Frequently Asked Questions

ACU's Continuing Employment Program (the program) is our commitment to transition work currently undertaken by casual and sessional academics to ongoing academics.

During enterprise bargaining, the university and the NTEU developed and agreed upon a program to transition work undertaken by casual academics to ongoing academics to reduce to and maintain a ratio of casual and sessional academic staff full-time equivalent (FTE) to non-casual and non-sessional academic staff FTE of 30% to 70%.

This was formalised in clause 6.8.3 of the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2022 - 2025 (the Agreement).

Full details relating to the program are available in clause 6.8.3 of the Agreement.

The aim of the program is to transition work currently performed by casual and sessional academic staff, to ongoing academic positions. Academic staff members appointed through the program will primarily perform teaching work that was previously performed by casual staff members.

Based on headcount data on 24 June 2022, (during bargaining period when the clause was negotiated and agreed upon), this would require the university to create and fill the equivalent of at least 85 FTE new ongoing academic positions through the program.

Following initial and continuing analysis, the university will distribute positions proportionally across academic work units having regard to:

1. the total hours of work performed by casual or sessional academic staff in those work units over the calendar years since 2020;
2. the anticipated prospective need for the work to be continued; and
3. the nature of casual work in the work unit.

Appointment to positions under the program will be made following a competitive recruitment process. To be eligible to apply, you must:

1. have been awarded a PhD or have submitted a PhD thesis for examination (other than in circumstances where a PhD is not normally required for appointment); and
2. have casual experience totalling at least 2 teaching terms at the university in the previous two years; and
3. not have held a continuing position in a university in the previous three years; and
4. provide verification that they satisfy the criteria in (a) to (c) above.

All positions created through the program will be filled via a dedicated recruitment program. This program will:

1. be advertised at first instance to all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed in the preceding three years; and
2. remain open for application for at least 15 business days; and
3. be subject to the university's usual recruitment processes (e.g. regarding selection panels / committees, pre-employment checks, verification of qualifications).

To ensure equitable opportunities for casual and sessional academic staff employed at the University in the preceding three years, the University has established a register, or list, of all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed over that period.

The register is a list of current and former staff is drawn from the university's HR information system. Contact will be made via email, utilising the email address (if one is listed) stored within the HR information system.

Any current or former (within the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff members, will be contacted via email. This could be either an ACU email address (for current staff), or a personal email address, or both if they are recorded within the HR information system.

Academic positions created, and appointments offered under the program:

1. will be to continuing positions;
2. may be advertised or made at a fraction less than 1.0 FTE where a full-time position cannot be accommodated, but will be at no less than 0.4 FTE; and
3. where the staff member has a PhD, will be at a minimum of Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement.

The minimum fraction for positions created under the program, is 0.4 FTE. All positions created under the program will be between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Yes, all positions created under the program will be continuing appointments, with an annualised fraction of between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Each academic position appointed through the program will primarily perform teaching work that was previously performed by a casual or sessional academic staff member.

No. The program was developed following discussions between the NTEU and the university during the bargaining process for the current Enterprise Agreement.

The program is an additional potential pathway for casual and sessional academic staff to be considered for continuing positions. The positions that are created and offered for recruitment as part of the continuing employment program, are only open, in the first instance, to existing and former ACU causal and sessional academic staff.

The program runs parallel to ACU's requirement to comply with other conversion processes within the Enterprise Agreement and Fair Work Act.

Appointment to positions under the program will be made following a competitive recruitment process. To be eligible to apply, you amust:

1. have been awarded a PhD or have submitted a PhD thesis for examination (other than in circumstances where a PhD is not normally required for appointment); and
2. have casual experience totalling at least 2 teaching terms at the university in the previous two years; and
3. not have held a continuing position in a university in the previous three years; and
4. provide verification that they satisfy the criteria in (a) to (c) above.

If you have undertaken casual or sessional teaching at ACU (i.e., the delivery of content, or tutorials, facilitation etc.) across two or more semesters (or non-standard study periods such as Summer and Winter Terms, Professional Terms 1 to 8, Research Terms A to D, Foundation Terms 1 to 4, or ACU Online Terms 1 to 4), in the last two years, you would meet this eligibility criteria.

