After 8 years or 4.75 years effective full time I have graduated from my PhD at UTAS. This is a short summary of my experience – written to share some courage, and offer advice for anyone else struggling with their PhD.
I started out as an optimistic full time student, but 1.5 years in I had to change my research focus (due to complications with supervision, funding and research data), I changed supervisors and went part-time so that I could work (in many different jobs). I never received a scholarship, had no research funding and only minimum resources to support my research.
My research went from studying the formation of communities online to studying the mobile phone’s role in the acculturation experience of international students staying in Tasmania. I wrote a new research plan which was presented at the International Conference on Communities and Technology doctoral consortium in 2011 to validate the change in direction [download paper].
During the last 8 years (officially) my progress was reviewed 8 times, I had 38 official supervisor meetings and met 22 milestones outlined in an ongoing candidature management plan. I had my candidature extended 4 times, and i used 0 days of leave.
The most common comment from my team after a meeting was ‘discussions with Harry included major concerns re the lack of tangible outputs’, this was the entry for my final meeting in April 2016.
Yet in June 2016 I submitted, and after review by some very prominent academics I received an A and B (minor corrections). Most importantly I needed to send it off to a professional editor to check my grammar and referencing. Editing takes a lot of time…
Since i started i have worked with many PhD students who have found themselves in much worse circumstances than me, but it’s rare for students to share their stories. The kinds of issues are similar, financial, supervision, administration, resources, social isolation, research skills, the challenge of writing, and project management. For me life got in the way a lot as my supervisors put it.
I think that I was able to persist for a few reasons:
My supervisors were very important, but the relationship is complex. Having people who know the university’s rules, that were fair and who pushed me was critical. But these requirements will be different for every person. I don’t believe that the best researcher makes the best supervisor.
I can’t emphasise enough how important student associations were. I got involved early in my PhD, and they turned out to be an invaluable source of support. At the very least they are full of people who are probably going through the same issues as you. They help you learn the universities rules and processes, and give you opportunities to improve them.
Access to support was critical. Some people and organisations which i followed were:
Throughout all of it managing my own expectations was probably my most significant challenge. Don’t expect that your results will be significant or your experience straight forward. Don’t let these expectations stop you from completing your PhD.
(I want to acknowledge my supervisors, and reviewers – thank you).
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) would like to thank the Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie and the Nick Xenophon Team for their willingness to stand with universities and reject funding cuts however we are still gravely concerned about the decreased HELP repayment threshold.
We ask crossbenchers to reject the Higher Education Legislation entirely and, instead, join us in asking for real reform. It is clear that a strong higher education sector provides educational, economic and cultural benefits to the entire country. The international rankings confirm Australia’s standing in education and research but this bill puts that standing and these benefits on shaky ground.
Real reform is possible in Higher Education, we only have to look at the Watt and ACOLA reviews into research training to see that it can be done right when done together. But reform requires the Federal Government to stop looking at Higher Education as a quick budget fix and start looking at the sector as a long-term national priority.
CAPA will continue to reach out to Senators, many of whom have expressed their desire to see reform that can benefit everyone and not just cuts.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire Says:
“It is clear that when it comes to universities, the crossbenchers, like much of the sector want REAL reform and not just random thought bubbles.”
“The benefits of universities extend beyond education. They provide jobs for rural communities, and providing significant economic benefits to the nation. Senators from Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales should be doing everything to protect universities given the benefits seen in these states.”
“It is not as if the sector is averse to reform as long as it is REAL reform and is about what is best for the sector and not just a cost-cutting exercise”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire
M: 0435 047 817
E: president@capa.edu.au
The Higher Education Legislation bill is currently being discussed in the House of Representatives today but much of the legislation still remains unclear to the sector including the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA). In the past, CAPA had supported the measure to even out allocation of Commonwealth Supported Places(CSP) for postgraduate coursework students however we can no longer do so.
The Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Pliberseck correctly stated this bill is about giving the Minister for Education a series of blank cheques for a number of random thought bubbles. It is clear that this “reform” package is nothing but a cover by the Minister for Education to get away with the cuts that his predecessor failed to force through.
