At a glance
Overview
Edith Cowan University invites applications for PhD scholarships (two available) within our dynamic Wellbeing and Education Research Community (WE) in the School of Education. Our research agenda focuses on transformative approaches to wellbeing across diverse contexts, emphasizing proactive, evidence-based strategies that contribute to individual and collective flourishing.
The Wellbeing and Education Research Community leads innovative research that bridges theory and practice, guided by our vision to build capacity in wellbeing and self-care across sector, state, national, and international levels. Our work is characterized by a commitment to curiosity, courage, and strengths-based approaches, emphasizing proactive contributions to the field of wellbeing science.
We currently offer two funded PhD opportunities aligned with one of any of these major research initiatives:
- SHE Speaks: Intergenerational Wellbeing Through Self-Care (WA Government, Department of Communities funded)
- Co-Designing Prevention: Youth-Led Approaches to Prevention Education (WA Government, Department of Communities funded)
- University Wellness Dogs: Impact Across Higher Education Ecosystems
These projects contribute to our broader research program examining:
- Conceptualization and communication of wellbeing through multiple modalities
- Implementation and evaluation of proactive wellbeing approaches
- Transformation of educational frameworks through wellbeing integration
- Development of wellbeing literacy across diverse contexts
- Systemic changes necessary for sustainable wellbeing practices
We welcome innovative research proposals that align with these funded projects while bringing fresh perspectives to wellbeing research. Successful candidates will join a collaborative research community committed to making meaningful contributions to wellbeing science and practice.
The Opportunity
An opportunity has arisen for suitably experienced and motivated emerging researchers to study at Edith Cowan University and work with interdisciplinary teams across the university and within the community. Two full-time PhD scholarships (3 years each) are available to work with VC Professorial Research Fellow Professor Narelle Lemon within the Wellbeing and Education Research Community and with interdisciplinary scholars from The School of Medical and Heath Sciences and The School of Arts and Humanities plus non for profit organisations and community.
Successful candidates will contribute to one of three funded projects in women’s non medicalised self-care, primary prevention of domestic violence towards women, or wellness dogs:
- SHE Speaks: Intergenerational Wellbeing Through Self-Care. A Western Australian Government funded initiative exploring women's wellbeing through intergenerational connections. This project implements innovative approaches to developing wellbeing literacy and self-care practices among women across Western Australia.
- Co-Designing Prevention: Youth-Led Approaches to Prevention Education. A Western Australian Government funded partnership with YOurtoolkit.com focused on co-designing prevention messaging with young adults (18-24 years), involving the development and implementation of workshop series and social media campaigns to address attitudes and behaviors that drive violence against women.
- University Wellness Dogs: Impact Across Higher Education Ecosystems An innovative investigation into the role and impact of wellness dogs within university settings, examining how animal-assisted interventions influence wellbeing across diverse university community groups.
Applicants are invited to develop research proposals that align with one of these projects while bringing their own research interests and methodological approaches. Each project offers opportunities for meaningful contribution to theory and practice in education, wellbeing, and social change. Successful candidates will benefit from:
- Mentorship from leading researchers in wellbeing science
- Engagement with diverse community partners
- Access to established research networks
- Opportunities for publication and conference presentation
- Development of advanced research skills in mixed methods approaches
More on the projects
SHE Speaks: Intergenerational Wellbeing Through Self-Care
A Western Australian Government funded initiative exploring women's wellbeing through intergenerational connections. This project implements workshops, digital storytelling (podcasting, and moving and still images), and community building activities across Western Australia to develop wellbeing literacy and self-care practices among women. The project employs a multidimensional framework encompassing mindfulness, self-compassion, habits, time management, and empowerment.
Research opportunities within this project might explore:
- Intergenerational approaches to wellbeing education
- Digital storytelling as a tool for wellbeing development
- The impact of community-based wellbeing initiatives
- Women’s understanding of non medicalised self-care and wellbeing
- Evaluation of multimodal wellbeing interventions
Co-Designing Prevention: Youth-Led Approaches to Prevention Education
A partnership project between Edith Cowan University and YourToolkit.com focused on co-designing prevention messaging with young adults (18-24 years). This initiative involves a workshop series delivered by a facilitator and the co-design of social media campaigns by young adults for young adults to address attitudes and behaviours that drive violence against women. A program for the higher education context will be developed and shared with industry.
Research opportunities within this project might explore:
- Co-design methodologies in prevention education
- Young adult engagement in prevention message development
- Social media effectiveness in prevention campaigns
- Institutional approaches to prevention education
- Evaluation of participatory prevention programs
University Wellness Dogs: Understanding Impact Across the Higher Education Ecosystem
This project investigates the role and impact of wellness dogs within university settings, examining how animal-assisted interventions influence wellbeing across diverse university community groups. The research employs innovative mixed-methods approaches to capture both immediate and longitudinal impacts of human-animal interactions in educational environments.
Research opportunities within this project might explore:
- Real-time psychological and emotional impacts of wellness dog interactions
- Longitudinal effects on university community wellbeing
- Role of wellness dogs in creating inclusive campus spaces
- Development of evidence-based frameworks for wellness dog programs in higher education
Selection guidelines
Applications should include two components:
- Curriculum Vitae Your CV should include:
- Academic qualifications and transcripts
- Research experience and outputs (if applicable)
- Relevant professional experience
- Publications or creative works (if applicable)
- Conference presentations (if applicable)
- Research partnerships or collaborations (if applicable)
- Research Proposal (Maximum 2 pages) Select one of the three projects outlined above and provide a focused research proposal that includes:
- Clear alignment with your chosen project
- Link to literature
- Research question(s)
- Proposed methodology
- Potential significance and impact
- Timeline for completion within the 3-year scholarship period
Terms and conditions
- Full-time study mode (3 years)
- Meet ECU PhD admission requirements
- Cannot receive equivalent awards or scholarships from the Commonwealth
- Must have completed at least four years of tertiary education studies
How to apply
All documents should be submitted in English to Wellbeing and Education Research Community WE@ecu.edu.au
- CV
- Maximum two (2) page proposal
- Cover letter including the why of your interest in thesis PhD project
For more information
Specific questions about this scholarship can be directed to Professor Narelle Lemon via WE@ecu.edu.au
