The University of Western Australia

University Policy on: Casual Employment (Academic)

Purpose of the policy and summary of issues it addresses:

This policy outlines the basis of engagement and payment of casual employees. The policy includes the allocation of duties and different categories of casual appointment with specific rates paid by various areas within the University.

Definitions:

"Employee" means a casual employee employed in terms of the Academic Staff Agreement.

"Lecture" means any education delivery described as a lecture in a course or unit outline, or in an official timetable issued by the University.

"Tutorial" means any education delivery described as a tutorial in a course or unit outline, or in an official timetable issued by the University.

"The University" means The University of Western Australia.

Policy statement:

Casual employment offers flexibility for both employees and the University while ensuring quality of education as part of the students' learning and collegiate experience.

Employees must meet the University's minimum qualification requirements for the position. All casual teaching staff who have not previously worked at the University will be expected to undertake Online Induction Training within one month of commencing.

The University will endeavour to secure facilities for casual employees for the purposes of preparation, marking and student consultation. These facilities may be provided on a shared user basis and include a workstation, telephone, networked PC and email. In Schools where facilities are limited, the casual employee may request a designated access time for facilities.

When employing a student/s, consideration should be given to the impact of the workload on their studies.

Policies to consider before appointing a casual include:

Employment of Close Relatives

Visas and Citizenship

Casual employees' contract of employment may be terminated by one day's written notice by either party, or by the payment in lieu of that day.

Casual employees are entitled to unpaid leave as set out in the Fair Work Act 2009.

1 Allocation of Duties

Academic work can involve both contact and associated non contact time.

1.1 Contact Time

Time allocated for duties such as delivery of lectures, tutorials, demonstrations or other academic teaching activity at the workplace;

• lectures can include on campus face-to-face delivery and/or equivalent delivery time through e lectures.
• marking performed during or immediately after the contact time (such as marking student live presentations or practical activities).

NOTE : marking undertaken outside of contact time (such as marking exams or assignments) will be paid at the hourly marking rate in accordance with 2.2.4 - Marking.

1.2 Non Contact Time (associated working time)

Non Contact Time is time allocated for the following purposes -

• Preparation
• Reasonable level of student consultation for ad hoc queries from the casual's students, whether in person, by phone, email or on-line
• Liaising with the relevant co-ordinating lecturer(s).

1.3 Aggregate Time

The total of contact and non contact time paid at the rate represented within the Casual Teaching Rates.

2 Rates of Pay

Casual employees are to be paid in accordance with the rates which incorporate a casual loading of 25% in lieu of all paid leave entitlements.

Current Casual Teaching Rates will be varied to reflect salary increases.

2.1 Calculation of Rates

The rates are derived from three base rates calculated using the following formulae:

2.1.1 Lecturing and Higher Marking:

The base rate applicable to lecturing or for purposes of the higher marking rate is determined by reference to the second step of the full time Level B scale and calculated as follows:

(Level B Step 2 Annual $ / 52) / 37.5 + 25% = Casual Hourly Rate

2.1.2 Other duties involving full subject co-ordination or possession of a relevant doctoral qualification:

The base rate applicable where the duties include full subject co-ordination or employee possesses a relevant doctoral qualification is determined by reference to the eighth step of the full time Level A scale and calculated as follows:

(Level A Step 8 Annual $ / 52) / 37.5 + 25% = Casual Hourly Rate

2.1.3 All Other Duties (including tutoring rates not covered above):

The base rate applicable for all other duties including tutoring rates not covered above is determined by reference to the second step of the full time Level A scale and calculated as follows:

(Level A Step 2 Annual $ / 52) / 37.5 + 25% = Casual Hourly Rate

2.2 Duties

2.2.1 Lecturing

A casual employee required to deliver a lecture (or equivalent delivery through other than face to face teaching) of a specified duration and provide directly associated non contact duties in the nature of preparation, and student consultation. Payment will be made at a rate for aggregate time:

• Basic lecture (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time)
• Repeat lecture (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time)
• Developed lecture (1 hour of delivery and 3 hours associated working time)
• Specialised lecture (1 hour of delivery and 4 hours associated working time)

The rate payable for a repeat lecture applies to a second or subsequent delivery of substantially the same lecture in the same subject matter within seven days, and associated student consultation.

