Dear staff,
I hope you are coping with the particularly hot and humid conditions that we’re currently enduring here in South-East Queensland – and that the early weeks of Semester 1 are going smoothly. It really is wonderful to see our campuses so busy, once again.
UQ’s 2023 Plan on a Page
This week, we have published UQ’s 2023 Plan on a Page, which details the key operational priorities that we will be focussed on implementing through the remainder of this year.
The 2023 Plan on a Page builds on last year’s Plan by identifying the near-term priority projects that are essential for the longer-term achievement of the Strategies and 2032 Measures of Success detailed in the UQ Strategic Plan 2022–2025.
Just like our Strategic Plan, the Plan on a Page outlines our priorities under our three ‘Strategic Domains’ (1. learning and student experience; 2. research and innovation; and 3. enriching our communities), and our three ‘Strategic Enablers’ (1. our global profile; 2. our people; and 3. securing our future).
I’d urge you to have a close read of the 2023 Plan on a Page as I’m sure it will help you, and your team, to hone-in on the ways that you can make important contributions to our university-wide strategic and operational priorities through the rest of this year. If you do have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself, or to another member of USET.
New flexible work policy and procedures
I am also pleased to announce that after many months of consultation we have now updated the University’s policies and procedures in relation to flexible work.
Under the new policy, staff can make requests for flexible work in three distinct categories, but the types of flexible work arrangement remain largely the same – i.e. (1) to reduce working hours; (2) to change workdays; or (3) to request to work from home.
The University’s revised approach to flexible work is, of course, a response to the change in work practices that occurred during the pandemic as an increasing number of people – at UQ, and around the world – became accustomed to working from home.
The new policy and procedures aim to strike a balance between enabling flexible work arrangements that are attractive to staff, at the same time as maintaining vibrant campus environments and continuing to build a strong teams-based culture at UQ.
The full details of the Flexible Work Policy and Procedures (policy #5.55.07) are now available online, via the UQ Policy and Procedures Library (PPL). The policy outlines the options available to staff and also provides guidance to managers responding to flexible work requests.
As a result of the wide-ranging staff consultation on flexible work, the previous ‘Telecommuting Procedure’ and ‘Job Sharing Guidelines’ will be rescinded and removed from the PPL.
If you’re interested in applying for flexible work, you will need to submit a request via the ‘My Flexible Work’ menu in Workday. Information about how to submit a request is available in the ‘My Work Arrangements’ section of the Systems Training Hub.
For queries related to flexible work, please contact AskHR on (07) 3365 2623, or via email at: askhr@uq.edu.au.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff from across UQ for your input into the development of this revised policy – and acknowledge the wide range of views on how flexible work might be best applied across our diverse variety of workplaces and roles.
Acting on disability inclusion
In another important milestone for our community, I’m delighted to report that the University Senate recently endorsed UQ’s Disability Action Plan 2023–2025.
The new Plan includes a range of important commitments related to achieving best practice accessibility; making changes to our physical and digital environments; attracting talent; and nurturing a culture that is supportive of people with disabilities, as well as those who care for them.
The implementation of the Plan will be vital to advancing our goal of becoming a truly inclusive, supportive, and accessible place for our students and staff – and an organisation that’s known for championing disability inclusion ahead of Brisbane hosting the Paralympics in 2032.
Once again, thanks for all of your hard work – and your ongoing commitment to UQ.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the week and have a great weekend.
With best wishes
Debbie
