Deakin University’s leaders canceled a contentious restructure and apologized after an “unsettling” fortnight in which hundreds of employees were threatened with potential retrenchment. In an email to staff, chancellor Claire Higgins and caretaker vice-chancellor Matthew Clarke said the proposals announced June 4 would not proceed. Times Higher Education reported that Deakin’s governing council had been consulted but had not approved the plans, receiving details only after they became public. The council reportedly intended to halt the restructure after the sudden departure of vice-chancellor Iain Martin shortly after the announcement, but staff consultation timelines reportedly limited options while formal consultations were under way. Deakin’s leaders said the cancellation followed listening to staff and community feedback. A spokesman said the proposed changes were “substantial and complex,” and that change would still be needed later, but “the right change” after reassessment. The reversal highlights how campus governance and consultation processes can become decisive in workforce restructuring—especially when oversight bodies are blindsided by management timelines.