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Expressions of Interest – Returning Officer

Expressions of Interest Sought 

 

The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) is seeking expressions of interest for the appointment of a Returning Officer for the conduct of its Annual Election, with polling to commence on Monday 7 September and conclude on Friday 11 September 2026.   

 

The Annual Election is regulated by the UMSU Constitution and UMSU Electoral Regulations, both of which are available at https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/secretariat/regulations-policy/.

    

A separate election for the Clubs & Societies Committee will also be required in October. The Clubs & Societies Committee elections are to be conducted in accordance with the UMSU Clubs & Societies Regulations which can be found here: https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/secretariat/regulations-policy/.

 

The Returning Officer will also be required to conduct the UMSU International 2026 Elections which will be held from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May 2026.  Additional casual vacancies may also occur which would be subject to a by-election approximately within a month of the vacancy arising.

 

The UMSU International Elections are to be conducted in accordance with the UMSU International Regulations which can be found here: https://intl.umsu.unimelb.edu.au/about/regulationsandpolicies/.

 

Expressions of interest are sought for the appointment of a Returning Officer to conduct all UMSU elections to be held in 2026.

 

Please submit documents, including itemisation of proposed costs, via email to Sara Pheasant, Chief Executive Officer, UMSU, (ceo@union.unimelb.edu.au), no later than 5pm, Wednesday 29 April 2026. Owing to the tight turnaround, applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

 

Expressions of interest should address scenarios where the UMSU Annual Election and/or the UMSU International General Election is conducted:

  • By physical paper ballot via on-campus Polling Booths
  • Partially online by digital ballot with ballots cast via on-campus Polling Booths
  • Completely online by digital ballot, with ballots cast via on-campus Polling Booths or other electronic device that the Electoral Tribunal sees fit pursuant to the Regulations

 

Please refer to the UMSU Electoral Regulations for updated requirements around Polling Booth locations which may impact costings.

 

Requests for further information should also be directed to the CEO (ceo@union.unimelb.edu.au). 

Album cover - Elections