monash sessional staff survival guide

SURVIVAL

GUIDE

SESSIONALSTAFFMONASH

You can join the Union by contacting Monash NTEU Branch President, a member of Monash’s NTEU Branch Committee or the NTEU staff in the branch office.

Alternatively you can fill out the form with this booklet and send it via internal mail to the Monash Branch office Room

G02A, Building 19 Clayton Campus Monash University. Additional forms can be obtained from the Monash NTEU Branch office, or online:www.nteu.org.au/join/forms/casual

You can also join onlinewww.nteu.org.au/join/joinonline

CONTACT

Security bus routeand stop numbers

52

NE5

NE7

NE8

NE546

45

4156

38

39

57

37

59

35 3636A

3430

28

29

27

53

81

24

2375

22 21

17 18

1313

13

13

54

5865

73

62

218

14

1264

10

9

50

3d3c

3b

3a

3e51

4

4

2

68678

7 56

6 SE4

SE4

SE5SE3

S1S2

SW2

C8

C5W2

W1

N1

SE2

71Multi-levelcar park

80Multi-levelCar Park

SE1

C11

E2

E1

49

61

55

11

11

1516

2320

25

26

19

33 32

3231

63

63

72

N2

N3

C3

C10

C9

C2

C1

N4

69

60

60

70

41e

44

4374

47

48

42

202

203

NE2NE1 NE

4

NE3

1220

1

1

1

CSIRO

AustralianSynchrotron

CSIRO

Building 1

Building 3

Building2

700 Blackburn Road

Monash UniversityBusiness Park

(710) Blackburn Road

Duerdin Street

Martin Street

Normanby Road

How

leys Ro

ad

Halls of Residence

Lake

Oval 3

Oval 2

Oval 1

Baseball

Wellington Roadfree parking area

Soccer/Hockey

All day ticketparking

Authorisedand

contractor parking only

Constructionsite parking

only


Tenniscourts

Jock Marshall Reserve

HockeyField

Pavillon

Lake

Map by Design and PublishingDecember 2008

Lake

Underpass

Bus

Loo

p

MonashOakleigh

LegalService(No.60)

MonashCommunity

FamilyCo-op

(Nos.74,78)

MonashChildren’s

Centre(Clayton

CooperativeLimited (No.62)

MannixCollege

Car

poo

l par

king

Pav

illio

n W

ay

Union Road

Union Loop Road

Ring R

oad East

Bayview Avenue

Woodside Ave

MONASH HWY (Wellington Rd) MONASH HWY (Wellington Rd)

Blackburn R

oad

Entrance

PRINCES HIGHWAY

Gardiner’s R

oad

Beddoe A

venueB

eddoe Avenue

Rin

g R

oad

Wes

t Out

er

Rin

g R

oad

Wes

t Inn

er

Engineering Road

Ring RoadEast

level 4All day ticket

parking

Car poolparking

Red PermitGround Floor

4040

Car poolparking

Car poolparking

John Monash Science Schoolunder

construction

76

77

RACV Pickup points

Redpermit

Yellowpermit

Bluepermit

Greenpermit

Brownpermit

Motorcycles

ResidentialServicesparking

authorisedparking

only

3 hourticket

parking

11/2 hourticket

parking

Key to car parking (check signs for latest information)

