Support mechanisms to assist Indigenous staff and students to undertake research, including Higher Degrees by Research
CSU Support Schemes:
The completion of a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) is recognised as a foundational step to a productive research career. The University provides a range schemes aiming to support research professional development for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff, including the following:
Indigenous Research/Researchers Seed Funding
Aim
Small internal funding pool to support seeding projects and/or small groups. Clear outcomes and recognition of how further research will be seeded as essential assessment criteria.
Availability & Value
Up to 5 grants per year for institution; total annual commitment of $25,000.
Fund Source
Support from IES and/or Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
Currently being updated. Please direct any enquiries to research@csu.edu.au
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Indigenous HDR Student Tuition Fee Support
Aim
To encourage and support Indigenous Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student candidates by providing tuition fees, this scheme is open to general staff and community members.
Availability & Value
No quota. Any eligible HDR candidate who identifies as Indigenous will be granted a Research Training Scheme (RTS) place which provides tuition fees and research operating support
Fund Source
Fee support, research operating support and supervision support funds from Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
Candidates should identify their desire to take up this opportunity during their application for enrolment. CSU HDR courses and enrolment information are detailed here.
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Indigenous Staff HDR Pathways
Aim
A program that offers partial buy-out of academic staff members to facilitate fast-tracked completion of Graduate Certificate in Research Methods/Honours programs, as a pathway into PhD studies. Partial buy-out equates to approximately half time release from teaching/administration responsibilities.
Availability & Value
Up to two commencing per annum across the University.
Funding provided to the school at $20,000 per session per full time staff member, as contribution to salary replacement. Support is available for up to two sessions.
Fund Source
Salary support from IES budget.
Guidelines & Application
There is no application form designed for this scheme. Heads of School may nominate eligible staff member and seek endorsement from Dean for approval by the DVC Research. Staff who are interested in being nominated for this support should contact their Head of School or the Director, Research (research@csu.edu.au).
Continuing support is contingent on satisfactory progress in studies, to be monitored at the Faculty level.
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Indigenous Staff PhD Release Scheme
Aim
Provision of full time equivalent release from teaching for eligible staff to facilitate PhD completion.
Availability & Value
Up to two commencing per annum across University.
Funding provided to the school at $50,000 per annum for each eligible full-time staff member, as a contribution toward salary replacement. Candidates who enrol in a CSU PhD program are also eligible for tuition fee support and student resource support. Support is available for up to six sessions.
Fund Source
Salary support from IES budget. Tuition fee support, supervision support funds, student resource grant from Research budget (for CSU HDR enrolments only).
Guidelines & Application
There is no application form designed for this scheme. Heads of School may nominate eligible staff member and seek endorsement from Dean for approval by the DVC Research. Staff who are interested in being nominated for this support should contact their Head of School or the Director, Research (research@csu.edu.au).
Continuing support is contingent on satisfactory progress in PhD, to be monitored in part through formal HDR Progress Reports.
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Academic Staff HDR Workload Support Scheme
Aim
Assistance for academic staff to obtain a higher degree by research in an area of strategic importance to the University. This is a strategic investment both to improve our staff qualifications and increase research capacity within the institution.
Availability & Value
This scheme does not have a quota. Formal workload recognition is provided during candidature (30% research component of workload). This support is available for up to 7 years. Staff enrolled in a CSU HDR program are also eligible for a tuition fee support and student resource support.
Fund Source
Faculty budget
For CSU HDR candidates, tuition support, resource support and supervision support funds from Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
See Academic Staff HDR Workload Support Scheme page
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Indigenous Academic Fellowship Program
Aim
A program that provides a living wage for eligible Indigenous PhD candidates and assists in developing potential to enter an academic career. The fellowship combines higher degree by research studies and a 0.2 FTE teaching role (one day per week). Eligible candidates would enrol in a CSU PhD program and will receive appropriate, high quality supervision and academic support, with the opportunity to transition into a continuing academic position upon successful completion of the four year fellowship.
Availability & Value
Variable depending on recurrent funding. Fellowships are targeted at Academic Level A/B dependent on individuals qualifications and background. Enrolment in the HDR program includes tuition fee support (ie. no fees to candidates) and research operating support of $5,000 per year.
Fund Source
Fellowships may be funded centrally and/or from Faculty budgets.
Tuition support, resource support and supervision support funds from Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
Managed as a formal recruitment process through Human Resources. Candidates who are interested in this scheme should contact the Indigenous Employment Coordinator, Ms Catherine Maxwell (cmaxwell@csu.edu.au).
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PhD Completion Awards
Aim
Support to create a focused period of time for staff in the final stages of completing their PhD thesis or research professional doctoral thesis/portfolio. The award may only be used for teaching release to work on completing the thesis or portfolio.
Availability & Value
Up to 4 awards per year for institution, valued at up to $5,000 each.
Fund Source
Support from Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
See PhD Completion Award page.
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Writing-Up Awards
Aim
This award aims to improve publication rates by providing a modest income/ teaching buy-out for academic staff following submission of thesis to enable the preparation of articles or books based on their Higher Degree by Research thesis.
Availability & Value
Up to 4 awards per year for institution, valued at up to $5,000 each.
Fund Source
Support from Research budget.
Guidelines & Application
See Writing Up Awards - Academic Staff page.
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Some External Support Schemes:
DEEWR Indigenous Staff Scholarships
Aim
To provide professional development opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff (both academic and general) working at universities. The scholarships are part of the Australian Government’s plan to help improve education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in higher education.
Availability & Value
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at Australian universities
Successful applicants can take 12 months leave from their job to study full time in their chosen field. They receive up to $26,516 as a living allowance and up to $16,265 for tuition fees and student contribution amounts for the year.
Guidelines & Application
See DEEWR Indigenous Staff Scholarships page.
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NHMRC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Scholarships
Aim
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) scholarships targeting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health applicants to provide support for research training, or to non-indigenous applicants to undertake training leading to research in areas of particular relevance to the health of Indigenous Australians. NHMRC funding supports successful applicants to attain a higher degree by research: PhD, Research Professional Doctorate or Research Masters.
Availability & Value
An annual, nationally competitive scholarship program administered by the NHMRC.
Guidelines & Application
See NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships page.
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ARC Discovery Indigenous
Aim
Australian Research Council (ARC) support for research programs led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and build research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers. The objectives of the Discovery Indigenous scheme are to:
- develop the research expertise of Indigenous Australian researchers;
- support fundamental research and research training by Indigenous Australian researchers as individuals and as teams;
- support and retain established Indigenous Australian researchers in Australian higher education institutions; and
- expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability.
Availability & Value
An annual, nationally competitive grant program administered by the ARC. In 2012, 10 of 29 received applications were funded to a total value of $3.8M.
Guidelines & Application
See ARC Discovery Indigenous information page.
Please contact the CSU Research Office as early as possibly, if you are considering developing an application to this scheme.