Australian Carpentries Network

Supporting institutions and trainers to build digital research skills
A group of people gathering around a computer in an office
Who will benefit
Digital research skills trainers, organisations hosting training, and researchers seeking high-value training in utilising digital research infrastructure

The Challenge

While trainers play a crucial role in uplifting digital skills in the research community, support for them is often unreliable and insecure. To solidify this support and help create deep and broad skills programs, organisations must understand the specific and measurable benefits their training brings.

The Response

The Australian Carpentries Network brings together individuals and organisations who teach The CarpentriesInstructor Training, a globally recognised train-the-trainer program. Facilitating access to the program has been part of the ARDC’s larger effort to uplift digital research skills for Australian researchers

The ARDC has taken out a Carpentries membership on behalf of training organisations across the country. This cuts red tape for organisations in providing access to trainer certification.

The ARDC is also offering a limited number of Instructor Training scholarships for the Australian research community. Learn more and express your interest.

The Carpentries offers not only top-quality material but a top-quality experience. It is so easy to get involved! And for the same reason, in my opinion, there is so much willingness to improve it, every day. I believe this is their differentiating factor: they will welcome you, regardless of how (or if) you want to contribute.

Dr Valentina Hurtado-McCormick, certified Carpentries Instructor and community member

Who Will Benefit

With the Australian Carpentries Network, trainers are better connected to peers across Australia. For institutions, it will be easier and more cost-effective to provide access to trainer certification. They will also have a more solid understanding of the importance of competent trainers.

A flourishing national eResearch and infrastructure trainer community will in turn benefit Australian researchers. Smart collaborative strategies to provide training virtually and on a greater scale will give more Australian researchers the support they need to use and benefit from digital research and data infrastructure. A long-term survey has shown that researchers who have taken a Carpentries workshop became more productive. They have also used skills learned at the workshop to advance their career. Read the full analysis of the survey.

The Partners

In 2022, the ARDC took out a Platinum Carpentries membership. Through the membership, 13 organisations joined the ARDC Carpentries Partnership, and 104 trainers enrolled in The Carpentries’ Instructor Training program. 

Our partners include 2 major training service providers (QCIF and Intersect), NCRIS infrastructure (AARNET), significant HPC centres (Pawsey and NCI) and universities from across Australia. We have recently welcomed CSIRO into the fold, and had success bringing in smaller research institutes such as AIMS, Burnet and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

Target Outcomes

For organisations hosting training

  • Scalable skills delivery to the researchers who need it
  • Strengthened regional relationships across Australia and New Zealand
  • Access national program of workshops taught by certified instructors

For trainers and researchers

  • Instructors certified in internationally recognised Carpentries pedagogy
  • Refresh of active Carpentries Instructors participating in a vibrant local community
  • Shared language of trainer efficacy across the trainer community
  • Access to international collaborative open-science networks

Watch the recording of the Australia and New Zealand Spotlight Event in the Carpentries 25th Anniversary Celebration Series, where the ARDC’s work to coordinate uptake of The Carpentries across Australia is highlighted:

Key Resources

Interested in becoming Carpentries Instructor?

We have a limited number of Instructor Training scholarships for the Australian research community available through an expression of interest. Once the places are filled, organisations may purchase additional Instructor Training seats at the discounted member rate. To learn more, contact the ARDC.

For interested participants, view the Instructor Training Workshops calendar and curriculum.

Would you or your organisation like to join the Australian Carpentries Network?

Please contact the ARDC via the form below.

Interested in The Carpentries?

Learn more about The Carpentries. Read a tipsheet for those getting started in The Carpentries community.

Contact the ARDC

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