PHERT Post-Graduate Research Scholarship 2007

The Public Health Education and Research Trust (PHERT), the Public Health Association of Australia's (PHAA's) Trust, is calling for applications for the 2007 Annual Post-Masters Research Scholarship of $8,000. This scholarship is competitive and is only available to financial PHAA members.

Background

The Public Health Education and Research Trust (PHERT), the Public Health Association of Australia's (PHAA's) Trust, supports an annual post Masters research scholarship of $8,000. This scholarship is only possible because of donations made to the Trust. The Trustees gratefully acknowledge all donations.

This scholarship is competitive and is only available to PHAA members. It was awarded for the first time at the 2005 PHAA Annual Conference Dinner in Perth.

Purpose

The purpose of the award is to provide funding to a post Masters student to undertake research on one of a number of pre-determined public health and health service delivery topics set by the Trustees each year.

Administration

This scholarship is made available at the Trustees discretion, depending on available funds. The Trustees administer and assess all applications. The decision of the Trustees in is final, but where possible the Trustees will provide feedback to interested applicants.

The PHAA will provide the successful applicant with access to the appropriate SIG Convenors, the editors of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the Vice President (Policy), the Executive Director, and other members as is appropriate. The successful applicant will also have access to the PHAA library.

Applications

A call for applications will be placed on the PHAA website and will be sent to all members via the PHAA email list.
Applicants must:

• be and remain a financial member of the PHAA for the term of the assessment of applications and the scholarship;
• have successfully completed a Masters in an area relevant to public health (including but not restricted to Public Health and Health Administration)
• be able to undertake the research project and the work outlined below within the following 12 months.

Applicants must provide the following criteria information in their application:

• designation of area of research;
• synopsis (maximum of 2,000 words) of area of research including, importance of research topic, methodology and practical implications of research;
• referees;
• evidence of ethical clearance;
• curriculum vitae including academic transcripts;
• budget indicating application of funds;
• any other support that the applicant may have to undertake the total project.

The current broad areas under which research applications must sit and are assessed are:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health;
• Obesity, nutrition and physical activity;
• Child health;
• Mental health;
• Climate change;
• Public Health Workforce; and
• Equity in health service delivery.

Applicants will need to specify their specific area of research within one of these broad areas.

Criteria for assessment:

The Trustees will assess all applications against the following criteria:

• appropriateness of specific topic to PHAA's objectives and current priorities;
• appropriateness of methodology;
• ethical clearance from the appropriate body;
• value for money; and
• capacity to complete the project successfully.

Where it is thought necessary, the Trustees will consult the SIG Conveners, or other groups in the PHAA.

Deliverables

At the completion of their research the successful applicant will be required to:

• provide a researched background paper of no more than 20 pages on their chosen topic;
• provide a draft policy paper for the consideration of the PHAA membership, in consultation with the appropriate Special Interest Groups (SIGs), the Vice President (Policy) and State and Territory Branches;
• present their paper and policy at the PHAA Annual Conference*; and
• provide a paper of sufficient quality to the editors of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on the researched area.

* The successful applicant must submit an abstract for their paper to the PHAA Secretariat in accordance with the PHAA Annual Conference Call for Papers deadline. Cost incurred for this presentation can come from the scholarship funds, but are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

All applications must be provided in electronic form (Word document format) complete with the scholarship application form available below.

PHERT Post-Graduate Research Scholarship 2007 Application Form (PDF)

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Applications for the scholarship close 15th March 2007

All enquires and applications to plaut@phaa.net.au