CAPA has been in discussions with policy makers from the Group of Eight and The University of Melbourne and it is clear that no one really knows how aspects of this bill will be implemented. It is expected that some mythical extra level of bureaucracy will be put in place and could risk the independence of universities.
During the announcement of these reforms the question of the removal of 3000 postgraduate CSP was asked. An assurance was made that these places were “not being used” according to the Minister. Real reform would be to find a way to allocate these places NOT add another level of bureaucracy.
Like the 7.5% conditional commonwealth supported funding which is based on some mystery performance criteria the selection criteria of postgraduate commonwealth support remain unclear. Rather than just force the Higher Education bill through the house when people are distracted by a constitutional crisis perhaps the Education Minister should be told to revise and resubmit.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire says:
“I was told quite clearly that the 3000 postgraduate places that were being cut were not being used. But I could easily find 3000 and more Australian students that are begging for commonwealth support in their degrees”
“Many of the aspects of this bill seem to be there as an afterthought just to distract from another batch of higher education cuts and using student fees to fill a budget black hole.”
“I am more than happy to sit down with the Minister to discuss how we can adjust the way postgraduate support is assigned but not with a blank cheque and an increased level of costly bureaucracy”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire
M: 0435 047 817
E: president@capa.edu.au
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations(CAPA) is not at all surprised that the Higher Education Legislation is on the agenda for the House of Representatives today. It is almost as if the Federal Government wants to introduce this legislation under the cover of confusion created by a current constitutional crisis.
This bill cuts funding for domestic student education, exploits students to compensate for continued budget failures, and retroactively changes the terms of student loans in a way even banks would never dare attempt. It is a bill with few redeeming qualities and has been rejected by the entire sector.
The Minister for Education and Training has done his best to obscure this issue with cherry picked data and massaged figures on university funding. But worse still, is the Minister has stooped to interfering in the collective bargaining process at a number of universities in order to push this bogus bill.
It would seem that the Minister is trying to convince people that universities have not already paid their fair share in budget repair (Universities Australia has already shown that Higher Education has already been hit by $4 billion for budget repair). Further cuts to universities will have detrimental effects to the higher education sector and to students themselves.
The Minister seems to think that universities can afford these cuts with no ill effect, even though there have been countless restructures and thousands of job cuts sector-wide due to lack of funding. The bill would aggravate existing pressures on students and new graduate, who already contend with dropping employability, increasing cost of living, and qualification creep which forces students to study longer to be competitive in the job market.
But while the Minister may be out of touch with the Higher Education Sector CAPA remains confident that the cross-benchers will understand the importance of education, research and universities within their local communities as well as to the young people around Australia. The cross-benchers know the jobs that universities bring to their local community, the importance of supporting students from regional and low-SES backgrounds, and the ability for education to literally change lives. The cross-benchers understand the importance of an accessible and affordable education to all Australian students and will do the right thing, of that CAPA is sure.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire says
“Before the minister uses examples like UWA as an organization that can afford funding cuts he should remember the 300 staff that lost their jobs last year”
“This legislation is taking the same path as the failures of the past with nothing but the manipulation of data and threats of cutting funding elsewhere being used to strongarm the cross-bench, and, like the Pyne reforms, the cross-bench will see through this and stop the bill”
“Every time there is a cut to domestic student funding universities are pushed further to attracting international students and using them as cash cows.”
“The benefits of universities are being lost in the discussion, a university not only provides education and research but they also provide jobs to the local communities, jobs that are at risk when funding is slashed as they have been in the past.”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire
M: 0435 047 817
E: president@capa.edu.au
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) was disappointed with the decision by the High Court to allow the Same Sex Marriage postal farce to go ahead. It is CAPA’s stance that equal human rights should be a given and not something that has to be voted on.
It is clear that this survey is an attempt for the current Prime Minister to placate the backbenchers within a divided party. Perhaps in the confusion of continuous dual citizenship debacles the Prime Minster has forgotten that a member of parliaments job is to represent their constituents and that EVERY independent poll has shown one thing: Australians want marriage equality.
