Current members of the FLEET students and ECRs working group
Young researchers driving FLEET’s training program
A working group initiated by and comprised of FLEET ECRs and PhD students ensures that the Centre’s training program matches the needs of its young researchers.
The ECR Working Group ensures that students and other Centre ECRs voices are heard, and that their needs are met, in terms of the development programs delivered within the Centre.
Support for Working Group initiatives has been confirmed by the FLEET Executive Committee, which provides the Group with $10,000 annually to be used for ECR- and student-organised activities supporting:
- Exchange of research ideas
- Enhancing scientific skills
- Expanding members’ professional skills toolkit
- Extending professional and research networks.
A major recent focus of the Working Group has been delivery of training at FLEET annual workshops, including planning and delivering training; and facilitation of the three-day ECR workshop alongside the FLEET Strategic Meeting.
Training delivered has been driven by the working group’s comprehensive surveying of FLEET students and members, ensuring that training meets the needs of FLEET students and ECRs. Other surveying has tracked translation and industry-related training needs.
The ECR Working Group working group has developed an evolving membership after its initiation in 2019. In 2022, the team comprised Abigail Goff, Karen Bayros, Patjaree Aukarasereenont and Yik Kheng Lee (RMIT), Mitch Conway (Swinburne), Abhay Gupta, Dan Sando and Maedehsadat Mousavi (UNSW). Previous members have included Vivasha Govinden and Marcus Goffage (UNSW), with early assistance from Mark Edmonds (Monash).
Working group contact: education@FLEET.org.au
The Working Group delivers quarterly updates to the FLEET Executive Committee on its activities.
Since initiation the Group has:
- Organised the first FLEET ECR workshop 2019
- Successfully lobbied for the Centre’s collaborative travel grant scheme (implemented 2019) and training grant scheme (2020)
- Established a library of resources to build research and professional skills during Covid
- Secured training grants of up to $500 per member from the FLEET Education and Training Committee
- Surveyed Centre students to set training program
- Planned and delivered training on creative communication and facilitated Q&A panel examining diverse career options at FLEET’s Centre Workshop in Wollongong, July 2022
- Sourced training on communications and career skills, and ran three-day ECR writing and mental-health retreat, FLEET strategic meeting December 2022.
At the December workshop, the Group creatively set up a ‘well-being space’ dedicated to networking and other health and well-being-related activities. The space, which was open for all ECRs as well as investigators attending the strategic meeting, included a quiet corner for yoga and meditation, a reading corner with bean bags and a fun corner for board games. Members also immersed themselves in therapeutic origami folding, colouring and drawing, and accessed resources and tips on self-care and well-being.
FLEET’s ECRs and students also drive Centre activities and policy through their involvement in the Centre’s special governance committees. This involvement in Centre governance ensures that the views and needs of these cohorts are properly integrated into Centre strategy.