University of Adelaide Enterprise Agreement 2010-2013

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7.3 Limitation on the Use of Fixed-Term Contracts

The use of "fixed-term contracts" will be limited to the employment of a staff member engaged in work activity that comes within the description of one or more of the following circumstances:

7.3.1 The University will engage you as a staff member on terms that correspond with one of the employment types described in this section. You may, with the approval of your supervisor, engage in additional work as a casual staff member (as defined in clause 2.1.5 - Casual Employment) in work unrelated to, or identifiably separate from, your normal duties.

a) Specific task or project;

A specific task or project is a definable work activity that has a starting time and that is expected to be completed within an anticipated time frame. It also includes a period of employment provided for from identifiable funding external to the University, not being funding that is part of an operating grant from government, or funding comprised of payments of fees made by or on behalf of students.

b) Senior Staff Contracts;

As defined in clause 2.1.6.

c) Research-Only;

Where you will be engaged to undertake research-only functions, you may be engaged for a fixed period not exceeding five years.

d) Replacement staff member;

Where you will be employed for a fixed period to:

i. replace a full-time or part-time staff member for a definable period for which the latter is either on authorised leave of absence or is temporarily seconded away from their usual work area; or
ii. perform the duties of a vacant position, in which case the initial fixed term must be no longer than 12 months but may be extended for a further period of up to 12 months provided that no later than six (6) months from the date of extension the University commences recruitment action to engage a continuing staff member in the position;
iii. perform the duties of a position the normal occupant of which is performing higher duties pending the outcome of recruitment action for a vacant higher duties position.

e) Recent professional practice;

Where a curriculum in professional or vocational education requires that work be undertaken by a person to be engaged who has recent practical or commercial experience, such a person may be engaged for a fixed period not exceeding two (2) years. Recent practical or commercial experience will normally be within the last two (2) years.

f) Apprenticeship or Traineeship;

An apprentice or trainee employed pursuant to an apprenticeship or traineeship approved by the relevant State or Territory training authority.

g) Pre-retirement contract;

If you are continuing staff member and you formally advise your supervisor of your intention to retire, a fixed-term contract expiring on or around the agreed retirement date may be negotiated.

The appropriate Executive Manager will have discretion as to whether the application is approved.

A pre-retirement contract will not exceed three (3) years and the minimum loading payable will be 10%. The loading will be superannuable.

At the conclusion of the pre-retirement contract, you will not be re-engaged in paid employment by the University (other than casual employment) for a period of two (2) years from the final date of fixed-term employment.

If you accept a fixed-term pre-retirement contract, you will not be entitled to either a redundancy payment as provided in clause 6.7 of this Agreement or a severance payment.

 
h) Fixed-term contract employment subsidiary to studentship:

i. Where a person is enrolled as a student other than (i) below, employment under a fixed-term contract may be adopted as the appropriate type of employment for work activity, not coming within the description of another circumstance in the preceding paragraphs of clause 7.3.1, that is work within the student's academic unit or an associated research unit of that academic unit and is work generally related to a degree course that the student is undertaking within the academic unit, provided that:

• such fixed-term contract employment will be for a period that does not extend beyond, or that expires at the end of, the academic year in which the person ceases to be a student, including any period that the person is not enrolled as a student but is still completing postgraduate work or is awaiting results; and
• that an offer of fixed-term employment under this paragraph will not be made on the condition that the person offered the employment undertakes the studentship.
• a full-time student will not be offered a contract of more than 50% fractional time.

i) Higher Degree Research Fellows

i. Fixed-term contracts for a maximum period of one year may be provided for Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates offered positions as HDR Fellows.
ii. A postgraduate student of the University can apply to be appointed as a HDR candidate at the University. If he/she is enrolled on a full-time basis as an HDR candidate at the University, an offer of a fixed-term appointment as an HDR Fellow will normally be offered for a period of 12 months and may be renewed subject to satisfactory progress.
iii. A HDR Fellow will be responsible to an academic supervisor and may perform up to six hours per week of duties each semester (maximum two semesters per annum) that include duties such as laboratory instruction and demonstrating; giving tutorials; assisting in field trips; assignment and exam marking; being available for student consultation; and giving lectures (not to exceed six per semester).
iv. Where teaching and related duties are required, a six (6) hour load should be considered as the equivalent of:

