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Apply for a Student
Senate position

You can nominate yourself for a position on the Student Senate. Applications are open now until 11.59 pm, Sunday 2 August. 

Why should you apply?

Make an impact
Look into every aspect of student life (campus facilities, support services, student amenities, policies, regulations). Share your insights, ideas and feedback with University staff. Use your voice to empower other students, raise issues, and put forward new ideas.   
Learn to lead
With training and support, get comfortable with speaking up and being proactive. Learn to collaborate with other Senate members and set goals. Consult, advocate and network. Use the leadership experience we give you to build the skills you need.   
Stand out 
Build your confidence, learn how to advocate and take an active role in meetings. Become well-known around your campus – someone other students feel comfortable approaching. And end up with a CV entry that would impress any prospective employer.   

Available Senate positions

 

Institute of Health and Wellbeing student representative (1 position)

Apply for this position if you want to improve the student experience (course resources, exam policies, learning platforms, etc). Note: You must be enrolled in the Institute of Health and Wellbeing.

Institute of Health and Wellbeing student representative position description
Institute of Health and Wellbeing student representative nomination form

Institute of Education, Arts and Community student representative (1 position)

Apply for this position if you want to improve the student experience (course resources, exam policies, learning platforms, etc). Note: You must be enrolled in the Institute of Health and Wellbeing.
 
Institute of Education, Arts and Community student representative position description
Institute of Education, Arts and Community student representative nomination form

Metro area student representative (1 position)

Apply for this position if you want to improve campus life (living on res, facilities, events, etc) at our Melbourne City Campus. Note: you must be enrolled in a higher education course at the Melbourne City Campus.

Metro area student representative position description
Metro area student representative nomination form

First Nations student representative (1 position)

Open to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at the University.

First Nations student representative postion description
First Nations student representative nomination form

International student representative (1 position)

Open to all International students enrolled at the University.

International student representative position description
International student representative nomination form

 

Key dates 

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Nomination period 
12 am Monday 20 July to 11.59 pm Sunday 2 August 2026 
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Voting period
12 am Monday 10 August to 11.59pm Sunday 16 August 2026
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Positions announced 
Friday 21 August 2026 

FAQs

To apply for a Student Senate position, you must: 

  • be currently enrolled as a student at Federation University Australia at the time of nomination 
  • expect to remain enrolled as a student at the University while holding office 
  • be reasonably able to participate in Student Senate meetings, consultation activities and related representative duties during the relevant term 
  • be studying at the University at a time fraction of 0.5 or more 
  • be 18 years or over (except if you're part of Federation College or VCE VM and VCP) 
  • have provided true, accurate and complete information in your nomination form. 

 

You must not: 

  • be employed by the University at 0.5 FTE or more 
  • be currently serving a custodial sentence or subject to any legal restriction that would materially prevent you from performing the duties of the role 
  • be currently suspended, excluded or expelled from the University  
  • be subject to any current University direction, condition, restriction or sanction that would materially prevent you from performing the duties of the role 
  • have been the subject of a final finding or currently under investigation by the University of student misconduct that is reasonably relevant to the duties of a Student Senate member 
  • have been removed from office as a member of the Student Senate, or an equivalent University student representative body, for neglect of duties, disruptive conduct, breach of confidentiality, unmanaged conflict of interest, misuse of position or breach of applicable rules. 

 

If you’re successfully elected to a Senate position, you will: 

  • comply with the Student Senate Charter, Student Senate Handbook, election rules, meeting procedures and any applicable code of conduct 
  • comply with confidentiality requirements and use information obtained through the role only for proper Student Senate purposes 
  • disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest relevant to Student Senate membership or SSAF consultation and will comply with any reasonable conflict management process.  

Positions are either one or two years (find this info in the position descriptions). 

You can expect to:   

  • attend up to eight Senate meetings per year 
  • write a report before each meeting that outlines student feedback, and what you've been up to 
  • host a student forum on your campus each semester to chat about ideas and issues   
  • gather feedback from students on what matters most to them  
  • join and take an active role in one of the Senate's working groups (about different aspects of student life).  

Pick out the roles you're eligible for then download the position descriptions. Choose one that fits – an area you’d be passionate about. 

Make your statement stand out. Make it personal and specific. Use anecdotes that show off your skills and experience and don’t forget to include a photograph of yourself that clearly shows your face.  

Got more questions?

If you want to know anything else about applying for these leadership positions, contact the returningofficer.studentsenate@federation.edu.au