Joining SUBW
Do I have to be a university student to join SUBW
No. Everyone can join SUBW. We are open to people from all walks of life. While many of our members are students, we also have a fair share of members who have long graduated (or never studied).
How can I join SUBW
Information on how to sign up for the club online can be found here.
How old are the members of SUBW
Since SUBW is open to everyone, regardless of whether they are students or not, our members come from a broad age group. We have many current students, but also members who are already in their work lives. To get an idea of the people coming on our trip, have a look at the many pictures in our trip reports.
I'm under 18 years old. Can I join SUBW?
In most cases, this would refer to first-year university students who are 17 years old. A warm welcome to the university, and you will usually be fine joining trips. The only thing is that you will need to obtain parental consent and have your parents sign a waiver before you go on the trip. Note that the legal drinking age is still 18. We are a university club and therefore don’t recommend that high school students join.
Membership Troubleshooting
I have made my membership payment on MyUSU, but I still haven't received the account creation email from the club.
Most likely, this is due to
1. The account creation email has ended up in spam or has been caught by anti-spam filters. This is very common for USYD email addresses (those ending with @uni.sydney.edu.au). Please wait for spam filters to process, and you will receive a reminder to release potentially spam emails (refer to the FAQ below). Alternatively, just don’t use a USYD email on MyUSU.
2. For some reason, the email hasn’t been sent. Simply go to the login page, select Forgot Password, and you will receive an email on how to set up an account.
If these methods don’t work, contact the committee, and we will work out a solution. Please note the troubleshooting steps you’ve undertaken (eg. you have used the Forgot Password button), and we will know where to start looking. If you don’t tell us what steps you’ve undertaken, we will direct you back to the FAQ page.
Please do not attempt to leave and rejoin the club on MyUSU. We cannot process refunds for duplicate payments, and these requests will have to be handled through USU Clubs (Email: clubs@usu.edu.au).
How do I release spam emails into my University mailbox (@uni.sydney.edu.au)?
You will receive an email that looks like this. Hit the “Release all” button, and you’ll get all those emails.
If you still have issues with University email, contact University IT support at ict.support@sydney.edu.au or refer to this page for details. We are unable to provide support on IT issues related to university emails.
I have renewed my membership on MyUSU, but that hasn't shown up on our website.
Please check that the email address of your MyUSU account is the same as that in SUBW website. If the email addresses don’t match, a renewal will not take place, and you will have to request that to be handled manually/create a new SUBW account with your new email address.
I cannot make the payment on MyUSU. Are there alternative forms of payment?
Unfortunately, no. Please contact USU Clubs (Email: clubs@usu.edu.au) for issues relating to the MyUSU system.
I cannot sign in to MyUSU/I have issues with the MyUSU system.
Unfortunately, we cannot troubleshoot issues with MyUSU. Please contact USU Clubs (Email: clubs@usu.edu.au) for issues relating to the MyUSU system.
Why does my membership expire on 31st Dec? Is there any way I can get a full year of membership?
For university members, according to USU policies, 31st Dec is the date on which all membership lapses, regardless of when you joined. For example, if you’ve joined SUBW as a university member in October, your membership will still expire on 31st Dec. The only way to make sure you get a full year of membership is to join early in the year.
Do you offer 6-month memberships?
No.
Do you offer refunds for memberships?
No. We will not offer membership refunds for any reason, including change of mind. Please make up your mind before making a membership payment. We will also not offer membership refunds if your membership was suspended or terminated due to misconduct or inappropriate behaviour. Reasons such as “I haven’t joined a trip” or “I wasn’t able to join a trip” are not valid reasons for membership refunds.
Do you offer membership discounts?
No. The membership fee charged is defined by the club’s constitution. Therefore, we are unable to offer discounts.
Walks Programme & Joining Trips
How often do you run trips
We usually run trips on most weekends all year round, including summer and semester breaks. However, since all our trip leaders are volunteers, we can’t guarantee this. Trips can also be weather-dependent. If you want to have a look at trips we ran in the past, have a look at our past walks programme.
When is the next trip?
All our trips are published on the walks programme. If there is no trip announced, none is planned at the moment. However, new trips are constantly getting announced, often with only a few days’ notice. Even though the walks programme might look empty today, there might still be trips coming up for next weekend.
