Hunter Students Slapped with Higher HECS

BY OLIVIA DILLON

There's concern for University of Newcastle students with a HECS debt, after the federal government today announced a major indexation rise. 

Student debt has been hit with a 7% hike across the board, which will take effect from the 1st of June. 

It's the highest rate seen in 32 years. 

The change means total repayment amounts will stay the same, but the repayment time will lengthen. 

As a result, average HECS debt will increase by about $1500 this year and next year.

National Union of Students member Grace Francco, said it means many people won't be able to reduce their balance. 

"Anyone who is earning less than $62,000, which is between the minimum and median wage, will see their debt increase. So the minimum repayments that they make won't actually decrease their HECS debt."

University of Newcastle staff reject proposed enterprise agreements

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The University of Newcastle's proposed enterprise agreements put to staff have been overwhelmingly rejected.

The separate agreements for Academic and Professional staff members went to an all-staff ballot after negotiations with unions stalled after 15 months.

Of 1,085 academic staff who voted, 971 voted against, and just 114 for the agreement.

Among the professional staff, 1,295 of the 1,720 voters also voted against their agreement.

It wasn't mandatory for staff to have their say, with 1,085 of the 1,676 eligible academic staff voting, and 1,720 of the 2,725 eligible professional staff voting.

Vice-Chancellor Alex Zelinsky says they'll engage with staff and take time to reflect on the feedback.

"We’ve heard clearly that the package of benefits we are offering in the new agreements isn’t right yet," he said.

"We will engage further with our staff early next year as we consider the next steps."

The proposed agreements included a 9.5 percent salary increase over three years, six additional days of paid leave per year, and increased flexibility in the use of other leave, as well as an increase in superannuation for casual staff from 10 percent to 17 percent.

The National Tertiary Education Union has raised concern, however, regarding pay, workloads and job security.

The union will resume good faith bargaining with management, and says the vote is "a resounding message to management that they will not be bullied".

The existing enterprise agreements will remain in place in the meantime, and staff have been advised to expect more information in early February. 

Hunter blokes trying out walk-and-talk therapy in new study

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle researchers are hoping to find out if walk-and-talk style, outdoor therapy could be a better option for men than sitting down inside.

The team includes members from all of the University's schools and colleges, and is the first internationally to explore the approach.

Dr Myles Young says it's important we have as many tools as possible to treat mental health issues.

"In Australia, one in eight men will experience depression throughout their life," he said. "In reality, it's probably actually quite a bit more, because many men don't seek help."

"During COVID alone, the prevalence of depression in Australia increased by about ten percent."

"Compared to women, men are less likely to seek help for things like depression or low mood, and when they do seek help and go to psychotherapy or counselling, they're less likely to stick with it all the way through. 

It's believed taking psychotherapy outside might make men more comfortable to open up, because of the natural environment, less eye contact, and the shared space.

Dr Young says the physical activity can also be great for men doing it tough.

"While we have all this evidence to show it may work, no one's ever really looked to see if it does work with men," he said. "It's possible that it might not be as appealing. No one knows that yet, because no one's done the research."

"And we're not sure not only does it work, but is it something that men find engaging and appealing and will stick with? That's what we're really interested to find out through our research."

The team's recruiting local blokes to take part until Friday 28 October.

You can find out more by contacting Dr Myles Young at myles.young@newcastle.edu.au.

University of Newcastle defends $185 million surplus after union backlash

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky is defending management's financial practices, after it was revealed earlier this week, the University of Newcastle reported a $185 million surplus in its 2021 budget.

The National Tertiary Education Union has slammed the findings, arguing it's proof the University's financial situation wasn't as poor as made out to be through the pandemic.

The University cited concern over salaries and operating costs as a major trigger for a restructure, which saw 150 staff members lose their jobs and numerous courses slashed or merged.

But Prof Zelinsky has countered the claims, saying most of the cash is derived from the valuation of shares from an investment in IDP Education made 20 years ago, or other unrealised investments.

He says the union's claims are incorrect, and under the surface, the surplus is much smaller.

"These gains and losses and surpluses only matter when you actually sell your assets or liquidate the assets," he said.

"We keep our assets there for the long-term purposes of the University, which is paying for refurbishment of buildings and creating teaching and learning spaces for our students."

It's understood, the University will sell those shares at a best possible time, on the advice of experts.

