01 August 2022
More than 200 students have created social connections and friendships, thanks to an idea sparked by two UniSA students who became friends through a virtual chat box.
When international students Janya Cariappa and Alexandra Joe weren’t able to travel to Adelaide to start their on-campus studies because of Australian border closures, they opted to start their degrees online.
While both students adapted well to their virtual schedules, they were also keen to get to know their fellow students and future campus community, even if from afar.
After meeting virtually at a UniSA social event which was livestreamed for offshore students, Janya and Alex quickly realised the need to create informal opportunities for students, studying online, to connect.
After a lengthy WhatsApp call where they debated a long list of names and ideas, ChatBox was born. The club is now one of 90+ that forms part of the UniSA Student Association (USASA) and was named in honour of the chat box which helped them connect at that very first event.
Then and now – ChatBox hosting an online event when international students were offshore and a recent in-person event on campus
The club’s tagline ‘Stay Home. Stay Social’ reflected the founding members own circumstances with Janya studying a double degree in social science and psychology in India, while Alex, originally from Indonesia, was studying her social work degree from Malaysia. Both students were eager to be social and have fun while studying, even if they couldn’t meet others face to face.
Keen to reach out to a wider group of students in similar circumstances, they opened the club to students studying at all universities in Adelaide. In a short time, the club’s membership grew to over 200 students and while it originally consisted of offshore students, it now includes a wide mix of both international and local students. Over the past two years, the committee has included fellow offshore students, Gul Kanak, Khushi Naik and Shriya Etasha Shrinath, along with students, Shangamithra Elilarasan and Logan McInerney who supported the club from Adelaide.
The club’s quick growth and success saw them take out the ‘new club of the year’ award at USASA’s livestreamed event. It was a great achievement for a club that had only been running for three months.
“It was unreal sitting in different parts of the world to celebrate an award being given in a place we not been to yet. Watching the livestream together made us feel like we were seated at a table right there,” club President, Janya says.
UniSA Student Engagement Officer, Zoe Zweck was supportive of the club early on, recognising the importance of helping offshore students connect to others.
“We were working on the Offshore Social Connect Program, running regular online social activities for students, when we were approached by ChatBox. We then partnered with them to run the program. We were so impressed with their initiative and how engaged they were as new students. They quickly built a great club that has continued to grow and expand now that they are here in Adelaide,” Zoe says.
Now in the second year of their degrees and finally in Adelaide, Janya and Alex reflect on how setting up the club and connecting with other students online supported their own arrival in Adelaide.
“It helped us settle in easily because we had already made friends, knew people, and loved the place,” club Vice President, Alex says.
Now that most ChatBox members are in Adelaide, the club’s needs have changed. While online events, particularly game nights, are still a feature, they have moved to a hybrid model to accommodate the growing demand for in person events. They’ve also recently celebrated their first birthday party at an event that sold out days ahead of the celebration.
“Although the online activity has reduced post-arrival, the great turnout at the party showed us that if we adapt to the needs of our members, we can continue to enjoy their support. We plan to have a hybrid model for our club to be inclusive of a wider audience,” Janya says.
