Creating Safer Sport Communities PhD Scholarship
Background
Expressions of interest
La Trobe Rural Health School and the Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group are seeking a PhD candidate for a fully funded doctoral project scholarship.
The successful candidate will be based within the La Trobe Rural Health School under the primary supervision of Associate Professor Kirsty Forsdike. Potential co-supervisors will be discussed and agreed upon with the successful candidate. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, the supervisory panel will include Prof Julie Andrews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be supported by the Gabra Biik Wurruwila Wutja Indigenous Research Centre and will have the opportunity to be a member of the Centre.
The successful PhD candidate will conduct research that complements and informs the work of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project “Creating Safer Sport Communities from Rural to Urban Australia” (Safer Sport Project). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants can discuss and develop their topic or research question with Professor Andrews and A/Prof Forsdike.
The Safer Sport project aims to examine and address gender-based violence across Australian sports communities. The project expects to develop an in-depth understanding of the gendered nature of violence in this context and how communities can address such violence. Using an interdisciplinary approach, mixed methods and collaborative co-design, the project’s expected outcomes include a new evidence base, enhanced international interdisciplinary collaborations, and practice guides to improve the capacity and response of sport communities across Australia to address gender-based violence.
Supervision and Research Focus
There is some flexibility as to the precise focus of the PhD thesis, and the supervisory team will work with the successful candidate to finalise the focus.
Possible research topics could include but are not limited to:
- rural and regional experiences of GBV across sport
- priority populations’ experiences of GBV in sport, including First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disabilities, or LGBTQI+ communities (as well as taking an intersectional approach to experience)
- place based interventions to address GBV in sport
Candidates are encouraged to propose their own project within these or related themes, identifying gaps in academic literature and defining their research scope.
Community-engaged and participatory research approaches are particularly welcome, and the successful candidate will be supported with access to local networks, data, and industry expertise.
Benefits of the scholarship
- a stipend scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $34,000 per annum to support your living costs
- a fee relief scholarship for up to four years
- $5,000 across the lifetime of the scholarship for research expenses, which can include conference attendance
We would especially welcome applications from First Nations Australian applicants for this project. Qualifying applicants will be considered for a Dennis McDermott Research Scholarship which has a stipend top-up valued at $10,000 per annum and additional research support.
Are you eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
- meet the entrance requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy
- not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose
In selecting successful applicants, we prioritise applications from candidates who:
- 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
Successful applicants must be able to commence their studies by 2026. Flexible start dates may be considered.
Selection will be based on
- academic merit and/or research experience,
- quality of the research proposal, and
- demonstrated expertise of relevance to the project
How to apply
To express your interest in this project and scholarship, please follow the steps outlined below:
In the first instance, applicants should confirm their eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy.
Once eligibility has been confirmed, contact Associate Professor Kirsty Forsdike via email to safersport@latrobe.edu.au with the following details:
- name and contact information
- evidence of eligibility for entry into the Doctor of Philosophy
- a CV that contains relevant academic qualifications and experience (up to 4 pages)
- an Expression of Interest Letter (max 300 words) explaining the applicant’s interest in joining the Safer Sport project
- a Research Proposal (max 1,000 words) outlining the research objectives, methodology, and potential contribution to knowledge
The applicant may be asked to attend an interview.
The applicant will need to hold, or be willing to obtain, a working with children's check.
The preferred applicant will be asked to submit a full application for candidature and scholarship for assessment.
Who to contact for further information
Associate Professor Kirsty Forsdike, safersport@latrobe.edu.au