Relocation

Relocation Assistance

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is committed to attracting and retaining high quality staff. Consequently, it will endeavour to source candidates from a wide field, both interstate and internationally. Candidates who are offered a position at UNSW may be eligible for relocation assistance, which will help to ensure that their move to take up employment with UNSW is as smooth as possible.

These guidelines apply to all new appointees to the University and current UNSW staff who have been offered a new position with the University, and who are required to relocate in order to take up that position.

Relocation assistance is not an entitlement, and if provided, is not intended to cover all costs associated with relocating to UNSW. The amount of relocation assistance provided, if any, will be negotiated at the time of finalising the letter of offer and will be confirmed in writing to the appointee by their Human Resources Representative, in the form of a Relocation Agreement.

Definitions

Appointee means a person who has received an offer of employment from the University, including current UNSW employees.

Partner means the appointee’s spouse of de-facto partner.

Dependent means individuals for whom the appointee is the primary care giver and who reside with the appointee. This may be dependent children who are aged 18 years and under; dependent full-time students aged up to 25 years; dependents who are elderly; or dependents who are over 18 years of age with a disability.

Relocation assistance means the monetary allowance provided to the appointee to support covering the costs associated with relocation to a UNSW location (usually Sydney or Canberra).

Eligibility

The provision of relocation assistance is not guaranteed, and is determined at the sole discretion of the delegated officer within the work unit (usually the Head of School or Divisional Head).

Appointees may be eligible for relocation assistance if they meet the following criteria:

Academic Staff:

  • Be appointed to an employment contract of more than 12 months duration; and
  • Be relocating from a location which is at least 100km from the city or town in which their new position is based (normally Sydney or Canberra).

Professional Staff:

  • Be appointed to an employment contract of more than 12 months duration;
  • Be appointed to a position at Level 7 or above; and
  • Be relocating from a location which is at least 100km from the city or town in which their new position is based (normally Sydney or Canberra).

Appointees to casual positions and individuals who have an academic title conferred upon them under the UNSW Conferral of Academic Titles Policy are not eligible for relocation assistance.

Amount of assistance available

The amount of relocation assistance provided, if any, is subject to negotiation. It will be determined and approved by the delegated officer within the work unit (usually the Head of School or Divisional Head) during the employment offer process. The delegated officer will consider various matters (e.g. the appointee’s family situation, the distance of the move, parity issues amongst other recent new appointees, and the work unit budget) in making their decision about the amount of relocation assistance to be offered.

Eligible and ineligible items

The University will only provide relocation assistance for items that are considered eligible as defined by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). A full list of these items is provided here. 

Method of payment

Appointees who are the recipient of relocation assistance may receive it in one of the following ways:

  • Direct payment: UNSW will pay pre-approved invoices on behalf of the appointee, within the agreed limits; or
  • Reimbursement: UNSW will reimburse, upon commencement and production of original receipts, pre-approved costs within the agreed limits; or
  • Some combination of the above.

Relocation assistance is not available in the form of cash payment(s). All payments associated with relocation assistance must be made within 12 months of the date of commencement, and are the responsibility of the work unit.