University slams ABC for ‘out of context’ reporting on staff support measures
The University of Technology Sydney has slammed the ABC for “not correct” and “out of context” reporting that links staff support initiatives to temporary course closures.
The ABC article, published August 14, appeared under the headline ‘University of Technology Sydney tells staff facing axe to ‘wash delicates’ to help manage stress as it suspends 146 courses’.
The article said “after ABC News revealed high levels of psychological distress among staff facing the axe [in a separate July report], UTS rolled out advice to support their wellbeing”.
This included providing staff with a list of 50 wellbeing tips, with advice such as “bake a dessert”, “start a tea ritual”, and “brush or floss your teeth every day.”
According to the ABC, who quote a number of anonymous staffers, the “bizarre” stress management advice “de-legitimised” the concerns of those fearing pending unemployment. UTS staff have been told 400 people will lose their jobs later in the year, in a bid to save $100 million in costs. This represents around 10% of UTS’ total workforce.
The offending story.
In an email to staff, reproduced in part in the ABC story, the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt said no decisions had been made on job losses, and “no decision has been made to discontinue any course. The temporary suspension is aimed at prospective new students for 2026.”
The ABC reports the suspended courses span numerous faculties, including business, design, engineering and IT, health, law, and sciences.
After the story was published, the UTS issued a statement saying it works “to provide a range of resources and tools rather than a one size fits all approach” and that support resources are “available at all times and include key internal contacts, training, counselling, well-being and career resources.”
It took aim at the ABC’s “out of context” reporting.
“We are disappointed that the ABC reported that these comprehensive support initiatives were only rolled out as a result of their reporting.
“This is not correct and resources have always been available to support staff through challenges at work and in their personal lives.
“By focusing on just six dot points from a single article on an external wellbeing hub comprising extensive, differentiated resources, the ABC chose to portray this as being representative of the tone, intent and totality of support provided to UTS employees.
“When presented out of context, the quoted advice on embedding self-care in a daily routine was not appropriate.”
Mumbrella has reached out to ABC for its response.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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