1. Not Just Feedstock The Challenges of Early Career Research
John Nowakowski and Tammi Jonas
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations

2. Overview Who are HDR students?
Why is supporting early career researchers important?
What are the current problems?
How can we solve these?
Data throughout this presentation provided by DEEWR (2009 Student Numbers) and ACER (Unpublished Research)

3. Research postgraduates
51,000 HDR students
35% part time
76% part time at ACU
50% part time at Melbourne University
35% aged 20-30, 50% aged 30-49
30% have no scholarship
54% with no scholarship in Education

4. Researchers in the pipeline?
Estimates of a shortfall of academics of up to 20,000
HDR students put out up to 40% of the country’s research
Currently, 62% of HDR students hope to work at a University upon completion of a doctorate – around 40% will do so.

5. Profile of a student

6. Key Issues Scholarships Full time v Part time study Minimum resources
Career pathways

7. Scholarships Increase APAs by 20%
Extend APAs to 4 years with possible 6 month extension

8. Full time v Part time Equity
Carers
Disability
Generic skills – work – community engagement
Nearly 60% of HDR students work
82% who work are in 'somewhat' or 'closely' related employment
Innovation and creativity
'people who live in the intersection of social worlds are at higher risk of having good ideas' (Burt 2003)

9. Minimum resources 32 of 38 Australian universities have policies
Office space
Annual funding for production & dissemination of research
Representation & student services
TEQSA has an important role to play

10. Career pathways Reform pay & conditions for casual academic staff
Improve employment opportunities for recent graduates
Casual positions that roll into ongoing
DECRAs an excellent initiative
Value teaching experience in HDRs, and provide appropriate support
Nearly half of all HDRs teach during their degree
Only 16% receive any formal pedagogical training