Academic Workloads and Health survey

You are invited to participate in an anonymous survey, Understanding Academic Staff Workload and Health in Australia.

It is well established that as Federal Government funding has been reduced over recent years, universities have responded by increasing academic workloads. This is a risk for the health and wellbeing of academic staff across Australia, but also a risk to universities who are likely to see increased Workcover premiums as claims for stress increase. A major problem in academic work is that it is difficult to put a time allocation to particular tasks.

This study aims to use evidence-based benchmarks of the time it takes to complete academic tasks, giving participants a realistic estimate of the actual hours their annual workloads takes – and provides participants the opportunity to record the results. It also asks participants about their health over the last year to assess the impact that workloads might be having on academic staff health and wellbeing. Where there is a sufficient sample, results will be shared with local NTEU Branches to help with negotiating future workload models.

The project is conducted by Dr Steve Edwards, Assoc Prof Elisa Zentveld and Dr Alan Labas of Federation University and Assoc Prof Maxwell Winchester of Victoria University.

If you are working for an Australian university, have an allocated academic workload and are interested in participating, please read the Plain Language Information Statement before deciding whether or not to proceed to the survey.

Please pass the link on to other academic colleagues to help us get a sufficient sample for your next enterprise bargaining negotiation. The questionnaire is expected to take 20 minutes and all your responses to the questions will be anonymous.

For more information and to participate in the survey: https://federation.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4VJs5v7cR479FeC