Iain Martin’s notice period as departing VC of Deakin U was less than eight hours, with Chancellor Claire Higgins announcing his exit on Tuesday and him leaving that day. As to why he went, who knows for sure, DU did not respond to requests for an interview with the Chancellor or acting Vice-Chancellor by deadline.
But in the absence of information there was speculation – tying the exit to last week’s proposal for staff cuts, which were apparently sold to the University Council, until they were not.
“Confusion reigns as VC Iain Martin resigns out of the blue, just days after a proposed restructure and expected job cuts plunged staff into uncertainty,” the campus branch of the National Tertiary Education Union,” announced on Facebook, and it takes a lot to confuse the comrades.
As to how many jobs were to go, 100 or so professional staff keeps being mentioned with many more (500 is suggested) positions disappearing in a proposed “spill and fill” competitive restructure for fewer replacement positions. Target areas are, now probably were, student services, “so students experience more connected, responsive support” and infrastructure and digital, “more sustainable, with clearer accountability.”
This was all before the Enterprise Agreement required consultation period but it appears staff thought management’s mind was made up.
The plan follows restructures in 2020-2021 when 500 positions went. As to why another round was due now – there was a hint in the university’s 2025 Annual Report which reported a headline surplus of $56m, the first since the pandemic but an underlying result of $3.8m on $1.5bn income. Staff costs were also up 5% to $930 in 2025, 59% of income. “This reflects salary increases from enterprise agreements and increased staff numbers across both academic and non-academic cohorts to support teaching and research activities,” the Annual Report stated.
Professor Martin is the second Vice-Chancellor in less than a year to leave a university where staff opposed a savings plan. Genevieve Bell left ANU in September, followed by Chancellor Julie Bishop in May after protests over a restructure escalated into a wholesale rejection of their authority which extended into the Canberra community and split the University Council.