2025 RTP round - Exploring maternal and childhood vaccination service provision and requirements in metropolitan, regional, and remote WA-based Aboriginal communities.

Curtin University, Australia

Updated: 2 months ago
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Status: Open

Applications open: 1/07/2024
Applications close: 20/08/2024

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About this scholarship

 

Project Overview

Vaccination is a key preventative health strategy that is particularly important for pregnant women and children. Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness, as well as pregnancy complications if they contract a vaccine-preventable disease, such as COVID-19, influenza, and pertussis. Therefore, vaccinations against these diseases are recommended during pregnancy as they can limit impact, as well as provide protection to the unborn child. Similarly, childhood vaccinations are essential to protect children whilst their immune systems develop. Therefore, effective vaccination service delivery is required for all Australian mothers and children, yet vaccination service delivery varies by location. Geographic distance impacts the availability and accessibility of services for women and children, particularly for those in rural and remote communities.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are identified as being in high priority for vaccination to improve access to healthcare and improve health outcomes. However, Aboriginal women who live in rural and remote communities often have less access to health service delivery, or to culturally safe and accessible care, which is a national equity issue.  
Ample community evidence, as well as published research demonstrates that involving Aboriginal people in the design and delivery of their care improves autonomous decision making and increases both engagement and uptake. Designing and implementing vaccination service delivery will vary depending on the community priorities, needs, and location. As WA is the largest state in Western Australia, the distances required for service access are large and what is considered feasible and effective will vary by community and location. Therefore, this project will explore the similarities and differences reported by Aboriginal communities and health professionals in relation to maternal and childhood vaccination service delivery and requirements before employing a realist framework to determine the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes that can lead to feasible and effective delivery. Outcomes for the project will be to co-design and develop a series of recommendations, initiatives, and strategies for vaccination service delivery in metropolitan, regional, and remote Aboriginal communities. The project is primarily qualitative in nature and will employ Aboriginal Participatory Action Research, Yarning, co-design, and will utilise several frameworks including Realist principles, and the Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination Uptake.

 

Aims

Exploring stakeholder perceived similarities and differences in maternal and childhood vaccination service provision and requirements in metropolitan, regional, and remote WA-based Aboriginal communities.

 

Objectives

• Explore consumer-reported similarities and differences in maternal and childhood vaccination service provision and requirements across metropolitan, regional, and remote WA-based Aboriginal communities. 
• Explore health professional reported similarities and differences in maternal and childhood vaccination service provision and requirements across metropolitan, regional, and remote WA-based Aboriginal communities. 
• Explore the contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes related to effective maternal and childhood vaccination service provision and requirements in metropolitan, regional, and remote WA-based Aboriginal communities. 
• Develop strategies, and recommendations for improved context-specific maternal and childhood service provision in collaboration with consumers and health professionals.

 

Significance 

This project will provide Aboriginal and health professional recommendations for effective vaccination service delivery in for maternal and childhood vaccinations in WA. The recommendations and strategies can be used by the community for self-advocacy, as well as by health services, policy makers and researchers to develop and implement initiatives that will improve vaccination uptake and may ultimately reduce health disparity and improve health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

 

This project will be supported by the School of Nursing and will be primarily supervised by a Senior Aboriginal Researcher who is a leader in public and Aboriginal health. The project will work within and be supported by a research team working within the Aboriginal and vaccination research space. The team is overseen by a governance structure, which contains experts in the fields of vaccinations, child health, Aboriginal health, and public health and to which the student will have access.  The research team has established connections and relationships with Aboriginal communities within WA, which will ensure culturally safe practice and aid with project recruitment.  
The project holds several points of significance as it provides an opportunity to build local First Nations community capacity through skills development in evidence-informed and culturally safe care. The results of the project will provide equal opportunities for First Nations voices and will increase the capacity for health decisions and autonomy. The project can strengthen the relationships between the university and Aboriginal community, as well as provide a pathway for future students, in line with the university strategic goals.
 


  • Future Students

  • Faculty of Health Sciences

  • Higher Degree by Research

  • Australian Citizen
  • Australian Permanent Resident
  • New Zealand Citizen
  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa

  • Merit Based

The annual scholarship package, covering both stipend and tuition fees, amounts to approximately $70,000 per year.

In 2024, the RTP stipend scholarship offers $35,000 per annum for a duration of up to three years. Exceptional progress and adherence to timelines may qualify students for a six-month completion scholarship.

Selection for these scholarships involves a competitive process, with shortlisted applicants notified of outcomes by November 2024.


Scholarship Details

1


All applicable HDR courses.


We are looking for a self-motivated HDR candidate who is passionate about Aboriginal health and who has excellent organisation, problem-solving and project management skills. Candidates with knowledge of vaccine delivery will be highly regarded. Experience working in an Aboriginal health setting or in Aboriginal research is desired for this project. Qualitative research skills are a requirement for this project. The candidate must be able to engage and participate in community consultation and have a clear understanding of the issues that enable or hinder the uptake of vaccinations among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Must be eligible to enrol in HDR programs at Curtin.  Candidates with a nursing or a public health background would be highly regarded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are encouraged to apply.
 


Application process

Please send your CV, academic transcripts and brief rationale why you want to join this research project via the HDR Expression of Interest form to the project lead researcher, listed below. 


Enrolment Requirements

You must be enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2025.


Enquiries

Project Lead: Dr Anne-Marie Eades



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