Scheduled Student Consultation Remediation Program

Please note

If you believe you may be affected and have not been contacted directly by the University by 9 July 2026, you can submit a claim for consideration through the supplementary claims process. See 'How to submit a supplementary claim' below.

Background

In July 2025, the Federal Court of Australia clarified a long-standing ambiguity in Monash University's Enterprise Agreement about payment for scheduled student consultation (SSC) performed by sessional Teaching Associates.

The Court found that SSC required by the University to be scheduled in advance and for a fixed period is not part of the associated work for a tutorial or lecture and should instead be paid separately at the applicable "other required academic activity" (ORAA) hourly rate.

Following this decision, the University worked in good faith with the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) through a mediation process endorsed by the Court to resolve all remaining matters arising from the proceedings. The University and NTEU agreed on a comprehensive remediation process to identify and compensate affected sessional Teaching Associates for the period from 15 September 2016 to 30 June 2025 (Relevant Period).

From July 2025, the University implemented updated student consultation guidelines and practices to ensure SSC is separately paid going forward.

Who may be affected

You may be affected if you were employed as a sessional Teaching Associate at Monash University at any time between 15 September 2016 and 30 June 2025 and required to undertake SSC and have not already been paid for that work. There are two pathways under the remediation program that can result in a current or former staff member being eligible for additional payment:

Pathway A: University-identified via University-led review

The University has proactively reviewed known practices to identify Faculties, Schools or Departments where sessional Teaching Associates were required to perform scheduled student consultation, that was treated as part of the associated working time for the relevant teaching activity (i.e. not separately paid as ORAA at the time).

Pathway B: Self-identified via supplementary claims

If an individual has not been identified in Pathway A, they may still make a claim through a supplementary claims process, and if it is accepted by the University, or upheld in whole or in part through a review process, then a payment will be made.

Not sure if you're affected?

The University is proactively identifying potentially affected sessional Teaching Associates. If you are identified as being affected, you will receive a Notice of Assessment from Monash HR on 25 June 2026. If you believe you may have been affected but do not receive a Notice of Assessment, you can submit a claim through the supplementary claims process – see 'How to submit a supplementary claim' below.

How the program works

The program operates in two streams: a University-led review that proactively identifies affected Teaching Associates, and a supplementary claims process.

Pathway A: University-led review and Notice of Assessment

University calculates your assessment
The University reviews timesheet records to identify sessional Teaching Associates who delivered tutorials/lectures for Faculties, Schools/Departments where SSC was required and SSC was not separately paid as ORAA. Remediation amounts will be calculated and paid at the applicable ORAA rate, and interest and superannuation will also be paid.
You receive a Notice of Assessment
You will receive an email from Monash HR with a unique secure link to access your Notice of Assessment, as well as a link to a secure Qualtrics online form to accept or lodge an objection to the outcome and confirm your details. Your Notice of Assessment sets out the proposed payment amount, with a breakdown by year, period, unit, hours and applicable ORAA rate.
You accept or object within 14 days
You have 14 days from receiving your Notice of Assessment to accept the proposed payment or lodge an objection. If you do not respond within 14 days, your assessment will be treated as accepted and payment will be processed within 14 days of the objection period closing. Former staff who accept will also need to provide current banking, tax and superannuation details before payment can be processed.
If you object – submit evidence within 28 days
Within 14 days of receipt of your Notice of Assessment, you may lodge an objection if you disagree with the amount. Within 28 days of making the objection, you must provide a statement with sufficient particulars to demonstrate the veracity of the claim, why you object to the Notice of Assessment and any additional materials on which you rely. Within 28 days of receipt, the University will consider the material and inform you of the outcome.
Outcome
Following review, your objection will either be allowed or rejected (in whole or partially). If it is rejected in whole or in part, and you do not accept the outcome, the matter may be referred to an Independent Decision Maker, whose determination is final. Once your assessment is finalised, payment will be processed.
Payment
- Where no objection has been made to your Notice of Assessment your payment will be made within 14 days of the objection period closing.
- Where an objection has been made, and evidence submitted, payment will be made within 28 days of the determination, where payment is applicable.
- For matters referred to the Independent Decision Maker, payment will be made within 28 days of the determination being made, where payment is applicable.
- For former staff members your payment details must be provided before payment can be made.