In addition, if you hold a PhD (or equivalent if required), and have not held a continuing appointment at ACU within the last three years, you would be eligible to apply.

A teaching term, or study period is a '…period over which an individual unit of study is offered. It is inclusive of approved study breaks and assessment/examination times and may take the form of a standard or non-standard study period.' Glossary of Student and Course Terms

A study period could be either a standard period, such as Semester 1 or Semester 2, or a non-standard study period, which is a '…period of study outside the Semester 1 and Semester 2 study periods; it includes the Summer and Winter Terms, Professional Terms 1 to 8, Research Terms A to D, Foundation Terms 1 to 4 and ACU Online Terms 1 to 4.' Glossary of Student and Course Terms

The university may, at its discretion, accept an application from an applicant who does not satisfy the minimum requirements due to a career interruption or other personal reasons, or who is not a recent PhD graduate and has insufficient experience, if they otherwise satisfy the requirements and are suitably qualified to perform a role created through the program.

No. Inclusion is automatic if you have held a casual academic or sessional academic appointment at ACU in the last three years.

To ensure equitable opportunities for casual and sessional academic staff, all positions created under the program will be advertised, in the first instance, to all current and former (in the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff.

To be eligible for consideration, you must:

1. have been awarded a PhD or have submitted a PhD thesis for examination (other than in circumstances where a PhD is not normally required for appointment); and
2. have casual experience totalling at least 2 teaching terms at the University in the previous two years; and
3. not have held a continuing position in a university in the previous three years; and
4. provide verification that they satisfy the criteria in (a) to (c) above.

Following initial and continuing analysis, the university will distribute positions proportionally across academic work units having regard to:

1. the total hours of work performed by casual or sessional academic staff in those work units over the calendar years since 2020;
2. the anticipated prospective need for the work to be continued; and
3. the nature of casual work in the work unit.

Academic positions created, and appointments offered under the program:

1. will be to continuing positions;
2. may be advertised or made at a fraction less than 1.0 FTE where a full-time position cannot be accommodated, but will be at no less than 0.4 FTE; and
3. where the staff member has a PhD, will be at a minimum of Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement.

The minimum academic level for appointment for staff with a PhD, will be Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement. However, the level of appointment will be based on the requirements of the role advertised and the skills, experience, and qualifications of the successful applicant. All advertised roles will state the expected academic level for the successful applicants (e.g., Academic Level A, B, C etc.).

The minimum fraction for positions created under the program, is 0.4 FTE. All positions created under the program will be between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Yes, all positions created under the program will be continuing appointments, with an annualised fraction of between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Clause 6.5.3 of the Agreement defines fractional appointments as follows:

'Fractional employment means employment for a fixed number of weeks in the year which is less than fifty-two (52) weeks of the year, for which all entitlements are paid on a pro rata basis calculated by reference to the time worked. Fractional employment may be on a continuing or fixed-term basis, may be full-time or part-time weekly hours, and, may contain a reasonable probationary period that is directly related to the nature of the work to be carried out under the contract. Payment for Fractional employment will be in accordance with the rates set out in Schedule 1 Part A or Schedule 1 Part B.'

Any fractional positions created under the program would be continuing appointments, of a minimum 0.4 FTE - i.e., the work pattern would be a continuing pattern of working and non-working weeks across a 12-month calendar period.

Further information on fractional appointments is available in the Employment of Fractional Staff Policy.

The choice would be yours. Clause 6.5.3 of the Agreement outlines the options available to fractional staff:

'A staff member employed on a fractional continuing or fixed term basis may apply to the University to receive an annualised salary payment over a twelve (12) month period or averaged salary over an agreed period of less than twelve months based on the staff member's proportion of full-time employment.'

If you were appointed into a fractional position, you can discuss and arrange your individual salary payment preferences, through People and Capability, by logging a Service Central request.

Further information on fractional payment options is available in the Employment of Fractional Staff Policy.

Each academic position appointed through the program will primarily perform teaching work that was previously performed by a casual or sessional academic staff member.

