Building Victoria's research translation capability
The Translational Research PhD Fellowship Program supports doctoral researchers to undertake projects that address priority challenges facing Victoria's health system.
Established by the Department of Health and now managed by Safer Care Victoria, the program connects fellows with health system leaders, government policy teams and academic partners to ensure their research addresses real-world healthcare priorities and needs.
The program strengthens Victoria's capacity to use research to inform healthcare improvement, policy and service delivery.
Research focus areas
Fellowship projects align with Safer Care Victoria's Translational Research Priorities and address a range of priority health and health system challenges.
Population and Public Health Priorities
Mental health and wellbeing
Research exploring evidence-based approaches that promote mental health and wellbeing and improve access to community-based care.
Climate change and health
Research strengthening understanding of climate-related health impacts in Victoria, including mosquito-borne diseases and associated health system impacts.
Health service delivery and system capability priorities
Integrated and person-centred care
Research informing models of care that better meet community needs and improve healthcare experiences and outcomes.
Neurodiversity and healthcare
Research focusing on improving health system responsiveness and care experiences for neurodivergent people and their carers, particularly in rural and regional settings.
Sex and gender differences in healthcare
Research examining how healthcare systems can better address sex and gender differences in health outcomes and service delivery.
How the program works
Each fellow undertakes a doctoral research project aligned with the Department of Health’s translational research priorities.
Fellows are embedded within relevant areas of the Department of Health or its independent statutory entity, the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW).
They work alongside industry and academic supervisors, policy leaders and subject matter experts.
This model helps ensure research is informed by health system and population health priorities while creating opportunities for findings to influence policy, practice and service improvement.
The program is delivered in partnership with Victoria's Research Translation Centres:
- Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH)
- Monash Partners
- Western Alliance
Together with four participating universities, health services and research institutes, these partnerships strengthen connections between health research, healthcare delivery and government.
Program aims
The program aims to:
- strengthen engagement between researchers and the Victorian health system
- build research and translation capability across the health sector
- support emerging researchers to undertake policy-relevant research
- promote collaboration between universities, health services and government
- accelerate the translation of new and emerging health evidence into healthcare improvement.
Program status
The Translational Research PhD Fellowship Program is currently supporting existing fellows and is not accepting applications.
Contact
For enquiries about the Translational Research PhD Fellowship Program, please email research@safercare.vic.gov.au.