PhD Opportunity - Evaluating quality improvement in the Victorian healthcare system
Evaluating quality improvement in the Victorian healthcare system
Project summary
The Centre for Health Policy at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health is inviting applications for its PhD program. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with academic supervisors and industry partners on a 5-year project evaluating quality improvement initiatives led by Safer Care Victoria in partnership with Victorian healthcare agencies. The initiatives form part of the 100,000 Lives project and focus on preventing harm, avoiding hospital admissions and reducing unnecessary interventions.
Available scholarships
Generous scholarships are available to outstanding applicants covering a tuition fee waiver and a living allowance of $34,400 per annum full-time rate for up to 3.5 years. Additional financial support is available through research and teaching assistance.
Minimum requirements for PhD entry are outlined in the Entry requirements.
Scholarship applicants must be eligible for acceptance by the University of Melbourne into a PhD program, and preferably be residents or citizens of Australia. The PhD eligibility process must have commenced at the time of submitting the scholarship application. The offer is conditional upon acceptance into the PhD program at the University of Melbourne in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Applicants must have an Honours 1 or have completed a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline with a GPA of 80% or above in related disciplines.
Project details
There are several broad aims of the project, as such there is scope for the successful candidate to shape or weight the exact focus across the following components:
- The development and application of innovative methodologies to evaluate the performance, impact, value, equity and sustainability of quality improvement initiatives in areas such as chronic disease, maternity and newborn, and cardiovascular
- Evaluation of the medium and longer-term impact of culture and capability uplift on healthcare professionals, organisations and consumers/patients.
- The implementation and effectiveness of initiatives such as learning health networks to spread and scale successful quality improvement projects and contribute to equitable healthcare
- The implementation and effectiveness of different partnership models for testing and trialing innovations that seek to stimulate new ideas that can be rapidly spread and contribute to equitable healthcare
The PhD provides an exciting opportunity to participate in industry-focused research that will inform policy and practice.
Supervision
The project will be principally supervised by Associate Professor Brad Astbury (Centre for Health Policy, Evaluation and Implementation Science Unit) with scope to draw in multi-disciplinary co-supervisors from across the University of Melbourne and Australia.
Expressions of interest
Expressions of interest will be considered upon provision of the following information:
- Your CV, including details of two referees
- A copy of your academic transcripts and details of grading scales
- A 1–2-page cover letter outlining your research and evaluation skills, experience, topics of interest and why this PhD opportunity interests you
- An example of research writing if available (e.g., publications)
Please submit your expression of interest before the closing date to Myra Malcolm via email myra.malcolm@unimelb.edu.au
The PhD would commence in early 2024, subject to negotiation with the successful candidate.
Closing date
Monday 15th April, 2024
Further enquiries
Associate Professor Brad Astbury
brad.astbury@unimelb.edu.au