PhD Scholarship

PhD Scholarship Opportunity: School Can’t: Developing Parent and Child Knowledge into Transformational Change

This PhD scholarship is focused on education, neurodiversity, disability, and inclusive schooling. The project investigates the lived experiences of children and families affected by School Can’t (also known as school refusal) and asks how parent and child knowledge can inform transformational change in policy and practice.

The successful candidate will develop and lead an original qualitative or mixed-methods PhD project under the supervision of Dr Cris Townley, Dr Caroline Mills, and Professor Gerard Goggin. The scholarship is based in the School of Health Sciences at Western Sydney University, with access to the research environments of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) and the Transforming Early Education and Child Health Research Centre (TeACH).

Research themes include the experiences of children and families impacted by School Can’t, the role of lived experience in educational change, and the intersection of neurodiversity with geography, socio-economic status, gender, and ethnicity. The project is especially relevant for applicants interested in inclusive education, child and family wellbeing, and policy/practice reform.

Funding includes a tax-free stipend of AUD 35,188 per year for up to three years, plus support for conference attendance, fieldwork, and professional development.

Application deadline: 31 July 2026.

For enquiries about eligibility, project requirements, or the application process, contact Dr Cris Townley at [email protected]. Full application details are referenced in the linked post/image.