Monash University Clayton campus1 2 3 4 5 6

1

F

E

D

C

B

A

F

E

D

C

B

A

2 3 4 5 6

Access-ability

parking

Carpoolparking

Building index1 Monash Sport D4

2 Sir Robert Blackwood Concert Hall D4

3a Administration Building 3a D3

3b Administration Building 3b D3

3c Administration Building 3c D3

3d Administration Building 3d D3

3e Administration Building 3e D3

4 Sir Louis Matheson Library E3

5 Krongold Centre E3

6 Education E3

7 Alexander Theatre E3

8 Rotunda E3

9 Religious Centre D3

10 Campus Centre D3

11 Humanities D3

12 Law including Law Library E2

13 Medicine D2

14 Teaching Facilities Support Unit E2

15 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education D2

16 Biochemistry Teaching Laboratories D2

17 Biology D2

18 Senior Zoology D2

19 Central Science Block D2

20 First Year Chemistry D2

21 Zoology Lecture Theatres D2

22 First Year Biology D2

23 Senior Chemistry D2

24 Western Science Lecture Theatres D2

25 Eastern Science Lecture Theatres D2

26 Physics and Computer Science D3

27 Senior Physics D3

28 Mathematics and Information Technology Services C2

29 Northern ScienceLecture Theatres C2

30 Hargrave-Andrew Library and Cafeteria and Facilities and Conference Office C2

31 Engineering Building 31 C3

32 Engineering Lecture Theatres C3





36a Engineering Building 36A C3


38 Boiler House B2

39 Botany Experimental Area B2

40 Facilities and Services B3

41 Animal Services C3

41e Animal Services 41e C4

42 Zoology Environmental Laboratories B5

43 Richardson Hall A4

44 Roberts Hall B4

45 Farrer Hall A5

46 Howitt Hall A5

47 Central Building (Catering) B5

48 Deakin Hall B5

49 South East Flats E5

50 Monash University Club D3

51 Monash Short Courses Centre D3

52 Normanby House A4

53 Microbiology D2

54 Japanese Study Centre E2

55 Gallery Building E3

56 Central Store, Transport and Mail Services B3

57 Grounds Building B2

58 Yarrawonga Building E2

59 Australian Pulp and Paper Building C2


61 Parking and Security E3

62 High Voltage Switchroom E1

63 Faculty of Information Technology C3

64 Faculty of Medicine Offices E2

65 Monash House (Marketing and Student Recruitment) E2

67 Information Services Building E3

68 Performing Arts Precinct E3


70 Accident Research Centre C3

71 Multi-level carpark E4


73 Monash College Building F2

74 Monash Science Centre A4

75 Monash Biotechnology D1

76 School of Biomedical Sciences D1


80 Multi-level carpark – North Ring Road B2

81 Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy C2

202 Monash University Business Park – 710 Blackburn Road B6

203 700 Blackburn Road B6

218 Mannix College F3

220 T8 Telstra Building D6

Lecture theatre index63 Central One C3

32 Engineering E1-E6 C3

60 Engineering/Examination Halls EH1-EH4 C3

12 Law School L1-L5 & G20 E2

13d Medicine M1 D2

13a Medicine M2-M3 D2

11 Menzies – Humanities H1-H10 D3

8 Rotunda R1-R7 E3

25 Science S1-S4 D2

24 Science S5-S6 D2

21 Science S7-S8 D2

25 Science S9-S12 D2

29 Science S13-S15 C2

25 Science ST1-4, ST7 D2

64 South One E2

72 Sir Alexander Stewart Theatre E7 C2

We are located in room G02A, Building 19 at Clayton. Our hours of operation are between 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

A range of information, including membership forms, commercial benefits, industrial advice and employment entitlements are available through our office.

Ph: (03) 9905 4110Internal: 54110Fax: (03) 9905 5746Email: [email protected]

NTEU Branch Office

Estimated salary range 6 month fee 12 month fee$10,000 and under $27.50 $55$10,001 - $20,000 $37.50 $77 $20,000 and over $55 $110

Special casual membership rates (as at April 2010)Casual staff membership of the NTEU is set at three levels based on your estimated earnings. The low casual rates were established in recognition of the unpredictability of casual pay rates and work. All values include GST. NTEU membership is fully tax deductible.

How to Join

Dear friend,

Becoming a casual academic at Monash can be a stepping stone to a permanent career in academia – as well as a convenient way to earn an income while studying. Casual and sessional lecturers and tutors in Australia are a growing group of academics who are increasingly employed by universities to do the bulk of teaching work. Around fifty two percent of undergraduate teaching – lecturing and giving a tutorial – is performed by casual academics such as you.

While universities rely on you to deliver teaching for hundreds, or even thousands of students, many casual academics experience underpayments, lack of adequate facilities, and little professional recognition from the School or Department. Job security is also a significant concern for many casual academics, as there is no guarantee from one semester to another of ongoing employment.

This booklet will help you survive as a casual at Monash University. It provides some practical tips and advice on your rights, what you should be paid, and many other tips as well. It also introduces your union – the National Tertiary Education Union.

The NTEU is the union for all academic and professional staff at Monash University, with over 26,000 members Australia wide, and almost two thousand at Monash. The NTEU negotiates with the University for pay rises and improved conditions, and we have just finalised a new agreement that significantly improves your rights at Monash. We also lobby State and Federal Governments on behalf of the tertiary education sector more broadly.

We know that it is the high level of professionalism and integrity of casual academics such as yourself that makes Monash a great university for students to study at. Thanks to the hard work of your colleagues in the union – both casual and ongoing – the conditions you have at Monash are some of the best anywhere in Australia. As a union, we are committed to promoting the rights and interests of casual academics – it is you and your peers who will one day be the professors, Deans and Vice Chancellors of the future.

That’s why it’s important that as a casual academic you know your rights and join with your colleagues in the union.

I hope you find this booklet useful while you work at Monash University.

Matthew McGowanSecretaryNTEU Victorian Division

NB: In the 2009 Monash University & NTEU Union Collective Agreement, sessional academics are also referred to as “Teaching Associates”. When someone at Monash refers to a Casual Academic, Sessional or Teaching Associate, they are usually all referring to the same form of employment.

1.

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is the only union working exclusively in the tertiary education sector and the only union covering academic staff. The Union has a democratic and effective structure, and gives university staff an authoritative and expert voice in current debates about Australian tertiary education.

The NTEU is active around a broad range of professional and industrial issues of concern to tertiary education workers, and has a team of specialist research, industrial, training, recruitment and campaign staff maintaining high-level expertise and providing assistance direct to the membership. Members can also save money by accessing a wide range of services and benefits:www.nteu.org.au/benefits

What’s the problem with casual employment?While casual employment sometimes provides employees with important flexibility, casuals usually miss out on a range of other entitlements that other staff receive, such as sick leave, paid parental leave and above-guarantee superannuation (permanent academic staff in universities receive 17% superannuation, whereas casuals have to meet a threshold and then only receive 9%).

In addition, the minimal job security that casual employment brings with it means that casual employees usually cannot get access to home loans or other finance.

For an analysis of casual employment in higher education, see two major research reports commissioned by NTEU:www.unicasual.com.au/papers

What is the NTEU doing for academic casual employees?Since the 1990s, higher education has gone through a period of turmoil due to cuts to Commonwealth funding, changes to industrial relations legislation and a range of other national and international pressures. One of these changes has been rapid growth in casual employment.

A key priority of the Union is to improve the working conditions of casual employees, both by improving conditions directly and by ensuring universities provide opportunities for casuals to attain more secure jobs. In the last round of bargaining at Monash University, the Union won significant improvements in the conditions of casual staff, as detailed throughout this booklet.

