Sign-up for our next HDR Skills Development Series Workshop!

We've put together a fabulous program to build your academic and professional skills while supporting and enhancing your PhD journey, not to mention future career.

The day starts with an early morning tea, so that you can all get to know one another, with sessions starting at 10 am.

Session 1: Discourse analysis, Professor Robyn Mayes
This session will explore the practice of discourse analysis as a qualitative research method. You will learn how to conduct discourse analysis, as well as explore how to harness its potential for richer, more critical insights.

Session 2: How to write a strong Ethics Application with Professor Byron Keating
This session will guide you through the key components of writing a clear and comprehensive ethics application, with practical advice on how to address common challenges. You will gain tips to strengthen both the quality and integrity of your project. This session will provide insights from both the applicant and reviewer perspective to help you prepare a strong, well-supported submission.

Session 3: Visualising research positioning, Dr Valeria Macalupu
This session explores how to map and communicate your research focus, experience, and skills in a clear, visual way. By developing a visual representation of your research positioning, you will gain tools to articulate your unique contribution, identify opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen your academic identity. These skills will help you present to different audiences (including supervisors, peers, and industry partners), and help support career development, grant applications, and scholarly impact.

Session 4: What examiners do when they examine a PhD, Adjunct Professor Richard Johnstone
This session will provide invaluable insight into how examiners approach a PhD, what they expect to see, and how first impressions can shape their reading. Explore the key qualities that examiners consistently value, as well as the common pitfalls that can undermine an otherwise strong thesis. You will gain practical guidance on aligning your writing with examiner criteria, strengthening the clarity, coherence, and scholarly contribution of your work, and approaching submission with greater confidence.