Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Emergencies and Health Security

Undertake a PhD in Health Emergencies and Health Security

Help society to prepare, respond and recover from natural and manmade hazards and disruptive events that produce new challenges for our health sector.

Worldwide, health emergencies, including disaster events, novel disease outbreaks and deliberate attacks on communities, are challenging the capacity and capability of our health systems. Health security is an increasingly important focus for those charged with protecting our communities from the impact of these natural and man-made threats to health.

A PhD provides the opportunity to deepen specialised/advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in disaster health management and/or health security, to apply these in a range of situations, and to contribute to the current and future development responses to health emergencies globally.

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Why undertake a PhD in Health Emergencies and Health Security at Flinders

Join our highly collaborative research culture at the Torrens Resilience Institute, working alongside and with highly qualified researchers and supervisors who are nationally and internationally recognised in the field of disaster management and health security.
Influence and improve the nature and quality of prevention, management and response for health emergencies, using best available research evidence combined with professional practice knowledge and exposure to global expert networks.
Integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress health policy, management and practice.
Make an original, impactful and sustained contribution to knowledge in health policy, management and practice.
Develop an advanced understanding of the socio-political and ethical challenges of health emergencies and health security policy, research and management.
Benefit from access to global experts in a variety of sectors including public health.

PhD opportunities

There are a range of exciting PhD opportunities aligned to the Torrens Resilience Institute (TRI), one of Australia’s longest-standing research institutes dedicated to disaster preparedness and management with research advancing the concept of resilience at a global level, helping organisations, communities and nations balance emergency preparedness and prevention, relief and recovery. The TRI is a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Mass Gatherings and Global Health Security.

Potential areas of research focus could be:

World Health Emergencies
Disaster health practice
Health systems research; resilience and complex systems thinking
Analysis of future risks and vulnerabilities; improving national health security including mitigation, preparation and response capacities
Chemical, biological and radio nuclear (CBRNe) emergencies preparedness and response
Health at Mass Gatherings and in Crowded Places

Prevention and response to Deliberate Events including terrorism
Biosecurity and pandemic response
Emergency and disaster management
Environmental health and emergencies
Health emergencies, Leadership, management and decision-making
Humanitarian relief

We also welcome and encourage your own research project ideas. TRI supports diversity and warmly welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates and those with lived experience of disability or marginalisation.

Your career

Your research will have the potential to influence policy and practice in your field to deliver more successful outcomes and to perform advanced emergency management and response roles that apply to Australia’s disaster response in national and international settings.

Potential occupations include:

Policy advisor (within government or international organisations)
Research academic
Emergency services leader
Tertiary, community and public health
Project manager

Potential employers include:

Government
Not-for-profit organisations
Commercial industry
Universities or research Institutes
Health systems

Torrens Resilience Centre

The Torrens Resilience Institute (TRI) is one of Australia’s longest-standing research institutes dedicated to disaster preparedness and management. Our research is advancing the concept of resilience and helping organisations, communities and nations balance disaster preparedness and prevention, response and recovery.

Find out more

Potential research supervisors

Dr Harriet Whiley

Environmental Health

Professor Paul Arbon	Disaster, disaster health and community resilience building, emergency management, global health security
Professor Peter A. Leggat	Disaster health and emergency response, tropical diseases, aerospace and travel health and safety, indigenous studies, drowning prevention
Professor Trish Williams	Health informatics and national security legislation
Associate Professor Lidia Mayner	Disaster health, public health, global health governance, emergency department
Associate Professor Kirstin Ross	Health education, environmental health, community health, indigenous communities, parasites
Dr Harriet Whiley	Public health, water distribution systems, drinking water treatment, food policy and regulation, environmental health