‘Won’t be working directly for us’: Charles Darwin University to slash close to 30 jobs

Charles Darwin University has proposed to cut 28 jobs related to the management of its buildings and facilities across the Territory to streamline work that’s now mostly outsourced.

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CHARLES Darwin University has proposed to cut 28 jobs related to the management of its buildings and facilities across the Territory to streamline work that is already at least 80 per cent outsourced.

In CDU’s draft Proposal for Change Property and Facilities, it suggests streamlining its Property and Facilities Division, which according to data manages 170,000sq m of gross floor space in the NT and interstate, with a total operating cost of $14m per annum.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman. Photograph: Che Chorley

It proposes to cut 28 positions, five of which are already vacant.

The positions include cleaners, horticultural tradespeople, a venue hire officer and a repairs maintenance facilities supervisor across its Katherine, Alice Springs and primarily Casuarina campuses.

A further seven positions are proposed to be refocused or classified, one full-time position will be moving to part-time, one position will have a new line of reporting and five new positions will be created.

The changes would have a budget saving of $1.04m.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said currently the university could not secure, clean and maintain its campuses to a sustainable and effective level, and would engage local businesses to enhance its practices.

He said the changes would also allow the university to focus on its core business.

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“We can concentrate on what we do best, which is teaching, learning and research,” he said.

“Some of these (maintenance) activities can go to businesses who are much more focused on it. That’s their core business, and this is ours.

“There’ll be more cleaners, and there’ll be more security people on our campuses, they just don’t won’t be working directly for us.”

Prof Bowman said CDU would also attempt to redeploy affected staff elsewhere in the university, while staff in the new Property and Facilities Division would be offered new opportunities for professional and career development.

Feedback closes on May 12. Final changes will be announced on May 25 and implementation on July 9.

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