2026 Flinders University Healthy Development Adelaide and Department of Human Services PhD Excellence Award

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.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 22, 2026
• Value$7,500 per annum
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorFlinders University
• City to studySouth Australia
• School to studyFlinders University
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• 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.

Requirements

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 

Selection Process

• Scholarships will be considered for research projects in areas that align with the CFSS Research Approach 2025-2027 targeting within the 4 focus areas – therefore achieving greater alignment between government and academic research efforts.

Check also:
2025 Faculty of Engineering International Tuition Fee Research Scholarship at The University of Sydney Australia
Scholarship winning strategies for 2026 (Upcoming Webinar)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

Please submit the following documents by 5.00pm Thursday 22 January 2026 to:

Healthy Development Adelaide, Anne Jurisevic at [email protected]

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

For more information, kindly visit Flinders University scholarship webpage.