Become a research coach

RCA consultant coaches are sought in all Australian states to undertake direct one to one coaching for researchers, either individually or as part of a collaborative team providing institutional solutions.

RCA coaches are usually retired research leaders who want to support other researchers and to contribute to the strengthening of research capability in Australia, and in any organizational setting.

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Required Experience

RCA consultant coaches will have extensive experience as a researcher in a range of capacities, primarily as a research leader. They will have secured competitive funding and won commissioned research and consultancies. Above all, throughout their careers, RCA consultant coaches will have demonstrated a commitment to supporting, developing and mentoring less experienced researchers. The role of RCA consultant coach is particularly suited to retired research leaders.

To be selected as an RCA consultant coach you should have a minimum of 15-20 years experience in research leadership roles that provided supervision to research teams, researchers and Higher Degree Research students. Research experience should be in one or more of the following:

» Higher education institutions
» Post secondary education institutions
» State or Federal government organisations with dedicated research functions
» Hospitals and Medical and allied health research institutes
» Non government organisations with research functions
» Think tanks and other research organisations

Ideally your career will have included one or more of the following:

» Professorial roles, leading other staff undertaking research functions
» State or Federal government experience in senior roles as head of research functions
» Senior executive positions within NGOs, hospitals and research organisations

The role of RCA consultant coach

» RCA coaches are independent consultants who are their own “bosses”
» The role is about providing direct one to one coaching for researchers, either individually or as part of a team providing an institutional solution
» Identifying new clients is an important part of an RCA consultant coach’s role
» Being part of a collaborative team that uses the RCA Framework, approaches and tools to build research capability in Australian research is a key part of the role

Key attributes of an RCA consultant coach

RCA consultant coaches will be able to provide evidence of a demonstrated commitment to supporting, developing and mentoring less experienced researchers. To be engaged as a RCA consultant coach you will need to meet the following criteria:

» You will have extensive experience as a researcher in a range of capacities, primarily as a research leader in a relevant organisational leadership role
» You will have secured National Competitive Grants or equivalent competitive funding and / or won commissioned research and consultancies
» You will have demonstrated a commitment to supporting, developing and mentoring less experienced researchers
» You will be able to work independently as part of a collaborative team that uses the RCA Framework, approaches and tools under the guidance of the RCA Practice Manager
» You will have the ability to provide, and be accountable for, direct one to one coaching for researchers, either individually or as part of a team providing an institutional solution
» You will have the capacity and representational skills to identify new individual and institutional clients
» You will have the necessary facilities, equipment and legal status (including Professional Indemnity Insurance) to undertake the role of RCA consultant coach

Those who are selected as RCA consultant coaches will be placed on a register of RCA consultant coaches to be drawn on for coaching roles. All RCA consultant coaches receive the RCA Framework, approaches and tools and will be required to sign a contract, fee schedule and code that guides their work as independent consultants.

RCA Research Coaching Code

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RCA works with RCA Research Coaches to contribute towards improving research in Australia, no matter where it occurs. This code applies to the work undertaken by coaches when undertaking services as RCA Research Coaches.

RCA Research Coaches provide coaching advice without fear or favour that is focussed on addressing a researcher’s needs.

RCA Research Coaches model respect, integrity and professionalism towards each other and researchers and ensure that the materials used and examples used do not impinge another’s privacy or confidentiality (ie no names).

RCA Research Coaches do not place themselves or researchers in positions of psychological or physical danger and abide by relevant OHS, equity and discrimination laws.

Working within a researcher focussed culture RCA Research Coaches will:

» Be warm, friendly and welcoming
» Be firm and fair
» Be prepared to disengage if this is deemed necessary
» Provide appropriate verbal and written advice to researchers

The different coaching styles adopted by RCA Research Coaches are essential for assisting researchers who have different needs and learning styles, and who are from different cultures, organisations and disciplines. RCA Research Coaches deal with the differences between coaching styles of the other RCA Research Coaches in a positive learning manner (noting that RCA Research Coaches are independent contractors).

RCA Research Coaches will particularly focus on support for women researchers and acknowledge the particular issues affecting women who are undertaking a research career.

RCA Research Coaches will not provide mentoring and will not provide life coaching and will also not provide advice that they are unqualified to provide such as financial, industrial / employment law, personal or health advice.RCA Research Coaches and their clients will enjoy the collegiality of RCA and each other’s contribution to research in Australia.

How we work

RCA Research Coaches work as a team under the guidance of the RCA Research Coaching Practice lead, Professor Annette Street, to:

» Maintain high standards of coaching advice
» Provide coaching that is informed by a case load approach
» Work within the RCA Coaching Framework, Tips and Tools
» Set and maintain clear expectations about what RCA can and cannot deliver to researchers

RCA Research Coaches work individually as consultants to provide expert coaching advice and to:

» Use the RCA Coaching Framework, Tips and Tools
» Draw on their experience and knowledge to provide advice and options to researchers
» Remind researchers that RCA provides advice and that it is up to the researcher themselves to manage their careers
» Suggest changes to improve the RCA Coaching Framework, Tips and Tools
» Identify researchers who may not benefit from coaching and to recommend alternative options

RCA Research Coaches do not provide life coaching and do not provide advice that they are unqualified to provide such as financial, industrial / employment law, personal or health advice.

Because RCA Research Coaches are carefully engaged and are experienced research leaders who have spent their whole careers leading, developing and guiding others they have high levels of coaching skill.