What the Prime Minister does not realise is that that LGBTIQA+ community has spent decades living with fear of persecution and the with-holding of their basic human rights, we are certainly not afraid of a spineless Prime Minister. We, as a community will stand strong with our allies, we will deal with the hurtful words of hate groups that have already, and will continue to be spouted, and we will win.
Then after this degrading process has occurred we will remember. We will remember the Prime Minister that did not stand up for equal rights, we will remember the politicians that have refused to do the right thing and we will remove you in the next election. Oh, and we will be 98,000 new voters strong brought on from your ineptitude.
CAPA will not only be encouraging people to vote yes over the coming months.And finally to the LGBTIQA+ community all we can say is that you do not stand alone.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire says:
“This is not a free speech issue, this is not a freedom of religion issue, this is a human rights issue. But what can we expect from a government that looks at human rights as guidelines more than actual rules.”
CAPA Equity Vice-President Vibol Hy says:
“Whether or not the high court would have stopped the postal vote or not, the LGBTIQA+ community would still be fighting every day for our rights. Don’t dismiss us as being part of the fringe of society. We are here, we are mobilised and we will vote for our rights.”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire
M: 0435 047 817
E: president@capa.edu.au
It would seem that the Senate Education and Employment Committee has forgotten that the key stakeholders of higher education are the students, according to the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA). The tabling of the inquiry report into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 has shown a remarkable bias by ignoring student submissions and testimonials.
CAPA has notices an interesting trend between the recommendation from the committee compared to Labors’ and the Greens’ dissenting reports. The dissenting reports, in which student submissions and testimonials are considered, then the recommendation is to reject the bill.
CAPA is disappointed that is was not invited to present at the public hearings given that it is the peak national representative body for postgraduate students in the country. Especially considering there are aspects of the bill that specifically focus on the provision of funding for postgraduate students.
CAPA also questions the lack of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student representatives at the public hearings. Theses proposed changes to enabling courses are expected to directly disadvantage these students and it is essential that their input is sought.
To have student voices ignored but allowing Andrew Norton two bites of the cherry is galling. Not only was Andrew Norton on the “expert panel” that developed this package but also presented a submission and appearing as a witness to the inquiry.
CAPA would like to renew its call for senators to reject the bill in its current form. It is essential for the Senate to stand with students and protect Australia’s future.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire says:
“It is shameful that an inquiry into higher education barely considers the student voice in this issue.”
“What does it say about the committee inquiry process when key student representatives are not provided with the opportunity to present about issues that directly affect their education?”
“Even during the debacle that was the Liberal parties last attempted attack on students the senate committee had the decency to invite student leaders to present as witnesses”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire
M: 0435 047 817
E: president@capa.edu.au
The Network of Women Students Australia (NOWSA) has just celebrated her 30th year anniversary in the 2017 annual conference which was held in ANU –the same place where the first NOWSA conference was held in 1987. My first impression when I heard ‘NOWSA’ was a conference that would contribute something to the conversation over gender equality in the context of women’ students in Australia. NOWSA Conference was a 5-day conference which consist of keynote speech, a dozen of workshops (caucus and pro-caucus) and panel discussions, as well as other activities such as art classes, movie, and counselling.
Before going further, I have to be honest with you that I am not an expert on the field of feminism nor on women issues. The 2017 NOWSA conference was my first women/feminism conference in my life. I was excited, thrilled, and nervous at the same time. I was keen to learn about feminism as an idea and practice, but also nervous that I could not ‘behave’ or ‘talk’ as the community expected (‘common rules or norms’ which not quite common for me), and dozen of collective grievance officers made me even more nervous.
At the first day of the conference on 16th of July, all participants were refreshed, in my case I was introduced, by the panel discussions on Practicing Intersectionality Feminism. For whom I was still trying to familiarize with the concept. Intersectionality is a way to understand a exclusive condition that every woman has a bundle of identities that make us a unique individual. This package of identities can’t be untangled, because it’s intertwined and interrelated with each other. Introduced in 1989 by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality is used to explain how oppressions that women face is influenced by the multi-layered facet of women’ identities. For instance, discriminative practice that someone face, is related to her identities as a woman from her cultural, socio-economic, religion (and other possible) backgrounds. I found intersectionality as a useful and handy concept to understand discrimination and other kind of oppressions that women face in daily life.
