La Trobe University > Research > Research Education and Development (RED) > Information for supervisors > Registration and induction

Registration and induction

Supervisor registration

All graduate research supervisors at La Trobe University need to be registered on the Graduate Research School Supervision Register. This includes adjunct and emeritus staff, supervisors from other institutions, and any other independent researchers. All applications are considered by the Dean of Graduate Studies, on behalf of the Board of Graduate Research.

Registration ensures that supervisors are aware of their responsibilities, and that their role is aligned with their experience and qualifications. It also ensures that you can participate in supervisor development activities, which are available to all supervisors whether internal or external.

The process for registration is as follows:

  1. Complete the self-guided GRO Supervision induction module: GRO Supervision induction page.
  2. For La Trobe Staff: complete the Supervisor Register web form.
    For external supervisors: contact the Graduate Research Coordinator in your discipline area to ensure that they have provided your details to the Graduate Research School (further communications may follow).

Get off to a flying start

To make the most of your induction to graduate research supervision, come to one of the Introduction to Graduate Research Supervision workshops offered by the RED Team. These workshops occur each semester, providing an overview of supervision expectations, tips to help you manage your supervision commitments, and an opportunity to share your practice experience with other academics.

Supervisor expectations

Most academics have a sense of how supervision works in their discipline, based on their own experience or on their observations of their peers. In addition to whatever expectations might apply within a given discipline or department, the University expects all supervisors to act professionally and compassionately towards their graduate researchers, and uphold general standards that are informed by a range of policies, frameworks and codes of conduct.

All supervisors are expected to:

  • Follow the policies and procedures for supervision at La Trobe, and stay up to date with any changes.
  • Adhere to the principles and practices outlined in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, and uphold and promote academic integrity when working with graduate researchers.
  • Comply with registration requirements.
  • Consider the wellbeing of the graduate researchers you supervise, and foster an environment in which all researchers are treated with dignity and respect.
  • Foster effective working relationships within the supervision team, with particular regard to clear and effective communication.
  • Contribute to the orientation and induction of graduate research candidates within their School or Department context.
  • Support candidate progression processes, and in the event of a problem, be proactive in seeking help or advice.
  • Consider occupational health and safety requirements, and do what is possible to foster a safe working environment for graduate researchers.
  • Be responsible for any ethics and biosafety requirements, and Defence Export Controls that may relate to the project.
  • Participate in formal supervision workshops, engagement with mentoring opportunities, and/or participation in other related activities organised at the Schools and Departments or discipline level.

International graduate researchers

In addition to these expectations, certain conditions apply to international graduate research candidates, such as completion timeframes, and other matters relating to their Australian residency.

When working with international candidates, supervisors are expected to consider the circumstances of the candidate when making decisions about their project, their progress, etc. If you are unfamiliar with these requirements, refer to the ESOS code for further information.