Board of Directors Elections 2026
2026 Director Elections
Nominations declared
The Returning Officer has announced the nominations for the 2026 Director and BMC elections. You may read the Returning Officer’s notice here.
Elections will be held for the two Ordinary Director vacant positions for the National Board. Election is not required for the vacant Aboriginal Director position for the National Board as the number of nominations received did not exceed the available vacancy.
Elections for vacancies on the Branch Management Committees are not required, as the number of nominations received did not exceed available vacancies.
Terms of Office
The Association’s Constitution provides for the term of office for a Director of the Association to commence at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the year in which their election is declared and terminate at the conclusion of the third following AGM.
‘Meet the Candidates’ webinar
On Wednesday 14 October at 6:00pm AEDT, members were invited to a ‘Meet the Candidates’ webinar to hear from, and ask questions of, the Director nominees for the National Board. This webinar was recorded and is available to watch here.
‘First Past the Post’ Voting System
The Association has adopted a “First Past the Post” voting system, whereby the candidate who polls the highest number of votes is elected.
Returning Officer
The Association has appointed Tamara Barr of CSB Corporate Services as the Returning Officer for the 2026 elections. CSB Corporate Services will manage and oversee the nomination process, electioneering process, electronic voting process and shall declare the results of the election within 24 hours of the polls closing. Lumi Global is the software being used to deliver the electronic voting process.
If you need help during the elections process, please email Tamara at [email protected]. If you need assistance with the voting software platform, please email Lumi Global at [email protected].
Abridged Financial Information
The Association provides the following financial and membership data as at 30 June 2026 for the benefit of those considering nominating for Directorship of the Association.
| Metric | 30 June 2026 | 30 June 2025 | Difference $ | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | A$14,704,124 | A$14,592,542 | ↑ A$111,582 | ↑ 0.76% |
| Revenue diversification (Membership Revenue / Total Revenue) | 68% | 65% | n/a | n/a |
| Total Expenditure | A$13,636,905 | A$14,081,734 | ↓ A$444,829 | ↓ 3.16% |
| Net Profit / (Loss) | A$1,067,219 | A$510,808 | ↑ A$556,411 | ↑ 108.93% |
| Total Equity | A$3,185,523 | A$2,118,304 | ↑ A$1,067,219 | ↑ 50.4% |
| Cash at Bank including investments | A$10,160,418 | A$8,723,564 | ↑ A$1,436,854 | ↑ 16.5% |
| Membership numbers year end | 18,426 | 17,699 | n/a | ↑ 4.1% |
*Based on 30 June 2026 management accounts, subject to external audit confirmation.
Headline Statistics
|
Financials
Operating Surplus/(Deficit) YTD
$1,127k
Operating Surplus/(Deficit) Prior YTD
$511k
Total Income YTD
$14.704m
Total Income YTD Prior Year
$14.593m
|
Balance Sheet
Cash at Bank
$7.537m
Hybrid Investments & Bonds
$2.694m
Total Cash inc Hybrids & Bonds
$10.232m
Total Equity
$3.186m
Liquid Assets
$2.146m
|
Key Statistics
Membership Numbers
18,426
vs. 17,699 last year
Full time Equivalent Staff (FTE)
68.8
(including vacancies)
|
What happens next
Further information about the Board election process ( including voting instructions and key dates) will be emailed to members by Lumi Global, when the ballot opens on Tuesday 20 October 2026. If you can’t find your email from Lumi Global, please check your spam or junk folders, as it may have been mistakenly filtered there.
Election Procedure Timetable
| Key Steps | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Nominations open | Monday 14 September 2026 at 12:00pm AEST |
| Nominations close | Monday 21 September 2026 at 12:00pm AEST |
| Declaration of nominations by the Returning Officer | Tuesday 29 September 2026 |
|
Electioneering period opens Candidate Statements will be posted on AASW website for not less than five (5) business days to allow members reasonable opportunity to raise any concerns with the Returning Officer regarding the factual accuracy of any Candidate Statement. This is a requirement of the ByLaws. |
Tuesday 29 September 2026 |
| Webinar – ‘Meet the Candidates’ (Director candidates only) | Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 5:00pm AEST |
| Electioneering period closes | Friday 16 October 2026 at 5:00pm AEST |
| Record date for eligibility to vote | Monday 19 October 2026 at 5:00pm AEST |
| Email to eligible members containing Lumi Global link to vote for candidates | Tuesday 20 October 2026 by 12:00pm AEST |
| Voting opens | Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 12:00pm AEST |
| Election conducted online | Tuesday 20 October 2026 |
| Voting closes | Sunday 25 October 2026 at 5:00pm AEST |
| Declaration of ballot and notification of results to the candidates by the Returning Officer | Monday 26 October 2026 |
| Posting of results on AASW website | Monday 26 October 2026 |
| Members notified of election outcome by the Returning Officer | Monday 26 October 2026 |
Expected Behaviour of Nominees and Members During AASW Board Elections
The AASW is committed to ensuring that its Board election process is fair, transparent, and respectful. All nominees are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct throughout the election period.
Nominees and members are required to:
- Demonstrate integrity, honesty and respect in all communications and campaign activities.
- Engage in conduct that reflects positively on the profession of social work and on the Association.
- Avoid making false, misleading or disparaging statements about other nominees, the AASW, or its members.
- Use campaign materials and platforms responsibly, ensuring that information shared is accurate, relevant and professional.
- Comply with all election procedures, guidelines and directions set by the AASW Returning Officer.
- Refrain from any behaviour that could be perceived as harassment, intimidation, or undue pressure on members.
The AASW reserves the right to take appropriate action where behaviour is inconsistent with these expectations.
By standing as a nominee, individuals acknowledge and agree to these standards, recognising that their conduct contributes to the integrity of the election process and the reputation of the profession.