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Fact SheetUpdate March 200412. Creating Flexible and Effective WorkplacesThe Australian Government believes that, while some progress has been made in advancing workplace reform in the higher education sector, there remains considerable scope for further workplace improvement. Increased Commonwealth Course ContributionsTo ensure the long term sustainability and quality of the sector within an environment of deregulation and international competition, the Australian Government will inject a further $569 million into the higher education sector by incrementally increasing its contribution per student place from 2005 to 2008. Over five years this amount totals $838 million. This increase will be provided once a higher education provider has adhered to the National Governance Protocols and has demonstrated that enterprise agreements include the clause "the provider may offer AWAs in accordance with the Workplace Relations Act 1996". The final set of National Governance Protocols will form part of the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines and will be tabled in Parliament. Workplace Productivity ProgrammeReflecting the importance placed by the Australian Government on furthering workplace reform, a new Workplace Productivity Programme will be established to encourage higher education providers to pursue a broader workplace reform agenda, which more effectively utilises the flexibilities available under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Funding under the new programme will be made contingent on universities demonstrating a commitment to workplace reform, through the implementation of flexible working arrangements and a focus on direct relationships with employees and improved productivity and performance. Essential features will include evidence of a fair and open performance management system which links access to salary movements to an individual’s performance and evidence that a higher education provider is actively offering individual employment arrangements to employees. The details of the evidence universities will need to provide to demonstrate a commitment to workplace reform will be settled prior to the Programme’s implementation, and set out in the Other Grants Guidelines which will be tabled in Parliament. The Australian Government will provide $83 million from 2006 to 2008 for the Workplace Productivity Programme ($55 million over four years, $83 million over five years). Changes to the Workplace Relations Act 1996Under the Workplace Relations Act 1996, higher education employees, like all employees, are permitted to undertake industrial action in the context of negotiating a replacement agreement after the expiry of their current agreement. In some cases, this industrial action has taken the form of withholding students’ examination results. This prevents students from providing results to potential employers, hinders the re-enrolment process and does not constitute fair and reasonable industrial action. An amendment will be made to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 to amplify the power of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to end protected industrial action, by requiring the AIRC to take particular account of the welfare of particular classes of people, that is, students. Professional Development for Members of Governing BodiesThere are limited professional development opportunities available for the 800 members of university governing bodies. The members include students, staff and others drawn from the broader community. Practice in relation to orientation or induction of new members of governing bodies, and their continued professional development, varies considerably across the sector. Whilst there have been recent attempts to coordinate professional activities for members of governing bodies, there is an identified need for the establishment of an organisation that would take responsibility for regular professional development activities for those serving as members of university governing bodies. Negotiations are continuing with university chancellors on the establishment of a formal programme of sustained professional development for members of university governing bodies. Contact DetailsMedia inquiries:Virginia Cook Other inquiries:Workplace Productivity Programme Governing Bodies Email: Backing Australia's Future
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Any comments or
queries should be sent to:
highered@dest.gov.au
Department of Education, Science and Training
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