PhD Creative and Transformative Engagement with Music for Health and Wellbeing in First Nations Communities

This HDR project (Master or PhD level) focuses on music and wellbeing in Australia’s First Nations communities. The project is interested in uses of creativity and music to contribute to ageing well. It contributes to a larger ARC-funded project with the theme: creative ageing through transformative engagement with music.

In non-First Nations communities, engaging with meaningful music activities has been shown to empower older adults. Your project will bring to the wider project important knowledge on how First Nations communities use music to support social connectedness, lifelong learning, empowerment and wellbeing.

What would the HDR focus on: Australia’s older population is rapidly growing, and there is an urgent need to enhance the quality of life of older adults in community and aged-care settings in sustainable ways. Recent research shows that the arts can support longer lives that are better lived. Music is perhaps the most promising of the arts in this respect. The project examines existing music groups open to older adults in Australia. It seeks to identify key ingredients and mechanisms that make participation in such groups transformative.

The HDR project is crucial to the study in focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities and their music. Under the guidance and supervision of the lead investigator, you will develop a culturally-sensitive and participatory approach to learn from selected First Nations communities and their music making. Your findings will contribute to the overall project and also constitute your own thesis project. What are the preferred attributes of an applicant? A relevant undergraduate degree, such as in music, creative and performing arts, psychology, health sciences or sociology. A strong interest in music and a connection to country and culture.

PhD Scholarship details

Funding: $28,854 per annum (2022 rate) indexed annually. For a PhD candidate, the living allowance scholarship is for 3.5 years and the tuition fee scholarship is for four years. For an MPhil candidate, the living allowance and tuition fee scholarships are two years. Scholarships also include up to $1,500 relocation allowance.

Supervisor: Associate Professor Helen English

Available to: Domestic students

Either PhD or MPhil

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

Preferred expertise in:

• music and/or dance
• a health science or psychology or sociology degree

The applicant will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria  for admission.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project.

Please send the email expressing interest to Helen.English@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 11 February 2023.