Deadline: 27-Jul-2026
The Clinical Practice Post-Graduate Stipend Program supports Australian health professionals undertaking a PhD in dementia research to build research-focused careers while continuing clinical practice. The program provides $30,000 in funding over one to two years to support salary backfill and research-related activities that contribute to improving dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and outcomes in Australia.
Program Overview
The Clinical Practice Post-Graduate Stipend Program is designed to strengthen Australia’s dementia research workforce by supporting health professionals pursuing doctoral studies in dementia-related fields. The program aims to encourage clinicians and other health professionals to develop research expertise while contributing to advancements in dementia understanding, care, treatment, and prevention.
The stipend enables recipients to undertake part-time or full-time PhD research at an Australian university while maintaining connections to clinical practice. By supporting emerging clinician-researchers, the program seeks to bridge the gap between research and healthcare delivery, ensuring that scientific discoveries translate into improved outcomes for people living with dementia.
Focus Areas
Applications are encouraged across a broad range of dementia research topics, including:
- Understanding the biological, genetic, environmental, and social causes of dementia.
- Developing strategies to reduce dementia risk and delay disease progression.
- Improving early, accurate, and timely diagnosis of dementia.
- Testing and evaluating potential treatments for specific dementia sub-types.
- Enhancing treatment approaches and care models for people living with dementia.
- Improving quality of life and support services for individuals, carers, and families affected by dementia.
- Increasing awareness and understanding of the rights, needs, and lived experiences of people living with dementia.
- Supporting research that contributes toward finding a cure for dementia.
- Advancing evidence-based healthcare practices through knowledge translation and implementation research.
Research may be undertaken across biomedical, clinical, psychosocial, public health, health services, or knowledge translation disciplines.
Funding Information
The Clinical Practice Post-Graduate Stipend provides:
- Funding amount: $30,000.
- Funding duration: One to two years.
- Funding purpose:
- Salary backfill to support research participation.
- Research-related expenses associated with PhD studies.
- Scholarship flexibility:
- May be held alongside another scholarship or funding source, subject to program conditions.
The funding is intended to help health professionals balance research training with professional and clinical responsibilities.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be an Australian-based health professional.
- Be currently enrolled in, or intending to undertake, a part-time or full-time PhD at an Australian university.
- Conduct research related to dementia.
- Hold professional qualifications and be employed as a health professional before the commencement of the award.
- Be one of the following:
- Australian citizen.
- New Zealand citizen residing in Australia.
- Permanent resident of Australia.
- Have support from an Australian university.
- Obtain endorsement from an appropriately qualified supervisor.
Applicants holding temporary work visas are not eligible to apply.
Supervisor and University Requirements
Each application must include support from a qualified supervisor and an Australian university.
Supervisor responsibilities include:
- Providing appropriate research facilities and academic support.
- Monitoring and overseeing research progress.
- Supporting candidate development and training.
- Ensuring high-quality research supervision throughout the PhD program.
The supervisory team should include suitable academic expertise relevant to the proposed research area.
Multidisciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged and may involve:
- Statisticians.
- Health economists.
- Public health researchers.
- Clinical researchers.
- Policy makers.
- Community stakeholders.
- People living with dementia.
- Family members and carers.
Meaningful engagement with people affected by dementia can strengthen research relevance, impact, and real-world application.
How to Apply
- Confirm eligibility as an Australian-based health professional.
- Identify a dementia research topic aligned with the program’s objectives.
- Secure admission to, or enrolment in, a PhD program at an Australian university.
- Develop a research proposal outlining objectives, methodology, and expected impact.
- Obtain endorsement from a qualified academic supervisor.
- Assemble a supervisory team with appropriate expertise.
- Gather supporting documentation required by the funding program.
- Demonstrate how the proposed research will contribute to dementia knowledge, care, treatment, prevention, or policy.
- Submit the completed application before the program deadline.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Dementia is one of the most significant health and ageing challenges facing Australia and many countries worldwide. Improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care requires a strong pipeline of clinician-researchers who can translate scientific evidence into practical healthcare solutions.
This stipend supports the development of future research leaders by enabling health professionals to undertake advanced research training while remaining connected to clinical practice. The program also promotes collaboration across disciplines, helping generate evidence that can improve outcomes for people living with dementia, their carers, families, and communities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without meeting citizenship or residency requirements.
- Failing to demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed project and dementia research.
- Submitting applications without confirmed supervisory support.
- Providing insufficient detail about research objectives and expected impact.
- Neglecting multidisciplinary collaboration opportunities.
- Failing to explain how the research will benefit people living with dementia or the broader healthcare system.
- Submitting incomplete documentation or missing required endorsements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can apply for the Clinical Practice Post-Graduate Stipend Program?
Australian-based health professionals who are enrolled in or planning to undertake a PhD in dementia research at an Australian university may apply, provided they meet citizenship or residency requirements and obtain supervisor support.
How much funding is available?
Successful applicants can receive up to $30,000 to support salary backfill and research-related activities over a period of one to two years.
Can the stipend be combined with another scholarship?
Yes. The stipend may be held alongside another scholarship, allowing recipients to access additional financial support during their doctoral studies.
What research areas are eligible?
The program supports all areas of dementia research, including biomedical, clinical, psychosocial, public health, health services, and knowledge translation research.
Are temporary visa holders eligible?
No. Applicants holding temporary work visas are not eligible for the program.
Is supervisor endorsement required?
Yes. Applications must include endorsement from a qualified supervisor and support from an Australian university with appropriate academic oversight arrangements.
Why is multidisciplinary collaboration encouraged?
Complex dementia challenges often require expertise from multiple disciplines. Collaboration with researchers, clinicians, policy makers, statisticians, health economists, and people with lived experience can improve research quality, relevance, and real-world impact.
Conclusion
The Clinical Practice Post-Graduate Stipend Program provides valuable support for Australian health professionals seeking to build research careers in dementia. With funding of $30,000 over one to two years, the program enables PhD candidates to undertake impactful research that advances dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and quality of life. By investing in clinician-researchers and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, the program contributes to stronger dementia research capacity and better outcomes for people living with dementia and their families.
For more information, visit Dementia Australia Research Foundation.