Why are you running this program?

The CV Champions program is offered as an initiative of the ACvA Emerging Leaders Committee. Capacity building is a major priority for the ACvA and we’re always looking for ways to support EMCRs in their career progression. This includes facilitating interdisciplinary and national collaboration and networking between EMCRs and established leaders in CV research in Australia; and to foster visible champions to support the ACvA mission, strategy and values across Australia.

For more information about ACvA and our mission, head HERE.

Will everyone who applies be accepted into the program?

Based on previous year’s programs, we expect that the number of applications will be higher than the spaces available and as such, this program will have a competitive selection process.

What is your definition of an EMCR?

For this program, we define EMCRs as those who have submitted their PhD thesis (i.e. includes those who have submitted but are not yet conferred), up to 10 years post-PhD (excluding career disruptions).

Can I apply if I’m not a member of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance?

Yes, you can apply for the ACvA CV Champions Program, but you must JOIN as a financial member upon acceptance into the program.

Membership is free for those whose organisations are institutional ACvA members, otherwise individual membership costs $55 per annum. We suggest first asking your organisation if they are an institutional ACvA member or by checking HERE.  

For more information and to become an individual ACvA member, see HERE. 

What is involved in the application process?

The application process involves filling out a short survey of basic contact information, followed by a series of short answer questions that will be used for the selection process. These questions include:

  1. What do you hope to get out of the CV Champions Program?
  2. Why is it the right time for you to participate in the CV Champions Program?
  3. How will you apply what you learn in the CV Champions program to the cardiovascular research sector?

What are you looking for in successful applicants?

We’re looking for future leaders of the cardiovascular sector who embody the mission, vision, and values of the ACvA. This includes having a collaborative spirit, generous nature, and genuine desire to make a measurable difference to cardiovascular patient outcomes.

We also highly value equity and diversity and will be considering geographic representation, research area and career stage across the cohort. Applicants will be selected by a committee that will include members of the Emerging Leaders Committee (ELC) and the ELC Board liaison representing ACvA.  

What is the time commitment for this program?

Approximately 2hrs per month over 12-months. This includes 4 x 2hr workshops with self-directed exercises and homework tasks in between. At the conclusion of the workshop component of the program, we are hoping to organise an opportunity for CV Champions to establish teams and pitch project ideas.

What happens if I can’t commit to the required tasks?

We are looking for participants who are fully engaged in their professional development and committed to being involved in a community of future cardiovascular leaders. While we can make accommodations for those who face unexpected situations or challenges, those who do not show satisfactory efforts to complete the tasks will not be profiled as a CV Champion or be afforded post-program opportunities. 

When are the workshops?

The sessions will occur outside of key times where the research workforce is under pressure (e.g. outside of key grant deadlines). At this time, workshops will be held in September 2022, November 2022, March 2023, and May 2023 with time slots from 11:30am-1.30pm AEST. Exact dates will be confirmed at the start of the program.

Recordings of workshops will also be made available on demand to view throughout the program. However, most value from this program will be for those who can commit to attending workshops live due to the interactive and networking components.

Are the workshops in-person or virtual?

All workshops will be delivered through a virtual platform such as zoom or Microsoft teams. We have decided on delivering this program 100% virtually to facilitate the ease of participation. 

How will this program benefit me?

Participants will benefit from this program by being exposed to new ways of thinking about career strategy; learning new skills to increase visibility; learning how to position oneself as an expert and future leader; learning how to communicate impact effectively; networking opportunities with EMCR’s, CV Champion alumni, and senior researchers of the ACvA community; being assigned a mentor for personalized feedback, being profiled on the ACvA CV Champions website; develop a better understanding of Australian New Zealand landscape of research and ACVA members/ partners; the ability to form new interdisciplinary projects and collaborations between participants and pitch ideas for seed funding; and learn how you can leverage the ACvA community for career success. 

Participant benefits of the program include:

  • exposure to new ways of thinking about career strategy
  • learning new skills to increase visibility
  • learning how to position oneself as an expert and future leader
  • learning how to communicate impact effectively
  • networking opportunities with EMCR’s, CV Champion alumni, and senior researchers of the ACvA community
  • being assigned a mentor for personalized feedback
  • being profiled on the ACvA CV Champions website
  • developing a better understanding of Australian New Zealand landscape of research and ACVA members/ partners
  • the ability to form new interdisciplinary projects and collaborations between participants and pitch ideas
  • learning how you can leverage the ACvA community for career success

Tell me more about the self-directed exercises and homework tasks?

Self-directed exercises and homework tasks may include, but are not limited to:

  • watching videos
  • self-reflection exercises
  • building digital presence
  • meeting with mentors
  • doing informational one-on-one interviews
  • reporting your findings and learnings to peers through private communication channels

Who is this year’s instructor for the program?

Dr Ken Dutton-Regester, cancer researcher and founder of Excite Science and Stemventurist. You can find out more information about him here.

In addition, the program will also feature a variety of junior and senior research leaders, and other professionals relevant to the topics being discussed. 

How was the program designed?

This program has been co-designed by the ACvA Emerging Leaders Committee, the ACvA, and Dr Ken Dutton-Regester of Excite Science. We also had input from cardiovascular EMCR’s and ACvA members through a stakeholder’s workshop held in May 2022.

How much does the program cost?

Successful applicants will be asked to contribute $150 towards the cost of the program; however, if they are unable to make this contribution it will not affect the selection process. For those unable to afford the program, a limited number of scholarships will be available.

Why does the program have a cost associated with it?

Program costs from successful applicants will go towards supplementing the budget for this flagship initiative.

How does the scholarships work?

For those unable to afford the $150 contribution to the program, a limited number of scholarships will be available. For those who have selected this option in the application process, further information may be required. To reiterate, being unable to afford the program will not affect the selection process.