Meeting Australia’s Research Workforce Needs -- Senator Carr Consults. (June 28, 2010)

Today the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, released a 49-page consultation paper on the strategy to focus discussion and generate ideas in order to provide "Australia the research firepower it needs to prosper in a rapidly changing world by developing a Research Workforce Strategy for the next decade and beyond".

In releasing the "consultation paper" the minister said: "Everyone with an interest in the future of Australian research should take part in this process. This is a strategy to rejuvenate and expand Australia's research workforce. It is about planning for the future and making sure that we have the highly skilled researchers we need to stay competitive, to maintain living standards, and to fulfil the aspirations of working Australians. The industries of the future will be more knowledge-intensive and more technology-driven. That is why the Australian Government is investing so heavily in innovation, science and research – and in the people who make them happen."

According to the DIISR, the paper has been developed with advice from the high-level reference group (see below) established to support the strategy development process.

 
The Department requests that submissions be concise and address the 9 questions the Research Workforce Strategy consultation paper questions  poses in the paper.  Additional material may be provided as attachments if desired.

Email submissions should be addressed to: rws@innovation.gov.au

Written submissions  to:

Research Workforce Strategy – Submission
Research Funding and Policy Branch
Research Division
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA, ACT 2601

However, email is the preferred mode of submission.

Deadline for submissions:  Friday 6 August 2010;  however, earlier submissions are welcome.

__________________________________________________

Public information sessions on the consultation paper will be held in most capital cities over the next few weeks. The Department requests: "Please RSVP your attendance, indicating which information session you wish to attend, to rws@innovation.gov.au by Monday 5 July."

The closing date for submissions is 6 August 2010 and the Department states final strategy is to be determined toward the end of 2010.

Just how serious the government is in actually developing a meaningful program is of course a moot question. In the first instance it has to be re-elected and then it remains to be seen if Ms Gillard, as Prime Minister, is significantly more serious in supporting the intellectual infrastructure for research, development and innovation than she was (or was allowed to be) as Minister for Education. It is both surprising and noteworthy that in the "high-level reference group" below, no chief scientist, federal or state, is listed.

NB: Individual representatives are subject to change