HDA & DHS PhD Excellence Award 2026

This award supports PhD students working in research aligned with Healthy Development Adelaide’s pillars and DHS Child & Family Support System. Provides financial top-up for RTP Stipend Scholarship recipients and up to $5,000 for conference travel.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: 22-Jan-2026
2. Value: $7,500 per annum for up to 3 years + up to $5,000 travel support
3. Study Level: PhD / Higher Degrees Research
4. Sponsor: Flinders University
5. Course to study: PhD in health, social sciences, allied disciplines aligned with HDA pillars and DHS CFSS Research Approach
6. Eligible Country: Australia / International

Eligibility Criteria for HDA & DHS PhD Excellence Award 2026

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 enroll or be currently enrolled at either the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia [the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia merged to form 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.

1. Applicants must hold a first-class Honours degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the chosen field of study
2. Applicants hold an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship or equivalent competitive postgraduate scholarship
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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

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.

Selection Criteria

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.

Benefits of HDA & DHS PhD Excellence Award 2026

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.

How to Apply

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

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

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

HDA Application

For more information, kindly visit Flinders University scholarship webpage.

Application Deadline

January 22, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for HDA & DHS PhD Excellence Award 2026