Being a Senate representative is about consulting, advocating, networking, goal setting, and making big decisions. Our unique leadership training and development program will support you across your time with the Senate to identify and build essential and highly valuable career and life skills.

Senate representatives make significant contributions to decisions affecting every aspect of student life. From student facilities and services, to courses and policy – you will have many opportunities to influence and advise senior University decision-makers. Use your voice to empower other students, raise issues, and propose new initiatives.

The experience and skills you will build during your time on the Senate will set you apart from other graduates. Your Senate experience will build your confidence and experience as a public speaker, leader, and change-maker. Your contribution to improving the student experience will provide powerful content for future job applications.

To be eligible for any student representative role, at the time of applying you must be:

• studying at a time fraction of 0.5 or more with Federation University Australia
• not be employed by the University at a time fraction of 0.5 or more
• 18 years or over (with the exception of Federation College and VCAL students)
• not currently serving a custodial sentence
• not have served on the Senate for two consecutive elected terms previously.

Roles on the Senate are either one year or two years long. Even if you expect you will graduate during that period, you are still very welcome to apply.

You will need to take on the responsibilities of the Senate role alongside your study commitments. The basic responsibilities for all Student Senate representatives are as follows:

• Attend up to 8 Senate meetings per year by video-conference.
• Prepare a written report ahead of each Senate meeting, outlining student issues and projects you are working on.
• Run one student forum per semester on your campus inviting students to meet you and discuss ideas and issues
• Gather feedback from students at your campus through a variety of Senate communication channels.
• Be proactive in your approach to working on student issues by communicating and meeting with key staff members to highlight issues with them, researching realistic solutions and assisting to implement and promote changes made.
• Support promotion of the Senate by providing social media content to the Senate's Communications Chair.
• Provide a student voice on university projects and consultation processes.
• Join and take an active role in one of Senate's five portfolios.

Should you have any questions about the requirements and if you might be able to make the role work for you, you can contact the Executive Officer to discuss.

The following roles are open for applications at this time. You can apply for as many roles as you wish, though you must submit a new application form per role. Click on the role title to read a position description.

You should expect to hear the outcome of your application within a few days of the end of the application period. When no other student applies for the role, you will be automatically appointed. When more than one student applies, an election will be held. Elections will be run online and promoted via student email.

Complete this form to apply: Student Senate Application Form 2021-22 (pdf, 330kb)

Email your completed nomination form, video and video transcript (see form for details) to returningofficer.studentsenate@federation.edu.au

Should you have any questions about applying to joining the Senate, contact the Senate Executive Officer to discuss.