About Us

The Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) is the peak professional organisation for tertiary education leaders and practitioners responsible for student engagement, participation, wellbeing, and success in our region. 
 
ANZSSA is a member-based association first established in the early 1970s. Today ANZSSA plays a leading role in supporting thought leadership, advocacy, professional development, and the development of effective models of support for students in tertiary education. 

Key activities and initiatives delivered by ANZSSA include:

  • Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA), an international, open access, peer reviewed, scholarly journal.
  • Annual ANZSSA Conference, a premier gathering of professionals, educators, and engaged sector partners across Australia and New Zealand who contribute to the provision of a diverse range of student-centred services and delivery of engagement opportunities which support student success in tertiary education. 
  • Directors of Student Services of Australia and New Zealand (DOSSANZ) network of senior leaders in our region with responsibility for leading the delivery of evidence-based, scaleable, and impactful support for students in their institution.
  • ANZSSA-managed networks, events, professional focus groups, and regional forums.

Objectives 
 
ANZSSA’s objectives are to:

  • Foster and develop - leadership and practitioner expertise in tertiary student engagement, participation, wellbeing, and success. 
  • Build - respectful and collaborative communities of practice and mutually beneficial relationships with allied organisations and groups in the region and globally.
  • Promote - research, resources, and relationships that support and celebrate innovation and the development of best practice student-centred services. 

Strategic Pillars 
 
ANZSSA’s strategic pillars are to:

  • Strengthen and expand relationships - To raise the profile and reputation of ANZSSA in the sector, the region and globally, and improve the value derived from ANZSSA membership for institutional and professional members. 
  • Create and share knowledge - To create and share knowledge and resources that improve the practice and professionalism of tertiary education student services, and that respond to developments in the sector and in contemporary service design and delivery. 
  • Develop leadership and practitioner expertise - To provide opportunities for the development of leadership and practitioner expertise and practice that supports career development and improved tertiary education student outcomes.  
  • Build ANZSSA capability and capacity - To increase the capability and capacity of the ANZSSA association to ensure it fulfils its promise to members, meets its financial and compliance obligations, and remains relevant and impactful for the long-term. 

Values 
 
ANZSSA’s values are:

  • Collaboration - We value collaboration and collegiality and believe that cooperation is key to improving the professionalism of Student Support and Services in tertiary education.  
  • Respect - We value civility in our dealings with all, and respect the contribution of all, from early career to seasoned professional, and across leader, practitioner, and academic perspectives. 
  • Inclusion - We welcome and celebrate diversity, whether reflective of the lived experiences of our members, the cultures and Indigenous peoples of our region, or the scale and complexity of our institutions. 
  • Sustainability - We are tireless in our efforts to reduce inequality and to improve the sustainability of our practices, our places, and our positive impact on tertiary student experiences and outcomes.