Understanding the Role of Sport in Reducing Loneliness and Fostering Social Connection in Contemporary Australia

About the research project

This project examines the changing relationship between sport, social connection, and loneliness in contemporary Australia. Loneliness has emerged as a significant public health challenge, carrying a mortality risk comparable to smoking. While recognised by the World Health Organisation as a global health priority, current interventions often focus on ‘fixing the lonely individual’ and overlook critical structural drivers and collective solutions.

Sport is a promising but little-understood context for prevention and intervention. It remains fundamental to how Australians socialise and practice friendships, with 85% of Australians aged 15 and older participating in sport or physical activity annually. Although the National Sport Strategy 2024–2034 aims to increase sports participation to build connected communities, we lack a clear understanding of how sport and loneliness interrelate. Critically, we do not know how this relationship is shaped by wider societal changes, such as declining participation in competitive club sport, the rise of informal sports, changing masculinities, the rise of digital and wearable technologies, efforts to make sport culturally safe for diverse populations and new operational and delivery models. 

This project addresses this gap by inviting proposals to investigate the role that sport may play in ameliorating loneliness for known at-risk groups, such as young people, midlife men, neurodivergent individuals, people from marginalised backgrounds, those living in regional and rural areas, or people living with disability. This research is timely as it investigates sport as a community-based solution to loneliness, supporting national and global objectives to make sport more inclusive and to reduce loneliness and its adverse health consequences. 

The project is theoretically and methodologically open, welcoming proposals underpinned by a critical yet optimistic sociological framing. This lens should recognise sport’s capacity to increase social connection and wellbeing, while acknowledging its potential links to social harms, exclusion and discrimination. The successful PhD candidate will have an opportunity to generate new empirical data and sociological knowledge to guide the development of policies and practices across sports clubs, communities and governing bodies and organisations.  

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Nicholas Hookway

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)

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.

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 desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• A first-class Honours degree (or equivalent master's qualification) in sociology or a closely related social science discipline.
• Demonstrated strength in research methods, with strong capabilities in either qualitative techniques (e.g., interviews, focus-groups) or quantitative survey methods.
• Existing networks, experience, or demonstrated capacity to build collaborative relationships with sporting bodies, community organisations, or public health agencies.
• A track record or emerging profile of academic output, such as publications in high-quality sociology or public health journals.
• Lived, professional, or research-based experience involving possible demographic cohorts (e.g., midlife adults, men, young people, or neurodivergent communities).

Application process

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