Staff at the Australian National University’s College of Arts and Social Sciences are calling for concrete actions from leadership following widespread dissatisfaction with recent proposed reforms. The discontent stems from the Renew ANU initiative, which many believe failed to consider the needs of the academic community.
During a staff meeting on September 18, 2023, interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown announced that there would be no forced redundancies, a decision welcomed by faculty members. However, concerns persist regarding the leadership’s ability to rebuild trust after the controversial change proposal faced significant backlash.
One academic expressed relief at the announcement but emphasized the need for ongoing improvements. “I have a great deal of hope that the interim vice-chancellor can win the ANU community’s trust,” the staff member stated. “I am still waiting to see any sign that the CASS Dean can repair relationships, demonstrate she has listened, or change course.”
As the university works through over 1,000 pieces of feedback related to the CASS proposal, a spokesperson highlighted that the review process is complex and cannot be rushed. “We are listening to and working with our community, and that’s a process that cannot be rushed,” the spokesperson noted. They added that updates on the timeline for upcoming changes would be shared in due course.
Concerns regarding communication from the College of Arts and Social Sciences dean, Bronwyn Parry, have also emerged. An academic criticized her statements about the College’s future, calling them confusing and indicative of a broader disconnect between leadership and staff. “Pretty much everyone I know looked at the change proposal… and simply could not understand what the rationale was behind it,” they remarked.
In response, Professor Parry affirmed her commitment to rebuilding trust within the community. “I, along with the interim vice-chancellor and the entire university leadership team, am committed to rebuilding trust with our community,” she stated. Parry assured staff that she is actively engaging with their concerns and is dedicated to communicating relevant information as it becomes available.
The work environment has reportedly become strained, leading health and safety representatives to classify it as a psychological risk. In early September, a stop-work order was issued due to concerns about potential psychological injury among staff. The order was lifted on September 23, 2023, but not before classes and activities were significantly disrupted.
Dr. Lachlan Clohesy, Secretary for the ACT Division of the National Tertiary Education Union, emphasized that there remains considerable work to be done to ensure staff welfare. “There has been a lot of harm in the college, and there remains significant distrust of College leadership,” he said. He added that the commitment to halt forced redundancies has alleviated some stress, yet this was not the primary reason for the stop-work order.
In addition to staff counselling and the Employee Assistance Program, the university has pledged to enhance information and training for both staff and managers. A university spokesperson reiterated the importance of ongoing engagement with health and safety representatives. “We are actively managing and monitoring psychosocial risk, engaging with staff and will take action as required.”
As ANU navigates this period of discontent, the focus will remain on tangible changes and restoring confidence within the College of Arts and Social Sciences. Whether leadership can meet the demands of its community and foster a supportive work environment remains a critical question as the university moves forward.
