1. Background
a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in migrant and refugee youths' (aged 16-24) understandings and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
b. This Scholarship is supported by a grant from Australian Research Council (ARC) Project entitled “Migrant and Refugee Youths’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.” The aims of the project are to investigate migrant and refugee youths' understanding of and experiences with SRHR and identify barriers and facilitators of perceived sexual and reproductive well-being, decision-making and agency.
2. Eligibility
a. Applicants must be currently enrolled to study full-time for a PhD within the Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.
b. Applicants must be a domestic student.
c. Applicants must conduct research into sexual and reproductive health.
3. Selection Criteria
a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:
I. academic merit, II. reference from two academic referees, and III. a cover letter detailing their interest in the subject area.
b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).
4. Value
a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $6,232 from 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
b. The recipient may not apply for an extension.
c. The Scholarship cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research.
d. No other amount is payable.
e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.
5. Eligibility for Progression
a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.
6. Leave Arrangements
a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or completed. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before the leave is taken.
b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.
7. Research Overseas
a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of the award.
b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.
8. Suspension
a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award.
9. Changes in Enrolment
a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.
10. Termination
a. The Scholarship will be terminated:
I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree, II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award, III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained from the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis, IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy, V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value, VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).
b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:
I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer, II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.
c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.
d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
11. Misconduct
a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.
b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.
12. Intellectual Property
a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.
b. Ownership of any Thesis approved in advance by the University of Sydney and authored by the recipient remains with the recipient.
13. Privacy and Confidentiality
a. The recipient is required to keep all Confidential Information disclosed by all Parties to the Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA) between Western Sydney University and The University of Sydney for ARC Project ID DP200103716 executed 28 January 2020, confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party, as appropriate, or as required by law.
b. The recipient must deposit in the library a copy of their completed thesis or work submitted for a higher degree if requested.
c. If the recipient’s thesis contains Partner Organisation’s Confidential Information, the recipient may submit such thesis on the basis that any such Confidential information is included in the appendix to the thesis which is restricted from public access for a reasonable period of time agreed by the Partner Organisation but not exceeding 5 years.
14. Acknowledgement
a. The recipient agrees to ensure that any publications, for they are listed as an author and that result from the Project comply with the obligations to include acknowledgement of the ARC’s funding, including the ARC Project ID, in accordance with clauses 21.5, 21.6, 29.3 and 29.5 of the Grant Agreement.
b. The recipient must provide Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney with a copy of any proposed publications at least 30 days in advance of submitting for publication. Comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication can be made by Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney to protect their Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property provided they are given to the publishing Party in writing no later than 15 days before the publication is made. Where amendments are requested, the successful recipient will use all reasonable efforts to amend the proposed publication accordingly and, if requested, delay submission of the publication for a period not exceeding 6 months to allow appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property.
15. Other Requirements
a. The recipient must abide by all the terms and conditions outlined in the Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA) between Western Sydney University and The University of Sydney for ARC Project ID DP200103716 and Project Title “Migrant and Refugee Youths' Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” executed on 28 January 2020.