ECU Student Guild Senate Elections 2026

The ECU Student Guild Senate Elections are your opportunity to help shape the future of student representation at ECU. Elections are held annually, with all Senate positions determined by the outcome of each election. Eligible students can nominate to stand for election, and students then vote to decide who will serve on Senate for the coming term.

Each election provides an opportunity for new candidates, fresh perspectives, and student leadership, with the composition of Senate determined by the choices of the student body.

Who is the ECU Student Guild?

The ECU Student Guild is the primary representative student organisation at ECU. Run by students, for students, the Guild organises events and activities, provides support and assistance, and delivers a range of services and benefits for ECU students.

Elected student representatives make up the Guild Senate, the governing body of the Guild. The Senate includes the President, General Secretary, Vice Presidents and Departmental Officers, with each position offering a different opportunity to represent students, champion issues and contribute to the Guild’s work.

Could you be a Guild Senator?

Start by exploring the Senate and Position Snapshots below, read the full Position Description for the role you’re interested in, and familiarise yourself with the election rules, policies and procedures before submitting your nomination.

But first, the key election dates…

Event	Date	Time
Nominations
Nominations Open	Thursday 27 August 2026	7:00am
Nominations Close	Thursday 17 September 2026	—
Election Statements & Candidate Photos Close	Thursday 17 September 2026	4:00pm
Group Registration Forms Close	Thursday 17 September 2026	4:00pm
After Nominations Close
Validation of Nominations	Friday 18 September 2026	—
Ballot Paper Position Draw	Friday 18 September 2026	11:00am
Election Meeting – All Candidates with the Returning Officer	Friday 18 September 2026	1:00pm
Successful Nominations & Ballot Paper Positions Published	Friday 18 September 2026	—
Election Broadsheet Published	Friday 18 September 2026	—
Voting
In-person voting ECU Joondalup ECU City ECU Bunbury ECU Sri Lanka	Monday 12 October 2026 Tuesday 13 October 2026 Wednesday 14 October 2026	10:00am – 4:00pm 10:00am – 4:00pm 10:00am – 4:00pm
Voting information: Actual polling locations and information about how to complete your ballot paper will be provided before voting opens via the Election Broadsheet and communicated through Guild and ECU channels.
Results
Ballot Papers Transferred to WAEC	Thursday 15 October 2026	—
Official Count – conducted by the WA Electoral Commission	Friday 16 October 2026	—
Election Results Published	Friday 16 October 2026	3:00pm

Ready to get involved?

How to Nominate

Thinking about putting your hand up for the Guild Senate? Follow these seven steps to make sure you understand the role, meet the requirements and submit a complete nomination before the deadline.

Step 1. Explore the Senate and Positions

Start by exploring the Senate and Position Snapshots to understand the different roles available and what each Senator does.

Senate

Senate Snapshot

Secretariat

President Snapshot
General Secretary Snapshot
Vice President Academic Snapshot
Vice President Activities & South-West Snapshot
Vice President Social Responsibility Snapshot
Vice President International Snapshot

Officer Positions

Undergraduate Officer Snapshot
Postgraduate Officer Snapshot
Social Officer Snapshot
Sports Officer Snapshot
South-West Officer Snapshot
Environmental Officer Snapshot
Equity Officer Snapshot
First Nations Officer Snapshot
International Officer Snapshot

Take some time to consider which position best matches your interests, experience and the student community you would like to represent.

Step 2. Read the Department Policies

Once you have identified a position you are interested in, read the Department Policies for the Department you wish to represent.

These policies will help you understand the purpose of the Department and your prospective responsibilities as a Senator.

Environmental Department Policy
Equity Department Policy
First Nations Department Policy
International Department Policy
Postgraduate Department Policy
Social Department Policy
Sports Department Policy
Undergraduate Department Policy
South Wet Department Policy

Step 3. Read the Position Descriptions

Read the full Position Description for the role you are interested in.

This will outline the responsibilities, expectations and requirements of the position.

Step 4. Understand Your Responsibilities

Before nominating, make sure you understand what is involved in being a Guild Senator.

Elected Senators will be required to attend Mandatory Training to enable you to fulfil your roles successfully. These dates are set in advance and will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th December.

Work and/or study commitments are not acceptable reasons for non-attendance.

Failure to attend will result in Honoraria not being paid.

