Career Development Opportunities

A provision for eligible academic staff to undertake a sustained period of academic development to pursue research; acquire new skills and knowledge; or to develop ongoing partnerships that will benefit the University. Tenured members of the academic staff of the University will, under normal circumstances, be eligible to apply for ADP if they have completed at least three years continuous service - however please read relevant section of the ADP Policy - Eligibility to Undertake ADP (opens in a new window).

For further information please see the Academic Development Program.

The Academic Mentoring Program is designed to provide Academic staff with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, skills, capabilities and experience to enhance their careers and professional development at the University. Mentoring is an effective process for supporting staff to navigate their career path, to understand and access institutional policies and processes, and to increase confidence and competence in undertaking role-specific activities.

The Professional Staff Mentoring Program is designed to provide staff with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, skills, capabilities and experience to enhance their careers and professional development at the University. Mentoring is an effective process for supporting staff to navigate their career path, to understand and access institutional policies and processes, and to increase confidence and competence in undertaking various scholarly activities.

Academic promotion is a process whereby academic staff may apply for promotion to a higher level. Academic promotion rounds are held once per year, and Promotions Mentors are available to provide guidance and support through the application process to academic staff who intend to submit an Academic Promotion application.

For further information, including links to the relevant policies and the list of mentors, please see Academic Promotion (opens in a new window).

This online module has been developed specifically for academic staff members who wish to learn about a methodology for developing and furthering their career within an academic environment. A comprehensive range of information and tools is provided to assist you in this process.

For further information search for Career Development for Academic Staff in MyCareer Online.

In order to be eligible for the award TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, participants are required to successfully complete ten (10) units of competency. The qualification comprises nine (9) core units and one (1) elective unit.

For further information or enrolment enquiries, please contact The College on 1800 222 423.

Developed by the MyVoice Working Group Career Development for Academics, the Checklists for Academic Achievement (PDF, 521.83 KB) (opens in a new window) will assist you to identify specific types of both quantitative and qualitative evidence to demonstrate your achievements and support your career development across research, teaching and governance.

Endorsed by Professor Denise Kirkpatrick, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor Scott Holmes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), the document was developed in consultation with various individuals and groups across the University.

Each year the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust offers a number of Fellowships to support Australians whose expertise has progressed to the point where an overseas research project would be of value in improving their contribution to their field and the Australian community. The Fellowships are open to both Professional and Academic Staff.

For further information please see the Churchill Fellowships (opens in a new window) site.

Employees enrolled in an approved formal award course are entitled to receive an Education Support Allowance to assist with course fees, purchase of text books, course materials and equipment essential to completion of a course or subject. The amount of Education Support Allowance available for approved courses will be a fee reimbursement of up to a maximum of $3,000 gross per staff member per year, payable upon production of evidence of expenditure incurred or evidence of their financial commitment to a program of study.

For further information please see Education Support Allowance (opens in a new window).

Applications are open to all ongoing academic and professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff (part-time and full-time) who have a minimum of 12 months' continuous service and can demonstrate how the professional development activity will benefit their career or professional development and their organisational unit or the University overall. The professional development activity must also be related to a staff members' duties of employment.

Scholarships may be used for a variety of professional development activities including conferences, seminars, workshops and short courses that are relevant to the staff member's duties of employment.

For further information please see Scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff (opens in a new window).

The guidelines have been developed in response to the recent changes in Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice Award criterion regarding professional development planning for long-term casual staff.  Western Sydney University has a longstanding and strong commitment to gender equality. As a leader in this area, the University recognises that women are often disproportionately affected by casualisation. Therefore, the University has introduced a new provision which offers up to 7 hours of paid professional development annually to sessional academics who have worked at least 5 hours per week for at least 3 teaching sessions within the last 24 months.

For further information please see the Guidelines and Professional Development Plan for Sessional Academic Staff (DOCX, 1061.33 KB) (opens in a new window).

The Postgraduate Coursework Study Scholarships provide support in achieving postgraduate qualifications in management, leadership and a range of disciplines. It is one of the initiatives that the University has implemented in recent years to support the career development of our academic and professional staff.

The Scholarships offer reduced fees for ongoing academic and professional staff undertaking postgraduate study via coursework at Western Sydney University. Scholarship recipients pay $1000 per unit, and the Scholarship takes care of the rest.

For further information please see Staff Postgraduate Coursework Study Scholarships (opens in a new window).

The Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Awards were initiated in 2002 to showcase the endeavours and accomplishments of staff and students and to most importantly, publicly reward, recognise and encourage their excellent performance and achievements. The awards support staff and students in continuing to develop and grow within the University and will position Western Sydney University as an employer and service provider serious about the quality of everything it does.

Staff are eligible for nomination in all categories, and students are eligible for nomination in the Excellence in University Sustainability and Excellence in University Engagement categories.

