PhD Scholarship Opportunity - Understanding Sickness Absence Among Migrant Australians: A Mixed-Methods Study of Patterns, Determinants, and Lived Experiences
Job No.: 694186
Location: 509 St Kilda Road, Melbourne (as of September 2026, remote until then)
Contract Type: Full-time
Duration: 4-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: Upon enrolment the successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $40,000 AUD per annum 2026 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures.
About the project
Migrant Australians represent a key segment of the national labour force, yet they often face distinct systemic and cultural barriers that adversely affect occupational health and long-term work capacity. Emerging evidence suggests that patterns of work participation and sickness absence are evolving within this population, shaped by factors such as unstable employment, language barriers, and differences in health-seeking behaviours.
This PhD project will work within a group of researchers undertaking a national, population-based prospective cohort study to identify sociodemographic groups at risk of prolonged sickness absence and work disability. The study will follow participants through structured online surveys conducted at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, capturing data on the incidence and duration of work absence, reasons for leave, and workplace conditions including job demands and control.
A complementary qualitative component will explore lived experiences that are not fully captured in the quantitative datasets. Through in-depth interviews, the study will examine how cultural perceptions of illness and work influence reporting behaviours, as well as barriers to taking sick leave, such as job insecurity and visa-related constraints. It will also investigate how workplace support or discrimination shapes health-seeking behaviours and access to care.
This mixed-methods study integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches to comprehensively examine pathways from short-term sickness absence to prolonged work disability among migrant workers. The quantitative component will identify patterns, predictors, and high-risk groups, with absence episodes exceeding three days serving as the primary indicator of sustained work disruption. The qualitative findings will provide critical contextual insights into the underlying social, cultural, and structural factors shaping these patterns. Together, these complementary strands of evidence will generate a comprehensive understanding of work disability trajectories among migrant workers and inform the development of inclusive workplace policies and targeted interventions to better support Australia’s diverse workforce.
Team overview
As part of the Healthy Working Lives Group within the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, this PhD is supported by an Australian Laureate Fellowship program, Reforming Work Disability Benefit Systems for Contemporary Australian Society. This team aims to strengthen the evidence base on how these systems function, are experienced, and can be improved to better support individuals, employers, and society. Work disability benefit systems are a key part of Australia’s social safety net, assisting people whose ability to work is affected by injury or illness.
The program comprises three interconnected streams: Program 1 identifies how work disability develops through a national cohort study; Program 2 examines participant experiences of benefit systems; and Program 3 informs system redesign using community preference models. Together, they form an integrated agenda linking prevention, lived experience, and policy reform. All research is supported by a Community of Practice and informs real-world outcomes including a National Training program.
The successful candidate will be part of Program 1 and will be within a multidisciplinary cohort of researchers and students at the Healthy Working Lives Research Group based at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Supervisory team
The principal supervisors will be Professor Alex Collie and Dr Afsana Afroz.
Professor Collie is a leading public health and social policy scholar, Director of the Healthy Working Lives Research Group and the Division of Health Systems, Services and Policy in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. His research focuses on work injury rehabilitation, occupational health, and social protection systems, using multidisciplinary and mixed-methods approaches across Australian and international contexts. He is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and serves as President of the Scientific Committee on Work Disability Prevention at the International Commission on Occupational Health.
Dr Afroz is a Research Fellow at Monash University. She is a public health researcher with a strong expertise in epidemiology, injury, health economics, and advanced statistical analysis. She has varied experience designing and managing large-scale studies, including survey development, data analysis, and health services research focused on prevention and early detection of chronic conditions, complemented by a strong publication record.
Eligibility Requirements:
Prospective applicants must satisfy Monash University PhD entry requirements as outlined in the Monash Graduate Research Admission Procedure, this includes:
- Being able to demonstrate and present valid and current Australian work rights; and
- A bachelor’s degree of at least four years in a relevant discipline, which includes a research thesis or project, with a minimum overall average grade of an Honours degree equivalent to the First Class Honours Division A; or
- A master's degree in a relevant discipline which includes a research thesis or project equivalent to at least 25 percent of one year of full-time study, with a minimum overall average grade of honours equivalent to the First Class Honours Division A; or
- A qualification, or combination of qualifications and relevant professional or research experience, deemed equivalent by the Graduate Research Committee (or delegate); and
- Preferably, be available to commence as a full-time, on-campus PhD candidate in Q3 or Q4 2026 (or by arrangement).
How to apply:
To apply please follow the following steps:
- Check your eligibility following this link. Only continue if eligible.
- Submit your CV along with a cover letter outlining your interest in the project and explaining why you believe you are a strong fit, to melinda.mccabe@monash.edu.
- Selected candidates will be invited to take part in an interviews (either in person or via ZOOM)
- The successful candidate will be provided an invitation to apply, along with further instructions, and will then need to submit an application for candidature only via the online portal. Upon successful enrolment the associated scholarship will be awarded.
Enquiries: Further enquiries about the scholarship or application process should be directed to; Melinda (Millie) McCabe, Senior Project Co-ordinator, E: melinda.mccabe@monash.edu.
Applications Close: Tuesday 21 July 2026, 11:55pm AEST
Supporting a diverse workforce