All positions created through the program will be filled via a dedicated recruitment program. This program will:

1. be advertised at first instance to all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed in the preceding three years; and
2. remain open for application for at least 15 business days; and
3. be subject to the university's usual recruitment processes (e.g. regarding selection panels / committees, pre-employment checks, verification of qualifications).

Consideration for, and appointment to a position under the program, will be through ACU's standard, competitive recruitment process. However, in the first instance, the positions will only be advertised to current and former casual and sessional academic staff, who have been employed by ACU within the last three years.

Further information relating to ACU's recruitment process, is available within the Recruitment and Selection Policy, which includes information on the composition of selection committees in Schedule 1.

When any new positions are created under the program, all current and former (in the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff will receive an email (if an email has been recorded in the HR information system) informing them that there is a position or positions available for recruitment.

All positions created under the program will be advertised, in the first instance, to all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed in the preceding three years.

Each position advertised under the program, will be open for a minimum of 15 business days.

The makeup of the selection committee will depend on the level of the position being advertised. The best guidance on the composition of any selection committee, can be found within Schedule 1, of the Recruitment and Selection Policy.

The university may, at its discretion, accept an application from an applicant who does not satisfy the minimum requirements due to a career interruption or other personal reasons, or who is not a recent PhD graduate and has insufficient experience, if they otherwise satisfy the requirements and are suitably qualified to perform a role created through the program.

If there are no appointable applicants following the initial recruitment process (open only to current and former casual and sessional academic staff), the university may advertise externally to fill the roles created through the program.

If there are no appointable applicants following the initial recruitment process (open only to current and former casual and sessional academic staff), and there are no appointable applicants following external recruitment, the university may appoint candidates who otherwise demonstrate they meet the requirements of the roles created through the program.

To ensure equitable opportunities for casual and sessional academic staff, all positions created under the program will be advertised, in the first instance, to all current and former (in the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff.

To be eligible for consideration, you must:

1. have been awarded a PhD or have submitted a PhD thesis for examination (other than in circumstances where a PhD is not normally required for appointment); and
2. have casual experience totalling at least 2 teaching terms at the University in the previous two years; and
3. not have held a continuing position in a university in the previous three years; and
4. provide verification that they satisfy the criteria in (a) to (c) above.

Academic positions created, and appointments offered under the program:

1. will be to continuing positions;
2. may be advertised or made at a fraction less than 1.0 FTE where a full-time position cannot be accommodated, but will be at no less than 0.4 FTE; and
3. where the staff member has a PhD, will be at a minimum of Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement.

The minimum academic level for appointment for staff with a PhD, will be Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement. However, the level of appointment will be based on the requirements of the role advertised and the skills, experience, and qualifications of the successful applicant. All advertised roles will state the expected academic level for the successful applicants (e.g., Academic Level A, B, C etc.).

An academic appointed under the program will be subject to a 3-year academic probation period, and subject to the probation provisions in clause 6.10 of the Agreement. Further information on probation is available in the Probation for Continuing Academic Staff Policy.

Any current or former (within the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff members, will be contacted via email. This could be either an ACU email address (for current staff), or a personal email address, or both if they are recorded within the HR information system.

To ensure equitable opportunities for casual and sessional academic staff employed at the University in the preceding three years, the University has established a register, or list, of all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed over that period.

The register is a list of current and former staff is drawn from the university's HR information system. Contact will be made via email, utilising the email address (if one is listed) stored within the HR information system.

No. Inclusion is automatic if you have held a casual academic or sessional academic appointment at ACU in the last three years.

When any new positions are created under the program, all current and former (in the last three years), casual and sessional academic staff will receive an email (if an email has been recorded in the HR information system) informing them that there is a position or positions available for recruitment.

All positions created under the program will be advertised, in the first instance, to all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed in the preceding three years.

If you are a current staff member you can update your email details via Staff Connect at staffconnect.acu.edu.au.

ACU's Continuing Employment Program (the program) is our commitment to transition work currently undertaken by casual and sessional academics to ongoing academics.

During enterprise bargaining, the university and the NTEU developed and agreed upon a program to transition work undertaken by casual academics to ongoing academics to reduce to and maintain a ratio of casual and sessional academic staff full-time equivalent (FTE) to non-casual and non-sessional academic staff FTE of 30% to 70%.

