1 Policy Statement

All new employees to the University will participate in an induction and onboarding program to assist the employees to adjust to their new responsibilities and work environment.

(Approved by Council June 1998)

2 Principles

All newly appointed employees will participate in an induction and onboarding program that provides them with information and support sufficient for them to undertake their new role in the University.  The induction and onboarding program will be conducted over their initial period of employment.

It is the responsibility of the Manager/Supervisor to provide new employees with the appropriate induction and onboarding program in accordance with this policy.  Managers/Supervisors are to ensure new employees receive the required paid release from work to participate in mandatory induction activities. Managers / Supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that newly appointed professional and academic employees are provided with the relevant induction program as indicated in Table 1 and that this program is completed in a timely manner.

3 Procedures

3.1 Advice to new employees and managers/supervisors

Human Resources will inform all new employees of the requirement to participate in induction and onboarding programs upon commencement.  Appropriate access and documentation will be provided to the employee in order to have this completed in a timely manner.

Employees at USQ who take on additional employment opportunities within the University should participate in a separate local and site specific induction program with their Manager/Supervisor which is reflective of their new role.

Induction and onboarding guidelines are available for managers and supervisors regarding the importance of the induction and onboarding process.

3.2 Corporate and work area induction and onboarding

New employees are required to participate in an induction and onboarding program consisting of both a corporate USQ program and a work area specific program.  An Induction Checklist is used as a basis for both these induction and onboarding programs which include explanation of workplace health and safety guidelines, emergency procedures, equity matters, key University employment policies and practices and work area operations of immediate concern, and for academic employees, learning and teaching issues. .

All employees must be appropriately trained and briefed on workplace health and safety requirements and specific training for their job before commencing work.  For most employees, this means they must attend an onsite workplace health and safety induction on their first day of employment and complete the online Staff Safety Induction.  The onsite induction must include all appropriate job specific training that the employee may require.  Examples include manual handling training for employment which involves lifting or training in emergency procedures for employees working in a different building.  Managers/Supervisors are encouraged to contact USQSafe for clarification of the training which may be required.

In instances where the online Staff Safety Induction may not be expedient or appropriate, Managers/Supervisors can arrange an equivalent Staff Safety Induction, for example a group face to face briefing by an appropriate person covering all the required topics or provision of an Induction booklet as approved by USQ Safe.  Appropriate records must be kept of the training provided and the names of all attendees.

All employees are required to be active participants throughout their induction. This includes seeking additional information, assistance and clarification if required.

3.3 Campus induction

Where applicable, new employees will also receive an operational induction specific to their Campus.  This will cover issues which are specific to each Campus such as facilities use, security, lockdown procedures, teaching technologies, line management and governance procedures and any other Campus specific processes, procedures and issues required for efficient and effective operation. 

The duration and delivery of the operational Campus induction will vary dependent upon the employee's employment category, however for academic employees must occur prior to commencement of teaching duties.

3.4 Record of induction

The Manager/Supervisor will sign off the completion of the Induction Checklist and return to Human Resources who will store the documentation on the employee’s personal file. 

A record must be kept of all mandatory induction training, including the online corporate, safety, equity, fraud and corruption and learning and teaching USQ modules.  Completion information will be stored in the employee’s training record in the appropriate system.

3.5 Induction refresher

Employees are required to refresh their staff safety induction program annually.  All other induction information will normally be required to be refreshed every two years.

3.6 Table 1 Minimum Induction Standards for USQ Employees

¹ Note: casual academic employees who may be employed across more than one category (eg marker and tutor) must complete the minimum induction standard for both categories of appointment. 

Online learning and teaching induction Modules are available via USQStudyDesk.  The program is structured into seven (7) modules, each of which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.  All casual academic employees must also complete Module 1: Course Introduction which takes approximately 15 minutes.  Employees will need to complete the Quiz at the end of each Module and the Feedback section following completion of all required Modules.

Online Learning Modules (unless otherwise noted)

Induction Program Duration Legend

4 Definitions

5 Other Policy Information