The second day was my favourite because of the two insightful panels held at the Parliament House; the Representation of Women in the Media and Women in the Male Dominated Fields. The first session at the Parliament House was the panel discussion on how women, most of the time, are being represented unfairly in the media. The speakers came from different professional backgrounds; mainstream media, private sector, and academic. The three panellists discussed how they view and critiqued the unjust representation of women in the media from different perspectives, and how they try to deal with it. The second panel that afternoon was no less exciting, the four ladies’ speakers were sharing their personal stories; how to strive in male dominated fields in STEM, criminal justice, and business. Each of them own very strong characters of what I consider as a feminist; stand for what they believe is right and support other women as solidarity.
The third and fourth day of the conference were packaged into Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) related topics. The Universities Australia and the Human Right Commission conducted a survey on SASH, and the result will be launched by August 1. Related to this topic, I attended the workshop on how to broaden and strengthen the advocacy on the SASH issue, including the upcoming SASH survey’ result and the existing ‘Respect.Now.Always’ campaign. During the discussion at that workshop, one identified common problem on the Respect.Now.Always campaign was how to increase universities’ involvement to be more effective in advocating this issue. SASH remains a major issue in Australia, and very close to women students’ life. Thus, after the SASH survey is released on August 1, several students’ peak bodies will work together and support the universities to advocate this issues.
Finally, as my first impression of NOWSA was related to gender equality context, I viewed that Women Students Network is a good start but we need a more sustainable and continuous movement. I recognised that the underlying problems of gender inequality are complex and interrelated with other problems. To make it even more difficult, gender inequality also can be transmitted to the next generations, as Amartya Sen said, ‘the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage’ or when we are in a disadvantage positions, we’re more likely to transfer that conditions to our kids and later grand-kids. In most cases, women issue can’t be separated to political, socio-economic, cultural, and the like.
Gender equality, like other wicked problems, becomes so complicated and sometimes make us frustrated even before we try to do something. This thought and my experience at NOWSA brought me to an attempt to answer my first question: Does NOWSA bring something to promote gender equality at the end? The answer is yes absolutely. At a certain extent, all kind of positive activities such as discussing, sharing, and networking are contributing to gender equality in a sense of strengthen knowledge, capacities and women’ solidarity. However, what NOWSA does is still insufficient, even in the context of women students’ empowerment. I understand that no one-stop solution for solving this issue and NOWSA never meant to solve the problem by herself. Thus, NOWSA, as the women’ student network, ought to be the leader in promoting women student’ empowerment by continuing build women’ network, solidarity, and capacity building. On the top of it, in the long run, I do wish that NOWSA can be one effective means to promote genuine gender equality through her capacities as the leader of women student’ network in Australia.
Naimah Talib
a mum, an international student who studies public policy at ANU, a Muslim, coming from developing country (Indonesia), omnivore, loves Haruki Murakami and enjoys Michael Bublé.
On August 8th, the Higher Education Sector will be united in one message: to bin the higher education bill. The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) will be joining the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the National Union of Students (NUS) on August 8th in protest of the Higher Education Reform Bill.
This legislation is set to hobble the Australian research and innovation economy and ruin our ability to compete on an international scale. It is the next step in punishing Australian students for the mistakes of government budget mismanagement. Not only do universities provide a huge boost to the Australian economy, they are also some of the biggest employers wherever there is a campus.
These cuts could result in lost jobs, suffering regional hubs, struggling graduates, and seriously hurt one of Australia’s biggest exports. Then there is the moral argument. How can the Australian government look young Australians in the eye when all they do is cut away at our future?
These protests will be occurring at all universities that understand their role in society and where academic freedom is encouraged. We are calling on all postgraduate students to join with their local NTEU branches at campus events on August 8th.
Information about the events that are happening at university campuses can be found here http://paymoregetless.org.au/news/events
CAPA National President, Peter Derbyshire Says:
“The sector is united in its rejection of this package. Staff, students and universities all know what is at stake regardless of the Minister’s rhetoric”
“The cuts to funding and the increase in fees directly impacts the ability of universities to produce the Australian graduates needed into Australia’s future. The cuts are nothing more than looking for short-sighted gains instead of focusing on long term economic growth.”
