La Trobe University Student Council
The La Trobe University Student Council is an important student led representation body comprising democratically elected student members from across the breadth of our student body, representing diversity in student voice.
Led by students, the Student Council has been established as an internal structure within the University under a ‘students as partners’ framework to expand opportunities for student engagement in academic governance, strategy development and major projects to ensure student voice is part of decision-making.
Its role is to consult with, represent and advocate on behalf of all students. Its purpose is to initiate new ideas and innovations that improve student life and student experience at La Trobe.
Establishing the Student Council was recommended by our Students as Partners Network; and is an outcome of student consultation undertaken to develop La Trobe’s Students as Partners Framework. In its first year, the Student Council is already making students feel welcome and valued, and providing students with a network and forum for their voices to be heard.
Established in 2025, the inaugural La Trobe Student Council is an independent student representation and advisory body that consults with students that undertake study with La Trobe, and represents all students, including those studying online. The Student Council advocates for student ideas, promotes opportunities for student participation in University decision-making, governance, and co-design of services and programs.
The Student Council operates under their own Terms of Reference, ensuring its autonomy while being supported by the Student Engagement team, when needed.
The Student Council assists with the allocation of Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF) that the University is directly responsible for, along with all other student voice and partner organisations, to ensure funding allocations are guided via student consultation and feedback.
The Student Council is one of many student leadership and representative organisations at La Trobe that includes our diverse students, including the La Trobe Student Association, the La Trobe Student Union, and more than 11 active Student Advisory Groups across learning, teaching and research - with more coming in 2026!
Thank you to all students who nominated in the 2025 Student Council elections. Your current Student Council members are as follows, following the second meeting of the La Trobe Student Council held on 11 December 2025:
- Akshad Shelar - signed on and active member
- Akshayaa Prakash - signed on and active member
- Aryendu (Yen) Singh (Co-Chair) - signed on and active member
- Ben Martens - not signed on
- Chaitanya Dhawan - signed on and active member
- Harsh Umrania (Co-Chair) - signed on and active member
- Humaira Binta Hafiz Moon - signed on and active member
- Jamie Nikolovski - signed on, resigned
- Lars Bowers - not signed on, resigned
- Leanna Nguyen - not signed, resigned
- Melisha Shrestha - signed on and active member
- Monty Merchant - signed on and active member
- Nancy Patel - signed on and active member
- Nosa Enoch Ogiemwanre - signed on and active member
- Riley Conway - not signed on, resigned
- Saria Philips - not signed on, resigned
- Sarina Godden - signed on and active member
- Sarvesh Kumar - not signed, inactive member
- Shama Mohamed Rizwan - signed on and active member
- Shanmukha Sreekar Reddy Sudireddy - signed on and active member
- Tully McEwen - not signed on, resigned
- Xavier Dupe - not signed on, resigned
The Co-Chairs and members of the La Trobe Student Council have been proudly working hard to build a strong foundation in 2025, and have set up governance practices, policies, and procedures that will shape student representation for years to come.
Student Council members are out and about across all of La Trobe’s Victorian and online campuses in 2026, connecting with students, hearing your ideas, and making sure your voice is part of the conversation.
Elections held in 2025:
- Nominations opened Monday 31 March 2025
- Nominations closed Thursday 17 April 2025
- Polling opened Thursday 1 May 2025
- Polling closed Friday 9 May 2025
- Candidates notified of results Thursday 22 May 2025
- Successful candidates announced Tuesday 3 June 2025
The next Student Council election will be held in late 2026 or early 2027.
To be eligible, a candidate must meet the following criteria as outlined in the draft Terms of Reference [PDF 241KB] and the Election Regulations [PDF 210KB].
Nominees for election, and elected representatives, must be willing to sign the Volunteer Agreement and meet the following eligibility criteria:
a. have not been found to have breached or be in breach of the Student Charter, Student Behaviours Policy or Student Academic Misconduct Policy;
b. must have at least twelve (12) months remaining to complete their course of study;
c. have satisfactory Academic Standing;
d. not a full-time employee of the University or any of its controlled entities;
e. never declared bankrupt;
f. not been found guilty of committing a crime;
g. no criminal charges (charged or pending);
h. are not currently, and have not been in the past two (2) years, an office bearer, elected representative, councillor, director, executive member and/or committee/subcommittee member of another student organisation;
i. have attended an information session prior to nominating for election.
To nominate, please complete the Nomination Form during the nomination period.
Would you like to join the Student Council?
Joining the La Trobe Student Council is a fantastic opportunity to amplify your voice, shape university decisions, and make a real impact on student life.
Being part of the Council is also a great way to hone new skills, meet new people and access unique training and mentoring opportunities:
- Governance, advocacy and representative leadership training
- Mentoring from a member the Senior Executive Group
The next Student Council elections will be held in late 2026 or early 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Student Council is funded by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Some members of the Student Council resigned in protest about the role of the Student Council on the 11 December 2025, additionally some members have not signed the Volunteer Agreement or actively participated since their election to represent students of La Trobe.
Currently there are 12 active and signed on members of the Student Council.
No. A small group of students elected to the Council have falsely claimed that the Council has been dissolved. This is not true.
The vast majority of the students working on the Council are actively participating and working in good faith, and they are focussed on the difference they can make for students at La Trobe.
However, a small group of students attempted to derail the 11 December Council meeting.
No motions or decisions were on the meeting agenda, and none were properly put forward. No motion, decision or vote claimed to have taken place at the meeting is legitimate.
Student Council elections will be held in late 2026 or early 2027 and are managed independently from La Trobe.
More information
For more information, contact studentpartnership@latrobe.edu.au.