Final week to make a submission - have your say on how your university runs
This is the last week for submissions to Victoria's university governance inquiry, and you've got until Sunday 1 March to tell the inquiry and policy-makers how decision-making operates in your workplace and how it could be improved.
To help drive further improvements for staff and students at Victorian universities you can join NTEU - we're stronger together, to better advocate for genuine and lasting change in the way our universities operate.
How do I make a submission and what should I say?
If you've seen incidences of poor transparency, decisions made without staff consultation or input, or management and governance failures that have impacted jobs, workloads, students or budgets, then the inquiry needs to know. You don't need to write a long or technical document - clear, concrete examples are powerful.
If you're struggling to get started or are not sure what to include, watch the recording of our online briefing (Thursday 19 February) and you'll learn the sort of issues to highlight and how to shape your submission. You can also download the briefing PowerPoint slides, which provide lots of information to help explain the process and the issues that will resonate with the inquiry.
Watch to find out about:
- the inquiry,
- the submissions process,
- the key issues to include, and
- how to write and make your submission.
You'll hear about what happens next and the sort of reforms to university governance that could result from the recommendations of this inquiry.
You can also download the PowerPoint slides:
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In addition, you can read the official guidance on making a submission and follow the prompts to make your submission online.
What is the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into enhancing university governance?
After a long campaign of lobbying and advocacy by NTEU Victorian Division, the hard-won and much-anticipated Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into enhancing university governance is coming this year - and it's time for university staff and students to have their say and help shape how the sector is run into the future - for students, staff and the communities they serve.
Read more about the key moments in our campaign for governance reform.
The Victorian Government established the inquiry in late October 2025, after years of bad headlines for the sector on a range of issues, including wage theft, cronyism, financial mismanagement and Vice-Chancellors' pay, with the aim of putting student and staff voices at the heart of university decision-making, and making Victorian universities more open and accountable.
Submissions are open until 1 March and this is your opportunity to let policy-makers know what's going on at our universities, what works and what doesn't, and what could be improved.
Why does governance matter?
Years of wage theft, insecure employment and inflated executive salaries have eroded confidence and trust, damaging universities’ public mission and exposing a crisis in governance - in how they're managed and the way that these institutions run. These practices also undermine the essential role of our universities, in teaching, research and advancing Victoria’s knowledge economy.
What does NTEU propose?
The NTEU is calling for reform of Victorian university legislation based on three key pillars:
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Meaningful staff and student voice;
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Transparency of university governance; and
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Effective controls against management capture.
These three pillars will provide a real voice for staff and students in decision-making; increasing accountability, while also guarding against university councils being controlled by senior management.
We'll be putting forward this comprehensive reform agenda to the inquiry alongside the National Union of Students and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, including a Declaration of University Student and Staff Voice supported by a broad cross-section of civil society.
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How you can help
This is a critical moment to show the collective strength of our campaign. Opposition will only intensify as we get closer to real reform – and that’s why we need members’ active support.
Together, we can win governance reform that restores accountability, gives staff and students a real voice, and protects the public purpose of Victorian universities.