Hi {{first_name || BSOC Community}}! 👋🏻

And just like that we’re almost halfway through the term.

In this month’s edition, we count several thousand cheese toasties, cover some of the corporate redundancies that made headlines in the past month and address some office etiquette.

We’ve also added in a snapshot of our upcoming BSOC events so keep reading to find out what we’ve got lined up!

For questions and feedback, contact us at [email protected]

The Aussie Corporate and the BSOC Team

If you follow The Aussie Corporate Instagram, it probably feels like every second headline this month has been about job cuts. Square/Block halving its workforce and blaming AI-driven efficiency, CBA with deep cuts in HR and tech, also because of supposed AI gains. Macquarie thinking they’re super lowkey but everyone knows they’ve been doing it quietly and consistently over the past year. Redundancies always read like carnage, so while Australian unemployment numbers are supposedly low, we attribute this jump partially to us just being more aware of the changes because they’re public and they’re also happening at big names. It’s no surprise when you consider that many of these firms (usually in tech) overhired during the last few years and are now reframing cuts as efficiency gains, followed by a neat share price bump.

From the perspective of a large Australian corporate, there are only certain windows where cuts make sense. February through May before EOFY resets. Then again around September or October once results are out and new budgets are set. You avoid peak reporting periods, manage workflow disruption and contain the impact before the next planning cycle. It’s rarely random.

What many forget is that redundancies are expensive. Under the National Employment Standards, payouts range from 4 to 16 weeks based on tenure, plus notice periods and unused leave. A single redundancy can equate to 6 to 9 months of salary upfront and companies don’t recoup that cost quickly. That’s why when leaders communicate clearly and look after people on the way out, it stands out. If you haven’t read Jack Dorsey’s rant on X already, have a geez. It’s good for optics, but it also reflects how significant these decisions are financially. Either way, check in on your friends. This wave likely isn’t done yet.

Have you ever had a colleague or fellow student sit down next to you and unpack something that slowly takes over the entire floor?. Apparently it got bad enough at Telstra Health that a senior executive had to send out comms banning staff from eating at their desks altogether.

There’s the etiquette side of it, sure. But there’s also the practical side. It’s generally better not to eat at your desk. Your brain needs break. Stepping away, even for 15 minutes, helps to reset focus. The issue is that return-to-office has brought back habits that people picked up at home. When you’re WFH, no one cares what you microwave. In an open-plan office with recycled air and someone monitoring how long you’re away from your desk for, it’s a different question.

So where’s the line? Butter and toast is breakfast so it’s on the same page as cereal. A pastry in the morning will just make people jealous. A hot meat pie might get a few looks but survives. A laksa, seafood stir fry or boiled egg? That’s when you’re definitely getting judged. Even if it smells good to you, it doesn’t mean the 40 people around you share that view. Add in the gym bro reheating tuna and rice at 10.45am and suddenly everyone has a meeting to go to.

That said, not everyone wants to socialise at lunch. For some, staying at the desk and getting through work is the reset. Work can be a form of escapism. We get that. If your food isn’t particularly “strong” and you’re unsure, you can always ask. A quick “is this okay here?” goes a long way with your colleagues. Then it’s back into the grind, hopefully without triggering a floor-wide evacuation.

We held our first Aussie Corporate volunteering session last week and the response surprised even us. We sold out in a day and had 300 people join the waiting list within 48 hours. Don’t feel like it’s only for full time corporates because we had university students in the mix as well.

Hosted in what’s arguably one of the best offices in Sydney thanks to our friends at Salesforce, we partnered with Eat Up Australia and made 2,200 cheese sandwiches across two sessions. Within the week, 19 schools received our fresh cheese toasties for students who would otherwise have gone without. It’s simple work, but it has a very real impact.

If sandwich-making or running isn’t your thing, that’s fine. The AusCorp Events team have more in the pipeline for the next few months (we’re hearing Puppy Yoga and some exercise in a very red room). You heard it here first.

How are Aussie corporates and other university students staying up to date with business news?

Pick & Scroll is our go-to daily morning news source for your top picks across Australian business, global and company news.

There’s been a lot of geopolitical noise this year. The US has been involved in tensions across Nigeria, Venezuela, Greenland and now Iran. Over the weekend the US and Israel launched broad attacks on Iran after talks over its nuclear program failed. Conflicts in the Middle East aren’t new, but what matters for markets is whether oil supply is actually disrupted.

