Programs of greater than twenty working days are designated as PDL - Long.
Eligibility
The PDL-Long program provides support for staff:
- on ongoing and fixed term (not sessional) academic staff appointments (including research-only academic staff)
- employed by QUT on a full time or part time basis
- who have normally completed two years of continuous service at QUT (in exceptional circumstances staff may apply to the Executive Dean/Head of Division to be considered for PDL-Long prior to completing two years of continuous service)
- who have demonstrated a sustained record of productivity as recorded through the PPR-AS process.
Eligibility for PDL-Long may be withdrawn if the applicant's employment status changes (for example, the applicant gives notice of resignation or retirement).
The Faculty/Division PDL Committee will determine the continuing eligibility of applicants.
Programs supported
PDL-Long provides a consolidated period of time in which academic staff can engage in one or more activities relevant to their academic work.
As such, PDL-Long is not normally approved for activities that can be undertaken while continuing normal academic duties.
PDL-Long leave may consist of, but will not be limited to:
- Conferences (but not as a major focus of the program)
- Undertaking research in libraries, universities and research institutions;
- Undertaking professional experience in the workplace;
- Visiting industrial, professional or governmental agencies and establishments;
- Teaching in an educational institution, or developing teaching or curriculum materials;
- Secondments and exchanges to other universities or industrial, professional or governmental agencies and establishments. Note that exchanges and secondments involve procedures additional to those contained in this policy. Staff should examine the procedures relating to secondments and exchanges
- Undertaking studies for the completion of a higher degree.
The Faculty/Division PDL committee will determine whether or not the proposed program of activities meets the requirements of the PDL policy.
Process and criteria for applications
- Prior to submitting your application, discuss your PDL-Long application with your Head of School or equivalent, normally as part of the PPR-AS process.
- Completed the PDL application form
- Submit the completed form to your Head of School or equivalent for them to provide a comment on the application through the form
- Lodge your application with the Secretary to the Faculty/Division PDL committee by a due date nominated by the committee.
- The committee will then determine whether the program can be supported based on the merit of the application, as assessed by the criteria and the capacity of the faculty to support the program.
- Final approval for a PDL-Long program will be granted by the Executive Dean.
Support for PDL
The PDL committee can approve the following payments to staff on PDL-Long:
- Normal salary
- Travel away from home allowance
- Airfares
- Ground travel allowance
- Conference fees
- Other
Depending on your program you may receive all, some or none of these payments. The PDL Committee will determine the amounts paid to you while on PDL-Long. These decisions are made on a case by case basis, and will depend on the nature and merit of the program, as well as the funds available to the Committee.
The Secretary of the Faculty PDL committee is responsible for checking the financial assistance requested by applicants.
It is most likely that you will continue to be paid your normal QUT salary while on PDL-Long.
Normal salary is defined as the salary, including all normal benefits and deductions, relevant to your current position. All normal benefits, such as superannuation, will continue to accrue while you are receiving your salary on PDL-Long.
If a PDL Committee determines that you will be paid your normal salary while on PDL-Long, no actions need to be taken.
While on PDL-Long you may be paid an income or other money by a body external to QUT (e.g. another university, a government department, a corporation, etc). However, if you do receive a salary from an organisation external to QUT you will not normally retain your full QUT salary. Depending on circumstances, you may choose to forgo your QUT salary for the period of the PDL-long program.
If you are to receive external payments while on PDL you must declare them on the PDL application form. You are allowed to retain any and all monies granted specifically to you by a granting body (such as the ARC, NHMC, etc). In the case of salaries or contracted payments from an external organisation including educational institutions, however, there are limits on the funds you can retain.
For further information, consult the PDL policy.
Travel away from home allowanceIf you are undertaking some or all of your PDL-Long program away from home, you may be eligible for an allowance to assist with the extra costs involved in living and travelling away from home.
Travel away from home allowances are based on a percentage of the Reasonable Overseas Travel Allowance Amounts published by the Australian Tax Office (ATO). The ATO has divided countries into five cost groups, with a set daily rate for the countries in each group.
Example rate calculations
If you are in the USA for 15 days you will be paid 20% of the ATO allowance for that time. On the ATO table the daily allowance for the USA is $190. Thus the total ATO allowance is $190 multiplied by 15:
$190 x 15 = $2850 (ATO allowance)
QUT pays 20% of this:
20% of $2850 = 0.2 x $2850 = $570 (QUT allowance).
If you are away for more than 60 days, then payments will be based on the percentages shown below for each 60 day period.
The recommended percentages to be paid by QUT are:
20% of the ATO allowance for the first 60 days
16% of the ATO allowance for the next 60 days
10% of the ATO allowance for the third 60 days
5% of the ATO allowance for all subsequent days.
Staff members on PDL-Long are eligible to receive the most economical return airfare appropriate to their program.
Airfares for any family members accompanying you on a professional development program will not be paid by QUT. If your spouse or partner is also employed by QUT, he or she may, if eligible, apply to undertake a professional development program at the same time: if approved they would be permitted a return airfare and travel away from home allowance.
Ground travel allowanceYou can also apply for additional funds to cover ground travel to locations outside your principle destination area. You will need to demonstrate that the travel is essential to meet the goals of the PDL-Long program. You should use the most cost effective form of internal travel.
Funds for ground travel are determined on a case by case basis based on the merit and nature of the program and the available funds.
Conference feesIf the PDL Committee determines that attendance at a conference is an essential part of your PDL-Long program, then the Committee may provide funds to cover the conference registration fee. The onus is on you to demonstrate why the conference attendance is an essential part of your PDL-Long program.
Funds for conference fees are determined on a case by case basis based on the merit and nature of the program and the available funds.
On occasion, you may undertake a PDL-Long program where funding other than that outlined above is essential to meet the goals of your program. In such a case you need to indicate the funds you are requesting and their purpose, and demonstrate why the extra funding is essential to meeting the goals of your program.
Reporting requirements
Following completion of your PDL-Long program, you are required to submit a report to your PDL Faculty/Divisional commitee through your Head of School or equivalent. Refer to the PDL Reporting Guidelines for further details.
Once the report has been approved by the PDL Faculty/Divisional committee, you must make it accessible to other staff members of the Faculty/Division.