Australian Catholic University
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    Australian Catholic University
    (72 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Australian Catholic University

    3.872 ratings in total
    5
    29
    4
    20
    3
    9
    2
    6
    1
    8
    90%
    Rate salary as high or average
    72%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    4.1(72 ratings)
    Career development
    3.3(72 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.6(72 ratings)
    Management
    3.4(72 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.9(72 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    4.0(72 ratings)
    Ratings for Australian Catholic University are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 73 reviews sorted by most recent
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    2.0
    AskACU worker
    Dec 2025
    Sydney NSW 20003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Look away and find something else!! Not mentally worth it.
    The good thingsThe pay and super is good and that's it.
    The challengesVery outdated processes. That's not just this team though, the whole university needs a clean up. Culture wise, the worst job at the university to work for. You are not valued, not empowered and not developed. There is very little praise, and lot's of scolding by management. They are well and truly on a power trip. You are better off joining another team as a casual, like a School. Those teams treat their staff like a human being and work around them. These people just care about flaunting their power. Lot's of micro-management and looking over your shoulder. Definitely do not uphold ACU's mission and values from where I'm standing. HR should be more involved in this team, lot's of questionable things happening.
    6 people found this helpful
    5.0
    National Security Manager
    Sep 2025
    North Sydney NSW 20603 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Enjoyable fast paced and satisfying
    The good thingsSense of belonging and mutual respect from colleagues
    The challengesTaking responsibility and ownership
    1.0
    Research Professional
    Feb 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40005 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Does not encourage career progression.
    The good thingsThere were some lovely colleagues, but they did not stay long. ...
    The challengesNo career progression for post-doctoral researchers. ACU does not build capacity in their emerging research staff including RAs ("casual professionals"). They headhunt high-profile established researchers to try to game the funding system, and do not work on building a sustainable research culture.
    5.0
    Call Centre Role
    Sep 2024
    Fitzroy VIC 30651 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    The best contact centre role out there
    The good things- 17% super - wfh and work life balance considered - great salary packaging (especially for contact centre role) - close knit friendly and positive team - 1 hour lunch breaks - your stats aren't constantly measured and rubbed in your face
    The challenges- takes about 6 months to settle into the role, but once you do you realise it's the best contact centre role you can ever get into.
    5.0
    Administration Role
    Sep 2024
    Fitzroy VIC 30651 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    My work / life balance has improved drastically since moving to ACU.
    The good thingsFlexible work from home / office arrangements, great community
    The challengesHonestly not really a challenge but because a university is so big, it can be difficult to connect with staff across different faculties
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Profession staff
    Feb 2023
    Noting positive to contribute
    The good thingsGood superannuation, good pockets of staff
    The challengesToxic working environment, poor management, micro management focussed, no career progression, staff are always on edge, poor HR and complaints process
    8 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Admin Officer
    Feb 2022
    Very friendly place to work
    The good thingsThe people, the working environment, and the students. It is a very vibrant place that will make you feel at home.
    The challengesFeedback is not always taken on board, the move towards promoting diversity and inclusion is too slow, and those starting out in academia are not always supported enough
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Lecturer
    Dec 2021
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    A great place to work, lots of opportunity to develop professionally.
    The good thingsWork-life balance, colleagues, workplace environment
    The challengesStill a relatively young University (approx. 20 years) as compared to others more established i.e. 'sandstone' universities. Still finding their feet in some ways.
    3.0
    Project Coordinator
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Amazing people to work with, but difficult management
    The good thingsI worked with the most amazing, friendly, committed, intelligent and supportive people at ACU, which made it a pleasure to go to work.
    The challengesHowever, I did not enjoy my job in which I felt stifled. Problems are frequent restructures, siloed and arrogant departments, poor management styles, and hierarchies that slow decision-making significantly. I was refused any professional development during my three years at ACU and opportunities for growth are limited.
    5 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Placement Consultant
    Mar 2020
    former employee
    Very appreciated, valued and included
    The good thingsThe staff are incredible
    The challengesLack of leadership/staffing n Placement division
    2.0
    Senior Student Services Officer
    Mar 2020
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Was a great work environment, now awful
    The good thingsWas an intimate and supportive environmemt
    The challengesNow driven by a corporate agenda
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Information Technology Manager
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Big culture shock unless your entire working career has been in the education sector
    The good thingsThe team I work with
    The challengesNo commitment from management
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Student Adviser
    Mar 2020
    Nice, but highly challenging
    The good thingsAmazing community. The students are great
    The challengesLow resources, 'silo' approach to different teams, national uni so your team aren't always located in your workplace
    5.0
    Deputy Head
    Mar 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, current employee
    I love working for an organisation with a eye for culture and community.
