Krysten Blackford

PhD / Masters by Research opportunity in vaccine hesitancy and health promotion at Curtin University, Australia. This project, titled The Privilege Paradox of Vaccine Hesitancy in Australia , investigates why some socioeconomically advantaged communities show lower vaccination uptake and higher vaccine hesitancy. The research sits at the intersection of public health , health promotion , psychology , sociology , and behavioural science , with a strong focus on social determinants of health, risk perception, and community decision-making. The project will use a mixed-methods and participatory approach to examine how privilege, trust, information sources, alternative health ecosystems, and social networks shape vaccine attitudes among high-SES Australians. It aims to generate evidence-informed, culturally appropriate health promotion strategies that can improve vaccine confidence and support more equitable public health responses. Funding: The opportunity is supported by the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship and includes a full tuition fee offset, living stipend, and research support. The post also mentions an internship component and industry connections through Curtin’s Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH). Eligibility: Open to domestic and international applicants. Ideal candidates will have an Honours degree or research Masters, a strong academic record, and backgrounds in public health, health promotion, psychology, sociology, or related disciplines. Experience or interest in qualitative research, mixed methods, co-design, community engagement, and policy-relevant research is highly desirable. Application window: RTP expressions of interest are open in July. Institution: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.