A proposed Academic Career Framework (ACF), and associated policy documents, has been developed and is now open for staff consultation. The Framework has been developed to advance our academic ecosystem at Flinders.

Why did we need a review?

Our academic profiles have remained largely unchanged for several years, which has led to perceptions of inconsistency and imbalance between different employment types.

To align our academic profiles with contemporary practices, international excellence frameworks, and with our strategic agenda and priorities, a review process was initiated early this year.

Through the introduction of an ACF, we aim to:

• achieve greater clarity and transparency
• ensure equity, fairness and inclusivity
• facilitate consistency of interpretation and approach
• align with international frameworks of excellence; and
• optimise quality and impact of the academic profiles, promotion processes and their associated policies and procedures.

Development process

A series of focus group sessions were held in February and March this year to seek input and insights from nominated academics across all academic profiles and levels. After detailed review and input from the focus group sessions and key personnel, a proposed ACF, along with policy and procedures and changes to the current format of submissions have been developed for broader staff consultation.

The aim is to streamline the submissions process, reduce excess document requirements, enhance committee processes, and refocus assessments on leadership in various academic domains, recognising the diverse contributions of academic staff.

The ACF will play a pivotal role in guiding and supporting academic careers at an individual level, as potential applicants for positions, promotion applicants, and for their own performance review process, but also as supervisors or mentors of other academic staff.

You can view the proposed ACF, including the key proposed changes, here.

How to provide feedback on the ACF

The proposed ACF concept, and the associated policy and procedure documents, including proposed changes to the format of promotions committees, is now open for consultation and available to all staff to provide feedback here.

All feedback or queries can be directed to the dedicated ACFFeedback@flinders.edu.au mailbox.

The ACFFeedback@flinders.edu.au mailbox will be confidentially managed by People & Culture. All feedback submitted to this mailbox will be de-identified by People & Culture before being provided to appropriate senior leaders for consideration.

Please note that this consultation process aligned with our obligations under the Policy Development and Review Procedures.

Consultation on the proposed ACF is now open until 5pm Wednesday, 16 July 2025.