ACT Health Vacation Study Program

The ACT Health Directorate Centre for Health and Medical Research is now accepting student applications for the 2021-2022 ACT Health Vacation Study Program.

The ACT Health Vacation Study Program offers students the opportunity at the end of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year, to participate and gain experience in ACT Government-based health research. The Centre is calling for applications from students who are studying one of the following disciplines:

  • Medicine
  • Medical Science
  • Nursing and Midwifery
  • Allied Health
  • Health Economics
  • Epidemiology
  • Biostatistics
  • Value-based Healthcare
  • Other health-related disciplines

The program provides students with an opportunity to learn valuable research skills which is an important part of university study. This program promotes development of research skills in students which is becoming increasingly important in health.

Successful students will be awarded a $2500 scholarship for the six-week placement. This payment will be made as a lump sum upon completion of the program, after the student has met all reporting requirements (outlined below). All students and supervisors will be required to attend an online workshop on Friday 12 November, prior to placements commencing. Students will be required to give a presentation at this workshop, outlining the project and the planned research methodologies.

At the conclusion of the placement, students will be required to submit a project report and give an online presentation on the project at a Vacation Study Program event on Friday 11 February 2022.

2021-2022 Projects

Applications are being accepted for the following projects:

  Project title Department Supervisor
1 What are the unmet supportive care needs of men affected by testicular cancer: A systematic review SYNERGY: Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre Catherine Paterson
2 The effect of glucose-lowering therapies on exercise capacity: A systematic review Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Chris Nolan
3 Epidemiology of Rare Diseases in the ACT Epidemiology, ACT Health Directorate Glenn Draper
4 How can we increase registration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities on the Australian Organ Donor Register? Preventive and Population Health Policy, ACT Health Directorate Anita Rushall
Lauren Resnik
5 Chemotherapy usage for treatment of sarcoma at The Canberra Hospital Medical Oncology, Canberra Health Services Paul Craft
6 Refining modelling of future COVID-19 related workload in Canberra Hospital Emergency Medicine, Canberra Health Services Drew Richardson
7 SARS-CoV2 vs Zika: Who is stronger? Division of Immunity, Inflammation and Infection
JCSMR, The Australian National University 		 Si Ming Man
Anukriti Mathur
Dipti Talaulikar
8 Killer peptides – a silver bullet for antimicrobial resistant bacteria Division of Immunity, Inflammation and Infection
JCSMR, The Australian National University		 Si Ming Man
Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu
Dipti Talaulikar
9 Identifying the impact of workplace rotations in professional development programs for nurses Mental Health, Justice Health, and Alcohol & Drugs Services, and SYNERGY: Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre Michael Roche
Tash Lutz
10 The experiences and needs of women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus from identified ethnic groups in western healthcare settings: A systematic scoping review  SYNERGY: Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre Deborah Davis
11 A systematic review of the literature to better understand mental health literacy in children, adolescents and adults Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University Sonia McCallum
12 AI for COVID Prognostication Preventive and Population Health Policy, ACT Health Directorate Zakir Hossain Glenn Draper
Khandaker Asif Ahmed
13 Implementation Science Approach to Trauma-Informed Workplace for People with Disabilities Centre for Health and Medical Research, ACT Health Directorate Bruce Shadbolt
Elizabeth Moore
Meg Brighton
ACT Health Directorate People with Disability Network
14 Audit of Invasive Fungal Infection in haematology patients on antifungal prophylaxis Department of Haematology, Canberra Health Services Maya Latimer
Kathryn Daveson
15 Changing trends of postnatal steroid and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Department of Neonatology, Canberra Health Services Abdel-Latif Mohamed
16 End of life care conversations: Current junior doctor experiences Office of Education and Research, Canberra Health Services Imogen Mitchell
Brett Scholz
17 A quantitative study of health care professionals’ views and experiences of Paediatric advance care planning Advance Care Planning Service (Cancer and Ambulatory Services), Canberra Health Services Amanda Conway and Anne Knobel
18 Physical activity and brain health in prostate cancer: analysis of a prospective dataset Department of Medical Oncology, Canberra Health Services Ganes Pranavan
Ben Rattray
Nicolas Cherbuin
19 Improving outcomes through social support in pregnancy

Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW Canberra

Academic Unit of General Practice

 Karen Gardner
Kirsty Douglas
20 Measuring Quality of Death in Canberra Health Services 2021 Territory wide End of Life and Palliative Care under Cancer and Ambulatory Services, Canberra Health Services Toni Ashmore
21 Sensory Assessment and Retraining in a Rehabilitation setting Brindabella Day and Ambulatory Rehabilitation Service, Canberra Health Services Brindabella Rehabilitation Services Occupational Therapy Team
22 Utilisation of iron carboxymaltose in ACT General Practice Department of Haematology, Canberra Health Services Phillip Crispin
23 Walking in their Shoes University of Canberra Hospital
Allied Health, 
rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services, Canberra Health Services		 Rosalyn Stanton
24 Identifying gaps in the integration of heart failure management across the healthcare ecosystem Clinical Trials Unit Walter Abhayaratna
25 Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury and Nephrotoxin exposure in an Australian and New Zealand population Department of Neonatology, Canberra Health Services Amanda Dyson
Margaret Broom
26 Quantifying blood vessels in gluteal tendons Trauma and Orthopaedic Research Unit, Canberra Health Services Diana Perriman
Mitali Fadia
Alex Webb
Angie Fearon
Stephanie Woodley
27 End of life care pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people  Territory Wide End of Life and Palliative Care
Canberra Health Services		 Joyce Graham
Toni Ashmore
28 Cognitive Impairment screening – point prevalence survey Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services
Canberra Health Services		 Sean Hambrook
Chrysta Bridge
Kasia Bail
29 What does End of Life care look like for patients after a Medical Emergency Team (MET) consultation in the acute care setting? A clinical record audit Specialist Palliative and Supportive Care,  Canberra Health Services Kate Reed
Jo Lindbeck
Kasia Bail

2021-2022 Student applications

To apply for a project, please submit a student application form and your current CV to preclinical.research@act.gov.au.

2021-2022 Vacation Study Program STUDENT APPLICATION FORM.

Closing date for submissions: 5pm, Tuesday 26 October – late applications will not be accepted

Important notes

  • Students may apply for a maximum of five projects. If you wish to apply for more than one project, please complete a separate student application form for each project. Please note that you may only accept one project offer.
  • Successful students will be required to submit a satisfactory police check prior to commencing their placement. Police checks must be dated no more than three months prior to submission.
  • Successful students will also be required to complete ACT Health online essential education prior to commencing their placement.
  • Successful students are required to attend a compulsory workshop on Friday 12 November 2021.
  • At the conclusion of the placement, students are required to submit a project report and give a presentation on the project at a compulsory Vacation Study Program event on Friday 11 February 2022.

For more information

Direct enquiries to:
Cath Rollinson
Centre for Health and Medical Research
Level 6, Building 10 Canberra Hospital
Tel: (02) 5124 5257
Email: preclinical.research@act.gov.au
 

Page last updated on: 14 Oct 2021