Research Workforce Issues 

What’s news?
The Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper has been released and submissions are now invited from interested stakeholders.  The consultation paper and details of the submission process are available below.

The Supply, Demand and Influence Factors study has been completed and will inform the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.  The final report is available below.

The Department is conducting a number of discipline-specific case studies to identify potential discipline-specific factors that may influence research career progression and support.  Outcomes from the case studies will also inform the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.

Research Workforce Strategy Consultation Paper
The Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper has been prepared by the Department on the basis of advice from the Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group, feedback and suggestions provided by stakeholders, and analysis undertaken by the Department over the course of 2009-10.  It identifies a number of challenges and opportunities for Australia’s research workforce over the decade to 2020 and proposes a set of priority areas for focus to meet those challenges and opportunities.

The Department is now seeking submissions in response to the consultation paper.  Research Workforce Strategy Consultation Paper (.pdf, 234KB)

How to respond to the Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper
It is requested that responses be concise and address the questions Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper questions (.pdf, 11KB) posed in the paper.  Additional material may be provided as attachments if desired.

Please email submissions to: rws@innovation.gov.au

Written submissions should be addressed to:

Research Workforce Strategy – Submission
Research Funding and Policy Branch
Research Division
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA, ACT 2601

Email is the preferred mode of submission.

Important note: Unless otherwise requested by submitting individuals or organisations, submissions will be made publicly available on the Department’s website shortly following receipt.

Information Sessions
The department is conducting information sessions on the Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper in major capital cities. The information sessions will consist of a short presentation of the consultation paper by the department, followed by a question and answer session. Scheduled venues and dates for the information sessions are listed below.

Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper information sessions:  

Please RSVP your attendance, indicating which information session you wish to attend, to rws@innovation.gov.au by Thursday 8 July.

Research Workforce Strategy Studies
Australia’s Future Research Workforce – Supply, Demand and Influence Factors
Access Economics was engaged to undertake the Supply, Demand and Influence Factors study. The objective of the study was to examine Australia’s future research skills needs, taking into account recent policy settings and potential wider economic developments over the coming decade.

The final report of this study contributes supply and demand modelling, based on a number of scenarios, to the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.  Australia's Future Research Workforce - Supply, Demand and Influence Factors (.pdf, 1.3MB)

Employer Demand for Researchers in Australia
The Allens Consulting Group was engaged to undertake the Employer Demand for Researchers in Australia study. The objective of the study was to develop an improved understanding of key elements of employer demand for researchers in Australia including the types of skills sought, modes of employment and the strategies employers use to recruit and retain research staff.  The final report of this study provides a qualitative snapshot of the needs, opportunities, barriers and challenges that influence employer demand for researchers in Australia. Employer Demand for Researchers in Australia (.pdf, 6.6MB)

These studies build on the earlier work commissioned by the Department in mid 2009 on the supply, demand and characteristics of the higher degree by research population in Australia (.pdf, 1.1MB).

Workshop with postgraduate research students
A workshop with postgraduate research students was hosted by the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) with support from the Department on 2 December 2009. The objective of the workshop was to provide further insight into the research training experience in Australia from the perspective of current postgraduate students. A report, prepared by CAPA, summarises the discussions around three themes: the research training experience, career pathways and completing a research degree. The Research Education Experience in 2009 (.pdf, 756KB)

The observations and views expressed in the above reports are those of Access Economics, the Council for Australian Postgraduate Associations, the Allen Consulting Group and the Australian Council for Educational Research and do not reflect the views of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Research Workforce Strategy Background
The Government announced its intention to develop the Research Workforce Strategy in Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century (.pdf, 1MB).

The key objectives of the strategy are to:

• Develop a strong and productive research workforce; and
• Underpin the Australian Government’s reform agendas for innovation and higher education in Australia.

The strategy will look ahead to 2020.

Work on the Research Workforce Strategy is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010.

Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group
The development of the Research Workforce Strategy is being supported by a Reference Group comprising representatives from the university sector, the National Tertiary Education Union, peak industry groups, government departments and statutory bodies, professional organisations and societies, the National Academies Forum and postgraduate student associations.

The membership of the Reference Group:    

NB: Individual representatives are subject to change.

Research Workforce Strategy Subgroups
The work of the Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group is being supported by three subgroups in the thematic areas: employer demand; research training experience; and research career pathways. The subgroups will undertake a more detailed and focussed examination and discussion of issues in these areas.

Reference Group members have self nominated for membership on one or more of the subgroups. Outcomes from subgroup meetings are referred back through the Reference Group to inform the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.

Australian Government Response to "Building Australia's Research Capacity"
In April 2008 an inquiry on research training and research workforce issues in Australian Universities was referred to the House of Representatives standing committee on Industry, Science and Innovation. The report, Building Australia’s Research Capacity, was tabled in parliament on 1 December 2008.

The report included 38 recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to Australia's research workforce. The issues the recommendations address include the role of education in promoting Australia's research capacity, funding and support arrangements for research students and research career pathways.

The Australian Government's Response to Building Australia's Research Capacity (.pdf, 104KB) was tabled on 17 September 2009. The response refers several recommendations to the Research Workforce Strategy.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, announced the Government's response.