Griffith University has signed an enforceable undertaking to repay over $8.34 million to more than 5,400 underpaid staff.
The repayments will go to full-time, part-time, and casual employees across all six campuses, with underpayments dating back to 2015.
Affected staff include academics, fitness workers, and support personnel, with individual underpayments ranging from under $1 to more than $92,400.
The Fair Work Ombudsman found that academics were underpaid for tasks like tutorials and subject coordination, while fitness staff missed out on allowances.
Faulty payroll systems, poor training, inadequate data collection, and weak review processes were cited as causes of the underpayments.
Griffith University self-reported the issue and fully cooperated with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s investigation.
Ombudsman Anna Booth said the case highlights the long-term consequences of poor workplace compliance and system oversight.
Griffith becomes the sixth Australian university to commit to repaying underpaid staff through a formal agreement.
Booth emphasized that universities are expected to meet their obligations under enterprise agreements and relevant awards.
The repayments include not only wages but also superannuation and interest owed to the affected employees.