• two independent lectures or tutorial contact hours; or
• three repeat tutorial contact hours; or
• six laboratory contact hours

v. An HDR Fellow, during the period of his/her appointment, will undertake appropriate training provided by the University, in consultation with the relevant supervising academic.
vi. An HDR Fellow will not be employed for more than 0.5 FTE and will be paid at Level A, Step 1 on commencement.

j) Area under review:

i. Where an area of the University is undergoing a review, a position may be filled on a fixed-term basis up to a period of two years where agreed by the University and the relevant union.

k) New Organisational Area;

"New Organisational Area" means an identifiable work unit performing a function or functions or teaching a program or programs that have not been performed or taught previously and the prospective need or demand for which is uncertain or unascertainable at the time of establishment of the unit.

Notwithstanding the above, "new organisational area" shall also include a unit or group as described above but where the new unit or group is to perform work which has been performed at the University before and where that work is now to be performed at a location not less than 50km from any campus where it is presently being performed.

Fixed‐term employment under this category may be used for up to three years from the date of commencement of a new organisational area, and fixed‐term positions offered under this category may not be extended or renewed, may only be offered once and will be for a period of no more than 3 years and not less than one year.

l) Sudden and Unanticipated Increase or Decrease in Enrolments;

Where an academic unit experiences a sudden and unanticipated increase or decrease in enrolments, you may be employed on a fixed‐term contract of employment, in respect of that work.

Fixed‐term employment under this category may be used for up to three years from the date of the sudden and unanticipated increase or decrease in enrolments, and fixed‐term positions offered under this category may not be extended or renewed, may only be offered once and will be for a period of no more than 3 years and not less than one year.

m) Disestablished Area;

"Disestablished Area" means an identifiable work unit performing a function or functions or teaching a program or programs the provision of which will cease within a reasonably certain time. Where a final decision has been made to disestablish part or all of an organisational unit, staff may be employed on a fixed‐term contract of length equivalent to the length of the phase‐out of the unit.

Should the work continue at the end of the proposed phase‐out time, the incumbent shall be offered the further work.

n) Teaching Fellowships;

Teaching Fellowship will:

i. be full time, or part time;
ii. have a duration of not less than twelve months and no more than three years; and
iii. comprise a balance of 60% teaching and related activities, 20% scholarship, and 20% administration.

To be eligible for appointment to a Teaching Fellowship, you will:

i. have been employed as a casual academic at the University for at least three teaching semesters during the previous two years; and
ii. have been awarded a PhD or would be likely to have been awarded a PhD by the commencement of the appointment.

During the nominal life of this Agreement, the University will internally advertise at least three Teaching Fellowship positions. Teaching Fellowship positions will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this sub-clause and the appointments will be made on the basis of an open, competitive and merit-based selection process.

 
7.3.2 Further Employment

a) Before your contract expires, the University will advise you of whether or not there is a continuing need for the position.

b) Where the University advises you that there is a continuing need for the position, you will be given further employment in the position provided that:

i. you were employed in the relevant position through a competitive and merit-based selection process; and
ii. you have performed satisfactorily in that position.

c) If you are currently employed on a fixed term contract that was made prior to this Agreement, your contract will not change. Any new contract must be made in accordance with this Agreement.

7.3.3 Notice Periods

Notwithstanding any entitlement available to you under your contract of employment, or under this Agreement on account of your continuous service, you will be entitled to the following notice period:

a) If you are a fixed-term staff member, engaged on a fixed-term contract to work for the circumstances described in clause 7.3.1 (a), or clause 7.3.1 (c) of this Agreement, the University will provide you with its intention to renew, or not to renew, your employment with the University upon the expiry of your contract. Notice provided will be:

If you are over the age of 45 years at the time the University gives you notice in accordance with this clause, and provided that you have at least two years continuous service, you will be entitled to an additional week's notice.

b) The University may at its option provide payment in lieu for all or part of the notice period.

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