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!

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)

Jordan Pardoel (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

  1. Student Empowerment – Ensuring all students are heard and represented.
  2. Journalistic Integrity – Upholding truth, accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting.
  3. Professional Development – Providing students with practical experience to build portfolios and industry connections.
  4. Relevance and Engagement – Recording, documenting, and covering relevant student news both on and off campus.
  5. Community and Representation – Fostering an accessible, belonging environment whilst including diverse voices and stories.
  6. Innovation and Growth – Encouraging creativity, adaptability, and continuous learning in media and storytelling.

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)

 

Connect with us

Western’s Annual Lifeblood Challenge, Now Open to More Donors!

The Lifeblood Challenge is a yearly competition organised by the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood where each team attempts to collect as many blood donations as possible in a set amount of time. From August 1st to October 31st, Western Sydney University (WSU) is working...

Queer Social Club Celebrates 2 Years

  Josh Bouman (he/him) is the Queer Social Club (QSC) co-founder. The QSC runs events such as, picnics, hiking, queer trivia, beach days, game afternoons, brunches, trips to a café, craft-days, karaoke and craft-days.  ‘[The Queer community] is very important...

Penguin Fantasy Fest Comes to Sydney

  July 2025 saw Penguin’s ‘Fantasy Fest’ arrive in Australian cities, readers enjoying exclusive previews of upcoming fantasy novel releases and extensive author panel discussions.  In 2023, Penguin Random House Australia, one of Australia’s ‘big five’ publishing...

Diversity Fest in Jeopardy: An Absent Crowd, but a Present Message

  Diversity Fest was once the booming heart of Western Sydney University’s social life. This year, the campus was silent, with attendees few and far between. This begs the question: Has Diversity Fest lost its spark or has a shift occurred with how students...