Open Universities Australia
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    Open Universities Australia
    (36 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at Open Universities Australia

    3.036 ratings in total
    5
    9
    4
    3
    3
    10
    2
    6
    1
    8
    61%
    Rate salary as high or average
    36%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.6(36 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(36 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.9(36 ratings)
    Management
    2.4(36 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.3(36 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.5(36 ratings)
    Ratings for Open Universities Australia are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 36 reviews sorted by most recent
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    3.0
    Student Enrolments Adviser
    Sep 2024
    Docklands VIC 3008
    If you don't quite care about the students you speak to, you have room to make lots of money with an uncapped commission structure. For those with a heart though, the company doesn't actually care about their students.
    The good thingsThere are genuinely some good people that work here and actually care about each student they speak with.
    The challengesThe company employed a Contact Centre Manager that knowingly supported someone within the company that was convicted for child SA. This person has since stood down from the role, but the companies ethics are in question.
    2.0
    Student Experience
    Apr 2024
    Melbourne VIC 3004
    Significant challenges due to poor management practices and uncontrollable external factors that hinder the businesses efforts to make a meaningful impact.
    The good thingsGreat staff and good cause
    The challengesThe management at a company is friendly but tends to act without consequences. They often make hasty decisions without proper research, leading to lost revenue and poor business performance. As a result, the only apparent solution becomes frequent rounds of layoffs to manage the financial strain caused by these decisions.
    3.0
    Student Advisor
    Nov 2020
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Confusing. Exhausting, no commission.
    The good thingsLovely people, Including upper management
    The challengesVery KPI oriented. No matter how much you "bring in" its never enough. Not original to OUA of course, but it wears one down especially since the focus is meant to be about the students. Feel bad for the poor people who choose to do their studied via OUA. Too many administration stuff up. Advice is: Go through throw the universities direct.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Middle manager
    Aug 2020
    A non-profit that Acts for Customers, Cares for each other, Continuously improves.
    The good things1 Didn't lay anyone off through COVID - actually hired more. 2 Moved into autonomous, cross-functional teams about 18 months ago. This means that I get a lot of say on what we will work on, and how we will do it. 3 Very transparent company. 4 Good people - I feel like the company genuinely cares about be. 5 Its a non-profit and great if you really connect with the purpose, to help people get going with uni who might not otherwise get the chance. 6 Company is aligned on that purpose far more than financials.
    The challengesWay better than it used to be, but still improving. Agile in some areas, not in others.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Data Engineer
    Mar 2020
    It was good, I gave a lot I learned a lot. It was a great work place.
    The good thingsWork life balance and good people to work with.
    The challengesNot a very stable platform
    2.0
    Support Officer
    Mar 2020
    3 to 4 years in the role
    Less opportunity for vertical growth. Very low salary.
    The good thingsFriendly and cooperative colleagues and a friendly environment. No office is fabulous.
    The challengesChanging market dynamics poses a threat to the online education market.
    4.0
    Student Adviser
    Mar 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Flexible, Great Pay but needs improvement
    The good thingsHigh salary considering the work. Very relaxed work environment, no dress code. Flexible work arrangements. Great job security and KPIs are achievable.
    The challengesNot enough women in the workplace. Little to no room for career advancement. Management are very Us vs Them. Company is divided into two sectors and the communication between them is non-existent. Each department blames the other for issues instead of taking responsibility and focusing on solutions.
    5 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Student Adviser
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Fulfilling, educational yet a pit of hell because of management.
    The good thingsSome benefits and peeks. Also some really interesting people work there.
    The challengesKeeping up with policies and dealing with management. Anyone who owns more then you will treat you like garbage and don't help with anything.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    -
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Too many people trying to micro manage and dictate in silos instead of collaborating and projecting forward together.
    The good thingsThe opportunity to work with forward thinking / like minded professionals
    The challengesThe internal struggle and forward development of the business - the business is stuck in a vicious cycle... struggling to move forward in a positive direction.
    5.0
    Head of Information Technology
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Inspiring
    The good thingsOur purpose inspires us to focus on delivering to our customers. It's a great organisation and amazing culture, supported by work-life balance.
    The challengesAs a digital marketplace for higher education (online), the evolving threat of cybersecurity in protecting our valuable assets.
    5.0
    Senior Management Role
    May 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Digital marketplace business that changes the lives of its customers.
    The good thingsGreat culture; great work environment; great business model; great offering to students. Willing to invest in its future.
    The challengesSometimes slow to have universities offer greater choice of courses, or innovative offerings.
    3.0
    Various
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    I don't regret working there, but I probably wouldn't go back
    The good thingsGood opportunities for career growth.
    The challengesVery political environment where lots of people have difficulty working together. Unrealistic expectations of their staff. Managers can be very distant and unmotivating.
    1.0
    Manager
    Feb 2018
    Disappointing to work for an organisation with so many opportunities to truly innovate within the education space, but to be hamstrung by clumsy leadership.
    The good thingsIt was great to work with like minded people that wanted to improve things for students.
