Childhood, radicalisation and violent extremism in Australia

UNE is offering two PhD scholarships for Australian or NZ Honours/Masters graduates to investigate aspects of young children’s (early years through pre-teens) vulnerabilities to early forms of radicalization and violent extremism in the Australian context. This project will be undertaken with a multi-disciplinary team with backgrounds in sociology of education, early childhood education, criminology, biological and neurosciences.

The scholarship is tenable for three years and six months (3.5 years) full-time for a doctoral degree. The duration of the scholarship cannot be extended.

Two

Successful applicants will work with the team to research one or more issues such as:

• Sociocultural, psychosocial, bioecological and/or biosocial factors associated with child vulnerabilities to radical extremist ideologies.
• Young children’s exposure/responses to radical and violent extremist social influences, networks and/or online content.
• Geographical, demographic and other variables associated with prevalence of young children’s interest or involvement in violent extremist or terror-related activities in the Australian context.
• The role of educational contexts in providing meaningful and effective preventative strategies and interventions that address child vulnerabilities.
• Neurodiversity, social isolation/belonging, inclusion/marginalisation, and vulnerability to radical/violent extremist social influences:
• Challenges and opportunities for professions such as education, mental health and wellbeing, child protection and police in engaging with young children vulnerable to radicalisation and violent extremism.

This scholarship will be funded under the RTP Domestic Scholarship agreement at the stipend rate $36,862.00 per annum (2025 rate) tax free, paid in fortnightly instalments.