Intellectual Climate Initiatives
We provide several intiatives and programs to support graduate and early career researchers in their development, and to provide a diverse and dynamic research culture.
Writers and researchers around the world use SUAW as a great way to get things done. You can find out more about how SUAW works at La Trobe over on the RED blog. All staff and graduate researchers are welcome to participate in our SUAW sessions.
Start your week right, with Shut Up And Write!
The Research Education and Development (RED) Team hosts university-wide SUAW sessions on Zoom, Monday mornings from 10 am - 12 noon (Melbourne time). We use the Pomodoro technique of timed writing blocks interleaved with short breaks - this helps you feel connected to the broader researcher community at La Trobe whilst also keeping you focused.
To join a session, or to find out more about other SUAW sessions running across La Trobe, email via the link below to join the our weekly SUAW reminder emails.
The Three Minute Thesis 3MT competition is an international celebration of doctoral research encompassing most Australian and some international universities.
The 3MT competition provides an opportunity for doctoral candidates to develop confidence in public speaking and reach out to a broad audience for their research. Participants have a maximum of three minutes to present their research, unassisted by props or other materials, and accompanied only by a single PowerPoint slide.
Prior participants often note how much participating in 3MT helped them to consolidate and clearly communicate their research ideas.
Each Australian university sends a University Champion to the Asia-Pacific final at the University of Queensland. At La Trobe, we select our 3MT Champion through a series of events at the School and University levels.
What is AcWriMo?
Every November, scholars around the world focus on all things writing-related during Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo). Here at La Trobe, the RED team convenes our own dedicated program of carefully curated workshops and activities to help you advance your research writing, culminating in our flagship RED Annual Online Writing Retreat (24-26 Nov).
See the full program of events below. Sign up for what best suits your own schedule and writing goals, enjoy the company of positive, productive writers, and end 2026 with a satisfied sense of “job done”!
How can I get involved?
Writing Development Program
A carefully curated set of workshops designed by expert facilitators to meet you wherever you are in your research writing journey.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| Fri 30 Oct 10 am - 12 pm Register | Plan your Academic Writing Month: Find focus and turbocharge your writing How to maximise your writing efforts in November. |
| Thurs 5 Nov 10 am - 12 pm Register | What to do with reviewer 2? Insights into peer review and what your readers are looking for. |
| Tues 10 Nov 10 am -12 pm Register | Thesis Writing: What to Expect What readers need to see in order to understand your research. |
| Tues 10 Nov 7 - 9 pm Register | Managing supervisor feedback on writing How to get constructive, encouraging advice from your supervisors. |
| Wed 11 Nov 1 - 3 pm Register | Publishing in journals Insider knowledge about the practicalities and cultures of publishing in academic journals. |
| Thurs 12 Nov 10 - 11 am Register | Write Short Write less about your research to help your personal voice emerge. |
| Tues 17 Nov 10 - 11 am Register | Write Reader Writing for different readers helps clarify your ideas and introduces greater variety and flexibility to your writing. |
| Wed 18 Nov 1 - 3 pm Register | Turning your conference presentation into a publication You’ve done the presentation, now here’s how to work towards a journal article or book chapter. |
| Thurs 19 Nov 10 - 11:30 am Register | Finding and telling your research story Framing your research as a story provides a novel way to communicate its significance. |
| Thurs 19 Nov 12 - 2 pm Register | AI, academic integrity and your thesis: expectations and support Understand how to use AI tools to ethically support your research writing. |
RED Annual Online Writing Retreat
Sign up for the ever-popular RED Annual Online Writing Retreat, 24- 26 Nov 2026, 3 days of writing facilitated by the RED team. Registration link below.
RED Annual Online Writing Retreat
Shut Up And Write! (SUAW)
In the meantime, boost your writing output by coming along to our weekly Shut up And Write (SUAW) sessions before, during and after November. To join, please email red.grs@latrobe.edu.au and sign up for the SUAW mailing list.
The ACP is an eight-week support program for final-stage PhD candidates who may be at risk of not completing in a timely manner.
The La Trobe Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network invites you to join our group of volunteer members connecting ECRs across La Trobe University (LTU) Colleges and campuses.
Our network provides ECRs with opportunities to expand your networks, share knowledge and access support during the early phase of your research career.
We grew from an awareness that ECRs are a distinct group in the LTU community – our needs, job security and track record differ greatly to PhD candidates and senior collects.
Who is an ECR?
At LTU our ECRs include all researchers (casuals, fixed term and permanent staff) who completed their PhD up to seven years ago. This excludes career interruptions such as:
- non-research employment
- part-time status
- personal leave (for example carers or parental leave).
Why join the ECR Network
We provide ECRs across our Colleges and campuses with the opportunity to connect with academics you don’t normally engage with. For example, if you work in history, you might not typically meet a researcher from biomedical science or speech pathology.
Despite coming from different disciplines and research backgrounds, ECRs share a lot of common interests – including:
- the need to source research funding
- juggling research and teaching responsibilities
- taking on increasing professional and service roles.
We organise various social, networking and professional development events, with a focus on shared experiences. For example, practicing pitching your research, or feedback on grants, oral/written work from someone not in your field.
Growing Researchers Online (GRO) is a suite of online resources created by La Trobe’s Research Education and Development lecturers and the Graduate Research School, which are available to you when you need them (including before your enrolment formally commences) and remain available to you after you complete your candidature.
The resources include information, activities, and opportunities to reflect on your individual project.
The GRO Suite includes:
- GRO 3MT development module
- GRO 5 rules of grant club
- GRO Orientation
- GRO Academic Writing
- GRO Candidature Management and Progress
- GRO Digital Academic
- GRO Industry engagement and impact
- GRO Intellectual Property
- GRO Research Integrity