SUPRA Disabilities Officer election

Notice:

To improve accessibility and representation for postgraduate students living with health, mental health, and disability conditions that impact their studies, notice is hereby given of the elections for the position of one (1) SUPRA Disabilities Officer for the 2020-2021 term and one (1) SUPRA Disabilities Officer for the 2021-2022 term. Elections will be held online from 2pm on Tuesday, 9 March (Sydney time). Email secretary@supra.usyd.edu.au for the Zoom meeting link.

One in five Australians live with visible and non-visible disabilities that impact daily activities, studies, communication and/or mobility in various ways, including:

• Physical – affects mobility, dexterity; including migraine, endometriosis, EDS, PCOS
• Mental illness – anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar and other conditions
• Sensory – d/Deaf, hard of hearing, hyperacusis, blind, low vision
• Neurological – MS, epilepsy, brain injury, conditions affecting brain & nervous system
• Learning – cognitive and intellectual disability, memory, focus, neurodiversity
• Immunological – autoimmune, ME/CFS, and other chronic multisystemic conditions.

Nominations:

Any currently enrolled postgraduate students who are living with disability and are members of SUPRA (or willing to become a member) are eligible to nominate themselves for the Disabilities Officer position, subject to the SUPRA Constitution and SUPRA Electoral Regulations. Nomination forms can be obtained by sending an email to secretary@supra.usyd.edu.au. Nominations are now open and need to be sent to secretary@supra.usyd.edu.au before 1pm, Monday, 8 March 2021.

Voting in the election:

Currently enrolled postgraduate students who are living with disability and are members of SUPRA (or willing to become a member) are eligible to nominate and vote in the election of the Disabilities Officer. Voting will take place 2pm – 3pm on Tuesday, 9 March (Sydney time) at the online election. Email secretary@supra.usyd.edu.au for the Zoom meeting link.

Please note:

Students do not need to be registered with Disability Services nor disclose their disability to be eligible to nominate or vote in the election. Please advise us if you have any accessibility requirements for the election by emailing secretary@supra.usyd.edu.au.

The role:

The Disabilities Officer is an equity position and has a seat on the SUPRA Council. The duties and responsibilities of the role are defined by SUPRA’s Constitution and the Duty Statement for the Disabilities Officer that are available on the SUPRA website. The position is a volunteer position and includes a stipend of up to seven (7) hours per week.

The election:

The election will be conducted in accordance with the SUPRA Constitution and the SUPRA Electoral Regulations. The meeting schedule will be as follows:

1. Introduction & election of a Returning Officer
2. Explanation of the election procedure
3. Candidates’ statements/speeches
4. Casting of secret ballots
5. Appointment of scrutineers and counting of votes
6. Announcement of results by Returning Officer.

Polling:

The polling will be open for one hour after the candidate statements have been made and all eligible students must cast their votes during this time. The election is conducted in accordance with the SUPRA Constitution and the SUPRA Electoral Regulations which are available on the SUPRA website.