Managing Hybrid Teams
Managing hybrid teams — striking the right balance
Planning for 2026
The University will continue to make the hybrid model an option for professional staff (ongoing and fixed-term) in 2026, subject to their supervisor's approval and whether the role permits. This will allow staff to work up to 40 per cent of the time from home, subject to their supervisor's approval. This may be set days each week or flexible based on key activities and may change from time to time.
Professional staff (ongoing and fixed-term) are invited to reapply for 2026 following discussions with their supervisor and completion of the Working Safely from Home Module. This is an annual opt-in process, or when you change roles.
Managers should review the request and commence planning for 2026 with the use of the resources available on this website.
We recommend developing a team charter (based on the guidelines of best practice) that consolidates the commitments on how, when and where work will be delivered, including a commitment to trial and evaluate what does and doesn't work and change if they need to.
Striking the right balance
We are asking supervisors to work with their teams to find the right balance — between ensuring University services and operational needs are delivered and individual staff members’ flexibility expectations — and to work together to find suitable ways to make hybrid work successful for the University and staff.
This includes clearly communicating what activities are best suited to working from home and the types of activities expected to be completed onsite within the framework of the Working from Home Procedure. Supervisors retain the discretion to consider and determine which roles are unsuited to working from home.
What if the balance isn’t right?
As has always been the case, supervisors can determine if working from home is suitable based on the activity their work unit does and the individual’s performance whilst working from home. The University retains the discretion to make changes or rescind working from home arrangements with the provision of four weeks' notice.