Opportunities for more secure employmentCasual staff may apply for conversion to fixed term employment if certain conditions are fulfilled.

Those conditions include being employed on a regular and systematic basis in the same position, or an identically classified one in the same department.

Also, you must have been working in a regular and systematic way for either 12 or 24 months depending on the hours per week that you worked.

What is NTEU?

2.

The University will consider a number of factors and respond to you in writing either confirming your appointment to non-casual work or stating the reasons why your application wasn’t accepted.

The University can’t unreasonable reject your request though so it’s vital that when you apply you include all of essential information and meet the criteria as you may not be able to apply again for a year if your application is rejected.

Being a member of the NTEU will mean you are assisted through this process and the Monash NTEU Branch office should be your first stop when considering applying for conversion.

Early Career Development Fellowships A major gain in the Union Collective Agreement was the development of Early Career Development Fellowships.

There are 25 ECDF’s in total, three of which are for Indigenous Sessional staff.

ECDFs holders will work at Level A academic positions in teaching and research or research only roles for 24 months.

To be eligible to apply Sessional staff must either hold their PhD or be active PhD candidates for at least three years. Candidates must also have meet minimum teaching service requirements.

ECDFs will be awarded on academic merit.

Monash NTEU Branch will support Sessional NTEU members to secure ECDF’s and prospective candidates should contact Monash NTEU Branch Organisers for more information.

Facilities For Sessional StaffThanks to the activity of Sessional NTEU members the recent Union Collective Agreement made major gains for Sessional staff, including the improvement of the provisions of facilities and services.

Below is a list of the new rights enjoyed by Sessional staff at Monash as a direct result of Sessional staff joining the NTEU and being active.

• The University must provide Sessional staff with the resources and facilities necessary to fulfil their duties.

• Sessionals will have the right to access professional development opportunities.

• Sessionals will have the same access to library cards, out of hours access, email and network and intranet access as their academic colleagues including non-teaching periods throughout the calendar year.

• Sessionals will be included in the telephone directory.

• Sessionals will be eligible to apply for internally advertised University positions on an equal basis with other academic staff.

• Sessional staff will be able to apply for internal funding opportunities including grants and professional development funds.

• Sessional staff will be paid for a half day induction, at the “other required academic activity” rate, unless they have previously been employed by the University or already received an equivalent paid introduction.

3.

How is casual employment different from other employment?A casual employee is one who is engaged and paid by the hour, rather than employed on an ongoing basis or for a set period on a salary.

Casuals are not normally entitled to paid leave, and their employment can be terminated by the employer in accordance with common law without notice.

On the other hand, casual rates of pay include a loading (currently 24% increasing to 25% from 30 January 2011) to compensate for some of the leave and other entitlements casual employees do not receive.

From January 29 2010, service as a casual employee counts towards Long Service Leave where certain conditions are met. Long term casual staff who have been employed on a regular and systematic basis for a period of at least 12 months are entitled to 12 months unpaid parental leave. All casual staff are entitled to two days unpaid carers leave each year.

Where do my rights come from?Your rights as an employee are set out in legislation, in Monash University’s Union Collective Agreement, in University policy, and in your letter of appointment.

The Union Collective Agreement negotiated between the Union and university management is the key place where your rights are set out, and takes precedence over university policy.

If you are employed in casual work at more than one university, you should be aware that the Enterprise Bargaining Agreements that cover your working conditions will be slightly different at each one.

The interpretation of all the sources of your rights can be quite complex. The NTEU can assist you with any issues you might have.

For reference, you can get a copy of the NTEU and Monash University Union Collective Agreement from our Branch Office, or it can be found on the NTEU website:www.nteu.org.au/rights/agreements

What Is a Sessional?‘Sessional’ is a term used in some universities to describe casual academic employees, as casual academics are often employed for ‘sessions’ or semester teaching periods.

In the 2009 Monash University & NTEU Union Collective Agreement, sessional academics are also referred to as “Teaching Associates”. When someone at Monash refers to a Casual Academic, Sessional or Teaching Associate, they are usually all referring to the same form of employment.

You should contact the Monash Branch office if you have any questions or enquiries.

Being a Casual

4.

Letter of AppointmentYou will usually be given a letter of appointment either before or when you start work. This may just be a form called ‘Casual Contract’ or ‘Record of Casual Appointment’ or something similar. If weeks pass and you still haven’t received one, follow it up with your supervisor.

It’s important to have this letter as it indicates what’s in your contract of employment – this will be crucial to know if there is any misunderstanding later on.

Your letter of appointment should stipulate the type of employment and the terms of your engagement in relation to:

• the duties required;

• the number of hours required (e.g. 5 tutorials each week for 12 weeks);

• rates of pay for each type of duty required;

• a statement that any additional duties required during the term will be paid for; and

• other main conditions of employment, such as reporting relationships and details of the Union Collective Agreement.

Keep your letter of appointment and any other official documents relating to your employment in a safe place.

TaxMake sure you provide your tax file number to the person responsible for administering your wages.

Employee/Salary NumberKeep a record of your Employee or Salary number so you can quote it to the pay officer if any problems arise.

Getting paid on timeIt’s a good idea to finalise your employment details as quickly as possible to avoid missing a pay period. Check with your School/Departmental administrator about frequency of pay periods and whether there are cut-off dates for the lodgment of time sheets.

