SESSION OVERVIEW
Student Life Grants (SLGs) is a University of Sydney co curricular program where students pitch, plan and deliver their own campus events and initiatives, with staff providing structure, guidance and support behind the scenes. Open to any student regardless of degree, cohort or club membership, and inclusive of satellite campus students often excluded from other funding pathways, SLGs has funded 237 student-led projects since 2021, engaging more than 23,000 students.
This case study explores how SLGs has evolved beyond a traditional grants scheme into a partnership model that combines funding with coaching, project support and skill development. By partnering with students throughout planning and delivery, the program creates opportunities for organisers to develop professional skills, leadership capability and stronger connections with their university. For attendees, student-led initiatives create authentic opportunities to connect through shared interests, cultures and experiences. At an institutional level, the program gives students genuine ownership over shaping campus life,
transforming student ideas into meaningful, staff-supported initiatives that strengthen engagement, connection and belonging across the university community.
Drawing on program data and lessons learned, the Co-Curricular team will explore how a flexible, student-centred approach and a structured evaluation framework have enabled them to measure growth in student capability, connection and engagement.
Attendees will gain practical insights into designing and evaluating grant programs that move beyond funding activities to developing students and empowering them to shape the communities they want to be part of.
Session Outcomes:
The Co-Curricular team within Student Life at the University of Sydney recognise that grants schemes funding student-led initiatives aren’t new and that most University’s provide this opportunity. This session will provide insight into a model for how a grants program structure can be designed to build student skills and capabilities, which in turn contribute to their sense of belonging.
Specifically, attendees will leave with:
- A practical framework for linking a grants program to an evaluation model, including what to measure, when, and how to use pre/post data to demonstrate impact beyond attendance numbers
- A structural approach to building leadership and skill development into a grants program
- A reframe of student empowerment in program design, highlighting the importance of empowering student design and decision making within given parameters
- Lessons from their own program iterations, including two areas of focus:
o How they redesigned (and continue to improve) grant policies to be more equitable for satellite/remote campus students.
o Why they focused efforts into their welcome period grant stream, aligning to when student capacity and need for connection are highest.
PRESENTERS
Alyssa Clark is the Senior Co-Curricular Programs Coordinator and Vicky Kang and Nim Dhillon are Co-Curricular Coordinators at The University of Sydney.
The Co-Curricular team within Student Life at the University of Sydney creates opportunities for students to engage, lead and contribute beyond the classroom. Through a range of co-curricular programs and student-led initiatives, the team supports students to develop leadership capability, build transferable skills and create meaningful experiences that strengthen the university community.