Ian Scott PhD Scholarship Application & Guidelines

“PhD Scholarship in Mental Health”

Australian Rotary Health invites applications from recent graduates looking to build a career in research relevant to Mental Health. Applicants for this scholarship must be eligible to undertake a PhD program in a University or Research Institute in Australia

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM HERE

Australian Rotary Health

Australian Rotary Health is a multi-district project for Rotary in Australia, with approximately 1,000 Rotary Clubs and approximately 24,000 Rotarians supporting it. Australian Rotary Health has channelled around $50 million in Australian research projects over its 42-year history. Australian Rotary Health’s emphasis has been on community health and has previously invested in research projects looking at Cot Death, Adolescent Health, Family Health as well as the Ross River Virus, Malaria, Bowel Cancer screening, First Aid and Emergency Care Research. The current focus for project grants and Post Doctoral Fellowships is Improving the Mental Health of 0-12 year olds”. Australian Rotary Health’s Funding Partners Program has invested in over $1 million in the best and brightest minds in fields as diverse as Heart Disease, Child Wellbeing, Suicide, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neuron Disease, Alzheimer’s and most of the Cancers

Ian Scott – Founder of Australian Rotary Health

Ian Laurence Scott 1933 – 2011. Ian joined Rotary in 1973 in Victoria and served with distinction in many Rotary Clubs throughout NSW and Victoria. Whilst a member of the Rotary Club of Mornington in Victoria, Ian was inspired to found Australian Rotary Health in 1981 to identify the cause of Cot Death. Ian served Australian Rotary Health as treasurer on the board and became a life member in November 1989. The Ian Scott Scholarship was introduced in 2000 to honour and recognise Ian’s service to Rotary and mankind.

Objectives of Australian Rotary Health

• To provide financial support for research projects conducted in Australia which have the potential to enhance the health of the community.
• To stimulate research activities within Australia by facilitating communication between participants in specified fields.
• To support specific research fields for a minimum of three years.

Applications will be evaluated on the following:

• Academic Record.
• Scientific excellence of the application.
• Feasibility of the proposed research.
• Quality of the intended supervisor/s
• Relevance to community-based interventions.

Information for Applicants

• It is intended that Australian Rotary Health will provide salary and incidental support for a postgraduate student who is undertaking full time research in mental health.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen or have Permanent Resident Status and not be under bond to any foreign government. Applicants are to provide evidence of citizenship or residential status, or
• Overseas PhD students can apply for scholarships on confirmation of the following:
  • Tuition fees to applicants chosen Australian University are paid (unless fees are waived by the university).
  • Applicant to have confirmed a supervisor for their research work and a university with confirmed of their enrolment.
  • Applicant to have agreed to stay in Australia for the term of the PhD – up to 3.5 years.
• Only applicants about to commence a PhD, or already engaged in the first year of a PhD, are eligible to apply.
• The annual value of the Australian Rotary Health Ian Scott Scholarship is up to $35,000. The award will be made for one year in the first instance but can be extended for a maximum of three and a half years (total) upon receipt of satisfactory annual progress reports.
• To qualify, projects must be undertaken within a university, public hospital, research institute or other body within Australia approved under the Income Assessment Act.
• If applicants are, or intend to receive additional funding from another agency, confirmation of this must be included in this application. A top-up scholarship may be offered, so long as the total funding does not exceed $35,000 per annum.
• Additional salaried work must not exceed NHMRC guidelines.

Scholarship Conditions

• Successful applicants will be required to address Rotary groups on certain occasions over the term of the scholarship. These functions will be arranged at mutually accepted times, and travel expenses will be covered by Australian Rotary Health.
• All publications or presentations emanating from an approved project must acknowledge Australian Rotary Health, and copies must be forwarded to Australian Rotary Health.
• The Ian Scott scholarship will be funded for one year in the first instance and will be extended for up to three ½ years dependant on the receipt of satisfactory annual progress reports. Interim reports are required in September of each year and are to be submitted on a prescribed form. These reports will be used to assist the Research Committee to determine further funding.
• A final and/or annual report is to be submitted on completion of the project period.
• The content provided in these reports will be used to publicise the work funded by Australian Rotary Health, which may include newsletters, social media, annual reports, advertising, public relations and other promotional material. It will also be published on the Australian Rotary Health website and distributed to affiliated partners, including Rotarians, Research Committee members and the Australian Rotary Health Board of Directors
• A bound copy of your thesis is to be submitted to Australian Rotary Health on completion of the project.

