Student Senate applications

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.

These positions represent student interests and the diverse issues occurring on residence, on campus and online.  These roles require representatives who reach out to and draw feedback from a wide range of students about their issues.
Note: Higher education means students enrolled in postgraduate or undergraduate courses (ie. not TAFE/VET/VCAL).

Campus representatives

• Berwick Campus Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a course at Berwick campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Brisbane Campus Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a course at Brisbane campus
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb)
• Camp St Campus Performing Arts Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a course at Camp St campus
  Position Description (PDF 124kb)
• Camp St Campus Visual Arts Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a course at Camp St campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Distance Education/Online Student Representative (2 positions)
  Open to Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) paying students enrolled in an online/distance course at Federation University.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• FedCollege Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a course at FedCollege.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Gippsland Campus Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a higher education course at Gippsland campus.
  Position Description (PD, 124kb)
• Horsham Campus Higher Education Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a higher education course at Horsham campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Horsham Campus TAFE/VET/VCAL Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a TAFE/VET/VCAL course at Horsham campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Mt Helen Campus Higher Education Student Representative (2 positions)
  Open to students enrolled in a higher education course at Mt Helen campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Mt Helen Campus TAFE Student Representative
  Open to students enrolled in a TAFE course at Mt Helen.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• SMB Campus Student Representative (2 positions)
  Open to students enrolled in a course at SMB campus.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).

Residence representatives

These roles advocate for and represent students who live on Federation University residences.

• Ballarat Residential Representative
  Open to all students enrolled at Federation University who have a current license agreement
  to live on University residences in the Ballarat area.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Berwick Residential Representative
  Open to all students enrolled at Federation University who have a current license agreement
  to live on University residences in the Berwick area.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).
• Churchill Residential Representative
  Open to all students enrolled at Federation University who have a current license agreement
  to live on University residences in the Churchill area.
  Position Description (PDF, 124kb).

These various positions represent for specific groups and areas of the student body where the Senate has decided to seek special representation. These students should be well linked with the group of students they represent to raise their feedback and issues.

• Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Advocate Student Representative
  Open to all students enrolled at Federation University
  Position Description (PDF, 77kb)
• First Nations Student Representative
  Open to all First Nations students enrolled at Federation University.
  Position Description (PDF, 104kb).
• Postgraduate Student Representative
  Open to all students enrolled in a postgraduate course at Federation University.
  Position Description (PDF, 100kb).
• Sports Student Representative
  Open to all students involved in Federation University sports activities and teams.
  Position Description (PDF, 65kb).
• Sustainability Student Representative
  Open to all students enrolled at Federation University.
  Position Description (PDF, 65kb).

What kind of student is best for the Senate? Any kind of student! The Senate thrives on a diversity of views and experiences.

But, there are some rules for eligibility. 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
• satisfy the fit and proper person requirements specified by TEQSA.

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.

Our representatives report they find their time on the Senate rewarding and interesting. They love the Senate's team culture and discussions, being heard by senior staff, the professional development opportunities that come with the role, the flexibility of being able to raise and pursue projects to change and improve the University, the staff support, and the sense of accomplishment.

So what does being on the Senate involve? You will need to take on the responsibilities of the Senate role alongside your study commitments. The vast majority of students who apply find they are able to balance their study and Senate commitments, but it is worth thinking about if you have time for the following.

You will be trained and supported by the other representatives and staff to undertake these duties. The basic responsibilities for all Student Senate representatives are as follows:

• Attend up to 8 Senate meetings per year by video-conference.
• Prepare a short written report ahead of each Senate meeting, providing student issues you've heard about and anything you've done in your role.
• Run one student forum per semester on your campus inviting students to meet you and discuss ideas and issues
• Use Senate social media to gather feedback from students about their issues and ideas.
• 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.
• Provide a student voice on university projects and consultation processes.
• Join and take an active role in one of Senate's working groups. These exist to advise the University on particular areas of the student experience. At time of writing the groups are: activities and engagement, networking and community outreach, residence and res life, student support and inclusion.

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.

If you are the only student to apply for a position, you will be automatically elected. If more than one student applies for the same position, then there will be an election.

In the election, the voters are the students of Federation University who lodge their votes online to decide the winner. This is why the application form asks you to submit a written or video statement and picture. Your statement and picture will accompany the ballot (the voting form) to help students decide how to vote - so it's a really important part of your application!

Sending in a video is a really powerful way to promote your candidacy, but a well-written and carefully proof-read statement can also be effective. In your statement, you should address why you would be a good representative, any relevant experience, and describe any areas you'd like to focus on. You can find more tips on your statement on the application form.

The University and the Senate will promote the election through their social media and with on campus posters. In the lead-up to and during the election, you are also very welcome to campaign actively and ask your fellow students to vote for you. This could involve asking your lecturer or tutor if you can speak briefly in class, putting up a stall or posters on campus, posting online (try the Student Senate page and Current Students), or anything else you can think of!

On the day the election opens, students will receive the voting form by email and be invited to vote using a secure online form. For most roles, the voting is limited to the students who will be represented. For example:

• Only students of the School of Arts can vote for the School of Arts Student Board Representative.
• Only students who study on Mt Helen campus can vote for the Mt Helen Campus Representative.

After the election, you will be told if you have won or lost and the tally of votes. The voting data is anonymous, you won't find out who has voted for you. The winners will then be announced to all staff and students.