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Getting the most out of the Health Services and Policy Research Conference 2011 – Tips for Early Career Researchers

 The 2011 Conference theme is ‘Opportunities for health services research: to inform, improve, and inspire’, reflecting the potential roles of Health Services Research and its influence on health service policy and practice in Australia and New Zealand. However the conference also has great ‘Opportunities for Early Career Researchers: to learn, meet, and present’!  

Learn

By attending the conference, Early Career Researchers (ECRs) will be able to hear about the latest developments in health services research through an engaging program of plenary and parallel sessions.  To get the most from the sessions you may like to look at the conference program in advance and plan which sessions you would like to attend.  Another way to maximise what you learn is to ask questions – a good question is short but engages the speaker and encourages discussion. 

Specifically for ECRs the program includes a one-hour ‘ERGO Meet the Experts’ session.  This will be a discussion session on Tuesday the 6th of December, with presenters from a range of backgrounds (such as academics, government and commercial environments).  They will discuss their own experiences in health services research and the pathway of their career.  The aim of the session is for ECRs to learn more about the possibilities for a career in health services research, and to come away with some practical ideas for their own career planning.  See the Program for more details of this session.

Meet:

Networking is a major component of conference attendance, but doesn’t come naturally to everyone.  Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone else at the conference – there will be lots of opportunities to meet people, and health services researchers are a friendly bunch!  Your name tag will identify you as an ECR, so if you’re stuck for someone to talk to, why not look out for another ECR – chances are they’re feeling a bit lost too.

The conference social events, such as the Welcome Reception and Conference Dinner, provide an excellent opportunity to catch up with colleagues and meet new people.  Specifically for ECRs, on Monday the 5th of December ERGO will be hosting an ‘ERGO Welcome Dinner’.  This cheap and cheerful event will be an opportunity for ECRs to meet with each other, talk about what they’re doing and socialise.  Further details of this event will be available closer to the time. 

A good way to make useful contacts is to make a note of the author of any interesting presentations or posters you see during the conference.  You can then seek them out during one of the lunch or tea breaks to talk to them more about their research and how it applies to the work you’re doing.  Most people are very happy to talk about their work to someone who is interested.

Attendance at the ‘ERGO Meet the Experts’ session will also be a great way to meet not only other ECRs, but also experts in health services research.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions about their experiences in health services research, the opportunities they see for ECRs, and career planning.

Present:

Finally, talking about your own work at a conference can provide ECRs with valuable feedback about their ideas, approaches and results.  This may be through formal presentations, posters, or informally with other conference delegates. 

If you submit an abstract, don’t forget to let HSRAANZ know that you are an ECR and register for the ERGO Best Poster and Best Presentation prizes.  See here for more details. 

For those doing a poster or a presentation, make sure you read and follow the instructions provided.  There are lots of resources available on the internet to help you design a poster which is engaging to the audience and looks great.  For presenters, the most common mistake is running over time.  Make sure you practice your presentation in front of colleagues to get both the content and timing right. 

If you are not presenting your work, but would like to talk to someone about it, look through the program to find people who are working in a similar field, or using the same methods, as you.  Attend their sessions / posters and then follow them up afterwards to discuss how their work could contribute to yours, or vice versa!

The practicalities

Attending a conference can be expensive.  Some ideas for minimising the expenses include:

• Many workplaces or universities will fund individuals who have had an abstract accepted to a conference. 
• Start thinking early about the work you are doing or have done recently which might fit with the theme of the conference.
• Look into opportunities in your workplace or university for scholarships or other funding opportunities.
• Register early for the conference – there is a discounted ‘early bird’ registration rate available for HSRAANZ until 01 Oct 2011.
• Become a member of HSRAANZ – student membership is only $60 per year, but will save you $200 on your conference registration!  Similar savings also apply for non-students.
• Scholarships may be available to assist people who have had an abstract accepted at the conference but face financial difficulties which may prevent them from attending.
• Cheaper accommodations options may be available near the conference venue and can be found using discount travel sites such as Expedia.com or simple Google searches.
• While lunch is included in the registration fee each day, an accommodation option which allows you to make your own breakfast and dinner will also save you money. 
• The ERGO Welcome Dinner will introduce you to a ‘cheap and cheerful’ place to eat near the conference venue.