Proposed funding cuts to ANU and ADB

PHA was dismayed to read ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences Organisational Change Proposal outlining funding and staffing cuts to the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) / National Centre for Biography (NCB).

The proposal includes disestablishing three positions in the ADB, that is to cut 30 per cent of the 9.2 FTE (full time equivalent) staff. These positions are:
 1. The managing editor, who oversees and actively participates in the editing process for all ADB entries and manages various other aspects of the ADB’s work, staff and relationships.
2. One senior academic research editor, who edits ADB entries while also maintaining an active research, teaching and supervision profile. As there are currently two of these positions, this will mean a spill-and-fill process wherein two staff members express their interest in just one position.  
3. The administration officer, who manages the ADB’s entire submission-to-publication pipeline and undertakes all other administrative duties for the ADB and the National Centre of Biography.

PHA has written the following letter outlining our concerns to ANU and we encourage our members to do the same during the consultation period which is open until 24 July 2025.