Joint video from Vice-Chancellor and RUSU President

Joint video from Vice-Chancellor and RUSU President

[Start transcript]

[Martin Bean]

Hi everyone. As you know the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate in Australia. Our government has taken the strong position of shutting down many places and spaces that bring people together in groups. We're very supportive of this direction and had already been working hard and fast to be ready to teach, collaborate and work remotely online.

On Sunday night, I sent out a message to all students and staff that outlined our response and I'll continue to provide regular updates over the coming days and weeks. I want to thank all of you for the care you were showing for each other and for the RMIT community in general. Since the beginning, I've been working with Daniel Hoogstra, President of RUSU, to make certain our students and staff remain at the centre of every decision that we make. The health and well-being of our community is the highest priority for both of us. I want all our students and staff to know that we will keep working together to provide the best learning and research experience as possible in these difficult times.

I'll hand over to Daniel now to share his thoughts.

[Daniel Hoogstra]

Thanks Martin. From last week, all of RUSU services went online to help keep students safe. I'm filming this from home, but I've been in lots of phone calls with RMIT management over the last week. It's great to see that RMIT is listening and acting on the concerns of students. RUSU is here to stand up for your rights as students and see that our student community is supported.

We'll keep passing on your feedback to RMIT and pushing for your voice to be heard. RUSU is still here to help you. Our Student Rights encompass welfare services are hard at work providing services and support remotely. We know a lot of you are doing it tough at the moment, so please reach out if you're struggling. We need to connect and support each other now more than ever before.

We're also working on events and programs that can be delivered online. If you can, I encourage you to join RUSU, follow up on Facebook, or go to our website so you can get all the latest info and stay connected. This pandemic is unlike anything our RMIT community has faced before. It's important that we all look after ourselves and each other.

RUSU is here for you, and we'll continue working every day to get the best outcomes we can for all students. We're all in this together and we'll get through this together.

[Martin Bean]

Thanks Daniel. We will both continue to go update you every step of the way and make sure you get the best RMIT experience possible. What I ask of you now is that you take care of yourself and those around you. Stay connected through our student website Canvas and your social channels. Follow the guidelines we've all been given to contain the spread of this virus, because we all have a part to play. And keep the RMIT spirit alive, no matter what. That's all about compassion care and creativity while we face this challenge together.

Take care and ask if you need support, because you're not alone. You're part of RMIT today and every day.

[End transcript]