"Expressions of Interest - PhD Student (Frailty Work Package 2 Co-design) | Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine"

PhD in Health (Frailty Work Package 2 Co-design)

About the position

As Australia's first private University, Bond University based at Robina, Gold Coast seeks to be recognised internationally as a leading independent university, imbued with a spirit to innovate, a commitment to influence and a dedication to inspire tomorrow's professionals who share a personalised and transformational student experience.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student

Bond University, Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine

Position title: PhD in Health (Frailty Work Package 2 Co-design)

The Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare and the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine is calling for expressions of interest from health graduates wishing to complete a PhD. 

Project description

This PhD opportunity is part of a research project funded by an MRFF Multidisciplinary Models of Primary Care Stream 2-3, which aims to integrate frailty measurement into primary care systems in Australia and deliver novel decision-support tools to enable comprehensive frailty management. 

Frailty is one of the most significant challenges to health and well-being for older community dwellers in Australia. More than 20% of Australians become frail as they age, with poorer quality of life and increased risk of disability, admission to hospital, nursing home placement and death. Multicomponent interventions can reduce frailty and improve outcomes; however, since frailty is not routinely identified in primary care, patients and health care professionals are unable to make frailty-informed decisions about treatment and care options. Furthermore, barriers to access and implementation have prevented these proven frailty interventions from being standardised or embedded into health practice at scale. 

The future candidate will be joining a world-class team of researchers and clinicians in primary care and geriatrics led by Professor Mark Morgan (General Practitioner and chair of the RACGP Expert Committee for Quality Care) and Professor Ruth Hubbard (Geriatrician and Founder & Director of the Australia Frailty Network).  

This program of work will directly lead to better clinical practice, patient experience, and health outcomes for older people in Australia's primary care system.

The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to develop skills in co-design, qualitative research and implementation science. The candidate will be supported by experts in ageing and geriatric medicine, qualitative research, implementation science, and primary care research.

This PhD project may involve: 

• Using co-design methodology to create a toolkit for implementing frailty-focused interventions in primary care, with primary care practitioners (GPs, PNs, and allied health) and older persons and their carers.
• The toolkit will include lifestyle-focused aspects of preventing and managing frailty – including physical activity, nutrition, and social prescribing.
• Designing and implementing evidence-based interventions and the communication and delivery of the toolkit with patients from perspective of GPs and PNs.
• Conducting a process evaluation of the implementation of the toolkit.

About the person

Selection criteria for the opportunity includes the following:

Essential: 

• A bachelors in a health-related area, with a preference for a clinician training program (e.g., medicine, nursing, or allied health)
• Excellent analysis and writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills – including the ability to communicate effectively with clinicians and patients
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team
• Evidence of project management and organisational skills, including the ability to achieve goals and deliver outcomes within a specified time period
• A strong knowledge of the Australian primary care system
• Previous experience conducting research and/or quality improvement projects

Desirable: 

• Experience working in primary care as a clinician or administration
• Demonstrated interest in the research area
• Experience undertaking a substantial research project (e.g., Masters thesis or Honours thesis)
• Publication in a peer-reviewed journal
• Presentation of research at a conference or scientific meeting
• Capacity to seek external funding with support from supervisors 

Salary details

Candidates will receive high quality, personalised supervision and access to the full range of facilities available to Bond University students, successful applicants will be entitled to the following benefits:

• Tuition fee waiver: The Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) scheme provides tuition fee waivers for eligible Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents enrolled in higher degree programs such as a PhD. The tuition waiver lasts the duration of the program.
• Stipend: This is a National Health and Medical Research Council funded project with a living stipend allocated for the successful PhD applicant for up to three (3) years.
• Employment opportunities: The successful applicant may also be provided with employment opportunities such as tutoring or research assistant work within the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare and/or Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine dependent upon prior experience. Employment will be subject to the conditions of the PhD program and the terms of any scholarship awarded.

Additional information

For all enquiries related to this position, please contact HSMResearch@bond.edu.au

Application and submission details

Please submit your expression of interest via the Bond University application portal.

Your EOI must include:

• The title of the position you are applying for.
• A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing your interest in the research project and proposed research topic.
• A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria set out above.
• A current curriculum vitae including the names of two academic referees.
• Your academic transcripts.
• An example of your written academic work (e.g. Honours thesis, peer-reviewed journal article, or academic research projects)

Early applications are encouraged before the closing date of Friday, 16 January 2026.