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[wondering about Australia]

I'm hoping to snag an interview at an Australian college.  I'm wondering two things:  First, how are interviews conducted there?  I understand that the UK and US are quite different, and wonder about Australia's general procedures.  Secondly, I read somewhere in these postings about a sea change in the structure and so forth of the university system and funding in Australia, and was hopeful someone could point me to a source for reading more about Australian Higher Ed.

Thanks!

[FiG]

To take your last question first, this link might be useful

http://www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au/

but for more detailed information about how the proposed changes are going to affect universities, you should probably check out the relevant uni's web page.  In particular, you need to check out how the RQF (similar to the UK's RAE) will impact on research funding at you runiversity in your area, and expecially what sort of research track record your university has.  Research is becoming really important here in terms of getting and keeping jobs!

Interview processes probably vary.  If you are overseas candidate I suspect that you will have a phone interview first, followed up by a face to face one.  This is purely because of the distance and cost involved in inviting people out here.  The you'd probably be flown out to have a look see.  Myself, I just had a face to face interview lasting about half an hour.  No teaching presentation or anything else.  But the most important thing was my research track record and publications.  

Let me know if there's anything else you need to know.

[Tangential Question]

FiG, can you answer a question for me? Do Australian universities ever do partner hires? I am an Australian citizen who has been educated in the US. I went to college here and I will be finishing my PhD at an internationally known R1 next year. Since all my tertiary education has been in the US, I know very little about the university system in Australia. My US-citizen partner has a PhD in the same field (a very small field, alas) and we would eventually like to move to Australia. I am daunted by the impossibility of such a scenario. There really don't seem to be enough universities in Australia for there to be jobs for both of us. Are partner hires ever a possibility? Should I just give up my dream of moving back to Australia and resign myself to spending the rest of my life in the US?
Thanks!

[FiG]

I'm not aware of too many partner hires around.  At least, none that are publicised as such.  It would probably be possible for your partner to pick up work casually or as a researcher, depending on their field.  But the academic market is as tight here as it is everywhere else!  The nice thing is that the climate is fabulous and fresh fruit and vegies are available...

[same old]

I had a 3-day interview (they were giving me plenty of time to get rid of my jetlag and see everything). Pretty much like a US interview otherwise: see the campus and facilities, talk to a number of faculty, talk to the chair about future research, research presentation about 45 minutes, session with questions from the search committee. Offer came just a couple of daysafter I returned.

[FiG]

I think it's a safe assumption that unless you REALLY muck up the interview face to face, they're very interested in having you come.  It's a lot of money to shell out to fly someone out here after all.

Same old, did you accept?  And how are you finding it all?  Differences to American academia?

[wondering about]

Thanks for the info!  I'm crossing my fingers that I get the call.  I've got sort of a niche area and it's rare to find anyone doing this particular combo, so it's very possible.  I do have some questions about the day to day of academia in Australia--expectations for service, for teaching, and so forth.  I'd like to become more familiar with those expecations and the terminology of Australian academics, which is fairly different from what I'm used to in the USA.  Anyone care to comment on what you do and how that differs or is the same from the US?  What would you say that I would need to know to be more solidly grounded as an interviewee and faculty member?

Thanks for any and all replies.