Casual Academics
The School of Social Science acknowledges the contribution of casual academic staff, including the support and guidance they provide students.
Casual academic staff make a rich and important contribution to the School’s academic, teaching and research endeavours through the provision of a range of academically focused services and activities. They may be engaged to fulfil a wide range of duties, including (but not limited to) lecturing; tutoring; marking; teaching; moderating; assisting and student advising; across multiple academic areas.
Casual academic staff are paid according to the category of their duties, as detailed in UQ’s Enterprise Agreement.
The material below is intended to inform casual academic staff of key information relating to their employment specificially within the School of Social Science. For further general information about working as a casual academic at The University of Queensland, see the casual academic staff at UQ webpage.
Please contact the School of Social Science CAHP team for further information at schoolsocialsciencecahp@uq.edu.au.
Working with the School of Social Science
Eligibility
In the School of Social Science preference is given to our current HDR students and HDR students enrolled in the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) for employment opportunities.
You must have work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.
We value diversity and inclusion, and actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity to the University. UQ’s Diversity and Inclusion webpage contains further information if you require additional support. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to Dr Jenny Munro, School Equity and Diversity Support Officer via email jenny.munro@uq.edu.au.
What We Can Offer
The School recruits for casual academic appointments in Semester 1, 2 and Summer. The casual rate will vary depending on the type of work completed, which can include marking, tutoring and teaching assistant roles. Please view the full list of various UQ casual academic pay scales.
Initial hours are based upon expected enrolment figures, which often fluctuate in the first few weeks of semester. After census date, all hours (particularly marking) is reassessed using census enrolment figures, which means that your allocated hours may increase or decrease depending on the number of students allocated to you at the time the work is undertaken.
The School's standard marking rate equivalent to 3500 words per hour and the pay rate code is AC30. For example, if marking 2000 words for 18 students, then 2000 x 18 / 3500 = 10 hours 17 mins.
Further resources
- You can find further information about the learning activities and assessment for each course by looking at its Electronic Course Profile (ECP).
- Duty Statements
Please see the Casual Academic Opportunities tab to view current vacancies in the School of Social Sciences.
Semester 1, 2026
The School will be inviting applications for Semester 1, 2026 from Monday, 8 December 2025.
How to Apply - on or after 8 December 2025
- Current University employees or HDR scholarship holders: Login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity.
- All other applicants: Submit your application through the external job board.
Please note: Workday links will be available until applications open on Monday, 8 December 2025
The University treats all collected information as confidential and complies with Australian and Queensland privacy laws and guidelines. Information you supply will only be used for the administrative purposes of the University and in accordance with your specific consent. The University will not make any information you supply available to a third party unless required or permitted by law.
Key Dates
Date | Activity |
Monday 8 December 2025 | Expressions of Interest open for application through Workday. |
Friday, 9 January 2026 | Expressions of Interest closed. |
Monday 12 January 2026 – Thursday 22 January 2026 | Course Coordinators will contact potential candidates. |
Monday 16 – Friday 20 February 2026 | O-Week. New casual academics attend HASS Faculty Tutor Training. |
Monday 23 February 2026 | Semester 1 commences. |
Selection Process (Monday 12 January 2026 – Thursday 22 January 2026)
- Course Coordinators will contact applicants they are considering for their courses.
- These discussions will cover teaching expectations, schedules, and availability.
- If selected, the Course Coordinator will explicitly inform you that they are offering you teaching work (subject to formal approval by the Head of School).
- Selected candidate applications will be submitted for approval by the Head of School.
- Once approved, teaching activities will be configured in the University's CAHP system (this may take 2-3 weeks after selection).
- Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in early February.
What Happens After Selection
If you are selected to teach in Semester 1, 2026:
New casual staff will receive an Employment Agreement (contract) from HR. This agreement needs to be accepted before commencing work.
Returning staff with an active casual academic contract will be engaged through their current Employment Agreement.
All selected staff will receive:
- A welcome email from the School confirming your selection.
- A Teaching Activity Schedule in CAHP listing your specific courses and activities.
- Course-specific information from your Course Coordinator(s).
Important note: The CAHP Teaching Activity Schedule is the official record of approved teaching activities. Casual academic staff should check this regularly for the most up-to-date information about teaching assignments.
Questions?
For questions about specific courses, please contact the Course Coordinator directly (listed in the table below).
