This funded PhD scholarship, offered through the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) RESTORE, focuses on studying mental health outcomes of sexual violence for the LGBTQ+ community. The project addresses the disproportionate impact of sexual violence on sexual minority groups and aims to transform health systems to better restore wellbeing and enhance access to healing for survivors. Sexual violence is a major public health issue in Australia, with significant links to anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, substance misuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. The societal health and economic burden of sexual violence exceeds that of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or HIV.

Despite the need, specialist services are unable to meet demand, and health sector responses are often inadequate or retraumatising. The RESTORE CRE seeks to develop trauma-and-violence-informed interventions and embed responsive care across the health sector. The PhD candidate will use quantitative analysis of up to seven datasets (>75,000 participants), performing data management, harmonisation, and advanced statistical analyses such as descriptive statistics, generalised linear models, and structural equation models. The student will be based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute on the John Hunter Hospital campus, with support from the Centre for Women’s Health Research and access to expertise and networking through RESTORE CRE, administered by the University of Melbourne.

Supervisors include Professors Deb Loxton and Liz Holliday (University of Newcastle) and Professor Laura Tarzia (University of Melbourne). The scholarship provides $37,440 per annum (2025 rate), indexed annually, for 3.5 years, covering living allowance, tuition fees, and up to $1,500 relocation allowance. Applicants should have a background in biostatistics, epidemiology, health behaviour research, sociology, psychology, or allied health, with experience in quantitative analysis and statistical software.

Excellent organisational, communication, and time management skills are required, as well as self-motivation. Domestic applicants only; those with lived experience of sexual violence or connections to LGBTQ+ communities are highly valued. Applications close 15 December 2025.