Training and development

Training and development opportunities

The online, self-paced Introduction to Research at UOW course, is a collection of resources to help new and existing staff to learn more about what research services and support are available at UOW and how and when to access this support.

Staff who participate in any form of research are required to complete this course as part of Academic Induction, within their first 1-3 months of employment with UOW.

Existing staff are strongly encouraged to engage with this highly relevant content, as and when needed.

Direct enquires and questions to researcher-development@uow.edu.au.

Introduction to Research at UOW course

Completion of training in human research ethics is mandatory for all UOW staff and student researchers working with human participants, human tissue or human data. Evidence of completed training must be uploaded when submitting a new application in CaRES for Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) review and when adding a new investigator to an approved protocol.

UOW recommends Ethical Research Training provided by the University of Southern Queensland and acknowledge the University of Southern Queensland for generously sharing this resource. This training must now be completed every five years. Any alternative university-level human research ethics training must be demonstrably equivalent in content and must have been completed within the previous five years.

Please note that “refresher” ethics training certificates will only be accepted until 31 December 2026. After this date, refresher certificates will no longer be valid. Researchers who have not completed the UniSQ Ethics Training or an equivalent university-level human research ethics module within the past five years will be required to undertake the full training again by 31 December 2026.

If you have any questions about training, please contact the Human Ethics team at uow-humanethics@uow.edu.au.

CaRES system training

Research Integrity training for researchers includes:

Workshops, Seminars and Q&A Sessions

Research Integrity development opportunities including webinars, seminars and Q&A sessions are available as follows:

The Researcher Toolkit calendar is a central portal for staff to access all the development opportunities available to researchers.

The Graduate Research School Workshops and events page lists current development initiatives on offer to HDR candidates.

Past Workshops, Seminars and Q&A Sessions

Recordings of historic online webinars are available in the Mythbusters section of the Research Integrity self-enrol Moodle site

Mandatory Training

UOW has implemented mandatory research integrity training for staff and student researchers. The training supports researchers to understand and meet their obligations under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and UOW’s Code of Practice – Responsible Conduct of Research.

Training requirements

Completion timeframes and access information vary by cohort. The training information is below:

  • Honour Students (24 credit points or more) complete their under the guidance of Honours Coordinators in Moodle.
  • First-year HDR Candidates complete their by the Annual Progress Review (APR) in the first year of candidature in Moodle.
  • Returning HDR Candidates attend one Research Integrity Workshop annually by the Annual Progress Review (APR) via the HDR Development Program website.
  • Academic Staff The must be completed by:
    • Continuing, fixed-term and casual staff with a research load; and
    • Continuing and fixed-term staff without a research load.
    Casual staff without a research load are not required to complete the training. 
  • Honorary Appointees complete the if they are:
    • in receipt of research funding; and/or
    • supervise research students.
    If neither of these circumstances applies, honorary appointees are not required to complete the training.

Workshops

Register to attend the Research Grant Workshops coordinated by PODS. UOW staff only.

Presentations

Research grants presentations (UOW staff only)

Includes:

  • Research grant writing and grant management presentations
  • ARC grants presentations
  • Presentations from visiting ARC and NHMRC members

Research Data Training

Research data training is available to all researchers though Moodle. 

It is recommended that HDR and Honours students as well as new researchers to UOW complete this training so that they are up to date with Research Data at UOW.

Research impact training is coordinated by PODS. 

Presentations

Mandatory training in animal welfare and ethics is required for all people working with animals.

(Animals includes all mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, cephalopods and decapod crustaceans)

This includes:

  • All Honours and HDR students working on projects involving animals.
  • All researchers working on projects involving animals.
  • All people with input into the design and conduct of research or teaching activities involving animals.
  • All supervisors of Honours and HDR students that are working on projects involving animals.
  • All members of the Animal Ethics Committee.
  • All Technical Staff working in the University Animal Facilities.

There are additional requirements depending on the nature of the work planned.

Training

Mandatory

Biomedical Laboratory Research

Marine/Ecology Laboratory research

Marine/Ecology Field based research

Frequency

ComPass Phase 1 online training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Within the last 3 years

UOW online Ethics process training

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Every 3 years

Building inductions

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

As per facility requirements

Animal Handling and Welfare training

Yes

Yes – provided by Animal Facility Technical officers and/or Animal Welfare officer/Veterinarian

Yes – Provided by Supervisors or Animal facility staff depending on species

Yes – Provided by supervisor or other competent person from the research group.

On Demand with refreshers as required.

How to access training

All people working with animals must enrol in the UOW Moodle site  Animal Ethics and Animal Research Training PROJ184_22.  This Moodle site contains links to the mandatory training, access to the additional UOW specific theory training, and resources to aid in experimental design, animal model selection and more.  To organise practical training contact animalresearch-training@uow.edu.au

Information and assistance

For further information or assistance please contact animalresearch-training@uow.edu.au

Introductory biosafety course

Refresher training

Researchers that have previously completed the biosafety induction course and the GMO course will need to undergo refresher training every 5 years.

Please send your biosafety and GMO certificates via email to uow-biosafety@uow.edu.au 

Other training resources

WATCH VIDEO: INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS AT UOW

A recording and copy of the slides from the UOW International Collaborations webinar can be found in the International Collaborations folder on the self-enrol Research Integrity Moodle site.  

Sanctions

Refer to the UOW Sanctions webpage

Defence Export Controls

Refer to the UOW Defence Export Controls webpage

Foreign Engagements

For further information on the Foreign Arrangements Scheme, Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) and Foreign Interference (UFIT guidelines) refer to the UOW Foreign engagements webpage