Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

TitleLife Course Centre Scholarship Tackling Childhood Disadvantage
CourseDoctor of Philosophy
Description

A PhD scholarship and top-up scholarship to investigate drivers of childhood disadvantage is available through UWA and the Life Course Centre (LCC). The LCC is a national centre funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence Scheme. Hosted through the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia is one of the collaborating Universities that comprise the centre. 

The Life Course Centre aims to produce and empower precision methods and adaptive social interventions to optimise support for disadvantaged children and families, helping them to achieve their full potential. The successful HDR candidate will also be a student member of the Life Course Centre, which qualifies them to apply for travel grants and attend professional development courses.

The WA Node of the Life Course Centre is based at The Kids Research Institute Australia and is examining a range of issues relating to the development of children and adolescents facing deep disadvantage.  The successful candidate will work with Professor Hayley Christian and other experienced academics to investigate childhood drivers of disadvantage and look for innovative solutions to help all Australian children grow to their full potential.

Potential PhD topics include:

- reducing childhood inequities in social and emotional wellbeing

- how schools can deflect students from developmental trajectories of disadvantage

- how the built environment impacts child health inequities

- place-based interventions to assist families facing disadvantage

Keywordsdisadvantage
built environment
intervention
children
family
physical activity
health and the built environment
health promotion
CategoriesUWA Centre for Child Health Research
Health Sciences
Opportunity statusOpen
Open date23 Jun 2025
Close date30 Jan 2026
Research areaHealth Sciences
Eligibility

Minimum 2A Honours Degree

Citizenship statusDomestic
Enrolment statusFuture student
Specific requirement

A background in public health studies is an advantage.

Students intending to undertake a dissertation or thesis as part of a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) course at The University of Western Australia, are required to have acquired adequate research preparation, prior to being admitted into a course.
The University's
Adequate Research Preparation Policy
(UP11/25) details this requirement.
The policy broadly states:
An applicant is normally considered to have fulfilled the requirements for admission to a HDR course if they can demonstrate that they have undertaken supervised individual research in which they have designed and conducted a scholarly investigation in the context of an existing body of knowledge.
In exceptional circumstances, consideration may be given to applicants whose qualifications do not meet the definitions of adequate research preparation outlined in the policy (clause 4.1), where the school/supervisor believes that the applicant is likely to succeed in the course. In these circumstances, admission may be granted to a Masters Degree by Research in the first instance.

How to apply

Applications can be lodged at any time directly to the listed contact.

Selection criteria

Student applications will be considered on the basis of:

1. A one-page proposal of the research topic for your thesis, clearly addressing the selection criteria 2 through to 5 below

2. Academic merit (Weighted Average Mark) from previous study program

3. Topic alignment with the Life Course Centre interests and goals

4. Topic match with the proposed Life Course Centre supervisor/advisor's research interests

5. Contribution to a potential research career

Completed scholarship application should include:

A cover letter

A one-page proposal of research topic for thesis, clearly addressing selection criteria 2 to 5 above

The application should include the name of the eligible LCC supervisor/advisor

A current resume

Academic Record (available from the Student Portal)

Contact

Life Course Centre contact person E: kate.erceg@thekids.org.au

Scholarship details
Scholarship typeStipend scholarship
Scholarship valueAUD $$37,000 per annum (3.5 years)
Scholarship details
Scholarship typeStipend top up scholarship
Scholarship valueAUD $$10,000
Availability

This scholarship is available to students interested in studying a PhD at UWA.

SchoolSchool of Population and Global Health
Course typeDoctorates