2023 Student Elections
Do you want to be a student leader in 2024? Speak up about what matters to students? Do you want to use your creative skills to get involved in student media on campus? Do you want to make your mark?
Nominations
Nominations closed on 18 September.
CAMPAIGNING
Voting takes place 3 – 5 October. Students must register to campaign
Nominations for Student Council, Empire Times Editors and NUS delegates opened on Monday 4 September and closed on Monday 18 September. Students elected will hold office from 1 December 2023 (1 November for Empire Times Editorial Team) to 30 November 2024. Full details on how to nominate will be made available on Monday 4 September. For detailed information on all the roles, responsibilities and criteria, keep reading!
Please contact FUSA if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the positions open for nomination in more detail fusa@flinders.edu.au (or come by and have a chat)
positions open for nomination
Student Council
Student President
General Secretary
Education Officer
Women’s Officer
Welfare Officer
Postgraduate Students Officer
International Students Officer
Queer Officer
First Nations Students Officer
People of Colour Officer
Environment Officer
Disabilities Officer
Social Activities Officer
Mature Age Students Officer
General Council Member (6 Positions)
Empire Times Editorial Team
Empire Times Editorial Team (Teams comprising between two and four students)
National Union of Students (NUS) Delegate
NUS Delegate (six positions)
further information
Election Timeline
Nominations Open 9:30am Monday 4 September
Nominations Close 4:00pm Monday 18 September
Voting Begins 9:30am Tuesday 3 October
Voting Ends 2:00pm Thursday 5 October
ELECTION OFFICIALS
Returning Officer: Dr. Mary Heath Assistant Returning Officer: Kate Walsh
Election Tribunal: Dr. Rhain Buth, Louise Mitchell, Robert Houghton.
the details
All positions on the Student Council, Empire Times Editorial Team and NUS Delegates are democratically elected by students of Flinders University. The First Nations Students Officer is elected by and from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The elections are conducted by the Flinders University Student Association (FUSA).
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
For the purposes of this election, the candidate and seconder must be a student as defined by the Election Regulations in the following way:
‘Student’ means a person enrolled as a student at Flinders University in a Topic during the Election Period, excluding non-award study.
‘Non-award’ means an education program that does not result in an Australian Qualifications Framework award from Flinders University. Examples of non-award students: exchange students, ‘Up the Hill’ students, short course students, micro-credential students, foundation or pathway course students.
Several Student Council positions have specific eligibility requirements. These are set out in the table below.
Name of position | Eligibility requirements |
Postgraduate Students Officer | Only a student enrolled as a Postgraduate student may nominate. Please note that Honours students are considered undergraduates. |
First Nations Students Officer | Only a student who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may nominate or vote for First Nations Students Officer. Eligibility is determined using University records. If you want support with updating your records, please contact the Indigenous Student Support Officers at Yungkurrinthi. |
International Student Officer | Only a student enrolled as an International Student. |
Queer Officer | Only a student who identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex or Asexual may nominate. |
Women’s Officer | Only a student who has lived experience as a woman may nominate. |
Disabilities Officer | Only a student who identifies as a person with a disability or disabilities may nominate. |
Mature Age Students Officer | Only students 25 years or older as of 1 December 2023 may nominate. |
People of Colour Officer | Only a student who identifies as a Person of Colour may nominate. |
The FUSA Constitution also requires that all Student Council members be members of the Association.
The nomination form will include an option to become a member of the Association and a person will be considered a member if they are eligible to be a member, select this option, and submit a nomination.
It is compulsory for a person elected to Student Council to attend an induction. The inductions will be taking place over two days on Monday, 20 November 2023 and Wednesday, 22 November 2023.
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
Student Council is the governing body of FUSA. Student Council oversee the direction of FUSA. They also play a vital role in representing students in conversations with the University about matters that affect you!
Individual positions also have areas of responsibility (sometimes called ‘portfolios’). A person elected to a position with a portfolio would be expected to oversee FUSA campaigns and advocacy within that area.
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.
This role is an intensive commitment overall. A person considering this role should understand that to fulfil the role as expected they will have to consider reducing other commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires exceptional time management.
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.
This role is an intensive commitment overall. A person considering this role should understand that to fulfil the role as expected they will have to consider reducing other commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires exceptional time management.
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 through chairing the Student Representation Network 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 builds relationships with key stakeholders – including senior University management – to deliver the best outcomes for students. In addition, the Education Officer plays a key role in overseeing the Student-Led Teaching Awards (SLTAs) and the FUSA Development Grants in partnership with the FUSA Student Representation team.
This role is an intensive commitment overall. A person considering this role should understand that to fulfil the role as expected they will have to consider reducing other commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires exceptional time management.
Honorarium: $10,000 pa
Women’s Officer
Position Summary:
The Women’s Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for misogyny-affected students (those who are not cisgender men). The rights of women and gender diverse students 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Queer Officer
Position Summary:
The Queer Officer is the voice 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 better and appropriate services and 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
First Nations Students Officer
Position Summary:
The First Nations Students Officer is the voice 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 better and appropriate services and 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Environment Officer
Position Summary:
The Environment Officer is the student voice on environmental and climate 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
Disabilities Officer
Position Summary:
The Disabilities Officer is an advocate and spokesperson for students with disabilities at Flinders University. Students with disabilities, 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
People of Colour Officer
Position Summary:
The People of Colour Officer is the voice for students who are People of Colour on Student Council. This is a portfolio that covers the wellbeing of People of Colour through anti-racist action, racial justice and equity, diversity and inclusion. The People of Colour Officer is responsible for implementing decisions of Student Council, including any campaigns and initiatives relating to the People of Colour 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.
This role is a moderate to high level commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering). The role requires very good time management.
Honorarium: $3,000 pa
General Council Member (Six 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, as well as guiding and supporting 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 may sit on committees of the University or be invited to attend working groups or meetings as student representatives.
This role requires some commitment in terms of time and energy. A person considering this role should be able to fulfil the responsibilities within the balance of their other commitments (study, work, social life and other volunteering). The role requires good time management.
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 team 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.
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
Editing Empire Times is an intensive time commitment to share and a moderate to high level of time commitment for individual editors. A person considering this role should understand that fulfilling this role may require a rebalancing of commitments (work, study, social life and other volunteering) as well as internal negotiation of responsibilities within the team. The role requires very good time management. There will be more intense ‘crunch’ times as well, plus (depending on experience) a learning curve at the start to get a publication to print.
Honorarium: $30,000 in total, to be divided among the team after discussion with the FUSA Manager.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EMPIRE TIMES NOMINATIONS
Candidates 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 (NUS)
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 2023. The National Conference sets the policy for NUS, determines its structure, and elects the National Office-Bearers and the National Executive. The conference is usually held in early December in Melbourne.
