Elections

Please note that the Notice of Nominations has been issued by the Returning Officer.
Scroll down to Election Documents section to download the notice.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

The SSA are holding the annual student election to elect the President, Vice President and Student Board Directors as well as the Swinburne Student Council from Monday 7 to Thursday 10 September 2026. This Notice is provided to let you know all the key details on the process and a little bit about us along the way.

What is the SSA?

Swinburne Student Association (SSA) is the University’s student body – run by students for students. We’re working to provide world-class student experience at Swinburne.

We started in 2025 and provide all of the services and supports you love at Swinburne (think clubs and sports, advocacy, events, wellbeing supports like Foodbank and anything with magenta vibes).

So what are these elections about?

The SSA currently has six elected student Directors and three Directors appointed by the University. The SSA holds our elections in September to elect new student Board Directors, as well as the Swinburne Student Council.

This is your chance to have your say in the future of student life at Swinburne’s Student Association.

Nominations open: 9.00am on Friday 7 August
Nominations close: 12.00pm on Friday 14 August
Ticket registrations (including re-registrations) open: 9.00am on Monday 17 August
Ticket registrations (including re-registrations) close: 12.00pm on Friday 21 August
Application to be set out as a ticket closes: 9.00am on Wednesday 26 August
Application for an online vote (Hawthorn campus) opens: 9.00am on Friday 7 August
Application for an online vote (Hawthorn campus) closes: 9.00am on Wednesday 26 August
On-campus voting (Hawthorn) at The Junction:
- Monday 7th September - 10 AM to 4 PM
- Tuesday 8th September - 12 PM to 6 PM
- Wednesday 9th September - 12 PM to 6 PM
- Thursday 10th September - 10 AM to 4 PM
Online voting opens: 9:00am on Monday 7 September
Online voting closes: 4:00pm on Thursday 10 September
Declaration of Provisional Results: Friday 11 September
Appeal period: closes Monday 14 September (3 days / 72 hours after the Declaration of Provisional Results)
Declaration of Final Results (Declaration of Poll): Monday 14 September

Please note that all times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

How do I get involved?

You need to be an enrolled Swinburne student who resides in Australia and is enrolled in a course that is longer than six months in duration.

If you want to be a candidate in the election, head over to the elections page to view our Candidates Handbook and the clear deadlines on nominating as well as eligibility criteria.

Compulsory Candidate Briefing

All nominated candidates are required to attend a compulsory candidate briefing. Attendance at the briefing is a condition of standing for election; if you do not attend, you will be unable to stand as a candidate.

The briefing covers your obligations under the Election Regulations, including designated electioneering zones, the prohibition on phone banking, and expected standards of candidate conduct. The briefing will be conducted at JN203 at Hawthorn Campus from 6pm on August 18th.

Am I required to vote in-person?

Hawthorn students vote in person at The Junction from Monday 7 to Thursday 10 September (or online, if you have registered for an online voting entitlement by 9:00am Wednesday 26 August). All other students will receive their own voting link to their student email when online voting opens at 9:00am Monday 7 September. Cast your vote before 4:00pm (AEST) Thursday 10 September and voila, your vote is counted!

What are the positions to be elected?

We recommend you read the Candidates Handbook for detailed information about each role and responsibility. A summary of the positions to be elected can be found below:

Board of Directors

President (commencing from 1 November to 30 October of the following year)
Vice President (commencing from 1 November to 30 October of the following year)
Student Director #1 (commencing from 1 November 2026 and concluding on 30 October 2028)
Student Director #2 (commencing from 1 November 2026 and concluding on 30 October 2028)

Swinburne Student Council

Welfare Lead
Education Lead
Women’s Representative
Queer Representative
Activities Representative
Cultural and Faith Representative
Accessibility Representative
International Representative
Clubs and Sports Representative
Residential Communities Representative

National Union of Students

National Union of Student positions (7) https://nus.asn.au/

The Swinburne Student Council members commence office for a period of one year from 1 November and conclude on 30 October the following year.

You also elect seven delegates to represent Swinburne University in the National Union of Students – the peak body for student associations/ unions across Australia.

Please note that there are certain nomination criteria that must be met for your nomination to be accepted. Please refer to the nomination form and or Candidates Handbook for further information.

Download

Forms

Ticket Registration including re-registration

Download

Need to make a complaint?

This form is to be used to report potential breaches of the SSA Election Regulations. All submissions are treated confidentially and reviewed only by the SSA Returning Officer (or, where applicable, the Electoral Tribunal). Misuse of this form may result in disciplinary action.

Returning Officer Complaints and Appeals Form