Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad RMIT Student Union acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which RMIT University stands. We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. This project was made possible by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

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2 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Welcome Back

Whether you’re a new, continuing, or returning student, RMIT University can be a difficult and complex place to navigate. This orientation booklet aims to ground you with the essential basic facts of student life and inform you of the services that both RMIT University and the RMIT University Student Union provide. This booklet orientates you to both the services provided by RMIT University itself — its resources and services — and also the particular services, amenities, events, and resources that are provided by the RMIT University Student Union, an organisation run by students for students independent of the University. In concrete terms this booklet will guide you on how to find help with such things as fees, housing, and welfare on campus. It will help you find where you need to go and which services to contact. It will inform you of things like the location of the Postgraduate Lounge — a study space set up especially and exclusively for Postgrads. One of the most important things to take away from this booklet and orientation is that now that you are a postgraduate student, RUSU is still for you! You are still invited to all the events and parties we run each week and there will be special events just for Postgrads. We have a dedicated postgraduate department and collective, all of the RUSU services are available to Postgrads. So don’t be shy, get in touch, you never know what RUSU can do for you. www.facebook.com/RUSUPostgrad www.rusu.rmit.edu.au/postgraduate

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 3 RMIT University for Postgrads

Endless amounts of reading, never-ending assignments, massive dissertations, even larger theses, lit reviews, methodologies, data analysis, trust me it is okay to not feel ready for all of this. Whatever level of study you are enrolling in it will be a massive undertaking and you will need some help. However at home you may feel at RMIT things will be different over the next few years of postgrad study and it might be time to investigate some of RMIT’s student services that might be able to lend a hand. For students who know what life at RMIT is like, treat this section as a little refresher; you’ve been here long enough to know how to get a student card but do you know where to find help with specific postgraduate study skills or how to get careers advice for postgrads? If the answer is no take time to look over this section, there will be stuff that you know already but we bet you take away something new too.

4 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Contents

The Basics Support & Wellbeing RMIT Connect and Student Cards 8 Student Support 26 MyRMIT 8 Careers 27 Enrolment 9 DLU (Disability Liaison Unit) 27 International 10 Indigenous Students 28 Student Emails 11 Childcare 28 Printing 11 Health 29 Building Numbers 12 Counselling 29 Information Technology 12 Spiritual 30 Security 12 About RUSU Academic What is RUSU? 34 Get to know your school 16 Student Union Council 34 Study and Learning 16 Departments 34 Postgraduate Study Areas 17 Catalyst 34 Student Lounge 17 RMITV 34 Learning Lab 17 Women’s Department 35 RMIT University Library 17 Queer Department 35 Liaison Librarians 18 Clubs 35 Library Subject Guides 18 Activities & Events 35 Policies 18 RUSU Info Counters 35 Assessment 19 Realfoods 36 Scholarship 19 Compass 36 School of Graduate Research 20 RUSU for Postgrads 36 Research Student Information 21 Quick Links 38 Financial support for research 23 Final Note 39 Intellectual Property 23

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 5 6 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au The Basics General RMIT information that all students, including post-grads, need to know.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 7 RMIT Connect MyRMIT and Student You should use your RMIT username and password to log into Cards myRMIT via www.rmit.edu.au/ Most HDR Students are lucky enough myrmit or the link at the top of every to have an HDR Administrator within page of the RMIT website. There is their school that can help them a mobile version for smartphones with the administrative elements and tablets and there is free wi-fi on of study at RMIT. For you postgrad campus too. by coursework students, find RMIT From myRMIT you can access: Connect on your campus and prepare to spend a lot of time there Homepage over the next few years! RMIT announcements – official RMIT Connect can help students communications from RMIT. with all kinds of queries regarding Email – displays the number of enrolment, timetabling, fees, form unread emails in your RMIT student submission etc. email account along with a direct For HDR and coursework students it link to Gmail. is also where you get your student Latest news and events – card. When you go, you will need information about RMIT news and to provide your student number events. and some photo ID. They’ll be taking your photograph for the Related links – a direct link to the card on the day, be prepared for Students website, which has loads a photo. If you have not provided of info on student admin, study it already, RMIT Connect staff will resources and student services. ask for a declaration of citizenship/ immigration status. Ask RMIT Ask RMIT is the University’s FAQ Visit the RMIT Connect website for (frequently asked questions) service locations and contact details. that lets you ask a question as well RMIT has rules about student as search the existing answers to responsibilities in relation to your previous queries. student card, you can find out more about these rules by visiting www. rmit.edu.au/students/cards

8 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au MyStudies MyDetails Programs – displays the programs Check the personal details RMIT has in which you’re enrolled, and links to for you on file. From here you can study resources, such as Blackboard. also update your personal details.

