Teaching and Research Positions

Teaching at the University can offer postgraduates the opportunity to support themselves while completing their work. It is widely acknowledged that postgraduate work can suffer considerable delays if you are doing it in conjunction with part-time or full-time paid teaching. Before accepting a position, be sure you understand how much work you will be required to do.

• Appointments as Associate Lecturer
• Casual Teaching
• University of Wollongong NTEU Branch
• Casual/Part-time Research
• Some Questions to Check

Appointments as Associate Lecturer

It is possible for individual departments to approve Fixed Term appointments of academic staff on a fractional basis. Normally, postgraduate students are appointed at Associate Lecturer (Level A) up to 20 hours per week. Salary offered is dependent upon qualifications and experience. The duration of this type of appointment is usually for a period of 12 months.For enquiries about employment conditions for Associate Lecturers please contact the Personnel Officer supporting your faculty. Personnel Officers are located in Personnel & Financial Services in the Administration Building. The initial telephone number to contact is 4221 5902. Associate Lecturers are members of academic staff and are eligible to join University of Wollongong Academic Staff Association, the University of Wollongong branch of the National Tertiary Education Industry Union.

Casual Teaching

During each session the University employs hundreds of casual teaching staff each fortnight, although numbers are spread unevenly between departments. There is a considerable amount of casual teaching work done on this campus. If you undertake this type of work, you need to take special care not to find yourself with insufficient time to pursue your postgraduate study. Casual staff should not work more than 60% of the teaching hours expected of a full-time staff member. If you exceed this amount you could be given fractional appointment as an academic staff member.

Hourly rates vary according to the type of lecturing, tutoring and marking that you are performing. Questions relating to such matters as hourly teaching rate can be directed to Personnel Officers, or the Administrative Assistant in the Department. Questions relating to staff development workshops on teaching methods should be directed to the Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources. The Department will make a commitment order for the hours to be used for your casual teaching and you should make sure that you keep a copy of this order.

University of Wollongong NTEU Branch

All casual staff are eligible to join the Wollongong Branch of the National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU). On joining the NTEU you will get support from other staff members, opportunities to attend meetings explaining the latest industrial issues, assistance with individual problems and representation on the Branch Executive. The cost of joining the NTEU on a casual basis is $22 for six months or $38.50 for twelve months. This entitles you to industrial representation, eligibility for running in and voting on elections as well as a range of publications from the Branch, Division and National Offices. More information can be obtained from the Branch website http://www.nteu.org.au/bd/uow or by contacting Jo Kowalczyk in the Branch office on extn 3701.

Casual/Part-time Research

This can be arranged by processes ranging from newspaper advertisements through to word-of-mouth networks. Casuals may be appointed as either Research Assistants or Administrative Assistants. Sometimes this decision may rest on whether the person to be appointed has gained a tertiary degree or not, rather than on the type of work done. Some postgraduates prefer doing this type of work because it does not appear to include the "hidden" extra work found in casual teaching.

Some Questions to Check

1. What will be your hourly rate?
2. Has the department informed you - in advance - of your period of employment?
3. Has the department made its offer to you in writing?

Personnel ph: 4221 5902 can supply you with information regarding conditions and rates of pay for part-time staff. International students may only work a maximum of 20 hours per week during session. Full-time employment however, is permitted during vacation times.

Last reviewed: 13 February, 2007