Monash University is required to pay you within 22 days of the submission of a signed timesheet to the appropriate person. You’ll need to find out who this is and make sure they get your timesheets as soon as possible after completing any work, and certainly by the cut-off date if there is one. If you haven’t been paid within 22 days, contact the Monash Branch.

When You

Start Work

5.

PayCasual pay rates depend on the type of work being performed. The following are descriptions of sessional work found in the Union Collective Agreement and the rates of pay you can expect for each.

TUTORIALS“Tutorial” means any education delivery, described as a tutorial in a course or unit outline, or in an official timetable issued by the University.

Except for repeat tutorials, the rates prescribed are paid per hour of tutorial delivered (or equivalent delivery through other than face-to-face teaching mode) and assume two hours associated work as defined below.

A repeat tutorial is a second or subsequent delivery of substantially the same tutorial in the same subject matter within a period of seven days. The prescribed rates are paid per hour of tutorial delivered and assume one hour’s associated work as defined below.

Where a tutorial is more or less than one hour in length, the payment will be pro-rata the appropriate rate for a tutorial of one hour’s duration.

For the purposes of payment of a tutorial or repeat tutorial rate, “associated work” may encompass the following activities:

• preparation of tutorials;

• marking of student work for which thesessional staff member is responsible where the marking is performed (or could reasonably be performed) in the relevant classroom, tutorial or equivalent teaching environment;

• incidental administration of relevant recordsof students for whom the sessional staff member is responsible;

• contemporaneous consultation with students involving face-to-face and email consultation prior to and following a tutorial; and/or

• attendance at ad hoc meetings specifically for the purpose of assisting sessional staff to prepare for their tutorial and which are intended as a substitute for preparation that the staff would have otherwise had to undertake, not including meetings formally initiated and/or scheduled by the unit or course convenor/co-ordinator and where the meeting is scheduled on a day on which the staff member is not scheduled to undertake contact or other teaching activities.

Once You’re atWork

6.

LECTURES “Lecture” means any education delivery described as a lecture in a course or unit outline, or in an official timetable issued by the University.

The pay rates are paid for one hour of delivery (or equivalent delivery through other than face to face teaching mode) and associated work as defined below.

For the purposes of payment of a lecture or repeat lecture rate, “associated work” may encompass the following activities:

• preparation of lectures;

• marking of student work for which the sessional staff member is responsible where the marking is performed (or could reasonably be performed) in the relevant classroom, lecture or equivalent teaching environment;

• incidental administration of relevant records of students for whom the sessional staff member is responsible;

• contemporaneous consultation with students involving face-to-face and email consultation prior to and following a lecture; and/or

• attendance at ad hoc meetings specifically for the purpose of assisting sessional staff to prepare for their lecture and which are intended as a substitute for preparation that the staff would have otherwise had to undertake, not including meetings formally initiated and/or scheduled by the unit or course convenor/co-ordinator and where the meeting is scheduled on a day on which the staff member is not scheduled to undertake contact or other teaching activities.

MUSICAL ACCOMPANYING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES “Musical accompanying with special educational services” means the provision of musical accompaniment to one or more students or staff in the course of teaching by another member of academic staff in circumstances where the accompanist deploys educational expertise in repertoire development or expression for student concert or examination purposes, but does not include concert accompanying, vocal coaching or musical directing.

The rates are paid per hour of accompanying delivered and assume one hour of preparation time for each hour of musical accompanying delivered.

Departments intending to pay the rates prescribed for such musical accompanying should first consult with the Human Resources Division.

UNDERGRADUATE CLINICAL NURSE EDUCATION“Undergraduate clinical nurse education” means the conduct of undergraduate nurse education in a clinical setting.

The rates of payment for undergraduate clinical nurse education are paid for each hour of clinical education delivered and assumes, for each hour of clinical nurse education delivered: half an hour of associated working time for sessions requiring little preparation; or one hour of associated working time for sessions requiring normal preparation.

Departments intending to pay the rates prescribed for such clinical nurse education should first consult with the Human Resources Division.

7.

MARKING Except as otherwise determined at the discretion of the University, the following provisions will displace any more beneficial marking payment arrangements applying by way of local custom and practice within the University as at the commencement of this Agreement.

Sessional staff will be paid marking rates as set out in this Agreement where they undertake marking as a requirement of the supervising lecturer in charge of the subject or course, other than marking which is performed (or could reasonably be performed) in the relevant classroom, tutorial/lecture or equivalent teaching environment.

The number of hours allowed for marking and the appropriate marking rate per hour will be determined by the Dean taking into consideration the expected time taken to undertake the marking based on the complexity of the marking in the context of the academic discipline involved. The Dean’s determination of the number of hours for marking will be consistent with guidelines issued for each faculty. These guidelines will be developed in consultation with academic staff within the relevant discipline or organisational unit and will set out reasonable expectations about the number of hours to be allowed for marking based on the complexity of the marking and allowing for variations in level of experience of the marker in the context of the academic discipline involved.

The complex marking rate is paid for marking that is undertaken as a supervising examiner or which requires the significant exercise of academic judgement where, for example, detailed feedback and comments on complex assignments or examination papers and/or large body of work such as a thesis is required.

The standard marking rate is paid for marking that does not require a significant exercise

of academic judgement such as where the marker is able to determine the correct answer by application of a marking template or where general commentary or feedback on a written piece of work is provided.

SUPERVISION The supervision rates reflect the preparation required for supervision work.

