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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.