The goal of the WHRN 2025 Abstract Mentor Program is for mentees to receive support in developing their abstract.
Mentoring is available to rurally based Emerging or Early Career Researchers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, community groups, and people with lived/living experience.
Students are not eligible for the abstract mentor program as it is expected that they will receive mentoring from their supervisors.
The volunteers who serve as a mentor in this process will pay attention to:
- Grammar and spelling
- Structure
- General content (e.g., Does the project address a significant or important issue? Does the abstract highlight links to conference themes? Would any further information improve the abstract?)
The mentor program is completely independent of the abstract review and selection process.
Mentored abstracts will not automatically be accepted but it is hoped that the opportunity will provide support and learning opportunities to mentees and may increase the chance of their abstract being accepted as an oral or poster presentation at the Symposium. Likewise, mentors’ abstracts will not be automatically accepted. All abstract submissions will undergo a blind review process.
Summary of important dates
Tuesday 15 July: How to Write an Abstract Workshop. (2 – 3 pm) This 30 min session is being hosted by the WHRN team. Watch On Demand
Mon 11 August: Abstract submissions close for General, Emerging, Open & Student categories (this deadline will not be extended)
Fri 12 September: Speaker and Presentation offers
For more details, please check the relevant Abstract Mentor Program information below.
Abstract Mentor Program – Next Steps?
- Please email to admin@whrn.org.au to get involved. This offer remains open until Monday July 28th at 5pm.
- Attend the writing abstract workshop link provided above. The link to the recording will be posted on our website after the workshop.
- Write a draft of your abstract according to your category’s guidelines
- Send your initial draft to admin@whrn.org.au with some times that you would be available to discuss the abstract
- A mentor will contact you to arrange a meeting
General Rules
- One abstract may be submitted (as a word document) for review and re-submitted after revision based on mentor feedback
- Mentors will help abstract mentees answer questions around formal requirements for abstracts, research methods and analysis, as well as how to select appropriate themes and categories
- Mentors will not make any edits/changes in submitted abstracts. Review comments will be provided on the word document.
- Mentors cannot indicate if they think the abstract is likely to be selected or not
