1. Macquarie University
  2. About
  3. About the University
  4. Structure and governance
  5. Elections
  6. Election forms and FAQs

Contact us

 Code of conduct for student elections FAQs on nominations and elections The University's repository for approved policy documents

Information for staff and students standing for election

Elected staff and student representatives are included in the University's major governing bodies (Council, Academic Senate and Faculty Boards).

The Student Representative Committee is the main student group at the University and is formed of a mixture of elected and appointed student positions.

STAFF

1) UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Term of Office 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2028

  • ONE (1) NON-ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBER ON UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

As the number of nominations received was greater than the number of persons to be elected for the position, an online election will be conducted in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University By-law 2005. The ballot draw was conducted by the Deputy Returning Officer on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the results are available on the elections homepage.

Voting Arrangements

  1. Voting will be conducted by an anonymous online ballot hosted by a third party poll provider that is accessed using a unique and secure link emailed to all eligible students
  2. Candidates on the ballot form will be presented in the order in which names are drawn by lot by the Deputy Returning Officer.
  3. Voters are to mark their vote on the voting form by inserting the number “1” opposite the name of the candidate to whom the voter wishes to give their first preference.
  4. If the voter wishes to show their order of preference for any or all of the remaining candidates, the voter may do so by inserting the numbers “2”, “3”, “4” and so on, as the case requires, opposite the names of any of the remaining candidates so as to indicate by numerical sequence the order of their preference for the candidates.  The results are determined in accordance with the procedures set out in the Proportional Representation Manual: Rules for Conducting Elections by the Quota-Preferential Method.

All non-academic staff of the University eligible to vote in the election will be sent a secure link to vote when the ballot opens at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

All votes must be received by the Deputy Returning Officer by 3.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026  .  

If you have any questions about the voting process, please contact Governance Services by emailing election@mq.edu.au

2) ACADEMIC SENATE

Term of Office 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2028

  • THREE (3) CONTINUING ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBERS FROM EACH FACULTY ON ACADEMIC SENATE:
    • Faculty of Science and Engineering
    • Macquarie Business School

As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacant positions for the positions listed above, an online election will be conducted in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University By-law 2005, and Part B of the Academic Senate Rule.

The ballot draw was conducted by the Deputy Returning Officer on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the results, along with the results for positions not proceeding to election are available on the elections homepage.

Voting Arrangements

  1. Voting will be conducted by an anonymous online ballot hosted by a third party poll provider that is accessed using a unique and secure link emailed to all eligible staff
  2. Candidates on the ballot form will be presented in the order in which names are drawn by lot by the Deputy Returning Officer.
  3. Voters are to mark their vote on the voting form by inserting the number “1” opposite the name of the candidate to whom the voter wishes to give their first preference.
  4. If the voter wishes to show their order of preference for any or all of the remaining candidates, the voter may do so by inserting the numbers “2”, “3”, “4” and so on, as the case requires, opposite the names of any of the remaining candidates so as to indicate by numerical sequence the order of their preference for the candidates.  The results are determined in accordance with the procedures set out in the Proportional Representation Manual: Rules for Conducting Elections by the Quota-Preferential Method.

All non-academic staff eligible to vote in the election will be sent a secure link to vote when the ballot opens at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

All votes must be received by the Deputy Returning Officer by 3.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026  .  

If you have any questions about elections and voting, see the Staff FAQ, or contact Governance Services by emailing election@mq.edu.au

3) FACULTY BOARDS

Term of Office 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2028

  • ONE (1) NON-ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBER FROM THE CONTINUING NON-ACADEMIC STAFF IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FACULTIES:
    • Faculty of Arts

As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacant positions for the positions listed above, an online election will be conducted in accordance with Section 4 of the Faculty Rules for this position

The ballot draw was conducted by the Deputy Returning Officer on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the results, along with the results for positions not proceeding to election  are available on the elections homepage.

Voting Arrangements

  1. Voting will be conducted by an anonymous online ballot hosted by a third party poll provider that is accessed using a unique and secure link emailed to all eligible staff
  2. Candidates on the ballot form will be presented in the order in which names are drawn by lot by the Deputy Returning Officer.
  3. Voters are to mark their vote on the voting form by inserting the number “1” opposite the name of the candidate to whom the voter wishes to give their first preference.
  4. If the voter wishes to show their order of preference for any or all of the remaining candidates, the voter may do so by inserting the numbers “2”, “3”, “4” and so on, as the case requires, opposite the names of any of the remaining candidates so as to indicate by numerical sequence the order of their preference for the candidates.  The results are determined in accordance with the procedures set out in the Proportional Representation Manual: Rules for Conducting Elections by the Quota-Preferential Method.

