If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisors.
Alcohol in the Digital Age
Applications will remain open until a candidate has been appointed
Supporting a PhD candidate to investigate alcohol access pathways among young Australians and their associations with mental and physical health outcomes.
Key details
Project supervisor
Deakin school and faculty
Additional supervisors
Location
Melbourne Burwood Campus
Value and duration
This scholarship is available over three years and offers:
- a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
- a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
Research aim
The project aims to identify and evaluate the risks and impacts of alcohol access pathways on the mental and physical health of adolescents and young adults. The student will use a living systematic review (as part of the Living Knowledge Systematic Review Register established by our team) to identify current research gaps in knowledge on alcohol access and mental and physical health in youth. More specifically, to identify the primary methods of alcohol access among young people in Australia, with a focus on current trends in online access to alcohol, and associated evidence on mental and physical health outcomes. This project will also utilise data from the Triple B Longitudinal Cohort Study to describe the contemporary patterns of alcohol access in Australian youth, and examine their relationship with physical and mental health in young people. The Triple B Cohort has followed over 1,600 families since pregnancy that examines a range of biopsychosocial factors that relate to the health and development of children and families.
The successful candidate will achieve the research aims via a variety of research modalities including the development of an independent research project and producing high-quality outputs including conference papers, co-authored journal articles, and a dissertation.
Background information
Alcohol use remains a major contributor to the global burden of disease among young people. In Australia, alcohol is the leading cause of total burden of disease among males aged 15–24 years, and the second leading cause among females of the same age group. High rates of alcohol use and risky drinking are in turn associated with a range of short and long-term harmful outcomes.
Rapid growth in digital platforms has transformed how alcohol is marketed, sold, and accessed by young people. The proliferation of digital platforms has led to new ways for alcohol marketing and sales to target youth, such as online sales and rapid delivery services. These methods of access are increasingly common in underage teens, given mechanisms to monitor purchaser age are either lacking or poorly regulated. However, alcohol access in youth, especially in the digital age, and how they are related to the physical and mental health outcomes remain unclear. Understanding the evolving landscape of youth drinking and alcohol access in the digital age is critical to informing public health efforts to reduce short- and long-term harms.
The project partners with consumers and national leaders in youth substance use and health including headspace, the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY).
Am I eligible?
To be eligible you must:
- meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
- enrol full time
- hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard masters degree with a substantial research component
- be a domestic student candidate (domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency, or New Zealand Citizenship)
Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.
Ready to apply?
Please email an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the research team directly. Please include your CV, a 1-page cover letter outlining your interest in the project, academic transcript and an example of your written work (e.g., journal article, report or student assignment) to Jemima Robinson Lake. Your CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If successful, you will be invited to submit a formal application.
Research degree entry requirements
Set yourself up for success. Each type of Deakin research degree has specific entry requirements designed to ensure that graduate researchers are well prepared for the challenges of advanced study.
Contact us
Email Jemima Robinson Lake
