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James Packer has an estimated net worth of $ AU4 billion . Picture : NCA NewsWire .
‘ Lead the way ’
Billionaire donates $ 7m to UNSW for mood disorder research
By Eleanor Campbell
The University of New South Wales has accepted a $ 7m donation from Australian businessman James Packer to advance research into the prevention and treatment of mood disorders .
Mr Packer , who revealed in 2020 he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder , said he was hopeful his gift would help to improve the lives of people battling mental health issues .
“ It is no secret that I have struggled with mental health problems in the past ,” he said in a statement on Tuesday .
“ I am a passionate advocate of finding ways to improve mental health outcomes and I am hopeful that my contribution towards this research will generate positive outcomes in this field .”
UNSW said the donation would establish the James Packer Chair in Mood Disorders and a new unit in the psychiatry and mental health faculty .
The academic position will be partly funded by the Packer Family Foundation and will operate jointly with UNSW researchers and the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network .
Mindgardens is the first research centre in Australia to focus exclusively on disorders that involve the brain , emotions , nervous system and thinking processes .
UNSW medicine and health dean Professor Vlado Perkovic said the donation will “ accelerate initiatives that will save lives in Australia and across the globe .”
“ This new chair will lead the way in transforming the understanding , prevention , treatment and cure of these important disorders and offers hope to affected individuals and their families ,” he said .
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates about 568,000 people living in Australia are affected by bipolar disorder .
UNSW vice-chancellor Attila Brungs said the donation would enable new treatments and interventions for people experiencing mental health disorders . “ Research changes peoples ’ lives ,” he said . “ Mental health is a pressing global challenge , and this gift will help us make real progress in this critical area of research .”
Mr Packer ’ s gift follows a successful year of philanthropic support for the Sydneybased university , which raised a total of $ 81.2 million in donations in 2022 . ■
Non-compliance
UTS to pay back staff over $ 4.4 million .
By Emilie Lauer
More than 2700 current and former casuals at the University of Technology Sydney will receive over $ 4.4m after the university found proof of underpayment in its payroll over the last seven years .
The university , which self-reported the underpayment in May 2021 , has entered an enforceable undertaking with the Fair
Work Ombudsman and will repay the entitlements and $ 1.3m in superannuation by 31 July 2023 .
UTS became aware of its noncompliance while designing a new payroll system and found staff across seven faculties had been underpaid since 2014 .
Underpaid staff worked in counselling , computer programming , libraries , and school and faculty administration .
The review found the average individual underpayment for staff was $ 1,590 .
In in one instance , a casual was owed more than $ 209,000 .
UTS has started a back-payment process with more than $ 3.5 million and $ 1 million in superannuation already paid .
The Fair Work Ombudsman said it wouldn ’ t seek a financial penalty given the university self-reported noncompliance and “ fully cooperated ” with the investigation .
“ Under the EU , UTS has committed to implement stringent measures across multiple years to rectify its non-compliance issues and ensure workers are paid correctly ,” Fair Work ombudsman Sandra Parker said .
“ Underpayments by the UTS are the latest warning to all universities , and employers generally .
“ If you don ’ t prioritise workplace compliance and apply all entitlements , you risk underpaying staff on a large scale and facing enforcement action .”
Last year , 11 universities were flagged to the watchdog for wage theft , which has now initiated two separate legal actions against the University of Melbourne .
The FWO said addressing the “ systemic non-compliance ” in the tertiary sector was a “ top priority ”. ■
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