PhD Scholarship (Rural Healthcare and Intellectual Disability)

The University of Notre Dame Australia is a Catholic university with campuses in Fremantle, Broome and Sydney. The Objects of the University are the provision of university education within a context of Catholic faith and values and the provision of an excellent standard of teaching, scholarship and research, training for the professions and the pastoral care of its students.

PhD Scholarship – Rural Compass Navigating towards equitable healthcare for older people with intellectual disability (Full-Time, budgeted $42,440 for 3 years not indexed annually). Proposed start date January 2027.

About the Scholarship

This scholarship is based at the School of Medicine (Sydney campus) at the University of Notre Dame Australia. The applicant does not need to be on site. There is limited scope for the successful candidate to design their own research question, but it must be aligned with the wider project goals of examining the healthcare needs of rural people with intellectual disability as they grow older. It is well established that there are substantial inequalities in service provision for people with intellectual disability, particularly in non-metropolitan Australia. The complex needs of this population remain largely hidden and overlooked within the wider research agenda, leading to both inequality and inequity.

The successful candidate would be working within an established research group including experienced disability researchers across a number of universities, other PhD candidates, disability support organisations and people with lived experience of intellectual disability. The project is also overseen by a dedicated project manager to support administrative process and day-to-day activities.

The PhD scholarship will support the mixed method research component of the MRFF-funded project that will explore polypharmacy in older people with intellectual disability and include quantitative analysis of survey data and follow up interviews with older adults with intellectual disability and their carers - across regional and rural regions of Australia. Findings from this research will inform the development and evaluation of a nurse‑led intervention in the project's final stages. The work is embedded within a co‑designed, participatory research approach that prioritises lived experience and community partnership.

Duration of the candidature

Please note that the standard duration of candidature is 3 years full-time. If the extension of candidature is approved, the stipend will not be extended.

Eligibility

Applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor’s degree with Honours (First Class or Upper Second Class) or a Masters by Research, in a relevant field of healthcare and be based in Sydney. Specific eligibility criteria for the PhD can be found here: Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) | Notre Dame 2027 Applications Preference to commence Semester 1 2027. Deadline to submit your EOI is the 13th of November 2026.

Why choose UNDA

As a PhD candidate at Notre Dame University, you will embark on an intellectual journey guided by expert academic supervisors, working closely with them to shape, refine, and execute a significant research project that contributes original knowledge to the field.

Enquiries

Expressions of interest or enquiries related to the research topic should be directed to Dr Giselle Gallego. Please submit the following documents:

• Previous academic transcripts and certificates.
• Research proposal outlining study objectives.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• CV/Resume.
• Any additional supporting documents.