My role at COFA was a new, evolving and responsive one. Originally employed as a part-time Activities Officer, it soon became apparent that my role would also necessarily involve significant welfare, support and community development. The role description was later changed to Community Development Manager to reflect the changing responsibilities. COFA SA was very much a team where staff and elected student representatives worked together with faculty and general staff within UNSW as well as artists and arts organisations that connected students to Sydney Arts community.

COFA SA had four distinct, but not mutually exclusive, ‘arms’;

Kudos Gallery was a respected ARI (Artist Run Initiative) located at 6 Napier St Paddington in the converted church called Saint Sophia Hall. COFA SA supported the artists, curators, interns and managers to deliver an annual exhibition calendar and series of student awards and prizes. Many of Australia’s most accomplished arts figures took their first steps at Kudos, it was a privilege to support them in doing so.

The COFA Art Store was an independently run store located on the Paddington Campus, providing accessible arts materials at affordable prices with advice by accomplish artists/staff.

Student welfare and Advocacy was offered to students on multiple fronts. Individual advice and support were available on academic and general concerns, and collective concerns (guided by the COFA SA elected student representatives) were supported. COFA SA staff also maintained an awareness of arising concerns within COFA and UNSW as well as nationally and advised students of these concerns, researched the implications and negotiated responses. Notable campaigns included: campaigning against the introduction of VSU (voluntary student unions), negotiating for the provision of greater student services and spaces with the proposed COFA redevelopment, securing funding for the development of a 24-hour computer lab on campus, instigating and securing funding for an inter-campus transport service between COFA and UNSW and the purchase and provision of a ute for free student hire.

Activities and events at COFA played a vital role in supporting the student experience at COFA, they also paved a vital connection between education and a career. During my time at COFA, we increased active student engagement via an e-newsletter that 95% of COFA students signed up for, through a calendar of 72 annual events, programs and activities (ranging from yoga and sketch club to bingo and DJ and band nights), by supporting the creation and delivery of student-led clubs and societies, via three student publication and through the establishment of ‘future-focused’ development events. All activities were designed in response to identified COFA student needs.