Federation University Australia
Write a review
    Federation University Australia
    (52 reviews)
    Write a review
    Write a review

    Company Reviews

    Working at Federation University Australia

    3.252 ratings in total
    5
    15
    4
    12
    3
    5
    2
    10
    1
    10
    85%
    Rate salary as high or average
    54%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.5(52 ratings)
    Career development
    2.9(52 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.1(52 ratings)
    Management
    2.8(52 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.2(52 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.6(52 ratings)
    Ratings for Federation University Australia are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 52 reviews sorted by most recent
    Sort by
    most recent
    2.0
    educaton
    Dec 2025
    Ballarat & Central Highlands VIC5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Don't do it to yourself
    The good thingsStudents and some staff
    The challengesLeadership level has way too many poeple all focussed on data and disconnected from their 'people' ie. staff - bad players rewarded - teachers not supported, just pounded for more blood, no resources, no listening
    2.0
    Worker
    Jul 2025
    Melbourne VIC 30007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    I really learnt what a toxic workplace is.
    The good thingsSome very passionate staff in the early years.
    The challengesLeft a very toxic culture. Senior level lacked vision which chopped and changed every six months. No respect for staff at lower levels. Lots of professional staff running around in circles cleaning up poor financial decisions and bad business contracts made at the top which is still ongoing. My very senior had one staff meeting with the portfolio in three years. No communication- a real holder of information to be used to humiliate staff for not knowing. That created a culture amongst managers of fear which filtered down. Staff were never emotionally settled. Some middle managers were overworked to the point of burn out while others religiously took leave entitlements to avoid the place and avoid the toxic culture that had settled in. Often we were left to our own devices, to “just fix it” as the Senior Team re developed vision after vision. In the end and after continued restructures and redundancies where knowledge walked out the door, I left.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Supervisor
    Jun 2024
    Mount Helen VIC 3350
    Good place to work with nice people but management soon make it a stressful work environment
    The good thingsWorking with some great staff
    The challengesManagement very top heavy ,it’s the managers way or no way ,no room for input or to further your career,staff training nearly non existent!!
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Student Experience Officer
    Dec 2023
    Berwick VIC 38061 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Very glad to be working at such an amazing institution. Colleagues are amazing and the management even better.
    The good things- Management is awesome. (Very understanding and down-to-earth) - Great work-life balance - Good flexibility - Provision of constant training/development
    The challenges- Not much perks/benefits (discounts, parking discounts, etc) available as a staff member
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Advancement Support Officer
    Jun 2023
    Mount Helen VIC 3350Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Wouldn't recommend base just on management.
    The good thingsAchieved my daily steps target by walking to and from the car park each day.
    The challengesProbationary period guidelines weren't enforced. Management in Advacement was not suitable condition.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Academic Staff Member
    Apr 2022
    9 to 10 years in the role
    Burnout
    The good thingsFriendly and supportive colleagues
    The challengesManagement have no regard for staff. Workloads are unrealistic and frequently lead to staff turnover which impacts on existing staff workloads. Change papers seem to come out every few months and so you never quite feel that your job is safe.
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Mentor
    Jan 2022
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    An excellent experience working at a friendly, supportive, flexible environment with fantastic management.
    The good thingsIncredible support from management, flexible working hours, friendly environment.
    The challengesNone. The experience of working here as a whole was faultless.
    1.0
    Teacher
    Sep 2021
    After 25 years of continued loyal service on my behalf, Federation University did not return that loyalty.
    The good thingsMy student cohort and the course that I coordinated and taught in.
    The challengesManagement and stringent compliance.
    3 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Pref
    Jan 2021
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Challenging
    The good thingsMost colleagues Smaller campuses are the best to work at
    The challengesNo procedures No regard for those on the floor High management have no care for staff Poor performance rewarded Bad behaviour allowed to continue Middle managers are not supported
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Role
    Apr 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Unrealistic workload expectations
    The good thingsGreat people in some departments
    The challengesWork overload employees get burnt out and leave. Bad management decisions. Culture not good
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Administration Role
    Mar 2020
    Frustrating and limited
    The good thingsGood programs and nice people in the mix.
    The challengesLongtime staff stuffy culture
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Scientist
    Mar 2020
    Challenging, sometimes rewarding, mostly confusing
    The good thingsStaff- approachable yet threatened, the morale is less than positive
    The challengesChanging job description
    4.0
    Academic Staff Member
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Awesome
    The good thingsGet students with good educational background
    The challengesIn less resources to deliver high level lectures and lab
