Elections

A notice of election is posted on the Swinburne website whenever an election is to be held. When the number of nominations for a vacancy exceeds the number of positions to be filled, elections will be conducted online. 

Nominations open: 9.00am Tuesday 24 September 2024

Nominations close: 5.00pm Monday 30 September 2024

At the end of the nomination period, the Returning Officer will notify candidates via their Swinburne email accounts if an election is required. 

The notice of election will be updated to include a list of candidates. Where the number of nominations does not exceed the number of positions to be filled, the Returning Officer will declare the candidate or candidates elected. 

Where the number of nominations for a vacancy exceeds the number of positions to be filled, elections will be conducted online. The University electoral company (BigPulse) will email a unique link to an online voting form to all members of the electorate eligible to vote. 

Electoral rolls list the members eligible to participate in elections. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the Swinburne University of Technology Act 2010[PDF 362KB] and the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to be nominated for elections).

If you are not included on the electoral roll for an election and believe you are entitled to be, please email the Returning Officer. 

Submit your nomination online according to the guidelines sent by email. 

An email from the University electoral company (BigPulse) is sent at the beginning of each election period to members of the electorate. Information about the vacancy, nomination and voting time frames will be available via a unique link provided in this email, including access to the online nomination submission form. 

Understand the roles, responsibilities and time commitments expected of all staff and students considering a position within one of the bodies here at Swinburne University of Technology. (Please note that the Information Session video is general in nature, and the specific roles for nomination and election vary by year.)

• Watch the Information Session

• Board Member Commitments

To nominate as a candidate for an elected position, complete the online nomination submission form. The form can be accessed via the unique link in the email from the University electoral company (BigPulse). Provide a candidate’s statement of no more than 350 words. Nominations will not be accepted after the close of the nomination period. 

A nominee may withdraw their nomination at any time via elections@swinburne.edu.au.

Voting opens: 9am Tuesday 8 October 2024

Voting closes: 5pm Monday 14 October 2024

Electoral rolls list the members eligible to participate in elections. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the Swinburne University of Technology Act 2010[PDF 362KB] and the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to vote).

If you are not included on the electoral roll for an election and believe you are entitled to be, please email elections@swinburne.edu.au. 

Submit your vote online according to the guidelines sent by email. 

An email from the University electoral company (BigPulse) is sent to all eligible voters at the beginning of the voting period. Eligible staff and students vote via a unique link to individual ballot papers online provided in this email. Eligible voters can access ballot papers at any time throughout the voting period.

Votes are de-identified, so it is not possible for any person to determine how an elector voted. 

Vote counting starts when the election period closes. Election results are determined using plurality voting, known as ‘first past the post’.

The University’s elections are to be conducted in a manner befitting a professional organisation, which includes maintaining campaigning and electioneering within responsible, sensible limits and ensuring that a spirit of collegiality and essential fairness prevails.

The following includes prohibited conduct and prohibited publicity for the purposes of the elections: 

• Publicity, or campaigning which is in contravention of the orderly conduct of the elections
• Any dishonest conduct, including intentionally using another person’s personalised voting link
• Any conduct likely to mislead or deceive a voter
• Providing false information in or interfering with any material or documentation lodged with the Returning Officer
• Unfairly interfering with a candidate’s publicity
• Offering free gifts, services, facilities, receptions or items and services, which, in the opinion of the Returning Officer, can be related in any way to campaigning or an inducement to vote
  
• Failing to comply with a direction of the Returning Officer
• Impeding in any way the conduct of an election
• Any acts of harassment, intimidation or mischief.

Election process 

Where can I find information about nomination eligibility criteria? 

Eligibility criteria for student and staff positions are outlined in the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to be nominated for elections).

Can I nominate for a position in a category that I don’t currently belong to? 

You can only nominate for a position in a category that you currently belong to. For example, if you are currently an undergraduate student and will be a postgraduate student next year, you can only nominate in the category you currently belong to. 

