How Deakin’s restructure plans unravelled after NTEU campaign

25 June 2026

The withdrawal of a major restructure proposal at Deakin University – that placed 1,830 jobs under review and put 146 roles at immediate risk – represents an important win for staff and their union, with much to learn for NTEU members at other institutions.

This outcome followed an intensive, coordinated campaign led by NTEU members, the Deakin Branch and the Victorian Division, combining workplace organising and member-led action, public advocacy and direct engagement with university leadership.

It is a great relief for Deakin staff and also a timely reminder across the sector: damaging workplace change need not be inevitable when staff organise early, strategically and collectively.

A flawed proposal with serious consequences

Announced on 4 June, Deakin’s proposed major workplace change affected staff across the Academic Portfolio and Infrastructure and Digital divisions – an estimated quarter of Deakin’s workforce.

The proposal put at risk frontline student and university services, including counselling, disability support, international student services, library operations, clinical medical teams, digital and web teams, and research areas such as the Institute for Frontier Materials.

For many of those affected, it meant competing for fewer roles, with 146 positions slated to disappear, while the speed and scope of the proposal caused enormous uncertainty and distress across the university.

From the outset, staff raised serious concerns about both the scale of the proposal and the absence of any clear evidence justifying it. Despite Deakin recording a $56 million surplus last year and holding more than $1.15 billion in reserves, management did not provide a clear financial or operational case for the scale of the changes.

Over a series of union meetings, affected staff identified significant gaps, inconsistencies and unanswered questions in the proposal – concerns that only deepened as the process unfolded.

Leadership uncertainty deepens concern

Less than a week after the proposed restructure was announced, Vice-Chancellor Iain Martin resigned, effective immediately, with no public explanation.

The sudden departure created further uncertainty at a critical moment. Despite the leadership vacuum, university management indicated the consultation processes for the proposal would proceed unchanged.

For staff, this only reinforced concerns about governance, accountability and decision-making.

A coordinated union campaign

The NTEU response was immediate and strategic. Working together, Deakin Branch members, elected representatives and the Victorian Division coordinated a multi-layered campaign to challenge the proposal.

Over a series of staff meetings, members and affected staff scrutinised the proposal and built a detailed understanding of its flaws. The branch then prepared and circulated an open letter in collaboration with student representatives and disability advocates, broadening the campaign and highlighting the likely impacts on students and essential services.

At the same time, the union activated its wider relationships across the sector. Victorian Division organisers and officials worked with local MPs and media outlets to ensure public scrutiny of the proposal and amplify staff concerns. This external pressure helped build momentum and accountability at a critical point.

The union’s industrial team notified a formal dispute under the consultation provisions of the Enterprise Agreement and lodged a Freedom of Information request seeking access to the review said to underpin the restructure, a review staff had not been shown.

The campaign also drove significant workplace organising, with hundreds of staff joining the union, including many from areas that have historically been under-represented in the branch membership.

Constructive engagement creates a pathway forward

At the same time, Deakin Branch President Professor Reece Walters, Victorian Division Secretary Sarah Roberts and Victorian Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) Professor Joo-Cheong Tham sought direct engagement with Chancellor Claire Higgins and caretaker Vice-Chancellor Matthew Clarke.

Ahead of these discussions, however, Deakin announced it would withdraw the proposal. In its message to staff, the university acknowledged the uncertainty caused and apologised for the “unsettling” process.

In strongly constructive discussions with the Chancellor and care-taker Vice-Chancellor, the NTEU welcomed the decision and the opportunity to reset, canvassing ways forward.

The withdrawal reflected not only the strength of staff opposition, but the importance of constructive engagement in helping leadership find a different path.

The work ahead

This decision has brought relief to hundreds of staff. But the impact of the proposal remains.

As NTEU Deakin Branch President Professor Reece Walters has noted, trust cannot be rebuilt overnight. Critical to rebuilding trust will be meaningful accountability for the flawed proposal and reliable assurances from university leadership that there will not be any repeat of its damaging process.

Other important issues remain unresolved, including the future of fixed-term staff whose contracts are due to end later this year, and the need to restore stability, dignity and confidence across the workforce.

Deakin now enters enterprise bargaining, where staff will push for stronger consultation rights, improved redundancy and redeployment protections, and greater job security.

Staff are also seeking commitments to genuine consultation on future major workplace changes, stronger staff involvement in leadership appointments, and an independent review of executive governance.

This campaign showed what is possible when members organise together – across branches, divisions and the wider community – with clear strategy, strong relationships and a commitment to defending public universities and the people who make them work.

Sarah Roberts

Division Secretary

Professor Joo-Cheong Tham

Division Assistant Secretary

(Academic Staff)

Ruth Jelley

Division Assistant Secretary

(Professional Staff)

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