Our unis.
Our future.
After a year of damning evidence in the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry, the final report into university governance has been tabled. It's truly a testament to NTEU member efforts. Now it's time for real legislative change.
The FINAL REPORT FROM THE NSW INQUIRY INTO THE UNIVERSITY SECTOR
REFORM UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND CHANGE THE LAWS
After almost two years of campaigning and members putting themselves in the firing line, the final report has been tabled from the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the University Sector.
Testimony from members, expert witnesses and hundreds of submissions have culminated in the final report, that we hope will lay out a path to the much needed reform of university governance in NSW.
ICAC, NSW Parliament, staff stories and media digging all point to the same conclusion union members have known for years. Corporatised management, unaccountable councils and business interests have taken our public institutions down a dark path.
Join us on Monday, 30 November for a panel discussion of the report, the significance of it's recommendations and what comes next in the campaign to fix our unis.
The forum will be live at Newcastle Town Hall from 5.30pm, with a Webinar for those who want to watch online.
NTEU NSW Secretary Vince Caughley will be joined by UoN Branch President Terry Summers, NSW Upper House MP Dr Sarah Kaine MLC, Secretary of Hunter Workers Leigh Shears, with more special guests to be announced.
Register now for the Our Unis Our Future Public Forum
If you aren't yet a member, now's the time to join the NTEU, your union for all university staff.
The higher education sector in NSW is in crisis.
Thousands of jobs were 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.
-
NTEU Welcomes Release of Inquiry Final Report into University Governance and Calls for Overhaul of NSW Laws
-
Our Uni, Our Future | Report Release Public Forum
-
Final inquiry hearing exposes one university system with the same failures
-
University of Wollongong chancellor’s resignation highlights governance disaster
-
WSU hearing exposes the damage caused by crisis governance
-
Newcastle hearing shows the human cost of poor university governance
-
Sydney and UNE hearing shows why governance reform must reach every level of university life
-
Fourth inquiry hearing shows the cost of treating teaching as a balance-sheet problem
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.
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.
