Professional staff contributions to positive student outcomes: A case study

Abstract

Although professional staff comprise more than half the Australian higher education workforce, typically research has concentrated on the work of academic staff. Professional staff are increasingly researching the working lives of professional staff, adding to the understanding of the work of professional staff and the contributions they make towards the strategic goals of their institutions. This paper explores the work of professional staff in relation to student outcomes and is part of on-going doctoral research into the work of professional staff at an Australian university. Following a preliminary framing study, a case study was undertaken using semi-structured interviews with a range of professional staff. Emerging from these interviews is a conceptualisation of the work of professional staff in relation to student outcomes, from the perspectives of professional staff themselves. This paper concludes with proposals to improve the outcomes for students, and improve the working lives of both professional and academic staff.