Acknowledgment of Country
With respect for Indigenous Australians cultural protocol and out of recognition that its campuses occupy their traditional lands, the Student News and Publications Committee acknowledges the Darug, Dharawal, Gadigal and Gundungurra peoples and thanks them for their support of its work in their lands (Greater Western Sydney and beyond). The Committee meets and works on unceded lands originally caretaken by our Indigenous colleagues’ ancestors. The traditions of the land have persisted for tens of thousands of years, many of which involve stories and truth telling, which is our core purpose.
Student Publications Committee Team Members
Natasa Aster-Stater (Director of Student Publications Committee)
Garish (Luci) Kugathasan (Editor)
Jasmine Kaur (Editor)
Eleanor Cooper (Editor)
Tamara Tuchin (Editor)
Israa Merhi (Editor)
Vacant (Editor)
Satya Patel (Design Officer)
Bailey Anderson (Marketing Officer)
Vacant (Multimedia Officer)
Sofia Tripodi (Social Media Officer)
Student Publications Committee Mission and Values
Our mission is to amplify student voices through student media by providing a platform for students to express perspectives, share stories, and stay informed. We empower students from all fields of study to develop professional skills, build meaningful community connections and engage with campus and cultural issues. Our core practices of ethical journalism and media initiatives are informed by truth, integrity and storytelling.
Key Values
- Student Empowerment – Ensuring all students are heard and represented.
- Journalistic Integrity – Upholding truth, accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting.
- Professional Development – Providing students with practical experience to build portfolios and industry connections.
- Relevance and Engagement – Recording, documenting, and covering relevant student news both on and off campus.
- Community and Representation – Fostering an accessible, belonging environment whilst including diverse voices and stories.
- Innovation and Growth – Encouraging creativity, adaptability, and continuous learning in media and storytelling.
Editor’s Choice Award Winners
The Editor’s Choice Award is a Student News and Publications Committee award presented to an esteemed student contributor at the University’s annual Student Leaders’ Gala. This award recognises the inspiring work and submissions of student contributors throughout the year, with editors nominating finalists and selecting a winner.
2023 winner: Raynesh Charan’s “Trees Don’t Grow in the Dark’ originally published in the Autumn 2023 Wellbeing Edition
2024 winner: Tamara Tuchin’s ‘Imagining Exinction’
2025 winner: Léane Debize’s ‘Uncle Greg Simms OAM – Saying Goodbye to a Pillar in our Community’
Student Publications Committee History
Launched in 2016, W’SUP News is Western Sydney University’s student-run publication that represents the student voice. We aim to showcase the stories, diversity, and talents of Western’s community and beyond!
In the lead-up to O-Week 2013, Western Sydney University students contributed to a student issues newsletter with articles by then Student Representation Committee (SRC) President Luke Lau and Western student Peter Horsfield.
The October 2012 Student Representation & Participation Newsletter edition was just the beginning. After this, the first edition of ‘crUWSible’ was published, attracting more than 250 contributors in its three-and-a-half-year history.
In May 2016, crUWSible was renamed ‘W’SUP News’ by editors in the Student Publications Committee following suggestions from Western’s student body. The name change reflected the change in the University’s name from ‘University of Western Sydney’ to ‘Western Sydney University’.
Once a year, Western students elect nominated students as W’SUP editors. The Student Publications Committee chooses a currently enrolled student as the Student Publications Committee Director for one year. In 2019, Chanelle Mansour became the very first student to be named honorary Director.
Historical Western Sydney University Student Newspapers
The Hawkesbury Agricultural College Journal (HAC) was the first student newspaper serving what is now known as Western Sydney University. HAC Journal was first published in 1898 by the newly established Hawkesbury Agricultural College Old Boys Union. Its pages from September 1914 were among the first to address the advent of “The Great War”. The opening lines read “The British Empire is at war! The last word has been spoken; the die has been cast; and the nations of the world have once more appealed to the sword as the arbitrament of international disputes, whilst the expression of friendship and goodwill have bravely left the lips of our treacherous enemy.”
Get involved!
Do you have an article, podcast, video, creative writing piece, review, quiz, photo, or anything else you think would be great for W’SUP News? No matter what you are studying, your background or experience level, this is your chance to connect, create, and get published with Western’s student journalism team.
Simply email your stories, content ideas, and pitches to wsup@westernsydney.edu.au.
Code of ethics
The Student Publications Committee and W’SUP News adhere to the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics.
Student Representation & Participation Unit at Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University’s Student Community team coordinates W’SUP News and the Student Publications Committee.
Student Community also coordinates annual student elections, supports student councils, produces Diversity Fest, and provides advocacy services.
University Staff managing the Student Publications Committee and W’SUP Team
Publications Officer: Ellie Winter | Email: e.winter@westernsydney.edu.au
Manager: Grant Murray
Administration: Jenny Page
Email: wsup@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone: 0497 805 936
Previous Student Publications Committee Team Members
Petah Wood (2025), Julia Bell (2025), Khanh Linh Pham (2025), Izzy Johns (2025), Jo Rhodes Denton (2025)
Eugenia Kourkoutas (2024), Nadine Mendis (2024), Sahla Faleel (2024), Abbie Simmons (2024), Angela Tran (2024), Anya Wikramanayake (2024), Shabnam Siddique (2024), Raynesh Charan (2024)
Sumaiya Chowdhure (2023) Samanda Tharaki Mularachchi (2023) Maya Salim (2023)
Joshua Thomas (2022-2024) Madilyn McKinley (2022-2023) Ruby Ritchie (2022-2024) Dinusha Soo (2022-2023) Shayma Abdellatif (2022)
Tileah Dobson (2021) Katelyn Brunner (2021) Ayush (2021) Aklilu Tekle (2021) Rameez Parkar (2021)
Dania Roumieh (2020) Ishita Khaitan (2020) Jye Campbell (2020) Isabella Granero (2020) Anushka Kapoor (2020) Radia Muhammad (2020) Sinlo Kemp (2020) Ishmamul Haque (2020-2021) Jostina Basta (2020-2021) Sarah Cupitt (2020-2021)
Caitlin Konzen (2019) Zohal Arbabzada (2019) Sinead Simpkins (2019) Priyansha Kohli (2019) Lachlan Andrews (2019) Chantelle Al-Khouri (2019) Rebekah Manibog (2019)
Bianca Exall (2018-2019) Chanelle Mansour (2018-2019) Lois MacCullagh (2018) Divya Bhusal (2018) Erielle Sudario (2018) Abigail Nash (2018)
Kelly Munro (2017) Rachel Hardie (2017) Nancy Upadhya (2017) Megha Kalra (2017) Nicole Gismondo (2017) Michael Wright (2017)