Curtin Pay Review Updates

I’m pleased to share we have taken a significant step forward in the ongoing Curtin Pay Review project.

We have now completed our review of payments for the majority of casual professional and general employees, and Early Learning Centre staff employed between 2015 and 5 January 2023. About 4,500 employees have been identified as having been affected over this eight year period by inadvertent payment errors, totalling approximately $3.5 million, with an average shortfall value of approximately $800. Around 76% of affected employees will receive between $1 and $1000 in backpay.

The University apologises to current and past employees who have not been paid correctly for work they performed during this period due to these payment errors.

From Monday, the team will begin contacting affected employees with detailed information on specific amounts owed to them and the process for remediation. We are committed to ensuring that all staff receive the full amounts they are owed, as well as superannuation and interest. Curtin does not intend to seek to recover any overpayments that may have occurred.

Curtin’s commitment to wage integrity remains at the heart of this comprehensive review with the ongoing aim of ensuring transparency and fairness. We have proactively taken an employee-focussed approach to the examination of the enterprise agreements.

As previously advised, these payment errors have occurred due to errors in payroll processing and/or the inadvertent misapplication of some terms in the relevant enterprise agreements, for example relating to overtime and ‘pay outside of hours’ allowances. Steps are being taken to strengthen our processes and systems so that these errors don’t recur.

As we begin the process of repaying casual professional and general staff, our work to review the issues affecting casual academic staff is ongoing. We are committed to being thorough and diligent, and while it will take time, we are working hard to apply the same comprehensive employee-focussed approach, so that all Curtin staff receive their full pay entitlements under the enterprise agreements.

We continue to engage with the Fair Work Ombudsman and the NTEU on our progress.

Anyone with queries or concerns can contact the team on our dedicated Pay Review phone line (08) 9266 7557 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm) or via email at payrollassurance@curtin.edu.au.

Further information, including FAQs, is also available on our Staff Portal page.

Thank you again for your patience as we continue to work on this important review.

Melisa Kaharevic
Chief People Officer

 

I would like to share a brief update on the progress of the Curtin Pay Review.

As you are aware, the Review is considering Curtin University’s payroll and other systems, and payment practices, to investigate whether it has complied with payment obligations under applicable enterprise agreements. The Review is initially focusing on casual employees.

Whilst the Review is significantly advanced, the depth and complexity of the Review has meant that the timelines have extended.

Data has been obtained from timesheets, payslips, pay code information, additional monies data and public holiday lists, and includes approximately 1.6 million timesheet records. The work that is required to prepare the data for analysis has been completed. The data analysts have commenced the model building process from which payment calculations can be performed.

Please be assured of our commitment to this important Review, which includes progressing the Review with rigour and care. We are continuing to engage with the Fair Work Ombudsman and the NTEU as the work progresses.

If you have any specific queries related to the review, please email the Payroll Assurance Team at payrollassurance@curtin.edu.au

Thank you for your patience and support.

Fiona Notley
Chief Operating Officer

We would like to update you on the progress of the Curtin Pay Review.

External legal and forensic advisors continue to work through data for the designated review period. The data provided by Curtin pertains to current and former casual employees covered by the following agreements:

• Curtin University Academic, Professional & General Staff Agreement 2017-2021;
• Curtin University Academic, Professional & General Staff Agreement 2012-2016;
• Curtin University Early Childhood Centre Enterprise Agreement 2018-2021; and
• Curtin University Early Childhood Centre Enterprise Agreement 2014 – 2017.

If you have any specific queries related to the review, please email the Payroll Assurance Team at payrollassurance@curtin.edu.au

Karen Lamont
Director, People and Culture

As you may be aware, many universities have identified issues with how their employees have been paid. In light of this, Curtin has proactively commenced a pay review to ensure our employees have been and continue to be paid correctly.

Curtin’s pay review will initially focus on current and former casual employees dating back to 2015 who are covered by the Curtin University Academic, Professional and General Staff Agreement and the Curtin University Early Childhood Centre Enterprise Agreement. It will involve a review of our payroll, pay related systems and payment practices.

We take our obligations to comply with workplace laws very seriously and have engaged experienced external advisors in relation to the review. In the event we identify issues requiring remediation, we will engage with the Fair Work Ombudsman, and we will ensure that employees are paid any amounts which may be owing, with interest.

Given the size of our workforce and our varied activities, this is a complex piece of work and we must take the time necessary to build a complete picture. It is anticipated the work will take at least 12-18 months to complete.  However, if opportunities are identified during this period to improve systems and processes, it is our intent that these will be implemented without delay.

Further updates will be provided as the review progresses.  In the meantime, if you have any specific queries related to the review, please email the Payroll Assurance Contact Team at payrollassurance@curtin.edu.au.

Fiona Notley
Chief Operating Officer