Every year, Rep nominations come around, and every year they give us all the same opportunity to pause for a moment and ask ourselves one simple question:

Am I still willing to wear the hat?

For those of you already representing members, I hope the answer is “yes”. Not because every day has been easy—it rarely is—but because you know the difference a good Rep can make.

Every conversation you’ve had, every concern you’ve listened to, every member you’ve reassured has mattered, even if they never said it out loud.

Being a Rep isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.

If you’re an existing Rep, please consider putting your hat back on. Your experience matters. The confidence you’ve built, the relationships you’ve developed and the knowledge you’ve gained are things that simply can’t be replaced overnight. New Reps need experienced people around them just as much as members do.

But nominations aren’t just about those already wearing the hat.

Perhaps you’ve found yourself reading Union emails and thinking, “I could help with that”. Maybe you’ve supported colleagues informally, spoken up when something didn’t seem right, or wished someone had asked the question you were thinking.

If that’s you, perhaps it’s time to stop watching from the sidelines and put your own hat on.

No one starts as an expert. Every experienced Rep was once someone attending their first meeting, making their first phone call or wondering if they knew enough. You learn because you care, and you’ll never be expected to do it alone. Advance provides training, support and a network of experienced Reps who remember exactly what it felt like to start.

Our workplaces continue to change. New technology, new ways of working and new challenges mean members need confident, approachable representatives more than ever. Fresh ideas and new voices are just as important as experience.

So, whether you’re thinking about putting your hat back on for another term or wearing it for the very first time, I’d encourage you to take that step.

You won’t change every decision. You won’t win every argument. But you will make a difference to someone, and sometimes that’s exactly what being a rep is all about.

So, now that nominations are open, ask yourself one question:

Will you put your hat on?