8 April 2025: 91直播 (UC) Vice-Chancellor The Hon. Bill Shorten has given an update on the University’s fiscal sustainability improvements at a staff town hall held today.
“The collective efforts of everyone at the university to date have achieved substantial results. I would say we are 80 per cent of the way there and it is my 100 per cent intention to have no more forced redundancies,” explained Mr Shorten.
The University’s student load targets for Semester One are on track with an overall growth of 4% in commencing students’ Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) when compared to 2024; and revenue is broadly in line with forecast, positioning the University to continue addressing its operating deficit.
Mr Shorten said that the approach remains a collaborative one between the University Council, senior leadership, union, and staff.
“Since starting here at the end of January I can see a genuine commitment to do everything possible to return to a balanced budget by the end of 2025,” he said.
Mr Shorten reiterated that student experience continues to be his first priority, and any concerns relating to workload pressures by staff and students will be addressed.
“UC can and will grow, but we need to operate within our means first. I know UC has great potential, but we need to have the resources to invest in our future,” he added.
The work undertaken to date, including a significant organisational restructure, has resulted in cost savings of approximately $30 million, following the disestablishment of 190 positions, of which 150 staff have already exited the University.
Mr Shorten shared the University’s plans to commence a Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) for professional staff providing the same option that has already been offered to cohorts of academic staff. The program will be run via an Expression of Interest (EOI) process and consistent with the Enterprise Agreement.
“A VSP option was not offered to professional staff during the initial organisational change process undertaken in 2024. We are not looking to achieve certain targets nor have we identified further positions as excess to requirements. Instead, we are giving any interested professional staff the opportunity to submit an EOI to resign from the University in return for compensation by way of a separation payment,” said Mr Shorten.
“This will contribute to further reducing salary costs, balancing our staff complement, and achieving an appropriate staff to student ratio based on current student enrolments.”
Mr Shorten outlined additional measures that have been or will be actioned in the foreseeable future, which include a pause on all non-critical recruitment, and non-salary budget savings.
The VSP process will open on 9 April 2025. Professional staff will have until 27 April to consider their options.
“Student experience, course delivery and student and staff safety remain priorities. These are all core aspects of university life and need to be respected,” Mr Shorten said.
“We are committed to supporting staff through this period of change, working with the union and proactively identifying and addressing potential impacts and risks when implementing the VSP process.”
“Whether or not we bridge the whole operating deficit in one year is an ambitious goal, but I'm confident that the whole university will give its best endeavours to accomplish this,” he concluded.