Courses – displays the courses in MyResearch which you’re enrolled. HDR Students will also have a Library – provides details of your myResearch tab which has links to RMIT University Library account details of your HDR candidature. MyClass Timetable Once you’ve scheduled your class timetable in the Student Timetabling Enrolment System, this tab will appear. It contains your personalised class If you are reading this hopefully timetable. For research students this you have managed to enrol for this will show any coursework subjects semester at RMIT. Whether your you need to take – such as Research first enrolment was paper based or Methods. online you’ll need to be prepared to go through this process a few more MyExam Timetable times before the end of your degree. If you have exams scheduled they You’ll need to re-enrol in your will be appear in this tab following degree at the start of each semester, the release of the provisional which you can do by logging in exam timetable each semester. For to myRMIT and choosing to enrol research students this will show online. Then go to ‘my current any coursework subjects you have program’ and click the enrol button exams for. for the program or subjects that you want to enrol in. MyResults There are specific dates that are the View your assessment marks deadlines for adding and dropping and grades and your results from classes. There are also deadlines for previous semesters. dropping subjects without financial penalty. You can find all of these dates on the RMIT website: www1.rmit.edu.au/students/he2017

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 9 location of your insurance provider International and how you should make a claim International students have a few extra boxes to tick when they are Get a Myki – Myki is the electronic starting out at RMIT. First off you ticketing system on Melbourne’s will need to register with RMIT public transport system. You can buy International. If you are studying a Myki from a Seven Eleven or the here as an international student, main train stations. Trains, trams and prioritise locating INFO CORNER. It’s buses all run in Melbourne, jump on the home of RMIT International and the Public Transport Victoria website the staff there can give you help and to get to know the public transport advice on student visas, sponsorship near you. and scholarship options, enrolment Get a Tax File Number – If you are and much more. planning on staying in Australia for You can find info corner on the more than six months or you plan ground floor of Building 22, 330 to earn money in Australia or if you Swanston St, Melbourne CBD. plan to earn interest on money in your Australian bank account, you For general information about should get a Tax File Number (TFN). being an International student To apply for a TFN you should visit at RMIT visit: www.rmit.edu.au/ the Australian Taxation Office. Once internationalsupport you have a TFN, let your bank know. You can also access RMIT’s arrival Get involved – culture shock can guide which will give you loads of be very real for first time students pointers on how to get started in Melbourne. If you want the quick in Australia the best way to fight it version of that page here are the top is to resist the urge to retreat into 5 things to get sorted: your room and to get to know your new home. You can get loads Get a bank account – the quicker of great ideas right here: www. you do this the less identity points insiderguides.com.au/student- banks require for you to set up an guides/international-student- account guides/melbourne/ If you are here on a student visa check that you have health insurance – then check again, it is a requirement of a visa. Find out the

10 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au your owning school will cover your Student Emails printing costs. Top-up payments can Your student email address is be made at RMIT Connect, online [email protected]. at www.rmit.edu.au/students/ You can access your student email printcredits and after hours at ITS via myRMIT or Gmail (if you log service points. in via Gmail you will need to use All RMIT computers are networked your entire email address as the to a universal print queue. When you username). RMIT will send all go to print your document you will information relating to your studies need to swipe your student card in to this email account and they the printer to release the documents expect you to check it at least twice linked to your student number. a week. Invoices for fees, messages Remember that RMIT will delete from course coordinators, tutors unreleased documents after a few and supervisors, library notices and hours. assessment feedback are just some of the important emails that you will The first time you use a printer at receive from RMIT if you can check RMIT you will need to swipe your your emails regularly. student card and then enter your student ID and password when prompted. Once you have activated your account you can print from any Printing device at RMIT by using myDesktop Print accounts are automatically set and choosing the RMIT Global print up for each student. Your printing queue as your printer option. account is linked to your RMIT When you send your document to network ID and password. print will be stored in the print queue A credit balance is required to use for 12 hours. You will need to print your student account. Check with the document at a printing station your school if they provide you before the 12 hours is up or your with print credit at the start of your document will be lost. semester. If you are an HDR student on a RMIT scholarship it may be that

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 11 and support on a range of issues via Building phone, email and face-to-face. Numbers Swanston Academic Building (SAB) To find every lecture, tutorial, Building 80 Level 3 supervisor meeting or lab that you Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm, need to attend you will need to and Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm. decipher RMIT’s building numbers. Each building number has three Bundoora Library parts: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm 000.00.00 Brunswick Library Monday to Friday 9.00am to5.00 pm building number . level . room number Carlton Library Monday to Friday 9.00am to5.00 pm The number 012.09.17 means building 12, level 9, room 17. Double (Due to the NAS project, the service check meetings in building 80 and point in Swanston library will reopen building 8, loads of students have TBA). turned up for lectures in building 8 (008) when they should be in building 80 (080)- it’s an easy mistake to make. Security RMIT Security staff have a 24 hour presence on campus and can help Information students out in a number of ways. If there is a security emergency you Technology should contact security on IT can do a lot more than just 9925 3333 (your phone) or change your email password and fix 53333 (internal phone) and someone problems in computer labs (by the can come and let you in. way you can find a list of computer Where possible, security at RMIT can labs here), they organise loans of escort students to their cars or the a wide range of A/V recordings, nearest public transport. To request provide advice and training on this contact Security on: Google apps and assist with software, email and network issues. The IT Service desk provides help

