VC Pascale Quester sets a 150 ceiling on compulsory redundancies

“This is a difficult reality to share, but I want to assure you that every effort has been made to keep the number of colleagues that will leave us as low as possible,” she told staff yesterday.

Professor Quester tells staff revenue is down $75m and the university will have a $45m deficit this year, after savings including a voluntary redundancies round.

But now, “reviews are being conducted in each portfolio to ensure we are operating in the most efficient way, including reducing duplication, improving processes and streamlining delivery. Inevitably some redundancies will be proposed as part of the process,” she says. Between 125-150 forced departures “will become necessary over the next few months.”

The VC also points to a tough new year, with the Commonwealth new funding for STEM undergraduate places meaning, “there will be less total funding per student.”

And competition will “reach unprecedented levels,” “as all other Victorian universities turn their focus on the domestic student market.