Next week is the final sitting week of Parliament before the mid-winter break. As always, STA will be active on Capital Hill on behalf of you and your members. On Tuesday, we’ll host a Parliamentary Friends of Science event for MPs and Senators on science and evidence informed policy. Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and CSIRO CEO Dr Larry Marshall will join me on stage for an engaging discussion. We’ll also unveil STA’s refreshed policy vision next week - with our President Jeremy Brownlie doing the honours in Canberra. This blueprint is the result of almost a year of deep consultation with the science and technology sector. We look forward to sharing the final document with you ahead of it being made public.

Our annual survey of the science workforce - a collaboration with Professional Scientists Australia - is in the field. Thank you to those who have already shared the link with your membership, staff and networks - and encouraged them to complete it. This survey is an invaluable source of data in our advocacy for scientists and technologists across the country. Please remind your networks to take the survey before it closes on June 27. 

Don’t forget to register for our exclusive event for STA members next Tuesday on how to access the Global Talent Visa. This is a terrific opportunity to hear directly from the Department of Home Affairs about current eligibility for this visa - and especially valuable if you or your employing institution are seeking to recruit brilliant overseas STEM talent.  

Congratulations from all of us in the STA community to Professor Bronwyn Fox on her appointment as CSIRO’s next Chief Scientist. Bronwyn is a materials and engineering scientist, a Fellow of both RACI and ATSE, and was founding director of Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute. We’re delighted for her and for CSIRO on this excellent decision.  

As part of our commitment to reconciliation, STA plans to make a submission shortly to the review of the Australian school curriculum. As the peak body for Australia’s STEM sector, we support a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture, history and contemporary circumstances being taught to Australian school students. We encourage other STA member organisations to offer similar support. You can make a submission by 8 July.

Finally, this week we convened our first training session for our third cohort of STA STEM Ambassadors, and the last formal training session for our second cohort of Superstars of STEM. We wish them all well for their next steps - and are excited to watch their stars continue to rise.

Until next time, 

Misha Schubert 
CEO, Science & Technology Australia 

CONSULTATION BEGINS ON THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE ROADMAP

As a first step to develop the next research infrastructure roadmap, the Government is asking researchers to participate in a survey about current national research infrastructure use. The questions ask how you currently use or interact with Australia's NRI, what you need from NRI now and in the future, and what you see as the emerging trends, challenges and opportunities for NRI. The survey takes around 30 minutes to complete and is here - it closes Wednesday 30 June. 

NEW REPORTS AND POLICY CHANGES OF INTEREST TO STA MEMBERS

• The Australian Government has released the Review of the Parliamentary Workplace: Responding to Serious Incidents report by the Prime Minister’s Department.  
• Canada’s Public Policy Forum reported on improving linkages between university and work.
• The Digital Commons Policy Council released a report on the co-production of open source software by volunteers and big tech firms.
• The Australian Medical Association released its vision for Australia’s health.
• The first Ocean Decade report was released by Ocean Decade Australia.
• Senate Estimates revealed no funding is planned for the Industry Growth Centres from 2022.
• The CSIRO released a report on the SME enablers and barriers to research. 
• ACOLA released an Australian Energy Transition Research Plan. 
• Bruce Chapman has an article on Understanding recent HECS–HELP price misunderstandings.
• The Australian Research Council released its final report and action plan on the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) and Engagement and Impact (EI) assessment. All 22 recommendations have been accepted. 
• The Academy of Science has released a sustainable oceans and coasts national strategy. 
• Opportunities for submissions:
• • Consultations are open on the Government's Regional Data Hubs – due 2 July.
  • A review of the national school curriculum – due 8 July.
  • The Australian National Audit Office is auditing the management of threatened species and ecological communities - due 31 October.