La Trobe University is offering a prestigious PhD scholarship opportunity for a doctoral researcher interested in family violence, family court systems, cultural safety, Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse families, child and family wellbeing, and long-term safety outcomes.

The scholarship forms part of a major Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project examining how safety from domestic and family violence develops and changes for parents involved in family court litigation. The successful PhD candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to an important body of research investigating what helps parents and children move from situations of high risk toward sustained safety, particularly among First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) families.

The PhD will be based at La Trobe University and will be supported by experienced researchers from the University’s Bouverie Centre, alongside cultural consultants and collaborators connected with the Australian family court system.

PhD Scholarship Overview

This doctoral opportunity is particularly suited to applicants who are passionate about understanding family violence and improving outcomes for families navigating complex legal, social and service systems.

The research will focus on experiences of safety among First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse parents who have been involved in family court proceedings.

Rather than looking only at the presence of family violence or the level of risk experienced by families, the research seeks to understand a broader and equally important question:

What helps families become safer after initially being identified as being at high risk?

The successful candidate will investigate the personal, family, cultural, community, service and court-related factors that may contribute to improved and sustained safety.

This is an opportunity to undertake doctoral research that combines academic research with real-world implications for family courts, family violence services, communities, parents and children.

Scholarship Value

The scholarship provides:

• $36,000 per year
• Funding for 3.5 years
• Full-time PhD study
• Research opportunities connected to a major ARC-funded Discovery Project
• Supervision from experienced researchers in family violence, family court processes and research methodology
• Opportunities to develop expertise in culturally appropriate research methods
• Access to the research environment of La Trobe University’s Bouverie Centre
• Opportunities to contribute to research intended to improve safety outcomes for families involved in the family law system

The scholarship is funded through La Trobe University’s contribution to the ARC Discovery Project.

About the ARC Discovery Project

The PhD is connected to the Australian Research Council Discovery Project titled:

“Enhancing Safety from Family Violence Through and Beyond Family Court Litigation.”

The wider project will investigate experiences of safety from domestic and family violence among parents involved in Australia’s family court system.

The project is designed to follow families over a period of four years after entry into the family court system, allowing researchers to examine what happens not only while families are under the supervision of the court but also after the court’s direct involvement decreases or ends.

This longer-term approach is important because safety can change over time. A family that is considered high risk when entering court may experience different circumstances several months or years later.

The research therefore seeks to understand:

• How safety changes over time.
• Which factors are associated with improved safety.
• Which factors are associated with continued risk.
• Whether court-based triage processes contribute to improved safety.
• How family, cultural, personal and social circumstances influence safety.
• How court management and family circumstances interact.
• What parents themselves identify as contributing to improved safety.
• What personal and service-related costs are associated with achieving sustained safety.

Focus of the PhD Research

The PhD will specifically investigate Research Question 2d of the wider ARC Discovery Project:

“To what do First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parents attribute improved safety after initial high risk?”

The doctoral candidate will have an opportunity to refine the precise research questions in collaboration with the supervisory team.

The research may explore several important areas.

1. Factors that support sustained safety

The research will examine the factors that help families achieve and maintain safety.

These factors could include:

• Family relationships.
• Community support.
• Cultural connections.
• Access to appropriate services.
• Personal circumstances.
• Social support.
• Interactions with government and statutory systems.
• Family court processes.
• Safety planning.
• Service responses to family violence.
• Connections to country and community.
• Experiences of children and parents.
• Access to culturally appropriate support.

The study will consider whether these factors operate differently for First Nations families and culturally and linguistically diverse families.

2. Experiences of mothers following high-risk assessments

Another important aspect of the research concerns how First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse mothers experience safety when they have previously been identified as being at high risk.

The research will seek to understand their experiences over time rather than examining safety at only one point.

This can provide a deeper understanding of how circumstances change during and after family court proceedings.

3. Parents’ explanations of improved safety

The PhD will also explore how parents themselves explain changes in their circumstances.

Instead of relying exclusively on professional assessments or administrative data, the research will provide an opportunity for parents to describe:

• What changed in their lives.
• What they believe helped them become safer.
• Which services were helpful.
• Which services were difficult or harmful.
• The role of family and community.
• The importance of culture.
• The role of country and connection.
• Their experiences with the family court.
• Their interactions with statutory systems.
• Their experiences after court involvement decreased.
• What helped them protect themselves and their children.

This approach is intended to provide a richer understanding of family safety from the perspective of people who have experienced these circumstances themselves.

Expected Research Approaches and Methods

The PhD is expected to use several complementary research approaches.

The successful candidate will work with the supervisory team to refine the research questions and develop culturally informed methodologies appropriate for the study population.

The proposed PhD-by-publication may involve three major approaches.

1. Review of global Family Court practices

The first component may involve examining family court practices internationally.

The research will investigate practices involving Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse populations that seek to improve:

• Cultural safety.
• Physical safety.
• Psychological safety.
• Family safety.
• Access to justice.
• Appropriate engagement with court processes.
• Support for parents and children.
• Responsiveness to cultural and community contexts.

