Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nursing Scholarship
Background
Scholarship code: SRS-25035
This inaugural Industry PhD scholarship with the Department of Health and La Trobe University will be awarded to an outstanding Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse applicant, with a strong interest in health system evaluation and improving MCH practice and policy.
This is an exciting opportunity for the applicant to work with the Department and MCH nurse clinician academics at La Trobe University, to explore agreed research topic.
There is no fixed project: rather there is scope for the successful candidate to develop a project that aligns with their interests, focus and expertise and to contribute broadly to the goals of improving Victorian MCH service delivery. For example, project ideas may include:
- Models of Relational and Continuity of Care in MCH
- Contemporary review of workforce training needs
- Disability and inclusion in the Victorian MCH service
To ensure a sound understanding of the research context, the ideal applicant will be a practicing MCH nurse with extensive clinical practice and leadership experience in the Victorian MCH service.
As part of this Industry PhD, the successful candidate will be supported by the Child, Family and Community Health research stream at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University.
Benefits of the scholarship
- a stipend scholarship funded by La Trobe University and the Victorian Department of Health for three and a half years, with a value of $35,000 per annum (2025 rate), to support your living costs
- a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years
- project funds and expenses covered by La Trobe University, including desk, laptop, phone and up to $5,000 over the candidature for project costs, such as travel, transcription, dissemination and open access publication
- Opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development program
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.
- be an Australian and New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident
- applicant must have a Degree in Nursing, and a Degree or Diploma in Midwifery, and a Post-graduate Diploma or Degree in Child, Family and Community Health Nursing
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
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this scholarship, follow Step 3 and 4 to submit your full application for scholarship and candidature.
Select the 'Graduate Research - Specialist Research Scholarship' scholarship option when prompted in the application portal, and use the scholarship code SRS-25035.
Please note: As part of your application you are not required to identify a potential supervisor – Professor Leesa Hooker is the designated supervisor for this project.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview.
The University will carefully review your application and consider you for this scholarship. The successful candidate will be made an offer for candidature and scholarship. Outcomes are expected April-May 2026, with a start date for July 2026.
Who to contact for further information
Professor Leesa Hooker, l.hooker@latrobe.edu.au