    The good thingsNational character of the university; ethics and values of the university; community engagement.
    The challengesNational character of the University - colleagues in different states of Australia - organisational and technological frameworks needed to ensure appropriate and optimal communication with colleagues in different locations.
    5.0
    EAP teacher-ELICOS department
    Mar 2020
    My The best place to work in and people to work with in my career.
    The good thingsThe best bosses and colleagues I have ever worked with! Motivation and positivity abounds. Personal issues are dealt with with utmost empathy and concern. Advice is taken and given with respect.
    The challengesNone that I can think of.
    1.0
    Senior Research Fellow
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    A terrible place to find oneself as a researcher
    The good thingsI worked in a great research unit, fabulous location in a beautiful office, with great co-workers.
    The challengesThis university has no interest in building capacity in its research staff - but rather invests lots of money to buy high-profile established researchers to try to game the funding system. Focus was entirely on research citations, with no interest in the impact of the research or the careers of staff. Surprising for a catholic institution, I've never seen a university like this one. AVOID!
    6 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Student Ambassador
    Feb 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Fantastic Student job! Loved it!
    The good thingsFlexibility around classes
    The challengesLearning about the full scope of options
    1.0
    Senior Lecturer
    Jan 2020
    All Australia
    It was a great place to teach but not anymore
    The good thingsColleagues! Great, committed and passionate team trying to do their best despite the lack of support from the uni managers.
    The challengesMany. Lack of support. Endless changes. Most resources going to the research institutes rather than teaching. Old fashioned programs. Massive bureaucracy stopping any good initiatives from lecturers. Few opportunities to contribute to positive changes....
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Research Project Coordinator
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Wonderful place to work
    The good thingsFlexible work arrangements, great superannuation at 17%
    The challengesTravelling for some research projects can be time consuming
    4.0
    Properties & Facilities
    Nov 2019
    98% awesome, 2% dealing with snowflakes.
    The good thingsNice atmosphere, friendly.
    The challengesSelf entitled staff/academics that have been here too long and wouldn't last a day in a \"real job\".
    5 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Adjunct Lecturer
    Nov 2019
    My experience is positive given all the Uni offers
    The good thingsThe people and the quiet environment
    The challengesTheres none I can think of
    4.0
    Senior Human Resources Officer
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Good place to work
    The good thingsgreat team environment, supportive,. fun and engaging workplace
    The challengesRed tape! Too much hierarchy
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Sessional Lecturer
    Oct 2019
    All Australia3 to 4 years in the role
    Great sessional work experience
    The good thingsGood work environment Great colleagues
    The challengesSessional work schedules
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Professional Services Consultant
    May 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Not enough staff to feel able to deliver a quality education experience for students.
    The good thingsThe people are wonderful. A fantastic community feeling and not religious.
    The challengesThe workload is too heavy.
    5.0
    Research Officer
    May 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Great
    The good thingsflexible, give opportunities
    The challengesDay today challenges
    4.0
    Marketing Role
    May 2019
    Great place to work. Pity about the managers though.
    The good thingsGenerous and flexible with leave Friendly colleagues They are genuinely trying to do good
    The challengesThe bureaucracy of a uni Unable to distance itself from some of the more radical and outdated views of the Catholic Church The further up the hierarchy, the less competent the employee
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Clinical Nurse Educator
    May 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Amazing would go back any day
    The good thingsVery supportive great staff.
    The challengesNo challenges at all.
    5.0
    National Manager
    May 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    An organisation with future vision and encourages professional growth
    The good thingsRespect from my executive managers/ directors
    The challengesWorkload and balancing remote managerial duties
    4.0
    International Student Recruitment
    Jan 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Really enjoyed my time here
    The good thingsGreat friendly environment, with good team ethos
    The challengesBudget cuts and lack of resources
    3.0
    Corporate
    Nov 2018
    All Australia5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    A university that trys to be good but lets its desire to appear reasonable get in the way.
    The good thingsDiverse campus locations and some opportunity to work across campuses if in a holistic role
    The challengesBureaucracy, busy-work and committees for everything!
    1 person found this helpful
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