A major new study from Adelaide University has painted a sobering picture of staff wellbeing across Australia’s higher education sector, warning that psychosocial safety risks are now consistently high across universities nationwide.
The Australian Research Council-funded report, titled the Australian Universities Census on Staff Wellbeing, draws on responses from more than 11,500 staff across 42 universities. It ranks 36 institutions against national psychosocial safety climate benchmarks and finds that every university assessed recorded high or very high levels of psychosocial risk.
The top three performers in the rankings were Charles Darwin University, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Queensland, though the report stresses that elevated risks remain widespread across the sector.
Among the most concerning findings, more than 80 per cent of staff reported high or very high emotional exhaustion. More than three-quarters said they were experiencing heightened psychosocial safety risks, and 73 per cent disagreed that risks to psychological health were being actively monitored.
The study suggests these pressures are being driven by weaknesses in workplace safety systems, including limited management support, poor communication, insufficient consultation, and gaps in how psychosocial risks are identified and addressed.
Lead researcher ARC Laureate Professor Maureen Dollard said the results reflect long-running structural pressures in the university system, alongside growing workloads, job insecurity, restructures, and funding constraints.
“Staff are the backbone of teaching, research, and student support,” Professor Dollard said. “Yet their psychological health has been neglected for far too long. Without urgent action, the sector’s ability to deliver high-quality education, world-class research, and positive student experiences will be compromised.”
She added that psychosocial safety should no longer be treated as an isolated workplace concern, but as a sector-wide challenge requiring coordinated action and a shift in leadership priorities.
“This study shows that psychosocial safety is a sector-wide issue and requires a sector-wide approach,” she said. “It also requires a shift in the mindset of university management, from a productivity agenda to prioritising worker psychological health and wellbeing as a key performance indicator.”
The findings will be discussed at an online national seminar held today, featuring Professor Dollard, Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, Safe Work Australia CEO Marie Boland, and National Tertiary Education Union assistant secretary Gabe Gooding.
The report also highlights universities’ legal obligations under Australian work health and safety laws to prevent and manage psychosocial risks, placing additional pressure on institutions to respond with clearer strategies and stronger accountability.
Adelaide University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nicola Phillips said the research reinforces the need for staff wellbeing to sit at the centre of institutional planning, particularly as Adelaide University establishes itself as a new entity.
“As a new university, Adelaide University has a unique opportunity to learn from this national evidence and embed strong psychosocial safety practices from the outset,” Professor Phillips said.
“We recognise the pressures facing the higher education sector and are committed to building a workplace that supports our people. We are prioritising engagement, listening to feedback, and keeping open channels so all staff feel supported and valued.”
Professor Dollard said ongoing transparency and collaboration across the sector will be essential if universities are to rebuild trust and improve working conditions.
“By prioritising psychosocial safety, universities can rebuild trust, strengthen performance, and create workplaces that support the wellbeing of the people who make higher education possible,” she said.
The report arrives amid growing scrutiny of university governance, workforce conditions, and the long-term sustainability of Australia’s higher education system, with staff wellbeing now emerging as a central issue rather than a secondary concern.
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