This was formalised in clause 6.8.3 of the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2022 - 2025 (the Agreement).

The aim of the program is to transition work currently performed by casual and sessional academic staff, to ongoing academic positions. Academic staff members appointed through the program will primarily perform teaching work that was previously performed by casual staff members.

The key target of the program is to reduce to and maintain a ratio of casual and sessional academic staff FTE to non-casual and non-sessional academic staff FTE of 30% to 70% by the expiry of the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2022-2025.

Based on headcount data on 24 June 2022, (during bargaining period when the clause was negotiated and agreed upon), this would require the university to create and fill the equivalent of at least 85 FTE new ongoing academic positions through the program.

The key milestones are to reduce the percentage of sessional to non-sessional staff to at least:

1. 36% to 64% within 12 months after the agreement commenced;
2. 34% to 66% within 2 years after the agreement commenced; and
3. 32% to 68% within 3 years after the agreement commenced.

Consideration for, and appointment to a position under the program, will be through ACU's standard, competitive recruitment process. However, in the first instance, the positions will only be advertised to current and former casual and sessional academic staff, who have been employed by ACU within the last three years.

Further information relating to ACU's recruitment process, is available within the Recruitment and Selection Policy, which includes information on the composition of selection committees in Schedule 1.

To ensure equitable opportunities for casual and sessional academic staff employed at the University in the preceding three years, the University has established a register, or list, of all casual and sessional academic teaching staff employed over that period.

The register is a list of current and former staff is drawn from the university's HR information system. Contact will be made via email, utilising the email address (if one is listed) stored within the HR information system.

The minimum academic level for appointment for staff with a PhD, will be Level A Step 6 of Schedule 1 of the Agreement. However, the level of appointment will be based on the requirements of the role advertised and the skills, experience, and qualifications of the successful applicant. All advertised roles will state the expected academic level for the successful applicants (e.g., Academic Level A, B, C etc.).

The minimum fraction for positions created under the program, is 0.4 FTE. All positions created under the program will be between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Yes, all positions created under the program will be continuing appointments, with an annualised fraction of between 0.4 and 1.0 FTE.

Clause 6.5.3 of the Agreement defines fractional appointments as follows:

'Fractional employment means employment for a fixed number of weeks in the year which is less than fifty-two (52) weeks of the year, for which all entitlements are paid on a pro rata basis calculated by reference to the time worked. Fractional employment may be on a continuing or fixed-term basis, may be full-time or part-time weekly hours, and, may contain a reasonable probationary period that is directly related to the nature of the work to be carried out under the contract. Payment for Fractional employment will be in accordance with the rates set out in Schedule 1 Part A or Schedule 1 Part B.'

Any fractional positions created under the program would be continuing appointments, of a minimum 0.4 FTE - i.e., the work pattern would be a continuing pattern of working and non-working weeks across a 12-month calendar period.

Further information on fractional appointments is available in the Employment of Fractional Staff Policy.

The choice would be yours. Clause 6.5.3 of the Agreement outlines the options available to fractional staff:

'A staff member employed on a fractional continuing or fixed term basis may apply to the University to receive an annualised salary payment over a twelve (12) month period or averaged salary over an agreed period of less than twelve months based on the staff member's proportion of full-time employment.'

If you were appointed into a fractional position, you can discuss and arrange your individual salary payment preferences, through People and Capability, by logging a Service Central request.

Further information on fractional payment options is available in the Employment of Fractional Staff Policy.

An academic appointed under the program will be subject to a 3-year academic probation period, and subject to the probation provisions in clause 6.10 of the Agreement. Further information on probation is available in the Probation for Continuing Academic Staff Policy.

No. The program was developed following discussions between the NTEU and the university during the bargaining process for the current Enterprise Agreement.

The program is an additional potential pathway for casual and sessional academic staff to be considered for continuing positions. The positions that are created and offered for recruitment as part of the continuing employment program, are only open, in the first instance, to existing and former ACU causal and sessional academic staff.

The program runs parallel to ACU's requirement to comply with other conversion processes within the Enterprise Agreement and Fair Work Act.