FUSA Elections 2021
Do you want to be a student leader and represent Flinders University students in 2022? Would you like to make a meaningful contribution to University life? Do you want to be involved in student media on campus? Then consider nominating for a position with FUSA!
Nominations for Student Council positions, Empire Times Editors and NUS delegates open on Monday September 6 and close on Monday 20 September.
For detailed information on all the roles, responsibilities and criteria, keep reading!
Positions Open for Nomination
International Students Officer
First Nations (Indigenous) Students Officer
General Council Member (Six Positions)
Empire Times Editorial Team (Three Student Editors)
National Union of Students Conference Delegate Positions (Six Positions)
2021 Election timeline
Nominations Open 9:00am Mon Sept 6
Nominations Close 4:00pm Mon Sept 20
Election Begins 9:30am Tues Oct 5
Election Finishes 2:00pm Thurs Oct 7
Returning Officer: Dr Mary Heath
Assistant Returning Officer: David Hopkins
Election Tribunal:
Dr Rhain Buth
Dr Luis da Vinha
Ms Jody St Clair
Campaigner Registration
If you wish to campaign in the 2021 FUSA Elections you must register.
Student Council
Student Council is the governing body of the Flinders University Student Association (FUSA). Not only do Student Council guide and direct the decision making of FUSA, they also play a vital role in representing students in conversations with the University about matters that affect you!
All positions on the Student Council are democratically elected by the student body.
The functions and purpose of FUSA are to:
- promote and advance the rights, interests and welfare of students;
- represent students within and outside the University;
- coordinate and support activities for students, including the provision of support for affiliated clubs;
- provide the means for effective communication between students, the Association and the University;
- oversee the delivery of student services, which are funded from the Student Services and Amenities Fee and are the responsibility of the Manager, Student Engagement; and
- deliver other services, amenities and programs for students funded from the membership fee and other income received by the Association.
For all the formal details and rules regarding FUSA and Student Council you can check out the FUSA Constitution here
Eligibility
1. For the purposes of this election, the candidate and seconder must be a student as defined by the FUSA Election Regulations in the following way:
‘Student’ means any currently enrolled student of the University, who is enrolled as a full-time, part-time or external student as defined by the University. “As defined by the University” is a composite of the University Council definitions of: ‘Postgraduate Student’, ‘Undergraduate Student’ and ‘current enrolment’.
Non-award students are not included within this definition. A student has a ‘current enrolment’ if they are enrolled for a topic which is identified as to be counted toward the requirements of a course as defined by the University. Members of Student Council must remain students for the duration of their term on Student Council.
2. Several Student Council positions have specific eligibility requirements. These are set out in the table below.
| Name of position | Eligibility of candidate |
| Postgraduate Students Officer | Only students who are enrolled as a Postgraduate student |
| First Nations (Indigenous) Students Officer | Only students who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander |
| International Student Officer | Only International Students. |
| Queer Officer | Only students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual. |
| Women’s Officer | Only students who identify as women. |
| Disabilities Officer | Only students identifying as having a visible and/or invisible disability. |
| Mature Age Students Officer | Only students 25 year or older as of 1 December 2021. |
3. As per the Flinders University Student Association Constitution, it is also required that all Student Council members must be a member of the Student Association.
If you’re not already a member of FUSA you can join here
Student Council Induction
As per section 20 of the FUSA Election Regulations, it is compulsory for a person elected to Student Council at the Annual Election to attend an Induction.
The dates for Induction in 2021 are not yet set but will be run over multiple days in mid-October and late November.
STUDENT COUNCIL POSITIONS
Student President
Hours per week: 30 Hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $28,500 pa
The Student President shall:
- be the official spokesperson of students and the Student Council and make representations on behalf of students to the University, media, governments, and external organisations;
- chair the Student Council;
- communicate the activities of the Student Council to students;
- provide the Council with a written report of their activities as President at each meeting of the Student Council;
- provide assistance to Student Council Members and office bearers as required and
be responsible for the implementation and coordination of the Student Council’s education campaigns.
The Student President is in high demand throughout the year as University staff are keen to engage and receive input from the Student President on important matters relating to all students. Consequently, it is expected that the Student President be available to attend regular meetings and join University committees to ensure that the student voice is included in decision making across the many facets of the University.
Given the large time commitment involved in the role of Student President, it is usual that the Student President will reduce their study load to one or two topics each semester.
General Secretary
Hours per week: 10 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $10,000 pa
The General Secretary shall:
- maintain the financial records of all monies and assets of the Association;
- provide notice of meetings and collating agenda and appendix items for circulation prior to each meeting of Student Council;
- present a financial report to each meeting of the Student Council meeting and the Annual General Meeting;
- call General Meetings of members; and
- maintain up to date records of the Association’s membership including contact details for members.
Education Officer
Hours per week: 10 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $10,000 pa
The Education Officer shall:
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Student Council’s education campaigns as directed by the Student Council and in cooperation with the President;
- promote and support student representation within the University;
- represent FUSA on any working groups for education related policies;
- chair the Student Representative Network, which shall provide advice to the Student Council on matters and issues raised by student representatives across the University.
- develop education campaign proposals for consideration by the Student Council; and
- liaise with local, national and international organisations working on education issues.
Women’s Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Women’s Officer shall:
- identify as a woman;
- act as an advocate on behalf of women students;
- be the spokesperson regarding issues of importance to women students;
- ensure that women students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to women students; and
- co-chair the Be a Better Human Campaign Steering Group.
