ANU releases Academic Portfolio Implementation Plan following extensive staff consultation

The Australian National University (ANU) has today released the Academic Portfolio Implementation Plan, setting out a clear pathway for strengthening academic governance, improving student support and delivering consistently high-quality activities across core academic services. 

The Plan follows the release of an Organisational Change Proposal in July 2025 and reflects extensive consultation with the University community.   

Over 1,150 submissions were received during the formal consultation period, significantly shaping the final design, with staff feedback directly influencing adjustments to role design, implementation phasing and arrangements that support workload balance and stronger capability building across the University.   

ANU Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown said the Plan establishes a unified, functionally consistent way of delivering academic support services across ANU, critical to meeting the expectations of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) regulatory requirements.  

“This Plan gives ANU the structures and capability we need to deliver high-quality, consistent academic services across the University, with clear accountability and stronger assurance around academic quality,” Professor Brown said.   

“We heard from staff that stability, clarity and workload balance are essential. This Implementation Plan responds directly to that feedback and sets the University on a strong path for the future.”  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Portfolio Professor Joan Leach said a key feature of the Plan is the consolidation of core academic support functions into the Academic Portfolio under a centre-led model.    

“We have exceptional staff across the University, and our need now is to work in teams to deliver for the entire institution while respecting the unique excellence in each and every one of our Colleges,” Professor Leach said.  

Dedicated Education Liaison roles will be established in each College to ensure academic staff continue to have reliable support backed by specialist teams.   

“The new model ensures clearer ownership of key functions, improves quality assurance and strengthens the University’s ability to meet national standards and reporting obligations.”  

The Plan also outlines a series of changes to role structures across the Portfolio, including the reinstatement and redesign of roles identified as capability gaps during consultation.   

“Although 56 positions appear in the Implementation Plan as newly established, the actual net increase is 17 roles, reflecting the replacement of previous positions, reinstated roles, redesigns and capability gaps, not an expansion of headcount,” Professor Leach said.   

While the University’s financial position has improved, it remains in deficit.  

“Any new roles are targeted and essential to delivering high-quality academic services and meeting our regulatory responsibilities. These changes are not an expansion, they are a rationalisation of functions to improve consistency, student experience and institutional capability,” Professor Leach said.  

Student experience remains central to the Implementation Plan and a staged transition through 2026 will ensure continuity of services, including a strengthened three-hub student support model.  

Professor Leach said students will also have opportunities to provide feedback throughout the transition, supporting continuous improvement and service quality monitoring.   

The Implementation Plan includes a detailed timeline, with a phased integration of functions, targeted capability development for staff and defined measures for monitoring progress and success including quality assurance indicators, student experience feedback mechanisms and routine reporting to University governance committees.   

“Our priority is to deliver a smooth transition for staff and students while building a model that supports excellence in teaching, learning and academic governance and this plan provides the clarity and consistency needed to achieve that,” Professor Leach said.   

The University is committed to the health and wellbeing of all staff, and this continues to remain a priority as we commence the implementation of these important changes.  

Implementation will take place progressively throughout 2026, with ongoing opportunities for staff and students to contribute to the refinement of new processes and service models.   

Additional quotes attributable to Professor Rebekah Brown  

• “ANU remains focused on financial sustainability, capability building and delivering academic services that meet national regulatory standards.”   

• “The feedback we received during consultation has been invaluable. It has helped us refine the model, strengthen capability where needed and ensure the University is well placed to meet the evolving expectations of TEQSA, CRICOS and our academic community.”  

• “The Implementation Plan reflects extensive consultation and ensures ANU meets strengthened regulatory expectations while providing consistent, student-centred support.”   

Additional quotes attributable to Professor Joan Leach  

• “The Plan positions the University to deliver consistent, sustainable and student-centred services across its academic operations.”  

• “This Plan is about building a stronger foundation for our academic mission.”   

• “The Plan sets out a unified, centre-led model for academic services, reducing duplication and improving co-ordination across the University.”   

• “While the Implementation Plan includes several redesigned or reinstated roles, only 17 represent genuine new positions required to close capability gaps identified during consultation and to meet strengthened national regulatory expectations.”