Following last week’s Federal Budget announcement and a need to re-focus its research and operational priorities, ANSTO today announced that an organisational restructure will occur to deliver around $10 million worth of savings.
ANSTO has to meet its core operational, scientific and research objectives in an environment of increasing costs and budget constraints. To achieve this across the organisation there will be reductions in fixed costs and around 80 staff of ANSTO’s workforce of 1009. ANSTO will be refocusing its activities on its core functions in both the research and operational areas. All of members of ANSTO’s staff were briefed this morning on the restructure.
The restructure will initially involve a process of inviting staff to express interest in voluntary redundancy. Redundancy packages will be offered to these staff unless their experience and skills are regarded as essential to ANSTO’s future.
It is expected that there will be a need for some involuntary redundancies to achieve the correct mix of skills for ANSTO’s future.
It is with regret that ANSTO takes these measures and recognises the next couple of months will be a stressful time for its staff.
Taking inflation into account ANSTO received a reduction in government funding of $4 million including the efficiency dividend and removal of funding for a graduate program. Increased salary and utility costs in the coming year together with reductions in some external income are expected to cost at least $12 million.
For ANSTO to manage its budget and maximise the impact of its activities in both research and business, this approach is necessary. To help staff cope with the forthcoming changes they will be kept informed of progress at all times and be provided support as necessary.
Published: 19/05/2008