Work contract

The hours and associated conditions of engagement for a member of staff. Work contracts may be classified as being one of three types:

Full‑time work contract

The engagement has these characteristics:

  • it is for a continuous period (although this may be for a limited period of time); and
  • the full range of duties which are appropriate to the job or position are to be performed; and
  • the duties are to be performed on a regular basis; and
  • the number of hours to be worked each week are at least equal to the number of hours specified for full‑time work under the relevant award (if the number of hours for full‑time work for a member of staff with a non‑academic classification is not specified in a relevant award, a minimum of 35 hours per week is to be used for this criterion); and
  • if the member of staff is an employee of the higher education provider they have an entitlement to paid annual leave, paid sick leave and, where relevant requirements have been met, paid long‑service leave.

A member of staff who has a number of work contracts for fractional full‑time work or casual work, and which in aggregate involve the same or a greater number of hours for a member of staff with a full‑time work contract, must not be classified as having a full‑time work contract.

Fractional full‑time work contract

The engagement normally has these characteristics:

  • it is for a continuous period (although this may be for a limited period of time); and
  • the full range of duties which would be appropriate to the job or position were it to be undertaken by a member of staff with a full‑time work contract and with the same classification type and level, are to be performed; and
  • the duties are to be performed on a regular basis; and
  • the number of hours to be worked each week is a specified fraction of the number of hours which would be worked by a member of staff with a full‑time work contract for the job or position and with the same classification type and level; and
  • if the member of staff is an employee of the higher education provider their remuneration is a specified fraction of the remuneration for a member of staff with a full‑time work contract for the job or position and with the same classification type and level; and
  • if the member of staff is an employee of the higher education provider they have a pro‑rata entitlement to paid annual leave, paid sick leave and, where relevant requirements have been met, paid long‑service leave.

Casual work contract

The engagement has these characteristics:

  • the member of staff is engaged and paid on an hourly or sessional basis; and
  • the member of staff has no entitlement to paid annual leave, paid sick leave or paid long‑service leave.

Members of staff who have a full‑time or fractional full‑time work contract for a limited period of time are not to be classified as having a casual work contract.

Members of staff with a casual work contract are often engaged in circumstances where there is no continuing position available, there is no commitment to continuous engagement and a non‑recurring requirement for labour is being met. Members of staff with a casual work contract may be engaged for either a short or long period; they may be required to perform either a wide or a narrow range of duties; and the number of hours worked per week may be less than, equal to or greater than the hours worked by a member of staff with a full‑time work contract.

Application of glossary term:
  • Full-time staff (HE)