieved high academic standards while competing in their sport at an elite level. This can be either through outstanding performance in their classes, or dedication to their studies while achieving sporting success.

Nicole commenced her studies at Federation University in 2019. During her time at Fed, she has not only achieved exceptional academic results in her Food and Nutritional Science studies but has excelled in her professional sporting career as a cyclist.

2021 started with a third place in the individual time trial, on familiar territory at the Fed RoadNats Nationals competition. After restricted opportunities to participate on home soil, Nicole moved base to Stanford, America, where she trained and maintained study commitments. Nicole went on to join Team TIBCO and gained selection to compete in the Paris Roubaix Femmes, one of the most iconic one day classics on the cycling calendar. Whilst achieving all this success, she was able to balance full time work and achieve an incredible GPA of 7.

Congratulations to our inaugural Academic Elite Student Award winner, Nicole Frain.

The Peoples’ Sporting Champion is someone who makes a significant contribution to sport at Federation University, gives back to the community and has promoted and helped sport to develop. They should be a regular in our sporting programs, whether as a participant, coach or official, and encourage their peers to get involved.

Throughout 2020, Jordy has shown an exceptional amount of dedication and commitment to the sporting programs and events offered by Federation University.

In particular, she showed a great deal of University pride being an active participant in the UniSport Australia Lockdown League and constantly encouraged her fellow students to do the same. She is an avid user of both the FedMoves app and FedUni Strava and engages in any competition the platforms have to offer. Jordy was also the only student to enter each 'event' of the inaugural Fed Iso-Lympics, showing both originality and talent.

Whenever the Federation Community hosts a sporting event, Jordy is always one of the first students to jump on board as a participant, leader or offer a helping hand to encourage other students to participate. She is a natural sportsperson and willing to give her all at the task at hand. Jordy should be commended on her efforts in 2020, for being an active and passionate contributor to a new looking sporting culture and community.

Congratulations Jordyn McCarthy

This award recognises a student-run club/society/team which has been consistently well-run, active and inclusive over an extended period of time. This club/society/team possesses strong leadership in their committee which positively impacts their members/University.

The Berwick Psych Society has worked very hard this year, during difficult circumstances, to come up with ideas, events and activities to keep morale high and maintain engagement with students. Some of the initiatives that the society has run include interactive quizzes, RUOK Day Speed Friending, competitions and fortnightly virtual drop-in sessions for anyone who needs to socialise and talk.

These events and activities have been greatly appreciated by FedUni students and have been integral in increasing engagement, connectedness and peer support. All of which are top priorities for the Society.

Congratulations Berwick Psych Society

The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Student Success Award recognises an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated excellent effort in their University undergraduate studies, and has made a positive impact in their local or University community.

Shai has made significant contributions to the Aboriginal Education Centre, Federation University and the Aboriginal community. Shai is a remarkable person who will leave a lasting impression even after she graduates. She has demonstrated that she is a very capable, hardworking and highly intelligent person, who is working towards completing her Bachelor of Nursing. She is an exemplary student who maintains a GPA above 6. This achievement was formally recognised in a commendation letter from Professor Wendy Cross, Dean of the School of Health.

Shai shows extraordinary passion for her culture and for Aboriginal rights. This passion drives her life goal of becoming a nurse and to affect policy changes which enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status. She hopes to work and change health policies within rural and remote Aboriginal communities, improving access and quality of health care and ultimately working towards bringing health outcomes for Aboriginal Australians on par with non-Aboriginal Australians.

Racism is unfortunately a factor in Shai’s life, and she is overcoming these obstacles through perseverance, persistence and her certainty in who she is, where she comes from and the mob she belongs to. This determination is a driving force behind her exceptionally high achievements.

Shai’s legacy will and still does inspire other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to reach for the stars in their pursuits.

Congratulations Shai Spark.

This award recognises an International student who has helped to make positive change for their peers and shows a devotion for promoting and advocating for the International community on campus.

Geeta has worked tirelessly throughout this year advocating for international students at FedUni. He has actively supported students through creating small group forums for students to put forward their issues and concerns and taking these concerns back to the university to create change. Geeta then ensured any changes made by the University or extra supports put in place were communicated back to the students.

Geeta always makes himself available to answer student questions including where students can go at the university for support services and assistance. He always shows great energy and enthusiasm when advocating for international students assisting to maintain motivation and positivity.

Geeta is also the Academic Board Representative on the Student Senate.

Congratulations Geeta Tirumala Sai Naralasetty

This award recognises an international student who has made a significant contribution to University life for their peers.

Pranaya has contributed to many International Student Support projects and is continually supporting his fellow students.

He is incredibly generous with his time, volunteering to assist with the running of the Berwick Community Pantry. He has contributed through endless hours of set up, helps run the pantry during opening hours by checking in every student and puts together care packages for other residents that cannot make it to the pantry.

Pranaya was also a Berwick Residential Advisor this year and goes above and beyond the call of duty to support other residents. He recognised the need for ongoing residential support through constant interactions and welfare checks while the students adapted to the unexpected challenges of social distancing and online learning. Pranaya makes himself available to all resident's day or night for a chat, for reassurance and guidance and he leads by example by displaying exemplary conduct and adherence to the conduct expectations on campus. This form of leadership has proven effective in achieving positive outcomes and consistency and in enhancing his relationships with the residents.

Other activities include serving and delivery of free lunches, birthday cards and cakes; assembling and distributing student care packs; participating in and promoting all virtual events; ensuring resident sundries are in supply- tea, coffee, masks, sanitiser etc.

Pranaya's actions clearly indicate his passion for his fellow students.

Congratulations Pranaya Lohani