Like many organisations, we are reviewing our forward budget position and the impact COVID-19 has had on our operations. In line with this, we are also firming up our university strategy to ensure we have solid plans for the future that will be relevant to the post COVID-19 world.

The strategy will involve changes to both course offerings and our staffing numbers. We are aiming to confirm exactly what these changes will be for our staff by June 2020. 

Staff have been engaged in early conversations about the realities of our forward position. In line with this, we are also lobbying the government for support. Ultimately, we will need to change the way we operate.

 We implemented measures in February this year to cut unnecessary costs. These included:

·         reducing travel budgets by 20 percent;

·         reducing and reviewing discretionary spend;

·         reviewing recruitment requirements.

We will continue to work with our staff and students to ensure Charles Sturt University remains a much-loved presence in our communities delivering higher education to our regional students, and our online students who come from all over Australia and our international students both onshore and offshore.

We are committed to being a positive, ongoing anchor institution for our regional communities, however as with many of aspects of our national fabric, our future landscape will almost certainly be different to the present one.