    The challengesThe strategic leadership is very toxic and fosters a toxic environment. Ineffective and unproductive staff get rewarded and this just encourages poor decision making. The executive team are not aligned and this gets pushed down into the middle management.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Digital Media Specialist
    Feb 2018
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Good place to work if you enjoy challenges
    The good thingsFlexible work arrangement, good work life balance
    The challengesSiloed structure and a lot of problems to fix
    3.0
    Student Advisor
    Nov 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Loved the people, and the role, but as a business not great
    The good thingsGreat environment within teams and free food
    The challengesLack of support to develop skills from management.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Administrative Support Officer
    Mar 2017
    OUA is a great place to grow your skills and work with a diverse group of people.
    The good thingsIt is a great place where you can work with dynamic people, and the working environment is very supportive and nurturing.
    The challengesIt is a very fluid environment where changes are always happening, and some staff have felt that this made work difficult due to challenges against continuity and planning.
    5.0
    Corporate Services
    Feb 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    OUA is full of great people who are genuinely doing the best job they can do for our students.
    The good thingsWe have recently moved into an amazing new building that now has us all on the same level. There are lots of really cool meeting spaces and the communal hub area is just amazing. This move has re energised our teams and there is definitely a lot more positive discussion going on around the place. I have also noticed a much stronger focus on people from different areas working together and the management team have started to take on a more public profile at company updates.
    The challengesIt is still a very competitive market and sometimes despite everyone's best efforts the expected results don't always come. This can be hard for those directly involved to remain motivated.
    5.0
    Manager - Enterprise Architecture & Security
    Feb 2017
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Being an integral part of a team that strives for student success makes coming to work a pleasure
    The good thingsOur conversations are all about how we can positively transform people's lives through education
    The challengesOur ideas sometimes over stretch our change budget
    2.0
    Live Chat Customer Service
    Jan 2017
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Meh, not the best job I've had.
    The good thingsDiversity, and work/life balance is great, lenient and flexible (Can only speak on the behalf of casual)
    The challengesSales. Sales. Sales. - IF you don't make your sales, at selling degrees to people (Hard decision) you're stuffed. Management and people at OUA are terrible. Commissions are very bias. No support.
    4.0
    Asst. Manager
    Dec 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Passionate people with a deep cause, talented blokes , would recommend
    The good thingsI spent 3.5 years in this company .I love this place . If you are an immigrant , you know how hard it is to find a good first start in Australia . But Open Universities Australia proved me wrong. If you have capability and can demonstrate it, your skin color , race and ethinicity has no value. Unlike many companies who have huge diversity programs but the reality is something else, this company hires for merit . The office looks great and swanky. I have never worked with a Management team that is transparent and open to feedback . Yes the company has gone through significant change but the direction it is heading to is the right one. I feel confident about the future . There is some great talent indoors and the common connecting thread is the love for education .I am a middle management professional and I can safely say that my work life balance has been considered very seriously. This is exciting time for the company and I wish them the very best .
    The challengesLots of changes means some structures process need to be fixed. so sometime chaos prevails
    1.0
    Student Enrolment Services
    Sep 2016
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Road block in relation to career development
    The good thingsWork colleagues were amazing and supportive, Social Clubs were also fantastic.
    The challengesA lot of managers did not know their role and heavily relied on staff below them to complete their job, contact center managers were too sales driven and not very student oriented.
    3.0
    Enrolment Services
    Sep 2016
    Ok experience not going back
    The good thingsGreat opportunities for career development and a great team.
    The challengesManagement is terrible at managing basic issues.
    1.0
    Sr. System Administrator
    Sep 2016
    Melbourne VIC 30043 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Started great but too much restructuring happening and the business has no idea what it wants
    The good thingsGood people to work with
    The challengesManagement have no idea about IT
    3.0
    Student Enrollment Services
    Aug 2016
    former employee
    Mangers dont know you or work to your strength. Leaving was only hard because of the people you work with, otherwise wasted time there
    The good thingsPeople are amazing, CEO knows your name, great culture
    The challengesMangers not knowing you or how to improve your skills and work with your traits. Bad decisions being made that impact your role without you, the SME being consulted.
    1.0
    Student experience manager
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Too much change for a reliable career.
    The good thingsHelpful and friendly people.
    The challengesPeople working together cooperatively.
    3.0
    Support Worker
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Great friendships
    The good thingsI love some of the people I have met working at Open Universities Australia and made some really close friendships.
    The challengesManagement pressures around close of enrolment time, so much is expected from you and I personally don't feel appreciated.
    5.0
    Portfolio and Pricing Analyst
    Feb 2016
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I was very happy to get the challenges that I was looking for.
    The good thingsAwesome people and great culture!
    The challengesOUA is in the industry that is going through very challenging time.
    1.0
    Student advisor
    Feb 2016
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Good training, very unprofessional
    The good thingsGot chance to work in all 3 different departments ( inbound, outbound, livechat) in short 12 weeks contract
    The challengesNo specified position description, very basic level training but very complex enquiries on floor,
    1.0
    Training Officer
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    A company where everyone is in it for themselves rather than for the trainees or the students.
    The good thingsThe opportunity to train staff and contribute to their development.
    The challengesIncompetent team-leaders, woeful management, and lack of support for trainees.
    5.0
    Student Advisor
    Feb 2016
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Most enjoyed employment.
    The good thingsGreat work environment and lots of support from management. Good earning potential.
    The challengesThe sales targets were challenging, but achievable.
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