Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO addresses the financial challenges that the university is facing and the changes we’re making to be sustainable in the long-term
We are facing significant financial challenges and a period of unprecedented government reform.
While we have taken some important steps to stabilise this year’s budget, these are not long-term solutions. To transform our university, achieve financial sustainability and lay the foundation for our future success, we must stop activities that are unviable and significantly reduce expenditure.
As we seek to reduce our cost base over the next 12 months, we will be considering the work done in every part of the university – by both academic and professional staff. This will mean reducing both salary and non-salary costs in teaching and research. Our priority will be to preserve our areas of strength in teaching and research while ensuring that our students are able to continue to enjoy the high quality of their experience at UOW.
As of 23 October 2024, we are commencing a preliminary phase of consultation in relation to potential workplace change. While the change we are initiating today primarily affects academic staff, there will need to be further change next year that will mostly affect our professional staff.
Our goal is to complete this initial phase of the process in a considered and timely way, and ideally before the end of the year, so that staff can have certainty as soon as possible as to any potential impact.
We are also undertaking work to assess any potential impact on students. We are committed to ensuring all our students can progress successfully in their studies, and personalised academic advice will be provided to any students whose study plan may be impacted.
The decision to initiate this change process has not been an easy one. But we must make tough choices now to set the University up for a brighter future.
Professor John Dewar AO
Interim Vice-Chancellor & President
