In 2024, the SHAPE Futures Executive Committee started working on the Network’s first Strategic Plan. The process focussed on defining the Network’s values, vision, mission, strategic priorities and objectives and will set the agenda for the next three years.

Values

• Promotion: Championing the economic, social, cultural and environmental value of SHAPE EMCR research
• Connection: Fostering networks within Australia’s diverse SHAPE research community to enhance and support EMCR career pathways
• Voice: Amplifying early and mid-career researchers’ perspectives, championing their interests within the Higher Education sector and actively supporting their ability to shape the future of the Australian research landscape through dialogue and consultation
• Wellbeing: Recognising that the professional achievements of SHAPE EMCRs needs a foundation of sustainable career outlooks and personal wellbeing

Vision

SHAPE Futures is a thriving community that embraces inclusivity and diversity. By advocating for the significance of SHAPE disciplines in Australia we support sustainable EMCR career pathways within SHAPE fields.

Who

1. Early-career researchers in SHAPE disciplines
2. Mid-career researchers in SHAPE disciplines
3. SHAPE researchers within universities
4. SHAPE researchers outside universities
5. Future researchers in SHAPE disciplines (postgraduate students)

What

1. Increase visibility of the successes and benefits SHAPE research and researchers offer
2. Advocate for SHAPE disciplines
3. Advocate for SHAPE EMCRs
4. Support career security and development opportunities for SHAPE EMCRs
5. Connect SHAPE EMCRs to each other and relevant opportunities

Mission

SHAPE Futures fosters a sustainable future for SHAPE disciplines by empowering and promoting Australian EMCRs both within and beyond academia. We ensure that the humanities, arts, and social sciences thrive and excel across Australia.

How

1. Communicate, connect and consult with members
2. Support the professional development of members
3. Collect and share SHAPE EMCR perspectives on key sector issues
4. Advocate for SHAPE EMCRs across the Higher Education sector
5. Promote the value of SHAPE EMCR contributions to society

Where

1. Regular and meaningful face-to-face and online engagement with members
2. Regular polls of our members on relevant issues to inform advocacy
3. Consultation with government and Higher Education sector on SHAPE EMCR issues
4. Regular meetings with cognate organisations across the Higher Education sector
5. Attendance at SHAPE events nationally

Strategic Priorities

Priority #1 | Sustainable careers

• Supporting SHAPE EMCR academic career progression
• Advocating against precarious employment
• Highlighting the impact of burdensome administrative loads and cultural loads
• Calling out the impact of teaching focussed contracts
• Acknowledging impact of ultra-competitive sector on EMCR wellbeing and retention
• Highlighting systemic barriers to research collaborations across disciplinary lines

Priority #2 | Research opportunities

• Championing diverse research funding for SHAPE disciplines
• Advocating for changes to NCGP that support SHAPE research and EMCR success
• Advocating for changes to national research measurement so metrics better align with SHAPE research outputs
• Advocating for allocated research time for SHAPE EMCRs

Priority #3 | Championing the value of SHAPE

• Supporting the positive perception of SHAPE disciplines within the Higher Education sector
• Call out discrimination within government funding priorities and systemic biases in research measurement and grant assessment to highlight its impact on SHAPE EMCRs
• Identify new opportunities for the recognition and promotion of SHAPE EMCR research achievements

Priority #4 | National connection

• Increasing SHAPE Futures membership and improving its diversity
• Engaging SHAPE members in relevant current issues and events
• Fostering relationships between SHAPE Futures and other local and national EMCR and SHAPE organisations
• Encouraging postgraduate students to join SHAPE as new ECRs
• Identifying mentoring opportunities for SHAPE EMCRs

Objectives

Objective #1 |Sustainable careers

• Assessing discernible changes to the SHAPE EMCR experience since 2022 Network survey through second member survey
• Organising online and in-person professional development opportunities for SHAPE EMCRs
• Engage directly with university and industry to call out SHAPE EMCR precarity and explore opportunities for change

Objective #2 | Research opportunities

• Advocating for genuine early and mid-career positions as part of the NCGP Review
• Advocating for SHAPE-specific funding through consultation with funding bodies
• Championing university-based postdocs for SHAPE EMCRs
• Promoting opportunities for SHAPE EMCR research recognition (i.e., awards) to membership

Objective #3 | Championing the value of SHAPE

• Sharing EMCR stories that positively promote SHAPE research
• Sharing statistics relevant to EMCRs and SHAPE research
• Sharing comparative SHAPE/STEM data points that demonstrate inequities within the HE sector
• Publishing non-traditional research outputs championing SHAPE EMCRs and their work

Objective #4 | National connection

• Publishing quarterly newsletter and weekly social media posts
• Increasing SHAPE membership (c. 100/annum)
• Taking quarterly polls to understand members’ perspectives on relevant issues
• Expanding opportunities to attend SHAPE events through alternating event locations
• Exploring mentoring opportunities for SHAPE EMCRs

View the Strategic Plan here.