Frequently Asked questions

When will nominations for the election open and close?

Nominations for the 2026 General Election will open on Monday 15th September, and close 3rd October (giving you enough time to figure out what roles you might like to apply for and to secure the approvals you need). This will be the nomination period for Executive Roles, Council and Advocacy roles, SOM committees, Event Conveners and SIG President and Vice President ONLY (other subcom roles will be open for nominations afterwards). The voting period will run from 6th to 10th October, and results should be released by the end of October at the SGM.

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Nominations for WSMS Executive subcommittees and other SIG roles will run after the SGM, and interested members may nominate themselves through applications. These will be reviewed by the relevant WSMS / SIG members and results will be released by November 30th. 

Keep an eye out for emails to your student email about deadlines and information.
 

How many roles can I nominate for?

All students can nominate themselves for up to 3 unique roles this election. However, note that:

• If you are accepted into a WSMS Executive role, you will not be able to simultaneously hold any other positions.

• If you are accepted into a Council role, you can hold at most 2 Council roles. 

• If you are accepted (either via election or through submitting an application after the main election) into a SIG role, you may only hold one position within that SIG.

• We encourage you to consider the levels of responsibility associated with different roles (such as SIG Presidents or Year Representatives) when considering applying for or holding several positions. ​​​​

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Why isn't the WSMS Exec subcom / SIG role that I want to apply for available on the nomination website?

The General Election will be for Executive Roles, Council and Advocacy roles, SOM committees, Event Conveners and SIG President and Vice President ONLY (other subcom roles will be open for nominations afterwards).

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How do I apply for the WSMS Exec subcom / other SIG roles?

After the SGM, emails will be released to everyone signaling the opening of the nomination period. All relevant details for applications will be provided then, so keep an eye out for emailled updates and deadlines for these roles!

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What roles am I eligible to apply for?

For the purposes of this election, please use the year group you will be in 2026 to assess your suitability. 

• Current Year 1 students (Year 2 in 2026) will be eligible to apply for Pre-clinical roles.

• Current Year 2, 3 and 4 students (Heading into Year 3, 4 and 5 respectively in 2026) will be eligible to apply for Clinical roles.

• Current Year 1,2,3 and 4 students can apply for any positions without a specific Preclinical/Clinical label*

• Current Year 5 students (Graduating in 2026) will not be able to apply for roles, but can vote in the General Election.

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*Some roles may have recommended applicant profiles. Even if you do not match the recommended applicant profile, please do not be deterred from applying as you will have the opportunity to receive a handover from the previous role-holder to help you adjust to your new role.

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The roles available this election will be:

• Executive Roles

• Council and Advocacy roles

• SOM committees

• Event Conveners

• SIG President and Vice President

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WSMS Executive Subcommittee roles and other SIG roles will be available for application after this election's results are announced in the SGM.

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Am I allowed to self-promote if I am running for a position?

Members are allowed to self promote, but please be sure to do so following the guidelines. Below are some of the main rules to adhere to, but please feel free to reach out if you have further questions.

• Social media promotions may be made through the candidate's personal social media pages 

• Candidates should not engage in: distribution of merchandise / promotional materials, online polls, Facebook events, in-person soliciting, harrassment/slander of other candidates

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How can I find out more about the different roles?

Check out the SIGS section of our website, as well as the linked facebook groups for each SIG to learn about their focus and events. Try reaching out to the previous role holder or SIG presidents to get a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of positions that interest you. Read through the job descriptions and consider what would be a good fit for you.

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How do I get Returning Officer Approval?

Returning Officer approval comes from me! Within 72 hours of receiving all other necessary approvals, I will review your eligibility for the role you have applied for and provide you with the final approval to head to the voting stage.

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What if there is no Past Holder, or I can't get in touch with them?

If you can't reach out to the person who is currently holding the role you wish to apply for because they are unavailable or do not exist, don't worry! Please let me know via emailing it@wsms.org.au, and we can either assist you in getting in touch with the past holder or simply override their approval and send you straight to the voting stage.

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How do I withdraw from the election?

If at any stage you wish to withdraw from a particular election, please let me know and I will remove you from the ballot. In the event that voting has not yet commenced, I can withhold Returning Officer Approval, which means your name will not appear in the voting stage for this particular role.

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When will election results come out?

Once the first round of voting (for Executive Roles, Council and Advocacy roles, SOM committees, Event Conveners and SIG President and Vice President) we will be reaching out to individuals who received the highest number of votes in each election to offer them the position privately. If they accept different positions, or otherwise decline the position, the offer will be made to the candidate with the next highest number of votes. 

This process may take around one week, and an announcement will be made on the WSMS Facebook Page once all positions have been sorted out. These role-holders will also be officially announced during the SGM. 

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Results for the application-based roles (WSMS Executive subcommittees and other SIG roles) will be released by November 30th. Once all applications are reviewed by relevant Executive / SIG members, we will reach out privately to candidates to offer them the position. 

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Are my votes anonymous?

Yes! Nobody, including the Returning Officer, has access to your unique automatically-generated link, and you are the only person who can see who you have voted for.

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What if the role I'm interested in is not up for election?

Please feel free to reach out to myself either via email, text or social media if there is a particular role you are interested in that is not available on the Elections website. If there is a need to fill that role, we'd love to put it into the election!

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