Iran produces roughly 4 to 5 percent of global oil and gas and exports a meaningful share of that. If fighting spills over into key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices could jump sharply. That’s when it becomes an economic issue. A US$40 rise in oil prices would likely add about 40 cents a litre to Australian petrol prices. That flows through quickly. Petrol gets more expensive within a week or two, households spend more at the pump and less everywhere else.

There are two broad paths from here. The more likely scenario is a short and contained conflict where tensions cool and oil prices settle back down. In that case markets wobble but recover. The higher risk scenario is a prolonged conflict that seriously disrupts oil supply. Oil could spike toward US$150 a barrel and shares would likely fall hard. For Australians the most immediate impact would be higher petrol prices. That would lift inflation in the short term but also slow spending, which makes the Reserve Bank’s job harder. It’s just another reminder that global events don’t stay global for long.

EY-Parthenon Strategy, formerly EY Port Jackson Partners, is seeking exceptional applicants from any discipline for its 2027 Strategy Consulting Graduate Program.

Join us at one of our online or in-person events to find our more and meet our people:

How do I apply?
Please follow the link to our website below, to submit your CV and most recent academic transcript by Sunday 8 March 2026, 11:59 pm (AEDT).

SINCE 1988: What Winners Wear
UNSW BSOC HOODIE COLLECTION 2026
🧸 Built for comfort.
🎾 Designed for the everyday grind.
🏆 Inspired by champions since 1988.

Step into legacy with our Since 1988 Collection - where sporty silhouettes meet effortless streetwear.

Whether you're heading to lectures, workouts or coffee runs, this drop keeps you looking sharp on and off the court.

Secure your hoodie via the link below before orders close 30th March 2026 at 5PM. This is a LIMITED DROP and you DO NOT want to miss out.

Calling all university students interested in a career in risk!

Join EY for their Careers in Risk consulting event, where you will gain valuable insights into the world of risk and learn what career opportunities are available in this dynamic field.

When: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm AEST
Where: EY Sydney Office, 200 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Dress: Business Attire
RSVP: By Friday 6 March 2026 11:59pm with the link:
https://globaleysurvey.ey.com/jfe/form/SV_51HY6JbZTlgLyg6

Internship Ready
Tuesday 10th March (Week 4) 3 pm-4:30 pm | Business School Lounge | Register
Achieve & Connect

Hear directly from internship hosts on how to stand out, build connections, and make a strong first impression. Includes a panel Q&A and networking. This session is open for students who have attended both Internship Foundations and Internship Prep. Designed for students who have a polished resume, have practiced interview skills, and are actively applying.

This is the final session in a three-part series for students ready to secure an internship now.

 
TOP AUSTRALIAN NEWS RECAP

THE ODD PICKS

Jane Street is coming to UNSW! See where to find us below.
Interested in learning more about Jane Street? Students of all backgrounds and tenures are encouraged to register - you don't need experience in finance to work at Jane Street. We hope to meet intellectually curious problem solvers!

UNSW Pop Up
Tuesday, March 3 @ 12:00pm - 3:00pm // Eleonora Kopalinsky Lawn
Registration not required.

Dinner with Jane Street
Wednesday, March 4 @ 5:00pm - 7:30pm // TBA
Sign up by Monday, March 2 @ 11:59pm. We’ll confirm attendees by EOD on Tuesday, March 3.
Sign up link: https://lnkd.in/g26VpxPT

Jane Street Tech Talk
Tuesday, March 17 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm // Redfern, Sydney
Join a JS technologist to learn more about “Making OCaml Safe for Performance Engineering”.
Sign up by Sunday, March 15 @ 11:59pm. We’ll confirm attendees by EOD on Monday, March 16.
Sign up link: https://lnkd.in/gYgxB4Sr

Get to Know Us: Strategy & Product
Thursday, March 19 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm // Redfern, Sydney
Please note: this event will only focus on the Strategy & Product role. Sign up by Tuesday, March 17 @ 11:59pm. We’ll confirm attendees by EOD on Wednesday, March 18.
Sign up link: https://lnkd.in/gPAz7DKP

If you want to learn more, consider applying to our upcoming program, Portal! Application link: https://lnkd.in/gAYZVjcS
ydney, NSW 2000
Dress: Business Attire
RSVP: By Friday 6 March 2026 11:59pm with the link:
https://globaleysurvey.ey.com/jfe/form/SV_51HY6JbZTlgLyg6