PhD Scholarship – Population Changes in Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use: What should we be tracking and who is at risk?

Monash • Richmond, VA

2d

About The Position

Young people and adolescents are identified as priority populations in current National Alcohol and Drug Strategies given that Alcohol and Drug (AOD) use during this key developmental phase can result in negative and long-lasting effects on the brain and body. However, patterns of adolescent alcohol and drug use (AOD) have been changing over the past 20 years, with fewer young people consuming alcohol and cigarettes, and higher proportions using illicit drugs (AIHW,2025). In addition, patterns of alcohol consumption have seen disparate cohort effects - so while rates of alcohol use have dropped overall, a relatively high proportion (more than one-third) of young Australians have consumed alcohol at risky-levels. Together, these changes mean that we need better population-based data systems and models to monitor harms associated with AOD use.
This project will use a suite of population-based sources and aim to identify locations and sociodemographic sub-groups most at risk of AOD harm; understand the types of harm caused; and seek to investigate what causes young people to present (and re-present) to emergency and community health services.
This PhD will involve work with world-first datasets developed by Turning Point, including the National Ambulance Surveillance System and population-based resources involving the National Health Data Hub to answer these questions. This work will result in research that policy makers and governments can use to develop education campaigns and future policies that benefit adolescents and young Australians.
This is more than a scholarship—it’s a launchpad for shaping the future of addiction care.
This applied PhD is hosted by Monash University’s Eastern Health Clinical School (EHCS), in partnership with Turning Point. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary cohort of researchers and students based at Turning Point in Melbourne, Australia.

Requirements

• Candidates will need to full the Monash University minimum requirements for admission to a PhD.
• To apply, you must submit an expression of interest (including CV and degree documents) at: https://forms.gle/RxQTAZzd57gLZ19A7

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees