Job No.

Location

509 St Kilda Road, Melbourne (as of September 2026, remote until then)

Contract Type

Full-time

Duration

4-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration

Upon enrolment the successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $40,000 AUD per annum 2026 full time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at

About The Project

Workers’ compensation, Job Seeker and Disability Support Pension are central components of Australia’s social safety net. These systems provide financial support to people whose capacity to work is limited due to injury or illness, but many experience challenges when interacting with these systems such as difficulty in understanding eligibility, producing relevant documents and navigating administrative processes. This PhD project will generate in‑depth qualitative evidence on how Australian adults experience these financial support systems. Findings will inform the co‑design of a navigation support model to help individuals access and engage with these systems.

Team Overview

As part of the Healthy Working Lives Group within the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, this PhD is supported by an Australian Laureate Fellowship program, Reforming Work Disability Benefit Systems for Contemporary Australian Society. The program comprises three interconnected streams that together link prevention, lived experience and policy reform. The successful candidate will be part of Program 2 and will work within a multidisciplinary cohort of researchers and students.





Supervisory Team

Principal supervisors: Professor Alex Collie and Dr Samineh Sanatkar.

Professor Collie is a leading public health and social policy scholar and Director of the Healthy Working Lives Research Group.

Dr Sanatkar is a Research Fellow who focuses on improving work participation and recovery outcomes for people with work‑related mental health conditions, illness or injury, using mixed methods and co‑design approaches.

Eligibility Requirements

- Be able to demonstrate and present valid and current Australian work rights.
- Bachelor’s degree of at least four years in a relevant discipline, including a research thesis or project, with a minimum overall average grade of an Honours degree equivalent to the First-Class Honours Division A.
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, including a research thesis or project equivalent to at least 25 percent of one year of full‑time study, with a minimum overall average grade of honours equivalent to the First-Class Honours Division A.
- Qualification, or combination of qualifications and relevant professional or research experience, deemed equivalent by the Graduate Research Committee (or delegate).
- Preferably available to commence as a full‑time, on‑campus PhD candidate in Q3 or Q4 2026 (or by arrangement).

Application Deadline

Wednesday 19 August 2026, 11:55 pm AEST

Supporting a Diverse Workforce

Monash University is an equal prospect employer and welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of background.

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📌 PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Designing a Model of Navigation Support for Australian Adults Mak[...] (Melbourne)
🏢 Monash University
📍 Melbourne