‘Bold group of thinkers’: Leadership shake-up for CDU student council

As students ready themselves for the first semester of 2025, Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) new student council is also preparing to become a voice for the 22,000-strong cohort. 

The 15 leaders will be responsible for promoting and advancing student rights, interests and welfare at CDU throughout the year.

President Shishtata Bhandari said she wanted to leverage the student council to provide wraparound support – including academic, financial, and social assistance – for her peers. 

Though the newly-inducted council has only just put boots on the ground, one of the first issues Ms Bhandari hopes to address is lack of visibility around student opportunities.

“Being part of student clubs previously and working during the orientation period, I got to know about the untapped resources and opportunities students are given at CDU that majority are unaware of,” she said.

“I've always advocated for professional growth of students, and I signed up for the council to connect students with all the existing support, community and networks of CDU that encourages students to experiment their learning in the safest ecosystem.”

The council – including domestic and international students - will be spread across CDU’s Darwin and Sydney campuses and includes online representatives. 

Ms Bhandari said the council would be representing people of every age, gender, nationality, learning mode, and accessibility and her team’s own diversity would be critical to ensuring every student’s needs are met throughout their term.

“Our council team is such a vibrant group, and I’d love to see what solutions we come up with during our term,” she said.

“We have a wide range of strengths within the team and it will be a unique and enriching experience to work alongside such a bold group of thinkers.”