Are there additional costs for coming on a trip.
Once you are a member of the club, we don’t charge extra for coming on trips. However, you have to cover all your own costs, such as train tickets. If someone gives you a lift in their car, you are expected to share the costs of fuel. You also need to provide your own food. If it’s an interstate or international trip, you’ll also be expected to cover flights and accommodation costs.
What trips are planned for this year?
All our trips are published on the walks programme. Unlike many other societies where you might see a year planner, we don’t plan trips ahead, and most of our trips are announced with one or two weeks’ notice. Keep an eye on the mailing list and you’ll get a notification when the next trip comes along! While that being said, two trips will definitely happen each year at set dates: President’s Bludge Trip, a 3-day camping trip to Kanangra over the October long weekend, and Christmas Dinner Walk, a 2-day camping trip at Coxs River the weekend before Christmas.
What are the requirements for joining a trip?
Once you sign up and become a member, you can join a trip! Upcoming trips can be found on the walks programme. Exact requirements for trips will usually be detailed in the trip description. Beginner to intermediate-level bushwalking trips are mostly open to anyone without prior experience, and others may require more previous experience. Info on coming on a trip can be found here.
What do I need to prepare to go on a trip?
We have written a special page which covers everything from signing up for a trip to coming on the trip. Please have a look there. Everything covered in this page will be sufficient for most day walks. For other trips, such as multi-day walks, the trip leader will contact you on what to prepare and where to get them (usually the gear locker).
Do I need bushwalking experience to join the club?
No. We run a wide range of trips from beginner bushwalks to advanced multi-day adventures. We welcome anyone as long as they are keen to try out something new!
I am a beginner in bushwalking. Can I join the club?
Of course! We run a lot of beginner coastal walks, suburban walks and intermediate bushwalks. All of these are suitable for complete beginners. Come along and try out something new!
Do I need to know how to swim?
In general, No. However, for water-based trips (eg. canyoning), it is essential that everyone is able to swim at least 50 metres, and confident in floatation in water with depth of 5+ metres, without floatation aid. If you are not a confident swimmer, you should not join water-based trips.
Can I still come on a trip if it is marked as 'full'?
If a trip is marked as ‘full’, it means exactly that: the trip is full. This also means that the trip leader will not accept any further sign-ups. In rare cases, there is another reason for the trip being marked ‘full’. If this is the case, it will be stated very clearly in the trip announcement. We know that it can be frustrating that a trip is full, but for the safety and enjoyment of everyone, numbers have to be limited on trips. There are always new trips coming up, so simply sign up as soon as another suitable trip is announced.
Can I come on a trip without being a member and then decide whether I want to join?
No. All people coming on trips must be current members of the club. Thus, you have to become a member before your first trip with the club.
Can I take a friend who's not a member to a trip?
No. Everyone coming on trips must be a current member and have signed up for the trip on the website. If you take a friend without the trip leader’s approval, they will not be allowed to join the trip.
How can I increase my chances of being accepted in trips?
Keep a close eye on the mailing list, and sign up for trips as soon as you see the email and you meet the required prerequisite/experience. Showing up to trips on time will also increase your chances of being accepted, as some trip leaders are more likely to accept familiar faces.
Do I need to be able to speak English?
Yes. Many of our club members come from multicultural backgrounds and can speak multiple languages. However, it is still imperative that you can speak fluent English, so that you can understand important safety instructions and be able to communicate your concerns. If you have difficulty communicating in English, our trip leaders may deem that it is unsafe to take you on a trip. Even if you speak another language, you’ll have a much better time on the trip if you communicate with everyone in English.
Gear Borrowing & Miscellaneous
Do I need all my own gear?
The club has an extensive store of gear which you can hire for trips. For example, we have camping gear which is suitable for overnight trips, as well as canyoning gear and much more. Gear may be borrowed for club trips only and must be returned the week after the trip. See the gear borrowing page for details.
Can I borrow club gear for a private trip?
No. Gear may be borrowed for club trips only and must be returned the week after the trip.
I want to make a claim on the club's insurance.
Complete the claim form provided on this page. You will also need to talk to a committee member so we can complete relevant parts of the form.