2.2.2 Tutoring

A casual employee required to deliver or present a tutorial (or equivalent delivery through other than face to face teaching) of a specified duration and provide directly associated non contact duties in the nature of preparation, and student consultation. Payment will be paid at a rate for aggregate time:

• Tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time)
• Repeat tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time)
• Tutorial delivered by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time)
• Repeat tutorial delivered by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time)

The rate payable for a repeat tutorial applies to a second or subsequent delivery of substantially the same tutorial in the same subject matter within seven days and associated student consultation.

2.2.3 Musical accompanying with special educational services

For musical accompanying, the casual employee will be paid for each hour of accompanying, as well as for one hour of preparation time for each hour of accompanying delivered.

Musical accompanying with special educational service means providing musical accompaniment to one or more students or staff in the course of teaching by another academic employee where the accompanist provides educational expertise in repertoire development or expression for student concert or examination purposes, but does not include concert accompanying, vocal coaching or musical directing. Payment will be paid at a rate for aggregate time:

• Musical accompanying (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour preparation time)
• Musical accompanying by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour preparation time)

2.2.4 Marking

Marking is divided into three categories:

• Simple marking such as multiple choice examinations
• Standard marking (previously routine marking)

Marking by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification - 'Standard' marking rate is to be applied.

and will be paid at a rate for each hour of marking.

2.2.5 Invigilating

Invigilation rates are to be negotiated based on Student Services rates and paid through HR Services-Employment. Marking will be paid through web processing and as detailed above.

2.2.6 Other Required Academic Activity (including Demonstrations)

Casual employees who are required to perform any other academic activity (as defined below), have a relevant doctoral qualification or are required to perform full subject co-ordination duties (on the basis calculated in sub clause 2.1.2 and 2.1.3. above). Payment will be for each hour of such activity delivered and demonstrated to have been performed.

Other required academic activity includes work of the following nature:

• the conduct of practical classes, demonstrations, workshops, student field excursions
• the conduct of clinical sessions other than clinical nurse education
• the conduct of performance and visual art studio sessions
• musical coaching, repetiteurship and musical accompanying other than with special educational service
• development of teaching and subject materials such as the preparation of subject guides and reading lists and basic activities associated with subject co-ordination
• consultation with students
• supervision, and
• attendance at school/section and or faculty meetings as required.

2.3 Other Rates

Several areas in the University have their own casual rates of pay for performing specific functions:

2.3.1 Language Studies - conversation courses

• casual conversation rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (casual demonstration rate)
• casual conversation rate by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (casual demonstration rate)
• repeat conversation rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification
• repeat conversation rate by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification

2.3.2 School of Architecture and Fine Arts

• tutorials - assistant
• demonstrations: current student (without an honours degree)
• demonstrations: recent graduate (delivered by an employee with honours)
• demonstrations: recent graduate (delivered by an employee with relevant doctoral qualification)

2.3.3 Psychology

• Original by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial plus half casual demonstration rate)
• Repeat by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial plus half casual demonstration rate)
• Original by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial plus half casual demonstration rate)
• Repeat by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial plus half casual demonstration rate)
• Practical instruction/assessment for Psychology 410 by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (repeat tutorial rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification)
• Practical instruction/assessment for Psychology 410 by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (repeat tutorial rate by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification)

2.3.4 Human Movement

• original professional instruction by an employee without a relevant doctoral original professional instruction by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (half basic lecturing rate plus half casual demonstration rate)
• repeat professional instruction by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half repeat lecturing rate plus half casual demonstration rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification)
• repeat professional instruction by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (half repeat lecturing rate plus half casual demonstration rate by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification)
• laboratory tutorial/demonstration rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial rate plus half casual demonstration rate)
• laboratory tutorial/demonstration rate by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half original tutorial rate plus half casual demonstration rate)

2.3.5 School of Music

• practical instruction by an employee without a relevant doctoral qualification (half basic lecturing rate plus half casual demonstration rate)
• practical instruction by an employee with a relevant doctoral qualification (half basic lecturing rate plus half casual demonstration rate)

2.3.6 Anatomy and Human Biology

• demonstration by medically qualified persons without relevant doctoral qualification (two hours at casual demonstration rate)
• demonstration by medically qualified persons with relevant doctoral qualification (two hours at casual demonstration rate)

2.3.7 Centre for Aboriginal Programmes (School of Indigenous Studies)

Related forms:

Casual Academic Employment Agreement

TRIM File No: F35453

Contact position: HR Services - Recruitment

Related Policies or legislation: Academic Staff Agreement Employment of Close Relatives Visas and Citizenship Online Induction Training Sessional Staff