Job security fears mount for staff at Deakin in merger

Job security fears mount for staff at Deakin Geelong university, union says, as they remain “in the dark” about a restructuring transition that affects hundreds of staff.

Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM). One of Australia's top alloys researchers and Director of Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew Barnett, has received a prestigious ARC Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Picture: Alan Barber

Job cut fears loom over Deakin, with staff left under a cloud of uncertainty around the university’s restructure, the union says.

National Tertiary Education Union Victorian assistant secretary Ruth Jelley said staff remained in limbo five months after the restructure was announced.

“There is a lack of transparency around what is the true intention of this particular change proposal,” she said.

National Tertiary Education Union Victorian assistant secretary Ruth Jelley

In February, Deakin University combined two separate teams based at Waurn Ponds.

The university merged the research-focused Institute of Frontier Materials (IFM) with the teaching-focused Institute of Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), placing both under the umbrella of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE).

Ms Jelley said despite the union’s requests for information, university management had failed to provide employees with any transition plan.

She said changes to internal funding had been impacted, leaving many staff unsure if their contracts would be renewed.

“Any funding that is being frozen will affect those people who are on grant contingent contracts and so it does put employment at risk,” she said.

“And any move that puts people’s jobs at risk creates a great deal of stress and uncertainty for staff.”

Ms Jelly said a major concern was that researchers would have to start teaching under the changes.

“We have requested further information and that hasn’t really been provided.”

Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) Picture: Alan Barber

The frontier materials institute is Australia’s largest materials research body based at Waurn Ponds and Burwood campuses while the intelligent systems research institute is only at Waurn Ponds.

More than 350 researchers work at both institutes.

A faculty staff member, who did not wish to be named for fear of repercussions, said morale was low and communication had been poor.

“Everyone feels like we’re effectively just floundering,” they said.

When staff were told about the restructuring in February, the union sent a letter – seen by the Geelong Advertiser – to the executive dean of science, engineering and built environment Nick Birbilis outlining staff’s “anxiousness” at the implications, including redundancies, funding cuts and reporting line changes.

Nick Birbilis, Deakin University.

Professor Birbilis responded via email, stating the review did not constitute a major

workplace change, but instead strengthened “alignment between research activities and the strategic direction of the university.”

He did not respond to questions outlined in the union’s email.

Deakin University has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Job security fears mount for staff at Deakin in merger