Candidate Action and Support Plan

Why was I nominated for action and support?

Your supervisory team or HDR DA may nominate you for action and support if you:

are facing research delays
need extra support to complete a milestone
have circumstances in your research or personal life that could negatively affect your research.

See clauses 17 – 20 of the HDR Progress Management and Support Procedure for specific situations requiring action and support.

What happens if I'm nominated for action and support?

You’ll be invited to attend an action and support meeting to discuss your situation and identify the support that will benefit you the most. This may include:

School-based support, such as more frequent supervisory meetings, increasing the hours you spend on your research or regular meetings with the HDR DA.
Making variations to your candidature, such as:
temporarily or permanently changing to part-time load
taking a leave of absence
reviewing your supervisory arrangements
applying for an extension to your candidature (if you are close to your submission date).
Referrals to RMIT support services, such as wellbeing services or academic support services.

This support will be documented in a Candidate Action and Support Plan (CASP). During the meeting your Supervisory team and HDR DA will work with you to complete a CASP form and action plan. Together they form the CASP, specifying the tasks for you and your supervisory team and the dates for their completion.

The CASP will be in place for up to 3 months for full-time candidates or 6 months for part-time candidates.

Read the instructions for completing your CASP form and action plan before your meeting.

You can seek support and advice from RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) Student Rights service and any other relevant support services before the meeting. You can also have a support person at the meeting.

What happens if I can’t attend an action and support meeting or contribute to my CASP?

If you can’t attend your action and support meeting at the scheduled time, email your Supervisors, HDR DA or the Research Training Services (RTS) team as soon as possible. Your action and support meeting can be rescheduled to a more suitable time. The meeting can also be held online ,via Teams if you are unable to attend in person.

The action and support process is designed to help you and address issues and challenges you may be facing. If you don’t attend your action and support meeting, it will go ahead in your absence and your supervisory team and HDR DA will develop your CASP without your input and you will be expected to accept the recommendations in your CASP and complete the tasks assigned to you in the action plan.

What happens at the end of the action and support period?

The end date of your action and support period is recorded on your CASP. It must be within three months of the start of your CASP for full-time candidates or six months for part-time candidates.

At the end of your CASP, your HDR DA will review your progression of the tasks in your action plan. They’ll decide if:

You are making satisfactory progress, and no longer need action and support.
You need an additional period of action and support. A CASP meeting will be scheduled with your supervisors and HDR DA to develop a new CASP.
You have not made satisfactory progress. Your HDR DA will refer the matter to your College for review. See the section on What are the College review and RCPC processes?

What are the College review and RCPC processes?

College review

During a College review your College will look at all documentation related to your candidature and progress. This includes your milestone documentation, CASPs and supervisory meeting minutes. They’ll decide if you’ve been given the support you needed. In some circumstances, the College may ask you to attend a confidential meeting as a part of the review process.

If your College decides you haven’t been provided with appropriate support, they’ll recommend a further period of action and support.

If your College decides you’ve been provided with appropriate support, they’ll recommend you attend a Research Candidate Progress Committee (RCPC) meeting to discuss your progress further.

Research Candidate Progress Committee (RCPC)

If you are referred to RCPC, your College will invite you to attend a RCPC meeting to discuss your progress.

These meetings are convened by your College. The committee includes a Chair (from your College), your HDR DA and an independent academic (a senior academic from another school in your College – usually another HDR DA). Your College will also invite others to attend the RCPC meeting (including your supervisors and sometimes the School of Graduate Research). However, they don’t form part of the committee.

We encourage you to bring a support person with you to your RCPC meeting.

To prepare for the meeting:

Your College will ask you to make a written submission to the committee. We strongly advise you submit this. It’s your opportunity to tell the committee about your situation, any issues you’ve experienced and how you plan to continue your research within the time you have left.
Seek support and advice from the RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) Student Rights service and any other relevant support services.
Read the HDR Policy, HDR Progress Management and Support Procedure and HDR Unsatisfactory Progress Process.
Contact Research Training Services via the RMIT Connect portal for advice and with any other questions you might have.

The RCPC will make a recommendation to the Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research Training and Development (ADVC RT&D). The possible recommendations are:

To provide an additional period of action and support.
To terminate candidature and cancel enrolment.

Candidate Action and Support Plan