Curtin pay review updates

As previously advised, the Curtin Pay Review is being conducted in phases. Remediation for casual professional and general employees is largely complete and work on casual academic employees is progressing through a staged approach.

The Curtin Pay Review team completed the first stage of work for our casual academic employee cohort in August 2025. All current academic employees impacted by the first stage have received their full back payments, including superannuation and interest, and payments to former employees are continuing.

Work on the next stage of the casual academic review has now been finalised and has identified 2,068 employees impacted by unintentional payment errors relating to:

• Payment at the repeat delivery rate rather than the initial delivery rate for an initial lecture or tutorial;
• Payment at the standard rate rather than the higher applicable rate for an activity where a casual academic employee was a Unit Coordinator; and
• Payment of the applicable rate for completion of the casual academic induction program.

The underpayments total approximately $1.78 million, with the average shortfall being around $860 per person. Those impacted will receive the full amounts they are owed, as well as superannuation and interest. The Pay Review team will begin contacting impacted casual academic employees in the new year, with detailed information on the amounts owed to them and next steps.

The University sincerely apologises to all impacted employees for these inadvertent underpayments. Central to this ongoing proactive and detailed review is Curtin’s unwavering commitment to wage integrity. While the full process will take some more time in 2026 to complete, we’re working carefully and thoughtfully to make sure every employee receives their full entitlements under the relevant enterprise agreements. We continue to engage openly with the Fair Work Ombudsman and the NTEU on our progress.

At the same time, Curtin is working proactively to strengthen pay compliance across the University. A key step is the rollout of an enhanced timesheet system for casual employees – designed to make payments more accurate, transparent and timely. The rollout began in November for all casual professional & general employees. A version for casual academic employees is currently being developed in consultation with stakeholders for implementation in 2026.

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 links to our Pay Review FAQs and dispute resolution mechanism, is available on our Pay Review webpage.

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

Melisa Kaharevic
Chief People Officer

The Curtin Pay Review team has now completed the first stage of work for our casual academic employee cohort, which identified unintentional payment errors relating to:

• Payment for teaching and/or marking conducted for an overseas Curtin or partner campus.
• Activities where a casual academic employee held a PhD.
• The use of pay codes in the Medical School prior to their inclusion in the relevant enterprise agreement.
• Use of two pay codes in the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) program.
• Misapplication of a pay code in Curtin English and the health and safety representative allowance.

All current employees impacted by the first stage have received their full back payments, including superannuation and interest, and payments to former employees remain ongoing.

Work on the next stage of the casual academic review is well underway, which will address:

• Payment at the repeat delivery rate rather than the original delivery rate for an initial lecture or tutorial; and
• Payment of the higher applicable rate for an activity where a casual academic employee was a Unit Coordinator.

Further updates on the second stage of the casual academic review will follow soon.

Throughout this thorough review process, the team has been guided by the Academic Reference Group, made up of senior academic leaders from across Curtin. Their advice helps ensure the review remains robust, consultative and grounded in academic practice. The Fair Work Ombudsman and NTEU continue to be kept informed of our progress.

At the same time, Curtin is working proactively to strengthen pay compliance across the University. A key step is the rollout of an enhanced timesheet system for casual employees – designed to make payments more accurate, transparent and timely.

The rollout began earlier this week for casual professional and general employees. Training is being provided to both casual employees and line managers to support a smooth transition. A version for casual academic employees is currently being developed in consultation with stakeholders for implementation in 2026.

These improvements are part of a broader program of work aligned with Curtin’s commitment to wage integrity and informed by the Curtin Pay Review.

If you have any questions, please contact the Pay Review team on (08) 9266 7557 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm) or payrollassurance@curtin.edu.au. Further details, including FAQs and dispute mechanism information, are available on our Pay Review webpage.

I’m pleased to share an update on the Curtin Pay Review project.

As previously advised, the Review is being conducted in phases, with remediation for casual professional and general employees nearing completion.

The University is now progressing its review of payments to casual academic employees, adopting a staged approach to ensure affected employees can receive payment quickly and efficiently.

The full casual academic review will cover approximately 9,000 employees who were employed during the review period. The first stage has identified around 900 employees as impacted by unintentional payment errors relating to:

• Payment for teaching and/or marking conducted for an overseas Curtin or partner campus.
• Activities where a casual academic employee held a PhD.
• The use of pay codes in the Medical School prior to their inclusion in the relevant enterprise agreement.
• Use of two pay codes in the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) program.
• Misapplication of a pay code in Curtin English and the health and safety representative allowance.

The underpayments total approximately $822,000, with the average shortfall being around $900 per person. Those impacted will receive the full amounts they are owed, as well as superannuation and interest. The Pay Review team will now begin contacting impacted casual academic employees with detailed information on the amounts owed to them and next steps.

The University regrets these inadvertent underpayments and sincerely apologises to all impacted employees. We are making every effort to strengthen our systems and address the underlying causes so that these issues do not arise again, including enhancements to timekeeping solutions for all casual employees.

Central to this ongoing proactive and detailed review is Curtin’s unwavering commitment to wage integrity. While the full process will take some time to complete, we’re working carefully and thoughtfully to make sure every employee receives their full entitlements under the enterprise agreements. We continue to engage openly 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 links to our Pay Review FAQs and dispute resolution mechanism, are also available on our Pay Review webpage.

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

Melisa Kaharevic
Chief People Officer

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