The pathway to a career in research is well mapped out in the early stages: honours degree, PhD, post-doc positions. Then follows a series of short-term contracts as budding researchers work to secure appointments and establish a career in an intensely competitive environment.
The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of the needs of Australian researchers; and following a consultation process with the research community, to develop a ‘best-practice’ approach to improve their career pathways. It was funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (formerly the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research).
The consultants were charged with exploring options for practical recommendations to meet one of the priorities of the Research Workforce Strategy: that researchers are ‘supported to meet individual career needs and objectives’. An aspiration of this strategy is that researchers in Australia have clear and equitable pathways for career progression.
The project complements earlier work by the Research Education Experience Workshop (December 2009) and the Research Career Pathways Roundtables (January/February 2010), which culminated in the recent publication of the Research Workforce Strategy.
