Health Policy Research Scholarships Program

Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research

Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Scholarships Program

The Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Scholarships Program aims to strengthen the health services research-policy interface by contributing to an evidence informed workforce and a policy literate academic sector.

Working alongside staff at the peak national health body, the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), scholarship recipients will be supported to establish connections with policymakers and practitioners working in their field of research and to produce an Issues Brief that engages health policy leaders in an area of national health policy significance.

Scholarships

Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship

The Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship has been established by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), together with Brisbane North Primary Health Network and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, to honour the memory of Jeff Cheverton, who demonstrated excellence in health leadership until his untimely death in March 2017. This scholarship supports scholars to specifically develop an issues brief on a topic relevant to primary health, mental health, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, or LGBTQI health.

Deeble Summer Research Scholarship

The Deeble Summer Research Scholarship program is an exceptional research opportunity for outstanding PhD candidates and Early Career Researchers with a background in health service research. This scholarship is supported by HESTA, and is designed to provide recipients with a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of how to make academic research relevant to policymakers and practitioners.

HEAL Scholarship

This HEAL Scholarship has been established through sponsorship from the NHMRC Healthy Environment and Lives (HEAL) Network to assist to educate and train emerging research leaders in strategic health policy and advocacy in the area of health and climate. This scholarship supports scholars as part of the HEAL vision to catalyse research, knowledge exchange and translation into policy and practice that will bring measurable improvements to our health, the Australian health system, and the environment.

What does the Scholarship Program offer?

Working alongside staff at the peak national health body, the AHHA, scholars will be supported to establish connections with policymakers and practitioners working in their field of research and to produce an Issues Brief that engages health policy leaders in an area of national health policy significance.

Scholars will be supervised by AHHA senior staff and will receive support from a mentor who will provide guidance and advice during the scholarship.

Expected Outcomes

Scholars are expected to write an Issues brief (no more than 5,000 words).

Deeble Summer Research Scholars will write on a topic relevant to health services research. Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholars will write specifically on primary health, mental health, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, or LGBTQI health. HEAL scholars will write on a topic relevant to health and climate.

The Issues Brief will:

  • Clearly outline the policy issue under consideration
  • Provide a thorough overview of the background to the policy issue and/or overview of the policy context
  • Outline some policy options/directions/initiatives
  • Be objective (non-partisan) and easy to read be suitable for online publication by the AHHA in a timely manner (must be completed within the calendar year in which the scholarship is undertaken)

Each Scholarship will be for a period of 6 weeks and scholars must complete their briefs within that period. Scholarships are generally taken up in the summer academic break following granting of the award; starting from January each year.

Each scholarship is valued at $2500. Payment to scholars is made in two amounts – 50% at commencement of scholarship and 50% on completion of the scholarship and publication of the Issues Brief.

Note that if a paper is deemed not suitable for publication, at the discretion of the sponsoring organisations, the scholar may be deemed ineligible for the final payment.

There will be 4 – 6 scholarships available each year. Final numbers will be at the discretion of the Chief Executive, AHHA.

Eligibility

You must have a demonstrated record of strong academic performance, including excellent writing skills and sound research capability. In general, you will be in the final year of your PhD program or will have completed a Masters in Public Policy. Early career researchers, no more than 5 years post-PhD, are encouraged to apply.

Research proposals eligible for consideration for the Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship must be in one of the following fields:

  • Primary health
  • Mental health
  • Aged care
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • LGBTQI health

Research proposals eligible for consideration for the HEAL Scholarship must be in the field of health and climate. Preference will be given to members of the HEAL Network.

Application

Below is an outline of the sections candidates will be asked to complete in their application. Applications must include the following:

  • Scholarship application cover sheet
  • Academic transcripts for undergraduate and postgraduate study (certified)
  • Curriculum Vitae (4 page limit)
  • Research proposal (1,000-word limit) including an outline of the proposed research topic, anticipated outcomes of the proposed research, intended audience/s, and a brief bibliography.
  • A short summary highlighting the policy implications of your work (250 words)
  • Two academic referee reports (one must be a direct supervisor)

Application Timeline

The Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Scholarship Program application process will run over a number of months.

Dates for 2024 Scholarship Program:

September 2023: 

  • Applications open Sept 13

October 2023: 

  • Applications close Oct 27

November 2023: 

  • Deeble Institute to make offers to successful candidates.
  • Candidates to accept offers.

January/Feb 2024:

  • Successful candidates to commence Scholarships in Canberra.

Sponsor Organisations

The Deeble Institute Scholarships Program would not be possible without the support and guidance of Sponsor Organisations including:

Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship

  • Brisbane North Primary Health Network
  • Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

Deeble Summer Scholarship

  • HESTA: An Industry Super Fund

HEAL Scholarship

  • Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network

The relationship between the Scholar and the sponsoring organisations will not be one of employer and employee and no employee benefits will arise for the Scholar. Scholars are required to acknowledge the support of the AHHA, HESTA, the HEAL Network, Brisbane North PHN and North Western Melbourne PHN (as appropriate) in any subsequent publications or in other material resulting from the research.