On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Zeecee Moskow, Student Success Manager at RMIT Online, to explore how universities must evolve to support a new generation of students balancing work, family, financial pressure and study.

“Belonging doesn’t necessarily mean being in person next to someone anymore.”

3 Reasons to Listen + 3 Topics we have NEVER discussed on this podcast before, including:

1. Why universities are still “lifting and shifting” old learning models online instead of intentionally designing experiences for modern students balancing work, caregiving and study
2. The hidden equity challenge facing online students, including why many pay student fees but still feel invisible to clubs, careers services and campus culture
3. Why the future of university may be a fully flexible hybrid model where students move between online, asynchronous and on-campus learning depending on what’s happening in their lives

Be sure to connect and follow Zeecee on LinkedIn, here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeecee/

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Mark Trevaskis, CEO of the University of Newcastle Students’ Association, to explore what it takes to build stronger student organisations through collaboration, culture and smarter funding models. Mark shares why he takes his team across the country to learn from other campuses, how UNSA is integrating clubs, events and student experience to create bigger impact with less friction, and why student associations should have access to DGR status to better fund welfare, wellbeing and support services for students.

“We should have automatic DGR status.”

Three reasons to listen

• Learn why visiting other campuses and building sector relationships can spark better ideas, stronger teams and more collaborative student organisations
• Hear how UNSA is scaling student impact by connecting clubs, events, wellbeing and university teams in creative, low-cost ways
• Understand why DGR status could unlock new funding opportunities for student associations supporting food security, cost of living and student welfare

Be sure to connect and follow Mark on LinkedIn here!

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Jessica Jayaswal, a student at the University of Wollongong, to unpack what can happen when a student leaves a workshop and actually takes action.

“Don’t get intimidated by it. It’s okay to gradually grow and just take small steps.”

After attending ULead, Jess turned one goal, to get more engaged at uni, into 120+ hours of volunteering, multiple leadership roles, paid opportunities on campus, experience in the Wollongong Courthouse, and major recognition including Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year and Young Person Environmentalist of the Year. This is a brilliant example of how small, consistent steps can snowball into real confidence, skills, impact and opportunity.

Three reasons to listen today:

• Hear a real example of what happens when a student turns goal setting into action and follows through over time
• Learn how volunteering and leadership can build practical skills like communication, teamwork and time management that employers actually value
• Take away a reassuring message that you do not need to do something huge straight away, you just need to start and keep growing

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr teaches a live student audience the fundamentals of Marketing 101 and why great ideas only matter if the right people actually know about them.

Drawing on lessons from recruitment, business, content creation and student engagement, Josh breaks down the classic marketing funnel, top of funnel, middle of funnel and bottom of funnel, and shows students how to move people from awareness to trust to action.

Three reasons to listen

• Learn a simple, practical marketing framework you can use for your project, job search, events or personal brand
• Understand the difference between awareness, trust and action, and why all three matter if you want people to engage
• Take away 8 clear ways to market an idea using one-to-one, one-to-many, digital and in-person strategies

“This is super important to understand. Marketing 101 is about people knowing who you are and what you do. No one can engage with you - or hire you - if they don't know you exist!”

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with MP Michael Berkman, Member for Maiwar, to unpack what it really takes to create change in the real world.

“A win doesn’t involve something coming out with a Green’s logo branded on it. It’s just seeing an actual outcome.”

From his journey as an environmental lawyer into politics, Michael shares why facts alone aren’t enough, how power actually works, and why building community and collective action is the key to shifting outcomes. This episode is a powerful look at advocacy, civic engagement, and how student leaders can move from frustration to real impact.

Three reasons to listen:

• Understand why having the “right ideas” isn’t enough and how real-world change actually happens
• Learn how students can build collective power and influence decisions beyond just voting
• Hear why big ideas and community pressure can shift what’s politically possible

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Zoe Lewis, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at UOW Pulse, to unpack what actually works when it comes to engaging students in a crowded, noisy digital world. From her journey transitioning from student to staff member at the University of Wollongong, Zoe shares how creativity, consistency and strategy combine to drive real outcomes, and breaks down her “B.E.S.T.” framework for creating content that builds trust and gets action.

Three reasons to listen:

• Learn a simple but powerful framework (B.E.S.T.: Bond, Educate, Showcase, Tell) to create content that actually drives engagement
• Understand how to cut through the noise and prioritise messaging when everything feels important on campus
• Hear why experimenting, staying consistent and showing real people is the key to building trust with student audiences

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Kashish Saini, a student at the University of Auckland, to unpack what’s possible when you stop waiting and start showing up. After attending a student leadership summit, Kashish took immediate action, stepping into multiple roles across events, marketing, PR and leadership in a matter of months. This episode is a powerful reminder that opportunities are rarely far away, but they do require presence, initiative and the courage to put yourself in the room.

Three reasons to listen:

• Learn why “just showing up” is one of the most underrated but powerful strategies for student success
• Understand how small actions like starting conversations can unlock leadership roles and hidden opportunities
• Take away a simple mindset shift around documenting your journey so others can see your value

“I believe that no matter what, just show up because showing up in itself creates a lot of opportunities for you.”

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Noah Yang, Founder and CEO of We Are Mobilise, and Forbes 30 Under 30 Awardee, to explore his journey from Monash University student to KPMG Management Consultant to Youtube Influencer to building one of Australia’s most exciting social impact organisations. You may have heard of We Are Mobilise from the Netflix special 'Runn', featuring 2026 Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann as he ran across Australia - yes... he RAN ACROSS AUSTRALIA - to raise money in partnership with We Are Mobilise to support people experiencing homelessness. Noah shares how his team is raising millions of dollars and using technology, partnerships and bold thinking to support people facing homelessness in smarter, faster and more human ways.

Three reasons to listen:

• Understand why homelessness looks very different to the stereotype, and why only a small percentage of people facing it are sleeping rough
• Hear how Noah Yang went from Monash student to consultant, creator and founder, building We Are Mobilise into a fast-scaling force for impact
• Take away a powerful mindset on courage, purpose and testing the limits we place on ourselves before deciding what is or isn’t possible

To support We Are Mobilise and get involved in Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge in October, sign up at https://www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com/

On today’s episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Donna Ballard, CEO of Taree Universities Campus, to explore how regional university study hubs are changing what higher education can look like for students outside the major cities. Donna shares how TUC is helping students stay local, study with support, connect with employers, access placements, and build real pathways into meaningful work without leaving their communities.

Three reasons to listen today:

• Understand why regional students often need more than just online access, and how the right local support can completely change their chances of success
• Hear how Taree Universities Campus is creating distraction-free study, genuine community, and direct links to local jobs and placements
• Learn why early exposure, clear purpose, and local role models matter so much for helping young people see education as a real option

In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work. Claude has built one of the most influential leadership roles in modern business, focusing on trust, belonging, psychological safety and human-centered leadership across thousands of employees worldwide. Drawing on decades of experience developing high-performing teams, Claude shares why the future of leadership isn’t about control or hierarchy, but about connection, emotional awareness and helping people grow.

"You need to make sure that you get yourself right before you can help anyone else get themselves right."

Three reasons to listen:

• Learn how one of the world's first “Chief Heart Officers” helps thousands of employees feel seen, supported and motivated at work
• Understand why emotional intelligence, trust and belonging are becoming the most important leadership skills in the modern workplace
• Hear why the future of leadership will belong to people who combine humanity, honesty and action

Enjoy this episode, and let us know what you think in the comments on Spotify and/or in a review of this podcast, wherever you are listening.