Griffith Health is one of Australia’s leading health educators. Through leadership and innovation in teaching, research and community engagement, Griffith Health helps to create sustained improvement in health and healthcare for local, national, and international communities. Griffith Health students benefit from award-winning Learning and Teaching staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and world-renowned research programs within a purpose-built Griffith Health Centre. Griffith Health has five schools, School of Applied Psychology, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences.

In the School of Nursing and Midwifery, our research team under the supervision and guidance of the Dean of Research Prof Sandie McCarthy has a strong focus on development and delivery of lifestyle interventions within cancer populations. As part of our team, you will benefit from high quality training in the above areas to support a transition to independent research.

You will join an international, cross-disciplinary team of world-leading behavioural intervention researchers.

Foxtrot is a consumer-oriented project funded by the Medical Research Futures Fund. The research team is interdisciplinary (with an exercise focus), comprising clinicians and researchers from university and hospital settings. This study will expand the currently limited resources available to people with stomas to improve their functional capacity to exercise and their enjoyment of it. This will be achieved through the integration of a highly accessible and purpose-designed exercise intervention to support the particular needs of this population.

The project provides the student with a unique opportunity to collaborate with a wide network of experts in cancer care and exercise implementation. The successful candidate will contribute to intervention delivery, outcome assessment and interpretation, with the capacity to investigate a variety of outcomes that align with the FOXTROT Study. The successful candidate will also develop skills in effective consumer engagement and collaboration, and in working with vulnerable populations. The candidate will be part of an emerging field in healthcare and develop skills to support a career in research.

A fully-funded scholarship is available for domestic and international students to be part of the Team for Foxtrot.  The successful candidate will be based at the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge in one or more of the following areas: statistics and work in the field of allied health, nursing, public health or medicine. Demonstration of a passion for improving healthcare and support for those with or surviving cancer will be favourable, as well as demonstrated experience or curiosity towards applications of exercise will be valued.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure.  For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Please note:

• Applicants with a background in allied health, nursing, public health or medicine will be viewed favourably. Particularly accreditation as an Exercise Physiologist (ESSA) will be positively viewed.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About the scholarship

The 2024 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $33,480 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

EoI process

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr Sarah Balaam [email protected] or Dr Janine Porter-Steel [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section, including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template
• Names of  two referees

The closing date for expressions of interest is:  5pm Friday 11 October 2024

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

What Griffith offers

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:

Dr Sarah Balaam
Email: [email protected]

Dr Janine  Porter-Steele
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]