Healthy Development Adelaide and Department of Human Services PhD Excellence Award

The HDA and DHS PhD Excellence Award are $7,500 per annum for up to 3 years only to augment an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship or equivalent competitive scholarship and up to $5,000 in travel support to attend conferences during their candidature.

Applications are invited for PhD Research Scholarships in the areas of Healthy Development: Disciplines include, but are not restricted to, allied health, biostatistics, demography, digital health, disability, economics, education, endocrinology, epidemiology, ethics, genetics, indigenous health, nutrition, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, pharmacology, physiology, psychiatry, psychology, public health and sociology. https://health.adelaide.edu.au/healthy-development-adelaide/our-research

Applications are invited from domestic and international students in their first year of candidature are eligible to apply i.e. commencement date between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Applicants should be eligible to enrol or be currently enrolled at either the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia [University of Adelaide and University of South Australia merger to Adelaide University in 2026] or Flinders University. The stipend will be paid to your university, to be provided to you as a scholarship top up for the duration of your PhD for up to 3 years only. The up to $5,000 p/a conference travel will be paid by HDA upon justification, reporting and travel/conference receipts.

In addition applicants must satisfy each of the following criteria.

• Applicants must hold a first class Honours degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the chosen field of study
• Applicants hold an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship or equivalent competitive postgraduate scholarship
• Applicants must be a ‘paying’ HDA member. Membership is $60 (excluding GST) for 3 years to cover term of scholarship https://health.adelaide.edu.au/healthy-development-adelaide/get-involved
• Applicants must have a HDA member as their primary/principal supervisor who must be a ‘paying’ member. Membership is $60 (excluding GST) for 3 years to cover term of scholarship https://health.adelaide.edu.au/healthy-development-adelaide/get-involved
• Research projects must be aligned with the Healthy Development research pillars spanning preconception to adolescence https://health.adelaide.edu.au/healthy-development-adelaide/our-research and the DHS Child and Family Support System (CFSS) Research Approach 2025-2027 https://dhs.sa.gov.au/how-we-help/child-and-family-support-system-cfss/about-cfss/cfss-research-approach 

Scholarships will be considered for research projects that demonstrate alignment with HDA’s research pillars and aim to promote, facilitate and enable multidisciplinary research to advance understandings of healthy development, ensuring the physical, psychological and social health of infants, children and adolescents.

DHS is focused on developing research and evidence to build a stronger family support system. This system is designed to be proactive and preventive, aiming to improve outcomes for children and families facing complex issues and disadvantage.

A key part of the work is supporting the implementation of the Child and Family Support System (CFSS), which includes services from government, non-government organisations (NGOs), and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). The CFSS Research Approach 2025–2027 outlines priorities and methods for research, helping guide resource allocation and partnerships with external organisations. It aims to develop social data that will improve the state's data capabilities and, ultimately, lead to better outcomes for South Australian children and families.