Evaluating systems change in the chronic disease prevention system - Top-Up PhD scholarship

About this scholarship

Supervisors: Associate Professor Mark Robinson, Distinguished Professor Steven Allender, Nadia Mastersson, Mishel Shahid

Help shape how we evaluate change in the chronic disease prevention system. Join a national, applied research project with real-world policy and practice impact.

We are offering an exciting PhD opportunity to help tackle the complex problem of evaluating change in the chronic disease prevention system by using system science principles and methods. Hosted by the University of Queensland and co-supervised by The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, this project will develop innovative, fit-for-purpose evaluation approaches to track whether collective efforts are meaningfully shifting the chronic disease prevention system.

As a PhD candidate, you will be embedded in The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (Prevention Centre) – a national collaboration that brings together researchers, policy makers and practitioners to improve the systems that drive health. You’ll also receive supervision from Deakin University’s Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), an international leader in applying systems science to public health.

Project Overview

The project is an opportunity to use systems science principles and methods to lead the development of an evaluation approach within the Prevention Centre. By evaluating the Prevention Centre’s impact on the chronic disease prevention system, the project will demonstrate the effectiveness of the Centre's work in achieving its mission. It will also provide a model for other prevention agencies to evaluate and enhance their contributions to systems change for chronic disease prevention. The research is expected to:

• Establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating system shifts within the chronic disease prevention system, ensuring alignment with the Prevention Centre’s existing theory of change and other relevant frameworks for systems evaluation.
• Identify and provide evidence of meaningful shifts in chronic disease prevention system function, structure, and relationships, aligned with the work of the Prevention Centre.
• Use, develop or adapt methods to collect, analyse and interpret this evidence to evaluate the impact of the Prevention Centre on the chronic disease prevention system.
• Contribute evidence to inform and guide sustainable evaluation and measurement of systems change in chronic disease prevention action in Australia and internationally.

The successful candidate will benefit from the combined expertise of three leading institutions. The University of Queensland will host the candidate through the Institute for Social Science Research, which specialises in applied, policy-relevant research and evaluation aimed at addressing complex social challenges. The Prevention Centre, as industry supervisor, will provide access to a national network of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to improve chronic disease prevention through systems approaches. Deakin University will provide supervisory support from Professor Steven Allender, in the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE).

Location

This opportunity is open to prospective students based anywhere in Australia. The supervisory and advisory teams are located in different states, and candidates may have the option to work remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or alongside team members at partner institutions, depending on preference and location.

Scholarship value

The successful applicant will be eligible for a total tax-free remuneration package of $50,000 per annum (2025 rate) for up to 3.5 years. This will be made up of:

• A base living stipend scholarship of $36,400 per annum tax-free (2025 rate), for which the student must independently applyand be selected through a competitive process through the University of Queensland’s Graduate School.
• An industry-funded top-up that will bring the total annual support to $50,000 per annum (2025 rate), once the base stipend has been awarded.

In addition to the stipend, the candidate will have access to the following supports:

• Funding to attend one state or national conference during the PhD to present their research.
• Time and resources to undertake relevant training in systems science or evaluation, in consultation with the advisory team.

How to apply

To be considered for this scholarship, please email the following documents to Associate Professor Mark Robinson (mark.robinson@uq.edu.au):

• Cover letter
• CV
• Academic transcript/s

Please note the following: Submitting the above documents does not constitute a full application for admission into The University of Queensland's PhD program. If you are selected as the preferred applicant, you will then be invited to submit a full application for admission. You can familiarise yourself with the documents required for this process on the UQ Study website.

Rules

A domestic part-time student with carer’s responsibilities, a medical condition or a disability, which prevents them from studying full time may be eligible for scholarship consideration, on a case by case basis.

UQ Research Scholarships terms and conditions