Western Alliance Industry Scholarship

Developing a best practice, preoperative exercise therapy 'prehabilitiation' model for prostate, colorectal and breast cancel patients in the Grampians region of Victoria. 

Scholarship value: $30,000 per year stipend to support living costs and a Research Training Program (RTP) fee scholarship valued at $28,200 per annum.
Project support: $2000 per year

Application form and project details: Western Alliance Scholarship Application

This research project will partner Western Alliance Regional Research Consortium with FedUni's research priority area in transformative and preventative health.

FedUni's transformative and preventative health research group focuses their research efforts on developing new solutions that improve knowledge of disease for the betterment of healthcare.

Western Alliance Health Research Ltd is a registered charity, that represents the partnership of the 12 major health service organisations operating across the western region of Victoria, Deakin University and Federation University. Western Alliance was established in 2014 to improve the impact, quality and quantity of health research, education and training in the western region.

This project will collaborate with Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) and Western Alliance Regional Research Consortium to generate new knowledge on the feasibility and effectiveness of ‘prehabilitation’ to improve post-operative physical function (CRF) and health outcomes for cancer patients in the Ballarat and Grampians Region of Victoria.

The successful candidate will be required to participate in an industry placement during their candidature.

Principal Supervisor: Professor Fergal Grace, PhD is an Exercise Physiologist with track record of successful clinical research collaboration. Fergal is currently registered as a principal supervisor and has 14 PhD completions. He is on the supervisory panel for 2 current PhD students at FedUni and one external (Glasgow, UK). Three of his PhD graduates hold consultant (cardiology; endocrinology) positions with the NHS, United Kingdom. During and since his post-doctoral fellowship at the Wales Heart Research Institute, UK, he has continued to work productively in clinical and applied research.

Associate Supervisor: Dr Matthew Wallen, PhD is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and early career researcher who completed his PhD studies at University of Queensland (2017) in the topic of exercise therapy in liver transplant. He is registered with associate supervisor status.

Industry Supervisor: Dr Stephen Brown MD, is Clinical Director of Medical Oncology at Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). Dr Brown is a medical oncologist and experienced clinical educator who undertook clinical research fellowship at the Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre at the Austin. He has supported the development of the clinical trials unit at BRICC and is well positioned to contribute to a programme of world class research.

How to apply:

Prospective candidates should indicate on the Application for Admission Form that they are applying for the Western Alliance Industry scholarship.

The Application for Admission Form is available on the FedUni HDR Apply page. All applicants should check their eligibility prior to applying.

Applications should include all relevant supporting documentation and FedUni must receive completed referee report forms by the scholarship closing date, Friday 29th June. As part of their application, prospective Higher Degree by Research applicants are also required to provide:

  • Western Alliance Scholarship Application
  • Application for Admission Form
  • Transcripts of all tertiary level academic study
  • Australian citizens must provide a copy of their birth certificate or passport
  • Permanent Residents must provide a copy of their visa and passport
  • List of published work with url links and/or copy of each publication
  • Copy of honours or masters thesis abstract
  • Evidence for Australian honours equivalency, if applicable.
  • Any awards or accolades
  • Any other evidence of research performance