12 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au City (03) 9925 2051 (business hours) (03) 9925 3895 or 0428 530 896 (after hours)

Brunswick (03) 9925 9170 (business hours) 0412 313 230 (after hours)

Bundoora Bundoora West: (03) 9925 7599 or 0407 812 857 or 0418 551 814 Bundoora East: (03) 9925 6049

Safezone App Visit the app store to download the Free RMIT Safezone App

Extra Information For extra tips on how to stay safe on campus visit: www.rmit.edu.au/security

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 13 14 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Academic Academic information specific to postgrad students.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 15 websites for new students. Search Get to know for your School on the RMIT website your school and have a look at some of the resources available for students. These days a postgrad qualification There might be links to scholarship is about a lot more than just and funding opportunities, lists of turning up, completing your work, conferences hosted by your School, collecting your degree and leaving. postgraduate only overseas study Both research qualifications and tours or special electives and specific professional entry masters degrees areas of research collaboration. will require you to get to know your School. You will need to know your lecturers, tutors, supervisors, HDR coordinators, administrators and Study and peers. Much of further study and Learning academia relies on relationships so get ready to network. It’s an The RMIT Study and Learning important skill for all you masters by Centre offers a range of support coursework students and if you are services for all students including a research student get ready for your specific workshops for postgraduate School to become your second (and students. These workshops are occasionally your only) home. held throughout the year and are designed to build study skills, Be friendly, ask questions, improve assignment planning, introduce yourself and get involved develop referencing skills and by attending inductions and provide advice on online library information sessions. You might searches. be meeting your future supervisor, the administrator who can fix any If you head to www1.rmit.edu. enrolment issues you might have, au/studyandlearningcentre/ an academic who will end up on a postgraduate you can read all about milestone review panel or a tutor the different resources available. who shares a passion for your There are also a number of free, area of academic interest and can hands on workshops offered for point you in the right direction for postgraduate students preparing to developing your research or minor thesis. study, that cover topics including Effective, Critical Reading and Note Lots of Schools run induction days making, Writing Postgraduate Essays for their research students or have and Reports, Writing a Review of the induction or FAQ sections on their Literature.

16 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au The Learning Lab has sections Postgraduate specifically designed for postgrad by Study Areas coursework and research students Each library site across all RMIT including information on what campuses has computers and study to expect doing a postgrad by rooms that you can reserve using coursework and how to get started BookIt. with your research degree. Postgraduate study rooms are There are extensive sections on available for a maximum 4 ½ hours per person, per day. research writing individually and in a writing group and a guide to Note - Your booking will expire after minor thesis writing for postgrad 15 minutes if you do not turn up. by coursework students. There are You can make bookings up to 2 also plenty of resources dedicated to weeks in advance, and you can writing a literature review and critical cancel your bookings at any time. reading. For more information visit: www1.rmit.edu.au/library/ computers and http://www1.rmit. edu.au/library/study-rooms RMIT University Library You lucky postgrads get better Student Lounge Library privileges than the average RMIT also offers a lounge exclusive student! You’ll be able to borrow to Postgrad students with lounges, up to 30 items, can borrow general desks, chairs and booths. collection items for up to four weeks, Building 13, Level 2, Room 24 can access short loan items and Monday to Friday, 8am–9pm closed reserve items, cross campus Weekends, 8am–4pm ordering and the Document Delivery Service. Learning Lab You can renew items via your online RMIT also offers an online learning Library account and you will incur lab with plenty of resources for fines if items are not returned on all postgraduate students. www. time. So far, so obvious but what emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/ about all the extra services the content/postgraduate-study Library offers for postgrads.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 17 Liaison Library Subject Librarians Guides Liaison Librarians are subject Library subject guides provide an specialists and are an incredibly introduction to a vast range of useful resource for research students. subjects and details the Library’s They can guide you through the resources on that topic. They are updated frequently and provide a content of the collection and discuss great repository of information to ways to improve your research skills assist in your research. There are to ensure you get the most out of over 150 different subject guides what the Library has to offer. They currently available on the RMIT can help you find the accurate, up- website, search for one that is to-date and relevant information you relevant to your area of study. need: www.rmit.edu.au/library/ Locate the Library site on your librarians campus by clicking this link or For students within the College of head to www.rmit.edu.au/library/ Business you can find contact details subjectguides.it for Liaison Librarians with a vast range of specialities (e.g. marketing, finance, economics, accounting and Policies IT) by following this link: www.rmit. When you accept your offer at RMIT edu.au/library/librarians/bus you are agreeing to abide by RMIT’s policies and processes. We’re not Design and Social Context students going to lie to you, there are 100’s can find librarians who specialise of policies at RMIT. Some will be in the areas of art, architecture, applicable to you and some won’t, it’s education, design, fashion and social hard to know when you might need studies) right here: www.rmit.edu. to know more about the policies that library/librarians/dsc govern your studies and when you won’t. For research students the vast If you are a student in the College majority of polices that will directly of Science, Engineering and Health affect your studies can be found here. go to find specialists in aerospace, mechanical engineering, computer For both coursework and research engineering, biotechnology, health students check out the academic sciences, geospatial science, life and policies page: https://tinyurl.com/ jk58wpa physical sciences: www.rmit.edu. library/librarians/dsc The assessment section applies

