UTS Staff interview transcripts

Working at UTS

Chris Cahill - Director, IT Client Services: By far the friendliest place I've ever worked and that goes through all levels of the University, it's generally part of the culture.

Gareth Prosser - Program Manager, School of Accounting: The one thing that strikes me is that it's quite egalitarian in the way all levels of staff can intermingle and work productively together.

Caitlin McGee - Principal Researcher, Institute of Sustainable Futures: Innovation is valued which is one of the reasons that I love being here.

Michelle Sanson - Lecturer, Law: I think there's a really strong encouragement within the culture of the organisation, really, to do work that is cutting edge.

Hung Nguyen - Associate Dean (Research), Engineering: I feel there's a lot more innovation because I believe in innovation of the future. I train my students to create new jobs, not only to find jobs.

GP: Innovation. That comes back to those contemporary methods that we are adopting here at UTS, it's not necessarily about the new technology or gadgets that change for change sake.

Tony George - Senior Lecture, Science: It means success. It means breakthrough discoveries perhaps, things that will stand Internationally and be recognised as being major.

MS: It's not just about using technology, it's about being cutting edge in what we teach and in what we research.

HN: I think the environment is very important, Sydney is a very beautiful place.

CM: What I particularly like about it is the really vibrant atmosphere that comes with being right in the middle of the city.

David Lloyd-Jones - EHS Coordinator, Human Resources Unit: One of the best things about the University is that it's located right at the hub of the transport centre in the city.

GP: We're the University of the CBD

Lesley Seaton - Lecturer, Nursing Midwifery & Health: I really like the Kuring-gai campus. You don't always have to be inside, you can actually be outside doing things with students as well, and there's lots of good space to do that.

CM: The real bonus about working at UTS is that Professional Development is encouraged and valued.

GP: There's a lot of flexible and family-friendly work practices here that give people a balance in their lives.

Jim Anderson - Manager, Facilities Management Unit: We have social clubs which are very active.

GP: Three different childcare services on campus.

TG: You can buy laptops and include those in salary sacrifice in your packaging as we call it.

(Please note: Due to the recent Fringe Benefits Tax amendments in the 2008 Federal Budget the University has reluctantly decided to suspend the provision of Laptops as a salary packaged item. The amendments now require employers to prove that the provision of a Laptop to staff under a salary package arrangement is predominantly for work purposes. As the Federal Government has not provided information on the level of compliance required to satisfy the new legislation UTS is suspending the provision of Laptops until further information is received. The decision will be reviewed when the compliance requirements in relation to Laptops are issued by the Federal Government.)

JA: The technology is up-to-date, you don't have to make-do with old equipment.

MS: We really do emphasise equity and we do have a very diverse range of staff at UTS.

Simon Wilkinson - Systems Manager, Student Administration Unit: My management team, they're fantastic. It's open door, you can go to them with anything. We all tend to be working to the same agenda.

LS: You do feel pretty valued as a staff member here.

HN: What attracts me from the industry to UTS is the flexibility and also the practice-based type of education and research.

TG: New researchers do get quite a few advantages from the university. They get start-up funds, establishment funds

CM: Quality research is really valued and in that way it distinguishes it from other jobs that I've had in the private sector where it's more just about making a buck

SW: It's a young environment, it's an educational environment. It'll keep you young, it's fast-paced, it's dynamic, great working conditions, great people to work with and you can fulfil career ambitions in this place

CC: It's a place where you can achieve things, it's challenging, it's always busy but you're given an opportunity to really make a difference

Jill McKeough - Dean, Law: The thing that persuaded me to put in the job application was another Dean saying to me I've never had an unhappy day at UTS and I've bee here a year now and that is true.