ACU is committed to excellence in research supervision and training. As a supervisor, you'll guide HDR candidates and help shape our research culture. Accreditation ensures you have the skills and support to succeed. Read on to learn about the requirements and steps to apply.

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ACU industry and research partners

Graduate research supervisors play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of researchers, providing mentorship, ensuring academic rigour, and helping candidates navigate the challenges of advanced research.

By becoming an accredited supervisor, you'll not only support individual candidates but also strengthen ACU's research community and reputation by fostering innovation and contributing to a vibrant research culture.

In line with Section 10 of the Higher Degree Research Policy, every HDR candidate must be supported by at least two accredited ACU supervisors. Accreditation ensures that supervisors have the necessary skills, knowledge, and commitment to uphold the highest standards of research training.

Explore the accreditation process below and take the first step towards becoming an ACU graduate research supervisor.

Accreditation framework

There are two categories of HDR supervisor accreditation at ACU:

HDR Supervisor (Full) HDR Supervisor (Provisional)

Eligibility criteria

  • Have an ACU Staff appointment of at least 0.4 FTE, or hold an honorary or adjunct appointment; and
  • Hold an AQF level 10 (Doctoral Degree or equivalent) qualification; and
  • Be classified as active in research within the discipline/s in which they will be supervising to the satisfaction of the Faculty Associate Dean, Research as per the Research Active Definition Policy; and
  • Have completed the ACU supervisor training program, a similar program at another higher education institution or provide evidence of relevant professional experience; and
  • Have completed respectful supervisory relationship training at ACU or a similar program at another higher education institution.

Role on supervisory team

  • Principal supervisor
  • Co-supervisor

Eligibility criteria

  • Have an ACU Staff appointment of at least 0.4 FTE, or hold an honorary or adjunct appointment; and
  • Hold an AQF level 10 (Doctoral Degree or equivalent) qualification; and
  • Have relevant research experience within the discipline/s in which they will be supervising to the satisfaction of the Faculty Associate Dean, Research; and
  • Have completed the ACU supervisor training program, a similar program at another higher education institution or provide evidence of relevant professional experience; and
  • Have completed respectful supervisory relationship training at ACU or a similar program at another higher education institution.

Role on supervisory team

  • Co-supervisor

Supervisor roles

The Higher Degree Research Supervision Policy details the roles, responsibilities and composition requirements of supervisory panels for ACU graduate research candidates.

An ACU staff member who has been accredited as a supervisor via the prescribed process may be appointed to the role of Principal Supervisor or Co-Supervisor on a graduate research candidate's supervisory team according to Section 7 - Eligibility for Appointment to an HDR Supervisory Team.

The Principal Supervisor is an ACU staff member who is accredited as a HDR Supervisor (Full) and has been appointed to lead a team of two or more supervisors in the provision of guidance and assistance to a candidate in the undertaking of the relevant degree requirements. The Principal Supervisor is the academic leader of the supervisory team and has official responsibility for the overall management of the candidate's candidature from enrolment to final thesis examination.

The Co-Supervisor is an ACU staff member who is accredited as a HDR Supervisor (Full or Provisional) and is appointed to the graduate research candidate’s supervisory team to support the Principal Supervisor in the provision of guidance and assistance to the candidate.

An Associate Supervisor is a specialist in the discipline from outside ACU who can provide expertise to the supervision of the graduate research candidate. The Associate Supervisor is appointed to the candidate’s supervisory team to supplement the supervision provided by the Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor.

An Associate Supervisor (End-user) is a specialist from an end-user (organisation) external to ACU who can provide expertise to the supervision of a graduate research candidate and who will directly use or directly benefit from the research. An Associate Supervisor (End-user) supplements the supervision provided by the ACU Principal Supervisor and Co-Supervisor.

Principal Supervisors are encouraged to consider the value of including an Associate Supervisor (End-user) on a panel. Many of the graduate research projects carried out at ACU are conducive to, and would benefit from, end-user associate supervision.

Learn more

HDR Supervision Policy Section 8.30: The supervisory team must, at all times, include a Principal or Co-supervisor who has supervised at least one (1) HDR candidate to completion. When this is the Co-supervisor, they must also be classified as active in research within the discipline/s they will be supervising in, to the satisfaction of Associate Dean of Research in their Faculty.

How do I apply for accreditation?

Review the following policies:

The HDR Supervisor Training modules are available in the Staff Learning Hub. Staff who have not completed supervisor training at ACU or another institution should self-enrol and complete the modules.

Training consists of two parts:

  • Part 1: Supervising Doctoral Studies (10 modules)
  • Part 2: Respectful Supervisory Relationships (1 module – video and quiz)*

Once you’ve completed all modules, you will receive an email with your completion 'badge'. If you don’t receive an email, check your Record of Learning and export details or take a screenshot. You will need to upload this evidence in the Supervisor Accreditation Request Form (Step 4).

Begin training

* We understand that some participants may find this content distressing. If you believe this applies to you, please complete the ‘Opt Out’ HDR e-form in Orion, requesting approval from your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) for an exemption.

Go to Orion

For further information about the exemption process, please contact the Graduate Research School.

Email: grs.supervisors@acu.edu.au

Discuss your accreditation with your Faculty ADR:

 
Faculty Email
Faculty of Education and Arts fea.hdr@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Health Sciences fhs.adr@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Law and Business lawbusinessresearch@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy adres.ftp@acu.edu.au

If you are not affiliated with a faculty, you can discuss your accreditation with the ADR of the faculty which best aligns with your research field.

Complete the Supervisor Accreditation Request (SupReq) e-form in Orion.

Go to Orion

FAQs

Please discuss with your Faculty Associate Dean Research (ADR) and complete the Supervisor Accreditation Request (SupReq) e-form in Orion.

Go to Orion

Full accreditation requires that you are research active according to the Research Active Definition policy.

No. However at least one ACU supervisor on a candidate’s supervision team needs to be research active and have a prior HDR completion.

Yes. Please provide evidence of training completion in the Supervisor Accreditation Request (SupReq) e-form in Orion.

Go to Orion

You can check your Record of Learning in the Staff Learning Hub and export details or take a screenshot.

Your HDR supervision accreditation status is not automatically linked to your ACU researcher profile.

If your accreditation status changes, please follow these instructions in Service Central to request an update to your researcher profile.

To confirm that your accreditation status has been linked to your ACU researcher profile:

If your profile does not appear in either list, please follow these instructions in Service Central to create your profile.

For further support, contact the Graduate Research School

grs.supervisors@acu.edu.au
Page last updated on 03/12/2025
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