ANU Student Urgent Relief Fund (SURF) Workplace Giving

Through the generosity of our ANU community and donors, the Student Urgent Relief Fund (SURF) provides support to ANU students who are experiencing financial hardship and require immediate financial assistance.

Students may apply for more than one expense; however, the maximum total amount disbursed may not exceed 2,000 AUD per calendar year. Successful applicants do not have to repay the money (i.e. it's not a loan).

Given the fund of vital importance for students, and is provided through donations, we need to continue to find new ways to raise money for the fund.

There is an opportunity to partner with an area within ANU to create a project to raise money for the fund.

This is not about BBQs or raffles, we need ongoing funding to support students, and one way it to make Workplace Giving more accessible for academic and professional staff who wish to support students.

Currently there is an online form which could be made more user-friendly.

There is also the potential to gamify giving - through a technological/ digital solutions (e.g. making it competitive between colleges or schools, creating tiers and rewards for giving, creating a giving app etc.).

Maybe there is a Workplace Giving Day and/or a giving day events.

There is an opportunity to scope the problem and come up with innovative solutions for how to raise more funding for SURF.

Develop and demonstrate your systems thinking and problem solving, and come up with an implementable outcome which you can present to others.

Gain interdisciplinary team work experience, networking and partnership skills - while also adding to your understanding of complex systems, policies and processes.

Learn how to navigate silos, communicate with influence and think about framing and messaging within specific contexts.

Can you work with others to develop ideas and deliver results?

Then you are prepared!

Provide a project plan or timeline for delivery.

Provide some proofs of concept (e.g. draft EMDs, improved systems and processes, modelling).

Demonstrate that you have understood the problem and presented actionable solutions.

More information on Workplace Giving at ANU here: Workplace giving

Exemplar university doing workplace giving well: Griffith University staff giving