Still hiding at home? (I know I am). Alternative: A relaxed, low-pressure public speaking practice session for HDR students who want to build confidence, clarify their message, and get more comfortable speaking in front of others.
If you’re an HDR (higher degree research) student, chances are public speaking of different types has already started creeping into your life – progress updates, colloquia, conference presentations, teaching, supervision meetings, or simply explaining your research (again) to someone outside your field.
For many people, it’s during their PhD that public speaking starts to feel more manageable. That combination of growing expertise, repeated exposure, and the gentle pressure of academia does its work over time. In my own PhD, it was also paired with clinical training, so lots of small-group discussion, teaching each other, and learning how to explain complex ideas clearly and humanly.
But confidence doesn’t only come from high-stakes presentations.
Sometimes it comes from low-pressure spaces where you can just have a go.
That’s why sessions like HDR Connect’s casual public speaking practice coming up on the 4th Feb are worth considering (NOTE: HDR students should have got an email about this with the full details).
There’s no expectation of polish, no requirement to be “good at it”, and no penalty for stuffing it up. Everyone there knows exactly why they’re in the room: to practise, experiment, and get more comfortable being heard.
The current session invites participants to speak for a few minutes on “that thing people always misunderstand about you” – a topic that’s relatable, reflective, and surprisingly useful practice for academic life. There’s time built in to prepare on the day, and you’re also welcome to bring along something you’ve already been working on.
If public speaking is something you know will be part of your future (even if you don’t love it yet) these kinds of gentle practice opportunities are gold. They help build confidence without the stress, and they remind you that everyone else is learning too.
And if you’re not an HDR student but this sounds like something you’d benefit from, feel free to reach out to the Flinders University Toastmasters Club – there may be other options available for those not doing higher degree research.
Sometimes the best way to get better at speaking is simply to show up, have a crack, and see how it goes.
