ACT Health Vacation Study Program

The 2023-24 ACT Health Vacation Study Program gives university students the chance to complete a 6-week research placement at Canberra Health Services or the ACT Health Directorate.

The program builds the capacity of students to do high value research and aligns with the vision, mission and strategic objectives of Better Together: A Strategic Plan for Research in the ACT Health System.  

Who can participate

The program is open to 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students who are studying:
•    medicine
•    medical science
•    nursing and midwifery
•    allied health
•    health economics
•    epidemiology
•    biostatistics
•    population health.

Key dates

  • Student project applications open: 15 September 2023 
  • Student project applications close: 9 October 2023
  • Student onboarding: 18 October to 9 November 2023
  • In-person pre-placement workshop: 10 November 2022
  • Placements: Any 6-week period between 10 November 2023 and 9 February 2024 (to be negotiated between supervisor and student)
  • In-person final presentation session: 9 February 2024

Projects

Applications are being accepted for the following projects:

No. Supervisor Project Title
1 Sumeet Rai Psychological StRess in Intensive CarE Survivors (PRICE)
2 Paul Craft Prognostic factors from symptoms at diagnosis of Sarcoma
3 Paul Pavli / Sunain Ashraf The Role of genetic variability in E.Coli in modulating the bioactivity of therapeutic drugs in humans 
4 Deb Davis Comparing the Holistic Healthcare Needs (HHN) of women with Gestational Diabetes completing the English and other language versions of the GDM:HHN scale
5 Dr Alison Shield, Dr Lynn Cheong, Dr Marjorie Atchan, Prof. Deborah Davis  Medication management during lactation
6 Sarah Martin and Karin English How does a B-lactam allergy listing on a patient’s medical records impact management of gonorrhoea infections in the Canberra Sexual Health Centre? 
7 Jade Davis  CHS Sustainability Program – Reviewing opportunities to improve value of care  
8 Rebecca Hundy     Review of ACT residential aged care facility influenza/acute respiratory infection outbreaks
9 Louise Hawkins  Improving immunisation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children in the ACT
10 A/Prof. Katrina Randall (CHS) & Dr Ainsley Davies (ANU) Investigating Circulating Lymphocytes and Cytokines in Patients with immunodeficiency and autoimmunity
11 Karen Dell SpeakEasy: Working with patients with communication challenges during hospitalisation
12 Alison Lally Management of Neonatal Sepsis in Canberra Hospital ED
13 Dr Maya Latimer, Dr Sam Bennett Audit of survival outcomes of adolescent/young adults (AYA) as well as older patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at Canberra Hospital as well as reviewing genomic profiles
14 Michelle Bennett Understanding the experience of CHS for people with a disability and their families and carers
15 Dr Ekavi Georgousopoulou The role of ethnicity in defining obesity: a methodological review of literature.
16 Dr Ramila Varendran Urinary Tract Infection Admission to Hospital in the Home
17 Chris dudley A Qualitative Study Examining Spiritual Care Model of Care for Patients Who Choose to Access Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)
18 Joe Lynch Modelling Muscles for the Identification of Whiplash-Associated Disorder
19 Prof Drew Richardson Impact of the Sixth and Seventh waves of COVID-19
20 Dr Deepti Raina and Blessy Charles The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Incidence and Severity of Human Metapneumovirus in children

How to apply

  • Submit your project application form and current CV to health.research@act.gov.au by Monday 9 October.
  • Students may apply for up to 4 projects, but can only complete one placement.
  • This placement is based in Canberra and successful students will be required to attend the face-to-face components.

More information

For more information about the Vacation Study Program, call 02 5124 4288 or email health.research@act.gov.au.

Page last updated on: 20 Sep 2023