If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisors.
Impact of food voucher programs
Applications close 31 August 2026
Supporting a PhD candidate to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of food voucher programs in Australia.
Key details
Project supervisor
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
This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to explore the impact, and value for money of food voucher programs in Australia.
This project will be embedded within an NHMRC funded food voucher trial (FOOD VITAL). The PhD project aims to:
- Explore the varied impacts across a range of interest-holders of food vouchers for healthy and culturally appropriate food
- Explore novel methods to support economic evaluation and decision-making for healthy food retail and social programs (e.g. using automated sales reporting, methods to value social benefits such as food security, community connectedness and mental wellbeing)
- Using social return on investment methodology, model the health and economic costs and benefits associated with the scaled implementation of a food voucher program amongst low-income communities in Australia
Background information
Food insecurity is a risk factor for all forms of malnutrition and related chronic disease. The global prevalence of food insecurity has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Foodbank estimated that almost 1 in 2 Australians felt anxious about being able to afford sufficient healthy food.
Emergency food relief programs have been the primary community response to food insecurity in Australia but are limited by available funding, often limit food choice and have been perceived to be stigmatising by people who use them. As such, alternative economic supports are needed to support people to access affordable healthy foods.
In Australia, additional rigorous research is needed to bridge knowledge and data gaps surrounding the effectiveness of food voucher programs for improving nutrition, food security, social and economic outcomes among priority populations – with a view to inform policy prioritisation by governments and ongoing investment from public, private and philanthropic sectors. Our research has been collaboratively co-designed with community and government partners to generate evidence and practical resources to support effective program implementation and scale-up.
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.
Additional requirements:
- postgraduate degree or experience in Public Health, Health Economics or equivalent
- strong quantitative research skills
Ready to apply?
Please email your CV and cover letter (including your interest in the project) to A/Prof Jaithri Ananthapavan. 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.
