Loddon Mallee COVID Health Worker Study Research Scholarship
Background
The Rural Health School at La Trobe University (Bendigo) in partnership with Bendigo Health invites expressions of interest for a PhD scholarship covering all fees and a tax-free stipend (up to $28,597 per annum for 3.5 years for outstanding students). The PhD research opportunity will commence in early 2021 and aims to explore the health and wellbeing impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak among rural\regional healthcare workers. In particular, the research aims to identify protective\resilience factors, at the individual, organisation and community level, that predict better physical and mental health outcomes for health workers so that evidence-based resilience interventions may be implemented to improve the future workforce response to major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. This research will make recommendations on how to best support our rural and regional healthcare workforce in responding to major disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic now and into the future.
The project would suit someone with a strong quantitative background (e.g. epidemiology, public health, psychology, biostatistics), and with an interest in applying these skills to provide a detailed understanding of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on rural & regional healthcare workers. Applicants must have an excellent academic track record in their honours degree or masters by research degree in a relevant quantitative field (e.g. epidemiology, public health, psychology, biostatistics).
This is an excellent opportunity for a student to work on one of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive rural/regional COVID studies and gain valuable skills in designing and running a large longitudinal research study. The study will make an important contribution to the understanding of the effects of the pandemic on the health & well-being of healthcare workers - information that is of international significance.
Please note: this scholarship is open to Australian and New Zealand Citizens and Australian permanent residents only. The successful applicant will be required to commence in early 2021.
Benefits of the scholarship include:
- a La Trobe Research Scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $28,597.00 per annum, to support your living costs (2021 rate)
- a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years
- Relocation allowance and publication/thesis allowance
- opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs.
Are you eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
- meet the entrance requirements for the proposed course
- not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose
- be an Australian and New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident
- will be enrolled full-time and undertaking their research at a La Trobe University campus
- have completed a Masters by Research or other significant body of research, such as an honours research thesis or lead authorship of a peer-reviewed publication, assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this scholarship, follow these steps:
- review details on how to apply for candidature
- contact the project supervisor, Associate Professor Mark McEvoy at m.mcevoy@latrobe.edu.au with any enquiries or to express an interest in the project.
- when you have received in-principle agreement for supervision, complete and submit your application by 18 December 2020 (for domestic applicants) for admission into La Trobe’s PhD program, indicating you wish to be considered for this scholarship on the application.
- research proposal is not required
- applicants will be required to attend an interview
Who to contact for further information
Associate Professor Mark McEvoy, m.mcevoy@latrobe.edu.au