For general queries about the EOI process, please contact schoolsocialsciencecahp@uq.edu.au
Course List
Course | Course title | Contact for course enquiries: Course Coordinator or other contact | Teaching activities that may require casual academic support (subject to final confirmation) |
ANTH1008 | Being Human: Cultural Diversity and Experience | A/Prof Sally Babidge | Tutors and marking |
ANTH2060 | Ecology, Culture, and Field Research | Dr Kim de Rijke | Teaching Assistant for marking |
ANTH2250 | Medical Anthropology: Local and Global Perspectives | Dr Jenny Munro | Teaching Assistant for in class support |
ANTH2260 | Applied Anthropology and Indigenous Territories | A/Prof Richard Martin | Lecturer for 4 weeks |
ANTH3090 | Ethnographic Fieldwork | Dr Kim de Rijke | Teaching Assistant for marking |
ARCA1000 | Discovering Archaeology | Prof Andrew Fairbairn | Tutors to run practicals |
ARCA2020 | Australasian Archaeology | A/Prof Tiina Manne | Tutors for workshops and Teaching Assistant for marking |
ARCS2003 | Forensics: The Archaeology of Death and Crime Scenes | Dr Justyna Miszkiewicz | Tutors for workshops and Teaching Assistant for marking |
ARCS2080 | Plants and Archaeology: Food, fuel, foraging and farming in the human past | Prof Andrew Fairbairn | Tutors for workshops and Teaching Assistant for marking |
ARCS2090 | Animals and Archaeology: Analytical approaches to understanding past human-animal relationships | A/Prof Tiina Manne | Tutors for workshops and Teaching Assistant for marking |
ARCS3168 | Human Evolution | Prof Michael Westaway | Tutors to run practicals |
CRIM1000 | Introduction to Criminology | A/Prof Suzanna Fay | Coordinating tutor, Tutors for workshops and Teaching Assistant for marking |
CRIM1111 | Introduction to Professional Practice in Criminology | A/Prof Sarah Bennett | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
CRIM2100 | Punishment and Society | Dr Zoe Staines | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
CRIM2140 | The Policy and Practice of Crime Control and Crime Prevention | A/Prof Renee Zahnow | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
CRIM3039 | Advanced Criminological Theory | Criminology Major Convenor | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
CRIM3111 | Advanced Professional Practice in Criminology | A/Prof Sarah Bennett | Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOCY1050 | Introduction to Sociology | A/Prof Peter Walters | Coordinator Tutor, Tutors and Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOCY2019 | Introduction to Social Research | Dr Sandra Buchler | Coordinator Tutor, Tutors and Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOCY2220 | Globalisation & Development in Post-Colonial Societies | Professor Kristen Lyons | Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOCY3329 | Qualitative Social Research | A/Prof Rebecca Olson | Coordinator Tutor, Tutors and Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOCY3345 | Advanced Studies in Social Thought: Getting the Big Picture | A/Prof Peter Walters | Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOSC1000 | Society, Challenges and Solutions: Introduction to the Social Sciences | Prof Kristen Lyons | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
SOSC2190 | Human Bodies, Culture & Society | Dr Mair Underwood | Teaching Assistant for marking |
SOSC3201 | Research, Planning and Design | Prof Paul Henman | Teaching Assistant for in class support and marking |
Useful Resources for Casual Academics
Below you will find a range of useful resources to assist you in your role as a casual academic in the School of Social Science.
- Casual Academic Onboarding Manual (PDF, 1.1 MB) (UQ staff log-in required)
- Duty Statements
For generic casual academic information and resources, please see the Casual Academics at UQ webpage.
Mandatory Training
All casual academic employees are required to complete the required online mandatory training modules in Workday prior to commencing work. These include:
- Health, Safety and Wellness Induction
- Annual Fire Safety Awareness
- Staff Standards of Conduct
- Appropriate Workplace Behaviour
- Casual Academic Employment Course
Please see the Casual Academics at UQ webpage for further information.
HASS Faculty Tutor Training
The HASS Faculty hosts Tutor Training the week prior to Semester 1 and 2 commencement. New tutors are required to complete both of the 2-hour sessions (in-person) prior to the commencement of their tutoring, in addition to a 1-hour follow-up (online) session in week 5.
Tutors will be required to sign an attendance form at each session and will be paid in accordance with this record. All new tutors required to attend these sessions will be sent an email from the School of Social Science CAHP team, informing them of their need to attend.
If you have been employed casually in a 'marking-only' capacity - there is no requirement for you to attend these sessions.