People and Culture

Professional Staff are eligible:

• After 12 months continuous service with ECU.
• If Performance over the previous year has been assessed as at least satisfactory.
• After a 2 year period from the date of approval of a previous successful application.
• If their line Manager confirms the application is consistent with a career plan discussed as part of the Management for Performance process.
• Where the professional development activity has a direct relevance and benefit to their existing or near future possible career at ECU, and leads to a demonstrable contribution to the work and productivity of ECU.
• When the application has the endorsement of the relevant line manager and line executive.

Academic Career Development Fellows are eligible:

• In the first 12 months of their appointment.
• Where their line manager confirmed the activity is consistent with objectives identified within the employees Management for Performance.

Group or Team Development Activities

• Are not eligible to be funded from the PD Fund. Only Individuals may apply.

Applications may be made for the following activities:

• Accredited courses offered by a Higher Education Provider or Registered Training Organisation
• Professional Development courses/programs offered by professional institutions or accredited private providers.
• Conferences, seminars, workshops that provide a clear demonstrable outcome and cost/benefit.
• Mentoring/Coaching assistance formally required for employees that have exhausted the JLP mentoring system and arranged by the relevant manager as part of the outcomes from the MPS discussions.

The PD Fund will not support development activities and programs that are substantially equivalent to those already offered through by the University as part of its professional development offerings.

Some development activities will be assessed as incurring an FBT liability.

If FBT does apply to the development activity, the FBT amount will firstly be deducted from the maximum funding allocation of $5000, and the remaining balance then being available to the applicant.

Please refer to the Application Form and the FBT examples in the PD Fund Guidelines for further information.

Additional guidance can be obtained from the ECU Tax Team tax@ecu.edu.au

An Academic Career Development Fellow (ACDF) is a fixed-term appointment at Level A. Please refer to the ECU Enterprise Agreement for further information regarding Academic Career Development Fellows.

Once an applicant has received their approval letter, the PD Activity should be booked and payment arranged by:

• The individual for activities that will lead to a degree, certificate or qualification.
• The applicant’s business unit for other, non-qualification, development activities.
• Other means by negotiation between the applicant and line manager/business unit.

Reimbursement from the PD Fund to the individual or business unit will be made on successful completion of the activity, and upon receipt of proof of payment, proof of completion and reimbursement details by the PD Fund Executive Officer.

Reimbursement requests should be submitted as soon as possible after completion of the PD activity.

Further information on the reimbursement process is provided in the award letter for successful applicants.

When discussing the PD Fund opportunity with the staff member, and whether to endorse the application, please ensure:

• The applicant’s performance and MPS has been discussed and the opportunity aligns with the MPS objectives.
• The development opportunity aligns with the University’s strategic and business needs.
• The staff member meets the eligibility requirements.
• The proper financial procedures have been followed, and the possibility of the need to recover financial losses should the applicant not complete the PD activity.
• The cost benefit aspects of the PD opportunity have been considered.
• The impact of the development opportunity on the applicant’s workload has been reviewed and can be managed.

Complete the application form, available from this page.

Consult with the tax team if you are unsure of the FBT implications of your PD Activity.

Submit your application to pdfund@ecu.edu.au

Please allow 1 month for your application to be processed and an outcome to be advised.