fusa Election Results
Student Council
STUDENT PRESIDENT
Billy Greet
GENERAL SECRETARY
Shanii Sparrow
EDUCATION OFFICER
Jess Williams
WOMEN’S OFFICER
Aishwarya
WELFARE OFFICER
Alivia Vickers
POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OFFICER
Sharleen Kabiri
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICER
Suyatra (Sue)
QUEER OFFICER
Riley Jones
FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS OFFICER
Vacant (no nominations)
ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
Lupin Lo
DISABILITIES OFFICER
Danielle Rohrlach
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OFFICER
Antonio Pupulin
MATURE AGE STUDENTS OFFICER
Shannon Whitford
PEOPLE OF COLOUR OFFICER
Darlyn Tan-Sik
GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS (SIX POSITIONS)
Kevin Chao
Jess Trezona
Bree Elliott
Janageeth
Gwydion Rozitisolds
Maddy Tapley
EMPIRE TIMES EDITOR TEAM
Katie Stedman, Katia Rawlings, Rachelle Summers, and Georgia Nolan
NUS CONFERENCE DELEGATES
Darlyn Tan-Sik
Billy Greet
Janageeth
Molly Turnbull
Maddy Tapley
Jess Williams
Positions
2022 Election timeline
Nominations Open: 9:30am, Mon 5 Sept
Nominations Close: 4:00pm, Mon 19 Sept
Election Begins: 9:30am, Tues 4 Oct
Election Finishes: 2:00pm, Thurs 6 Oct
Returning Officer: Dr Mary Heath
Assistant Returning Officer: David Hopkins and Kelly Maxwell
Election Tribunal:
Ms Jody St Clair
Dr. Luis da Vinha
Dr. Rhain Buth
The Details
All positions on the Student Council, Empire Times Editorial Team and NUS Conference. Delegates are democratically elected by the student body.
The functions and purpose of Flinders University Student Association 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 Postgraduate students. Please note that Honours students are considered undergraduates. |
First Nations Students Officer | Only students who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. In addition, only students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may vote for First Nations Students Officer. |
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 2022. |
People of Colour Officer | Only students who identify as Persons of Colour |
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
It is compulsory for a person elected to Student Council to attend an induction. The dates for Induction in 2022 are not yet finalised but will be run over multiple days in mid-October and late November.
What is an honorarium?
All positions on Student Council, Empire Times and NUS Delegates are volunteer positions. According to the Volunteering Australia definition, volunteering is “time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.” For some positions, you may receive an honorarium. An honorarium is not remuneration, a consequence of employment or a fee for service. It may be considered assessable income by the Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink. You should familiarise yourself with any reporting obligations.
STUDENT COUNCIL POSITIONS
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!
Read on for individual positions up for election.
Student President
Position Summary:
The Student President is the peak representative for the more than 20,000 students of Flinders University. The Student President represents student interests within the University community and with outside groups. They chair Student Council meetings and are the official spokesperson of Student Council to the media, University, and community. The Student President is responsible for implementing the decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives. They sit on various committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the Student President might expect to volunteer around 30 hours a week to the role and will usually undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $28,500 pa
General Secretary
Position Summary:
The General Secretary ensures the administrative functions of Student Council are being fulfilled, for the benefit of students, Student Council, and student clubs. The General Secretary supports Council in representing student interests within the University community and with outside groups. They prepare the documents for Student Council meetings and serve on the Student Council Executive and the FUSA Club Pool Funding Panel. The General Secretary will work closely with the FUSA Clubs team to support Clubs, Collectives and Academic Associations at Flinders University. They will monitor implementation of the decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives. The General Secretary may also sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the General Secretary might expect to volunteer around 10 hours a week to the role and will usually undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $10,000 pa
Education Officer
Position Summary:
The Education Officer is responsible for coordinating campaigns and initiatives in the Education portfolio. At a student association, that’s a big job! The Education Officer supports student representation throughout the University and supports a culture of student activism through the Education Action Network. The Education Officer’s purpose is to push for changes that will improve the lives of students. They will implement the decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives to do with Higher Education policy. The Education Officer also sits on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the Education Officer might expect to volunteer around 10 hours a week to the role and will usually undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $10,000 pa
Women’s Officer
Position Summary:
The Women’s Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for students who identify as women. The rights of women are central to creating a progressive and positive University environment – and the Women’s Officer will find themselves working with women’s groups to advance and defend women’s interests. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Women’s portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the Women’s Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Welfare Officer
Position Summary:
The Welfare Officer is the voice for student welfare and wellbeing on Student Council. This is a wide-ranging portfolio: responding to student poverty, mental health, housing affordability and even student rights at work might all fall under the Welfare Officer’s portfolio. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Welfare portfolio. They sit on various committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the Welfare Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Queer Officer
Position Summary:
The Queer Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for LGBTIQA+ students on Student Council. Students of diverse genders and orientations are an important community at Flinders University and the Queer Officer advocates for appropriate services, policies and to make Flinders an inclusive and welcoming community. Since the release of the 2020 Queer Report, the Queer Officer has worked on implementing its recommendations. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Queer portfolio. They sit on various committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for LGBTIQA+ students.
As a guide, the Queer Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Postgraduate Students Officer
Position Summary:
The Postgraduate Students Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for students who are undertaking postgraduate studies at the University. This is both coursework and research. Postgraduate students will often have a different set of concerns and issues compared to undergraduate students, and the Postgraduate Students Officer is there to provide input on their behalf. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Postgraduate Students portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for postgraduate students.
