Optimising the Health Literacy Responsive of Tasmanian Health Services

About the research project

Health literacy is the ability to find, use and apply health information and services to manage our health. Health services and health professionals can review their services and practice to become more health literacy responsive. The Tasmanian Paediatric Health Service currently runs 21 integrated care “Kids Care Clinics” statewide. This research is associated with over 5 years of collaborative activities, between the Health Literacy & Equity Research Unit (HLERU) and the Tasmanian Community Paediatric Service (TCPS). This program of research includes several embedded research projects which could be carried out individually or in teams, these include: 

Project 1. Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) parents/carers – administration and analysis – ethics approved/THS Gov in train [Quant study involving descriptive analysis & cluster analysis] 

Project 2. HLQ adolescents – administration and analysis – will need ethics (and identified as a project with clinicians today) [Quant study involving descriptive analysis & cluster analysis] 

Project 3. Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness (OrgHLR) follow up interviews with TCPS (Kids Care Clinic Staff) (12months from 26/9/2025) – already has ethics & THS Governance [Qual study involved reflexive thematic analysis and/or content analysis] 

Project 4. OrgHLR tool revision (12months from 26/9/2025) – already has ethics & THS Governance [Concurrent mixed methods study involving Qual and Quant analysis]. Co-facilitation of workshops to review tool (collect qualitative and quantitative data). 

Primary supervisor

Meet Associate Professor Rosie Nash

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 funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum 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)

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

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

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

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• 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.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Associate Professor Rosie Nash to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • 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.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the 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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