The Struggles of an Academic with Terminal Cancer
Associate Professor Trisha Pender, a decorated academic at the University of Newcastle, has been battling terminal cancer while also facing intense work pressure. Her workload has increased to the point where it has caused significant physical and emotional distress. Despite her condition, she continues to speak out about the challenges faced by university staff.
The university has attributed the workload pressures to a controversial federal funding system. However, it has acknowledged the need to review its methods for assigning teaching duties. Dr. Pender, who has worked at the university for 19 years, returned from cancer treatment only to find that the way workloads were allocated had changed. Many staff members, including herself, were given heavier loads.
Dr. Pender claims that the workload pressure, rather than her illness, was the main reason she had to leave her job. She is concerned that speaking out could cost her position, but she feels compelled to do so to protect her colleagues who may have more to lose.
“I was very, very scared last semester because I was so stressed about getting the work done that I couldn’t really eat,” Dr. Pender told 7.30. “I couldn’t sleep very well, had lots of headaches [and] shakiness. I started to suffer a lot from the pressure. I started just crying all the time and wearing sunglasses to work so that I didn’t scare the students because I was so upset.”
The university has stated that it is difficult to comment on individual workloads, but emphasized that everyone should feel comfortable raising concerns. Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky expressed empathy for Dr. Pender’s situation, acknowledging the difficulty it presents for her and her family.
A Growing Concern Across the Sector
Dr. Pender recently gave evidence at a state government inquiry into university governance, which revealed widespread concerns about overwork and poor governance across the sector. The inquiry’s chair, NSW upper house Labor MP and former NTEU official Dr. Sarah Kaine, warned university leaders not to retaliate against staff who speak out.
“It’s really surprising, and I’ve now chaired quite a few inquiries. I’ve never had to do that,” Dr. Kaine said. “So it’s very surprising that I’ve had so many people contact me and talk to me about how scared they are to tell me what’s going on because they fear some kind of retaliation.”
The university strongly denies any claims of reprisals against staff and states that it welcomes them speaking out as subject-matter experts. Professor Zelinsky emphasized that he has not sanctioned anyone for speaking up during his time at the university.
Financial Challenges and Sector-Wide Crisis
Professor Zelinsky explained that the university is reviewing its workload model to ensure consistency while maintaining financial sustainability. He pointed to the Job-ready Graduates scheme introduced in 2021, which has left the sector short-changed by $1.3 billion annually. This funding change altered the amount universities receive for teaching students, leading to further strain on resources.
Another long-serving academic, Associate Professor Liam Phelan, described the sector as being in “an absolute state of crisis.” A national survey of psychosocial risks published earlier this year ranked the University of Newcastle as the worst public university in a survey of 36 institutions. The research, led by Adelaide University and partially funded by the NTEU, found that 92% of staff surveyed deemed themselves at either very high risk or high risk of psychosocial harm.
While the university raised concerns about the survey’s methodology, noting that the sample size of 350 staff was too small, it acknowledged the importance of addressing the issues raised. Professors from four schools and colleges had also written letters expressing concern to the university’s governing body, highlighting the overwhelming disquiet about workplace changes driven by outside consultants.
Broader Implications and Calls for Reform
Dr. Kaine emphasized that the issues at the University of Newcastle are not isolated. Evidence from her inquiry revealed similar problems across the sector. “These are publicly funded institutions. They are there for a public purpose and to serve the public good, and we should demand that,” she said.
A similar inquiry is underway in Victoria, and a Commonwealth inquiry last year found governance failures that had let down staff, students, and the public. Dr. Kaine called for greater accountability, particularly regarding the boards overseeing universities. “Very early in the inquiry, we were questioning some university management about … with these councils, how are the members appointed?” she said. “And essentially, a lot of them are appointed by the management themselves. So, it becomes this self-reinforcing clique, if you like, who don’t feel like they’re there to challenge management.”
As the conversation around university governance and working conditions continues, the voices of those affected remain crucial in driving meaningful change.
