2024 RTP round - Assessing severity and impact of child maltreatment on wellbeing across the life course

Status: Closed

Applications open: 7/07/2023
Applications close: 25/08/2023

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study [ACMS] was the first national study to measure the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of child maltreatment in Australia. ACMS data has revealed that over 60% of Australians experience one of the five types of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence). Those who experienced maltreatment have dramatically higher rates of mental health problems, health risk behaviours, including substance use and self-harming, and justice system involvement across the life course. The ACMS is a rich data set with detailed information about types and subtypes of maltreatment, their age of onset, frequency and chronicity that is yet to be explored in detail.
This project draws on ACMS data, in conjunction with qualitative interviews with victim-survivors, to further our understanding of the nature and types of maltreatment that are associated with worse life course outcomes. 

While this study will be further developed in collaboration with the student, we envisage that this PhD will aim to: 
• Explore the interplay between type of maltreatment, frequency and intensity of occurrence, and developmental stage at exposure and negative life course outcomes.
• Identify the contexts of maltreatment that are most critically important to prevent.
• Explore ways to classify different experiences of child maltreatment in terms of severity of associated life course impacts. 

While it is accepted that all child maltreatment can be deleterious to victims, and children are most likely to thrive in loving, supportive environments with no exposure to maltreatment, the pervasiveness of all types of maltreatment over generations suggests that progress to reduce the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment will require multifaceted interventions. The ability to tailor interventions to the nature and context of different types of maltreatment, more detailed understanding of the factors that contribute to severity of maltreatment would have major benefits.
To achieve this policy objective, the objective of this study is to develop methods to classify the severity of child maltreatment in relation to its level of negative impact across the life course. This mixed methods project will use a combination of detailed analysis of ACMS data, and qualitative interviews with victim-survivors to deepen our understanding of the nature and contexts of maltreatment including factors chronicity, frequency, age of occurrence and developmental stage, persistence, severity of maltreatment and experience of multiple types of maltreatment. 

While the negative impacts of child maltreatment have been known for some time, only recently has there been evidence of the high prevalence and persistence of maltreatment in Australia. While child maltreatment has received significant public attention in recent years, there is a very limited evidence base from which to develop policies and interventions to reduce prevalence of child maltreatment. Policy and practice reforms are a high priority of governments across Australia. The launch of the initial ACMS findings has received significant media and government attention, and a deeper examination of the data has potential to inform high-level policy and future funding opportunities. 

This project may provide an Internship opportunity. 

Student type

• Future Students

Faculty

• Faculty of Health Sciences

Course type

• Higher Degree by Research

Citizenship

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

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships at the 2023 RTP rate valued at $32,250 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3 years, with a possible 6 month completion scholarship. Applicants are determined via a competitive selection process and will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2023. 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

Scholarship Details
Maximum number awarded

1

Eligible courses

All applicable HDR courses

Eligibility criteria

We are looking for a PhD candidate with a commitment to child wellbeing, and excellent organisation, problem-solving and project management skills. Candidates with strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with SAS, Stata or R are desired for this project. Must be eligible to enrol in PhD programs at Curtin University. 

Application process

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form. ahead of the closing date. Please note you should apply as soon as possible, as once a suitable candidate has been identified this opportunity will no longer be available to receive an EOI.

Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2024.

Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship.

Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Dr David Lawrenc e via the EOI form above.

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