    5.0
    Administration Support Officer
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role
    Support and teamwork is paramount, a great employer!
    The good thingsGreat people and development opportunities
    The challengesNo negative challenges.
    1.0
    TAFE Teacher
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Bad decisions and neglected students and staff.
    The good thingsThe other staff members
    The challengesManagement don’t listen to staff and their whole focus is Higher education and not Vocational education.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Education staff
    Mar 2020
    Very challenging with an unsustainable workload.
    The good thingsThe majority of staff are collegial.
    The challengesThe funding model supplied by the government make funding programs correctly impossible. As such there are some very overworked staff and many that burn out and leave.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Cleaner
    Mar 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Rewarding
    The good thingsThe employees were so helpful
    The challengesMake sure all tasks are done in time
    3.0
    Student Support Officer
    Nov 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Loved working with the students but poor management
    The good thingsBest thing was helping the students.
    The challengesToo many levels in the structure to allow changes to be made. Poor behaviour can not be acted on because of poor HR processes. More training needed.
    5.0
    Sessional Tutor
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Great experience
    The good thingsSupportive environment
    The challengesCross campus communication
    5.0
    Business Intelligence Analyst
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Good Learning Experience
    The good thingsGood management and friendly environment
    The challengesHave to have great domain Knowledge of education sector
    1.0
    Lecturer
    Sep 2019
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Difficult.
    The good thingsMostly, the people and the students.
    The challengesNo or little funding or support for programs. No personal development or career nurturing. Forced to compete with and \"badmouth\" peers and colleagues for continuing positions and promotions.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Operations Manager
    Sep 2019
    Fantastic opportunity working with a great team
    The good thingsSupportive environment with a talented leadership team
    The challengesWorking in a regional setting across five campuses
    4.0
    Corporate Services Officer
    May 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role
    A great place to work.
    The good thingsVery friendly environment.
    The challengesNot enough staff during busy times to cope with workload.
    5.0
    Student Liaison Officer
    May 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Opportunity of a lifetime
    The good thingsColleagues are supportive
    The challengesThe computer system was confusing
    1.0
    Administration Role
    May 2019
    former employee
    Diss appointed with the lack of decision making.
    The good thingsAutonomy in my role is good, basically left todo my job.
    The challengesNo communication, poor inexperienced management
    2.0
    Information Technology Service Management Technical Consultant
    Apr 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role
    A good workplace marred by conflicting schedules and top heavy management
    The good thingsLarge area to walk around, Attention to detail
    The challengesBA would often make work harder, Poor Job Safety, Issues raised were not heard, Double set of standards depending on length of working prestige, Poor professional development
    3.0
    Manager
    Feb 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    A frustrating missed opportunity.
    The good thingsThere are some really good, passionate and high performing people in this organisation, some of them are even committed to high quality teaching and learning. The overall mission of the organisation could and should be great to bring higher education and its life changing benefits to regional and disadvantaged cohorts of students. Location is great, Ballarat is a very nice regional city. Given it’s smaller size, in some cases you might be able to have a disproportionate impact from team leader, middle management level but these opportunities are few and far between. If you’re looking for a steady job in the comfort zone this is a great place to work as you’ll rarely be held accountable.
    The challengesExecutive management is the least competent I’ve encountered in a 20 year career. The talent pool amongst middle managers was very deep, but almost all high performers eventually resigned over a 5 year period due to the complete absence of career development opportunities and frustrations in pushing forward with common sense organisational change. It’s understandable in a way that executives and directors don’t want to develop the careers of their teams, or push hard for change when they are very comfortable with status quo. If you value performing, developing people, and driving change, you might find this a frustrating environment.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Senior Lecturer
    Nov 2018
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Good if you want to work in the 1950s
    The good thingsFresh air, good working hours,pool
    The challengesNo direction. No accountability. Management are second rate. Too many processes. Slow to act. No clear processes. 1950s' mentality
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Security Guard
    Oct 2018
    Compared to other companies I have worked for in the past, this company was the poorest performer in all aspects.
    The good thingsGoing home at the end of a shift
    The challengesChallenges? Trying to do what would be the right thing, and being put down for it.
    4.0
    Administration Officer
    Sep 2018
    Exciting place to work
    The good thingsGreat pay rates & conditions
    The challengesPoor leadership & lack of opportunities to progress
    1 person found this helpful
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.
    Reviews by location
    All Melbourne VICBallarat & Central Highlands VIC