New report outlines poor workplace culture and psychological safety issues in UTAS CALE faculty

The tertiary education union has urged UTAS to make meaningful change in one of its faculties after a report outlined issues with workplace culture.

University of Tasmania building and signage, Sandy Bay Campus. Picture: Richard Jupe

The University of Tasmania says it is committed to providing a more supportive environment for staff at the College of Arts, Law and Education (CALE) after a report detailed workplace culture and psychological safety issues in the faculty.

UTAS engaged psychologist Melanie Irons to conduct a report into psychosocial risks at CALE and surveyed more than 160 staff from the faculty.

“This Report builds on and largely confirms an internal 2024 review that identified key risks affecting staff wellbeing and workplace culture,” Dr Irons said.

The report made 32 recommendations to UTAS, including reducing workload strain and establishing a psychosocial safety framework.

The National Tertiary Education Union Tasmania Division Secretary Ruth Barton said she was not surprised by the report’s content.

“There’s been longstanding issues there and the issues that are reported in the report are really widespread through the university,” Dr Barton said.

“It’s not sort of new information or news to us because members have been saying to us for years that there’s significant psychological safety issues at UTAS they’ve raised through proper channels, and nothing’s really happened.”

National Tertiary Education Union Secretary Dr Ruth Barton. Picture: Linda Higginson

Dr Barton said CALE staff had told her they were under immense stress.

“They’re telling us that management has failed them.

“They’re quite annoyed about that because they say there’s been president signs and they’ve warned management, but nothing’s been done about it.”

In response to the report, Dr Barton said she wanted UTAS to take real action.

“The other thing that contributes to stress for the staff is that they raise these issues and the university does what it does, which is create a spreadsheet, ticks some boxes, and say ‘they you go – problem solved.’

“We’d like them to take this seriously and move beyond ticking boxes.

“We’d like them to actually comply with the regulatory framework that they’re obliged to comply with and also like them to actually involve staff in solving this problem.”

University of Tasmania (UTAS) Sandy Bay Campus. Aerial Images of Hobart and surrounds. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

CALE academic lead Lisa Fletcher said UTAS took psychological safety very seriously.

“Staff raised concerns about some aspects of the workplace culture in the college through the University’s 2024 staff engagement survey,” Professor Fletcher said.

“We immediately conducted a safety and wellbeing risk review and then engaged an external expert to connect with staff and propose recommendations on how to address the risks identified.

“We shared those recommendations with all staff in the college last week, and this week, we are beginning the collaborative work of developing action plans.

“We are committed to working together to map a pathway to a more supportive working environment.”