Our unis.
Our future.
Join the NTEU call for transparency and accountability at our NSW public unis. Read our submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into University Governance.
The higher education sector in NSW is in crisis.
Thousands of jobs have been threatened or cut at universities including UTS, Macquarie, WSU, Wollongong, CSU, UoN and SCU. These aren’t just numbers. They’re people’s livelihoods. They’re the lecturers, librarians, IT, professional staff, researchers, and student support staff that are the heart of our universities.
These cuts didn't and don't need to happen. They’re part of a wider shift in how universities are run, from public institutions grounded in education, equity and critical thinking, to corporatised, managerial entities driven by revenue targets, private consultancy firms, and bloated executive salaries.
Staff are being treated as costs to be cut, not people and communities to be supported. Students are losing courses, services and learning conditions. At UTS, SafeWork NSW took an unprecedented step intervening in the restructure process because of the psychosocial hazards caused by these restructures. The consequences are immediate and severe.
NTEU members across the state are already taking incredible action to defend their jobs and their institutions, but the more of us there are, the stronger we’ll be.
The Our Unis Our Future campaign is about fighting back and defending jobs now but also reshaping the future so this crisis can never be manufactured again. We’re calling for stronger protections for workers, democratic oversight of university leadership, and a vision for higher education that puts staff, students and communities first.
Join thousand of NTEU members calling for transparency and accountability at our NSW public unis.
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Final inquiry hearing exposes one university system with the same failures
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University of Wollongong chancellor’s resignation highlights governance disaster
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WSU hearing exposes the damage caused by crisis governance
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Newcastle hearing shows the human cost of poor university governance
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Sydney and UNE hearing shows why governance reform must reach every level of university life
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Fourth inquiry hearing shows the cost of treating teaching as a balance-sheet problem
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ABC 4 Corners: Campus Chaos
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Third inquiry hearing exposes the consultant culture hollowing out public universities
Open letter to the NSW Treasurer and Audit office
We need special audits and reporting requirements
The situation at our universities is out of control. We need to understand what the financial situation is, without consultants and corporate managers trying to hide the real picture.
Public institutions are spending billions on consultants.
Major decisions are being made behind closed doors.
And basic governance information is being withheld, delayed, redacted, or priced out of reach.
That is not transparency. That is not accountability. And staff and students are paying the price.
We're calling on the NSW State Government, through the Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and the Audit Office of NSW, to get to the bottom of the 'financial crisis' in our universities.
We need two immediate actions to restore confidence in the financial management of our public universities.
- the Audit Office of New South Wales should conduct independent performance audits across the university sector and;
- the Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, should update the NSW Treasury Reporting Directions to require greater transparency in annual reporting.
Read the full letter below and sign on.
Sign the open letter
If you aren't yet a member, now's the time to join the NTEU, your union for all university staff.
TIMELINE
THE PATH TO REFORM
University of Wollongong (UOW) announce plans to cut staff
Plans emerge that “more than 270” total cuts (about 10% of non-academic staff) are on the table.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) propose huge budget and staff cuts
Operational Sustainability Program (OSI) proposal issued to all staff outlining huge costs cutting. Estimated 400 job cuts.
Western Sydney University (WSU) large scale job cuts
Plans surfaced to cut ~400 jobs to address a projected deficit.
Macquarie University (MQ) announces cuts
MQ proposes cuts of ~75 academic jobs, including 42 in Arts and 33 in Science & Engineering.
Charles Sturt University (CSU)
CSU announces it would cut ~200 jobs to save ~$35m; precise headcount not yet confirmed at announcement.
SafeWork NSW investigates University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
SafeWork NSW begin investigating “psychological hazards” in the UTS restructure with ~400 proposed job cuts across UTS ahead of the formal change paper.
UnionsNSW gives support to NTEU campaign
UnionsNSW Executive and Labour Council endorse NTEU campaign:
This is a fight for the future of higher education in NSW and it's one we can win, if we stand together.
NTEU delegations to NSW Parliiament
NTEU leads delegations and meetings with 25+ NSW MPs, including Minister for Tertiary Education and Treasurer.
Petition to NSW Parliament
In just one week over 2500 university workers and community members signed a petition that was presented in the NSW Parliament by The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine MLC.
NTEU protest outside AFR Higher Education Summit
NTEU member rally at the AFR Higher Education Summit of VCs and consultants.
NSW governance inquiry established
Upper House Inquiry into university governance announced, examining transparency, accountability, and whether staff and student voices are properly represented in decision-making.
UTS ordered by SafeWork NSW to pause job cuts
SafeWork NSW issues a prohibition order and immediate halt to UTS management's change process, citing potential for imminent psychological harm.
MQ issued improvement notice by SafeWork NSW
SafeWork NSW issues an inprovement notice against MQ management with respect to their change process, citing potential for psychological harm.
NTEU submission to NSW inqiury
NTEU NSW Division makes submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues inquiry into NSW university governance.
NSW Inquiry hearing - UTS
NTEU NSW Division officials, UTS council and board members and the UTS VC appear in front of the inquiry.
NSW Inquiry hearing - UoW
NTEU elected branch officials and members from the University of Wollongong answered questions and presented evidence to the inquiry ahead of appearances by the UoW Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and the CEO of University of
Wollongong Global Enterprises.
NSW Inquiry hearing - Consultants
Expert witnesses from UNSW, UoW and the Australia Institute lead the sitting, before the best and brightest from KPMG, Deloitte and Nous consultants took the stand.
ABC 4 Corners airs "Campus Chaos"
Campus Chaos exposes a crisis that university staff have been warning about for years.
NTEU members at NSW universities are at the heart of the evidence, the scrutiny and the public pressure.
NSW Inquiry hearing - USYD & UNE
Sydney Uni Senior Exec grilled over consultant secrecy, senate accountability and executive bonuses before NTEU reps from USyd and UNE put staff experiences of managerialism and governance failure on the record.
NSW Inquiry hearing - UON & CSU
The Inquiry is held in Newcastle, with Newcastle VC and Senior Exec grilled by the Committee over finances, WHS and transparency before NTEU reps from UON and CSU share staff experiences.