18 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au to coursework students and the your Completion Seminar you will coursework components of research need to submit your research for degrees; every other section will be Examination. Three examiners will applicable to all students or will have be appointed to independently policies for coursework and research assess the work and prepare students. It’s a useful place to start if assessment reports. Students may be you want to try and establish what assessed by oral presentation and/or your rights and responsibilities are examination, especially where work in relation to a particular process. is submitted by Project or where Don’t ever feel alone in negotiating an internal examiner is used in the this process. The Student Union has examination process. student rights officers who can help you with this, there’s more on how to Coursework Students - Minor Thesis contact a student rights officer later – As well as submitting coursework in this guide. you will have to complete a minor thesis. This will help you develop the critical skills of research. Whilst the length of a minor thesis will Assessment vary from course to course you will As postgraduate students there are be conducting research in order to two big assessment differences that contribute to knowledge in your set you apart from your undergrad field. You will need to utilise relevant counterparts – milestone reviews + literature, develop an appropriate examination and the minor thesis. methodology and work with a Research Students – Milestone supervisor to present a proficient, Reviews – You will have three professional piece of work. milestone reviews throughout your studies at RMIT: • Confirmation of Candidature Scholarships • Mid-Candidature Review There are many Scholarships • Completion Seminar available to postgraduate students At each of these you will submit at RMIT. While most have relatively the written component of your strict eligibility requirements (based research and present a summary on age, nationality, study area, of research and your progress academic achievement etc.) it is to a Review Panel. You will take worth taking half an hour to read up questions from the Review Panel on available Scholarships to see if and the wider audience. You will be you can apply for any of them. assessed and graded by the Review Panel. If you successfully complete RMIT Scholarships for Postgrad by

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 19 Coursework students can be found research/phds-and-other-research- at: www.rmit.edu.au/scholarships/ degrees/school-of-graduate- pgcoursework research/contact-us/ RMIT Scholarships for Research Students can be found at: www.rmit. Services Provided by SGR edu.au/scholarships/research The School of Graduate Research is the central administration point All external scholarships for for research degrees. They process Coursework and Research Students research applications, manage can be found at: www.rmit.edu.au/ the selection and payment of APA scholarships/external scholarships, coordinate HDR examinations and graduation, monitor the performance of School of HDR students and reviewing the management of HDR candidates. Graduate You can find out more information Research about all of these things on the SGR Website. The School of Graduate Research (SGR) provides support to research The School of Graduate Research candidates throughout their runs a fantastic professional postgraduate research degree. development program for all research students, called PhD up! The SGR Staff provide a variety of services and support for the wider The PhD Up! Workshops provide Higher Degree by Research (HDR) practical advice and information community. SGR can be found in: to research students which can help you to build practical research Building 91, Level 2, skills, negotiate HDR policies 110 Victoria Street Carlton and procedures, improve your Phone: (03) 9925 8356 understanding of key stages in your candidature such as ethics approval, SGR are open for general enquiries milestone reviews and examination between 2–4pm, Monday to Friday. and prepare you to study at RMIT For more complex enquiries or as a research student. The PhD Up! if you can’t attend during those workshops run all through the year hours, contact SGR to make an and further information, as well appointment. as pdfs and/or mp3s of previous workshops are available via the past The full list of SGR contacts can presentations webpage. Visit: be found here: www.rmit.edu.au/ https://tinyurl.com/j4ymhea

