Research Workforce Issues 

What’s news?
Three early to mid-career researcher roundtables were held, one in each of the following cities: Melbourne (21 January), Sydney (27 January) and Brisbane (29 January). A research leaders roundtable was also held in Canberra on 12 February 2010. The purpose of the roundtables was to seek input and feedback from researchers on their experience in the research workforce. Outcomes from the roundtables will inform the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.

The Department participated in the Business-Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) discussion on Academic Workforce Roundtable held on 23 November 2009 in Canberra. Presentations and information on the Roundtable can be found at the B-HERT website.

Research Workforce Strategy Commissioned Studies
The Department has commissioned two studies to further examine the future supply of and demand for research qualified personnel in the workforce.

Employer Demand for Researchers in Australia
The Allens Consulting Group (ACG) has been engaged to undertake the Employer Demand for Researchers in Australia study. The objective of the study is to develop an improved understanding of key elements of employer demand for researchers in Australia including the types of skills sought, modes of employment and the strategies employers use to recruit and retain research staff.

Australia’s Future Research Workforce – Supply, Demand and Influence Factors
Access Economics has been engaged to undertake the Supply, Demand and Influence Factors study. This study will examine Australia’s future research skills needs, taking into account recent policy settings and potential wider economic developments over the coming decade.

These studies build on the earlier work commissioned by the Department in mid 2009 on the Supply, demand and characteristics of the higher degree by research population in Australia. Supply, Demand and Characteristics of the HDR Population in Australia (pdf 1115kb)

Research Workforce Strategy Background
The Government announced its intention to develop the Research Workforce Strategy in Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century (pdf 1056kb).

The key objectives of the strategy are to:

• Develop a strong and productive research workforce; and
• Underpin the Australian Government’s reform agendas for innovation and higher education in Australia.

The strategy will look ahead to 2020.

Work on the Research Workforce Strategy is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010.

Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group
The development of the Research Workforce Strategy is being supported by a Reference Group comprising representatives from the university sector, the National Tertiary Education Union, peak industry groups, government departments and statutory bodies, professional organisations and societies, the National Academies Forum and postgraduate student associations.

The membership of the Reference Group:

NB: Individual representatives are subject to change.

Research Workforce Strategy Subgroups
The work of the Research Workforce Strategy Reference Group is being supported by three subgroups in the thematic areas: employer demand; research training experience; and research career pathways. The subgroups will undertake a more detailed and focussed examination and discussion of issues in these areas.

Reference Group members have self nominated for membership on one or more of the subgroups. Outcomes from subgroup meetings are referred back through the Reference Group to inform the development of the Research Workforce Strategy.

Australian Government Response to "Building Australia's Research Capacity"
In April 2008 an inquiry on research training and research workforce issues in Australian Universities was referred to the House of Representatives standing committee on Industry, Science and Innovation. The report, Building Australia’s Research Capacity, was tabled in parliament on 1 December 2008.

The report included 38 recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to Australia's research workforce. The issues the recommendations address include the role of education in promoting Australia's research capacity, funding and support arrangements for research students and research career pathways.

The Australian Government's Response to Building Australia's Research Capacity (.pdf, 104KB) was tabled on 17 September 2009. The response refers several recommendations to the Research Workforce Strategy.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, announced the Government's response on 18 September 2009.