4 days ago
Australian National University announces first round of job cuts as part of effort to turn around financial issues
The first of several rounds of job cuts has been announced by the Australian National University (ANU), as it continues to grapple with its dire financial position.
After years of operating deficits, the university has been seeking to make $250 million in savings by the end of the year, including $100 million to come from salaries.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell said the university was now just over halfway towards their salary savings target, made mostly through voluntary redundancies.
"This is a hard time for our community and it has been a hard journey," Professor Bell said.
"We are going to keep having to make hard choices."
The first of several "change proposals" has been released by the ANU, focusing on the institute's Information Technology Services, Information Security Office, and Planning and Service Performance division.
A total of 37 jobs are proposed to be cut, representing a reduction of between nine per cent and 14 per cent of staff for each of those three areas.
Professor Bell said it was a "difficult day".
"I know that is going to be a difficult journey to get us there, but I also know it's the right thing to do for this remarkable place."
In coming weeks, proposed job cuts and restructures will be released for the Academic Portfolio, Research and Innovation Portfolio, the College of Science and Medicine, and the College of Arts and Social Sciences.
ANU Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Churchill said there would be a consultation period after the release of each change proposal, promising to consult "every step of the way".
"Only after considering this feedback will final decisions be made."
The university said the number of jobs being cut wasn't representative of the number of affected staff because, in some instances, reductions have been found in vacant roles.
Mr Churchill said the ANU had made "every effort to minimise the impact".
"We recognise this is an incredibly challenging time for our whole community, but we also need to make changes to ensure we can continue to deliver world-class teaching and research into the future," he said.
"We are grateful to our staff and students for their patience, engagement, continued hard work and care for others throughout this process."
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) ACT division secretary Lachlan Clohesy said the proposed cuts were a "slap in the face to university staff".
"These job cuts are the tip of the iceberg," he said.
"We're expecting ANU leadership to announce hundreds more job losses by the end of September."
Dr Clohesy said there was no financial rationale for job cuts, repeating a call for the vice-chancellor to be sacked.
"These cuts, and the broader ANU situation under this vice-chancellor, have completely trashed the ANU's reputation and damaged staff and students.
"The vice-chancellor's tenure has been a disaster."
Last week, more than 500 ANU staff signed an open letter calling on university leadership to stop plans for further job cuts.
The university said it had identified $25 million in non-salary savings so far this year, in areas including travel, software and campus services.
"It's important to note that most non-salary savings take longer to realise — for example, having to wait for contracts to expire," ANU Chief Finance Officer Michael Lonergan said.
"Further work continues to identify and realise further savings, and we remain confident of reaching our target."
