PhD Scholarship - Suicide (CRESP)

Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP)

Orygen PhD scholarship

Centre for Youth Mental Health, the University of Melbourne
Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health

This PhD scholarship is supported by the Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP). The CRESP brings together leading Australian and international researchers in the area of suicide prevention, in order to lower suicide rates in Australia.

The PhD student will work with Associate Professor Jo Robinson, within the suicide prevention research unit at Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health.and enrolled via the Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne.

This PhD project will be aligned with a National Health and Medical Research Council funded project, titled ‘The safeTALK and Reframe IT (STAR) project: A regionally-based randomised trial of an integrated response to suicide risk among secondary school students’. The STAR project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated, multimodal intervention in reducing suicide risk, improving risk recognition, and increasing help-seeking among young people across north west Melbourne. In accordance with international best practice, the intervention comprises universal, selective and indicated components. 

Key elements of the project are: 

Component 1: Educational workshops (safeTALK; universal intervention) delivered to all participating students and tested using a pre-post study design, incorporating screening (selective component) to identify students at risk of suicide.

Component 2: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing online treatment (Reframe IT; indicated intervention) delivered to students at risk (component 2).

The proposed study aims to combine these components into an integrated program, and to evaluate their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. 

A further exploratory aim of the study is to examine the views of key school personnel regarding the program’s acceptability (Component 3).

Eligibility

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic student with a strong interest in suicide prevention, who has the following background and experience:

• Completed tertiary studies that are at least equivalent to a 4-year honours degree at an Australian university with a minimum result of first class honours in the field of psychology, or a related discipline;
• Strong evidence of ability and desire to build an academic or research career trajectory;
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective research; collaboration and engagement
• Well-developed organisation and time management skills;
• Desirable: Experience of working with adolescents and young adults, and an appreciation of adolescent developmental issues.
• It is essential that applicants meet the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science’s requirements for Graduate Research candidature.

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences PhD course information: http://mdhs-study.unimelb.edu.au/degrees

Benefits

The base stipend will be equivalent to APA rate, which is currently AUD$ 30,600 per annum (2019 rate, indexed annually) tax-free for three years (with the possibility to extend for further six months), subject to satisfactory progress.

Selection

Eligible candidates are selected on the basis of academic merit, strength of supporting documentation and the terms of the Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (CRESP) Orygen PhD scholarship. Interviews will take place with a selection of applicants for final selection.

Interested?

For more information about the position you can contact Associate Professor Jo Robinson, via telephone number: +61 412 999 140 or email jo.robinson@orygen.org.au.

To apply, please send an electronic copy of 1) your Curriculum Vitae listing any degrees, awards, prior publications, and work experience, 2) a transcript of your grades, 3) a letter explaining your interest in the position and 4) a sample of your written work (academic writing) to jo.robinson@orygen.org.au with the title: CRESP PhD Scholarship Application.

Applications close: 3rd November 2019

Potential applicants assessed as eligible after stage 1 will be informed and are required to submit their scholarship and UoM Graduate Research candidature applications by this December 2019.

Outcomes

• Applicants will be advised of the outcome by December 2019.
• The successful applicant will be invited to submit an online University of Melbourne application form.
• Applicants should note that the offer of a PhD place must be accepted by March 2020 on a full-time basis.