Academic Staff Probation and Confirmation

I am on probation, what do I need to do?

During the probationary period you will be expected to:

• Participate in an initial meeting with your supervisor within the first four weeks of your commencement to clarify expectations of your role, workload allocation and commence development of your Academic Employee Career Development (AECD) Plan.
• Participate in mid-cycle and end of year annual performance and career planning conversations with your supervisor in line with the annual AECD review cycle.



For your final probation review, staff members may be asked to prepare AECD documentation for consideration.

What does my supervisor need to do?

Your supervisor will be expected to:

Meet with you within the first 4 weeks of your commencement to outline the expectations of your role and formalise the development of your AECD Plan including any goals/specifically related to the probation standards in your letter of offer.

Meet with you for regular discussions to provide feedback on progress and assist with career development planning.

Consider the application of the Achievement Relative to Opportunity Guidelines. Consider your documentation and conduct a formal final review, taking into account the probation standards (see below), and provide a recommendation for confirmation of appointment in accordance with the Procedures.

When will the final review for confirmation of appointment occur?

Prior to the expiration of the probationary period, your supervisor may meet with you to conduct a formal final review taking into account the probationary standards and provide a recommendation on confirmation of appointment to the Head of Element.

The final review will normally occur during the annual performance and career planning conversation closest to the end of your probationary period.

• Fixed-Term: 12 months of less - no later than 2 weeks prior to the expiration of the expiration of the specified probationary period.
• Fixed-Term: Greater than 12 months - no later than 4 weeks prior to the expiration of the expiration of the specified probationary period.
• Continuing: All periods - no later than 3 months prior to the expiration of the expiration of the specified probationary period.

What are probation standards?

Probation standards refer to the expectations that need to be met in order to achieve confirmation of appointment.  These standards refer to any conditions outlined in your letter of offer along with the duties and responsibilities of the role and any specific probationary objectives.

Standard length of probation for fixed-term contracts

The probationary period for a fixed-term staff member will be a minimum of three months and/or up to one third of the fixed-term contract.

What if I am promoted whilst on probation?

A staff member who is promoted while on probation will normally have their appointment confirmed from the effective date of promotion. In this case, Human Resources will provide written notification to the staff member of their confirmation following approval from the relevant decision maker in accordance with the staffing delegations. For the remainder of that year’s AECD cycle, the staff member will have their performance and career planning discussions assessed at their current level.