Welfare Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Welfare Officer shall:
- be the Association’s spokesperson regarding issues of student welfare;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Association’s welfare campaigns, as directed by the Student Council.
- liaise and network with state and national welfare and community sector groups and peak bodies;
- provide support and work in conjunction with Student Assist; and
- co-chair the Be a Better Human Campaign Steering Group.
Queer Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Queer Officer shall:
- identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual;
- be the Association’s spokesperson regarding issues of importance to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual students;
- recognise the importance of sexual and gender diversity and seek to be inclusive of all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual community;
- ensure that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual identifying students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters.
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual identifying students;
Postgraduate Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Post Graduates Students Officer shall:
- be a Postgraduate student;
- collect and provide information on the needs of Postgraduate students to the Student Council;
- be the Association’s spokesperson on issues of importance to Postgraduate Students;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to Postgraduate students; and
- ensure that Postgraduate Students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters.
International Students Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The International Students Officer shall:
- be an International student;
- be the Association’s spokesperson on issues of importance to International Students;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to International students; and
- ensure that International Students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to person and academic matters.
First Nations (Indigenous) Students Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Indigenous Students Officer shall:
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
- be the Association’s spokesperson on issues of importance to First Nations students;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to First Nations Students;
- ensure that First Nations Students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters.
Environment Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Environment Officer shall:
- be the Association’s spokesperson regarding issues of environment, sustainability and the climate crisis;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Association’s environmental campaigns;
- liaise and network with local, state and national environmental groups.
Social Activities Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Social Activities Officer shall:
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the Association’s social events;
- be an ex officio member of the Club Pool Funding Panel and O’Week Directors standing committee;
- review, change and add to the FUSA Social Calendar as they seem fit, with the approval of Student Council;
- prepare an annual social calendar for the Association; and
- work in conjunction with Events & Projects Officer (or delegate) to facilitate Pub Crawl (or equivalent) events each semester, and an annual Student Ball (or equivalent).
Disabilities Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
The Disabilities Officer shall:
- identify as having a disability;
- be the Association’s spokesperson on issues of importance to students with a disability;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to students with a disability; and
- ensure that students with a disability are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters.
Mature Age Students Officer
Hours per week: 3 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Mature Age Students Officer shall:
- be a mature age student;
- be the Association’s spokesperson on issues of importance to Mature Age Students;
- be responsible for the coordination and implementation of campaigns on issues of importance to Mature Age Students; and
- ensure that Mature Age Students are referred to relevant campus or non-campus services in relation to personal and academic matters.
General Council Member (Six Positions)
Hours per week: 2 hours (approximate)
Honorarium: $2,000 pa
General Council Members shall:
- assist the Association’s Office Bearers and members of Student Council with portfolios in carrying out their duties;
- act as a delegate or proxy on behalf of Student Council or individual members of Student Council when requested and available to do so; and
- promote the campaigns and initiatives of the Association to the student cohort.
STUDENT MEDIA POSITIONS
Empire Times Editorial Team (Three Student Editors)
Hours per week: 20-30 hours across the team (approximate)
Honorarium: $10,000 pa per editor (based on meeting publication deadlines)
Background
Empire Times (Or ET) is the student publication of Flinders University. It includes campus news, student-centric articles and information, and is a platform for emerging talent at Flinders.
A team of three student editors make up the Empire Times Editorial Team. The team is responsible for the creation, design and publication of regular editions of the student publication Empire Times as well as online content. Empire Times editors are also responsible for any additional content or activities required for the further promotion of Empire Times. 20-30 hours of work is expected per week from the team.
If you’re an aspiring journalist, graphic designer, wordsmith or media creative with the desire and know how to lead a publication, this could be for you! Students will have the opportunity to work with Adobe Creative Cloud and develop their communication skills
As an Empire Times Editor you are required to:
- Collaborate with your co-editors to source student articles and create regular issues of Empire Times during your tenure. This must be done in accordance to the production schedule developed in conjunction with editors and the Media Team of FUSA;
- To exercise authority over all aspects of the publication’s production, design, photography, editing and writing;
- Endeavour to increase the prominence of the publication within the general student body and wider community;
- Co-ordinate and support a diverse range of contributors, writers, photographers, illustrators, sub-editors and proof readers; and
- Liaise with the FUSA Student Council and staff and consistently attend any necessary meetings
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EMPIRE TIMES NOMINATIONS
Candidates shall run in teams of three. Candidates can only nominate for one team as opposed to simultaneously nominate in multiple teams.
Please contact fusa@flinders.edu.au if you would like assistance in forming an editorial team
NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS
National Union of Students Conference Delegate Positions (Six Positions)
The National Union of Students (NUS) is the peak representative body for undergraduate students in Australia.
NUS works to protect the rights of students across Australia, organises national campaigns on issues affecting students in a range of different areas, and ensures that the student voice is heard by government, the media, and the public.
Nominations are now invited from all currently enrolled Flinders students as a Delegate (6 positions) to the NUS National Conference in 2021. The National Conference sets the policy for NUS, determines its structure, and elects the National Office-Bearers and the National Executive. The conference is held in early December 2021 in Melbourne. Due to current COVID-19 associated restrictions, alternative arrangements will be put in place for delegates unable to travel to Melbourne this year.
Student Council and Empire Times positions are undertaken on a volunteer basis and are expected to fulfil the duties and responsibilities set out in the FUSA Student Council Members Roles and Duties Regulations and the Empire Times Regulations. In recognition of the work involved in contributing to the Student Council and Empire Times, Flinders University will make an honorarium payment.