OTHER REQUIRED ACADEMIC ACTIVITY “Other required academic activity” includes work that the University requires a sessional staff member to perform and that is performed as required, being work of the following nature:

• the conduct of practical classes, demonstrations, workshops, student field excursions;

• the conduct of clinical sessions other than clinical nurse education;

• the conduct of performance and visual art studio sessions;

• musical coaching, repetiteurship, and musical accompanying other than with special educational service;

• development of teaching and subject materials such as the preparation of subject guides and reading lists and basic activities associated with subject co-ordination;

• consultation with students (other than as contemporaneous consultation for a tutorial or lecture);

• attendance at departmental and faculty meetings as required; and

• attendance at any of the activities set out in 1-4 above of this Schedule as directed.

The above list is not intended to be exhaustive, but is provided by way of examples and guidance.

8.

Basic (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours of associated work) Developed (1 hour of delivery and 3 hours of associated work)

Specialised (1 hour of delivery and 4 hours of associated work)

Repeat (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour of associated work)

Normal without doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Repeat without doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Normal with doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Repeat with doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Without doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

With doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Normal preparation without doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Little preparation without doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Normal preparation with doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination dutiesLittle preparation with doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

2051

2050

2049

2052

2089

2090

2054

2056

2082

2081

2083

2084

2085

2086

$145.99

$194.67

$243.33

$97.33

$104.14

$69.42

$124.54

$83.03

$69.42

$83.03

$69.42

$52.07

$83.03

$62.27

Lecture

Tutoring

Complex

Standard

Standard with doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Preparation required

No preparation required and also without doctoral qualification or full subject co-ordination duties

No preparation required but with doctoral qualification or full subject co-ordination duties

Other Required Academic ActivityWithout doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

With doctoral qualifications or full subject co-ordination duties

Research Assistant without relevant doctoral qualification

Research Assistant with relevant doctoral qualification

CASUAL PAY RATES20572091

2059

2064

2063

2080

2088

2087

2093

2094

$48.66$34.71

$41.51

$69.42

$34.71

$41.51

$34.71

$41.51

$34.71

$41.51

Notes

1. Casual loading increased from 23% to 24% with effect from 30 January 2010.

2. Casual loading to increase from 24% to 25% with effect from the first full pay period to commence on or after 29/01/11.

3. Salary increases to apply to the appropriate rates in accord-ance with the percentage salary increases as set out in clause 21.2 of the Collective Agreement.

Music Accompanying with Special Educational Service

Undergraduate Clinical Nurse Education

Casual Academic Research Assistant rates: $/hour

Supervision

Other Required Academic Activity

Marking

Teaching Associate Sessional Rates and Casual Academic Research Assistant Rates

As from 31 Mar 2010

Part-time non-fractional rates: $/hour SAP Wage Type

As from 31 Mar 2010

Part-time non-fractional rates: $/hour SAP Wage Type

9.

The A-to-E of Academic StaffAcademic staff are classified into five pay bands or ‘Levels.’ In general, casual academics are at Level A, Lecturers are at Level B, Senior Lecturers Level C, Associate Professors at Level D and Professors at Level E.

SuperannuationUnder federal legislation and the Union Collective Agreement, Monash must contribute to a superannuation fund on your behalf. At Monash University, the required recipient fund is UniSuper. The NTEU strongly recommends UniSuper to staff on the basis of its good performance and low administration costs. Unisuper’s website is www.unisuper.com.au.

You should be provided with the necessary application forms for UniSuper when you start work. If not, ask the Human Resources Department.

What happens to the money?Employer contributions are ‘preserved’ (not accessible) until the age prescribed by legislation, and can increase in value significantly during this time. If you are in

UniSuper, you will only have one account – even if you change university or work at more than one university.

If you leave the tertiary education sector the money can be rolled into another superannuation fund, or if your new employer offers a choice of funds, you can request new contributions be made directly to your account with UniSuper.

Are there other factors that I need to consider?As a casual employee you are entitled to take out one ‘unit’ of death and disablement insurance upon joining UniSuper (one unit is equivalent to a $7000 - $125,000 payout, depending on your age). This can be a very cheap form of life insurance.

You can take out more units as long as you are under 60 and regular employer contributions are being made to your UniSuper account. If you apply for a second unit of cover within 90 days of becoming eligible for the first unit, you will not be required to provide health evidence.

Monash University has superannuation officers who can advise you about your superannuation options, but if you think you’re missing out contact the NTEU.

THINGS TO

KNOW

10.

LeaveAs the casual pay rate usually includes a loading in lieu of paid leave, you do not generally have a legal entitlement to paid leave, except Long Service Leave in accordance with the 2009 Union Collective Agreement. However, hours missed due to illness may, with your Department’s permission, be made up at another convenient time.

Parental LeaveStaff members engaged as long term casuals are entitled to 12 months’ unpaid parental leave.

Long Service Leave for long-serving casualsService as a casual after 29 January 2010 can count towards reaching the ten year threshold for Long Service Leave where the service would count under the Victorian Long Service Leave Act. NTEU Monash Branch staff can discuss how your service might meet these tests.

Student Evaluation of TeachingMost teaching in universities, including Monash University, is now subject to student teaching evaluation: your students will likely be asked to evaluate your teaching at the end of semester.

Make sure you keep copies of all your students’ teaching evaluation questionnaires, just in case any issues arise later.

CollegialityIdeally, the experience of working as a casual academic should include an opportunity to fully participate in the academic life of the Department. Unfortunately, while some Schools and Departments are inclusive of casual academics and welcome their contribution at School/Departmental meetings, many exclude casual academics, often inadvertently. Treating casual academics as professional colleagues can go a long way to alleviating the stress casuals work under, especially given inadequate support facilities.