All non-academic staff eligible to vote in the electorate holding an election will be sent a secure link to vote when the ballot opens at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

All votes must be received by the Deputy Returning Officer by 3.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026  .  

If you have any questions about elections and voting, see the Staff FAQ, or contact Governance Services by emailing election@mq.edu.au

STUDENTS

1) ACADEMIC SENATE

Term of Office 1 December 2026 – 31 November 2028

  • ONE (1) UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT FROM EACH FACULTY ON ACADEMIC SENATE:
    • Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • ONE (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH COURSE STUDENT MEMBER
  • ONE (1) STUDENT MEMBER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COHORT

As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacant positions for the positions listed above, an online election will be conducted in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University By-law 2005, and Part B of the Academic Senate Rule.

The ballot draw was conducted by the Deputy Returning Officer on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the results, along with the results for positions not proceeding to election are available on the elections homepage.

Voting Arrangements

  1. Voting will be conducted by an anonymous online ballot hosted by a third party poll provider that is accessed using a unique and secure link emailed to all eligible staff
  2. Candidates on the ballot form will be presented in the order in which names are drawn by lot by the Deputy Returning Officer.
  3. Voters are to mark their vote on the voting form by inserting the number “1” opposite the name of the candidate to whom the voter wishes to give their first preference.
  4. If the voter wishes to show their order of preference for any or all of the remaining candidates, the voter may do so by inserting the numbers “2”, “3”, “4” and so on, as the case requires, opposite the names of any of the remaining candidates so as to indicate by numerical sequence the order of their preference for the candidates.  The results are determined in accordance with the procedures set out in the Proportional Representation Manual: Rules for Conducting Elections by the Quota-Preferential Method.

All students eligible to vote in the electorates holding an election will be sent a secure link to vote when the ballot opens at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

All votes must be received by the Deputy Returning Officer by 3.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026  .  

If you have any questions about elections and voting, see the Student FAQ, or contact Governance Services by emailing election@mq.edu.au

2) FACULTY BOARDS

Term of Office 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2028

  • TWO (2) STUDENTS FROM EACH FACULTY ON FACULTY BOARDS:
    • Faculty of Arts Faculty Board
    • Faculty of Science and Engineering Faculty Board
    • Macquarie Business School Faculty Board

As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacant positions for the positions listed above, an online election will be conducted in accordance with Section 4 of the Faculty Rules for this position

The ballot draw was conducted by the Deputy Returning Officer on Tuesday 6 October 2026, and the results, along with the results for positions not proceeding to election are available on the elections homepage.

Voting Arrangements

  1. Voting will be conducted by an anonymous online ballot hosted by a third party poll provider that is accessed using a unique and secure link emailed to all eligible staff
  2. Candidates on the ballot form will be presented in the order in which names are drawn by lot by the Deputy Returning Officer.
  3. Voters are to mark their vote on the voting form by inserting the number “1” opposite the name of the candidate to whom the voter wishes to give their first preference.
  4. If the voter wishes to show their order of preference for any or all of the remaining candidates, the voter may do so by inserting the numbers “2”, “3”, “4” and so on, as the case requires, opposite the names of any of the remaining candidates so as to indicate by numerical sequence the order of their preference for the candidates.  The results are determined in accordance with the procedures set out in the Proportional Representation Manual: Rules for Conducting Elections by the Quota-Preferential Method.

All students eligible to vote in the electorates holding an election will be sent a secure link to vote when the ballot opens at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

All votes must be received by the Deputy Returning Officer by 3.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

If you have any questions about elections, please contact election@mq.edu.au

More information on student elections can be found in these documents:

Please note these will be updated and reissued at the time of each notice of election.

Campaigners
Student candidates can appoint campaigners to help them campaign by completing the campaigner registration form and submitting this to the Deputy Returning Officer (via election@mq.edu.au) prior to that campaigner undertaking any campaign work in the campaigning period (14 – 28 October 2026).

A campaigner must be eligible to vote in the election they campaign for. Further details on campaigning can be found in the Code of Conduct for student elections and the Student Election FAQs.

If you have any questions about elections please contact election@mq.edu.au