QUT staff survey exposes concerns with senior executive team

The senior executives at one of Queensland’s largest universities have again been slammed in a staff survey, less than two years after a promise to overhaul the organisation’s culture.

The senior executive team at QUT have come under fire in a staff survey.

A leaked internal staff survey from one of Queensland’s largest universities has exposed serious concerns about the senior executive team and accusations of poor communication.

Queensland University of Technology conducted a staff survey in June, about two years after The Courier-Mail first uncovered bombshell allegations of a “toxic culture” and accusations of bullying at the institute.

While Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil pledged to overhaul the culture ­– with senior executives tasked with leadership training and an external complaints system introduced – the recent staff questionnaire reveals a number of issues still allegedly permeating QUT, with barely a third saying they “have confidence in the ability of senior executives”.

Queensland University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil.

Only 41 per cent of staff agreed there had been “progress in my organisational area as a result of actions focusing on organisational culture”, while just 26 per cent agreed “there is good communication across all sections of QUT”.

Academic staff were more dissatisfied than professional staff across all areas – with only 19 per cent agreeing they had seen “progress at QUT as a result of action planning.

In October 2021 an alarming staff survey result prompted Professor Sheil to meet with staff to discuss rectifying issues with QUT’s culture.

Last week Professor Sheil emailed staff to say it was “disappointing that there has not been more significant improvements recognised by staff as a result of the implementation of the action planning that has occurred since the last survey”.

“We appreciate this feedback shows we must continue to shape and communicate our future shared efforts,” she said.

“Importantly, the survey told us that the two top areas which you wanted us to focus on, to improve the staff experience, were culture and communication.”

Professor Sheil – who also found herself in the media spotlight two years ago after a private bathroom was installed during an expensive refurbishment of The Chancellery building amid extensive job cuts – said “culture empowers, guides, and differentiates an organisation”.

“In the coming months, we will work to define the strengths and unique features of our culture, and then work with leaders to promote the QUT culture in your work area,” she said.

But the Vice-Chancellor also said there had been “some positives” – including an increase in the number of staff who would recommend QUT as a good place to work.

“This is pleasing because it sets a good foundation to build on this positive level of engagement with current and future staff,” she said.