Connect

Exposure to green space is associated with favourable physical, behavioural, and cognitive outcomes in children of all abilities. However, growing levels of urbanisation have resulted in fewer children growing up with access to nature. Schools are an opportune setting for facilitating green space exposure and its co-benefits, as greening of school grounds is an equitable approach to increasing green space access.

This PhD project will be nested within a larger project “Green Schools” which is exploring the process, challenges and impacts of real-life indoor and outdoor greening interventions on at selected high-needs and mainstream primary-years schools in Victoria, Australia. We will examine the impact of greening on students’ physical activity, social and emotional well-being, nature connectedness and school enjoyment and on staff social and emotional well-being and job enjoyment.

This project will involve co-design with industry, school staff and students and collaboration with industry throughout the life of the project. It will explore barriers and enablers to green space innovation in this setting and help guide future greening projects.

There is scope to shape the PhD project according to the selected candidate’s interests in relevant components or approaches. Some relevant topic areas may include a focus on particular demographic groups (i.e. CaLD groups, Indigenous), classroom air quality, greening in the school’s local surroundings, etc.

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must meet Deakin’s PhD entry requirements, be enrolling full time and hold an Honours degree (First Class) or an equivalent standard Master’s degree with a substantial research component. Please refer to the entry pathways to higher degrees by research for further information.
• Bachelor’s degree with Honours or a Master’s degree with research component in health promotion, public health, psychology or exercise science.
• Applicants must have experience in quantitative and/or qualitative methodology.
• Fluency in verbal and written English (evidence of English proficiency is required), highly motivated and able to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• The opportunity is open to domestic and international students

Key dates and other information

• Start date: We are looking for a suitable candidate to start as soon as possible.
• Scholarship: We will work with suitably qualified applicants to apply for scholarship funding.
• To apply: Refer to our How to apply webpage for more information.

For more information please contact:

Professor Jenny Veitch: jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au