UOW Pulse is set to deliver more than a dozen free events for University of Wollongong students this month, with many focusing on wellbeing and social connection.
The non-profit organisation is central to student life at the University, responsible for running activities and managing clubs, with support mainly from a host of volunteers.
Pulse staff member and former university student Jaimee Evans said the free events were focussed on the health and welfare of the university community.
“It can be really tricky balancing work and study,” Ms Evans said.
“Having something to help relieve stress and pressures, like yoga and support workshops, is essential for student wellbeing.”
Within the next few weeks, Pulse is hosting a social mountain hike, a battle of the bands competition, a paint and sip evening, cooking and self-development workshops, yoga sessions and hula hooping classes. All at no cost to students.
Last week, Ms Evans was on the team leading the University’s Open Day and Clubs Day and said that student engagement on the days “were at an all-time high”.
“The campus was buzzing, it was so great to see so many student-led clubs recruiting members and just showcasing everything that they do for the broader student community,” she said.
Pulse staff member Jess Henderson is responsible for organising this week’s Bevs and Brushes event, which will see a former student turned artist join participants at the UniBar for casual painting with a side of pinot.
She believes that Pulse “events are the foundation of this community,” especially for international students and those not from the city, a cohort that makes up most attendees, along with first-year undergraduates.
While the University supports Pulse activities, Ms Evans said none of the events could be possible without students volunteering their time.
“Volunteers come and dedicate their time to supporting us, to deliver not only to their cohort, but to the broader University of Wollongong,” she said.
Ms Evans said that having the University officially endorse these events can help communicate to students that “there is so much more to Uni that they probably haven’t been exposed to yet”.
For more information about upcoming UOW Pulse events, visit the website here.