ACGR Webinar 3/2026 - When Does HDR Training Become Work?

From conference support and grant writing to animal care, lab management and broader project work, universities are increasingly confronting difficult questions about where HDR research training ends and paid work begins. Recent Fair Work cases, evolving legal expectations and changing sector norms are exposing institutions to growing legal, cultural and reputational risk, often in areas long treated as “normal” research practice. This session will unpack UQ’s journey in developing practical guidance to help supervisors distinguish between research training, volunteering, work experience, placements and paid employment. It will examine the tensions, pushback and grey areas encountered during consultation, share the principles and decision-support tools ultimately adopted, and discuss implementation strategies designed to support supervisors without creating a compliance-heavy framework.

Presenters:
Professor Pierre Benckendorff & Professor Virginia Slaughter, Deputy Dean & Dean, University of Queensland Graduate Research School