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The Universities Accord laid out 47 recommendations, several of which relate to Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student working conditions. These recommendations are yet to be addressed.
The raising of the Research Training Program (RTP) stipend is of the utmost importance. The current minimum stipend awarded is $32,192, an amount that is $11,771 below the national minimum wage.
For the period of our study, typically three to three and a half years but sometimes four, we work full-time hours without proper remuneration, superannuation, and are unable to make HECS-HELP contributions. The current RTP stipend is unviable for many students, limiting their autonomy and pushing them to seek other career paths. Consistent with the accord’s recommendations, we are not requesting the stipend be considered a wage. However, we believe the minimum wage is a viable living standard for HDR students. Furthermore, more can be done to address the HECS-HELP burden on HDR students.
We therefore ask the house to:
· Increase and tie the Australian Research Training Program stipend to the national minimum wage without reducing the number of available RTP scholarships
· Freeze HECS-HELP loan indexation for the duration of HDR candidature
· Deduct the average Australian employee yearly % contribution from HECS-HELP loans upon HDR completion
The federal government aims to contribute 3% of GDP to research and development. HDR students are at the frontline of Australia’s research and development now and into the future. If we are to make this future in Australia, we need to be properly supported now.
FAQ:
1. Can international student visa holders sign the petition? Yes, student visa holders can sign petitions if they are currently residing in Australia. All Australian citizens and residents can sign any petition to the federal government
2. How many hours per week are HDR students expected to dedicate to their project? Requirements differ between universities. Universities such as the University of Adelaide and the University of Tasmania allow up to 8 hours of paid employment per week during normal working hours. However, this can often be an awkward conversation with supervisors and may put students at odds with their host research group. Expectations between research groups differ greatly resulting in a significant grey area of what is allowed and what is not. A student is allowed to engage in paid employment outside of normal working hours however this can have significant impacts on their mental and physical health
3. Why do stipend rates differ between universities? Universities can award a stipend that falls between the minimum and maximum allowable stipend. In fact, most universities in Australia award above the minimum stipend, but only just. In general, no university awards a stipend that meets the minimum wage
4. Has the HDR stipend kept pace with inflation and the median Australian income? No, the stipend has not kept pace with either. Below are some graphs to illustrate that point kindly made by Scott Kolbe
ORGANISATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION:
SAHMRI STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, CHS FUTURE RESEARCHERS GROUP, SWINBURNE ASTROPHYSICS PhD STUDENTS, UWA POSTGRADUATE STUDENT GUILD, MONASH GRADUATE ASSOCIATION, YOUX, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION, POSTGRADUATE COUNCIL UNSW, ASSOCIATION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE ASSOCIATION, SOUTHERN CROSS POSTGRADUATE ASSOCIATION, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE ASSOCIATION, QUT GUILD, CURTIN STUDENT GUILD, NATSIPA
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