Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunity - Integrating Hospital and Community Eye Care for Chronic Eye Disease in Western Sydney

A full-time scholarship opportunity to the value of $26,288 per annum, for up to three years is available for a suitably qualified candidate to undertake a PhD. Students are encouraged to apply for competitive scholarship funding and scholarship recipients may be eligible for a $10,000 per annum top-up (tax exempt) for up to three years.  

The project, funded by the Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW Ministry of Health and Western Sydney Local Health District, is an innovative clinical pathway established in Western Sydney for care of two major blinding eye conditions: glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. In this clinical pathway, referrals to Westmead Hospital eye clinic will be triaged by an optometrist led assessment centre.  This PhD will involve mapping the stakeholder consultation with patients, service providers, hospitals and policy networks to inform the implementation of this new clinical pathway. Analyses of patient throughput, economic analyses of cost-effectiveness of task shifting and the impact of integrated feedback between the triage optometrist, eye clinic and referring practitioner are areas which can be explored in this thesis.  Ultimately, this new clinical pathway will improve access to public hospital ophthalmic services through establishment of an effective triage system operating between tertiary hospital and eyecare providers in the community.  This work will inform innovation in health policy in this area.

Applicants should hold an appropriate Honours 1 or high 2A (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in related discipline and/or professional experience in health policy and research.  A Masters level qualification in public health, health policy or health administration, would be an advantage. Applicants must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens.

All applications must be sent to A/Prof Lisa Keay and should include a cover letter, current Curriculum Vitae, copy of academic transcripts, proof of citizenship or permanent residency and the names and contact details of at least two referees.  

This opportunity is also posted on the University of Sydney: http://agile2.ucc.usyd.edu.au/ro/opportunities/scholarships/1665 

We are reviewing applications as we receive them, so apply now!