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STUDENT PROJECTS
PhD Scholarship (Last updated / 08.07.2022)
2023 RTP - Alcohol advertising and aquatic environments.
Project Supervisors / Assoc. Prof. Justine Leavy, Dr Gemma Crawford, Prof. Jonine Jancey and Prof. Gavin Pereira.
Project Aim / To explore and quantify outdoor alcohol advertising in Western Australia (WA) and analyse the presence and content of alcohol advertising featuring aquatic activities on social media platforms used by young people.
Objectives /
• Design the tools to capture and describe the volume and content of outdoor alcohol advertising in defined aquatic locations in WA
• Map and measure liquor outlet and licenced venue density and proximity in aquatic locations in WA
• Explore exposure to and perceptions of alcohol advertising in aquatic locations amongst young people in WA
• Identify current alcohol policy of local government authorities in defined aquatic locations in WA
• Co-design recommendations for policy, practice, and advocacy
Methods / The project will use a combination of participatory approaches including GIS mapping, stakeholder analysis, network, and systems mapping.
Prerequisites / We are looking for someone with a relevant tertiary qualification e.g. Honours Degree, or a Master’s degree, awarded with Credit or Distinction, in health promotion, social science, geography or public health. They must have a strong interest in public health, health promotion and developing knowledge and skills in GIS mapping, advocacy, and evidence-informed practice. They must also have a strong interest in community facing, policy relevant research. Plus:
• Experience or interest in mixed-methods research
• Strong oral communication skills with diverse audiences
• Strong written communication skills and an interest in knowledge translation
I'm interested, what next? / If this project sounds like it could be for you, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Assoc. Prof. Justine Leavy (j.leavy@curtin.edu.au) to discuss the project or click on the link below to find out more.
2023 RTP - Alcohol Advertising and Aquatic Environments
Applications close 18 August.
Be a changemaker - join us at Curtin.
Click here for more information.
Practicum Placements (Last updated / 23.04.2020)
There are currently no practicum placements available. Please contact your unit coordinator for more information. Alternatively, you can contact Dr Justine Leavy - justine.leavy@curtin.edu.au or Gemma Crawford -gcrawford@curtin.edu.au.
Honours Projects (Last updated / 15.04.2022)
Exploring what water safety means to overseas born parents and carers of children under 5 years.
Project Supervisors / Assoc. Prof. Justine Leavy and Dr Gemma Crawford.
Project Synopsis / People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) groups are vulnerable to drowning in Australia, and are a priority in national water safety strategies. This project will explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards water safety among overseas-born parents and carers of children under 5 years now living in WA.
Project aim / To explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards water safety among overseas-born mothers and carers of children under 5 years now living in WA.
Objectives /
• Examine perceptions of water safety and drowning prevention from women in culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) groups;
• Explore barriers & facilitators to water familiarisation skills amongst CaLD women;
• Develop recommendations for drowning prevention resources and strategies specifically designed for women from CaLD backgrounds and their children aged under 5 years
Methods / A qualitative focus group design will be used segmented by cultural background. Participants will be recruited from community organisations & playgroups with established CaLD populations e.g. Sudbury House Mirrabooka & Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Centre. Participants will be: overseas born, newly arrived migrants, aged 18 years and older, and the mother or carer to at least one child under 5 years residing in the Perth metropolitan or regional WA. A semi-structured discussion guide will be developed, pilot tested with the target audience, and refined prior to implementation. The initial domains of enquiry will explore: perceptions, experiences and behaviours of water safety and water-based activities and water familiarisation. The focus groups will be audio-recorded & transcribed. Thematic analysis will be undertaken using an inductive approach.
Skills the student will develop / The student will develop skills in interview schedule design, participant recruitment, cultural awareness and qualitative data analysis. The student will have the ability to work within a research hub and with industry partners.
Prerequisites / Requires a current drivers license and the ability to travel to regional Western Australia to collect data.
Ethical Approval required
Masters Projects
(Last updated / 05.04.2022)
Exploring what water safety means to overseas born parents and carers of children under 5 years.
Project Supervisors / Assoc. Prof. Justine Leavy and Dr Gemma Crawford.
Project Synopsis / People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) groups are vulnerable to drowning in Australia, and are a priority in national water safety strategies. This project will explore knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards water safety among overseas-born parents and carers of children under 5 years now living in WA.
For / 100 credit research dissertation (1 year).
Mode / Internal or online students with access to WA populations face-to-face.
Special Attributes / CWA 70+, excellent oral and written communication skills, qualitative experience (desirable), insight into different cultural contexts (desirable).
Ethical Approval required
Examining Western Australian children’s perceptions of their swimming competence and factors associated with child and parent perception.
Project Supervisors / Assoc Prof Justine Leavy and Dr Gemma Crawford
Project Synopsis / Drowning is one of the 10 leading causes of death for children and young people. In high income countries such as Australia, children aged 5 to 9 years have the most deaths due to drowning. A key cause of drowning is inadequate supervision, with many parents watching their children from a distance vs within arms-reach. Often the parent’s perceptions of their children’s water safety skills and their child’s actual aquatic ability is a mismatch. The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) was developed by an International group with the goal of being applicable in a number of countries.
Aim: This study will evaluate the PSPWC in the Western Australian context.
Methods: This is a quantitative study collecting data from both children and adults (dyads) and will be analysed using SPSS. Face and content validity of the scale will be undertaken prior to data collection.
For / 100 credit research dissertation.
Mode / Internal
Ethical Approval / Yes, but will require Ethics Approval application
Special Attributes / CWA above 70, must be able to swim, excellent communication skills with children and parents, bi-lingual would be an advantage.
So What? / This project has the potential to inform drowning prevention research, practice and policy in Western Australia among stakeholders for drowning prevention i.e RLSSWA.
Who Cares? / RLSSWA. An established KY relationship already exists with CERIPH and RLSSWA and this will contribute to program and policy.
Caphia Competency Practice Goal Addressed: 4
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