“The last Higher Education package we soundly rejected and that should have been the end of the discussion regarding cuts and increased fees. But this package is more of the same showing no innovation in the government’s policy decisions.”
END
For Comment: National President Peter Derbyshire
m: 0435 047 817
e: president@capa.edu.au
The findings from today’s release of the Australian Human Rights Commission report into sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian Universities paints a concerning picture for students according to the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA). While the results from this survey will not come as a surprise to many student leaders they do provide the groundwork needed to make real change.
For CAPA one of the greatest concerns is the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault that is perpetrated by staff on campus toward postgraduate students.
These results indicated that sexual violence from staff towards postgraduate students was higher than towards undergraduates. What’s worse is that given undergraduates outnumber postgraduates almost 3:1 is that these numbers present a grim story for the student/staff relationship at this level.
The power imbalance between research students and staff at the postgraduate level is a long-standing issue for Australian Universities.
Reporting is also a recognized issue within this report with many universities having vague or absent reporting structures when it comes to sexual assault and sexual harassment. For postgraduate students, whose supervisors hold their career in their hands, this is also an issue of a power imbalance and fear.
CAPA’s 19 recommendations to address the issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment are aimed at enabling students to report these issues without fear of reprisal.
CAPA will work with Universities Australia, The Australian Council of Graduate Research, and Vice-Chancellors to ensure that this issue is put to an end.
CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire says:
“For anyone that has spent time with postgraduate students they will know it is the worst kept secret in academia that such behaviour occurs.”
“I have spent almost 5 years representing postgraduate students and there are always these stories about but students are too afraid to speak up. Under the current structures there is nothing to protect a student from reprisals in their career if they do report these issues.”
CAPA Womens Officer Alyssa Shaw says:
“Bullying and harassment are commonplace by supervisors and teaching staff are well-known and prevalent issues in Universities. But now we have evidence to support what has been long denied or overlooked, that sexual harassment and assault are also prevalent amongst postgraduates, particularly from university staff.”
“Sexual assault and sexual harassment is insidious and systemic within all Australian Universities and more action is needed to address this issue than what has been announced today. Universities should be looking to CAPA’s recommendations if they want meaningful and substantive change.”
Students in need of help or support can call Universities Australia’s 24/7 phone line on 1800 572 224, or visit their university’s dedicated counselling service – details of which can be found at University Australia’s ‘Where to seek help at your university’ web page.
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire, 0435 047 817, e: president@capa.edu.au
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is encouraged at the level of support already garnered for our plan to combat sexual assault at Australian universities. The 19 recommendations (http://www.capa.edu.au/2017-sexual-assa…ights-commission/) were released in preparation for the release of the Human Rights Commission Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Survey that will be released tomorrow.
The recommendations ensure student participation in the development of a university sexual assault policy, provision of training for both staff and student leaders, as well as working towards a change in campus culture to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment.
So far CAPA has received statements and letters of support from Universities Australia, The Australian Council of Graduate Research, The Group of Eight, and the National Tertiary Education Union. It is a testament to the importance of this issue to see wide spread support for combating this issue.
As well as national support CAPA is also encouraged by the conversations that have already begun with Vice-Chancellors around the country. Professor Margaret Gardner from Monash University and Professor Dawn Freshwater from the University of Western Australia have both been in contact with CAPA and we are pleased to see that they are committed to working with students at all levels.
The next steps require support being made available to students where they are. This includes providing information on Universities Australia’s national hotline (1800 572 224) as well as information on campus for survivors who need support or need to report an incidence of sexual violence.
National President: Peter Derbyshire Says:
“It is encouraging to see that universities have already taken steps before the release of the survey results. One of our key recommendations was to prepare for the release through provision of support as well information on reporting.”
“We now want to see universities providing information to students where they are. Places like libraries and study centers as well as digitally are ideal because students can access the information at any time.”
“The release of the survey is an important step but what happens next is essential. Both nationally and at the campus level this is an issue for staff, students, and university management. By working together, we can make universities safer for everyone.”