20 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Each College at the University All research students must rely also runs various events and skills upon their supervisors and it is very workshops for their Higher Degree difficult to successfully get started by Research students throughout or complete a project without a the year. good working relationship with a supervisors. Your supervisors will have a working knowledge of your Research project and its background or related areas and are vital to the success of Student your project. These people can put you in touch with valuable sources, Information ideas, books, debates, may suggest Supervisors approaches that you have not thought of. Most Schools have an HDR There are mutual obligations for Coordinator who has a both supervisors and students. The comprehensive understanding of the supervisor is expected to act as your availability and research strengths of mentor: all supervisors within their school. These academic staff should be • meeting you regularly contacted prior to any application • reviewing progress being made for a research place. • making specific suggestions and comments on your The following are lists of Higher written work Degrees by Research (HDR) supervisors and their areas of Your responsibility as a research research expertise. They are intended student includes making sure that for use by current and prospective you are available to meet regularly research students seeking a potential with your supervisor, and that supervisor. you note down and act upon the Business: www1.rmit.edu.au/ feedback or advice provided. At your research/search-supervisors/bus meetings with your supervisors your progress will be monitored so Design and Social Context: www1. it is important that you talk to your rmit.edu.au/research/search- supervisor in depth about what supervisors/dsc they expect you to achieve between Science, Engineering and Health: meetings. Make sure that you raise www1.rmit.edu.au/research/ issues that are important to you and search-supervisors/seh ask for feedback in areas they might Other areas: www1.rmit.edu.au/ have missed where you feel you research/search-supervisors/other need extra guidance.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 21 Take notes in the meetings and type choose to register with the Disability them up afterwards, it will help to Liaison Unit (DLU) and request consolidate the discussion in your resources through that department memory. You can email your notes rather than on your needs analysis to your supervisor to make sure that form (see page 27 for more they agree with what you feel the information). meeting outcomes were. Try and think about discussions (feedback Ethics approval on work, future issues that may RMIT practices research in arise, planning for the next stage of accordance with Australian Code for candidature) and actions (what work the Responsible Conduct of Research you need to complete and when and you will need to establish by, what your supervisor will do to whether or not you will need Ethics assist you, what you will talk about Approval in order to conduct your in the next meeting). If you both research (your supervisor can help understand exactly what you should you with this). If you do need ethics be doing next, it is less likely that you approval there are lots of resources will have problems in the future. provided by RMIT that can help you. If you are planning on handling Needs analysis personal information you should look at the University’s definitions All new candidates at RMIT will need and background information page to complete a Needs Analysis with on the topic. their Senior Supervisor(s). A needs analysis is a great opportunity to As part of the PhD Up! program coordinated by SGR, training make sure you get the support you on preparing an ethics approval need to complete your candidature. application for students conducting Think carefully about the kind of research involving human resources your research will require, participants will be held on the 1st the University has a Minimum of March from 2.00pm–3:30pm. Resources Policy and this is a list Places are strictly limited, so contact of resources available for every [email protected] to book research student but you can use your place, or to inquire about more the needs analysis form to ask workshops in the future for additional equipment and/or assistance. Every student should read the Ethical Issues and Responsible Practice If you have a disability that requires Policy even if you don’t need ethics specialist learning aids you can approval.

22 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au You can also contact your school’s You can also speak directly with your Ethics officers: supervisor and your School about BUSINESS any research funds or grants that All enquires and applications you may be eligible to apply for. should be directed to the BCHEAN Secretary, Kristina Tsoulis-Reay and Chloe Patton at Intellectual [email protected]. Property DSC The RMIT Intellectual Property (IP) All enquiries and applications about Policy states that RMIT University Human Research Ethics approval does not normally claim ownership are to be directed to the CHEAN rights of the intellectual property secretary, Dr David Blades, at which results from an RMIT program. [email protected]. However, circumstances may exist SEH where RMIT University or another Secretary – Mary Duffy; email: body may have an interest in that [email protected] intellectual property. Determining IP can be a complex matter and it is the responsibility of a research student and supervisor (and any external parties if necessary) to discuss and Financial agree upon any IP relating to the support for research. You should talk to your supervisor about IP and the start research costs of your studies and together you There are a number of options for can seek advice from the relevant business development unit of the getting extra support to cover costs College or the University’s Office of associated with your research. Research and Innovation. The Higher Degree by Research For more information on IP, check Conference Grant can award up to out the Higher Degree by Research $2000 for a student to attend and Intellectual Property Policy. present at a conference overseas or in Australia.

The College of Business has a Student Support Fund to provide financial assistance to research students.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 23 24 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Support & Wellbeing Where and how you can get support while studying at RMIT, including wellbeing services.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 25 Student Support Accommodation Discover the suburbs of Melbourne, The RMIT Student Wellbeing accommodation options, what to Advisory Services offers practical consider before you start renting, advice and support about accommodation, finance, checklist to moving house, how to international student support and settle housing disputes. legal issues. Finance Student Wellbeing Advisory Services Help with Centrelink payments, are free and confidential for all starting a job, taxation, budgeting, current students. how to save, debt, scams, applying Email: for scholarships and emergency [email protected] financial assistance. To book a confidential consultation with a Student Wellbeing Advisor, International Student telephone or drop in: Support Support for international student City: Monday-Friday 9am-4.30pm includes advice on making cultural Building 14, Level 4 +61 3 9925 2078 and social adjustments, studying Brunswick: Wednesday-Friday 9am- successfully and providing referrals 5pm Building 514 to services internally and externally +61 3 9925 2078 to RMIT. For advice on admissions Bundoora West: Monday-Friday and visas students should contact 9am-5pm Building 202, Level 3 Info Corner and read about their visa Bundoora +61 9925 7280 conditions online.

Phone City and Bundoora West from Legal Bundoora East Cafeteria: Building 251, Level 2 Legal advice and referrals regarding a range of concerns including penalty Here are some of the things the notices, traffic accidents, court Student Wellbeing Advisory Service summons, victim of crime situations, can help you with: police matters, domestic violence and stalking. Before an appointment with a lawyer you need to submit an online inquiry.

