Progress Plan FAQs

All staff are encouraged to participate in Progress Planning.

If you have not completed a Progress Plan during 2026, you are asked to complete and submit one by 24 December 2026.

If you have already completed a Progress Plan this year, you do not need to complete another one. However, if your existing plan has not been formally submitted or recorded, please submit it using the relevant Academic or Professional Staff Progress Plan form. You can upload your existing document rather than completing a new plan.

ACU is moving away from an anniversary-based approach to a common annual Progress Planning cycle. Having a consistent timeframe will make it easier for staff and supervisors to plan conversations, access support and training, and complete Progress Plans across the university.

For 2026, eligible staff who have not already completed a Progress Plan this year are asked to complete and submit one by 24 December 2026.

We want Progress Planning to be more consistent, useful, and focused on meaningful conversations about contribution, development, and future priorities.

The current approach has not been used consistently across ACU, and the anniversary-based timing makes it difficult to coordinate support and maintain a clear annual cycle. The changes in 2026 are an initial step, including simpler submission arrangements and additional support for staff and supervisors.

We are also consulting with staff and supervisors about the future of Progress Planning so that the approach introduced from 2027 is informed by their experience.

You do not need a formal unit plan to complete your Progress Plan.

Discuss with your supervisor the priorities most relevant to your role and work area. These may include your position responsibilities, current team or organisational priorities, ACU's broader strategic priorities, and work already agreed with your supervisor.

Your Progress Plan should reflect what is relevant and meaningful for your role.

If you have already completed a Progress Plan during 2026 and it has been formally submitted, you do not need to complete another one.

If your Progress Plan has not yet been formally submitted or recorded, please use the relevant Progress Planning form to submit it.

Academic staff can select the option to upload an existing Progress Plan document in the Academic Staff Progress Planning Tool.

Professional staff can upload their existing Progress Plan using the Professional Staff Progress Plan form.

No. Progress Plans completed as part of the 2026-2027 process will not be submitted through Staff Connect.

Academic and professional staff will use different online forms.

Academic staff complete their Progress Plan using the Academic Staff Progress Planning Tool.

You will prepare a draft, discuss it with your supervisor, finalise your responses and submit your plan for supervisor review. Your supervisor will either approve the plan or return it to you for revision or further discussion.

Once approved, the final Progress Plan is saved centrally and a copy is provided to you and your supervisor.

View the Academic Staff Progress Planning process and access the tool.

Professional staff complete their Progress Plan using the Professional Staff Progress Plan submission form.

Before submitting, take some time to reflect on your achievements, priorities, development and career direction and discuss these with your supervisor. After your conversation, finalise your responses, share with your supervisor (use the Professional Progress Plan Review Template or a format of your choice) and then submit the final version using the online form.

View the Professional Staff Progress Planning process and access the form.

A good Progress Plan is useful, realistic and focused on the things that matter most to you and your role. It does not need to be lengthy or polished.

It should help you and your supervisor have a meaningful conversation about:

• your key achievements
• your priorities and goals for the year ahead
• your development needs
• your career aspirations.

Goals should be clear enough that you and your supervisor can return to them during check-in conversations and understand what progress looks like.

Academic staff should also consider the Academic Staff Achievement Framework and relevant evidence when reflecting on achievements and setting goals.

The aim is not to record every activity or task. Your Progress Plan should focus on the achievements, priorities and development that are most significant to you and your role.