Tutors at Melbourne
Tutoring is an important role which requires a unique mix of academic and interpersonal skills.It is primarily tutors who guide and support students through their university experience, marking their work and providing advice
and support throughout the year.
Tutors are expected to read all the materials, prepare the tutorials, deliver the tutorials, provide support and advice for students and liaise with other academics. As the tutorial rate is based on a notional three hours pay for the first tutorial and two hours for the second, any work in excess of these hours is unpaid work. It is quite common for tutors to be effectively working for $5 an hour when this is taken into account.
Tutors do not have a clearly defined career path; it is a matter of trying to piece together tutoring and research work to try to make up a reasonable income. In the summer and winter breaks, when there is no pay for casuals, there is often little time to find and settle into another fill-in job.
This situation is commonly justified on the grounds that tutoring represents some type of apprenticeship.
However, Unlike and apprenticeship, there is no specific "university teaching" qualification at the end of a set period. There is no guarantee of ongoing work, no increase in pay and little training nor recognition of the tutoring. Tutors receive very little professional development or collegial recognition.
It is essential that we fix these problems as the expectations placed on casual tutors are excessive and the pay and conditions are poor.
As a Tutor I take 3 tutorials a week
In addition to the 3 hours giving the tutorials, this requires:
2 hours of attending lectures
5 hours doing the week's reading
2 hours preparing the tutorials
3 hours marking small weekly assignments
2 hours talking to students and replying to emails
I have no pay progression, no sick leave, no annual leave, no recognised training or any real career path.
This is just no fair -- Tutors deserve a fair go
The NTEU is fighting a campaign jointly with UMPA to force the University to recognize the important role of tutors and the need to dramatically increase pay and conditions for all tutors at Melbourne University.
To get involved
email unimelb@nteu.org.au
Further information:
| Tutors flyer | Please take a copy of the flyer - print it out and stick it up in a area used by tutors |