From farewell parties that cost more than every car you’ve ever owned combined, to bathrooms that cost more than four years wage of an average professional staff member, to vice chancellors earning double and three times as much as the Prime Minister. There is a governance crisis in Australian universities.
We’re seeing an appalling lack of transparency in our public universities which is undermining great institutions that should be serving the entire community. Vice-chancellors all too often aren’t held accountable because they operate under a governance system which is completely broken.
University staff and student representatives are critical to good university governance because staff and students have genuine lived experience of working and studying in their institution, they understand its culture and operations, and they can push back against the out of touch schemes proposed by external corporate appointees.
Do you know of any governance horror stories at your university? Share the details below anonymously.
These stories will be used to support our campaign to fix university governance.
The party cost how much?
Monash University threw a $127,000 party at the National Gallery of Victoria for Margaret Gardner when she left her role as vice-chancellor last year.
Creative accounting
While Tyrone Carlin was employed full time as deputy VC of University of Sydney he also received nearly $400,000 as CPA President (a 3.5 day a week role). Somehow managing to fit in 8.5 days every week.
Gold plated taps
Swinburne University constructed a new sound-proof private ensuite for the vice chancellor but has consistently declined to disclose the cost, which is reportedly around $250,000.
Big business on boards
The boards that oversee Australia’s public universities have become stacked with unelected members from big business.
$382,048,628 in wage theft
The total amount of money so far in identified wage theft across the higher education sector since 2014.
Paid more than the PM
Nearly all Australian vice-chancellors are paid more than the Prime Minister. 12 vice-chancellors make over $1 million every year.
SUBMIT YOUR (ANONYMOUS) HORROR STORY
Know of more university governance horror stories? Submit yours below.