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Further to the message from the Vice-Chancellor about , the University has opened a second Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) on Friday 29 August 2025.

The VSS will run alongside formal change activities across the University, offering eligible continuing employees a supported and voluntary pathway to leave ANU.

Why is the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) being opened again?

The University has re-opened the VSS to give staff greater choice during this period of change. It provides a voluntary pathway for those considering opportunities beyond ANU, offering fair and mutually agreed terms for departure.

The previous round of the VSS proved highly effective, reducing the scale of formal change processes and limiting the need for involuntary redundancies. This new VSS round continues that approach — balancing financial responsibility with care for our people, ensuring staff have genuine options, and are supported in their career and personal goals. The VSS process is guided by principles of fairness, organisational need, and sustainability.

VSS application pathways and process

There are three VSS pathways available, depending on your circumstances:

1. Previous VSS Expression of Interests (EOIs) – if you submitted an EOI earlier this year, you do not need to reapply unless you have accepted a different role. As previously committed, these applications may be reconsidered in response to the evolving needs of the University. Your submission will be reviewed with your delegate, and you will be contacted about the outcome by People and Culture. If the Recruitment Approval Committee's (RAC) decision is to now approve your original request, you will have the opportunity to either accept or decline the offer.
2. Staff in areas undergoing formal organisational change: Applications from staff in areas undergoing formal organisational change will be prioritised. These applications will be assessed alongside current change processes, helping to provide voluntary options and reduce the need for involuntary redundancies through planning. All staff in areas undergoing change who wish to express their interest in separating should complete this by 5pm Friday 12 September 2025.
3. Staff in areas not undergoing formal change: Applications are open for four weeks. New VSS applications for staff not in an area affected by formal change should complete this by 5pm Friday 26 September 2025.

Key dates

For staff in areas currently undergoing organisational change

For staff in areas not undergoing formal organisational change

UniSuper information session

The University is working with UniSuper to provide you with an understanding of voluntary separation schemes. There are two webcasts scheduled for the week commencing Monday 8 September.

Details and registration links to the webcasts follow:

• Monday 8 September at 12.30pm
• Wednesday 10 September at 12.30pm

We encourage all those interested to register even if the time/date is not suitable, as you will be sent a recording of the session to watch later.

Note: attendance is open to everyone, even if you are not a UniSuper member.

Eligibility:

The VSS is open to continuing academic and professional staff members only.

Please note:

• Continuing (contingent funding), fixed term, and casual staff are not eligible.
• Staff who have already resigned or entered into pre-retirement agreements are not eligible.
• EOIs from staff in critical or high-demand roles may not be approved if the role is considered essential to the University.

Separation Dates

The University is seeking Expressions of Interest from staff wishing to separate on or before 30 November 2025. Please note that any separation date offered will be subject to operational requirements, ensuring that University services and programs continue to function effectively during this period of change. Staff are encouraged to discuss potential timing with their delegate or People & Culture Business Partner as part of the VSS process.

Benefits

Participating in the Voluntary Separation Scheme provides eligible employees with:

• Financial entitlements – a separation package including severance pay and leave payouts.
• An opportunity to transition out of the University and explore new career or personal pathways.

Criteria:

Applications will be considered based on operational requirements. The assessment will consider the following factors:

• Position necessity: Whether your position is essential to the University's current and future needs.
• Workload impact: If your tasks can be managed differently while meeting workload and WH&S requirements.
• Irreplaceable skills and knowledge: If your specific skills or knowledge should be retained.
• For academic staff, whether your departure would negatively impact educational programs, research, or student experience. 

The final decision will reflect a comprehensive evaluation of these factors to ensure the best outcome. An offer for voluntary separation will only be made after this assessment is complete. 

Staff are encouraged to carefully consider whether the VSS is right for them and to make use of the upcoming information sessions.

Application and Review

• Participation in the VSS process is entirely voluntary.
• Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) does not guarantee approval.
• EOIs are assessed against set criteria, including operational needs, future workforce requirements, and whether critical skills are required.
• Approved applications will proceed to formal documentation, including confirmation of a separation date.

If you submitted an EOI in the earlier 2025 VSS, you do not need to reapply unless you have formally accepted another position elsewhere in the University. Previously submitted applications will be automatically reassessed.

Voluntary Separation Scheme – Payment Structure

The structure and amount offered to interested and eligible staff have been informed and influenced by our legislative obligations, our Enterprise Agreement, as well as operational considerations. Our Enterprise Agreement permits the University and eligible staff to mutually agree to a separation.

Under clause 69 of the Enterprise Agreement, The University will only offer a redundancy when a staff member’s position is genuinely in excess of requirements, as outlined in clause 57 (Redundancy).

If your EOI for VSS is approved and accepted, you will be offered a voluntary separation package based on the following framework:

• Separation Payment: 3 weeks’ salary per completed year of service (minimum payment of 5 weeks), capped at:
  • 68 weeks (academic staff)
  • 64 weeks (professional staff)
• Notice period: 6 weeks’ pay
• Leave: payment for accrued annual leave and long service leave (if eligible)
• Taxation: treated as a genuine redundancy for tax purposes

These payments and this scheme have been discussed with the NTEU.

Additionally, employees are encouraged to seek independent financial, taxation and career advice before deciding to accept a Voluntary Separation.

Voluntary Separation Estimator 

The University understands the financial terms offered in a voluntary separation is an important consideration for employees. The University has created a voluntary separation estimator which provides an estimate of a potential voluntary separation offer. The estimator is available here.

Applicants in areas affected by formal organisational change

If an EOI application is approved for a staff member in an area affected by formal organisational change, the way a separation is structured will reflect the context in which the EOI was submitted:

• Staff in areas undergoing formal organisational change but whose positions have not been identified as at-risk of their positions becoming surplus (for example, a direct transfer, change in reporting line or a change to position title/position description) will be offered a separation under the VSS payment structure described above.
• Staff whose continuing positions have been identified as potentially surplus through a change proposal (for example, where roles may be disestablished or reduced in number) may instead be offered a voluntary redundancy.

Further information on the voluntary separation pathway for staff affected by formal organisational change is available .

Support and information resources

To help staff navigate the VSS process and make informed decisions, a range of supports and resources are available:

• Information sessions:
  • Staff undergoing formal organisational change can attend a Zoom information session on Wednesday 3 September 2025, 1.30–2.30pm. ()
  • Staff not undergoing formal organisational change can attend a Zoom information Wednesday 3 September 2025, 3.15–4.15pm. ()
• VSS FAQs (general)
• – is available on the site. This Guide brings together information, resources and links on wellbeing, mental health and workplace supports to help managers, staff and teams access the right assistance when needed.
• Voluntary Separation Estimator
• for staff undergoing formal organisational change.
• for staff not undergoing formal organisational change.

For individual queries, please contact your local  o°ù vss@anu.edu.au.