The 2024 Researcher Development Program has been developed in collaboration with the Graduate Research School, HDR candidates, academic and professional staff, and support services at UOW.

Researcher development is crucial for all researchers for several reasons:

Skill Enhancement and Career Preparedness

HDR candidates engage in a wide range of activities beyond their research, including teaching, presenting at conferences, writing papers, and networking. Developing skills in these areas enhances their effectiveness as researchers and prepares them for diverse career paths in academia, industry, or other sectors.

Professional Growth

Engaging in researcher development activities fosters personal and professional growth. These activities enable researchers to identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and career aspirations, empowering them to take ownership of their professional development journey.

Wellbeing and Resilience

Researcher development programs also focus on promoting well-being and resilience among researchers. Balancing the demands of research with self-care and stress management strategies is essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being throughout the HDR journey and beyond.

In essence, researcher development is vital for all researchers to not only excel in their research but also to thrive personally and professionally in an ever-evolving academic and professional landscape.

You can read more about upcoming workshops and events by clicking here. More workshops will be added to the schedule throughout the semester. When new workshops are added, HDR candidates will be notified and an event will be added to the website and the UOW Event Calendar. 

The HDR Development Hub is a platform for information to be distributed to all UOW HDR candidates. 

This site contains information about upcoming academic and professional development opportunities for graduate researchers. We'll also post information about the various support services available to HDR candidates, including academic and wellbeing support. 

All HDR candidates are encouraged to engage with the content of this site, and to contact the Researcher Development Unit if you have any questions or suggestions for future training.

You can contact the Researcher Development Unit at researcher-development@uow.edu.au.

PURPOSE

The purpose of Writers That Finish (WTF) is to enable a network of HDR candidates that come together with a common goal - to complete and submit their HDR Thesis.

Writers That Finish (WTF) provides a unique system of support for those experiencing the ‘crunch’ that is the final six months of the PhD. WTF intends to surround candidates with peers who understand the challenges they are facing during this critical period and encourage camaraderie during this unique, and often unrelatable time. Our WTF group aims to:  

1. Provide opportunities to work alongside peers who are going through the same ‘end-of-candidature' experience in a supportive environment. 

2. Develop positive and practical writing routines that encourage productivity. 

3. Foster a strong community between candidates, to share experiences, tips, and encouragement towards the end of their candidature, and beyond. 

4. Offer spaces to have an honest and open discussion about all aspects of this final stage of the HDR journey, both negative and positive, free of judgement or criticism. 

5. Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of those participating in the program, such as the completion of a piece of writing (e.g., a chapter or section of a thesis), milestones, or thesis submission. 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to HDR candidates across all faculties that are within (approximately) 6 months of submitting their thesis. This is in fact the only criterion for membership – that candidates are in this final stretch of thesis writing. 

MEETING FREQUENCY

WTF meets weekly on Mondays from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. These meetings are conducted. 

Contact researcher-development@uow.edu.au if you'd like to know more!