DVCR Strategic PhD Scholarship - End-of-Life Essentials for Acute Hospitals
Overview
Title
DVCR Strategic PhD Scholarship - End-of-Life Essentials for Acute Hospitals
College
College of Health and Enablement
Opening date
12-08-2026
Closing date
16-09-2026
Scholarship value
$36,061.00
Scholarship duration
3.5 years
Payment term
fortnightly
Level of Study
Higher Degrees Research
Description
End-of-Life Essentials for Acute Hospitals is a national workforce development initiative that supports healthcare professionals working in acute care settings to deliver high-quality end-of-life care. Through evidence-based online education, the program aims to strengthen clinician capability and improve the quality, safety and consistency of care for patients and families in Australian hospitals.
This PhD project will investigate the impact of end-of-life care education on clinical practice in acute hospital environments. The successful candidate will explore how healthcare professionals engage with online learning and the extent to which education influences knowledge, confidence, behaviours and practice change. The research will identify factors that influence the translation of learning into practice and generate evidence to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of future workforce development initiatives.
This scholarship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant program that aims to improve end-of-life care outcomes for patients, families and healthcare services across Australia.
Benefits
The scholarship includes:
- a stipend valued at $36,061* per annum (2026 rate) tax free
- The scholarship will be awarded for 3.5 years
- a Research Training Program Fee Offset Scholarship to cover tuition fees for Australian Citizens, NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents.
- The successful applicant will undertake a mandatory 60-day industry internship with a research end-user organisation, providing valuable opportunities to develop professional networks, gain experience beyond academia, and contribute to the translation of research into practice and policy.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the award of this scholarship, a student must: -
- Be an Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or have been granted permanent resident status; and
- meet PhD admission requirements including: have an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), including a research component of at least 6 months’ full-time study achieving Distinction (75%) OR including evidence of equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author refereed publication or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant; and
- be available to commence as a full-time PhD student at Flinders University
Application information
Before applying for the scholarship, prospective applicants are advised to contact the Project Lead, Dr Caroline Phelan, via email (Caroline.Phelan@flinders.edu.au) to discuss their interest and eligibility for the opportunity. The Project Lead may invite you to apply and request a copy of your CV together with a covering letter outlining your relevant qualifications, experience, research experience, and reasons for applying for the scholarship.
Scholarship applications are to be submitted via email to: Vanessa.Heading@flinders.edu.au
The successful candidate will ideally begin as soon as possible, subject to negotiation (and not later than February 2027).
ADMISSION TO A HIGHER DEGREE BY RESEARCH (HDR)
Applicants who have not already applied for admission to a relevant Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program must submit a separate application for admission. Instructions for applying can be found on the Flinders University website: Apply for a Research Degree
By submitting a separate HDR admission application, applicants acknowledge that:
- The Supervisor Confirmation must specifically refer to this scholarship application.
- The HDR admission application will only be assessed if the applicant is successful in being awarded the scholarship.
Please note that HDR admission applications submitted in connection with this scholarship opportunity will not be assessed unless a scholarship is awarded. Applications that are unsuccessful in the scholarship process will be withdrawn.
