Overview: High-cost consulting in a time of cuts
Western Sydney University (WSU) is slipping deeper into financial strain as it prepares to shed hundreds of staff. Leaked documents obtained by the ABC reveal that several senior consultants are being paid rates as high as $2,850 per day, with individual invoices showing five weeks of work topping $85,000 plus tolls and parking fees. The disclosures come as the university announces about 400 voluntary redundancies—more than 10% of its 3,500-strong workforce.
What the documents show
The internal records, reviewed by ABC, show at least seven senior consultants from different firms receiving day rates ranging from $1,325 to $2,850. In at least one case, the five-week bill approached $85,000, with an extra $355 charged for tolls and parking. University administrators say consultants are being used to support a restructuring process that management says is straining permanent staff due to burnout.
Justification and scope
WSU argues that the use of consultants is limited to areas such as cybersecurity, regulatory work, and surge periods during the change process. The university said the decision to engage external expertise comes from a need to protect ongoing operations while staff work through the changes. A spokesperson added that the approach is intended to be temporary and managed by current WSU personnel.
Concerns from staff and unions
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has voiced concerns that one consultant was effectively in a senior executive role and billed more than $10,000 per week. Critics within the university community argue that such expensive external staffing during a period of mass redundancies risks eroding trust and diminishing morale among permanent employees who face job losses and career uncertainty.
Staff perspectives
Some staff fear that high day rates set a precedent for external governance during a period of upheaval. Dr. James Burchell, a faculty observer, noted that consultants are not university officers and questioned the lack of transparency around the decision-making process for redundancies and restructuring.
<h2 Broader sector context
The clashes at WSU mirror wider tensions in Australian higher education, where universities face funding pressures and governance scrutiny. A Senate inquiry interim report highlighted governance concerns across the sector, while the NTEU has highlighted sector-wide consultant spend as a symptom of strained public funding.
Recent estimates placed Australian universities’ annual consultant spend at hundreds of millions of dollars, prompting calls for increased transparency and accountability in staffing decisions during restructures.
Industry response
Universities Australia argues that consultancy plays a targeted, proportionate role in large, complex institutions, helping deliver specialized expertise when needed. CEO Luke Sheehy defends the practice as essential for strategic decision-making and for maintaining university sustainability in a tight funding environment. Critics argue that reliance on external advisers can obscure the real impact of job cuts and course reductions from the public and staff alike.
<h2 Student voice and potential impact
Students, already carrying debt burdens, are expressing concern about the university’s ability to maintain quality and service levels amid upheaval. Some representatives worry that rapid restructuring without robust consultation could undermine the learning experience and the university’s long-term mission.
<h2 Looking ahead
WSU has pledged to manage the change process through its own leadership while bringing in consultants for specific needs. The coming months will reveal how the university balances cost-control with the imperative to protect staff, maintain student outcomes, and preserve academic integrity during a period of significant upheaval.
