Role
This evolving role began as the College of Fine Arts Students’ Association (COFA SA) Activities Officer and, due to expanding responsibilities, developed into COFA SA Community Development Manager. My goal was to provide a supportive and responsive point of contact for students and to advocate for their diverse professional, cultural, artistic, educational, and welfare needs within both the COFA community and the wider arts sector, as guided by the COFA SA Student Representative Council (SRC).

Outcomes
With fellow COFA SA staff and the SRC we managed existing services and introduced a wide range of new initiatives designed to strengthen student engagement, participation, and professional development. These included:

Student Representative Council (SRC) – facilitated student governance, advocacy, leadership, and decision-making within COFA.
Kudos Gallery – a student-led ARI (Artist Run Initiative) exhibition space that showcased emerging artists and provided hands-on experience in curation, installation, and exhibition management.
Campus Art Store – offered students discounted art supplies, work opportunities, and shopfront exhibition opportunities.
COFA O-Week – supported orientation, integration, wellbeing, and learning for new students.
Postgraduate Study Space – secured a $50,000 grant to establish a postgraduate space on campus.
Grants and Sponsorship Schemes – provided practical and financial support for student initiatives.
The College Voice – amplified student perspectives through opportunities in writing, editing, and publishing.
A full calendar of over 70 student-led events and activities annually, including exhibitions, performances, workshops, talks, screenings, networking sessions, and social events.

Process
All COFA SA activities and events were co-designed and co-led by students, which ensured that creative and organisational decisions reflected their interests, needs, and professional goals. Through the SRC, student committees, and project-specific working groups, students determined the focus, structure, and delivery of events, exhibitions, and services. This collaborative and supportive process gave students an opportunity to contribute to organisational and project management, program curation, gallery installation, marketing, volunteer coordination, and public engagement, gaining practical experience while actively shaping the COFA community. The approach reflected the principles of participatory design, creative agency, and community empowerment – fostering leadership through creative practice.

Ongoing
The programs not only enhanced the educational experience but also strengthened connections between students, staff, and the professional arts community, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and alumni networks that continue to influence the Australian arts landscape.

The collaborative, community-led, and student-centred methods developed during my time at COFA have become a fundamental part of my ongoing creative practice. Many of the students I supported are now peers and collaborators, contributing to projects such as Art Month Sydney and residencies at Ollie and Viv.