The National Tertiary Education Union has been appointed to the Federal Government's reference group which will help inform a review of Australian universities.
The new group has been announced as part of Education Minister Jason Clare's review of universities.
NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes will represent the union on the Ministerial Reference Group.
"After almost a decade of relentless cuts and attacks on higher education, we now have a government that is showing it is willing to listen to the major issues affecting university staff," she said.
"We will constructively engage in this process in good faith to ensure Australian universities produce the best outcomes for staff, students and society.
"Giving the NTEU a seat at the table sends an important signal that our members are being taken seriously as we highlight critical reforms.
"It's absolutely crucial this review ends with a commitment to tackle insecure work, wage theft and a fairer funding model.
"Under the previous government, 35,000 jobs at public universities were lost while degrees became more expensive for students and funding cuts damaged our sector.
"With two thirds of university staff employed insecurely, we'll be driving home how important creating more secure jobs in higher education is.
"It's disgusting that wage theft has become a systemic part of universities' business model.
"We can use the review to put in place significant guard rails to stamp out the wage theft crisis which has engulfed higher education.
"This review should be a critical step in addressing major challenges facing our sector after the appalling stewardship of the previous government," Dr Barnes said.