Pathway B: Self-identified via supplementary claims process

If you were employed as a sessional Teaching Associate during the Relevant Period (from 15 September 2016 to 30 June 2025) and you were required to perform scheduled student consultation that was not separately paid, but are not contacted by the University through the proactive review by 9 July 2026, you may be eligible to submit a claim through the supplementary claims process.

How to submit a supplementary claim:

Prepare your statutory declaration
Download and complete the statutory declaration template, setting out the year(s), semester(s), unit(s) and hours of scheduled student consultation you claim to have performed for which you were not paid at the ORAA rate. Your statutory declaration must be signed by an authorised witness, such as a Justice of the Peace, solicitor or other person authorised to witness statutory declarations under Victorian law.
Submit your claim
Complete the online form, attaching your signed statutory declaration and any available supporting evidence.
The University reviews your claim
The University will consider the claim to confirm that you taught the units and that SSC was required and not already paid separately at the applicable ORAA rate. The University will assess your claim as soon as reasonably possible and notify you of the outcome and reasons.
If your claim is approved
Where a claim is approved in whole or in part, you will receive a Notice of Assessment that provides details of the proposed payment and basis for the calculation.
You will receive a link to confirm your acceptance of the decision and your payment including interest and superannuation will be processed within 14 days of your Notice of Assessment.
If your claim is rejected – referral to the Independent Decision Maker
Within 14 days of receipt of the rejection, if you disagree with the decision, you may notify the University that the matter is to be referred to the Independent Decision Maker (IDM) for determination. The IDM’s decision will be final.
If you do not refer the matter to the IDM, the University's decision will be taken to be accepted.

Key date

All supplementary claims must be submitted by 25 June 2027.

Payment components

Remediation payments will be calculated and paid as follows:

Component	Detail
Base payment	Calculated at the applicable ORAA hourly rate for the relevant year and period.
Interest	The University has included an interest component in recognition that you did not have the benefit of payment when it was due. Interest has been applied at the pre-judgment interest rate under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth).
Superannuation	Superannuation will be paid on the remediation amount at the current Superannuation Guarantee Contribution (SGC) rate (12 per cent).

Tax implications

Lump sum remediation payments may have different tax treatment to ordinary salary and wages income, depending on the amount and the period to which the payment relates. The University recommends seeking independent financial or tax advice if you have questions about how this payment affects your individual circumstances. More information on lump sum payments in arrears is available on the ATO website.

