Student Elections

By nominating in the Student elections you can seize your opportunity to get involved, contribute and be the voice of your fellow students!

Participation in student representation allows you to play a key role in campus life and activities and build a range of skills well regarded by employers, while providing representation and advocacy relating to campus and University-wide issues.

Becoming a student representative may allow you to:

• Contribute to decision making at The University
• Represent student needs to The University
• Help create a more vibrant campus life
• Undertake professional development
• Network with professionals at The University
• Discuss strategic issues with management

Click here if you are thinking "but why else should I consider becoming a student representative?"

For more information about elections for student representative positions on the University’s governing and student representative bodies including the Board of Trustees, Academic Senate, and related University Academic and Governance Committees must be submitted through the Elections website.

Current elections

Ballots will reopen for the 2023 Student Representative Council, Campbelltown Campus Representative Position on Monday 13 November and will close at 4.00pm on Friday 24 September. The Notice of the Second Round Election can be found by clicking this link PDF, 118.53 KB (opens in a new window).

How do I vote? If you are eligible to vote in a ballot, you will receive an email (in your student email account) that includes a link to vote. Do not forward your voting information email or share your personalised secure voting link with anyone else.

The Notice of Nominations (opens in a new window) PDF, 134.93 KB and Ballot list (opens in a new window) PDF, 134.21 KB for the Student Representative Council, Student Editors and NUS NatCon Delegates are now available

Student Representative Council & Student Editor Candidate Statements (opens in a new window) PDF, 6649.12 KB

NUS NatCon Delegate Candidate Statements (opens in a new window)
PDF, 115.17 KB

Nominate for roles on University Committees

For information about nominating as a student representative on University Governance, Academic & School Committees, please navigate to the University Elections webpage.

Student Elections Information Webinar Recording (opens in a new window)

Student Elections Information Webinar Presentation Slides (opens in a new window)
PDF, 1454.43 KB

Declaration of Results

Please find here the Declaration of Results for the 2023 Student Election period (opens in a new window) PDF, 159.44 KB.

What happens during an election?

1. The Returning Officer(s) (opens in a new window) who oversee the election processes will send an email to all students and post the Notice of Election information online

2. Students interested in nominating for a position can then submit their details and candidate statement through the relevant online or hard copy nomination form. They may also submit a photograph. Nominations must be received by the closing date advised in the Notice of Election, and all students who nominate themselves or are nominated by another party, must meet the eligibility criteria on the day nominations close. To be eligible for any of the available positions, you must be a student and have an 'enrolled' status, some positions require further eligibility criteria to be met,

• Students interested in a Student Representative Council, Student Editors, and National Union of Students Delegates roles should nominate using the Student Representation Elections Nomination Form (opens in a new window)  – Note: If supplying a candidate statement one (1) is required for SRC and Student Editor nominations and one (1) separate candidate statement is required for NUS Delegate. Submission of a candidate photo is optional but strongly recommended.

3. If more nominations are received than there are positions available, then a ballot will need to take place. If the number of nominations received is equal to or less than the number of positions available, then the nominee/s will be declared as elected to the position

4. Candidate statements will be available online for students to review if there is a ballot and candidates may campaign using approved material to support their claim in the election

5. Eligible students will receive an email notification with a personalised secure voting link allowing them to vote for candidates in the ballots

6. The results of the ballots will be published online

A breakdown of the important dates can be found below.

What are the elected student positions at Western?

Candidate Conduct During Elections

During the elections, candidates running in the elections are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and honourable manner.

Candidate conduct is outlined in Part D of the Student Representation Procedures (opens in a new window).

FAQs

Q: What does it mean to run with a ticket in the elections?

A: A ticket or grouped candidacy is a group of students who usually band together with other like-minded students and each identify themselves as suitable for a certain role in the student rep structure and may or may not include NUS delegate positions. Common social, political, cultural, environmental or other goals may motivate the unofficial union and this may or may not dictate how the ticket identifies and/or what it is named.

Q: Does running in a ticket mean I am guaranteed my preferred position?

A: No. In short running in a ticket does not in fact guarantee anyone from obtaining a position, unlike Australian Federal politics for example, winning the majority will not win your group control over the SRC. There may be a mix of groups and independents, and some folks will be successful in their first preference, and some folks will be successful in another preference, and of course some folks (even despite running on a largely successful ticket) may not be elected in a role at all.

Q: Is the Returning Officer responsible for approving and fact-checking all of my campaign material?

A: While the Returning Officer of the elections for the SRC, editors and NUS delegates is responsible for approving any candidate's campaign material that is to be posted physically or electronically on any asset that is owned, operated, facilitated by the university, the Returning Officer is not responsible for fact-checking any campaign material or approving material that candidates intend on sharing on their personal social media. According to the procedures, any complaints about candidate conduct shall be referred to the Returning Officer and the Returning Officer shall make a ruling in accordance with the procedures of how to respond and if any such relevant action shall be taken. NW: University assets can include but are not limited to, poster boards, poles, walls, doors, a frames, social media sites, & student media.

Q: Can the Returning Officer disqualify a candidate from the election?

A: According to the procedures, yes, "where the Returning Officer is of the opinion that, on the balance of probabilities, a forbidden practice has occurred," they may remedy or dismiss the matter, or they may take action including excluding or disqualifying a candidate from the election (regardless of whether or not voting has occurred and votes have been counted). It is important that all candidates are familiar with the expectations and are responsible for familiarising themselves with the procedures and their own conduct during and outside of the elections.

Q: If I am not elected, does this mean I cannot participate in the SRC?

A: It is commonly preconceived that involvement in student politics and student voice is dictated by demonstrating possession of a role or a "title." This is simply not the case and all students are encouraged to independently lobby and hold their elected student representatives accountable; this can be achieved by sending them emails, observing their monthly scheduled meetings, attending relevant student forums and writing about your student experiences in W'SUP the student newspaper (opens in a new window).

Still have questions?

For more information about the nomination and election of these positions please contact the SRC Elections' Returning Officer Vic Miglionico on v.miglionico@westernsydney.edu.au
For more information about any of these positions or the SRC please visit the SRC's website (opens in a new window) or email studentrepadmin@westernsydney.edu.au

Historic Elections Results