HDA and Preventive Health SA PhD Excellence Award 2026 - NOW OPEN

The HDA and PHSA 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 for each awardee.

Two PhD scholars whose research aligns with PHSA’s strategic prevention priorities for children and young people will be awarded in this call.

Eligibility

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

This award contributes to advancing multidisciplinary research in preventive health from preconception through adolescence that aligns with the strategic goals outlined in the National Preventive Health Strategy (2021–2030): https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-preventive-health-strategy-2021-2030?language=en

Specifically, the purpose of this award is to complement funding in the field of research targeting:

1. Obesity prevention through healthy food and nutrition
2. Tobacco and vaping prevention with a focus on smoking in young people
3. Mental health and wellbeing related to social media wellbeing

The intended outcomes of this award are to:

• Deliver applied, multidisciplinary research that addresses complex factors contributing to childhood obesity, youth smoking, and mental health challenges.

• Facilitate evidence-informed policy and program development through the scholars’ outputs.

• Support skills development in public health research through structured placements, mentoring, and training programs.

• Foster collaborative engagement between academic institutions and state health partners.

Overarching outcomes in addition to the above intended outcomes, the applicants should demonstrate that their research will contribute in part to achieving or working towards at least one of the following overarching targets from the National Prevention Health Strategy for South Australians:

• Obesity Prevention (including Healthy Food and Nutrition)

• Tobacco and Vaping Prevention

• Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Suicide Prevention

• Social Media Wellbeing

Conditions of Funding

Successful HDA Scholars will be required to participate in the HDA Research Training Program during their candidature. The program consists of a 20 hour practicum placement within PHSA, mentoring component, and attending and assisting as required at HDA events.

Annual renewal of top-up funding will be subject to meeting your University postgraduate requirements, and subject to ongoing funding availability from PHSA.

Acknowledgement of Healthy Development Adelaide and Preventive Health SA in research publications.

Please submit the following documents by 5.00pm Tuesday 20 January 2026 to:

Healthy Development Adelaide, Anne Jurisevic at anne.jurisevic@adelaide.edu.au

1. Completed HDA Application (doc format - in font Arial 12) - click here
2. Up-to-Date curriculum vitae (3 page maximum)
3. Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) or equivalent competitive scholarship Letter of Award
4. Academic transcript