PhD Thinkers Program
Supported by the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Australian Laureate Fellowship
About the Program
The Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory (PSC- GO) is a world-first platform that conducts ground- breaking, interdisciplinary, international research; bringing together world class experts to conduct rigorous research with the potential to positively impact workplace policy- making globally. PSC-GO was established in 2020 by Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Fellow, Professor Maureen Dollard. The PSC-GO team work together on an expansive and significant 5-year project called 'Mind the Worker: Transformative Change for a Human-Centred Corporate Climate', as well as a range of other industry focused projects.
As part of the ARC Laureate Fellowship, Prof Dollard also received a Kathleen Fitzpatrick award to grow the next generation of Australian interdisciplinary women researchers. Kathleen Fitzpatrick was a passionate advocate for women, as well as a humanities and social sciences researcher. From this award, the PhD Thinkers Program was born.
The PhD Thinkers program is an interactive 2-day design thinking workshop that focuses on discussion of innovative interdisciplinary research on a contemporary work health and safety workplace issue. The program aims to provide opportunities to network and build links between a group of Australian female PhD candidates and develop skills in creative thinking and methodological approaches, and boost career advancement and future academic endeavours.
Additionally, with the support of the fellowship, each year a new Thinker in Residence hosts a public lecture to discuss trending topics in the field of workplace health, safety and wellbeing
Each year, 10 female Australian PhD students (50 in total) are invited to join. PhD candidates are selected from diverse disciplines (e.g. STEM, AI, industrial law, sociology) especially where female researchers are under-represented.
Collaboration with Match Studio – who are experts in interdisciplinary and creative thinking – is integral to the success of this program. While learning about human centred design thinking, PhD Thinkers tackle that year’s specific work health and safety issue and develop a research proposal. Each component of the workshop acts as a scaffold, that builds from one section to another. The PhD Thinkers also engage with guest speakers, experts, applied tools and techniques and have the opportunity to discuss and produce research outputs with others. The program is designed with ample time to connect on an interpersonal level, over food and coffee, to boost social connections.
Overall, the PhD Thinkers program aims to create a community of academic women who keep connected and lean on one another for both social support and academic input in the future.
Professor Maureen Dollard
Program Founder
Professor Maureen Dollard, ARC Laureate and Director of the Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory, Centre for Workplace Excellence, UniSA, received the 2020 Kathleen Fitzpatrick Fellowship award to grow the next generation of Australian women researchers. Kathleen Fitzpatrick was a passionate advocate for women, as well as a humanities and social sciences researcher. From this award, the PhD Thinkers Program was born.
The program brings together Australian female PhD Thinkers in an an interactive 2-day design thinking workshop to advance interdisciplinary inquiry .
Additionally, with the support of the fellowship, each year a new Thinker in Residence hosts a public lecture to discuss trending topics in the field of workplace health, safety and wellbeing.
Marie Boland
THINKER IN RESIDENCE
Public Lecture:
HR: A Human Resources or a Human Rights Approach to Work Health & Safety?
Prof. Paula Brough
THINKER IN RESIDENCE
Public Lecture:
Changing work patterns and impact on worker health, well-being and performance.
Workshop Program Report & Testimonials
Prof Sharon Parker
THINKER IN RESIDENCE
Public Lecture:
Transformative Change in the Future of Work.
Workshop Program Report & Testimonials
Sally McManus (Secretary of the ACTU)
THINKER IN RESIDENCE
Public Lecture:
The Role that Unions Have in
Creating Decent Work
Workshop Program Report & Testimonials
Testimonials
