The governing body of Victoria University is the Council (Section 8(2) of the Victoria University Act 2010).

The Council is the ultimate authority and corporate governing of the University. Its broad role is to provide overall leadership of the University and oversee and be accountable for the operations of the University. Key functions include setting the University strategy, approving the University budget, ensuring risk is managed, protecting the integrity of the University’s qualifications, fostering and respecting academic freedom and ensuring that the University operates sustainably and is compliant with relevant legislation and regulations.

Building on the provisions in the Victoria University Act 2010 (the Act) and the University’s Governance, Academic and Student Affairs Statute 2013 (the GASA), the Victoria University Council Regulations 2021 sets out the principles, roles and requirements that govern the operational framework of the University Council and its Committees.

The Council is also subject to a range of Commonwealth legislation, including for the provision of higher education under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth) and the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021; and for the provision of vocational education and training under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.

Terms of Reference of Council

View Terms of Reference of Council

Council's Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the Victoria University Council Regulations 2021.

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Council meetings

  • 18 March 2022
  • 31 May 2022
  • 16 August 2022
  • 4 October 2022
  • 6 December 2022.

Council membership

Council is composed of ex-officio members, internal members and external members.

Chair & Deputy Chair

Steve Bracks

Chair

Steve Bracks - Chancellor

Deputy Chairpersons

Dr Jennifer Gray – Deputy Chancellor
Kate Roffey – Deputy Chancellor

Official members

Council members

Elected members

The Council seeks expressions of interest for external appointed members of the Council & committees. 

Register your interest

Committees of Council

The Council may delegate certain functions to Committees and management for the effective governance of the University including academic governance.

Supporting the Council, and established under delegations, are the following committees:

  • Academic Board
  • Compliance, Audit and Risk Committee
  • Nominations Committee
  • Remuneration Committee
  • Finance and Investment Committee
  • Infrastructure Planning Committee.

Compliance, Audit & Risk Committee

The Compliance Audit and Risk Committee is a formally constituted committee of Council with particular responsibility for providing Council with strategic advice on and oversight and monitoring of the risk management, legislative and regulatory compliance frameworks as well as internal accountability requirements and controls for the University and its controlled entities. This includes oversight of each of the Internal Audit and External Audit functions.

Internal Audit Charter

The Council nominates and appoints members of the Compliance Audit and Risk Committee. It will have the following membership:

i. at least three external members of Council who are able to contribute the broad skills base relevant to the Committee’s business, one of whom will be the Chair

ii. up to four independent members external to the University with skills and experience including:

  • formal accounting qualifications with current certification;
  • significant, recent and relevant experience in financial auditing;
  • specialist knowledge and expertise in risk management;
  • specialist knowledge and expertise in regulatory compliance including educational regulations; and/or
  • experience of university operations.

iii. Of the members outlined in 4a(i) and 4a(ii), at least one member should have formal financial accounting or auditing qualifications

iv. Of the members outlined in 4a(i) and 4a(ii), at least one member must have expertise/experience of risk management and compliance within complex operating environments

v. the Chair of the Academic Board.

Compliance, Audit & Risk Committee meetings

  • 15 February 2022 (Joint CARC and FIC Meeting)
  • 15 March 2022
  • 9 May 2022
  • 12 July 2022
  • 13 September 2022
  • 15 November 2022.

Finance & Investment Committee

The Finance and Investment Committee is a formally constituted committee of Council with particular responsibility for providing Council with strategic advice on and oversight of the overall financial performance and sustainability of the University and its controlled entities, and the management, allocation and investment of University capital and funds.

The Committee operates under a Terms of Reference. View the Finance & Investment Committee Terms of Reference

  1. The Council nominates and appoints members of the Finance and Investment Committee. It will have the following membership:
    • up to five external members of Council, one of whom will be the Chair
    • an option of up to two additional independent external members with specialist skills in accounting and finance.
  2. All members of the Committee must have:
    • knowledge of the University’s Strategic Plan and associated funding issues
    • financial literacy including the ability to read and understand financial statements including a balance sheet, a profit and loss statement and a cash flow statement.
  3. Among the members of the Committee there will be:
    • members with relevant financial qualifications and financial management expertise at a senior level in the public or private sector
    • members with a track record in approving organisational investment strategy and capital projects
    • members with commercial expertise including experience at a senior level in the public or private sector
    • skills, knowledge and experience in areas relevant to the effective use of the University’s resources.

Finance & Investment Committee meetings

  • 15 February 2022 (Joint FIC and CARC Meeting)
  • 1 March 2022
  • 3 May 2022
  • 28 June 2022 (if required only)
  • 2 August 2022
  • 20 September 2022 (if required only)
  • 22 November 2022.

Infrastructure Planning Committee

The Infrastructure Planning Committee is a formally constituted committee of Council with particular responsibility for advising Council on matters relating to the planning and development of the University’s major property and physical infrastructure.

The committee operates under a Terms of Reference. View the  Infrastructure Planning Committee Terms of Reference.

  1. The Council nominates and appoints members of the Infrastructure Planning Committee. It will have the following membership:
    • four members of Council including the Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, and of which one of whom will be the Chair
    • two external experts.
  2. The Chair will have experience in educational infrastructure and where possible, hold appropriate qualifications in architecture, engineering, project management and/or related area of expertise.
  3. All Members will have:
    • experience in major educational infrastructure capital projects, defined as having a minimum total project cost of $2m
    • knowledge of the University’s Strategic Plan and associated University infrastructure funding issues.
  4. Among the members there will be:
    • members with commercial expertise (as demonstrated by relevant experience at a senior level in the public or private sector)
    • skills, knowledge and experience in areas relevant to the effective use of Victoria University’s infrastructure resources.

Infrastructure Planning Committee meetings

  • 1 March 2022
  • 3 May 2022
  • 2 August 2022
  • 20 September 2022
  • 22 November 2022.

Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee is a formally constituted committee of Council with particular responsibility for providing Council and/or the Minister responsible for the Victoria University Act 2010 with recommendations for the appointment of members of Council under sections 12 and 13 of the Victoria University Act.

The Committee operates under a Terms of Reference. View the Nominations Committee Terms of Reference.

The Nominations Committee will have the following membership:

  • the Chancellor, as Chair
  • the/a Deputy Chancellor, as Deputy Chair
  • the Vice-Chancellor
  • three members of Council appointed by the Chancellor.

Nominations Committee Meetings

  • 14 April 2022
  • 28 June 2022
  • 17 November 2022.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is a formally constituted committee of Council with particular responsibility for the oversight of the remuneration and conditions of employment of the University’s senior executive. In an emergency, the Committee may exercise the power of the Council to appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor.

The Committee operates under a Terms of Reference. View the Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference.

  1. The Remunerations Committee will have the following membership with relevant experience and/or qualifications:
    • the Chancellor, who will be Chair
    • three Council members appointed by the Chancellor
    • at its option, up to two additional external experts as required.
  2. The following may attend Committee meetings:
    • attendees invited by the Chair.

Remuneration Committee Meetings

  • 14 April 2022
  • 21 July 2022
  • 17 November 2022.

Council legislation & procedures

The work of Council is built upon a framework of legislation (VU Act, Statutes and Regulations) accompanied by a series of relevant procedures.