Prof Zelinsky says the money is set aside for infrastructure costs, such as when the asbestos-ridden Hunter Building was closed down.

"To replace that building, it would cost the University $150 million," he said.

"We can't afford that, so what we've done is we've refurbished other spaces and we'll have to demolish the Hunter Building.

"No one pays for that - that's what surpluses pay for. Surpluses are not there to pay for salaries, because they're only one-offs. Salary rise goes year on year."

But the union maintains, however, the University needs to invest in its teaching body ahead of infrastructure, with concern there won't be appropriate staff to fill new or existing classrooms.

The union is currently engaged in enterprise bargaining, with some hope the budget figures will swing the discussion in its favour.

Prof Zelinsky says he's always in favour of a pay rise for staff, but the University needs to think about its bottom line.

"It's been a very hard time for the University to attract international students because of COVID," Prof Zelinsky said.

"It's now starting to come back, and if it does come back and our revenue starts to grow, of course we could afford pay rises.

"But they have to be sustainable - the University cannot go forward budgeting on losses and using its balance sheet to pay for them."

Image credit: University of Newcastle.

BREAKING! University of Newcastle reports $185 million surplus amidst staff slashes

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's been revealed, the University of Newcastle produced a surplus of $185 million in the same year it announced plans to make hundreds of staff members redundant.

The numbers came out in its 2021 Annual Report, tabled in parliament on Monday and audited by the NSW Auditor-General.

The University's reporting the "key driver of the surplus were strong investment returns which were mostly unrealised at the end of the year". 

That's compared to a surplus of just $7.5 million the year prior. 

The National Tertiary Education Union is slamming the revelation, saying claims about financial hardship during the pandemic are now clearly unfounded.

Newcastle Branch President Dan Conway says it's proof the University was never in real trouble.

"In our view, they're clearly not justified in light of the surplus that's now been announced," Mr Conway said.

"We said all along about the sort of concerns about COVID and the risk that that posed to the university and sector more broadly, however, we also cautioned against knee-jerk reactions without understanding the situation fully, and I think we've been vindicated through that process."

The University of Newcastle saw a major restructure last year, purportedly in an attempt to balance the books.

150 full-time equivalent academic positions were cut in the restructure, though 92 new roles were set to be created.

Some members of staff also attended a Senate Committee hearing last December to discuss casualisation issues at the University, after only five of more than 2,000 casual staff received an offer of ongoing employment.

Mr Conway says the University is legally obliged to be not-for-profit, and should return the funds into its core activities of teaching and research.

"We'd say that that stockpiling needs to be made available for staff," Mr Conway said.

"We're currently in the middle of enterprise bargaining, and it's going to be very hard to justify, from my point of view, cutting away entitlements and not giving staff pay rises that they deserve in light of this surplus."

"Ultimately, the vast majority of the surplus is available for the University to use, and management makes a decision not to funnel that where we think they should go, which is staff and students directly.

"And we see last week, the University coming out and making a statement about attempting to replicate Oxford in Newcastle, and that's code, in my view, for building more buildings."

The University of Newcastle has been contacted for comment.

More to come.

Live Music and Interactive Art Imagined for Hamilton's New James Street Plaza

BY JENAE MADDEN

In the heart of Hamilton, work is currently underway to transform the James Street Plaza on Beaumont Street, set for completion mid-2021. 

The overhaul will see improved paving, new street furniture and fresh landscaping. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the upgrade will transform the plaza into a safer, inclusive, and inviting place for local businesses and the community.

“James Street Plaza is an important space in the Beaumont Street shopping area," the Lord Mayor said. 

“Throughout our community engagement and regular discussions with business owners we have heard lots of ideas of how to improve the space, and in particular address concerns about safety at night.” 

As well as community input, Newcastle Council have collaborated with the University of Newcastle and local historian Ruth Cotton, author of Hidden Hamilton. 

“Etchings on ground paving and signage in the plaza have been informed by Ruth’s extensive research of Hamilton’s history” Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan said. 

Designs in the precinct will tell the story of Hamilton as a mining settlement, its rich European influence from the Lettopalena Italian migrant community and the impact of the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake, as well as honoring the land's traditional ownership by the Awabakal and Worimi people. 

The new James Street Plaza will include an interactive lighting display developed in collaboration with the Newcastle University, intended to spark interest and celebrate Hamilton’s unique character and heritage. 