As a guide, the Postgraduate Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
International Students Officer
Position Summary:
The International Students Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for International students at Flinders University. International students will often have a different set of concerns and issues compared to local students, for example, changes to student visa conditions and the rights and welfare of visa holders. The International Students Officer is there to provide input to Student Council on their behalf. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the International Students portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for International students.
As a guide, the International Students Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
First Nations Students Officer
Position Summary:
The First Nations Students Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for First Nations, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students on Student Council. Flinders University has a First Nations student population of several hundred and the First Nations Students Officer advocates for appropriate services, policies and to make Flinders an inclusive and welcoming community. FUSA Student Council has committed the organisation to decolonisation and supporting Voice, Treaty, Truth – and the First Nations Students Officer helps guide this process. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the First Nations Students portfolio. They may sit on committees or working groups of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for First Nations students.
As a guide, the First Nations Students Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Environment Officer
Position Summary:
The Environment Officer is an advocate and spokesperson on environmental justice and sustainability on Student Council. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Environment portfolio. They sit on various committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the Environment Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Social Activities Officer
Position Summary:
The Social Activities Officer coordinates the social events alongside the FUSA events team. Social activities and events – bringing life to campus – represents an important aspect of the work that a student association does. While FUSA has a set number of events that it will run in a year, the Social Activities Officer will play a key role in delivering a unique vision for the year. Social Activities Officer will also provide a linkage between Student Council, the FUSA events team, and student clubs – and will, in turn, provide input to Student Council from the social activities perspective. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Social Activities portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for a vibrant campus life.
As a guide, the Social Activities Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to move to part-time study to accommodate this role, but it is not required.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Disabilities Officer
Position Summary:
The Disabilities Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for students with disability at Flinders University. Students with disability, both visible and invisible, experience distinct issues compared to the wider student population, particularly around access and inclusion, while offering a valuable perspective on issues that affect all students. The Disabilities Officer is there to provide input to Student Council on behalf of students with disability. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Disabilities portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students with disability.
As a guide, the Disabilities Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to move to part-time study to accommodate this, but it is not required.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
People of Colour Officer
Position Summary:
The People of Colour Officer is an advocate and spokesperson on Student Council for students who are People of Colour. This is a new portfolio representing a significant group at Flinders University who have distinct issues and concerns. A People of Colour Officer may choose to support the wellbeing of People of Colour through anti-racist action, racial justice initiatives or equity, diversity and inclusion campaigns. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the People of Colour portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students.
As a guide, the People of Colour Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. This is a new position in 2022, but for similar positions some students have chosen to undertake part time study to accommodate the workload – though this is not a requirement.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Mature Age Students Officer
Position Summary:
The Mature Age Students Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for mature age students at Flinders University. Mature age students will often have a different set of concerns and issues compared to younger / school leaver students. For example, mature age students are more likely to be balancing employment, parental or caring responsibilities with their studies. The Mature Age Students Officer is there to provide input to Student Council on their behalf. They are responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the Mature Age Students portfolio. They may sit on committees of the University and build relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for mature age students.
As a guide, the Mature Age Students Officer might expect to volunteer around 3 hours a week to the role. Some choose to move to part-time study to accommodate this role, but it is not required.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
General Council Member (6 Positions)
Position Summary:
In addition to the Student Council Officers with portfolio responsibilities, there are six General Council Members. These General Council Members play a key role in holding the officers accountable and in guiding the activities of the Student Council overall. Some General Council Members have specific ideas of projects that they would like Student Council to adopt, while most will provide support where necessary for the functioning of the Student Council. They are responsible for supporting the implementation of decisions of Student Council, including supporting campaigns and initiatives. They may sit on committees of the University or be invited to attend working groups or meetings as student representatives.
As a guide, General Council Members might expect to volunteer around 1 hours a week to the role. There might be weeks when more time will need to be volunteered, such as during campaign planning and delivery or O’Week.
Honorarium: $2,000 pa
Empire Times Editorial Team (Team of 2 – 4)
Background
Empire Times (Or “ET”) is the student publication of Flinders University. Founded in 1969, Empire Times has a rich history of platforming emerging talent and fostering a community of creatives, writers, journalists, artists, photographers and more. It includes campus news and student-centric articles and information.
A group of editors make up the Empire Times Editorial Team. The team is responsible for the creation, design and distribution of Empire Times as well as the online magazine content. Empire Times editors are also responsible for any additional content or activities required for the further promotion of Empire Times. If you’re an aspiring journalist, graphic designer, wordsmith or media creative with the desire and knowhow to lead a publication, this could be for you! Students will have the opportunity to work with Adobe Creative Cloud and develop their visual communication skills.
Please note that Student Council recognises that the current ET Regulations are not adequate and incoming editors should expect a review and changes to take place during their term.
As an Empire Times Editor you will:
- Collaborate with your co-editors to source current 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; across all the campuses.
- Co-ordinate and support a diverse range of contributors, writers, photographers, illustrators, sub-editors;
- Liaise with the FUSA Student Council and FUSA staff and consistently attend any necessary meetings and actively respond to any communication/s that is/are sent out.
As a guide, the editorial team should expect to volunteer between 20 – 30 hours per week (for the whole team) for a successful publication. There will be more intense ‘crunch’ times as well, plus (depending on experience) a learning curve at the start to get a publication out and to print.
Honorarium: $30,000 in total, to be divided among the team after discussion with Manager, Student Engagement.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EMPIRE TIMES NOMINATIONS
Candidates shall run in teams of between two and four. 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 CONFERENCE DELEGATE POSITIONS (6 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 2022. 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 2022 in Melbourne and will run for several days.
