Measuring What Matters in Early Intervention: Indicators for Impact and Accountability in Public Spending

About the research project

Early intervention in childhood is one of the most effective and economically efficient forms of public investment, with profound implications for children’s life trajectories and the sustainability of public systems. Early experiences shape cognitive, emotional, and social development, influencing long-term outcomes in education, health, employment, and well-being. When challenges are addressed only after they become entrenched, governments incur substantially higher costs across health care, child protection, welfare, and justice systems (Heckman, 2006; Wise et al., 2006).

For this project, “children” is used to refer broadly to individuals aged 0–18 (UN, 1989).

Despite compelling evidence of its long-term social and economic returns, investment in early intervention remains vulnerable because its benefits are diffuse, long-term, and difficult to measure using conventional accountability frameworks. Current public sector accountability systems prioritise compliance, service outputs, and short-term performance indicators, rather than capturing whether public spending generates meaningful and lasting improvements in children’s lives or reduces future fiscal and social burdens (Moore, 2013; OECD, 2015). This creates a critical gap between how public value is created and how it is measured, limiting governments’ capacity to allocate resources effectively and sustain investment in preventative services.

This PhD project will address this gap by developing an innovative, theoretically grounded indicator framework to evaluate the real public value of early intervention. Integrating public value theory, human capital economics, and outcomes-based public management, the research reconceptualises early intervention as a strategic public investment requiring robust outcome-oriented accountability. Using an action research methodology, the candidate will partner with CatholicCare Tasmania to co-design and test indicators across domains, including child and family wellbeing, service quality and accessibility, cross-system impacts, and long-term public value. This project will generate both theoretical and practical contributions. It will advance interdisciplinary scholarship on public sector accountability and public value measurement, while producing a scalable framework to support governments and service providers in demonstrating impact, improving decision-making, and strengthening the effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy of public investment in children and families.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Alia Alshamari

Funding

The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:

• a living allowance stipend co-funded with CatholicCare 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)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

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:

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:

• The candidate must have an acceptable academic research background

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Alia Alshamari 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 June 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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