Minimum Engagement Review

Curtin’s Casual Minimum Engagement Review

Curtin is committed to ensuring our employees are paid correctly and fairly. As part of our ongoing work to strengthen our pay practices, including through the Curtin Pay Review, Curtin recently reviewed casual minimum engagement entitlements under the Curtin University Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2022-2025 (2022 EA).

The review examined whether casual employees were paid their minimum engagement entitlements between 19 October 2023 (when the entitlement was introduced), to 5 July 2026. This review covered all current and former casual employees during that period.

What did the review find?

Curtin has completed the review and identified that unfortunately during the review period, payroll process and system limitations contributed to instances where minimum engagement provisions under the 2022 EA were not applied correctly for some casual employees.

A total of 3,213 employees have been identified as impacted through this process. The underpayments total approximately $2.2 million, with the average shortfall being around $690 per person.

Curtin sincerely apologises to all impacted employees. We understand the importance of being paid correctly and recognise the impact this may have had.

We are now contacting all impacted employees and will make payments in full, including interest and superannuation where applicable.

How are we improving?

Curtin has already commenced implementing changes to improve our payment processes and is strengthening guidance available for employees and staff involved in engaging casual employees, to support a clear understanding of minimum engagement requirements and their application when planning and scheduling work.

A new timesheet system for casual professional and general employees was introduced on 3 November 2025, which automatically calculates and applies casual minimum engagement entitlements.

Curtin is also continuing to develop system enhancements for casual academic employees. In the meantime, we will conduct monthly minimum engagement checks for casual academic employees to ensure calculation for this entitlement continues. This means some casual academic employees may receive further top up payments for minimum engagement.

These initiatives form part of Curtin’s broader program of work to strengthen payroll systems, processes and assurance across the University.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the minimum engagement review, please contact PayrollAssurance@curtin.edu.au or call our dedicated phone line on (08) 9266 7557 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm).