Program Overview

Introduction to the ARCCIM International Naturopathy Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program

The ARCCIM International Naturopathy Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program is designed to provide essential mentoring, career development, and research capacity building for international naturopathy. The program is made possible through generous financial support from the Jacka Foundation of Natural Therapies, Australia.

Program Overview

The program is based on two established and successful leadership programs in primary health care and complementary medicine. Distinguished Professor Jon Adams, Director of ARCCIM, has been a Senior Fellow on the Oxford International Primary Health Care Research Leadership Program since 2010. Drawing on his experience, Professor Adams established the world-first International Complementary Medicine Research Leadership and Capacity Building Program in 2014, which has already produced over 30 peer-reviewed publications in the first 12 months.

Program Goals

The ultimate goal of the program is to identify, nurture, and support future naturopathy leaders and help develop a sustainable research culture that can contribute to the evidence needed by patients, practitioners, and policymakers. The program aims to enable early-career and mid-career researchers to collaborate, reflect, and strategize in the context of their own careers and the broader field of naturopathy research.

Program Details

Who is Running the Program?

The program is a core initiative of the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), in the Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia. ARCCIM is the leading research-intensive centre in the critical examination of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) in Australia, bringing together world-renowned, multidisciplinary researchers and methodologists working in close partnership with practitioners and other stakeholders.

Program Activities and Features

The ARCCIM Leadership program will run over several years and initially include a cohort of 10 early to mid-career naturopathy researchers. Those chosen for the program through competitive application will be known as the 'Fellows' of the program. The Fellows will attract Honorary Appointment as Visiting Research Scholars/Fellows with ARCCIM over the period of the program. Fellows will be required to make a 4-day visit to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) per annum. The program will cover accommodation (4 nights) while attending the residential, up to AUD$2,000 reimbursement for direct economy flights, and an invited program dinner while in Sydney.

Program Structure

During each annual 4-day visit, Fellows will be joined by guest speakers and senior academics from ARCCIM and engage in sessions on specific topics, such as:

• Research skills training
• Networking
• The art of getting published and cited
• Writing a successful grant application for external competitive funding
• Other research development and career advancement issues

Expectations and Outcomes

Each Fellow will be expected to co-author and submit a minimum of 1 peer-reviewed journal article with at least one other program Fellow and/or associated program academic per annum. Active research collaboration across the cohort and ARCCIM academics will be facilitated and strongly encouraged.

Eligibility and Recruitment

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Have been awarded their Masters or PhD
• Be within no more than 10 years of last qualification (Masters or PhD) award at the date of application deadline
• Hold a position at a research institution/university or equivalent research-appropriate organisation
• Candidates with equivalent experience and skills may also be considered at the discretion of the selection panel

Application Requirements

Candidates must:

1. Show an emerging track record in naturopathy-focused scholarship and research output
2. Demonstrate the potential and commitment to further develop and make a substantial contribution to the national and international field of critical naturopathy research

• Complete the official application template and accompanying documentation as outlined

Selection Process

All applications will be peer-reviewed by a selection panel of senior ARCCIM academics, and any decision of the panel will be final. The selection panel will also consider the geographical mix/spread of candidates in their deliberations.