Ageing populations & older adults

Exploring the needs & interests of ageing populations & older adults

Degree type

PhD

Closing date

27 March 2023

Campus

Hobart

Citizenship requirement

Domestic/International

About the research project

Worldwide, the population is ageing. As a result, our international communities will need to increasingly cater to the needs and interests of older adults. While population ageing is sometimes considered to be a social problem and economic burden, there are many opportunities and potentials that population ageing can bring. To embrace such a vision will require reimagining our social policies and infrastructure to better support ageing and older adults. This will include investigating and establishing initiatives such as age-friendly societies and communities (including age-friendly businesses), intergenerational programs and events, forms of social engagement for older people (for example, senior citizen and community centres), and housing diversity. Importantly, meeting the needs and interests of older adults means working closely with them as well as the communities in which they live and work. Other aspects that require investigation include examining social attitudes towards elder abuse, addressing ageism, interrogating aged care system navigation, examining the challenges faced by older carers (for example, who care for their partner and/or younger generations), and supporting those who work with and for older adults (for example, adult children who provide care (which may also be across multiple generations, such as the ‘sandwich generation’) and the aged care workforce).

Expressions of interests are invited from suitable applicants who are interested in these and related topics in exploring the needs and interests of ageing populations and older adults, how these needs and interests may be best achieved in our diverse Australian communities, and the challenges that people working with and for older adults may experience in providing care or other services.

Primary Supervisor

Meet Dr Peta Cook

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

  • a living allowance stipend of $31,500 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
  • a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
  • a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

  • English language score must be at or above minimum entry requirements for this project
  • Applications are open to applicants from social sciences (or related) discipline backgrounds only
  • Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection Criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded.  Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Honors or Master’s degree in sociology, social work, or a related field
  • Experience in qualitative research

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

  • Experience with working with older adults
  • Broad understanding of research ethics

Application process

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Select your project, and check you meet the eligibility and selection criteria;
  2. Contact the Primary Supervisor, Dr Peta Cook, to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
  3. Submit an application by the closing date listed above.
    • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
    • As part of your application, you will be required to submit a covering letter, a CV including 2 x referees and your project research proposal.

Following the application closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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