• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Policy
• Section 5 - Procedure
• Performance and Development Framework
• Recognition and Reward  
• Vice-Chancellor's Awards 
• Achievement awards
• Service awards
•  
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Procedure is effective from 9 August 2024.

Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This Procedure outlines the performance development framework and the recognition and reward programs and initiatives to support staff as they contribute to the achievement of the University’s strategies and priorities and their own career and development goals. 

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This Procedure applies to all staff of the University.

Section 4 - Policy

(4) This Procedure is pursuant to the Employment of Staff Policy.

Section 5 - Procedure

Performance and Development Framework

(5) The University’s performance and development framework known as DeakinAchieve:

1. provides leaders and staff with a formal performance and development process which also encourages leaders to have regular informal meetings with their staff to provide feedback, review and acknowledgement of staff;
2. provides clarity of roles and responsibilities including through the use of leaders setting probationary objectives in DeakinAchieve,  position descriptions and more general induction processes;
3. assists staff to connect and contribute to the achievement of the University's strategies, priorities and organisational area plans;
4. supports staff in identifying and achieving their development goals;
5. enables clear individual performance objectives and standards that are agreed, where possible, between the leader and staff member;
6. provides regular opportunities for staff appraisal and feedback from leaders based on performance objectives and behavioural standards;
7. provides ways of recognising and rewarding high-performing staff;
8. applies Deakin’s diversity and inclusion principles, including the Principles for Assessing Achievement Relative to Opportunity; and
9. provides a framework for identifying and handling unsatisfactory performance, including the withholding of increments (see Remuneration Procedure) or disciplinary action (see Staff Discipline procedure).

(6) Leaders are responsible for leading the DeakinAchieve process and conversations with all their continuing and fixed-term staff. Where a leader has a casual professional or sessional academic staff member with more than 12 months service, they may use the DeakinAchieve process to facilitate discussions in relation to performance and development as required. 

(7) Where a leader has responsibility for more than 10 staff, they may nominate another senior staff member to conduct the DeakinAchieve process with some staff.

(8) Leaders must ensure that staff on probation have probation objectives documented and assessed as part of the DeakinAchieve process, in accordance with the Probation (Academic Staff) procedure or the Probation (Professional Staff) procedure.

(9) DeakinAchieve objectives and standards are to be agreed between the leader and the staff member in writing, annually. The staff member will not unreasonably withhold their agreement.

(10) At the end of the DeakinAchieve cycle, staff members and leaders will meet to reflect on the contribution and impact of the staff member. The leader will then confirm the performance rating in accordance with the DeakinAchieve rating model. 

Recognition and Reward  

(11) The University values the service, positive performance, demonstration of behaviours aligned with the University's values and outstanding achievements of its staff and acknowledges such contributions across a range of recognition and reward programs and initiatives.

(12) Leaders are responsible for identifying high performing staff as assessed through the DeakinAchieve performance and development framework and for Academic staff, through Schedule A: Principles for Applying and Assessing Achievement Relative to Opportunity of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy.

(13) Leaders can nominate or support applications for staff awards, development opportunities, remuneration rewards  or other non-monetary recognition programs at a University or local area level.

(14) The University recognises staff for significant achievements and positive contributions to the achievement of the University's strategic, teaching and research goals through promotions, professional support and a range of professional development programs.

(15) Annually the University via People and Culture will advise Heads of Organisational Units of the eligibility criteria and any processes relating to the University’s performance bonus program.

Vice-Chancellor's Awards 

(16) Staff who have made an outstanding contribution to the University, or to the wider higher education sector, may be nominated for a Vice-Chancellor's Award.

(17) The Vice-Chancellor's Awards Committee (VCAC) will call for nominations. Details of the nomination process will be published widely and will be circulated to Heads of Organisational Units.

(18) The Teaching Awards Subcommittee (TAS) will consider nominations for Teaching and Learning Awards and make recommendations regarding award recipients to the VCAC.

(19) The VCAC will consider the recommendations made by TAS and nominations for other awards and will make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor regarding award recipients.

(20) The Vice-Chancellor will determine the award recipients with Awards presented to recipients at a formal ceremony.

Achievement awards

(21) Leaders may recognise the high performance and outstanding contribution of any staff member via an achievement award. Such awards may be led at a Faculty or Portfolio level or by the Head of an Organisational Area. 

(22) Such awards can recognise performance and contributions across any area, for example customer experience, innovation in research, teamwork or demonstration of University values.

(23) Awards may include the presentation of certificates, acknowledgement of contribution at appropriate team days and nominal financial rewards such as gift cards in accordance with the Business Expenses Policy. Areas should seek advice from their Finance Partner if they require advice in relation to taxation implications of any financial award.

Service awards

(24) Staff will receive a service award in recognition of reaching significant service milestones at the University. These awards commence upon the completion of 10 years’ service and continue in increments of 10 years.

(25) The recognition of a staff member’s 10-year work anniversary will be carried out by their respective local areas.  Subsequent work anniversary milestones will be acknowledged and provided to staff directly by the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

(26) Staff members may be eligible to receive a service award in a given year, subject to the following conditions:

1. the service anniversary must occur prior to 31 December of the year of the presentation;
2. at the discretion of the Chief People and Culture Officer, casual and sessional service may be recognised as part of the service period when it is followed by consistent fixed-term or continuing employment;
3. at the discretion of the Chief People and Culture Officer, periods of service by a staff member on secondment to another organisation may be recognised for the purposes of service awards.

Section 6 - Definitions

(27) There are no definitions arising under this Procedure.