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Industry PhD Scholarship Foodbank WA

ECU is seeking a PhD candidate to undertake research in the School of Education in conjunction with our industry partner, Foodbank WA. The Foodbank WA School Breakfast Program (SBP) is highly valued by all key stakeholders, as documented by the ECU-led longitudinal evaluation of the SBP. Foodbank WA now wants to investigate why the impact of the SBP is greater in some school communities than others and determine ways to further improve the support provided by WA schools for students affected by poverty or social disadvantage. The successful PhD candidate will receive a 3-year scholarship for a stipend of $29,000 per year (full-time), with possible 6-month extension. The PhD is funded by ECU and Foodbank WA, with funding support from Cricket Australia and Telethon WA.

Important dates

Opens: 15-03-2022 Closes: 15-05-2022

Applies to

Domestic Postgraduate Research

At a glance

This project, supported by a full time Industry PhD Scholarship, will develop and trial a self-reflection tool and evaluative model for conducting Social Return on Investment for schools that access the Foodbank WA School Breakfast Program.

The Project

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is delivered through Foodbank WA (FBWA) to schools throughout WA which identify as having students experiencing economic or social disadvantage. Each week FBWA delivers breakfast to over 21,000 students. Increasingly, government is paying more attention to the social return on investment (SROI) than just the monetary value of the SBP. Working with researchers from the School of Education and Foodbank WA, the successful candidate will develop and trial a conceptual framework and self-reflection tool for schools and an evaluative SROI model for the SBP that will enable key stakeholders (schools, communities, government) to identify:

  • the positive economic and social consequences resulting from the SBP;
  • the school environmental and cultural factors that contribute to the positive consequences; and
  • the gaps in the delivery of the SBP at school- or system-level preventing maximum SROI for the overall program.

Eligibility guidelines

Candidates are required to have the following skills, qualifications and attributes in order to undertake the project:

  • First class/upper second class Honours or Master by Research qualification in education, public health or similar.
  • Communication skills to successfully engage with school communities and stakeholders.
  • Experience in working with schools, particularly within vulnerable communities.
  • Strong research and academic writing skills.
  • An interest in Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology and willingness to undertake the accredited 2-day SROI training course.
  • Willingness to travel to regional areas of WA to conduct field work.

How to apply

Please send an expression of interest to Dr Cath Ferguson at c.ferguson@ecu.edu.au

Please put ‘Industry PhD Scholarship’ in the email subject line and include the following with your expression of interest:

  • A brief description of your suitability for the scholarship.
  • A brief CV that includes your contact details.
  • The names of two professional referees.
  • Academic transcript(s).
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