Statements of support
Universities Australia
https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/Media-and-Events/media-releases/Universities-Australia-welcomes-postgraduate-report-on-student-safety#.WXgm7ulLfIU
Australian Council of Graduate Research
The Australian Council of Graduate Research Inc applauds CAPA for taking the initiative to prepare this report and set of recommended actions arising from the Human Rights Commission Survey of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault (SHASA) Survey.
The prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault in Universities requires universities to continue to review and improve their responses to this serious problem. ACGR is particularly committed to supporting our members as they work to improve the support structures in place for higher degree by research candidates and supervisors in response to the release of the SHASA Survey.
National Tertiary Education Union
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomes and congratulates CAPA on this comprehensive set of recommendations which clearly draw upon the experience and expertise of CAPA delegates and leaders. This is a valuable contribution to concretely tackling the persistent and pernicious scourge of sexual harassment and assault in our universities. We note that these are also issues for university staff at several levels, a key one of which is how staff can more effectively play their part in tackling the issues in systematic and systemic ways, in collaboration with students and management. We look forward to working with university managements and students in making the needed changes. These recommendations will certainly inform those discussions and consequent actions.
Jeannie Rea, NTEU National President
END
For Comment: Peter Derbyshire, National President 0435 047 817, president@capa.edu.au
The enquiry into the Higher Education Legislation amendments has revealed the Federal Governments real policy when it comes to education in Australia and that is “We don’t care”. The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) had thought that it would be possible to work with the Minister for Education and Training on real reform to higher education instead we got this debacle.
The Minister for Education and Training has bragged that by 2020 per-student funding will be the lowest in 11-years under his government. It is a proud moment for a government whose favourite past-time is a jolly good game of “kick the young person”.
The Minister has also stated that universities can just “tighten their belts” when it comes to the $2.8billion that will be ripped from universities. A sentiment that CAPA notes is NOT extended to millionaires and multi-billion dollar corporations.
Australian universities are already heavily reliant on the international student market. Does the federal government really want an education system that is geared to international students only because Australian students aren’t worth the effort? Where has the desire to educate the nation’s young people because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO gone.
We are again urging all senators to come out against this so-called reform package so that something meaningful might take its place. It is time to do something real that will secure Australia’s future and the future for Australian students.
Peter Derbyshire, CAPA National President, said:
“We are not sure if the Federal Government wants to deliberately destroy Australia’s reputation as a research and education destination or perhaps they just hate Australian students but either way Australian students are going to lose out”.
“How disappointing is it that pre-election the government was all for a research and innovation revolution only to find out that it was all vote-grabbing stunts. Perhaps one day a Federal government will come along that recognizes the potential in Australia’s Universities and utilize it but I fear it is not this day.”
“We should give the Minister for Education and Training one thing though, through this proposal, he has united the sector better than his predecessor’s failure did”
END
For Comment: CAPA National President Peter Derbyshire 0435 047 817 president@capa.edu.au
Attachment: Submission to the penalty rates common matter by CAPA 2017
Overview – a degree is not optional
Educational attainment increasingly means the difference between being employed and being unemployed. As a result, more people than ever are enrolling in higher education, and even more will do so in the future. Students frequently work while studying in order to make ends meet, and are employed within the retail, hospitality, and fast-food sectors. Shifts in penalty rates have a significant financial impact on these students, as well as on their ability to succeed at university.
Changes to penalty rates are an issue for university students across Australia, including those undertaking postgraduate level qualifications such as Coursework Masters or Doctoral (PhD) degrees. The challenges facing these students are many, however, one key area requiring closer consideration is the relationship between postgraduates’ income support, work, and studies.
Work and study can be immensely stressful. While attending university can be a challenging and rewarding pursuit, short deadlines and long hours are common. Students that need to work while they study face additional challenges and stresses: financial, mental, and emotional.
This report presents information on penalty rates and their importance to postgraduate students. We make three key arguments:
In order to support these arguments, we report on an exploratory study undertaken by CAPA. We collect a series of student case studies, focusing particularly on postgraduate beneficiaries of penalty rates who require them in order to continue their studies.