How do I nominate as a candidate and where can I find more information? 

Nominations can be submitted via the unique link provided in the BigPulse emails. Find further information on ‘How to nominate’.

How do I vote in the elections and where can I find more information? 

Voting can be submitted via the unique link provided in the BigPulse emails. Find further information on ‘How to Vote’.

What should I do if I can’t find the BigPulse emails? 

Look for the BigPulse emails in your Swinburne email Inbox and Junk Inbox. If you can’t locate them, try searching ‘bigpulse’ or ‘swinburne elections’. If you still can’t find them, email the Returning Officer.

Where can I find the names of the election candidates? 

Candidate names are published in the Notice of Election.

Where can I find the election results? 

The election results are published in the Notice of Election.

What happens if there are insufficient candidates for positions? 

The Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) apply to all vacancies if no candidates are nominated for election to a body in a particular category or all candidates nominated for election to a vacancy withdraw before being elected. 

Definitions 

What is a ballot period? 

The period during which persons may vote at an election. 

Who is BigPulse and what is their role in the University elections? 

BigPulse is an electoral company specialising in high security online elections and nominations. The University engages BigPulse for the purpose of conducting secure online elections. 

What does ‘first past the post’ mean? 

Election results are determined using plurality voting known as ‘first past the post’, i.e. the person with the most votes is duly elected. 

What is an electorate? 

An electorate is all the people in a relevant category entitled to vote in an election. 

What are regulatory probity requirements? 

Regulatory probity requirements are evidenced by agreeing to the following if you are a successful candidate, i.e. that you will: 

• Comply with the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s Directors’ Code of Conduct, University legislation and the University’s Governance Framework including the Council Charter; 
• Undertake the role for the benefit of the University, rather than as a representative of a stakeholder group; 
• Comply with all duties and rules including confidentiality obligations; and 
• Provide any declarations required. 

What is the role of the Returning Officer? 

The Returning Officer is the official who conducts an election and announces the results. 

What are statutory elections at the University? 

Statutory elections are an election which the Vice-Chancellor or University Secretary has determined is an election to which the Election Regulation 2012 applies.

Contacts 

Where should I direct general election enquiries?

General election enquiries can be addressed to the Returning Officer at elections@swinburne.edu.au.

Where should I direct specific enquiries relating to the University Council, Academic Senate, School Academic Committees or Vocational Education Teaching and Learning Committee?

Specific enquiries relating to these bodies can be addressed to the contacts listed on the Board Member Commitments page.

2024 elected candidates and the distribution of votes are published in the notice of election.

Where vacancies arise due to insufficient candidates the Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) apply.

Following are the results of the Swinburne statutory elections held in 2022 for 2023 office bearers.

For the contested electorates, a ballot was conducted online, concluding at 12pm on Monday 17 October 2022.

Where the number of valid nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, candidates were elected unopposed. This is indicated by an asterisk (*) alongside the candidate’s name.

Where vacancies exist due to insufficient candidates, the Elections Regulation (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) applies.

Note that while the Student Experience Framework project team explored and co-designed the Swinburne Student Voice model with students (August to October 2022), the Vocational and School Student Consultative Committee positions were not included in the 2022 election process.

Staff positions

Academic Senate

Following are the results of Swinburne statutory elections held in 2021 for 2022 office bearers. 

For the contested electorates, a ballot was conducted online which concluded at 12pm on Monday 11 October 2021. 

Where the number of valid nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, candidates were elected unopposed (indicated below by *). 

Where vacancies exist due to insufficient candidates the Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) applies.

Following are the results of Swinburne statutory elections held in 2020 for 2021 office bearers. 

For the contested electorates, a ballot was conducted online which concluded at 12pm on Monday 12 October 2020. 

Where the number of valid nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, candidates were elected unopposed (indicated below by *). 

Where vacancies exist due to insufficient candidates the Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) applies.