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 advocacy relating to students' 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?"
Did you know you can also 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.
Please note 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 are administered through the Returning Officer of the University and are communicated exclusively via the Elections webpage.
Current elections
Ballots for the 2025 student elections closed on September 29.
The Declarations of Results for the positions are now available.
Election documents
- Notice of Election
- Candidate guidelines
- Notice of ballot
- Candidate Statements
- Election Tribunal Hearing - 8-9-25
- Election Tribunal Hearing - 7-10-25
- Declaration of Results
For the list of positions available and all relevant elections information, please read the Student Elections Notice of Election.
All candidates should seek out the candidate guidelines and consider these as election rules and regulations throughout the election.
Please note the Student Declaration form will need to be downloaded and filled out per the nomination form’s guidance. Please see the candidate guidelines for more info.
2025 student elections are set to proceed, details will be advertised on this webpage as they become available.
Elections for the student representative positions usually occur once every year. To learn about the roles and responsibilities of student representatives during the election and beyond the declaration of results into starting in the role, ensure you are familiar with the regulations and guidelines that will apply to you.
Important dates during the student elections
Important dates for the 2025 student elections will be available in the notice of election when it is posted on this webpage.
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 submit their details, candidate statement, candidate photograph, attached endorsement, and if applicable attached ticket form via the online nomination form. 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,
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
Nominations Open
Nominations are open from 9am Friday August 15.
Nominations are to be submitted via the electronic form (opens in new window) from this time.
Please attend the Elections Info Webinar (opens in a new window) on Wed Aug 20 for more information register via WesternLife.
Please note any student wishing to withdraw their nomination for any reason should ensure this is done before the close of nominations.
Nominations Close
If nominating in the election you should confirm you are a currently enrolled student, preferably before nominating, but no later than 4.00PM Friday Aug 29. If you are ineligible due to not being enrolled, you should consider withdrawing your nomination before close on nominations.
Eligibility Checks
From Monday 9 September all nominations will be reviewed for confirmation of eligibility to stand in the elections. Any candidates found to not be eligible for the positions they have nominated for will be excluded, and not considered for the ballot.
Notice of Ballot
The Notice of Ballot will be released shortly before ballots are due to open, this will be the prime time for candidates to begin their campaigns to attract fellow students to vote for them once they receive their personalised voting links.
Questions regarding the ballot can be forward to the The Returning Officer at this time.
Candidates running in the election, according to the Notice of Ballot, may begin their campaigns.
Ballots Open
The ballots will be open from Monday September 15. Once voters have received their personalised voting link to their student email, students are encouraged to vote as soon as possible before the close of ballots.
Students eligible to vote should not share their personalised voting link, candidates should not request voters personalised voting link as this would be a candidate misconduct.
Students may find they receive their email link either shortly after 9am or sometime after. Please do not be concerned as the system sending the emails on behalf of the Returning Officer has a lot of data to process and may take some time.
Ballots Close
The ballots for the elections will be closed from 4.00pm Monday Sep 29.
Election Results Published
The declaration of election results will be published before Wednesday October 2 on the Student Voice webpage.
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).
Q: Will there be any elections for Student Editors?
A: No, there will be a process of appointing student editors under the Student Union. Any information regarding this will be made available on the Student Rep webpage.
Election Guidelines and Principles
Guidelines and Candidate Conduct
During the elections, candidates running in the elections are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and honourable manner.
Please note: Candidate conduct is outlined in Part D of the Student Representation Procedures (opens in a new window), candidate conduct will also be outlined in the relevant documentation where relevant to the anticipated student union regulations.
Historic Elections Results
2024 Student Election Notices
2023 Student Election Notices
2022 Student Election Notices
2021 Student Election Notices
Student Representation Notice of Election (PDF, 94.31 KB) |
|---|
| Notice of Nominations 2021 PDF, 144.08 KB (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) Student Representative Council Candidates 2021 DOCX, 7450.41 KB (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) Student Editor Candidates 2021 DOCX, 410.35 KB (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) NUS Delegates 2021 DOCX, 2264.16 KB (opens in a new window) |
2020 Student Election Notices
| Declarations of Results 2020 (PDF, 29.79 KB) (opens in a new window) |
|---|
| Notice of Nominations 2020 (DOC, 37.5 KB) (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) Student Representative Council 2020 (DOCX, 3599.4 KB) (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) Student Editors 2020 (DOCX, 1115.07 KB) (opens in a new window) |
| Notices of Ballot (Election Guides) NUS Delegates 2020 (DOCX, 1143.61 KB) (opens in a new window) |
Still have questions?
For more information about the nomination and election of these positions please contact the Student Elections' Returning Officer.
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