A good way to organise participation in Departmental meetings is to group together with other academic casual staff in your School or Department. Remember that if you are required to attend these meetings, you are entitled to be paid for this time.

As a sessional at Monash you are also entitled to be listed on the University’s staff lists as well as have a University email address and library access for the full year in which you are employed.

Monash sessionals will also be meeting on a regular basis for a social event organised by the Monash Branch office offering a relaxing environment to meet sessional colleagues.

For more information please contact the Monash Branch office.

THING

S TO

KNOW

11.

Intellectual propertySessional academics generally have the same rights as permanent academic staff to intellectual property created as part of their employment.

The general rule of thumb is that intellectual property in works created in the course of your employment (such as new course materials or a new course) belongs to the University. However this position is often modified by university policy and/or the Union Collective Agreement: for example, if you have developed materials with market appeal, the University might grant you a license to sell that work in certain circumstances.

Remember that if you are not paid to do research, the University will have no claim over any intellectual property relating to your research activities.

Under federal law, you also have moral rights in relation to works created in the course of your employment. Your moral rights include:

• attribution of authorship;

• the right to not have authorship of awork falsely attributed; and

• the right to not have your work altered without your permission.

If an intellectual property issue arises in relation to your employment, make sure you get expert advice from the Monash NTEU Branch.

Intellectual FreedomSessional academics have the same rights and responsibilities with respect to intellectual freedom as ongoing and fixed term academic staff.

Intellectual freedom includes the rights of all staff to:

• participate in public debates and express opinions about issues and ideas related to their discipline area or areas of professional expertise and about the institution within which they work or higher education issues more generally;

• make other comment outside their discipline or areas of professional expertise as long as they do so on their own behalf and do not claim to represent the University;

• express unpopular or controversial views, but this does not mean the right to harass, vilify or defame or intimidate;

• pursue critical and open inquiry and to freely discuss, teach, assess, develop curricula, publish and research;

• participate in professional and representative bodies, including unions, and engage in appropriate community service;

• express opinions about the operations of the University and higher education policy more generally.

The NTEU has campaigned hard to ensure that Union Collective Agreements enshrine intellectual freedom – often against the opposition of university managements. Our NTEU and Monash University Union Collective Agreement protects the rights of academic staff to engage in critical inquiry, intellectual discourse and public debate. Contact the Monash NTEU Branch for more information.

THING

S TO

KNOW

12.

Health and SafetyUnder state legislation, Monash is obliged to ensure your safety at all times when on campus or engaged in activities related to your employment with the University. Monash must provide:

• safe and well-lit corridors and walkways to prevent assaults occurring;

• personal protective equipment, proper ventilation and other necessary precautions against dangers associated with the use of hazardous substances;

• proper ventilation of class rooms to safeguard against personal discomfort and airborne disease; and

• safe equipment, including ergonomically safe chairs, desks etc. Monash has after-hours security escorts to ensure night security for staff walking to cars or transport.

Monash has Occupational Health and Safety representatives elected by employees who can raise any issues of concern about safety in the workplace. Monash NTEU Branch can put you in touch with your local representative.

Workers’ compensationSessional and contract staff are entitled to claim workers’ compensation if injured in the course of their work. This includes injuries arising from work, injuries sustained during working time (whether on campus or whilst working elsewhere) and injuries

sustained travelling between home, Monash, other places of work and other educational institutions. Injuries for which claims may be made include:

• Physical injury – back strains and muscle damage to hands and wrists sustained in the course of preparing or delivering classes.

• Ill health – poisoning or the contraction of disease in class or during clinical instruction.

• Emotional stress injury – stress associated with being overworked or subject to harassment by other staff or students.

Any work-related illness or injury should be reported as soon as possible to Monash University. In some states there are defined notice periods within which any injury must be reported if a workers’ compensation claim is to be accepted. Check with the Monash Branch for the requirements in Victoria.

Equal employment opportunityFederal and state laws designed to protect employees from discriminatory employment practices cover universities.

These laws generally protect people from discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, sexual preference and disability.

If you are denied employment entitlements or are terminated because of a characteristic associated with one of these protected categories, you have a right to seek compensation. You should contact the Monash Branch immediately.

13.

Harassment and BullyingUnfortunately, harassment and bullying can sometimes happen in the workplace.

Sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual preference, disability, age and a range of other attributes is illegal. You have the right to lodge a complaint should you experience sexual harassment or discrimination at work.

Bullying is recognised as behaviour aimed to demean, humiliate or intimidate. Monash has a policy regarding workplace bullying and occupational violence. Unfortunately, Monash University does not always take appropriate action in cases of bullying so if you experience any form of harassment or discrimination, make sure you contact the Monash NTEU Branch for advice and assistance.

GrievancesMonash has internal grievance procedures designed to resolve work disputes.

If you feel you have been treated unfairly at work in any way, contact the Monash NTEU Branch for confidential advice before lodging a grievance, as the procedures can be complex and are often not properly applied. NTEU can also raise disputes on behalf of members and we have found this is often the best way to achieve satisfactory resolutions.

TerminationIf you have been employed on a regular and systematic basis for six months or more (e.g. teaching whole semesters, even if there are breaks such as mid-year or long vacations) and you have a reasonable expectation of continued casual employment, you may have grounds for claiming unfair dismissal if you suddenly lose your job or are not given more work. If you are dismissed before the semester is over, you may also be entitled to pay for the balance of the semester.

