Management has produced a contingency plan for staff-shortages. Casuals are included

The plan addresses COVID-caused absences. In cases where a staff member will only be away for a week replacing a live lecture with a recorded one is the first alternative. Students in cancelled tutes would be asked to attend other or access a recorded one.

But if teaching staff will be away for longer and sessional staff are needed to cover there must be prior approval if this involves them “working more hours than are included in their existing workload location.”

Assuming there are any to be found. Frank Larkins estimates La Trobe U cut casual staff by 59 per cent 2019-21. “These are very high attrition numbers that must seriously impact on university operations,” he suggested (CMM March 21). Looks like it.