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 engage with life on campus?
‘It’s been really hard for us to get back to the level of engagement that used to exist before’, says Daniel Jantos, Western’s Chaplaincy Coordinator.
On Thursday the 18th of September, the University’s Parramatta South Campus held its annual Diversity Fest — an exciting celebration of culture and identity.
‘We create the space, and we want that space to be safe, and open, and inclusive’, says Jantos.
The event hosted approximately 300 students who experienced the live performances, cultural food and music pioneered by student clubs and support staff.
‘Last year we did have between 500 to 800 students participate now at the similar time of year’, says Jantos. He attributes this to a change in lifestyle post-Covid for students with many preferring online study rather than enjoying campuses.
According to the University of South Australia, student engagement in co-curricular activities has decreased since 1997, declining further since the Covid-19 lockdowns. A study by The Sutton Trust indicates this is a global issue.
‘There is a sense that we’re busier than we’ve been, so getting to campus is harder’, says Jantos. Through technology, it has become much easier for students to prioritise other areas of their life while balancing study. ‘People’s habits have changed to being online… and not coming to campuses’, Jantos adds. This means students are not investing in extracurricular activities on campus.
In fact, many key cultural social clubs did not participate in the event at all. ‘This year it just seems that much harder to get clubs engaged’, Jantos continues. The decrease in community involvement this year has been credited to the lack of awareness surrounding the event. ‘There just seems to be this presumption that there’s not all that much happening on campus’.
Attendees widely agree that more stalls would have added to the event’s purpose and engagement. ‘In 2024, they had Sri Lankan, Indian, Nepal, this year they don’t. I feel like there should be more stalls’, says attendee Abdur Rahman Tasawwur.
Those who attended felt that they had not been represented and lacked the inclusivity that Diversity Fest offers. ‘I felt like the only Nepalese here’, says another attendee, Pramita Khadka.
Attendees Layla Omar, Sankalp Praha & Pramita Khadka at Diversity Fest. Photo by Cezlie Prasad, 18/09/2025.
Khadka suggests the lack of promotion by the student body could be behind the poor engagement with this year’s festivities.
With most attendees demanding greater cultural representation, a greater effort and reflection is to be considered by the University’s organisation team. This is part of an educational and social reset at Western Sydney University to explore how to engage and retain students.
‘My hope is that in January we’ll have a conversation…about who are we really?’ says Jantos.
The goal is to ensure Western Sydney University’s cultural diversity is acknowledged and celebrated across campuses. ‘I’m hoping that the University will broadly see this is what is unique about what we are’, Jantos finishes.
While Diversity Fest 2025 may not have brought huge crowds, it celebrated the spirit of Diversity through its community commitment.