Contact the Monash NTEU Branch which may also be able to pursue less formal means within the institution to try to save your job or find you another.

Looking after your careerMany permanent academic staff started their academic careers as sessional staff. The teaching experience gained from casual tutoring and demonstrating can be invaluable when applying for permanent academic positions.

Make sure you keep an accurate record of your teaching experience, including tutorial/demonstration outlines, copies of any course materials you have developed, student evaluations etc. It’s also a good idea to get a reference from your supervisor at the end of the semester.

THING

S TO

KNOW

14.

The Monash NTEU Branch office

is referred to throughout this

handbook and is your first port

of call for advice or assistance in

relation to your job. The Monash

NTEU Branch can provide you

with more information about the

NTEU and how it operates at

your institution.

Each branch has elected

representatives including a

Branch President and Secretary

(who can also be contacted

through your internal directory)

as well as a website with contact

details and local news.

Contact details for the Monash

Branch can be found on page 1

of this handbook, as well as in

your internal directory or online:

www.nteu.org.au/bd/monash

When should I contact

the Union?You don’t have to suffer through

employment problems. The

NTEU can help you devise a

strategy for dealing with your

issues, and assist in making you

aware of your rights and options

in confidence.

What is my

local Union Branch?

The NTEU gives members

confidential advice, and we

will not raise individual cases

with management without the

permission of the member in

question.

You should raise any concerns

you have about your work,

workplace or conditions with the

Union as soon as possible.

What if my supervisor

is an NTEU member?

Your issues will be dealt with

confidentially. The NTEU will act

for you, as the affected employee,

regardless of whether your

supervisor (who acts for the

University) is an NTEU member

or not.

MAP

Security bus routeand stop numbers

52

NE5

NE7

NE8

NE546

45

4156

38

39

57

37

59

35 3636A

3430

28

29

27

53

81

24

2375

22 21

17 18

1313

13

13

54

5865

73

62

218

14

1264

10

9

50

3d3c

3b

3a

3e51

4

4

2

68678

7 56

6 SE4

SE4

SE5SE3

S1S2

SW2

C8

C5W2

W1

N1

SE2

71Multi-levelcar park

80Multi-levelCar Park

SE1

C11

E2

E1

49

61

55

11

11

1516

2320

25

26

19

33 32

3231

63

63

72

N2

N3

C3

C10

C9

C2

C1

N4

69

60

60

70

41e

44

4374

47

48

42

202

203

NE2NE1 NE

4

NE3

1220

1

1

1

CSIRO

AustralianSynchrotron

CSIRO

Building 1

Building 3

Building2

700 Blackburn Road

Monash UniversityBusiness Park

(710) Blackburn Road

Duerdin Street

Martin Street

Normanby Road

How

leys Ro

ad

Halls of Residence

Lake

Oval 3

Oval 2

Oval 1

Baseball

Wellington Roadfree parking area

Soccer/Hockey


Authorisedand

contractor parking only

Constructionsite parking

only


Tenniscourts

Jock Marshall Reserve

HockeyField

Pavillon

Lake

Map by Design and PublishingDecember 2008

Lake

Underpass

Bus

Loo

p

MonashOakleigh

LegalService(No.60)

MonashCommunity

FamilyCo-op

(Nos.74,78)

MonashChildren’s

Centre(Clayton

CooperativeLimited (No.62)

MannixCollege

Car

poo

l par

king

Pav

illio

n W

ay

Union Road

Union Loop Road

Ring R

oad East

Bayview Avenue

Woodside Ave

MONASH HWY (Wellington Rd) MONASH HWY (Wellington Rd)

Blackburn R

oad

Entrance

PRINCES HIGHWAY

Gardiner’s R

oad

Beddoe A

venueB

eddoe Avenue

Rin

g R

oad

Wes

t Out

er

Rin

g R

oad

Wes

t Inn

er

Engineering Road

Ring RoadEast

level 4All day ticket

parking

Car poolparking

Red PermitGround Floor

4040

Car poolparking

Car poolparking

John Monash Science Schoolunder

construction

76

77

RACV Pickup points

Redpermit

Yellowpermit

Bluepermit

Greenpermit

Brownpermit

Motorcycles

ResidentialServicesparking

authorisedparking

only

3 hourticket

parking

11/2 hourticket

parking

Key to car parking (check signs for latest information)

