Who can apply?
The Professional Staff Development Fund ('the Fund') is open to all professional staff employed under the 2023 - 2026 Flinders University Enterprise Agreement on a continuing or fixed term basis with six (6) months or more continuous service (not including casual service).
Guidelines
Staff can apply twice over a two-year period up to the value of $4,000 per applicant, with one development activity per application.
The Fund will pay the approved cost amount less any GST.
Before considering an application to the Fund to attend an externally offered course, professional staff should review the full range of in-house professional development activities and other funding options offered by the University, to determine the best option for their development, including:
- Professional Staff Conference Scheme
- Study Tours for Senior Professional Staff
- Observing University Topics
The fund can be used in conjunction with Study Assistance for Professional Staff, however, not in conjunction with the other funding schermes referred to above. Applications should also not duplicate the in-house professional development activities offered by the University.
The Fund is to be used primarily for development activities, and related expenses such as pre-approved travel and accommodation costs. Other incidental costs relating to travel or attendance, such as taxis, meals or parking, must be covered by the local area or individual, as agreed with the staff member's supervisor.
The fund is designed for individual professional development. Where a training need for a group of staff exists, it is not intended that the Fund will replace or supplement expenses associated with professional development activities and courses where this cost is to be met by the local area.
Criteria for applications
The University will provide access to the fund on the following criteria:
- Relevance to the staff member's current role and/or career advancement with the University, as discussed through the Performance Review and Development (PRD) process;
- Relevance and benefit to the direction of the College / Portfolio and the University;
- Endorsement by the individual's immediate supervisor and the appropriate manager of the College / Portfolio (must be one level removed from the approving supervisor);
- The applicant has not already claimed $4,000 in the preceding two years; and
- The applicant has not already submitted two applications in the preceding two years.
Applications must be received at least 5 business days BEFORE the professional development activity (or related travel) occurs and no funding will be approved retrospectively.
The fund will operate on a first come first served basis, and should all funding become committed, applications will be accepted on a waitlist and considered in the order they were received should additional funds become available.
Applications to attend courses that duplicate the University's in-house professional development activities will not be eligible for funding assistance, except where the in-house activity is full or otherwise not available.
Approvals
Approval for the development activity and, where appropriate, time release and/or financial contributions must be granted by the staff member's supervisor and the appropriate manager. The approving manager should be at least one level removed from the supervisor.
Payment of fees
All applications are to be completed, invoiced and finalised within the same calendar year. For development relating to study across multiple years, separate applications will be required for each year of study.
There are three options for charging the approved Professional Development expenses:
- Reimbursement option
The recipient of the funding elects to be charged personally (in their own name) by the service provider. The recipient seeks reimbursement via Service One, ensuring all the required documentation is provided, and nominates the Professional Development Funding Account to fund the expense up to the amount approved under the Fund. The staff member's supervisor then reviews and approves the Service One request.
- Purchase card option
The recipient of the funding elects to charge the approved expense to a Flinders University purchase card. The card owner codes the amount approved under the Fund to the Professional Development Funding Account, ensuring all required documentation is provided.
- Invoicing option
The recipient of the funding nominates Flinders University to pay the invoice, with the invoice directed to People and Culture for coding and approval.
Full instructions for payment will be provided with approval documentation together with a payment schedule of accounts for charging. Please note all payments are ex-GST.