Questions and Answers

Scheduled student consultation (SSC) refers to student consultation time that was required by the University to be scheduled in advance, for example, regular office hours or set consultation sessions that Teaching Associates were directed to hold. The Federal Court found that SSC in connection with tutorial or lecture work does not form part of the 'associated work' included in tutorial and lecture rates and should instead be paid separately at the Other Required Academic Activity (ORAA) hourly rate.
The University will send Notices of Assessment by email, beginning on 25 June 2026. Current staff will be contacted at their Monash email address. Former staff will be contacted using the most recent contact details held on file. If you believe you may be affected but do not receive a Notice of Assessment by 9 July 2026, you can submit a claim through the supplementary claims process.
The University will attempt to contact former staff using contact details held on file, in accordance with privacy legislation. If you believe you may be eligible and your contact details have changed, please contact SSCReview@monash.edu so we can update our records.
You can lodge an objection within 14 days of receiving your Notice of Assessment. You then have 28 days to provide the University with a written statement outlining the sufficient particulars to support your claim. The statement should clearly explain the basis of your objection to the Notice of Assessment and include any additional materials on which you rely. Additional materials may include written instructions provided to you requiring you to undertake scheduled student consultation (e.g. email instructions from a Unit Coordinator, guidelines etc). The University will review your evidence and notify you of the outcome within 28 days. If your objection is not upheld and you disagree, the matter can be referred to the Independent Decision Maker, whose determination is final.
Current staff: If you do not respond within 14 days, your assessment will be treated as accepted and payment will be processed.
Former staff: If you do not respond within 14 days, we will continue to attempt to contact you via available details on record.
You will receive automated reminder emails one week after the Notice of Assessment is sent and 48 hours before the deadline.
For a supplementary claim, you are required to provide a statutory declaration setting out the year(s), semester(s), unit(s) and hours of scheduled student consultation you claim to have performed. For an objection to a Notice of Assessment, you should provide a statement with sufficient detail to explain why the assessment is incorrect, along with any supporting materials. Further guidance will be provided when you access the claim or objection form.
Yes. All remediation payments include: the base payment at the applicable ORAA rate; interest at the pre-judgment interest rate under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth); and superannuation on the remediation amount at the current Superannuation Guarantee Contribution rate (12 per cent). The remediation payment amount in your Notice of Assessment is the nominal amount less interest and superannuation. Your payslip will reflect the total amount, including interest and superannuation.
Lump sum remediation payments may be taxed differently to ordinary salary and wages income.
A 'lump sum in arrears' tax offset may apply in some circumstances. Interest payments are not subject to tax or superannuation deductions; however, you must declare interest income in your tax return. The University recommends seeking independent financial or tax advice regarding your personal circumstances. More information is available on the ATO website.
Where the University becomes aware that an Affected Teaching Associate has passed away, it will take all reasonable steps to ensure the remediation payment is made to their estate. Please contact SSCReview@monash.edu if you are contacting the University on behalf of a deceased estate.
The remediation program covers Teaching Associates employed under the relevant Monash Enterprise Agreements during the relevant period. If you worked at a Monash campus outside Australia and believe you may be affected, please contact SSCReview@monash.edu to discuss your circumstances.
The Independent Decision Maker is a former senior member of the Fair Work Commission and a qualified, independent third party appointed by agreement between Monash University and the National Tertiary Education Union.
An independent quality assurance partner was engaged to review our findings.
As agreed with the National Tertiary Education Union, the review covers the period from 15 September 2016 to 30 June 2025.
In July 2025, the Federal Court clarified a long-standing ambiguity in the University's Enterprise Agreement about payment for SSC. The Court found that scheduled student consultation (SSC) required by the University is not part of the associated work for a tutorial or lecture and must instead be paid separately at the applicable ORAA hourly rate.
From the start of Semester Two 2025, the University implemented updated student consultation guidelines and practices to ensure SSC is separately paid going forward.
Timesheet records for the Relevant Period (15 September 2016 to 30 June 2025) were reviewed to identify sessional Teaching Associates who delivered tutorials or lectures in Faculties, Schools or Departments where scheduled student consultation was required but was not separately paid at the ORAA rate.
Remediation amounts have been calculated at the ORAA hourly rate that applied at the time, with a breakdown provided by year, period, unit, hours and rate in your Notice of Assessment.

Yes. The gross amount is subject to applicable taxation under relevant taxation laws. The University is required to withhold tax and remit it to the ATO on your behalf based on the tax rate held on file for you.
Lump sum remediation payments may have different tax treatment to ordinary salary and wages income, depending on the amount and the period to which the payment relates. The University recommends seeking independent financial or tax advice if you have questions about how this payment affects your individual circumstances. More information on lump sum payments in arrears is available on the ATO website.
The Notice of Assessment (NoA) details the base remediation amount exclusively. Once the payment is processed, a payslip will be issued to you detailing the base remediation amount, interest, and superannuation.
It will also reflect the tax withheld in line with ATO obligations.
You can verify that this contact is legitimate by contacting the Scheduled Student Consultation Remediation Team at SSCReview@monash.edu or by calling Access HR on 03 9902 0400 and selecting option 3.
Do not provide personal or banking details to any contact that you are not certain is from Monash University HR.
Please contact Access HR directly on (03) 9902 0400, selecting option 3. You will be required to pass an identity check over the phone. A member of the team will assist you from there.
As you are no longer employed by Monash, the University does not hold current banking, tax or superannuation details for you. You will need to provide these to enable us to process your payment.
You will receive a secure link to the Qualtrics payment details form in your Notice of Assessment or Supplementary Claim email.
If you believe you may be affected but have not been contacted by the University by 9 July 2026, you can submit a claim through the supplementary claims process.
Further information, including the statutory declaration template and submission form, is available on this webpage.

Contact and support

If you have questions about the program that are not answered on this page, please contact the SSC Remediation team:

Email: SSCReview@monash.edu
Access HR: hr@monash.edu

This page will remain accessible for at least 12 months from its publication date, in accordance with the Settlement Agreement.

Privacy

Monash University values the privacy of every individual’s personal information and is committed to the protection of that information from unauthorised use and disclosure except where permitted by law. For information about the handling of your personal information please see Employee Data Protection and Privacy Collection Statement. For more information about Data Protection and Privacy at Monash University please see our Data Protection and Privacy Procedure.

If you have any questions about how Monash University is collecting and handling your personal information, please contact our Data Protection and Privacy Office at dataprotectionofficer@monash.edu.

Scheduled Student Consultation Remediation Program