Enterprise PhD Scholarship: Making Headgear a Habit: Promoting Protective Headwear for Children in Contact Sports

We are seeking an outstanding PhD candidate for a Flinders PhD Enterprise Scholarship.

This is an exciting project in partnership between Flinders University and SWAARM GLOBAL PTY LTD (Isoblox). The project will be based in Adelaide, South Australia and will have an industry-based component with SWAARM GLOBAL PTY LTD.

This PhD explores strategies to promote children’s use of protective headgear in collision sports. Using mixed methods—surveys, interviews, and workshops—it will examine attitudes, knowledge, and technology adoption among stakeholders to develop interventions encouraging long-term headgear use, reducing concussion risk in youth Australian football and rugby.

The student will be supervised by Professor Murray Drummond and Associate Professor Sam Elliott within the SHAPE Research group.

The 4-year scholarship includes:

• A stipend valued at $172,405 tax free
  • Year 1 - 2025: $40,000
  • Year 2 - 2026: $42,000
  • Year 3 - 2027: $44,100
  • Year 4 - 2028: $46,305
• A Research Training Program Fee Offset Scholarship to cover tuition fees for Australian Citizens, NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents.

Ideally, we are seeking a candidate with a background in psychology and/or mental health and wellbeing. However, demonstration of an understanding of social and /or health psychology within sporting contexts will also be considered. Knowledge of concussion and preventative measures would also be looked upon favourably.

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 in semester 1 2026 or earlier.

ADMISSION to HDR

Those who apply for the scholarship opportunity that have not already applied for admission to a relevant HDR must also apply.  Instructions on how to apply for admission can be found here: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/apply/apply-research-degree/how-to-apply

By lodging this separate application, applicants acknowledge:

• The ‘Supervisor confirmation’ must refer to the application for this scholarship
• The application for PhD admission will only be assessed where:
  • The applicant is successful in being awarded the scholarship