Early to Mid-Career Academics Association
Optimising the health and wellbeing of the community we serve
The School of Health Sciences Early to Mid-Career Academics Association (EMCAA) is established to facilitate inter-connectedness and collaboration between anyone who identifies as an early or mid-career academic within the Department of Nursing, Department of Audiology or Speech Pathology, Department of Optometry, Department of Physiotherapy or Department of Social Work.
EMCAA Structure
Co-Chairs
EMCAA has five co-chairs representing each of the Departments within the School of Health Sciences.
Dr Michelle Hall
Dr Gemma McKibbin
Steering Committee
The steering committee meets monthly to discuss how we provide opportunities to enhance collaboration between the five Departments within the School of Health Sciences.
Dr Belinda Lawford
Dr Elaina Kefalianos
Dr Kade Paterson
Dr Natalie Fini
Dr Thorlene Egerton
Dr Marianne Coleman
Dr Kate Hayward
Associate Professor Kristin Diemer
Dr Rebecca Jarden
Dr Mark Merolli
EMCAA Secure Inaugural MDHS Diversity and Inclusion Grant
A research team comprised entirely of early and mid-career academics (EMCAs) who the SHS have been awarded $25,000 from the inaugural round of the Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) faculty’s Diversity and Inclusion grant program. The team will identify and prioritise challenges faced by early and mid-career academics to inform the development of the MDHS’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
The team is comprise entirely of EMCAA steering committee members including Dr Marianne Coleman, Dr Flora Hui, A/Prof Kristin Diemer, Dr Gemma McKibbin, Dr Michelle Hall, Dr Belinda Lawford, Dr Kate Hayward, Dr Rebecca Jarden and Dr Elaina Kefalianos.
‘The team is obviously ecstatic to have been awarded the grant. EMCAs represent a significant proportion of the academic workforce in the faculty, and we really want to make sure that their voices are heard in developing the new Action Plan’, said Dr Marianne Coleman.
‘I think the project being designed and led by EMCAs will benefit the research, allowing us to adopt a really systematic and participatory approach’ she said.
Pictured: Dr Marianne Coleman
The team will design and undertake a survey and prioritisation workshop involving EMCAs from across the MDHS faculty, with the aim of uncovering the diversity and inclusion issues needing the most attention. Previous faculty and University-level initiatives will also be evaluated during this process.
‘There are many areas and issues to explore, particularly given the impact that the pandemic has had on academic activities’ said Dr Coleman.
It is hoped the research will be published in a peer-review journal, and that the findings can be used to address issues beyond the faculty.
‘Much of the previous research on this topic in Australia has investigated broader academic sectors such as STEMM’, Dr Coleman said.
‘However, we know that diversity and inclusion issues can differ for clinical disciplines. We’re hoping to provide some more insight on this topic by focusing specifically on the Schools within MDHS, with the hope that it may also inform practices beyond the University’.
Resources
Some valuable resources for early and mid-career academics. If you know have any suggestions, please let us know via email.
Ready to Research
Connecting researchers with services and resources to help them undertake research
Research Gateway
Supporting grad researchers through to senior career researchers to access research support services.
Research Funding
Access funding support through internal and external grants and schemes.
Learning Management System Support
Information and support for the University's centrally-supported LMS.
Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre
A gateway for discovering entrepreneurship opportunities available at the University of Melbourne. From degrees, to accelerator programs and public events, get ready to startup.
Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre
Professional Development
Professional development programs are for university staff.
Diversity and Inclusion
Developmed by the Wellcome Trust, Anti-racist principles, guidance and toolkit.