There may be instances during your candidature where you require changes to your supervision panel. This could be due to a change in roles and responsibilities requiring the addition or removal of a supervisor, or a change in supervision load. Alternatively, a change may be required due to illness, leave, relocation to another institution, or other unforeseen circumstances that render a supervisor unavailable.
It is important that you regularly discuss your support and supervision needs with your supervision panel. Any potential changes to your supervision should be first be discussed with members of the supervision panel. It is possible that some issue or concerns can be addressed without the need to change the supervision panel.
If you find it challenging to communicate directly with your supervisor, you can seek guidance and support from your School’s HDR Coordinator, Associate Dean (Research) or the Dean, Graduate Research. They can assist you in navigating the process and making appropriate arrangements for a change of supervisor if necessary.
Changes to your supervision panel can be requested by yourself or your Principal Supervisor. To change or add supervisors to your supervision panel, follow these steps:
While the final allocation of a supervisor will be confirmed by your School, it’s in your interest to take an active role in identifying a supervisor you would like to work with. Contact your School HDR Course Coordinators to identify potential supervisors.
Perceived or actual conflicts of interest may influence the suitability of a member on a supervision panel. Professional and personal relationships with supervisors must be disclosed.
More information about personal relationships and conflict of interest can be found in the University’s policy on Conflicts of Interest.
If you’re experiencing difficulties with supervision, you should initially try to resolve the problem through discussion with your Principal Supervisor. If this is unsatisfactory, or not possible, you should discuss the matter first with your School’s HDR Coordinator, then, if necessary, with your Associate Dean (Research). If the problem can’t be resolved through discussion at these levels, you can lodge a written complaint with the Dean, Graduate Research. If you’re still dissatisfied with the decision after an investigation by the Dean, you may appeal against that ruling to the Committee of Review. Following submission of your thesis for examination, you may appeal against aspects of the examination process or outcome of the examination, but not against aspects of supervision. Therefore, it is essential to attempt to resolve supervision issues as early as possible.