It was with great sadness that the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations learned of the passing of Griffith University postgraduate student, Sophie Collombet, on March 28.
Sophie was an active member of Griffith University Postgraduate Student Association, and all of us at CAPA join with our friends at GUPSA in mourning this shared loss.
GUPSA has organised a memorial service and candle light vigil on Thursday, April 10th which students and friends are invited to attend (further details are included below).
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations will in the coming days be convening a working group to discuss concerns around safety for postgraduate students which will be comprised of the CAPA President, Women’s Officer, International Students’ Officer, and Northern Regional Secretary. This group will liaise with campus representatives in Queensland and across the country as postgraduates come to terms with this terrible loss.
Sophie’s passing is the latest in a series of incidents to have affected international students studying in Brisbane over the last year.
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations takes these incidences very seriously and is eager to work with postgraduate students both in Brisbane and nation-wide to respond to issues around safety and the student experience in Australia.
The President, Executive and Officers of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations send our condolences to Sophie’s friends and family, to the Griffith University Postgraduate Student Association, and to the Griffith University community at this terrible time.
A memorial service for Sophie Collombet will be held on Thursday 10 April from 3.30pm at the Nathan campus, Building N35 Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue (formerly known as the Multi Faith Centre) so that those who knew Sophie can honour her memory. Friends and classmates will be joined by GBS staff who had the privilege of knowing and teaching Sophie, as well as members of the University executive.
A candle light vigil, leaving from King George Square at 6.30pm, is also planned for the evening of Thursday 10 April. This vigil is being organised by postgraduate students from Griffith, QUT and UQ.
Ongoing support and counselling services are available to all students and staff with respect to this tragedy.
Ms Lexie Mooney, Head, Counselling Service, is available for you to contact directly at l.mooney@griffith.edu.au if you would like to speak to her or arrange an appointment. Ms Julie Coles, Counsellor, is also available atj.coles@griffith.edu.au.
In addition, Ms Chris O’Brien, Manager of International Student Advisory Services at Nathan, is also available to meet with international students who may have concerns or issues they would like to address. Her email contact details arechristine.obrien@griffith.edu.au.
Ms Meghan B. Hopper
President – Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
president@capa.edu.au / 0421 807 303
