Board Governance

What is USASA?

USASA is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is active in supporting UniSA students across all metropolitan and regional campuses.

Our governance is overseen by the USASA Student Board led by the 15 Student Representative positions. These representatives are elected by UniSA students and supported by non-student staff who deliver key services and day-to-day operations.

These services are, but are not limited to:

• Support for clubs and societies
• Academic advocacy service
• Financial Wellbeing
• Governance and leadership opportunities 
• Exciting events and activities across the academic calendar
• USASA Shops
• Verse Magazine

What does the Student Board do?

The Student Board’s purpose is to set the strategic direction of the organisation and to make sure that it stays on track. To do this, the Board must make decisions about how the organisation will achieve its goals, how it carries out its functions, and to ensure that it always operates lawfully and within the scope of USASA’s Constitution and regulations. 

The Board has an overarching responsibility to manage the conduct of USASA’s business and affairs. It is also responsible for the management and control of USASA’s funds and property.

What is a Student Representative?

It is the mission of each Student Representative to be the first point of contact for the University in promoting student partnership and decision-making. They achieve this by sitting on University Council, being part of a joint USASA/University project team, and being an active member of University disciplinary committees. Allowing them to provide a genuine voice for students in decisive areas of the University. 

USASA President

USASA Student Representative 

Who can be a Student Representative?

USASA's Constitution states under section 5.3 the details of students' eligibility for nominating and holding office as a Board member.

Any ordinary member of USASA (enrolled UniSA's students) who are onshore during the nomination and election period may nominate themselves to run in the election for Student Representative.

To safeguard the representative nature of the Board’s composition, the following must also apply: 

• Each Campus representative must be enrolled at that campus as their home campus 

• Postgraduate Student Representative must be enrolled in a postgraduate program 

• International Student Representative must be enrolled as an international student 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Student Representative must have self-identified themselves as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Student in their UniSA enrolment documents.  

Please consult the USASA Constitution and Election Regulations for more details on how to become a Student Representative.

When are elections held?

Under rules outlined in USASA's Constitution, elections are held in the month of October, although the specific dates are decided by the Board.

Elections provide every currently enrolled student with an opportunity to gain leadership skills and work towards a better student experience. Successful candidates take up their position on the 1^st January of the following year.

When positions are vacant, a bi-election may occur.