This component could help identify practices that may contribute to safer experiences for families throughout family court litigation.

2. Analysis of existing research data

The second component will involve analysis of data that has already been collected.

The available dataset contains information on 214 First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parents and their initial safety profiles when they entered the court system.

The candidate may compare these initial safety profiles with those of non-Indigenous parents and examine patterns that could contribute to understanding differences in risk and safety.

This provides an opportunity for the PhD candidate to develop advanced skills in research data analysis and interpretation.

3. Yarning and narrative approaches

The third component is expected to involve a yarning approach with existing cohort participants.

Yarning can provide an opportunity for participants to share their experiences through culturally appropriate forms of conversation.

In this research, the approach is intended to help participants tell their unfolding stories of safety over time.

The research will explore the role of:

• Community.
• Country.
• Family.
• Service systems.
• Government and statutory systems.
• Family courts.
• Personal experiences.
• Relationships.
• Cultural identity and connection.
• Experiences of risk and safety.

Other narrative methods may also be considered.

The project specifically notes that approaches such as drawings and artwork are encouraged where appropriate.

This creates an opportunity for the research to move beyond conventional interview-based methods and explore ways of allowing participants to communicate experiences of safety in forms that are meaningful to them.

Why This PhD Research Is Important

Domestic and family violence can have long-lasting effects on parents and children, particularly when families are involved in complex legal proceedings.

Family court litigation can itself be a challenging experience, especially for people who are already dealing with violence, trauma, separation, parenting disputes and concerns about the safety of their children.

For First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse families, additional cultural, social and systemic considerations may influence how they experience the court system and services around it.

Understanding these experiences is therefore essential for developing approaches that are not only legally appropriate but also culturally responsive and genuinely focused on safety.

The research could contribute to improved understanding of:

• How families move from high-risk circumstances toward greater safety.
• Why some families experience improved outcomes while others continue to experience risk.
• How culture influences experiences of safety.
• How community and family relationships contribute to wellbeing.
• How service systems can better support families.
• How family courts can respond more effectively to diverse communities.
• How culturally appropriate research methods can improve understanding of family violence.
• How parents and children can be better supported during and after court proceedings.

Research Supervisors

The PhD candidate will be supervised by a multidisciplinary research team with expertise in family violence, family relationships, research methodology and family court-related research.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Anna Booth

Dr Anna Booth will serve as the Primary Supervisor for the PhD project.

Co-Supervisors

The candidate will also be supported by:

• Dr Felicity Painter
• Professor Jennifer McIntosh

Together, the supervisors will provide expertise in research methodology, analysis and the broader field of family violence and family court research.

They will also assist the candidate in developing research outputs and publishing findings from the project.

Cultural Support and Research Mentoring

An important feature of this PhD opportunity is the emphasis on culturally appropriate research.

The candidate will receive cultural support and consultation from Alison Elliott, Bouverie’s First Nations team leader.

The research team will also encourage links with the Family Courts’ Indigenous Advisor at the Melbourne Registry.

This support is particularly relevant because the project involves research with First Nations families and requires approaches that are respectful, culturally informed and appropriate for the communities involved.

The candidate will also be mentored in early-career research through the Bouverie Centre at La Trobe University.

They will receive support in developing knowledge of:

• Domestic and family violence theory.
• Family court research.
• Research methodology.
• Culturally appropriate research.
• Qualitative research approaches.
• Quantitative data analysis.
• Narrative research.
• Academic writing.
• Research publication.
• Working collaboratively with community and professional stakeholders.

Who Can Apply?

This scholarship is available to domestic applicants only.

The opportunity is particularly encouraging applications from:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who meet the University’s PhD candidature requirements.
• Applicants whose proposed research aligns closely with the project’s focus on Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse Australian families.

The project states that if a suitable First Nations or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse candidate is not available, applications from other students whose research interests align with the project’s goals may also be considered.

Academic and Research Fit

This opportunity may be particularly suitable for applicants with academic or professional interests in areas such as:

• Nursing and health sciences.
• Public health.
• Social work.
• Psychology.
• Sociology.
• Indigenous studies.
• Family studies.
• Social policy.
• Criminology.
• Law and family law.
• Child and family wellbeing.
• Domestic and family violence.
• Community development.
• Human services.
• Gender studies.
• Mental health and wellbeing.
• Research methodology.
• Indigenous health and wellbeing.
• Culturally responsive practice.

Applicants should, however, assess their eligibility against La Trobe University’s formal PhD admission requirements rather than relying solely on their disciplinary background.

What the Successful PhD Candidate Will Do

The successful candidate will become part of a broader research program examining family safety through and beyond family court litigation.

