First Nations Voice to Parliament

There was a fantastic discussion at Academic Board on Monday June 26^th on the topic of the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

It is noted this is more than an Indigenous issue; it impacts every Australian. Multiple universities have engaged the issues around the Voice proposal and UNE intends to also reflect and engage. The interim VC advised that it is unusual for UNE to engage discourse around public issues but this particular issue calls for a statement of commitment due to UNE’s history, purpose and intent. Currently UNE strategy supports participation and engagement with Indigenous communities. This aligns with the Uluru Statement Of The Heart and UNE’s values. The interim VC also noted the likelihood that some people at UNE may take a different view, and endorsed that nothing prevents or limits any alternate statement or opinion.

Academic Workload Model 2024

Thank you to all academic staff who participated in the Faculty Forum on the new Academic Workload Model (AWM) for implementation in 2024, and the subsequent School meetings. I thank the co-presenters from the Academic Workload Committee: Dr Matt Allen, Dr Francois Soyer, and Associate Professor Leo Veliz, ably supported by our terrific professional staff team comprising Eilish O’Shea, Anne Carlon and Shirley Rickard. We will do everything to ensure this model works. My experience at other universities implementing such a model, it is likely to have a few bumps on landing through 2024. I appreciate your goodwill and respect in working with your manager to ensure your advised allocations are workable.

As advised, please review the materials you received about the model. If you disagree with the model and/or its implementation, please register your objection with the Head of School remembering to copy your objection to the members of the AWC listed above. The due dates for registering an objection are different for each School as the due date is three weeks after the School meeting: School of Education, Wednesday July 12^th and School of HASS, Thursday July 13^th. As mentioned at the presentations, an individual, discipline, department or School cannot opt out from the AWM. Opting out will occur if more than 50% of HASSE academic staff register an objection.

Follow up on Academic Pursuit Funds

As advised earlier this year, the budget approved by Council limited APF funds in this challenged year. I appreciate that this advice was concerning to some people – even some of the 60% of HASSE staff who do not have APF allocations. I commit to being open, transparent and to communicate, even on such difficult topics.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged in a spirit of co-operation and respect around my advice that our spend needs to fit a 10% envelope of the total and/or who have contacted me as Head of Cost Centre to negotiate a larger sum. We still have some funding availability, so if you intend to spend before then end of the year please make sure I know, and have approved.

Assessment

Rubrics are key to quality assessment. They assist in consistency and speed of marking. Mitch Parkes sent around this seminar. I encourage all HASSE academic staff to attend. My expectation is staff will use rubrics in most assessment.

Academic Development Webinar Series will be held next Monday 3rd July 12:10 pm – 12:50 pm.

Offered: Monday 3rd July 12:10 pm – 12:50 pm 

Register for the seminar (Registrations close – 10:30 am Monday 3rd July )