5 things to know when hiring in Australia's education sector

Global connection is at the heart of the present-day higher education landscape. Recently, we wrote about the prevalence and benefits of internationalisation in education. We discussed how internationalisation in education has boomed, thanks to rapid developments in technology and transportation infrastructure. We also examined how it has opened opportunities for students, staff, and researchers all over the world.

Certain countries specifically benefit from internationalisation and global connection. Australia has long relied on exchange programmes, international knowledge sharing, and interconnectivity with foreign universities to bolster its thriving higher education system. This is due in part to its somewhat isolated geographical location.

Are you a higher education institution in Australia seeking to hire globally or support international staff or students? If so, there are some areas of information you should be aware of.

1. What are benefits of internationalisation in education?

There are many benefits to internationalisation in education. Sharing knowledge between countries and cultures is an excellent way to promote and accelerate innovation.

Internationalisation also encourages diversity, allowing people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and experiences to mingle, teach, and inspire one another. Collaborating and forming partnerships with universities in other countries enriches educational institutions. These connections lead to new methods of teaching, learning, discovering, and engaging.

For students, moving abroad to study can be very beneficial. This experience broadens their horizons by introducing them to different cultures and ways of life. It also encourages them to seek overseas opportunities in their careers and prepares them for the competitive global marketplace.

2. What is happening in the field of internationalisation in Australia’s higher education sector?

Despite its rich history of internationalised education, Australia's higher education sector faces uncertainty. Universities will lose 1,200 staff members in the coming months. This is due to significant budget cuts as well as the Australian government’s crackdown on the numbers of international students entering the country.

During the summer of 2024, Australia’s government announced plans to cap international enrolments at 270,000.

Head of Universities Australia, Luke Sheehy, warns that ongoing migration reforms have cost the economy $4.3 billon AUSD. Sheehy predicts this policy will put 14,000 university jobs at risk, according to The Guardian.

Head of higher education with the Nouse Group of consultants, Zac Ashkanasy, says:

“We are going into Covid 2.0. It will have significant ramifications for Australian universities over at least the next five years.”

Hiring internationally may seem impossible for your educational institution in light of these recent disruptions within Australia’s higher education sector,

However, a global employment solutions provider can help. These service providers can support higher education institutions in Australia to retain their competitive edge. They can also ensure these institutions are able to keep internationalisation at the core of what they do.

3. How can global employment solution providers help the international education sector?

Global employment solution providers understand the nuances of hiring within the international education sector. They know that there are key differences between hiring in education and hiring for corporate companies. For example, in higher education, there are internal structural differences and variations between processes that occur between institutions, and even between schools and faculties within individual universities. This can make navigating global assignments complex.

Employers need to consider he differences in length between roles. Sometimes, you may be taking on a researcher for a few months. Other times, you may be offering long-term employment to a professor whose family may relocate with them.

Funding is another crucial area that can cause confusion and difficulty. Funding for projects and positions often comes from multiple sources. A global employment solutions provider can ensure everything remains entirely compliant, while navigating regulations around factors like cross-border payments.

4. Which global employment solutions can support higher education institutions in Australia?

Challenges face Australia's higher education sector in the coming years. Despite this, there will still be a need for support for international students, staff, and researchers.

A global employment solutions provider can help your institution to navigate the often complex landscape of international immigration and employment.

Different services will work for you depending on your specific situation. The main routes that higher education institutions use to ensure successful global assignments include:

i. Employer of Record

An Employer of Record (EoR) service operates local entities in-country. They will securely manage the employment of your staff in a compliant fashion. You can retain control over the employee’s day-to-day activities.

EoRs are experts in all local laws and regulations. They will handle a number of key areas, including local payroll and communication with the authorities. This is cost-effective, and reserves time and resources.

ii. Global Payroll

Using Mauve Group’s Global Payroll service allows your university to entrust all in-country payroll services to Mauve. This will ensure 100% tax compliance and timely payment of salaries to your workers abroad. Mauve’s local experts establish in-country payroll, including employee registration with the local authorities.

In-house global payroll experts create and file comprehensive reports, as well as securely-held payroll records. These records are accessible 24/7. Mauve also keeps up-to-date with of all the latest updates to local tax regulations and incentives. This means we can make any changes when needed.

iii. Consultancy Services

Mauve’s global team consults for universities. We ensure that work practices, pay, and contracts comply with local laws and regulations. Mauve’s team can also help universities to create fair pay structures and reward programs for their international staff.

iv. Global Visa & Immigration

Most global employment solution providers have teams of experts in global visa and immigration. They can support educational clients when navigating visas, immigration, and residency for staff and students. These experts can help you to handle corporate work permits, global visas, and residency applications.

Australia's higher education sector faces uncertainty. However, it is not grinding to a halt. 270,000 international students will enrol in 2025. As a result, international staff and students will need support with their immigration routes both in Australia and overseas.

v. Independent Contractor Solutions

As the employment landscape of Australia’s higher education sector faces uncertainty, Mauve's Independent Contractor Solutions could be useful. Your institution may decide to hire international staff temporarily or send staff overseas on a short-term assignments. It's key to remember that independent contractors must meet certain specifications. Contractors usually work with multiple clients, own their own equipment, and manage their own hours and activities.

Remember, there are serious penalties for misclassifying workers as independent contractors. Engaging services such as Agent of Record and Independent Contract Verification allows you to guarantee full compliance.

vi. Establishing a local entity

Going forward, fewer international students will have the opportunity to come to Australia. As a result, your institution may consider establishing educational hubs overseas. You may consider doing this to broaden your reach and connect with more young people.

These entities may be in locations where a high number of international students are from. Such a project will be long-term and will involve many workers catering to both undergraduate and postgraduate needs. Many options for setting up hubs in each country are available and the process can be complex. Because of this, consulting a third-party expert can be helpful.

5. How can Mauve Group help?

Mauve Group has 28 years of experience in the field of global employment solutions. We provide employment options such as Employer of Record (EoR) services. We support visa and work permit application processes for academics and students going abroad. We also supporting universities to offer competitive remuneration packages to visiting academics via salary benchmarking services.

Mauve Group is proud of our longstanding relationships with a broad scope of educational institutions around the world. These include Ivy League establishments, universities, colleges, schools, and professional development organisations. Some of our headline clients include Colorado State University, Teach for All, and CQU Australia.

For more information on how Mauve supports the education sector, read our article.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Mauve Group can support your organisation, contact our team today.