University Council Elections Information

University Council

Council is the University's governing authority and oversees the University's affairs. A Council member's role is similar to that of a company director.

Further information about University Council and how the University is governed is available here: University Council.

Council members bring expertise across higher education, governance, legal or regulatory matters, financial management, investment, property, risk management, strategic planning and enterprise transformation.

Council member roles are voluntary and unpaid. The University meets reasonable costs associated with Council duties.

Election Process

The University Council election process is governed by the Southern Cross University By-law 2005.

Governance Services conducts elections for academic staff, non-academic staff (professional), and student positions on University Council every two years. The University Council Secretary is the Returning Officer.

Section 5 of the Council Membership Rule sets out the election process.

The University has appointed BigPulse, an external online voting and election service provider, to manage the nomination process and election. Eligible University staff and students will receive an email inviting them to nominate as a candidate

FAQs - Council Staff Member Elections
FAQs - Council Student Member Elections

Role Expectations and Obligations

The term of office for elected staff and student members of Council is two years, from 10 September 2026 to 9 September 2028.

Commitment

Council members should expect to commit at least 40 hours each calendar year. Additional time may be required if a Council member is appointed to a Council subcommittee.

Council meets at least five times each year and subcommittees meet at least four times each year. Council meetings may be held at any University campus or by videoconference in special circumstances. A Council meeting usually runs for at least three hours, and meeting papers are circulated one week before each meeting. Subcommittees are usually conducted by videoconference.

Council Member Obligations

Council members have specific legal obligations to the University. These duties are similar to those of a company director under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The following duties are drawn from the Southern Cross University Act and general law:

(a) act in good faith, in the best interests of the University as a whole, and for a proper purpose;

(b) act honestly and exercise reasonable care and diligence;

(c) not act for an improper purpose;

(d) not improperly use their Council position to gain an advantage for themselves or another person, or to cause detriment to the University

(e) not improperly use information gained through their Council role to gain an advantage for themselves or another person, or to cause detriment to the University;

(f) retain discretion and not take on obligations to another party that would require them to exercise their Council duties in a particular way;

(g) avoid conflicts of interest; and

(h) declare any real or apparent conflict of interest as soon as possible when a matter arises at, or is to be considered by, Council.

Council members are "officers" of the University and should be familiar with their obligations under the University's Code of Conduct and the Council Charter.

Council members are subject to standard probity checks.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Internal Council members, including elected staff and student members, may face potential conflicts of interest that require careful management. All Council members, whether appointed or elected, must act as trustees of the University and in the interests of the University as a whole, rather than any particular group. Potential conflicts may include:

• being a staff member, or more specifically a senior manager, of a work unit whose resources are being considered by Council;
• being a student member when sensitive issues involving the student body are discussed;
• being a member of a committee whose recommendations are being considered by Council; or
• representing a trade union or external body that has a particular view on an issue being considered by Council.

A person may hold several roles that create potential conflicts of interest. For example, one person could be a work unit manager, trade union representative, academic committee member and elected Council member.

Council members must declare any real or apparent conflict of interest as soon as possible when a matter arises at, or is to be considered by, Council.

Confidentiality of Proceedings

Elected staff and student Council members must comply with Council confidentiality obligations. They must not divulge Council matters to staff or students, and no Council member may disclose Council information beyond the content of the Council Report issued to all Southern Cross University staff.

How to Nominate and Vote

To be eligible, a candidate must be listed on the relevant University staff or student roll when nominations close. Refer to the Council Membership Rule for information about the staff and student rolls.

Nomination period: 10.00 am, Friday, 10 July 2026 to 4.00 pm, Friday, 24 July 2026.

A candidate cannot support their own nomination. Nominations must be supported by two people listed on the same staff or student roll as the candidate. For example:

• two current students must support candidates nominating for the elected student position;
• two current academic staff members must support candidates nominating for the elected academic staff position; and
• two current non-academic (professional) staff members must support candidates nominating for the elected non-academic staff position.

Candidate Statement

Candidates may provide a supporting statement of up to 150 words outlining why they are nominating and what they can bring to the role. The statement must not include offensive, defamatory or inappropriate content that would breach the University Code of Conduct.

The statement may include:

• full name;
• work unit (for staff) or course of study (for students);
• qualifications and experience; and
• positions or offices held at any time with public bodies, clubs and institutions (including University clubs and societies) with dates of tenure.

Providing a photo to support your nomination is optional, although most nominees include one.

If your candidate statement or photo contains inappropriate content, or if your statement is longer than 150 words, the Returning Officer may ask you to edit it.

Election

If more than one nomination is received for a position, an election will be conducted in accordance with the Council Membership Rule.

Voting period: 10.00 am, Monday, 3 August 2026 to 4.00 pm, Monday, 17 August 2026.

Eligible University staff and students will receive an email inviting them to vote for their preferred candidate.

Voting is encouraged but not compulsory.

Mark Dixon
University Council Secretary (Returning Officer)