The University of Technology Sydney plans to release its restructure proposal following SafeWork NSW’s decision to lift its order for the university to halt job cuts. SafeWork NSW had previously stated that there was a “serious and imminent risk of psychological harm” to staff if job cuts continued. Vice-chancellor Prof Andrew Parfitt informed a Senate inquiry into university governance that the prohibition notice was removed on Friday after discussions with health and safety representatives. UTS had previously paused its restructuring plans due to government intervention, leading to the cancelation of meetings with hundreds of staff and the delay in releasing the proposal’s details. Parfitt acknowledged the “stressful time” for staff and plans to hold future meetings to consult on the changes. He emphasized the need to address the uncertainty and stress related to both the proposal itself and the impact on potentially affected staff. UTS has also temporarily paused student enrollments in 120 of its courses, which has caused concerns about the institution’s commitment to education, particularly in primary and secondary teaching programs. In response to financial constraints, UTS has announced plans to cut approximately 400 jobs to achieve $100 million in annual savings. The university also confirmed spending $44 million on consultants in the previous year. Students’ association president Mia Campbell mentioned the negative impact on students, who learned about the suspension of their desired courses without prior warning, disrupting their academic and career plans. Prof Kylie Readman, UTS’s deputy vice-chancellor, stated that about 1,000 students are expected to be affected by the course suspension. Greens deputy leader and higher education spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, raised concerns about the fear and mistrust among staff, calling for “genuine and open consultation” on these issues. Parfitt acknowledged the sector’s challenges, stating that he had never seen such pressures faced by universities in Australia.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/08/uts-restructure-plan-release-nsw-regulator-lifts-order-forcing-job-cut-pause
