The Study Time for Support Staff policy applies to support staff only and deals with the provision for staff to be released from their duties to undertake courses of study which are approved by the University and which lead to a recognised qualification. Study time is available for staff enrolled in part-time courses only.
Study-time is paid time release from work for approved courses for the purposes of:
- attendance at compulsory lectures, tutorials, residential schools, field days etc, where these are held during working hours
- necessary travel during working hours to attend lectures, tutorials, etc held during or outside working hours
- private study (such as that undertaken in connection with a correspondence course or distance/online learning).
Eligibility
- Support staff on continuing or probationary appointments, or those employed on fixed-term contracts in excess of 12 months
- Staff who are employed on successive fixed-term contracts who have completed 12 months of unbroken service.
- Part-time staff members
Approval criteria
Whether the course will:
- meet the University’s skill development needs in relation to meeting the University and faculty/unit priorities
- assist the individual’s professional development and/or career development needs
- develop skills relevant to the higher education sector.
Approved courses
- leads to a recognised qualification from a university or the TAFE system
- a special or bridging course
- any other accredited course at a tertiary education institution/organisation (eg courses that lead to membership of a registered professional organisation such as CPA).
Applications
Applications are made on a semester basis for courses which have final assessment at the end of each semester, or on an annual basis for courses which have final assessment at the end of each year. You should submit their applications for study time well before the commencement of semester.
- Discuss your intention to undertake study with your supervisor
- Determine if you are eligible to apply for study time and if the course is approved for Study Time
- Enrol in the course
- Discuss the method of taking study time you wish to apply for with your supervisor
- Use the Guide to Calculating Study Time to help you determine your study time entitlement.
- Complete a Study Time and Financial Assistance Application form and submit it together with relevant documentation, to your supervisor. Relevant documentation includes:
- evidence of enrolment and timetable indicating times and/or study load of proposed subjects and/or details of research and/or coursework components of higher degrees, and
- for continuing study-time applicants, evidence of previous semester’s assessment.
