In 1966, the university and NUSA relocated from Tighes Hill to a largely undeveloped bushland site in Shortland which underwent major development as enrollment grew in subsequent years.

NUSA's partner student organisation at UON responsible for commercial services and entertainment events, the University of Newcastle Union Ltd, was wound up following a loss of revenue.

[7] A motion at a Special General Meeting on 29 May 1997 for constitutional changes to establish NUPSA as an independent entity was defeated, resulting in the Postgraduate Students Collective remaining part of NUSA's structure.

[8] While NUPSA began the process of operating separately to NUSA from the late 1990s to provide independent representation and support services for postgraduate students, the two bodies maintained a close collaborative relationship.

[9] Interest in forming a local student union for the Central Coast began from 1989 at the time the University's Ourimbah Campus was beginning to develop and expand.

The company maintained a strong relationship with NUSA and NUPSA to support university-wide student representation and the delivery activities and events.

[12] In 2016 the NUSA Council adopted a four year strategic plan to expand services and reform its governance and representative structure.

These discussions culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2019 between NUSA, NUPSA and Yourimbah for the merger of the three separate organisations to form the University of Newcastle Students' Association (UNSA).

[14] From 30 June 2020, NUSA will cease most operations as an incorporated association alongside NUPSA and Yourimbah pending wind up and deregistration as individual legal entities.

Prior to the reforms to student representation commencing from 2016-2020 and the transition to UNSA Ltd, the NUSA Council had a dual role of both the governing body of the organisation and the principle SRC for UON.

[21] From 30 June 2020, NUSA ceased most operations as an incorporated association alongside NUPSA and Yourimbah pending wind up and deregistration as individual legal entities.

On 1 July 2020, UNSA commenced operating in place of the three separate student associations and began providing the services previously delivered by NUSA, NUPSA and Yourimbah.

[34] From Semester 1 2020, the University's Vice-Chancellor introduced a compulsory 80% attendance requirement at small group tutorials, laboratory sessions and seminars for all first year students.

[35] NUSA's Education Collective initiated a campaign against the mandatory attendance policy and raised concerns over the geotracking software used to monitor students.