CQUniversity and MedicAlert Elevate Scholarship

Status

Open Now

Opens

Closes

Scholarship Value

AU$45,000 Stipend per year (AU$135,000 Total)

Length of Scholarship

3 years / 3 EFTSL

Number Available

1

Funding Type

Research

The rate of ‘wandering’ (the term used to describe the absence of a person when missing due to dementia or cognitive vulnerability) has limited evidence. Wandering occurs during times of stress or agitation and can be a regular feature for some people with dementia or cognitive impairment. This CQU collaboration with Safe and Found, MedicAlert, (a partnership between Police and people at risk of being lost to locate them quickly) allows for a community-embedded research initiative to support people across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote locations. 

The project utilises a mixed methods approach involving a 6-stage process to increase capacity for the evidence base to keep pace with the amount of people newly diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer’s related conditions as well as other cognitive impairments. The projects’ goal is to develop outcome measures to understand use of wearable devices to locate people quickly when wandering whilst acknowledging self-determination, involvement in health decision making and reduction of harm whilst absent.

 In addition, the role of crisis and ongoing service response to reactions to wandering and prevention of wandering will also be explored. Findings, conclusions and recommendations will be, evidence based and triangulated to allow for ongoing knowledge translation back to the sector of people with lived or living experience using creative and novel approaches such as the creation of a living library of first-person reflections.

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  1. Completion of an Honours degree (Class I or IIA), Masters by Research, or a course work Masters (with a substantial research component) in a relevant field (e.g., social work, psychology, public health, nursing, gerontology, or cognitive science)
  2. Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, including data collection, analysis, and dissemination
  3. Experience with qualitative or mixed-methods research approaches.
  4. Knowledge of, or strong interest in, issues affecting people living with dementia, cognitive impairment, or related vulnerabilities.
  5. Demonstrated capacity or enthusiasm for working collaboratively with community organisations, service providers, and people with lived experience in metropolitan, regional, rural, or remote settings.
  6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate research findings into accessible outputs for diverse audiences (e.g., communities, practitioners, policymakers).
  7. Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary research team and to manage time and resources effectively.

For direct enquiries please contact principal supervisor Professor Sarah Wayland via email: s.wayland@cqu.edu.au.

Candidates will be notified via email.

Please attach a CV, cover letter and a statement addressing the selection criteria noted above. Applicants may be invited to meet with the research team to discuss their application.

Donor names: CQUniversity and MedicAlert (Australia MedicAlert Foundation)