Australian universities are failing to provide a supportive environment for early-career and mid-career academics, with worrying implications for the sustainability and future of this important part of the health workforce, suggests new research.
Jason Staines writes:
Nearly one-third of early-career and mid-career academics at health and medicine-related faculties have experienced bullying or harassment, according to new research.
The research, led by academics from the University of Melbourne and Monash University with support from Research Australia, was based on a comprehensive survey covering 660 eligible early-career and mid-career academics from health and medical faculties across Australia. The goal was to address a gap in available data relating to the experiences and wellbeing of early-career and mid-career academics.
Participants provided insights into their workplace culture, wellbeing, and their views on the academic profession more broadly. According to the report’s authors, the responses “detail aspects of the national higher education landscape that need to be addressed for the sector to be sustainable and to thrive in years to come”.
In addition to finding that stable employment in higher education remains elusive, the researchers found academics have notable levels of professional and personal burnout. Concerningly, they also found that 31.8 percent of respondents reported experiencing bullying or harassment, with that number jumping to 45.2 percent for those with a disability or mental health condition.
While acknowledging that higher education providers have a duty to prevent bullying and victimisation in the workplace to the best of their ability, the report also raises questions about the avenues for reporting such behaviour, and the effectiveness of any institutional response.
Asked if they felt their concerns would be appropriately acted on if reported, 30.3 percent of respondents said yes, while 37.0 percent were unsure, and 31.5 percent said they did not think their concerns would be appropriately acted on.
“Together, these highlight a disconnect where some staff are uncomfortable raising workplace concerns with their employer and are unsure if these concerns would be addressed appropriately, potentially leading us to underestimate the prevalence of negative behaviours,” the report’s authors said.
A further worrying statistic was that nearly half of those surveyed were considering leaving the profession, with fewer than one-fifth saying they would advise others to join. This would have serious implications for the Federal Government’s push to revitalise the tertiary education sector.
According to the authors, some of the issues raised in the survey could – and should – be addressed by the universities themselves, although others would require national reform and action from the Commonwealth Government.
Asked to suggest areas where their affiliated university was effectively supporting their wellbeing and career development, respondents appreciated the availability of counselling services and employee assistance programs, along with a supportive team and supervisor.
From the Commonwealth, as well as addressing the ongoing research funding shortfall, the authors said the Federal Government should identify strategies to make science and health and medical academia a more attractive career path.
By the numbers
Employment instability
58.2 percent are employed on a fixed-term (of these, 57.8 percent have less than one year remaining).
Overtime
43.7 percent work 10 or more hours of overtime on average, often uncompensated.
Burnout
66.9 percent are experiencing personal burnout and 54.3 percent work-related burnout.
Wellbeing
56.5 percent are classified as having high stress, 24.2 percent as having moderate or severe anxiety.
State of the profession
46.4 percent are thinking of leaving the profession; only 16.8 percent would advise others to join.
See the full report: The landscape for emerging health and medical academic leaders in Australia
See Croakey’s archive of articles on occupational health and wellbeing