"Upgrades to seating, paving and landscaping will better facilitate activation of the space for markets and live music," Cr Duncan said. 

Community feedback on the lighting concept options will be sought towards the end of the construction period. 

Image Credit: City of Newcastle

New Graduates Join Workforce Through Joint Pathways Venture

Fresh graduates are being given the opportunity to gain two-years' experience straight out of university thanks to a new joint programme between Lake Macquarie City Council and Hunter Water.

Four new graduate employees have just started the pathways programme, which gives one year at each organisation in either communications or engineering departments.

The Hunter-first career pathways programme hopes to enable new graduates to get into the workforce straight out of university.

The firms have teamed up to provide skills and experience as part of the two-year programme.

“The hope is that these graduates will be able to incorporate knowledge and practices they have learnt into both our organisations,” Lake Macquarie City Council Workforce Planning Coordinator Belinda Leck said.

“As two of the region’s largest employers, we want to be industry leaders when it comes to innovation and job opportunities for the younger workforce," she said.

The programme aims to allow graduates to collaborate with other participants, sharing knowledge of each organisation’s workplace practices. 

University graduate Eliane Beveridge is one of the first to start the programme and says she feels lucky to have such a great way to kick off her career.

"To be able to stay in Newcastle to work, and still be near my family and friends when I thought maybe I might have to move to Sydney or Melbourne has been really great and something that I'm so happy I get to do," she said.

After 12 months with Lake Macquarie Council, she will move to Hunter Water.

Eliane Beveridge is encouraging other university graduates to consider the local pathways programme.

"Just apply for as much as you can and put yourself out there, even for things that you might not necessarily think you want to do. Take every opportunity you can to learn new skills," she said.

New graduates Eliane Beveridge, George Harrodine, and Georgina Ragen. Picture: Lake Macquarie Council

National Families Week

BY: ARIANA GATTI

The Family Action Centre (FAC) on campus, at the University of Newcastle, is helping to celebrate the annual National Families Week with the follow up of new research.

The research, teaching and practice centre is currently looking into the roles fathers across the Hunter play and the importance of their personal influence in the growth and development of their children.

Another line of their research is also contributing to the theme of this week's celebration, aimed at researching how strengthening familial connections effects the community and the lives of University students.

Associate Director of the Family Action Centre at the University of Newcastle, Deborah Hartman, says National Families Week celebrations are felt throughout the world.

"The Week is also linked to the United Nations Day, so celebrating international families, so it's been going for a number of years now".

The week supports the many forms of family's throughout the country, organised by top research company's to focus on the importance of familial support.

"It was originally initiated by Families Australia that is one of the peak bodies for family services in Australia", Hartman says.

The on-campus Centre is planning on releasing an associate degree which can be undertaken at the University as of next year, which Hartman says will be a positive step towards the appreciation of familial supportive frameworks.

"We're starting a connective degree because there are many people who want to give back to families in our local community and all over the world", she says.

Image sourced: https://aifs.gov.au/publications/australian-households-and-families

Newcastle University Hurt By Massive Government Cuts

BY: ALEX MURRAY

As semester commences for another year at the University of Newcastle, Labor says the Turnbull government's proposed $69 million cuts are threatening to tear a massive hole in their budget.

The federal opposition the overall funding loss across NSW amounts to $736 million.

The department of education data show the cuts will make it even harder for students to function in their institution and afford an education.

Students paying their HECS/HELP debt will also have a double whammy, with the salary threshold at which they have to start repaying their debt lowered by $10,000, making the prospect of affording their degree that much harder.

At a time where education-based skills and new age employment opportunities are on the rise, university education for young Australians is now more important than ever.

Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon says, "Although great community campaigns have stopped these cuts in the Senate in the past, regrettably the government has decided to ignore these calls and sneak in $2.2 billion dollars worth of cuts."

"The University of Newcastle's losses are nothing to be sneezed at, while they (the government) are cutting higher education to profit millionaires and multi-national companies."

"There is no way that you can chop out $69 million from the University of Newcastle without it being felt on the ground and hurting students with a number of detrimental effects."

"This university over decades has built a range of good support programs for people in lower socio-economic backgrounds to come into tertiary education and finish the degree with higher prospects."

"All students should be getting onto their local members of parliament and making their voice very loud and clear that these cuts hurt students and families,." Sharon Claydon said.