Upcoming 3MT Semi Final– Join us on 14 July

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition College heats have now concluded, and the top 10 presenters from across the five Colleges will take the stage at the 3MT Semi‑Final on Tuesday 14 July, 2-4pm. The entire Flinders HDR community is warmly invited to attend in person or join the livestream to support our semi‑finalists and hear about the innovative, high‑impact research underway across the University. The Semi‑Final will be held at Alere Function Centre, with an online viewing option available for those unable to be on campus. Learn more about the competition on the 3MT Website.

Updated Data Management Plan Tool User Guide

Effective research data management is an essential part of high-quality research practice and is increasingly expected by funders, institutions, and publishers. At Flinders, Data Management Plans (DMPs) are a key tool in supporting researchers, including HDR students and their supervisors, to plan, manage, and safeguard research data throughout the research lifecycle.

Free Mental Health First Aid Training

Book your place to become an accredited Mental Health First Aider in 2026! The 2-day practical course and the Blended – online & 4 hour in person workshop course are accredited educational courses that will equip you with the skills to understand mental health issues and help others, using a proven, evidence-based Action Plan. Flinders is offering this sought-after accreditation to currently enrolled students for free, funded through our Students Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). Enrolments for Course 1 close on 6 July (see blog for additional closing dates and sessions). 

Did you miss our recent HDR Completions Workshop?

If you’re in the final six months of your candidature, this session was designed to guide you through the final stages of your PhD journey—covering what’s required to complete and submit your thesis, as well as what to expect during examination. The workshops features practical guidance on formatting, copyright, editing, and working effectively with your supervisors—so you can cross the finish line smoothly. If you were unable to attend, you can catch up by watching the recording.

Update to the FAQs for Higher Degrees by Research candidature

Did you know there’s a one-stop place to find answers to many of your HDR questions? The Office of Graduate Research has a comprehensive set of FAQs (also known as Knowledge Articles) available on Ask Flinders, designed to support you throughout your HDR journey. The topic range from applying and enrolling, right through to thesis submission and completion. 

These FAQs have recently been reviewed and updated by our HDR teams to ensure the information is current, clear and easy to navigate. Across more than 100 articles covering key areas such as admissions, progression, scholarships, examinations, and development, each FAQ is curated by subject matter experts to provide reliable guidance to support your candidature.

We encourage you to bookmark this page and use it as your first point of reference whenever you have a question. It’s a quick and convenient way to find answers at any stage of your HDR, and can often help you resolve queries without needing to submit a request. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can submit an enquiry via Ask Flinders and select Higher Degrees by Research as the area, and our team will be happy to assist you.

Improving Mental Health Care: Dhanushi Jayathilaka’s PhD Journey

This month, we spotlight Dr Dhanushi Jayathilaka from the College of Health and Enablement. She shares her journey across clinical practice and digital health, and her work to improve how mental health care is delivered in Australia.

An International PhD Journey: Sanchari Sengupta (Sana)

This month, we spotlight Sanchari Sengupta (Sana) from the College of Human Sciences and Culture. Through her own words, she shares a remarkable journey across countries and her mission to transform how children learn to read.

Get to know PhD student – Xuejiao (Sarah) Cao

In this month’s newsletter, we would like to introduce PhD graduate, Xuejiao (Sarah) Cao from College of Science and Engineering. Sarah’s recently submitted thesis, “Vortex Fluidics Applications in Organic Cosmetic Products”  received outstanding results from the examiners. We asked her to share her journey.