HDR Stipend Student Forum

In partnership with the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), APS is hosting a Student Forum to open discussion about HDR students’ experiences with their living stipend.

While stipend rates have risen in recent years, increasing costs of living and rental pressures continue to undermine their effectiveness. Many HDR students are navigating financial stress, difficult trade-offs between study, work, and basic needs, and in some cases, considering interruptions to their research.

This forum will build on the recent HDR Stipend Survey, offering space for HDR students to share their perspectives, connect with peers, and contribute to collective advocacy. Your voice will help strengthen the evidence base for policy change and ensure that student wellbeing and research conditions remain at the centre of national conversations.