At Science Hub, we don’t think this is nearly good enough and we said so quite clearly, here, in the Age newspaper on 14 May 2009, after Budget night 2009-10.

Three reports into research and higher education were delivered to the Federal Government in 2008, and each explicitly recommended increasing PhD stipends.

In response, the 2009-10 budget increased stipends 10 per cent from $20,427 in 2009 to $22,500 in 2010.  The 10 per cent increase was, “as permitted”, but it doesn’t acknowledge the true worth of Australia’s researchers.

Science Hub wants to change that. We are pushing the Federal Government to increase PhD stipends more significantly in next year’s budget, and because the problem affects not only PhD students studying science, but all postgraduate candidates, we want  all of you to be involved.

We’ll have updates over the next few months about what we’re doing and how you can contribute. Please sign-up in our newsletter subscription box on the right side of the page.  You can write to community[@]sciencehub.com.au with comments, suggestions or questions, or leave your remarks below.

And please also give us your opinion:
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Our energy is focused on:

1. The 3Rs (Recognise and Reward Researchers): a movement for which the first priority is lobbying the Federal Government to increase stipends for PhD students
2. Work towards a National Prostate Cancer Screening Program: an investigation into the rationale against establishing a National Prostate Cancer Screening Program for Australian men

Please select one of the project links above to read more.  If you’d like more information about our current projects, please sign up to our news list in the panel on the right side of the page.

We are will always consider new projects if you, our readers, think they are important – there’s space for you below to leave your comments.  Alternatively, send us an email.