How to Apply

Failure to follow these instructions concerning the application form could prejudice the success of your application.

• The application should be complete in itself. Do not assume that the person reading it will have access to any other paperwork.
• It is in your interest to be precise in your application. Applicants who can describe their project in plain and simple English will be highly regarded.
• Do not add annexes or other documents to this application except those requested.
• Important references to other publications in the field should be quoted so the assessors can relate the importance of the application to the field in general.
• Applicants and supervisors should list their own publications over the past two years. Quote only those references that have been accepted or have been published in refereed journals.
• The application and certified copy of academic transcript and curriculum vitae should be sent to Australian Rotary Health, through the Administrative Officer of your Institution.
• Electronic signatures (Section 9) are permissible for the purposes of application only. If awarded a scholarship, signatures will be required before funding can commence.
• Three referee reports must accompany this application (Section 11). It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure these reports are attached to this application before submission.

Funding Source

• The Ian Scott PhD Scholarship offered here relies on a funding partnership between Australian Rotary Health and your administering University or Institute.
• Australian Rotary Health provides $23,000 p.a and your University/Institute, Department/School or Laboratory would be required to provide $12,000 p.a for the duration of the 3 year scholarship. Note – If you currently hold another scholarship award (eg., NHMRC/ APA), Australian Rotary Health will top up the scholarship to $35,000 per annum. If this is the situation, your University/Institute is not required to provide additional funding, so long as your current scholarship award is $23,000 per annum or greater.
• Applicants should attach confirmation of other scholarship awards to this application form, or email confirmation to Cheryl Deguara cheryl@arh.org.au when appointment is made.
• Confirmation that University funds are available to commit to this scholarship should accompany this application if a full scholarship is required (Section 9). If confirmation cannot be received before the application close date, this must be emailed to Cheryl Deguara cheryl@arh.org.au before appointment is made.

Process

• Applications will be reviewed and graded in July 2023 by the Australian Rotary Health Research Sub-Committee.
• Short-listed applicants will be notified in early August 2023.
• Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview by Zoom on Thursday 14^th September 2023. Exact times will be given to all short-listed candidates. At the interview, applicants will give a presentation on their proposed research.
• Up to 3 Ian Scott Scholarships will be selected in total for funding.

Proforma for Referees Reports

Applicants name is applying to Australian Rotary Health for an Ian Scott PhD Scholarship in Mental Health. Could you please provide a report as a referee for this application?

Selection criteria for assessment are based on the applicant’s academic record, the scientific excellence of the application, feasibility of the proposed research, quality of the intended supervisor/s and the relevance to community-based interventions.

Could you please provide a report outlining the key achievements and attributes of the applicant and/or research project that may influence the outcome of their application. In particular and where able, please comment on the applicant’s academic record, the scientific excellence of the application, feasibility of the proposed research, quality of the intended supervisor/s and the relevance to community-based interventions.

Non-academic referees should comment on applicant’s qualities and character.

Please also include your contact information: employing department and institution, appointment, academic qualifications, email and telephone contacts.

Referees reports can be attached to the application or email directly to Australian Rotary Health (cheryl@arh.org.au) and received no later than the closing date of the applications: Saturday 1^st July 2023.

Checklist

• Have you answered all the questions?
• Have you confirmed that the referee reports will be forwarded to Australian Rotary Health?
• Has Section 9 been signed by the Department Head and Head of the Institution?

Are the following documents attached?

• Academic Transcript and grading system
• Curriculum Vitae