starting a New Club

 

Are you and your friends interested in starting a club? Is your club different from any other clubs that are currently on offer at Clayton campus? MSA Clubs & Societies support, fund and resource over 100 clubs on campus so if you can't find a club that interests you - why not consider starting your own!

Applications for the Semester 1, 2025 New Club Application Round will open from Monday 24 February 2025.  To collect or be emailed the 'Starting a Club - Part 1' Booklet and Initial Application Form, please make a 15-minute appointment with the C&S Coordinator using this link.  The Part 1 documents will only be available during business hours from Monday 24 February - Friday 7 March 2025 inclusive.  This is Week 0 and Week 1 of the University's standard semester dates. 

During the appointment the Lead Applicant, or any representative(s) from the Applicant group (this being 4 Clayton campus enrolled students/MSA+ members) can pick up the New Club Application Form.  This time is also an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback. 

What's Involved
Starting a new club takes nearly a whole semester. This includes the time taken for the club purposes (aims and objectives) to be submitted and approved; the club constitution written; 40 names (minimum) of Clayton enrolled Monash students collected on the 'Expression of Interest' form; convening the Inaugural Meeting; and new club committee training.

Please refer to the C&S Affiliation Regulations for further information.

New Club Checklist
If you are interested, here is a simple checklist/overview:

  1. Check that you are eligible: Only students enrolled in courses administered at the Clayton campus can apply to start a new club. Students based at other Monash campuses are ineligible. 
  2. Check that your idea is unique: If your new club would be similar to the activities of an existing club/society or an MSA Department, the application won't be able to progress. Contact the C&S Coordinator to discuss your idea.  They will be able to advise of any foreseeable issues. 
  3. Check that your idea meets other criteria: There is a range of criteria set out in the C&S Affiliation Regulations which include setting out that the new club must not breach any provision of the C&S or MSA constitution, must not be purely social or commercial in nature, and must benefit Monash Clayton students. Again, the C&S Coordinator can advise you of any foreseeable issues. 
  4. Find other Clayton students who are interested: Four Clayton campus enrolled students are needed to submit an application for starting a new club, and they must all be a current MSA+ members.  It is important that all students in the Applicant Group are equally passionate about establishing the new club, so don't just get uninterested friends to sign the application form for you.
  5. Collect a Part 1 Application Form: Make an appointment to speak with the C&S Coordinator and collect the application form. These forms are only available between Week 0 and Week 1 of each semester. At this stage, you will be advised of the application process, have the opportunity to ask any questions and be given feedback.
  6. Submit your form: Application forms are only accepted, by appointment, during Week 2. At the appointment, it is important that all members of the Applicant Group are present. 
  7. Wait for the outcome: Once your application has been lodged, including the written responses to selection criteria, it will be assessed by the C&S Executive. They will make the final decision on which applications are accepted to progress to Part 2 of this semester-long application process.

Starting a new club is a big task, but there's a lot of support available from our Staff and Executive. We receive a large number of applications each semester and whilst we can't start them all, we are always looking for new clubs to affiliate. Please feel welcome to make contact with the C&S Coordinator from the beginning of each semester to discuss your options and the formal application process further.