• A person is eligible to be nominated in this Council election if they are a currently enrolled student who is not employed as a part-time or full-time member of staff at UniSC.
• For the purposes of Council elections, individuals employed as casuals or sessionals at UniSC are not considered full or part-time staff.
• Maintain enrolment status and other eligibility requirements throughout the term of office (eg There can be no lapse in a student’s enrolment status during a term of office. The term of office for elected student members is two years from 9 December 2025 - 8 December 2027).
• Please also read the Election of Council Members – Governing Policy for eligibility requirements. Student member positions on University Council require support of two students eligible to vote in an election. The support of the two eligible students MUST be received BEFORE the nomination closing date and time for the nomination to be accepted.

Council members are expected to:

• work with other members of Council to ensure through oversight and appropriate superintendence the effective management of the University
• participate in an performance evaluations of Council
• participate in a formal induction process and ongoing professional development
• regularly attend Council meetings, Strategic Planning sessions and other Council member events occurring throughout their term.

Each Council member contributes to the effective functioning of Council and the fulfillment of its responsibilities.

A Council member must act reasonably to ensure that the Council carries out its functions and exercises its powers appropriately, effectively and efficiently.

In exercising his or her responsibilities and carrying out his or her functions and duties, a Council member must:

1. act in good faith, honestly and for proper purposes consistent with the objects and interests of the University;
2. exercise reasonable skill, appropriate care and diligence; and
3. take reasonable steps to avoid all conflicts of interest unless they are declared and then follow Council’s approved procedures for a declared Conflict of Interest.

A member of the Council must not make improper use of his or her position as a Councillor, or of information acquired through his or her position as a member, to gain, directly or indirectly, an advantage for the member or for another person.

Councillors can offer significant value to the University by applying their broad experience and contributing perspectives not always available to management in day-to-day operations. However, Councillors must always carefully distinguish between their responsibility for governance (i.e. “direction and superintendence”) from the tasks of management (i.e. the operations of the University).

Staff and student Council members are Council members in accordance with the Act and subject to all duties, responsibilities and rights set out therein and at common law.

Nominations are now open and students will have received an email on Wednesday 13 August 2025. The nomination form is now available.

The University Council has a nomination system that requires applicants to submit a 200-word maximum candidacy statement and a digital photograph (optional). The nomination must be supported by two persons who are eligible to vote at the election, in respect of which the nomination is made.

If at the close of nominations there is not more than two eligible candidates, those candidates will be declared elected, unopposed. If at the close of nominations there are more than two candidates, an election by online ballot will be arranged.

• The two elected student members of Council assume the role of the Co-Chairpersons of the Student Senate. Students cannot hold more than one voting position on the Student Senate. You can access full information about the Student Senate including the Student Senate Terms of Reference, Procedural Guidelines and Co-Chairperson role statement.
• Student members are required to maintain their enrolment status during a term of office. The upcoming term of office for elected student members is two years from 9 December 2025 - 8 December 2027. There can be no lapse in a student’s enrolment status during a term of office.
• Estimated time commitment across both Council and Student Senate roles is 4-8 hours per week.
• Council meetings and Senate meetings are currently held five times per year.
• Council meetings typically run for up to four hours.
• The current schedule of meetings for Council in 2025 is now available. 2026 dates are likely to be similar.
• Most Council and Senate meetings are held in the Council meeting room at the Sunshine Coast campus, however, meetings may be held at other campuses. A video link is generally utilised by interstate members or members unable to attend in person. Travel to attend Council meetings is at the discretion of the Council Secretary.
• In addition to the regular meetings, a two-day Strategic Planning Day and Retreat is held each year (Date and venue to be confirmed but likely to be held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 April 2026).
• Members’ time commitment includes reading agenda papers, attending meetings and planning days, and participating in training activities.
• Prospective student nominees are strongly encouraged to contact the Council Secretariat (councilsecrtariat@usc.edu.au) to obtain a copy of the Council Handbook which contains important information to better understand the role and the responsibilities / obligations / legal liability of Council members.
• Questions can be directed to councilreturnofficer@usc.edu.au.

Candidate's Statement

Candidates for all elections are invited to submit a candidacy/biographical statement (up to 200 words) to be included on the UniSC Council election webpage.

The Candidate's Statement is intended to provide the electorate with information about the candidate and their qualifications/experience for office. The information should be succinct but adequate to help the voter to exercise a choice between the candidates standing for election. Providing a statement is not obligatory but must:

• be in support of the Candidate's own candidacy: a Candidate's Statement is not to be used to promote any other candidate; and

• not exceed 200 words in length. The Returning Officer reserves the right to edit a Candidate's Statement back to 200 words or less.

In writing their statement candidates should note that elected members do not ‘represent’ the constituencies from which they are drawn in the way that a member of Parliament represents his or her constituents. Rather they are expected to bring their perspective to the Council. All members, whether appointed or elected, are required by law to act at all times in the interests of the University rather than as delegates representing sectional interests.

Candidate's Photograph

The Statement may be accompanied by a photograph of the candidate with the candidates consent for the photograph to be included on the UniSC Council election webpage, together with the Candidate's statement. To avoid distorted photographs, head and shoulders/passport style images of candidates are preferred. The photograph is to be less than 50kb, with no other people in the photo or background.

Students are encouraged to thoroughly read through the additional information available below on the role, commitments, responsibilities and requirements associated with the role of an elected member of the University Council.