For further information please see Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Awards (opens in a new window).

Applications are open to all ongoing academic and professional staff (part-time and full-time) who have a minimum of 12 months' continuous service and can demonstrate how the professional development activity will benefit their career or professional development and their organisational unit or the University overall. The professional development activity must also be related to a staff members' duties of employment.

Scholarships may be used for a variety of professional development activities including conferences, seminars, workshops and short courses that are relevant to the staff member's duties of employment.

For further information please see Vice-Chancellor's Professional Development Scholarships (opens in a new window).

Other career development activities may include:

• On-the-job coaching
• Internal temporary transfers
• Professional networks and mentor relationships
• Temporarily performing duties of a higher classified position
• Job rotation, secondments and staff exchange programs
• Research or project work
• Involvement in internal or external committees or University governance
• Participating in continuing education programs, courses or conferences
• Undertaking further study
• Undertaking a study tour or visit to another university
• Involvement in community development activities
• Public speaking or presentation to small groups

For further information speak to your Supervisor or HR Partner (opens in a new window) .

Critical Management Conversations (CMC) has been designed to replace the Foundational Leadership and Management Program. The design of CMC is based on research that indicates up to 70% of professional learning occurs on the job and in no small part emerges from conversations and interactions we have with work colleagues. This program provides essential Western Sydney University management knowledge as a core curriculum of online modules and selected face-to-face sessions supported by a series of 2-hour collaborative opportunities for skill development and knowledge sharing in a supportive collegial environment. The program is designed to accommodate different levels of experience through its blended learning approach which can be customised to suit individual learning needs.

Critical Management Conversations recognises that Managers and Supervisors have an important responsibility as people managers and to do this they need to:

• ensure staff are aware of, work within, and support the implementation of the guidelines established by relevant legislation, University policies, procedures and the Staff Agreements;
• be aligned to the University’s strategic goals, values, and Code of Conduct; and
• apply the appropriate guidelines and standards for developing staff and managing performance.

The CMC curriculum is designed to assist all managers and leaders to be successful in their roles. Newly appointed Managers and Supervisors should complete the Face-to-Face and Online Curriculum components of the program during the first 18 months in their role.

For more information, visit the Critical Management Conversations (opens in a new window) page.

This qualification reflects the role of individuals working as developing and emerging leaders and managers in a range of enterprise and industry contexts. As well as assuming responsibility for their own performance, individuals at this level provide leadership, guidance and support to others. They also have some responsibility for organising and monitoring the output of their team.
In order to be eligible for the award BSB42015 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, participants are required to successfully complete twelve (12) units of competency. The qualification comprises four (4) core units and eight (8) elective units.
For further information or enrolment enquiries, please contact the course coordinator at The College on 02 9852 6248 or rto@westernsydney.edu.au.

The Inspire Leadership Program is designed to develop and enhance the leadership skills, capabilities and strengths of our Academic and Professional managers and leaders to influence, motivate and inspire others to follow.

This blended learning program applies theory to practice, and the principles and models of leadership relevant to academic and higher education settings. The program includes highly relevant and informative workshops, a multi-rater feedback on leadership roles, access to the Harvard Business Publishing online learning resources, peer mentoring, guest speakers, and completion of an action learning project on leadership.

The Inspire Leadership Program is endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor and Executive and is fully funded by the University through Talent and Leadership Development. The Program supports the University's strategic goal to value, recognise and develop our staff.

Graduates from the Inspire Leadership Program are congratulated and awarded certificates of completion by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover in a ceremony to celebrate their achievements over the past 12 months. Academic and Professional leaders share their experiences of participating in the program.

For more information, visit the Inspire Leadership Program page.

The LH Martin Institute offers a range of programs specific to the Tertiary Education sector, including the Graduate Certificate of Research Management and Policy, the Master of Tertiary Education Management, Graduate Certificate programs and short courses. The programs include exposure to a variety of leadership styles, an understanding of policies that affect tertiary education institutions, and strategies for effective leadership. The programs are offered in flexible modes of learning and are facilitated by leading national and international experts. For more information visit the website www.lhmartininstitute.edu.au (opens in a new window).

Held annually, the Senior Management Group Conference is a forum for engaging in strategic conversations around the key challenges and opportunities for Western Sydney University in a rapidly changing higher education landscape; reflecting on and celebrating the growth, development and achievements of the University during a period of transition; and discussing the key strategic priorities for charting our future. This forum is an invitation only event.

Held annually, the Strategy Forum is for Senior Staff of the University including the Senior Executive, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Deans, Deputy Deans, Directors, Directors of Academic Programs and Senior Managers and provides a forum for discussion on quality improvements in learning and teaching, the student experience, research, internationalisation and engagement.

This forum is an invitation only event.