As big a call as it was to quit my ongoing academic role (eeek) back in May, I am glad that I did. It freed up my “work week” so I was able to fly to Rockhampton and participate in CQUniversity’s 5 day intensive workshop for RHD students. Previously, I have attended an online intensive but because I was teaching on campus back then, I couldn’t fly to the east coast for a week. The face to face experience just adds so much value! Plus lets you build some great relationships.
Coming from Perth, I flew over a day early…about 30hrs after I arrived back in Australia from a month holiday in Vietnam. So I was very tired but definitely a keen bean ready to learn and make new friends. The uni arranged accomodation for us at a local motel and also had cars shuttle us back and forth each day so we didn’t have to walk 20 mins up a hill. It was very well run and people had come from all over the east coast – I was the only WA student.
With approximately 35 students in attendance, the workshops over the 5 days were fantastic. They ranged from time management with the amazing Maria Gardiner at Thinkwell to proposal feedback via speed dating to ethics processes…all the way to public speaking and pitches! Dr Cait Wilson’s session on conference presentations was also a highlight. There were lots of wonderful sessions that were just SO RELEVANT for pre confirmation of candidature students. I wish I had seen them last year – particularly the methodology and lit review info. Very useful for all candidates at all stages. On the last day we built Lego dinosaur defences and used a “grumpy balloon” to give feedback to each other.
We also got to meet the whole SGR support team, chat to the Dean and had the opportunity for professional head shots we could use for things like LinkedIn, conference bios etc. This isn’t my proper headshot but I did get to wear my awesome shirt for it haha.
As a newly appointed RHD Student Mentor (a paid casual role) I had to be quite social and engaged with everyone. They were long days and my “social battery” did struggle. Breakfast at 7am was as a group and we would then spend all day together in the intensive. We also had dinner together most nights. I think if I had not been “touristing” the month prior I may have coped a little better with that side of things. As it was, I ended up skipping Day 3 and the quiz night as I got sick and needed a day of rest. Staying in bed for the day was a good decision…I perked right up for Days 4 and 5. Day 4 included a short visit to look at some of the CQU Rockhampton crop experiments and cattle research. Cows!
I also got to play around with my iPad mini and Apple pencil which has allowed me to build my note taking strengths (writing notes/drawing connections by hand) while addressing my note taking weakness (losing every piece of paper or notebook I’ve ever owned). It was also good practice as that is going to be the approach for my researcher reflective journal once I start data collection.
As an external and interstate student, I simply don’t meet many other RHD students…this has been an excellent opportunity to build my support networks. As we learnt first up on day 1, students with good support networks are the students who make it through the doctoral degree journey.
Bye Rockhampton, hopefully I get to see you again next year!
Melissa Smith 