Read the:

Guild Constitution

Returning Officer Guidelines
University Statute No. 11 – Student Guild
Student Guild Rules
Guild Election Procedures
Senate Code of Conduct
ECU Lands and Traffic By-Laws
Senate Transition Training Policy
Senate Office Bearer Engagement Policy
Honoraria Policy
Police Check Policy

These documents explain the responsibilities and requirements of Senators and the rules that apply to the election process.

Step 5. Check Your Eligibility

Before completing your nomination, check that you meet the eligibility requirements below.

Eligibility to Nominate

In accordance with the Guild Constitution, nominations may be accepted from students who:

Are a Guild Member at the opening of nominations;
Attend an ECU campus in the State of Western Australia at the opening of nominations; and
Will be eighteen years of age or older as at the date of being elected as a Senator.

If you are unsure of your Guild membership status, you can check your service questions in SIMO at any time. Make sure the option to cancel your Guild membership is unchecked.

Candidate Disqualifications

A candidate will be ineligible for election to the Senate if they:

Have a red or purple enrolment status at the opening of nominations;
Are a full-time, part-time or casual Guild employee, or a full-time or part-time employee of the University, at the opening of nominations;
Are a former Senator who, at any time in the three years prior to the opening of nominations, was removed from office under the discipline process or had their position declared vacant in accordance with the Constitution or Statute;
Are disqualified from managing a corporation under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or are disqualified from being a responsible person of a charity by the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission within the relevant period;
Are certified mentally unfit; or
Are disqualified due to any Act, statute, regulation, rule or by-law in force in Western Australia that applies to the Guild.

Additional position-specific eligibility requirements may apply. Please refer to the Guild Constitution and relevant Position Description before nominating.

Step 6. Complete Your Nomination Documents

Once you have confirmed that you are eligible to nominate, complete all required nomination documents.

Nomination Documents

2026 NP3 NOMINATION FORM

2026 FIT AND PROPER PERSON DECLARATION

2026 CANDIDATE OBLIGATIONS DECLARATION

2026 CANDIDATE CONSENT TO DISCLOSE

2026 ED4 GROUP AND AGENT REGISTRATION FORM (IF APPLICABLE)

ECU STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Please make sure all required documents are completed accurately before submitting your nomination.

Step 7. Submit Your Nomination

Your final step is to submit your completed nomination before nominations close.

Nominations open: Thursday 27 August 2026 at 7:00am
Nominations close: Thursday 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm

Completed Nomination Packs must be lodged with THE RETURNING OFFICER

By Post: Returning Officer, ECU Student Guild, WA Electoral Commission, Reply Paid 71295, PERTH WA 6001
By Email: NPro_ECUStudentGuild@elections.wa.gov.au
In Person: In a sealed envelope marked Attn: Returning Officer, to Building 34 – Room 215
Returning Officer Phone: 0475 957 120

The Returning Officer will confirm receipt of your nomination pack via email.

LATE NOMINATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Please ensure your nomination is complete and submitted before the deadline. Late or incomplete nominations, as well as changes to already submitted nominations, will not be accepted.

Ready to Nominate?

Work through each step above, complete your nomination documents and submit your nomination before 4:00pm on Thursday 17 September 2026.

How to Vote

Voting is in person — but postal voting is available

The 2026 ECU Student Guild Senate Elections will take place in person at polling locations across ECU.

Dates and times: Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 October 2026
10:00am – 4:00pm each day

Polling locations

ECU Joondalup
ECU City
ECU Bunbury
ECU Sri Lanka

Can’t get to campus?

Postal voting is available for eligible students who can’t vote in person.

If you know you won’t be on campus during the voting period, check the postal voting dates and deadlines now. Postal voting involves additional deadlines, and some of them are earlier than the in-person voting dates.

Don’t leave it until October — make sure you have enough time to apply, receive your ballot and return your completed vote before the deadline.

In Person Voting

Further information about the voting process, including what your ballot paper will look like, how to complete it and where to submit it, will be published ahead of polling.

Postal Voting

Postal vote applications open: Thursday 17 September 2026

Application deadline: Monday 28 September 2026 (must be received by the end of the voting period)

APPLY FOR POSTAL VOTE HERE

Still got questions?

Still have questions about the ECU Guild Elections, nominations or the election process? Email the Returning officer at NPro_ECUStudentGuild@elections.wa.gov.au or call 0475 957 120.