Their responsibilities are expected to include:

1. Refining the PhD research questions in collaboration with the supervisors.
2. Developing culturally appropriate research methods.
3. Reviewing relevant international and Australian literature.
4. Examining global family court practices.
5. Analysing existing research data.
6. Investigating safety profiles of First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse parents.
7. Engaging with existing research participants using appropriate approaches.
8. Conducting qualitative and/or quantitative analyses.
9. Exploring parents’ experiences and explanations of improved safety.
10. Examining the influence of family, community, culture, country and service systems.
11. Developing research publications.
12. Presenting research findings through appropriate academic and professional channels.
13. Contributing to the wider ARC Discovery Project.
14. Completing a PhD by publication.

Skills Applicants Can Develop

This PhD can provide valuable research and professional development opportunities.

Depending on the final research design, the candidate may develop skills in:

• Research design.
• Qualitative research.
• Quantitative research.
• Data analysis.
• Narrative research.
• Yarning methodologies.
• Culturally responsive research.
• Indigenous research approaches.
• Family violence research.
• Family court research.
• Academic writing.
• Research publication.
• Critical analysis.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Community-engaged research.
• Research ethics.
• Working with sensitive research topics.

These skills can be valuable for future careers in academia, research institutions, government, social policy, health, family services, community organisations and other areas concerned with family wellbeing and safety.

The Wider Stories of Family Safety Study

The PhD is connected to the Stories of Family Safety Study, which forms part of the broader research program.

The wider work is interested in understanding safety as something that can change over time.

Rather than treating safety as a single outcome measured at one point, researchers seek to understand the journey families experience and the factors that contribute to changes in safety.

The research therefore places considerable importance on people’s lived experiences and their explanations of what helped them become safer.

Background to the Research

The project builds on previous research conducted by the team.

This includes the ARC Linkage Project:

“Family Violence Triage in Family Courts: Safety, Efficacy and Benefit.”

That earlier project examined domestic and family violence screening and triage processes within Lighthouse, an innovative approach implemented by the courts to identify family violence risks among litigants.

The earlier work focused on improving safety outcomes for families involved in the family law system.

The new Discovery Project builds on this foundation by examining safety over a substantially longer period.

This creates an opportunity to investigate what happens to families not only during their involvement with the court but also during the period after court oversight and involvement decreases.

Application Process

Applicants interested in the scholarship should review La Trobe University’s formal requirements for applying for a research degree.

The application process should be approached carefully because this is a research-based doctoral opportunity rather than a standard taught postgraduate program.

Applicants should ensure that they:

• Meet the University’s PhD candidature requirements.
• Confirm their domestic applicant status.
• Review the scholarship conditions.
• Consider how their academic and research background aligns with the project.
• Prepare the required application materials.
• Clearly demonstrate their interest in family violence, family safety, culturally responsive research or a closely related area.
• Explain how their experience and research interests align with the proposed PhD.
• Review the formal application instructions provided by La Trobe University.

Read How to APPLY HERE

Scholarship Deadline

Deadline: Not specified in the information provided.

Prospective applicants should not assume that the absence of a deadline means applications remain open indefinitely. It is advisable to confirm the current closing date directly with La Trobe University or the project supervisor before preparing or submitting an application.

How to Get Further Information

Applicants who require additional information about the scholarship or research project can contact the primary supervisor:

Dr Anna Booth
Email: a.booth@latrobe.edu.au

Applicants can also visit the official website HERE

Key Takeaways

This PhD scholarship offers an opportunity to undertake doctoral research within a major ARC-funded research project focused on family violence and safety.

The key features include:

• Degree: PhD
• University: La Trobe University
• Research centre: Bouverie Centre
• Scholarship: $36,000 per year
• Duration: 3.5 years
• Study mode: Full time
• Research focus: Safety from family violence
• Primary populations: First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse families
• Research setting: Family court and post-court contexts
• Methods: Potentially literature/documentary research, quantitative analysis, yarning and narrative approaches
• Publication: Expected PhD by publication
• Supervisors: Dr Anna Booth, Dr Felicity Painter and Professor Jennifer McIntosh
• Cultural support: Alison Elliott and connections with the Family Courts’ Indigenous Advisor
• Eligibility: Domestic applicants only
• First Nations applicants: Particularly encouraged to apply
• International applicants: Not eligible based on the information provided
• Deadline: Not stated; applicants should confirm directly

Conclusion

The La Trobe University PhD Scholarship attached to the ARC Discovery Project represents a significant opportunity for a researcher interested in family violence, family court systems, Indigenous and culturally diverse families, cultural safety and long-term family wellbeing.

What makes the project particularly valuable is its focus on understanding not only why families experience risk, but also how and why safety can improve over time. By combining existing cohort data with culturally informed research approaches, including yarning and other narrative methods, the PhD candidate will have the opportunity to capture perspectives that may not be visible through conventional court or administrative data.

The research could make an important contribution to family violence prevention, family court practice, culturally responsive services and policies designed to improve the safety and wellbeing of parents and children.

For eligible domestic applicants with a strong interest in this area, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and candidates whose work aligns with the project’s focus, this is an opportunity to contribute to research with significant academic, social and practical relevance.

Discover more global Scholarship opportunities on OFY HERE