26 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Careers DLU (Disability The RMIT Careers service can Liaison Unit) be useful to both research and The DLU assists students with a coursework postgrad students. disability, long term illness and/or Whilst a fair few of you researchers mental health conditions (including will have a career in academia in depression and anxiety) that affects mind, there are still career advice their ability to study. The DLU opportunities available. For students achieves this by providing course planning to move into industry/ materials in different formats, professional practice after their study can recommend that RMIT make the Careers service hosts numerous reasonable adjustments to assist events like careers fairs and industry students with a disability (additional expos as well as information sessions time during exams, providing note on Government funding for new takers, the use of a computer, enterprises, volunteer and internship ergonomic furniture in exams etc) schemes and much more. Check out and can provide enabling staff the RMIT Careers events calendar for to work with students in lectures more details of what’s available. and tutorials. The DLU also offers technical aids such as voice The Careers section of the RMIT recognition software, screen reading website contains a Careers Toolkit software and screen magnification which can help all students brush software. up on interview techniques, To access these services students improve their ability to define and must be prepared to disclose their respond to selection criteria and disability to the DLU (often they are develop their CV. It also features require to provide documented proof videos and interviews with industry of a disability). professionals on what they look for in a new employee and how Contact DLU via RMIT Connect on to prepare for every step of the (03) 9925 5000 application and interview process. Need some face-to-face information Go to the Careers website at www. and advice? Drop-in and see DLU rmit.edu.au/careers for access to all at (Building 8, Level 5, just outside of this and more including a global the new library entrance) between database of jobs for students and 1.30–3.30pm, Monday to Friday. or graduates and individual careers Bundoora, RMIT Connect (Building counselling sessions 202, Tuesday 11:30am – 12:30pm).

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 27 This service is for quick (10–15 Free Call: 1800 054 885 minute) enquiries only. You do not Fax: +61 3 9925 4887 need an appointment to use the drop-in service. Email: [email protected] For more detailed discussions, or Address: Ngarara Willim Centre, to register with the DLU, you will GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne VIC need to book an appointment with a 3001, Australia Disability Advisor. You can also visit the RMIT webpage You can visit the DLU in person at: www.rmit.edu.au/ngarara to find additional information for City campus: RMIT Connect, indigenous students at RMIT. Building 8, Level 4 Bundoora campus: RMIT Connect, Building 202, Level 2 Childcare RMIT provides childcare at the City Campus Children’s Centre and Indigenous through a parent-run cooperative at the Bundoora Numdaji Kwei Students Children’s Centre. Designed to support and encourage The City Campus Children’s Centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander operates from 7.45am-5.45pm, Peoples through their studies, the Monday to Friday. Students should Ngarara Willim Centre provides contact the centre to make fee and a gathering place for students availability enquiries. and offers a range of facilities and services. At the centre there 97-105 Franklin Street, Melbourne are computers, kitchen facilities (03) 9662 1295 and a TV/lounge area. The centre [email protected] frequently runs indigenous events, provides special orientation The Bundoora Numdaji Kwei programs and information on Children’s Centre operates from indigenous scholarships. 7.45am-6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Regular bookings are for full day Visit: Building 5, Level 1, Room 5, or half day only. Half days are off Bowen Street, City campus from 7.45am-1pm or from 1pm- Phone: +61 3 9925 4885 or 6pm. Students should contact the

28 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au centre to make fee and availability online and read more about the enquiries. services available by clicking here: www.rmit.edu.au/about/our- McKimmies Rd, Bundoora locations-and-facilities/services/ (03) 9925 7276 health-clinics/health-sciences- [email protected] clinic The Myotherapy Training Clinic is located in Building 51, City Health Campus, call (03) 9925 4278 for remedial massage and Myotherapy It’s pretty safe to say that once you appointments, or visit: https:www. start postgraduate studies all your rmit.edu.au/about/our-locations- other priorities are going to slide a and-facilities/services/health- little. What’s important to remember clincs/myotherapy-teaching-clinic is that run down, exhausted, Both clinics offer extremely cheap malnourished students don’t write treatment for RMIT students. great theses which is why you need to check out the RMIT Health webpage. It has information on Health Services in and around RMIT as well as general information on Counselling staying safe in Australia and at social We are yet to meet a postgrad events. An extensive section called student who does not get incredibly Healthy Body, Health Mind will help stressed at some point during their you to maintain a healthy lifestyle time at RMIT. It’s a very normal that will boost your brain power and response to the pressure of postgrad alertness and keep you focused and study. That doesn’t mean that well rested throughout your degree. you should let stress and anxiety overcome you and your studies. Another benefit for RMIT students is access to Chinese medicine, The RMIT Counselling Service provides professional counselling on Chiropractic, Osteopathy and each campus and is available to all Psychology training clinics through students who want to talk about: the Complementary Medicine Teaching Clinic, located at University • personal issues Hill, Bundoora Campus. Call • study issues 9925 7666 to make an appointment, • mental health or you can make an appointment • wellbeing concerns

