Senate
The University of Western Australia Act 1911 (WA) establishes the Senate as the governing authority of the University with responsibility for "the entire control and management of the affairs of and concerns of the University".
Standing Committees of the Senate meet regularly and make recommendations to the Senate on relevant matters.
The Senate consists of 17 members:
- the Chancellor - ex officio
- the Vice-Chancellor - ex officio
- three appointed by the Governor
- two elected by Convocation
- one elected by and from the academic staff of the University
- one elected by and from the general staff of the University
- the Chair of the Academic Board
- two elected by and from enrolled students of the University
- not more than five co-opted members.
All elected, appointed and co-opted members, other than students, have three-year terms and in normal circumstances serve no more than three successive terms.
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Senate Membership [81KB DOCX] |
Senate Charter and Senate Code
The Senate Charter defines the powers of the Senate.
The Senate Code outlines the legal responsibilities, accountabilities and liabilities of each member of the Senate and details the standards and conduct to be adhered to by those members.
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Senate Code [107 KB DOCX] |
Senate Charter [70 KB DOCX] |
Matters retained by the Senate
The Senate retains the following matters to itself:
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Matters retained by the Senate [320 KB PDF] |
Governance framework
The University of Western Australia Governance Overview outlines the rules, relationships, systems and processes by which the University is governed including those set down in the UWA Statute, Senate Regulations and Standing Orders of the Senate.
Senate 2026 Meeting Dates
| Meeting Date |
Paper Submission Date |
Placeholder Deadline *
|
| Tuesday 17 March 2026 | Thursday 26 February 2026 | Thursday 19 February 2026 |
| Tuesday 19 May 2026 | Friday 1 May 2026 | Friday 24 April 2026 |
|
Tuesday 9 June 2026 |
Thursday 21 May 2026 | Friday 15 May 2026 |
| Tuesday 4 August 2026 | Friday 17 July 2026 | Friday 10 July 2026 |
| Tuesday 6 October 2026 | Thursday 17 September 2026 | Friday 11 September 2026 |
| Tuesday 24 November 2026 | Friday 6 November 2026 | Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
| * Advise the University Secretary of items not on the Work Program or Actions Arising for inclusion in the agenda | ||
- Senate and Committees Meeting Dates [192 KB PDF]
Elections
- Election of members of Staff to Senate under Section 8.(1)(b) and 8.(1)(c) of the University of Western Australia Act.
- Method of election of student members of the Senate under Section 8.(1)(g) of the University of Western Australia Act.
- Method of election of members of Convocation to the Senate under Section 8.(1)(h) of the University of Western Australia Act.
Senate election form
Eligible staff who wish to nominate for election under section 8(1)(b) and 8(1)(c) of the University of Western Australia Act 1911 are required to complete the online nomination form when a call for nominations is issued.