University of Wollongong still cutting deep

  15 July 2025

The University of Wollongong’s latest announcement regarding proposed job cuts are still operationally crippling, says the union which represents non-academic staff at the university.

After advising it intended to shed up to 185 FTE (full time equivalent) positions in March, the University yesterday told staff they had revised this figure down to 124 jobs to be lost at the Illawarra institution.

This is just the latest attempt by UOW to rebrand bad news, said Branch Assistant Secretary of the CPSU (SPSF) NSW Branch, Troy Wright.

“University of Wollongong management must stop gaslighting its staff by telling them that job cuts will be good for the University,” said Mr Wright.

“Look at the UOW’s books and you’ll see massive cost overruns, in the 2023 year there was a $39 million deficit, but their spending on consultants and international and domestic travel were enormous and these are the kind of costs you drop before you cut staff.

“Anyone who’s run a business knows if you cut close to 1 in 10 staff you’re going to have to reduce services, but University of Wollongong management keep claiming services will stay the same even after job cuts.

“UOW management claiming ‘look we’ve saved 60 jobs’ because they’ve revised the number of people they’ll sack from 185 to 124, that’s the kind of corporate spin that really upsets the community.”

Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547