HDR Scholarship - Migrant Food Security

Location

Melbourne Burwood Campus or Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Research topic

According to the United Nations, “Food security means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.” There has been a global rise in food insecurity since 2019, with 42% of the world’s population unable to afford sufficient nutritious food. In Australia, up to 90% of refugee communities experienced food insecurity prior to COVID-19. Currently, we have limited data on the true extent or diverse experiences of food insecurity amongst most migrant and refugees – a major barrier to advancing the prioritisation of culturally sensitive and effective food insecurity policies.

This project aims to promote social equity in Australia through a co-design approach that actively involves migrant and refugee communities in identifying practical food insecurity solutions. Culturally sensitive data collection tools will be developed and community lived experiences will be integrated into food policy decisions. This research will directly connect migrants and refugees with government and non-government sectors working to address food insecurity. This will strengthen multisectoral partnerships and actions to reduce food insecurity across migrant and refugee communities.

Project aim

This project aims to identify policy priorities to reduce food insecurity amongst Australia’s migrant and refugee communities in the current cost-of-living crisis. In particular, the project will:

Work towards establishing a routine monitoring system to quantify the prevalence of food insecurity and food patterns among migrant and refugee peoples in Australia;
Identify culturally sensitive policy priorities for reducing food insecurity among migrant and refugee Australians, and;
Identify and describe the factors that enable or constrain the implementation of culturally sensitive policies (local, State and Federal) to address food insecurity in Australia.

Important dates

Applications close 5pm, Friday 21 February 2025

Benefits

This scholarship is available over 3 years.

Stipend of $35,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
Relocation allowance of $500-1500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you must:

be a domestic candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard master's degree with a substantial research component.

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.

How to apply

Please email a CV and cover letter to Dr Christina Zorbas. The CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If you are successful you will then be invited to submit a formal application.