8 hours ago
Charles Sturt University to cut jobs to save $35m amid drop in international enrolments
One of the largest regional universities in Australia has told staff jobs will be cut as it looks to save $35 million from its budget.
Charles Sturt University (CSU) says a substantial drop in international student placements has left the university needing to make cuts.
CSU has campuses across regional NSW in Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Orange and Port Macquarie.
In its latest annual report, CSU recorded a net shortfall of almost $44 million at the end of the 2024 financial year.
In a statement, CSU vice-chancellor Renée Leon said the cuts were distressing but unsurprising given government policies to restrict the number of international students.
"In Charles Sturt's case, international students cross-subsidise students from regional, rural and remote locations," Ms Leon said.
"In 2019 Charles Sturt had 8,460 international students. In 2024, we had approximately 10 per cent of that number.
CSU union representative Anna Corbo Crehan slammed the announcement as lacking clarity.
"Staff are left with more questions than answers, we're stuck in a crushing limbo," Dr Corbo Crehan said in a statement.
"Cutting jobs would be a devastating blow not just for staff and students, but the regional communities that rely on CSU.
"Staff have stood behind CSU giving so much to the institution since the COVID pandemic; there is no need for management to target staff now."
CSU is the latest university to announce job cuts in the wake of a ministerial direction from the federal government that saw 60,000 fewer international student visas issued in 2023–24 compared to the previous year.
Fellow NSW regional university the University of Wollongong has already slashed more than 90 full-time academic positions, and confirmed more than 180 non-academic places will also go to make up for the international student shortfall.
In her statement, Ms Leon also called for changes to the one-size-fits-all university funding model, saying it "disproportionately handicaps regional universities".
Federal MP for Riverina Michael McCormack said he had written to Education Minister Jason Clare asking the government to take action on supporting regional universities.
"They desperately need to find a way to support regional tertiary students with real, meaningful policy and funding," Mr McCormack said.
With campuses located in six regional communities, Mr McCormack said the CSU cuts would have a knock-on effect.
"The ripple effect will be like a tsunami across those regional economies," Mr McCormack said.
"The government has talked up its Australian universities accord, its funding equity students and supporting regional students.
"Well, now is the time for action."