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 29 Counselling is free to RMIT Students experience with the major spiritual and is for any students who feel traditional and religious. These they might need some help, you spiritual advisors are available in any don’t need to wait for a crisis crisis situation or for companionship before you go and see a counsellor. during a student’s time at University. The counselling service is also The chaplains represent Christian, confidential and, we’ll say it again, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic faiths and free. the Integral Spirituality tradition. To contact a chaplain for a student visit: To book an appointment, please www.rmit.edu.au/chaplaincy for a contact: list of chaplains of different faiths. City or Brunswick campus: +61 3 9925 4365 Spiritual Centre Bundoora: +61 3 9925 7280 Building 46, 11 Lygon Street (opposite Trades Hall) is the spiritual centre. [email protected] It offers a place for communal www.rmit.edu.au/counselling reflection and individual meditation that respects the search for the Or visit: transcendent, and celebrates life. City Campus: Building 74 (52 Cardigan Street, Carlton) Prayer Rooms The university also offers prayer Brunswick Campus: Building 514, room facilities for Muslim students. Level 1 (There is no reception at Brunswick campus.) The prayer rooms are quiet spaces for people to come and take time Bundoora Campus: Building 202, out. They are spiritual spaces for Level 3 gathering, commemorations and All Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm services; activities and events are also held here.

CITY CAMPUS Spiritual To access the City campus prayer rooms you will need a security Chaplaincy access card. To get this please go to The Chaplaincy at RMIT is a team the Security Control Room, Building of multi-faith chaplains who are 5, Level 1 and request a security trained to bridge educational access card for Building 46.

30 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Jumma prayer and lecture Prayer time - Islamic Friday, 12.20pm, B47, Level 2 (Male) Monday to Thursday, 9am–5pm, B202, L4, Room 29 (Male) Jumma prayer and lecture B202, L4, Room 1 (Female) Friday, 1.00pm, B47, L2 (Male) Friday, 1.00pm, B46, L2, R4 (Female) Prayer time - Islamic 2nd, 3rd and 4th Monday to Thursday, 12pm–8pm B47, L2, Room 3 (Male) B46, L2, Room 4 (Female)

BRUNSWICK CAMPUS The Brunswick campus prayer rooms are located at Building 514. Prayer time - Islamic Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, B514, L2, Room 7 (Male) B514, L2, Room 6 (Female)

BUNDOORA EAST CAMPUS The Bundoora campus east prayer rooms are located at Building 254, Level 1. Prayer time - Islamic Monday to Thursday, 9am–5pm, B254, L1, Room 2 (Male) B254, L1, Room 3 (Female)

BUNDOORA WEST CAMPUS The Bundoora campus west prayer rooms are located at Building 202. Jumma prayer Friday, 12.30pm–1.30pm, B202, Level 3, Room 30 (Male)

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 31 32 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au About RUSU

RUSU (RMIT University Student Union) are here to ensure your university experience extends beyond lectures and assignments.

RUSU is the only independent, student- controlled organisation at RMIT.

RUSU has been operating since 1945.

RUSU represents and advocates on behalf of all RMIT students.

We are here to enhance campus life and help with student rights and offer a range of wellbeing services and parties!

RUSU is governed by an annually elected Student Council (SUC) and employs staff on all campuses.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 33 What is RUSU? Departments We are responsible for creating • Activities student life on campus. Every week • Queer RUSU’s purple colours will be out • Education and about with free food and fun so • Sustainability make sure you check out our events. • International • Welfare While RUSU is the heart of student • Postgraduate life, RUSU is also here for when you • Women’s need help. Whether it be regarding welfare or education issues or if the use of one of our safe spaces, we are here to support all students of RMIT. Catalyst RUSU is also here to support you Catalyst is your student magazine, when something goes wrong - if you distributed free bi-monthly. Any need help with a postgrad specific student can contribute to Catalyst, issue, need student rights advice, whether it be an article, a photo, a are struggling to afford food or rent, cartoon, a review or a letter to the or need a safe space as a female or editor. We would love to hear what queer student - we can help you. you have to offer! If you’d like to have your work published, please get in touch. Student Union Council (SUC) The SUC is the governing body of RMITV RUSU. Elections to the SUC occur RMITV is Australia’s leading in second semester each year. community television production Any RMIT Student can stand for house. Each month several hours of a place on the SUC and all RMIT television programming is produced students can (and should) vote in the for community television networks elections. across Australia. RMITV operates on a ‘By students - for students’ principle. Although programs produced span across many different genres and categories, at heart RMITV is a student media production house.

