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The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Sally Rawsthorne
Close to 1000 casual academics from Torrens University are initiating a class action lawsuit against their employer for alleged systemic underpayment over six years, potentially reclaiming tens of millions of dollars. The claimants argue that the university did not properly compensate them for tasks like marking and training, with individual losses ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per academic. This is Australia’s first class action involving academics, highlighting broader issues of workforce casualization and underpayment within the higher education sector.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Australia, nearly 1000 academics from Torrens University, owned by American company Strategic Education, have initiated the country's first class action lawsuit alleging systemic underpayment over a six-year period. The case, which could involve tens of millions of dollars, targets casual staff across various campuses including those in Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Lead applicant Tito Scohel, who has worked at Torrens since 2023, claims that the university systematically underpaid lecturers and teachers by thousands to tens of thousands of dollars each. Lawyer Hayden Stephens is leading the class action, aiming for proper recognition rather than increased wages or rates.
Written for “Academics Sue Employer” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.45 for article 16833 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
Tens of millions of dollars are at stake in Australia’s first-ever class action for allegedly underpaid academics as close to 1000 casual university staffers take on their employer.
uncertain
staffers → underpay → employer
Torrens University was last Friday served with a claim that alleges it systemically underpaid lecturers and teachers over a six-year period, ranging from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per academic.
uncertain
it → serve → academic
Torrens University was founded in 2013 as Australia’s first private university and owned by American teaching giant Strategic Education.
asserted
University → found → Education
The class of litigants is expected to include staff from campuses in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and elsewhere across the country.
asserted
class → expect → country
“Underpayment of academics within the university sector has reached endemic proportions,” said lawyer Hayden Stephens, who is running the class action after successfully recouping a similar amount of unpaid wages for the state’s junior doctors with a similar claim.
uncertain
who → reach → claim
“What makes Torrens stand out is the systemic and widespread underpayment of the most basic work of a casual academic over many years.
asserted
Torrens → make → years
“Our clients don’t seek pay rises or higher rates.
asserted
clients → seek → rises
They simply want proper recognition for the work they actually perform,” Stephens said.
asserted
Stephens → want → work
The claim alleges the university underpaid casual academics for marking, moderation, training, meetings, student consultation and other required work.
uncertain
university → allege → marking
Workforce casualisation, poor record-keeping and failure to comply with sometimes difficult workplace laws have led to an explosion in underpayment across the sector.
asserted
casualisation → comply → sector
The Fair Work Ombudsman had the University of NSW enter into an enforceable undertaking to repay $32.7 million owed to 33,000 staff this year.
asserted
University → have → staff
The University of Sydney signed one in 2024 for $23 million to 14,000 workers.
asserted
University → sign → workers
Time restrictions led the Torrens staff to a class action instead of consulting the industrial umpire in what is believed to be the country’s first for academic staff.
Lead applicant Tito Scohel said he wanted change.
“We’re taking this step because it’s the right one; a court framework gives casual academics real confidence that Torrens will be held to account to do the right thing.”
Motivated by his 20 years running not-for-profits and community organisations, Scohel started at Torrens as a lecturer in social work for mostly international students in 2023.
asserted
Scohel → lead → 2023
He says he always knew he was being underpaid.
asserted
he → say → ?
“I kept teaching.
asserted
I → keep → ?
I was quite aware, but I didn’t have any options because that’s the only job I had,” he said.
asserted
he → have → options
Transforming international students into social workers is hard work.
asserted
Transforming → transform → workers
“You have to give them a lot of time.
asserted
You → have → time
Community services is a very values-driven subject.
asserted
services → drive → ?
It’s not sudden skill that you gain and you become competent.
asserted
you → ’ → that
“And then you can’t pay the rent,” Scohel said.
asserted
Scohel → pay → rent
Torrens University said the matter related to an interpretation of the entitlements, and it was committed to its workplace obligations.
asserted
it → say → obligations
“We have been working towards remediating affected staff and have been communicating regularly with those staff about this process,” it said.
asserted
it → work → process
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