Participants in the early career program.Central Queensland University recently celebrated its early career academics at a special function in Rockhampton last week.

Twenty-one young lecturers and researchers participated in the University's inaugural Early Career Academics Program this year, 14 of whom were able to attend the function.

Fiona juggles family, fitness and faculty life 

The academics were joined by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Angela Delves, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) Professor Alex Radloff and some of the participating mentors and supporters of the program.

The program was established with the intent of enabling early career academics to learn from those experienced in the sector (early career mentors) and be guided through their first years in academia. The program was designed to develop and enhance academic careers for the future.

Speaking at the function, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Angela Delves congratulated the academics on their successful year and encouraged them to look to the future and plan ahead for their careers.

Dale Trott, who developed and coordinated the Early Career Academic Program, spoke of how he hoped the program demonstrated that new academics didn't have to do it alone.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) Alex Radloff congratulates Jennifer Doak on completing the Early Career Academic Program.

"Your peers, your colleagues are there to help you in developing your career," said Dale upon officially opening the function.

"Hopefully this program has aided in removing some of that self-doubt. Presenters and the mentors have attempted to give you advice on establishing a clearer path with confidence, with consideration given to research and innovation, teaching and learning, leadership, community engagement and promotion in mind."
Early career academic Mitch Duncan is congratulated by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) Professor Alex Radloff.

The early career academics who took part in the program included:

Geoffrey Pang; Lisa Bricknell; Melanie Chin; Ashfaque Chowdhury; Fiona Coulson; Jenny Doak; Andrew Fenning; Clinton Hayes; Anetta Hinchliffe; Ryan Kift; Rati Sahoo; Scott Simson; Eric Holm; Mitch Duncan; Danya Hodgetts; Vicki Roberts; John McGrath; Kadie Cheney; Stefan Koehn.

Mentors who participated included:

Col Greensill; Antony Dekkers; Debra Orr; Lorna Moxham; Kerry Mummery; Sandra Walker; Lauren Young; Rob McDougall; Bernadette Walker-Gibbs; Steven Senini; Colin Cole; Jenny Anastasil Leone Hinton; Yvonne Toft.