The University of Newcastle's Troubling Psychosocial Safety Risk: A National Concern
The University of Newcastle (UoN) has been ranked as one of the worst Australian universities for psychological health and safety risk to staff in a national survey, shedding light on a pressing issue that demands attention.
The Australian University Census on Staff Wellbeing, conducted from October 2025 to January 2026, ranked 36 universities based on their "Psychosocial Safety Climate" (PSC). The UoN's findings were particularly alarming, with a staggering 92% of respondents falling into the high to very high psychosocial risk category, and an average PSC score of 25.1, the second-worst in the nation.
This high score indicates a harmful work environment where individuals face numerous hazards, such as lack of work support, disinterested or hostile management, communication breakdowns, fear of raising concerns, bullying, and harassment. The report emphasizes that PSC is a critical factor in predicting future working conditions, job strain, mental health, burnout, and productivity.
Of the 235 responses, a concerning 58% were deemed very high risk in terms of psychological wellbeing, while 34% were classified as high risk. Only 3% were considered medium risk, and 5% were deemed low risk.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) University of Newcastle branch president, Terry Summers, expressed deep concern, stating that morale at the university had reached an all-time low. As a union representative, Summers had witnessed the struggles of staff, but the extent of negative experiences came as a shock.
Summers called for urgent action from the university's executive, emphasizing the need to address this critical issue. He highlighted the disconnect between management and staff, a problem that has persisted for the last five to six years.
The union had previously taken industrial action in October and November 2025 over working conditions and pay, and opposed job cuts aimed at improving the university's budget by $20.6 million. The national report criticized the entire Australian university sector, with all universities recording high or very high risk PSC levels on average.
The survey revealed that staff across all universities faced working conditions posing a serious risk to their mental and physical health, with 82% reporting high to very high levels of emotional exhaustion.
Summers attributed the focus on profit over staff wellbeing to the governance of Australian universities. He argued that the primary goal of universities should be to produce outstanding graduates and research, not just to appear profitable.
A long-term academic in Newcastle shared a similar sentiment, noting the low morale and downtrodden appearance of staff. They expressed that the university's core business had shifted away from its primary focus, with an excessive emphasis on buildings and infrastructure.
Another academic, with over 15 years of experience at the university, revealed that staff were fed up with being treated poorly, struggling to come to work due to severe stress, and unable to speak up for fear of job loss. This academic emphasized the changing dynamics, where staff felt their voices were no longer heard, and management decisions were increasingly dictated from above.
In response to the census, UoN chief people and culture officer Martin Sainsbury acknowledged the challenging period of change the university had faced during the survey's conduct. He assured that the university would continue to support staff wellbeing and regularly measure and establish programs to address these concerns.
Sainsbury highlighted the university's commitment to industry-standard staff wellbeing surveys, with the last survey completed by over 2200 staff, nearly 70% of their fixed-term and continuing staff.
Despite the positive results reported by a majority of staff, the UoN faces a critical challenge in addressing the underlying issues that have contributed to the high psychosocial risk levels. The university's response underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and action to create a healthier and more supportive work environment for its staff.
