Key facts
About this scholarship
Benefits:
The University of New England is offering one Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD scholarship in 2025 to explore the mental health needs of Regional Australians. In collaboration with the Manna Institute, a regional mental health virtual institute. A three year and six month (3.5years) PhD Scholarship will be awarded to a successful candidate to join the Manna Institute in engaging in research projects under the following thematic areas of importance to regional mental health.
Number offered:
1
About the project:
Candidates must develop a project that aligns with one of four Manna Institute Research Collaboratives, described below.
Research collaborative 1 – Existing and Emerging Mental Health Workforce. Projects in this collaborative will focus on ways to support current workforce needs in regional Australia to strengthen future awareness of how to attract and retain workers. At the core of this research collaborative is inclusivity, through collaboration with both the professional and peer workforces across community health, allied health and policy and service delivery staff.
Research collaborative 2 - Individuals’ Health and Wellbeing. Projects in this collaborative will focus on the psycho-social-behavioural factors that impact individual health and well-being in regional and rural Australia across their lifespan.
Research collaborative 3 – Priority Populations. Projects in this collaborative will focus on population groups across the lifespan and encompass the expertise and interest areas of current and future Manna Institute researchers, industry and community partners, and high-risk priority groups in regional, rural, and remote Australia. This may include projects which focus on early childhood, school-aged children, parental/perinatal mental health, mid-aged men and women, older adult mental health, and diverse populations including indigenous groups, CALD, LGBTQI+ and those at high risk of mental ill-health.
Research collaborative 4 - The Impact of Changing Environmental Conditions on Mental Health. The natural world has an enormous impact on mental health and well-being. Opportunities to interact with nature can reduce mental illness and facilitate optimum mental well-being. Projects in this collaborative will focus those that consider direct and indirect impacts of the changing climate on rural, regional and remote communities.
How will the scholarship be paid?
Annual stipend of $43,564 per annum will be paid via fortnightly Instalments
Scholarship Special Conditions:
Domestic students, as well as those with experience of working or living in regional communities are also encouraged to apply, as are applicants with lived experience of mental health.
Selection will also depend on the applicant’s ability to meet the following desired criteria:
- Enroll full-time however candidates can be on campus or remote from the campus.
- Able and willing to work in a research team environment.
- Integrate and contribute to the research team.
- Work or research experience in regional, remote, and rural locations in Australia
Applicants must meet UNE’s admission requirements for a PhD program. Further information regarding entry requirements can be found on our web page.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following core and scholarship specific eligibility requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. When applying you must provide a certified Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity (COA) under the common seal of a community organisation or statutory declaration please refer to the Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy |
| New or Continuing | New or Continuing |
| Study Mode | Online or On Campus |
| Study Load | Full Time or Part Time |
| Course type | Doctoral Degree |
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | Yes |
| Degree/School/Discipline | Medicine and Health |
- Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. When applying you must provide a certified Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity (COA) under the common seal of a community organisation or statutory declaration please refer to the Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy
- Significant research experience undertaken in a community or professional capacity.
- Must not be receiving another source of income that is greater than 75 per cent of that student’s RTP Stipend rate from another source that is to support that student’s general living costs while undertaking their course of study. Income unrelated to the student’s course of study or income received for the student’s course of study but not for the purposes of supporting general living costs is not to be considered.
- Must not be receiving an equivalent award or scholarship from the Commonwealth designed to offset HDR tuition fees.
- Must be accepted into an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian HEP.
Before you apply
Before you apply for this scholarship, please ensure you have read and understood the below important information:
Important documentation
Applicants are not required to provide a full research proposal but must provide a letter of intent, including an outline of the proposed project and the research collaborative (as above) their proposed project is aligned with, and a current CV/Resume with their application.
Submit an application
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must complete and submit a candidature application, and all required supporting documentation. For more information on submitting a candidature application please see our web page on how to apply/enrol for candidature.
For further information (including supervision advice) please contact Manna Institute Director Professor Myfanwy Maple mmaple2@une.edu.au or Dr Sarah Wayland swaylan2@une.edu.au