34 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au wide array of campus clubs. Each Women’s club is run by RMIT students for Department RMIT students and is open for membership to all RMIT students! The Women’s Department provides a space to relax, join social gatherings, organise campaigns and be involved in activist type movements if you Activities & wish. You may even choose to use Events the room as a ‘safe’ place to escape a Activities & Events organises a issue, or gender related problems on regular schedule of events across all campus in a supportive and friendly campuses and off campus, including space. Chill N Grill and Healthy Breakfasts. A number of special events also happen such as Welcome Bash, Pop- RUSU Queer up Pubs etc. Department The Queer Department exists to RUSU Info represent, advocate and empower Counters RMIT students who identify as gay, RUSU information counters are the lesbian, bisexual, transgender or gateway to your student union. intersex, and those who are curious Student Liaison Officers (SLO) inform about or questioning their sexuality. the student community about what We are active in organising political services are available to you, and campaigns and social events both on how to become involved with the and off campus. Student Union. City Campus Building 5, Level 1 and Clubs Building 57, Level 4, 9925 5004 RUSU is proud to represent the needs of a unique, ever-changing Brunswick Campus and diverse student body at RMIT. Building 514, Level 2, Our Clubs and Societies (C&S) 9925 9478 Department is dedicated to helping students explore their social, Bundoora West Campus: professional, political, spiritual and Building 204, Ground Floor, cultural identities by supporting a 9925 7226

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 35 Compass also provides outreach Realfoods events and activities such as Stress Realfoods is the RMIT University Less Week, Yoga and English Student Union’s vegan café and Language Workshops - so keep your catering outlet. Specialising in eyes peeled throughout semester! the preparation and retail of fresh Monday to Thursday, 10am–4pm specialist foods. Operates five days a week during semester and require a City Campus 12.4.114 weekly rostered commitment. Monday & Tuesday, 10am–4pm Keep an eye our for Realfoods Brunswick Campus (514.01.07) located in the New Academic Street. Wednesday & Thursday 10am–4pm Bundoora Campus (contact the RUSU front desk in Bundoora to make a time to catch up with the Compass – Compass Coordinator) RUSU’s Welfare Drop-In Centre Compass is welfare Drop-In RUSU for space where students can go for Information, Referral and Advice Postgrads about any issue they may be RUSU has its own Postgraduate experiencing. Compass is staffed by Department, and each year a highly trained student volunteers Postgraduate Officer is elected to run who provide ‘peer to peer’ support- the RMIT Postgraduate Association and there is always a qualified (RPA). The RPA works hard to Social Worker on site to assist. improve representation for HDR and Compass can refer to onsite support postgraduate coursework students services and also services within the at RMIT, to advocate for the needs of community. postgraduate students to University It doesn’t matter if you have bodies, and to provide outreach to suddenly found yourself homeless postgraduate students across RMIT’s or you just want to know where to campuses. find some cheap food on campus- no issue is too big or too small for The RPA aims to bring together a Compass. Our job is to listen to your postgraduate community across the problem and help you access the University to support postgraduate right services to resolve it. students in their academic

36 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au pursuits as well as through social Postgrad Events engagement. In 2017 the RPA will This year the RPA will be running be running even more postgraduate lots of events specifically for specific events that aim to promote postgraduate students. These events professional development, are designed to give postgraduate networking, skills sharing as well students the chance to get to know as social events for postgraduate plenty of new people at RMIT across students to get to know one another all Schools and campuses. Events and have fun. are almost always free, and are advertised on the RPA Facebook You can join the RPA on Facebook page, mailing list and via posters www.facebook.com/groups/rusupa and flyers around the University. We and like our page facebook.com/ look forward to providing you with RUSUPostgrad to keep up to date fun activities, free drinks and new with our social events, workshops friends! and activities or to get in touch with Events will be happening across all us. We look forward to meeting campuses including; speed friending, you at our upcoming events and cocktail night, postgrad workshops, to providing you with a supportive pub quiz, end of year party and and engaging postgraduate more! experience at RMIT! Drop us a line at [email protected] or head to www.rusu.rmit.edu.au/ postgraduate to find out more.

Student Rights Officer: HDR The student rights officer handles the unique issues of research students. The student rights officer for research students is available Monday to Thursday at the city campus. Call (03) 9925 5004 or email [email protected] to make an appointment.

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 37 Quick Links... SCHOLARSHIPS Postgrad by Coursework www1.rmit.edu.au/scholarships/pgcoursework Postgrad by Research www1.rmit.edu.au/scholarships/research

POLICIES Academic Policies www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic Research Policies www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academic#higher

COORDINATORS AND SUPERVISORS List of HDR Coordinators www.rmit.edu.au/research/phds-and-other-research- degrees/school-of-graduate-research/research- opportunities/hdr-school-and-college-contacts/ Supervisor Search www.rmit.edu.au/research/phds-and-other-research- degrees/find-a-supervisor/

ETHICS APPROVAL RMIT Guidelines on www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7equ5b0ggmdi Ethics Approval

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Contact www.rmit.edu.au/graduateresearch/contact PhD Up! https://tinyurl.com/j4ymhea

38 www.rusu.rmit.edu.au Final note...

This booklet is intended as a guide only. There is so much more to discover during your time as a postgraduate student at RMIT. Explore the RMIT website (tip - sometimes “googling” can achieve better results that searching on the RMIT website itself); talk to you supervisors and your school; talk to the School of Graduate Research; and of course contact us here at RUSU at [email protected]

Your Guide to RMIT Postgrad 39 BECOME A RUSU MEMBER FOR ONLY $10

For more information and to join visit www.rusu.rmit.edu.au/membership

rusu.rmit.edu.au RUSUpage rmitsu rmit_rusu rusuonline