Monash University Clayton campus1 2 3 4 5 6

1

F

E

D

C

B

A

F

E

D

C

B

A

2 3 4 5 6

Access-ability

parking

Carpoolparking

Building index1 Monash Sport D4

2 Sir Robert Blackwood Concert Hall D4

3a Administration Building 3a D3

3b Administration Building 3b D3

3c Administration Building 3c D3

3d Administration Building 3d D3

3e Administration Building 3e D3

4 Sir Louis Matheson Library E3

5 Krongold Centre E3

6 Education E3

7 Alexander Theatre E3

8 Rotunda E3

9 Religious Centre D3

10 Campus Centre D3

11 Humanities D3

12 Law including Law Library E2

13 Medicine D2

14 Teaching Facilities Support Unit E2

15 Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education D2

16 Biochemistry Teaching Laboratories D2

17 Biology D2

18 Senior Zoology D2

19 Central Science Block D2

20 First Year Chemistry D2

21 Zoology Lecture Theatres D2

22 First Year Biology D2

23 Senior Chemistry D2

24 Western Science Lecture Theatres D2

25 Eastern Science Lecture Theatres D2

26 Physics and Computer Science D3

27 Senior Physics D3

28 Mathematics and Information Technology Services C2

29 Northern ScienceLecture Theatres C2

30 Hargrave-Andrew Library and Cafeteria and Facilities and Conference Office C2


32 Engineering Lecture Theatres C3





36a Engineering Building 36A C3


38 Boiler House B2

39 Botany Experimental Area B2

40 Facilities and Services B3

41 Animal Services C3

41e Animal Services 41e C4

42 Zoology Environmental Laboratories B5

43 Richardson Hall A4

44 Roberts Hall B4

45 Farrer Hall A5

46 Howitt Hall A5

47 Central Building (Catering) B5

48 Deakin Hall B5

49 South East Flats E5

50 Monash University Club D3

51 Monash Short Courses Centre D3

52 Normanby House A4

53 Microbiology D2

54 Japanese Study Centre E2

55 Gallery Building E3

56 Central Store, Transport and Mail Services B3

57 Grounds Building B2

58 Yarrawonga Building E2

59 Australian Pulp and Paper Building C2


61 Parking and Security E3

62 High Voltage Switchroom E1

63 Faculty of Information Technology C3

64 Faculty of Medicine Offices E2

65 Monash House (Marketing and Student Recruitment) E2

67 Information Services Building E3

68 Performing Arts Precinct E3


70 Accident Research Centre C3

71 Multi-level carpark E4


73 Monash College Building F2

74 Monash Science Centre A4

75 Monash Biotechnology D1



80 Multi-level carpark – North Ring Road B2

81 Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy C2

202 Monash University Business Park – 710 Blackburn Road B6

203 700 Blackburn Road B6

218 Mannix College F3

220 T8 Telstra Building D6

Lecture theatre index63 Central One C3

32 Engineering E1-E6 C3

60 Engineering/Examination Halls EH1-EH4 C3

12 Law School L1-L5 & G20 E2

13d Medicine M1 D2

13a Medicine M2-M3 D2

11 Menzies – Humanities H1-H10 D3

8 Rotunda R1-R7 E3

25 Science S1-S4 D2

24 Science S5-S6 D2

21 Science S7-S8 D2

25 Science S9-S12 D2

29 Science S13-S15 C2

25 Science ST1-4, ST7 D2

64 South One E2

72 Sir Alexander Stewart Theatre E7 C2

NTEU Branch Office

The Monash NTEU Branch office is in G02A, Building 19 at Clayton. Ph: (03) 9905 4110 nternal: 54110Email: [email protected] 15.

Industrial adviceThe NTEU employs industrial staff in local Branch and State (Division) offices, and in the National Office.

They provide specialist advice and support to members on all matters related to the conditions of their employment, including appointments, promotion, classifications, contracts, unfair dismissal, disciplinary procedures, intellectual property, consultancies, research funding and a myriad of other issues. www.nteu.org.au/rights

Lobbying GovernmentThe NTEU lobbies governments and all political parties on issues related to tertiary education funding, policy and employment. The NTEU makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries, and liaises with employers, students and professional associations on issues affecting the work of university staff. www.nteu.org.au/policy/submissions

Union Collective BargainingThe NTEU represents university staff in collective bargaining at every university. The NTEU provides the resources and organisational strength to enhance our members’ bargaining power – but remember, our capacity to bargain effectively is directly linked to our strength on the ground. If you want to have a say in negotiations affecting your pay and conditions, join the Union! www.nteu.org.au/campaigns/eb

Communication with MembersThe NTEU national website – www.nteu.org.au - provides up-to-date information on all areas of the Union’s work. The NTEU provides a wide range of services to members, including regular information through newsletters and journals, discounts on goods and services, seminars for members on professional issues, union training and access to ACTU financial services.

NTEU members also have access to Union Shopper, a shopping service providing discounts and savings on a wide range of products and services. A casual using Union Shopper to purchase goods just two or three times would be likely to save the equivalent of an entire year’s membership dues.

Members can get a copy of the Membership Benefits Guide by contacting the Monash Branch or by downloading one online.www.nteu.org.au/join/benefits

Connect is the NTEU’s national publication for casual academic staff. It is published and sent to all casual staff twice a year. It can also be read online in the publications section of our website dedicated to casual academic members at www.unicasual.com.au

What can the Union do for me?

16.

The NTEU’s national magazine, the Advocate, is sent to all members, including casuals, three times a year.

The women’s magazine, Frontline, is sent to all women members once a year. The Australian Universities Review (AUR), NTEU’s refereed academic journal, is published once a year and is sent to all members who request it. www.nteu.org.au/publications

How to get involved in the NTEUThe Union organises a number of conferences, meetings and events for members to participate in. Monash NTEU Branch has an elected committee that meets regularly, and many branches create working parties to deal with particular issues of local concern to staff.

At a state level, there are Division working groups and networks. Contact the Division office in your state to find out about local activities.

At a national level, there are Education and Research Committees, an annual Women’s Conference and an Indigenous Members’ Forum.www.nteu.org.au/about/organisation/committees

If you are interested in any of these events Monash Branch can give you information about getting involved. Elections for Branch Committee and other positions are held every two years, and casual staff who are Union members are eligible to both run and vote in these elections.www.nteu.org.au/getinvolved

17.

Printed on recycled paper.

Authorised by Matthew McGowan, Secretary, NTEU Victorian Division, Level 1, 120 Clarendon St, South Melbourne, Vic, 3205

1.

monash sessional staff survival guide

Documents